things...

The morning sky always fills me with such hope.

Bruno and I made it out for a short run on Saturday- it felt pretty great.

Then I went up to Mikayla's for a pampered chef party.  I became acquainted with all their cats.

My sister loves cats hahaha

We made this super delicious No Bake Peach Tart, its also in the new Season's Best

We also made Caesar Salad with Grilled Romaine... the croutons alone are reason enough to make this recipe!

This is an excerpt from the devotional I read yesterday that really grabbed me.  You can read the whole thing here.

 

Some Friday Favs

 Race photos are out and this one from Mile 10 is my fav. I was totally faking it at this point.  I started running when I saw the photographer and acted like I wasn't dying because I was hoping for this.

I saw this quote on Hungry Runner Girl's blog - she ran Boston on Monday!  Completely applies to this picture! 

“Wear sunglasses for when it is windy to block debris, when it is sunny to avoid squinting, and for your pictures so they can’t see the pain in your soul.”

I made some super yummy wings the other night from my April Tastebuds subscription.  Hoping to hit Trader Joe's for another bag so I can make them again. :P  I have decided I need to keep a bag stocked in the freezer at all times! 😅😆

I have been enjoying these blueberry muffins all week for breakfast from the Rise and Run cookbook.  They are so yummy and made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats and almond flour.  Sweetened with shredded apples and honey.  They smelled heavenly while they were baking.

Signed up for our next run this week!  It's the Teal Ribbon RunWalk May 20.  🙌🎉

I'm also seriously thinking about joining a half marathon training group this summer.  I think I really need the accountability.  I need to find my running people :P

Tomorrow I am headed to Mikayla's for a Pampered Chef Party! I'm super excited for that!

Night time snuggles with the pups.

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!

Syracuse Half Recap

Well, I'm still alive and completed the Syracuse Half Marathon.  Lack of training coupled with unseasonably high temps made for a pretty miserable morning.

Saturday night I got all my gear together.

Bruno was less than pleased.  But I had two big cookies left from Bruno's birthday box, so in the morning I gave the boys each one as I was leaving.  You know, to smooth things over. We resumed our morning walk this morning.

I left home before 6 am to go pick up my sister and then we drove to the race together.

Start line selfie

And then we were off.  My anxiety started to fade as we crossed the start line.

Much of the first mile is up hill.  Overall I forgot how much uphill there is in this course.  It seemed disproportionate how many uphills there were as opposed to down but then.... I don't know, it could've just been my perception.

My sister ran with me the first mile or so then took off to run at her own pace.

It was warm at the beginning but not uncomfortably so.  That didn't last long however as the sun continued to rise- full sunshine- along with the temps.  There wasn't much shade but I reveled in it when ever there was. Once in a while there was a cool breeze that was a Godsend.

I ran near this person for a while who ran with the flag for the entire 13.1 miles!

Mile 5 and feeling pretty good.

Texts with my mom and sister helped too.

I actually rather enjoyed the first half of the race or so.  

At mile 7 aid station I scored a chocolate Gu.

After that things began to get bad.  I struggled through the whole rest of the race.  I cried a bit in miles 8 and 9.  It was so hot. 

This was just before mile 10.  The flowering trees were so pretty. And as you can see, by then I was back of the pack and very much alone.  I pushed myself to catch up to the girl ahead of me so I wouldn't be totally alone.

At the last aid station a kid handed me a cup of Gatorade with ice in it.  "This'll be the best thing you have all day!" he said.  He was right.  It felt heavenly, I stood still and drank the whole thing before continuing on.

In mile 12 I had to move to the side walks as the road was re-opening.  I cried some more.

I walked by the library and took another library selfie for my collection.  Because what did it matter at this point.  I was well beyond my goal.

Then Parthenon Books... I wanted to quit so bad and just go inside have an iced coffee, look at books and forget about stupid half marathons.  But I kept on.

Another couple blocks and I was in the home stretch.  I tried to run some more and just couldn't.  I was crying again.  It was close and I just wanted it to be over.  A girl from Fleet Feet came running over to.  "Hey, hey! It's ok!" she said "I'm gonna run with you through this light" she said nodding to the traffic light ahead.  "Have you ever run a half before?" I answered affirmatively.  "Has it ever been this sh**ty before?" I laugh sobbed and said "No." "It's ok" she said.  "I cried in my last race too.... Just two more traffic lights and your done!" The finish line was with in sight.  I started looking for my sister as I entered the finishers chute and heard her yell my name.  

And then it was done! I had my medal and someone handed me a bottle of water which I promptly drained.  I was just happy it was over.

The chocolate milk at the finish line was the 2nd best thing I had all day! I live for chocolate milk at the finish line.  I also had a slice of mediocre pizza which did not satisfy my craving.

Overall I am proud to have finished. It was so hot and long and felt brutal 2/3's of the way.  I'm embarrassed by how I looked. I'm embarrassed by my time.  I'm embarrassed I didn't follow through on my training and do what I set out to do.

But I still did it.  I moved forward for 13.1 miles. So there's that. 

catching up

The sky was really beautiful yesterday morning when we went on our walk.

 Snuggled up with my buddy on Monday night.

I have done two runs this week and they were both kinda terrible. I'm really regretting all my slacking and procrastination on training.  I went to Green Lakes last night so at least the scenery was nice.  It was close to 80 degrees though so I am sure that was at least part of the problem.  There is no acclimating to weather in CNY it goes right from freezing to almost summer temps.  It was so warm and the water looked so inviting!

Saturday our church did an egg hunt for kids- I had lots of nephews there! After my sister and I hit up Serendipity for a Cadbury Latte (so delicious!)

We spent Easter Sunday afternoon at my parents house and also celebrated my and Nicole's birthdays.

I finished my second read of Jesus Revolution for book club tonight.  Such a great true story of how God can work.  It fills me with such hope, and urges me to pray for hearts to once again turn toward Jesus.

If your interested our next read is The Secret Keepers of the Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

In spite of the super crummy hot discouraging run last night I am loving the weather this week! If you think if me Sunday morning pray for me.  That I survive this Half Marathon. 😧  I'm not feeling very optimistic about it at all right now.

April Daybook

For Today  {Wednesday, April 5}

Looking out my window  

Grey and cloudy...thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon

I went for a little run on the canal last night. It was one part terrible and one part great well, maybe okayish.

I found a little free library which was pretty fun.  If I would not have had to run for over a mile with it I would have snagged a book. 

I saw my first blooming daffodil of the season along the trail.  The ones in my yard have sprouted but not yet close to blooming.

I am thinking  

April.  Here we are one whole quarter of the year behind us.  Honestly I have been pretty terrible at my new year goals and being intentional. So working on resetting that.

I am thankful 

I got my car back on Friday!  Very happy to be reunited.  It was multiple spark plugs failing that was the problem and the transmission is fine.  So thankful!

One of my favorite things  

Mikayla gave me a small pack of these for my birthday, I found a bigger bag at Tops last week- so yummy!

I am wearing 

Its what I am not wearing today that makes me happy! I didn't need my winter coat... could spring really be here?!

I am reading 

Currently I am re-reading Jesus Revolution for book club next week.  I'm also working on Middlemarch- I listened to a podcast intro of the book last night.  I am both listening to the audio and reading along in my paperback.

I am hoping 

...to get all the goodies for the kids' Easter baskets tonight.

In my kitchen  

This weekend's bake was not as good as last weeks but still pretty tasty.  I think it could have baked a smidge longer too.

I made some really great chicken tenders for Nicole's belated birthday dinner on Monday night.

Post Script

The podcast I listened to last night Novel Pairings 82. How to read a BIG book: an introduction to Middlemarch by George Eliot  There's lots of good info in the show notes I want to check out.

Shared Quote

“Every time she fell out of love with him, he saw it happen and waited it out. He never stopped loving her, even those times when he felt deeply hurt and betrayed by her, even in that bad year when they talked about separating, he'd just gone along with it, waiting for her to come back to him, thanking God and his dad up above each time she did.”

― Liane Moriarty, Apples Never Fall

A moment from my day

I made the mistake of sitting on the bed to finish listening to a podcast last night after I cleaned the kitchen.  I did not want to move again.

Happily we are back to morning walks.  This week is spring break so I haven't had to take Hannah to school.  Hoping next week there will be enough daylight to walk before it's time to take her to school.

This morning I tried to snap a good picture of the boys after our walk, before I gave them their cookies.  Bruno was not having it! 

Closing Notes:  I am looking forward to celebrating Easter this weekend with my fam and celebrating our March birthdays. I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

March Reading part 2

Part 2 of my March reading.  I didn't read as much in the 2nd half of the month but still finished 5 books! Bringing my total for the month to 13 which has to be one of my highs. Getting me back on track for my 2023 reading challenge.  Part 1 can be found HERE.  I was happy to be pulled out of my reading slump this month and trying hard to not slide back in.  I have set aside three books in the last week or so...

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon    3/17    (Kindle/library)

This is a re-read for me.  I don't know when I first read this book as I wasn't tracking my reading then.  I do remember purchasing Voyager (the 3rd in the series, and the 1st I read) at Borders on whim for our trip to Disney my senior year of High School- circa 1997. I have revisited Jamie and Claire many times over the years but this is the first time I have re-read the book in its entirety. Its always been something of a comfort mood read, I pick up and read a few pages here or there when I'm in the mood for it.

Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone,
I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One.
I give ye my Spirit, 'til our Life shall be Done.

For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden    3/19    (print/own)

This is a twisty book.  I'm not sure how to even say anything about it without giving spoilers.  I stayed up way too late reading and easily could have finished it but shut off my light as it was after midnight, the next day was Sunday and I was afraid my light was bothering my husband trying to sleep next to me.

Millie- recently out of prison is desperate for a job and begins working as a live in housekeeper for the Winchester family.  Nina the wife, is seemingly perfect but then seems more unreasonable and crazier as time goes by.  Millie's room is a small attic room, where she discovers the door only locks from the outside... 

I’d say there’s at least a twenty-five percent chance she’s going to murder me in my sleep if I get this job. But I still want it.

Like the Wind by Robin Lee Hatcher    3/24    (print/library) ★★★★

I spent most of my birthday curled up reading this book. I really enjoyed watching the relationship of mother/daughter developing in this book.  The story is told from multiple points of view of Olivia, her estranged 15 year old daughter, Emma and Tyler who was hired to secretly investigate Olivia and see if she is indeed a fit mother for Emma.  Both Olivia and Emma are also on journeys to find their way back to God.

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley    3/28    (Kindle/library)★★★

I picked this one solely based on the cover.  It was a fun 2nd chance romance. It was entertaining but not one that is likely to stick with me as it took me a little bit to recall the plot even now.

Because I’d rather stay home with my books than go out into the world and feel like I don’t measure up.

Ryan loosens his hold on my hand while also pulling me closer. “You know what I like the most about reading your books? I like how when I read them, I hear your voice in my head. I like knowing that I can hear you when no one else can.

 You may not believe it, but every time I read a new book while wearing pajamas, I physically get a runner’s high.

Plot Twist by Bethany Turner    3/31    (Kindle/library)★★★★

This was a little different than any other rom/com I have read.  I wasn't sure at the beginning but I ended up really enjoying it.  Olivia has a chance encounter with a guy in the first chapter, in a coffee shop on February 4.  They part ways agreeing to meet again in ten years, he an aspiring actor and she an aspiring screenwriter. Promising he will be in her movie.  Each subsequent chapter happens on February 4 in the the coming ten years. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. <3

All actors looked like they had rolled out of bed that way while we writers gave off the impression that despite our best efforts nothing more could be done to save us.

Total:  13     2023: 24

Kindle/Ebook: 6   Print: 5     Audio: 2

Library: 12   Owned: 1    Borrowed: 0

Unread Shelf: 1     Purchased: 7