I did it!

I finished the Kiawah half-marathon in 2.47.01, slower than I was hoping for, but I'm okay with that. It was humid (100%) and I started out a lot faster than I should have. I just had a hard time slowing myself down, so I was worn out by the time I was halfway done. I think I managed to push through about 8 miles or so before I slowed down to walk off and on the rest of the distance. I haven't checked the Garmin yet to see what my splits look like.

About this time last week, I was plotting my next half. Now, though, I'm not sure if I'm going to do another one. I mean, I got my medal and my 13.1 magnet. I also have sore legs, a sore shoulder, an aching back, a knee that's catching, and a hip that hurts if I move it the wrong way. Oh, and my feet hurt. I'll give myself a few days to recover and then go from there.  I was considering the Palmetto Half for my next one. I'll make a decision by the end of December because it's greatly discounted if I register by the 31st. I've also tossed around the idea of doing the Kiawah marathon next year. I'll just hang on to that idea as an idea for now.

Loving the little things

I love how God works. I had a passing thought this morning about needing to spend a little time in God's word. A little while later a sweet friend from church sends me a private message about wanting to check in with me about how my quiet times are going because she needs accountability in that area also. That led me to actually OPEN the Word and spend a little time there.


Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:13-16


Striving for holiness today.




As I'm focusing on holiness today, intentionally focusing, not just a thought in passing, verse 16 keeps coming to the forefront of my thoughts. "Be holy, because I am holy." Frustration and my initial reaction to said frustration is this verse. Be holy. Keep reign on thoughts. Don't let the frustration get the best of you and don't dwell on it and progress to sin. Handle with grace.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for reigning in my thoughts and actions this morning. For being faithful to provide a Word when I need it.

The Word given to me may not be powerful to others at this moment, but it's what *I* need in the moment. He meets me where I am.

I know, it's been forever. I'll work on that. Really. I just had to come over here today to record a FB status I just wrote so hopefully I won't forget it because it's so true.

"I love how just a few minutes in God's word can settle my spirit.  Doesn't matter what I read, I know His word is alive and active and speaking to me."

I was having a bit of a spiritually unsettling morning. Questioning things. Wondering about my salvation (again) because I'm hesitant to participate in a particular activity and because I have such a hard time being in the word every day. It's a discipline, I know. Discipline by definition is training. I have trained myself to run 3 times a week and for pretty decent distances at times. WHY, then, is it so hard to train myself to be in the word more than once a week, every 2 weeks, month? It's something I'm struggling with right now.

I did pick up my Bible this morning and read out of 1 Peter. All I did was read. Did not meditate or dig deeper. The Holy Spirit settled my spirit with just the reading of a few verses. I don't want to forget this. I want to remember so I can return again and again to His word for the spiritual feeding I so desperately need and yes, so I can help others to do the same. It's what I, as a Christian, am called to do. Yet, I buck against it. I give excuses. I fear what people will say. I do not have boldness when it comes to sharing what Christ has done in my life.

I know Christ lives in me. The very fact that I'm struggling with spiritual matters tells me that. One part of me wants to push for the prize that awaits. Another part just wants to sit and be content with where I am and not move forward. That's the struggle. Today, pushing for the prize is winning. I spent time in God's word. It's a good place to start.

Vegetable fail

I'm not surprised my little container garden failed. Not at all. I have never had a green thumb. My carrots sprouted, but that was all. The zucchini plants flowered and then died. The sunflowers and broccoli are still green-ish. Maybe something will come of those. I'm thinking not, but you never know.

We're into the swing of things with school now. The kids have been in for 3 weeks and are doing great. I've picked back up on running regularly (only have missed 1 day of the 9 I planned to run and that was because it was a holiday and I just didn't go). My distances have varied, but at least I'm getting back out there. Half marathon training starts a week from Monday. I'm praying the humidity will be lower when it's time to start making long runs. I did manage just over 4 miles this morning. That's actually the first "long" run distance when I start training. So, I know I can make it and I even have a route already.

Update of sorts

I'm growing vegetables! Or at least trying. I have zucchini, broccoli, and carrots in pots on my back deck. I also have sunflowers. They're all growing and I'm really hoping to get veggies from the plants. I'm not much of a green thumb...I've killed a cactus.

School starts in a week. I've got one kid in 4th grade and the other in Kindergarten. Time flies. I'll be going to 2 schools this year since 4th-6th grade is considered intermediate around here.

I've been doing a Bible study on the names of God. I'm only about halfway through it and plan to finish it, but I've learned a lot about who God is through his different names. I think my favorite so far, the one that means the most to me up to this point, is El Roi, the God who sees. He sees everything...the big picture all the way to the smallest hurt in my heart. The one I'm learning to trust is Jehovah-jireh, my provider. That should be easy if I look back over my life for the past 3 years, but it's not easy. I have to remember, remember, remember the things God has done for me and how he has provided. His provision has been great over the years. He's provided in the small things and the big. There's no reason to doubt that he will continue to provide. I've just got to trust and believe him.

The Heart Reader

I just finished this book by Terri Blackstock. I'm not 100% sure what to say about it. It's convicting. Very convicting. Makes me take a look at my own life and realize that I am so far from telling people about my savior, Jesus. How he is the only one I need. How he gives peace in the hardest of circumstances. How no matter what you've done, he offers forgiveness and mercy. How he is faithful even when I am not. How he has changed my life over the years, starting with the day I gave my life to him. Yes, it takes courage, which he will give. I don't have to have a script to go by. All I have to do is tell people what he's done. It's so hard, though. What do I have to offer? The woman who was in church from the time she was in her mother's womb? Was in church every time the doors opened? Who really didn't do anything "bad." I have no amazing  story of repentance. I wasn't into drugs, sex, or anything like that before I came to know Christ. I was disrespectful toward my parents, my brother. I watched and read things that I had no business watching and reading. I went to church because that's what we did, not because there was anything (at the time) to be gained from being there. It's entirely possible that I came to know Jesus at the age of 7. I don't know for sure because I can't tell that there was a change in my life at that time. I mean, at 7 how bad can a person be, right? If I didn't come to know Jesus at 7, then I certainly did at 15. All I know for sure is that God showed me my heart that night and it was burning. Felt like a literal burning. I was all jumbly and feeling knotty inside when I prayed that night and still was after I asked Jesus in. But, over the course of the next years, I knew I was different. It wasn't always a good different. I remember that I stopped wearing the Christian t-shirts. Why? Looking back, my guess is that Satan got right to work on me. I mean, I grew up in church and had worn the t-shirts through middle school and up to that point in high school. Now, all of a sudden, I *do* have a relationship with Jesus and I'm ashamed to admit that I was a fake before then, so I quit proclaiming him through my t-shirts. I grew some over the next couple of years and used a couple lines from a Christian song in my valedictorian speech and without shame. I let God lead me to the college I attended. I only applied to 2 of them and was accepted to both. The one I *really* wanted to attend did not offer me any scholarships, so I went to the other one. My roomie at UM told me one night that she thought I was pretty shallow in my faith until she needed prayer for a friend and I prayed with her. I'm not one to very openly display what I believe, but I have gotten bolder as the years have gone by. I felt God calling me to missions. At the time, I believed it to be career missions, but looking back, I think it was a calling to a mission trip. Specifically, the one where I met Clayton. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was going on that mission trip a year and a half beforehand. The day it was announced, I knew. The first penny had not been raised/paid toward it yet I knew. God didn't do anything incredible with me on that trip (at least as far as I know), but he did allow me to meet my husband and know not long after we met that he was the one for me.  Here we are, about to celebrate 13 years of marriage, after a year and a half long distance relationship, with only 6 weeks of that time being in each others' presence. Truly a God-thing. There are so many other things I could write about how I have seen God's hand, especially over the last 2.5 years. From job changes to motorcycle accidents to crazy, unbelievable happenings, he has been in the center of it all. Orchestrating. Not a thing comes to me that God hasn't allowed. How amazing to know that he is sovereign and Satan can't touch me without his permission. Especially when I look back over the last year. I *know* my God has something BIG in store for us. We may not see it this side of heaven, but he loves me and my family way more than I can imagine. Way more.

Wow

I was just going back and reading some posts I made over the past year. I'm amazed at how God has carried us through truly hard, confusing times and how He has spoken to me through different people and how my faith has truly been challenged. I was listening to Greg Laurie's radio program this morning and one statement he made really stood out to me: "Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted." While we're still not through with the big things that have happened over the last year, I can say that I believe we can trust our faith. We have definitely been tested. My faith is in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. And I can trust Him.

And in my true blogging form, it's time to mix and match topics. On the subject of running...I planned to get out tonight and run. That didn't happen. (Big surprise there). Tonight ended up being a kid-free night, so Clayton and I went out. I was a little too full still to run. I should be able to fit a run in tomorrow morning after I take him to work and after I get groceries. (His car is in the shop at the moment). Grocery list is already made, so all I have to do is stop somewhere on the way back home and then when I get home put everything away and hit the road. After I run, I'll head to the YMCA for the deep water fitness class I've been taking. I LOVE it! I even want to continue my membership through the winter so I can keep going 3 times a week for it. Now, if I can get my eating back under control, I should be able to get back on the weight loss wagon. I know I gained 4 pounds over the course of 2 months and I'm pretty sure I've put some more on since that last time weighing. After all, I *was* on vacation last week.

Vacation...what a fun week. We drove down to Pensacola, FL on Saturday, June 30. My phone rang just as we were pulling into Newnan, GA for lunch. It was my dad calling to tell me that pork chops were no longer on the menu for supper that night. He and my brother had gone fishing early that morning and caught 13 mullet, so mullet was on the menu. Oh, what a treat. It's been a LONG time since I had fresh-caught-the-same-day-I-ate-it fish and mullet is a must when in Pensacola.

This is a picture my brother (Jason) took of my dad while fishing. 

Sunday was the patriotic service at church. I tear up every year. Every. Year. We also had a cookout in the afternoon. I didn't get any pics of family members who were there.

Monday was the Naval Air Museum. That's another annual event for vacation.

Cousins at the museum.

Monday evening was spent at the beach. It was soooo gorgeous. Jason, Andrew, Kristin, Jacob and I met up with my cousin and her family there. We took pictures and talked. The kids weren't supposed to get wet, but they were soaked by the time we left. 

The "Hot Now" sign was on when we drove past Krispy Kreme, so we stopped for a couple dozen donuts. And coffee. (This was donut stop #1).

Tuesday morning saw Jason, Andrew, and me up at 5 to go back out to the beach to try to get sunrise pictures. We almost missed it.

All of us went back out later in the morning just to enjoy the beauty (and play in the water).

Wednesday was declared a do-nothing day...up until time for the fireworks, that is. However, Clayton and Andrew went back to the museum.

Thursday morning saw us waking before dawn to hit the beach again for the sunrise. This time was 4:30 and it was Jason, Allison, and me that went.

That's about where the pictures end. Of course, I have loads more. Clayton and Andrew went to the USS Alabama during the day and we all went to a baseball game Thursday night. Friday was spent doing pretty much nothing. We were all exhausted, so it was a welcome change. My family of 4 did make it out to the beach one last time Friday night for a seafood supper. We ended up leaving later than planned on Saturday, but made good time coming home. It was great to sleep in our own beds and get back into the regular routine.

Creativity

It seems I've run out of creativity when it comes to blogging. Mind you, there wasn't much there to begin with. I feel as if I've started repeating myself over and over and over and over. See what I mean?

I have a pseudo-update about Clayton's stuff, but I can't talk about it. So, that's a moot point.
Running has all but come to a standstill. (Heh). I'm doing good to get out once a week right now. And I have a half-marathon to train for.
Maybe it's time to do another "I'm thankful for..." post. Yeah, that sounds good, so here goes and in no particular order:

1. Vacations with family
2. Child-free days
3. 13 years of marriage (almost...give me 16 more days and we'll be there)
4. Bible study
5. A desire to be in God's Word everyday - it doesn't always happen and when I miss it, I miss it
6. Keurig coffee maker
7. Coffee
8. Hot Krispy Kreme donuts
9. The beach at sunset
10. The beach at sunrise
11. The beach in general
12. Extended family
13. Air conditioning
14. My Kindle
15. Reading
16. Singing
17. Music
18. Indoor plumbing
19. 2 bathrooms
20. Hot showers
21. Cold showers after a hot run
22. The YMCA
23. Church family
24. Looking back and knowing certain things were God's hands directing me
25. Nutella
26. Photographs
27. Health
28. Friends
29. Working from home
30. Being home with my kids
31. Fruit and veggie basket each week
32. Deep water fitness class
33. Running

I knew this would happen

I did REALLY well keeping up with this blog for longer than I thought I would. Now, it's gone by the wayside. So, here's to picking it up again.

My kids have been out of school for a month now. So far things have mostly been going well.  We joined the YMCA again this year so the kids can swim. Since I'm still working on fitness, I decided to take the deep water fitness class. I LOVE it. I'm going 3 days a week and then letting the kids swim afterwards.

My biggest fitness challenge is yet to come. I decided about 11:00 last night to register for the Kiawah Island half-marathon. So, I did it. December 8 is the date. I won't have to start training until September, but I do want to keep up with running until then. Hoping to get a couple runs in while we're on vacation.

Fun Day

Today ended up being a really fun day. I gave blood this morning (not so fun, but I know it will save a life, so it's rewarding). Kristin and I had lunch with a friend from church, which was great because I haven't seen this friend in awhile. I dropped the kids off with my mother-in-law and came home and worked for a little while. Put out a plea on Facebook about wanting to meet someone for supper tonight and was invited to join some other church friends at a local Mexican restaurant. So, I crashed their supper; they had actually already finished eating by the time I got there, but were courteous enough to invite me anyway. While we were sitting there talking, another family from church came in. We talked to them for a few minutes and then the first family I was with had to leave, so I sat down with the second family while they ate. And listened to their 9-year-old daughter talk. And talk. And talk some more. She kept me very entertained with stories of their pets and other things. She went through so many subjects that I can't remember what all she talked about. She talked about. Not *we* talked about. She talked. It really was a great evening. I laughed and was entertained. And need to do that again. And have Clayton there. At the time, he was on his way to Charlotte to visit his best friend from Argentina who is there on business until tomorrow. He'll be back at some point in the future and I'll get to meet him then, I guess.

All in all, it's been a really good day. I didn't get started working until after I left the kids with my mother-in-law, but have made it over halfway through now, and this is after having spent 2 hours out at supper. Going to try to work some more on it while waiting for Clayton to get home.

Upheavel

Wow. It's been a week. Well, sorta. Still no news on anything to do with Clayton's situation from July. Hoping to hear something soon.

I got news this past week that the doctor I've been typing for for the last 2.5 years is dropping us. There were some files missing (that I never got) and some files repeated (I can't do anything about that) and he's blaming us. So, at the end of the month it's very possible that I will be out of work. I love the way God works, though. I got this news Wednesday. After mildly panicking on Wednesday, God gives me his Word on Thursday. The first instance was on Facebook. A friend whom I've never met posted a quote and scripture about trusting God. I read it, it strikes a chord, and I keep going with my day. In the afternoon, on the radio, the afternoon host reads a quote that she read in her devotional that morning. You guessed it. It's about trusting God. Okay, God, I get it. That's twice now. Later in the evening, again on Facebook (see? It can be used for good) Proverbs 31 Ministries posts Psalm 55:22 - Cast all your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. That's three. Three times in less than 24 hours that God has said to me "trust me." "Cast your cares on me." And the kicker? Clayton comes home from work and said that on his drive home God pretty much asked how much it's going to take for us to trust him. How much indeed? To fully trust in the God who sent his only son to die for my sin. What else will it take? I hope I'm there. Fully trusting and relying on him. He cares. He knows me by name. He knew me before I was even conceived. How awesome is that? He chooses to love me, a sinner so black that I can't even see my way out sometimes or see sin for what it is. I am so thankful that he provided a way out of that sin and that he called me to himself so many years ago. It's time to quit sitting in that knowledge and do something with it. Trust him fully. He's got me covered. He wants to show off in my life and it's time for me to let him.

Almost a month

We're coming to the end of Spring Break. We've not done a lot...yet. We had a play date at the park and got cupcakes one day. We ate lunch with Clayton today. Planned on hanging around downtown Greenville after lunch, but the temperature dropped yesterday with the rain we had, so we came on home. Tomorrow is the big day. We're heading to Atlanta to spend the day at Six Flags. Roller coasters, here we come!

Clayton's case is starting to move. Hopefully it will be over soon.

I'm still running, but haven't gone out this week at all. It's tough with the kids home all week. I've finally broken through my weight loss plateau. The Wii finally told me that my weight is NORMAL! I'm not in the overweight category anymore. Hoping to keep losing; I need to lose about 10 more pounds. I've also gone down a pants size. I'm excited to have hit single digit clothing again!

Total weight loss: 32 pounds!

Exciting things going on around here. I decided a couple weeks ago that I want to be a Scentsy consultant and signed up and got my stuff and am preparing for my launch party that is this Saturday. I'm really excited about where I can go with this.

Andrew had an allergic reaction to something a week and a half ago. We didn't have any idea what the reaction was in response to, but it was scary enough to me to make him an appointment with an allergist. We went Tuesday and he's allergic to several types of tree pollen, weed pollen, grasses, dust mites, cat, dog, and mold. So, we're in the process of cleaning up his room. I've ordered dust mite covers for his mattress and pillows. He's on Flonase nasal spray and taking Zyrtec. We go back in 6 weeks for a check up. We're also toying with the idea of pulling up all the carpet and replacing it with hardwood floors. I would love to do that, but we haven't actually sat down and really talked about it yet. I would love to have a couple pretty throw rugs that would brighten up the rooms. Besides that, our carpet is stained with watercolor paints.

Running is still going fairly well. The temperature all of a sudden jumped up this week (from 60s to 80s) and I was actually able to run a mile and a half before walking yesterday afternoon. I might survive warmer weather running after all. I've decided not to do the half marathon in April. I missed a week of training and I just don't want to push it too much again. I'm aiming for something in the fall/winter.

Where Can I Go?

The song is in my head. "Where can I goooo from you, Oh Lord? Where can I go from you?" Indeed, where CAN I go from the Lord? The simple answer is nowhere. I can go nowhere apart from my Lord. He is with me everywhere I go. Everywhere. He is in the depths of the sea. He is in the highest heaven. The darkest cave. The brightest meadow. Everywhere. I'm so thankful that he is where I need him...and even where I don't think I need him.

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. -Psalm 28:6-7

I was just driving and thinking about how God's presence has been evident throughout the last 6+ months of my life. He has been so faithful through all of the hard times we've experienced. He provided us with money to pay our bills and buy groceries with while Clayton was out of work. He provided Clayton with a job in the area that he is going to school for. And, consequently, Clayton loves it. He has given me a sense of peace about Clayton being in this line of work rather than being a police officer. I had gotten used to having that patrol car in my front yard. After all, it had been there for 9 years. Two days before he resigned, God told me it is okay by allowing me to drive up into my yard and think "It looks normal without that car there." No matter what happens, He is faithful.

I was listening to the radio this morning and God spoke to me through a story about Shrinky Dinks. The morning host, Heather, found these things for her kids and they made them over the weekend and last night. They put her son's in the oven for it to shrink and while they were watching, it folded over and looked like it wasn't going to do right, so her son wanted them to take them out before it got too badly mangled. Heather, in her wisdom (and knowing what the end result was going to be) told him that they would leave them until time to take them out. How like our God! He allows us to go through bad things, through fire because he knows the end. He knows that when everything is said and done, we will be holy as he is holy. Holiness comes by being tested, by going through the fire. The impurities are burned away and we are left with Jesus in us.

This really resonates deep within me this morning as I have made a commitment to be in God's Word daily - something I struggle with. My prayer is that if I can make it routine to begin with that God will ignite my routine into passion and I will long to be in the Word as often as possible and grow closer and closer to him and more like him and through the fires that will surely come I will be tested and the impurities will burn away and I will see His reflection in all that I do.

Seriously considering it

A half-marathon, that is. There's a local one in 9 weeks. I just so happen to have a 9-week training plan downloaded. I'm scared slap to death to commit to it. I'm sure that's normal, though, for people who have never done a half. I think I'm most scared of taking longer than 3 hours to do it. But, I can do 5 miles in about an hour, give or take a few minutes, so logic says that I should be able to do 10 miles in about 2 hours and then 3 more miles after that, so around 2.5ish hours. Still scares me. Like butterflies-in-my-stomach-already scares me. I think I am going to do the first week of training and then register. Maybe it will be what I need to break through my stinking weight loss plateau.

Yeah, I'm behind.

I've hit 5 miles again and am hoping to push it a little farther this week. I've been subjecting the kids to my runs here lately because I seem to have lost my will to run in the mornings. I've been taking them to the track after Andrew gets out of school and running at least 5K each time. Today was run club and since I didn't get out this morning, I went to the track a little early today. Ran 2.75 before the kids got there and then tacked on another 1.26 with the kids for a total of 4.01 in 50.13.

Everything else has been pretty much the same around here. Found out that Clayton's parking isn't totally paid for, but we won't be paying as much as before. Insurance doesn't kick in until May 1, so we're living with temporary insurance right now. He's working tickets now and likes it much more than answering the phone. When they hired him on, the only open spots were the Saturday through Tuesday shifts, but he was told to stay where he is until further notice. I'm liking that because it's Monday through Friday and he gets off work at 4:30.

My nephew, Levi William, arrived on February 3. I haven't gotten to meet him yet, but that will be taken care of tomorrow since my loving husband has arranged a GNO for me. Evidently, LeeAnna is in town a little earlier than planned and Clayton talked with her and we're going out tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to some girl time. Can't wait until I can get some girl time planned with my sisters from church, too.

As far as weight loss goes, I'm still hanging around the same 27ish pounds. At least I'm keeping off the same weight rather than gaining again. Hoping to eventually drop some more.

Oh, and one other thing! I'm helping teach in GAs and am loving it. I actually taught last week and had a blast! It's much more laid back than I was making choir to be.

Exciting news! My husband starts working directly for his company come Monday! Parking will be paid for, woohoo!

More exciting news! I'll have a new nephew by Friday!

Random news: My truck has been cleaned out, washed, and vacuumed.

Running news: I hit 5 miles on Tuesday in 58.03! I did 2.11 miles in 26.51 on Wednesday and 4.73 in 1.03.01 yesterday. The good news about yesterday's run, even though it was slow, was that I conquered the hill between my house and the end of the road not once, but TWICE. It's a long hill, but I ran up it both times.

Running update

I'm so excited to say that my last 2 times out, I've run, yes RUN, 4.25 miles. I did not stop to walk either time! If it had not been so foggy when I finished running this afternoon, I would have tried to hit 4.5 miles. Aiming for that Monday morning. I believe I have enough time before the Cooper River Bridge run to add 0.25 a week and be able to run it all. Haven't signed up for it though. I don't want to run it alone, so I need to find out if someone wants to go with me.

Feeling bloggy today

Not sure why, but I'm feeling bloggy today. A couple nights ago, I had the urge to put pen to paper. That doesn't happen real often, but when it does, I go with it just as I'm going with this today.

I'm a week into the healthyfitfamilies.com challenge. I'm eating more veggies and fruit than I thought possible...and enjoying them for the most part. I'm able to crank out the sit-ups without a problem. Still amazed that I can do that. I pulled out a FIRM work out DVD yesterday and was able to get through it relatively painlessly, nevermind the fact that I almost tripped over the fanny lifter while doing some step and kicked it over doing some cardio. It was a good work out. I'm a little sore today, but it's a good sore. Was going to do another one this morning since it is raining and I couldn't get my run in, but didn't feel like changing out of pj pants or putting shoes on, so Wii Fit Plus won out. I did 30 minutes and have also done 100 jumping jacks and 100 squats since then. Looking forward to a good run tomorrow.

Did another 4 miles Monday and felt great. Hoping to increase by at least 0.25 when I go out Saturday morning.

Speaking of Saturday, my best friend, Leslie, and her family are coming to visit on their way to their new home in Virginia. I can't wait to see them and spend the day with them. We've been friends/sisters for 20+ years. I don't get to see her much because we've lived pretty far apart for the last 12.5 years.

Now that I have the bloggy feeling out of my system, it's time to refill my water cup and get back to work.

Awesomeness

I seem to have gotten my groove back as far as running goes. I ran Tuesday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and Friday morning last week. I covered 3.7, 2.0, and 4.0 miles respectively. I am still walking a little each run, but I am most definitely running more than I walk. My walking distances are usually about 0.1 each time I slow to a walk and total about 0.2 each run. I'm down to 83.62 miles in my hundred mile challenge.

I've also joined another challenge that requires 20 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, 30 minutes of exercise, 3.5 servings of fruit, 3.5 servings of veggies, and giving up a vice for the duration of the challenge. My vice is coffee after 4:00. I tend to drink a cup while I'm cooking supper. So, I'm on day 4 of this challenge. Who knew I could do full fledged sit-ups after having 2 kids? I surely didn't, but I can. Mondays are my "official" weigh-in days. And by official, I mean I chose that day to weigh-in each week.

2012

It's a new year, 3 days into it already. I'm not one to make resolutions, but I do have a few goals I want to meet this year. I have started reading through the Bible on my droid through the Daily Bible app. That's one goal: to read through the Bible. I also have a book downloaded on my Kindle that has to do with the names of God. I want to read through that. I've started. I've chosen a word to be my word of the year, so to speak. It's "perspective." After this past year (and all that is not done yet), I feel I need to have perspective on what this year will bring. I want to have God's perspective. I want to see through HIS eyes and not my own. Tough? You betcha'. BUT, with him, all things are possible. If I ask according to his will, it will be done.

Physically, I have a mini goal of losing 10 more pounds by March 1. That's do-able. I also have a goal to run 100 miles by February 29. That's do-able as well. My plan is to run 3 times a week and hit at least 3.7 miles each time out. If I do that 25 days, then I'll hit the 100 miles. Of course, I'm also trying to turn my 5K running into 10K training, so hopefully I'll be adding at least a little distance each time out.

I'm excited about what the new year will bring.

Weight loss to date: 27.2 pounds.