The Long Haul

The New York marathon is a wonderful event -- well planned, well laid out and with great crowds. We took a bus over to the start on Staten Island, where tens of thousands of runners gathered. After over an hour of waiting, the race began. As a slower runner, who was running for completion rather than time, I was near the back of the pack.

The course begins by crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into the borough of Brooklyn. In fact, throughout the 26.2 mile course people lined up cheering the runners on.

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Transition Challenges

Transitional phases are never easy. Whether it's remodeling a kitchen, rearranging the furniture or cleaning out a closet, the transitional phase is always a bit messy. This past month, we had our children's bathroom remodeled. We put it off for as long as we could. The shower has leaked for years, so our two children have been using our master bathroom for showers. The water in the sink only ran out in a trickle, barely enough for brushing teeth, and always cold. When the toilet quit working in December, that was it. We had to press forward with a bathroom renovation.

Since we knew that this renovation was inevitable, we had thought and talked about what we would do. The blue-on-blue tile was to be stripped, the blue tub pulled out, all plumbing redone (as it was leaking). All in all, a major overhaul. The new tile would be black and white basket weave on the floor and white subway tile on the walls and surrounding the tub, as it fits in with the traditional feel of our home. We chose black antique rubbed cabinets and classic chrome fixtures. A classic look, nothing fancy.

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Sweating in South Carolina

The sweat somehow made the moment more real. There we were, standing on the stage at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Columbia, S.C., on Saturday night with my dad, Newt Gingrich, celebrating his primary victory. It was the sweat rolling down the faces and dripping off the noses of the television cameramen, photographers, audience members and even those on stage celebrating that transformed the almost surreal scene into reality.

The room was hot and humid; cameramen were wiping the condensation from their lenses as they fogged up, only to wipe them again a few minutes later. I longingly looked over at my daughter, who was on the other side of the podium, her hair in a ponytail, wearing a short-sleeved dress. She looked cool as a cucumber. My wool jacket and long hair were adding to the temperature in the room. I felt as though I were in a sauna, rather than a ballroom for a victory party.

Sweet South Carolina

The best part about the campaign trail is the places you go and the people you meet. This week, we are in South Carolina, and I am thrilled to be back in the Palmetto State. I graduated from Presbyterian College, located in Clinton, live across the state line in Georgia and feel very at home here.

The week started in Charleston, a beautiful city with wonderful memories. In college, we would travel to Charleston every fall to watch The Citadel Bulldogs beat our football team, the mighty Blue Hose (OK, our mascot is a Scottish Warrior who wears "blue hose"). My husband, Jimmy, and I have travelled to Charleston for the Cooper River Bridge Run, as well as several weddings in the area.

Yesterday's lunch with the Charleston County Republican Women's Club was a special treat. It wasn't just the location at the country club that was lovely (I looked on longingly as we drove past the tennis courts) or that the people were friendly (they were very friendly), but that the lunch program was a pause in the whirlwind of campaigning, a refreshing and needed reminder to turn my focus toward God. It reaffirmed my belief in God and my faith in Him.

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