I spent an hour snowshoeing hills in my new hiking boots and was surprised at how comfortable and warm they are! Now I just need to add weight in my pack.. maybe in the next couple of weeks. I also got my flight out of Chicago booked today, yah!!

One of the other climbers is an artist and she created a painting for our trip. Here is what she has to say about it: “This watercolor was created just for the Kili trip as the banner for my blog. It has 15 stars — symbolic of the climbers with MS & PD and confetti, representing the companion climbers, sponsors, and our supporters…all celebrating and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. If you look hard, you will also find one heart. Mountains are such great metaphors. I can truly say that living with MS myself is like climbing a mountain, every single day.”

— SUSIE WEBER, ILLUSTRATOR

http://www.morethanamountain.net/order-stuff

Check out her site if you are interested in seeing or purchasing the painting. It is pretty amazing and will find a spot on my wall soon!

It is official.. Speed walking hills is much more difficult than running them. I wonder if anyone has ever tried to run to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro? I think training for a marathon is easier than training for the climb at this point!

I went into REI today to start purchasing some of the gear I need. I was relieved to find some of their winter gear is on sale right now.. Prime time to purchase! I found a few things, but am most excited about the backpack I was fit with. I wish I would have had that kind of pack in high school and college!

The man that was helping me was very knowledgable about climbing. When asked if he was a climber himself he stated that he has helped a lot of people find gear to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I was a little disappointed... A lot of people climb Kilimanjaro... Maybe I should have gone bigger with my first climb and started with Everest.. Hmm.. ;)

I work with a patient who is elderly and has macular degeneration. She told me when she was informed she would lose her sight several years ago, she went through a period of anger and mourning.. Until she had a woman tell her to "pull up your boots by your bootstraps and get on with life!". That comment made me smile.. She has no idea how applicable those words can be to so many of us!

Training is going pretty good so far! It is early on, but I am finding consistency is key and difficult. On the days when I don't want to go into the gym, I remind myself that the only way to achieve my goal of getting to the top of Kilimajaro is with a lot of training and now I am accountable since I have told people I am doing it... :)

I also tried snowshoeing this past week. If you've never tried it before, I would recommend it. It seems pretty easy at the time, but afterwards you can definitely feel the burn!

Over Christmas I started telling friends about my climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer and why I am doing it. The climb does not scare me, it is the telling of why that does because I have to tell something that I want nothing more than to just go away. However, what I have been given are nothing but positive responses of excitement for this opportunity and a few who think it is a bit crazy to want to climb to the top of any mountain!

This climb has a purpose, the first being to get to the top! The second is to raise money and awareness about MS. I still get emotional when I think about the day I was diagnosed. I would like this climb to encourage someone else, especially in their 20's and 30's, newly diagnosed to be inspired and know that they can still have dreams and goals.. As Lori says, "To go for the gusto"!

Any money raised that does not go towards the climb will be donated to the MS Society to fund research. Let's spread the word about this trip to raise money and awareness so that researchers can find new and better treatments, and better yet a cure. I would love to know that not another person would have to hear the words "You've been diagnosed..."

There is a saying "After A Storm Comes A Rainbow" and I think it applies in this case. Had I not been diagnosed, I would not have been given the opportunity to go on this climb. I am grateful for this and I have learned to never rule out anyone's potential, regardless of circumstance. It may be because of that circumstance that they learn their true potential. :)