live LOVED

I started a different kind of post this morning...I was feeling weary and discouraged.  

But tonight I feel thankful.

Thankful for...

• spending Saturday evening with my husband at his sister's wedding
• being married to my man for 23 years last Wednesday.
  
  Oct 6,1998
  
  
• a day apple picking, shopping and having lunch at Chipotle with my girls.
  
  
  
  
• seeing Mikayla's apartment as she gets more settled in her new place
• Finally seeing and hugging my Dad after several weeks of illness
• a warm supportive House Church...even on nights where it feels loud and crowded :P
• Choosing to look to the future with hope and expectation instead of Fear
  
  
  
  
• These two loveable goofballs
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  So go ahead and live like you're loved

  It's ok to act like you've been set free

  His love has made you more than enough

  So go ahead and be who he made you to be
  ~from the song "Live Like You're Loved"
  by Hawk Nelson

Thankful Walk and Asian Chicken

 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing." 

That's a pretty tall order. As the week goes by I feel myself being more grumbly and sighing and rolling the eyes... but I am working on it.

That being said- I felt incredibly thankful and content during our early morning walk.  I love this peaceful morning time, walking with the dogs before most of the world is awake.

Song in my heart today...

I am thankful that God calls me and knows me by name.

Last night's dinner was another Quick Cooker win from Confessions of a Fit Foodie, Asian Chicken.

I also added a capful of PC's Asian Seasoning to the sauce.

 It was so delicious- my chicken was falling apart and the brown rice was cooked perfectly.  I feel like in the past when I have tried brown rice it didn't come out well.  I stir fried veggies and made more of the same sauce for Mikayla.  Aldi eggrolls in the Air Fryer.

Thankful Thursday

Mother's Day bouquet from my son.

My neighbors lilacs- lilacs always remind me of my grandmothers 💖

Yummy (and healthy) Lemon Blueberry Muffins for breakfast.

One of my happy places, I just love the creek that runs through our town. Just being by the water for a few minutes feel so therapeutic for me. I think its time to get back to my daily runs on the creekwalk.  Last night I was able to sit and chat here with Jess for a while. <3

I'm reading this book in my devotional time.  I'm very much enjoying it. Very thought provoking about stepping out and loving your neighbors and your community.  I also just love the cover. =)

“We might have a zillion reasons to be jaded about our world, but that is not the kind of person I want to be. I want to be someone who clings to the grace and the gift and the good. Rather than spend my days scanning the digital horizon for a dopamine hit of false comfort, I want to keep my ear tuned to the groanings of my place. I want to stand ready, as Christ’s ambassador in my neighborhood, wearing grace, flesh, and skinny jeans. I want to belong, just as I am, and I want to get better at loving people for every good and puzzling thing they are.”

The book also speaks of remembering that every person- is also made in the image of God. This very theme was in my pastor's message two weeks ago. When we are out and about, or at work or where ever we need to remember that person weencounterr is made in the image of God and dearly loved.  How would this change how we interact with people. Pray for people, love people....
 

I give you a new command: Love one another. 

Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.

John 13:34 CSB

happiness is Pampered Chef. . .

Hi Everyone! I was having another bout of anxiety and discouragement this morning ... everything feels so uncertain. 

Well, I spent some time in prayer, some time staring up into the big blue sky, some time remembering how big my God is... I started to feel better.

I popped over to the Pampered Chef website to brainstorm some ideas for future LIVE videos and hopefully a couple virtual parties this month. This filled me with such happy anticipation. I am reminded how much I love this company, helping people feed their families and cooking. 💖

So I am doing a video tonight- I have several other ideas lined up and hope to maybe do them a little more frequently... we'll see what the future holds.

Some good from yesterday- Mikayla found this cute little desk for her room on Amazon.  It came yesterday and she built it. Hopefully making keeping up on her coursework easier.

I also attended Prayer Meeting last night via Zoom.  It makes me happy to be able to connect in this way when we can not be together in person.

What's your happy place right now?  What do you do to keep rising anxiety at bay?  any kitchen/mealtime problems I can help you tackle?

Just Life...

I'm trying really hard to not complain. To be positive, to be thankful. To keep my focus on good things. And God things.

I have a little bit of a headache but I think its from too much coffee and not enough water...

Just because dogs make me happy.

 I was able to get a decent amount of groceries last night and this simple fact made me happy.

The girls got out and took the pups for a walk.

We're doing a LIVE tonight! Hopefully around 6- I am hoping to squeeze in a run before I head home. =)  We are making deep dish pizza in our new Cast Iron Pans

Love this reminder from Ann Bogel to just do the next smallest thing- the little things really do add up. I am one that is easily overwhelmed by things- but just doing the next thing ultimately makes a difference.  You can read her thoughts --> HERE <--

Some thankful thoughts for today-

• warmer air
• a full fridge/freezer
• hearing birds singing when I went outside
• listening to KLOVE with a worshipful and joy filled heart
• kindle library books
• technology to be connected

A verse for today~

Let's Pray- set your alarm to pray for one minute at 8 pm central- that's 9 pm here locally ;-)

As I said yesterday Prayer is powerful! 

Let's prayer for our country/our world. 

Our leaders. 

An end to the virus and healing. 

For peace and unity in our nation.

Thankful. . .

It's thanksgiving week, my heart is grateful.  Thanksgiving is my favorite!

I can't tell how Thankful I felt to be able to sit next to my husband and with my family in service yesterday.  On normal Sundays we go to different services because I teach littles in the first service.

 Followed by our Church's Thanksgiving dinner. <3 I was happy to be near this crew too.

Saturday I did some cleaning in the basement and unearthed my sewing area.  I was able to actually do some sewing yesterday afternoon.

 Mikayla was impressed with my efforts.

Saturday afternoon Hannah and I went to check out this sweet new little bookshop with Laura <3  If you are in the area and like fiction you should check it out. ;-) Here is a link to their instagram.  I hope to stop back to do some Christmas/birthday shopping.  Hannah was working on her wishlist while we were there.

 We also went to the library. And McDonald's because the little nephew wanted chicken nuggets.

Syracuse Half! 2018 Recap!

Spoiler alert- it was AWESOME!

I signed up for this race way back in the spring- I think even the day registration opened.  Determined to have vindication on my race experience last year and to train my heart out and crush this thing.  Well- training didn't go as I planned.  For no other reason than I was a huge slacker and just didn't commit fully.  So I was a little trepidatious as this race approached, but I knew I could finish. Probably not as fast as I wanted to, but I would finish. My sister was still running so I went through with it.

Friday as quitting time approached I started to get really excited about the race.  Just something about race weekend that thrills me.  I went right after work to pick up my race packet.

Saturday afternoon I spent sometime with Laura at our parents house and we talked ourselves up.  Got more excited. Set goals. Decided what and how many layers to wear.  Saturday night I laid out my clothes. Sue's Crew T's in honor of our aunt Sue.

Sunday morning I drove to my sister's house before the sun came up so we could drive to the race together.

Hanging out, keeping warm int he convention center before the start.

We stayed in as long as possible before heading out to the start line.  We meandered out and slid into the corral.  Laura look around and said- "I think we need to move back, we're up too far." We walked back a bit until she said- "this feels right." As we stood there laughing and joking and listening the banter around us- we realized yup- these were our people! :P  Much less serious about the course and just out to do their best and survive this thing :-D  Though the lady in front of us heard us joking and turned around saying, we "looked professional".  Not at all but thank you! 

At the start line. We were pretty excited it was snowing a little. I love running in the snow. Always feels magical.

About half a mile in I realized laughing that I never started my watch.  So my watch data is around half a mile short. But half a mile difference was easy enough math, even for me, to figure out my rough mileage as I trotted along.

Laura stayed with me through mile 1 and then took off to chase her own goal.  I happily waved her off, stating I was good! And I was!  I seriously loved this race! I had a blast, I felt strong and capable.

The first 2-3, maybe even four miles my glasses kept fogging up from the snow. I stepped in a puddle pretty early on (because of my impaired vision from fogged up glasses.)  So my feet were soaked and cold the majority of the run.

I think I took this picture around mile 4 attempting to show the snow in the air.  But you can't really see it.

I signed up for text alerts on Laura's run once I knew we wouldn't be together.  I was pumped to get texts when she crossed each check point and see she was on target for hitting her goal!

I wrote on my wrist to help me if I got discouraged. I thought about Sue a lot. I thought about how different my life is from last year. How good my God is. I thought about how full and thankful my heart was.  How blessed I felt to be out there running.

When I needed a push I just kept repeating to myself. Strong. Powerful. Sue's Crew. You got this. Run. Strong. 

I fueled with dinosaur fruit snacks. 😂 I ate a pack around mile 6 and again at mile 9.  I really think they helped. Also hit every.water.stop. I did pass on the one where spectators were handing out beer though :P

This was one of my favorite and prettiest parts of the course. Just before mile 10. =)

 

I made sure to take a selfie at mile 10 because that was one of the points I actually enjoyed last year. Laura too a pic of me last year hitting the sign. =D

Miles 11 and 12 were the hardest.  I remember hitting mile 11 and being like just over two left.  That's your easy, every day go to run.  You can do this! 

I slowed down considerably, I walked more than I did in the rest of the race probably.  If I could've kept up my pace maybe I would have hit my goal.  But I feel like I did my best. The best I could yesterday. I genuinely enjoyed the whole half marathon. I felt so amazing at the end. Sore for sure.  But so unbelievably HAPPY!! I was overjoyed.  At one point I was beginning to waver and a lady passed me and said something to the effect of, "Great job! You look strong!" It was just what I needed and gave the boost I needed to hold my head high and keep truckin' on. Keep moving forward.  Even when I was starting to fade I told myself, keep moving forward. That's all you have to do.

Shortly before I hit mile 13, nearing the finish line my sister popped up again and ran with me a little bit.  Helped me pick up the pace.

It felt awesome hearing my name announced as I approached the finish line.  

  

I did it! And I could not be prouder!

Pancake breakfast! YUM! So much better than last year... or maybe it was me. =)

The tiny Dunkin' cups crack me up.  I sure did enjoy that thimbleful of coffee the ride home though.

And let me tell you a hot shower never felt so good!

<3 This awesome guy even made dinner. <3

OK so here are the official results.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to post them. Not my best time. In fact my slowest Half to date. But an awesome experience.  

And you know what... I did it! I finished! And of that I am proud!  One thing I am super proud of is not getting down on myself.  The whole time- I knew I was doing the best I could in that moment and I told myself I was rocking it. For me this is huge! I always end up berating myself for not doing better. But today I am nothing but proud. Do I wish I had trained better and been more consistent- sure.  But I am happy and proud of this run. Ready to look forward to the next one.  This one definitely left me hungry for more!

Some goals for the coming year-

• Successfully complete a half marathon training plan
• Get under 2:45 in a half and then work down to sub 2:30
• Get my pace back down in the 11's consistently on everyday runs
• Get to the point where 3 miles could be my easy every day run
• Be grateful for each day I am alive and able to be out there RUNNING