Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears my story shall laugh with me." (Mile 5)

When you are named after a loved one, you have pretty big shoes to fill.  Especially if the shoes belonged to a beauty queen.

I am named after my mother's mother's mother, Sarah Myrtle McDonald Ross.  I pride myself in coming from a strong line of independent (i.e. stubborn) women as far back as I know. 

Grandma Sarah Myrtle gave piano lessons and played for the church.  My mother was always disappointed that she inherited no musical capabilities.  Her genes combined plus my father's non-musical genes meant there was really no hope for me.  However, she prayed when she was pregnant with me that I would have the musical talent of my namesake.  God was faithful and I was bursting with musical ability.  I used that ability to earn a BA in music, which eventually led me to the Audiology program I am in now.

I only have a few memories of my Grandma Sarah Myrtle.  I remember she would smile really big when she would hold me and I thought she was "happy" and "fun" (I had the vocabulary of a 4 year old..).  My very favorite story of my Grandma Sarah Myrtle was when she was named the "Beauty Queen" of her nursing home.  I was too young to know what this meant, but I remember being so proud of her! My great-grandmother was a beauty queen and I was named after her!

When my great-grandma reached the end of her life, she was still very happy.  I've heard stories of when people would ask how she was feeling and she'd say, "I'm great! I'm going to see my maker soon! Will I see you there one day?"  She died at the age of 92.  My mom says it is the happiest funeral she has ever been to.

Matt recently said to me, "Honey, you probably already know this but you're aren't going to come in first place in the half-marathon.  However, you'll be the prettiest girl running that day."  I am dedicating mile 5 to my namesake, Grandma Sarah Myrtle.

Sarahs