Just Keep Running

Image by Drew Farwell on Unsplash

 I have been running for about 8 years.  Maybe longer. The time is starting to blur together.  I know that I started running after the birth of my third child and I wish that I had discovered running 5 years earlier. I think it would have been easier to cope with postpartum depression.  

When I first started running I ran across an old college classmate who had taken up running.  She was running marathons and half-marathons and I was struggling to get through a mile.  But I followed her posts and started asking for advice. She happily gave it to me and we ran our first race together about a year later.  I have continued to run through postpartum depression, to help me cope with my mother-in-laws unexpected passing, on good days and on tougher days.  Running hasn't forsaken me even if I've forsake it when times were too tough.

One of the things I've done for the last four or five years has been to belong to a virtual running community dedicated to mother runners. I'm usually just an observer even though I have participated in a few of their challenges in the winter months. They developed another program that was similar with a focus on workouts and not pace.  This is something that I needed after becoming burn out on racing. I have used training plans for years to help me maintain focus and motivation. But over the last couple of years I was losing my running mojo, but I didn't want to quit because I knew how much it helped with my mental frame of mind.  

Joining a virtual running community has helped me to continue running through the pandemic and through my cancer diagnosis. It has been so good for me to maintain some semblance of exercise. While I'm not running the same number of miles I did pre-cancer, I'm still running, albeit slowly, and that's good enough right now.  I share my thoughts on it in my article: Just Keep Running on Medium.  Running continues to be a mode of self care for me.

In this time where we are in quasi-quarantine how are you finding time for self care?  Pandemic fatigue is a real thing. I miss seeing my friends and family regularly. I miss volunteering at my children's school. I miss meeting friends at the gym.  But I also know that taking a break from that right now is better for me and my family while I continue to undergo treatment and try to heal my body from all the trauma bestowed upon me from having cancer 

I encourage you to find time to get outside if you can. Breathe in some fresh air. Read a book outside in the sunshine. Call a friend. Check in with someone.  Take care of yourself.

xoxo-The Discombobulated Mommy

Run Like a Mother Party

Hanging out at the Run Like a Mother Party

 On my last birthday my BFF gave me the book Train Like a Mother by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. For all the mama runners out there, I highly recommend this book. It's written as if you are hanging out with your best girlfriends talking about running, training for races, and how to maintain a running lifestyle while maintaining your "family, job, or sanity."  It's a must read.

I used the half-marathon "finish it" plan for my last half marathon. I cranked out a lot of miles while working on my speed and preparation for hills.  Um, it is not for the faint of heart.  I haven't even attempted the "own it" plan.  I'm using the "finish it" plan once again in the hopes to PR for my next half.

Shortly after receiving this book my friend m00se, an ultramarathoner recommended the "Run Like a Mother: The Book" Facebook page. I "liked" it and and now get daily inspiration from these witty, fun, and "I totally get you" mother runners.

m00se and I had the awesome opportunity to attend one of of their "Run Like a Mother" parties that was happening locally. I think we signed up 6 months in advance and we were both looking forward to it. It did not disappoint.  It was filled with other mother runners of all shapes, sizes, ages, and seasons of life.  The authors read snippets from their Train Like a Mother book, awarded some amazing giveaways (jogging stroller, anyone?), and took their time to meet, greet, take pictures, and sign books for their fans.

A pic with the awesome Dimity McDowell

I brought my brought my birthday present and they each signed my book. Admittedly, I was too shy to ask for pictures and did not get one with SBS, but Dimity saw me taking candid pictures of her and my friend and offered to take a picture with me. Uh, yes please!

The best part of the night was watching m00se and Dimity connect and of course, hanging out with my friend. m00se and I knew each other in college and we were friendly, lost contact over the years and reconnected through Facebook.  Running has brought us to a new level of friendship.  Over the course of the last year or so we have gotten to know each other better, cheered for each (or at least texted) for races, talked training plans, and moved towards talking about family, marriage, children, and life in general. There's nothing like a friendship of that of a sole sister. It is a friendship that I value.

By the end of the evening I was the proud owner of Run Like a Mother, a signed copy of Train Like a Mother, and two shirts with running slogans. Yeah, I totally geeked out over going to a running party.  It was energizing and empowering to hang out with other mother runners, the authors, and my friend who is a running inspiration.  It was awesome.

Keep running!

They signed my book!

S. and Dimity bonding over tattoos, running, and running coaches.

Bonking at the Half Marathon

Dad and I before the race

Last Sunday I ran in a half marathon with my dad. His first, my second.  I have been too frustrated and embarrassed by my performance I haven't written about it.  But of course I have to write. It's the only way I can let go of the frustration.

I will admit that it wasn't until the last month or so was I feeling it on my training runs. The first four weeks I think I was tired and I realize I hate running in hot and humid weather.  I was debating on whether or not to run the Parks Half Marathon. I was going to use it as a training run for another half in October. But when no one else was interested I decided to bag it until my dad showed interest. We decided to run it together and I put it back on my racing schedule. I was very excited to run with my dad.  I have always (and still do) looked for affirmation and approval from my parents. I was excited to be doing something that my dad enjoys doing. My dad enjoys running. Over the last 9 years I have asked him to run a race or two with me, 5Ks or 5 milers, and he kept saying how his knees hurt and wasn't up for it.  I kept running and I kept racing.  He ran with the wounded warriors at work and paced them through some 10 milers.  My dad is a life long runner and has never run in a half marathon. It's kind of crazy that I ran one before he did, but he was never interested until now.

My friend ran her first half and totally kicked my butt coming in 24 minutes ahead of me.
It's cool, I'll catch her next time ;)

I struggled through a lot of my training runs and was finally refitted with a new pair of shoes. The new shoes were amazing and I was able to run without knee, hip, and ankle pain.  As the date loomed closer the more excited I became. For the first time ever I ran 13 miles and then a week later 14.51 miles for training runs. They were slower than race pace, but everything I read said that was to be expected. I was just working on endurance.

Just happy to be coming in under my own volition

For this half marathon I added hill training and interval training. I participated in a run clinic to work on my form and I ran more than I ever have in my life.

The day of the race I was excited and nervous. I made sure I had everything ready. In trying to prepare for getting out of the house I realized I didn't have time to make my usual running breakfast of rice and beans in a tortilla and went with almonds and a bagel. I've eaten that before and thought it would sustain me. I also drank a small bottle of water and I was ready to go.

My dad, friend, and I made it to the race start. It was in the low 60s and cloudy when we started. It even started to drizzle just a tiny little bit just as we passed the race clock at the start of the race. It was still a little too warm for me, but manageable. I've been in races where it was 80 degrees and sunny at the start.

My dad could easily have come in an hour before we did.
He looked great the whole time.

Dad and I decided to start with the 2:40 pace group so that we would start slower in the beginning and go for a negative split.  We planned to pick up the pace around the halfway point.  I had the beginnings of plantar fasciitis and foolishly (?) took an Aleve before we left the house.  I usually stay away from aspirin and whatnot for long runs, but I knew that I would be running faster and I wanted to stave off any unwanted pain.  I spoke to the 2:40 pacer and she said she would keep a 12:12 mile. I thought that was more than doable and followed her when it was our turn to start. It was crowded at the start and it took some time to move beyond the crowd of people. When my Garmin went off at mile 1 I realized we were starting way too fast for what I thought would be a comfortable pace.  We hit the first mile in the low elevens and the next three miles we were in the high tens and low elevens. Now my dad naturally runs about 3 minutes faster per mile than I do.  He was more than comfortable with this pace. I was concerned that it was too fast. I even stopped to walk to fix my gait a few times. My gait was off because of the plantar fasciitis.  At mile 4 I decided to walk up the hill known as The Silencer. I was warned about it and decided with my nagging pain to take it at a fast walk versus a run. It was a good decision. We were up and over in no time. However, between mile 4 and 5 I looked up into the sky because I thought it was raining and when I rubbed my hand over my face I realized that I had small salt balls coming off my face. That's not a good sign.  I was a little concerned but we kept running. After an hour of running I refueled with sport beans and got a little pick up at mile 6 and I was feeling better. Dad estimated that we would finish well within our goal of 2:30 and 2:40. The pacer was still quite a ways ahead of us, but we were fine.  We saw my mom, my husband, and my kids around mile 8 and it was so nice to see them. Hubby even had some fresh orange slices ready to give to me. I thought it would help pick me up. But it didn't. It began to unravel for me at mile 8 when I felt the need to pee and couldn't when I got into the port-a-potty.  I tried again at mile 10 and was becoming really concerned that I couldn't go.  I had been drinking water at every station which were stationed just about 2 miles apart. I should have taken in some Gatorade, but it makes my stomach hurt so I just kept to drinking water and pouring it down my back.  My dad didn't seemed concerned about my inability to urinate so we kept running.  By this time the 2:45 pacer had passed us and I couldn't keep up. I kept falling further and further behind.  I just couldn't do it. We saw Mom, Hubby, and the kids just before mile 12 and that was nice. They cheered and gave us fist bumps and I loved them for that. They are the best!

At the mile 12 aid station the medic saw me as I passed her and said, "Get water NOW!" I must have looked terrible. I didn't tell her my concerns because I only had a mile to go. It was the worst mile of my life. I kept thinking I run a mile at least once a day. I just have to keep going. But I couldn't. I was doing a lot more walking than running. I kept telling Dad to go on ahead because he was feeling fantastic and I just wanted to suffer alone. I remember looking at the path at mile 12.3 thinking I could just lie down right now and not get up. I could curl up and be content to not finish this race. Running sucks.  And then I remembered my friend m00se saying, just enjoy the run. I tried. I really, really tried. I had not only hit the wall, I had slammed into it and it knocked me on my butt. I had bonked.  I saw the minutes on my watch tick by and knew then I had blown my goal and I was not even going to come close to my first half marathon time.  I was beside myself. I knew my dad was frustrated. I was very frustrated and all I wanted to do was lie down and sleep. I had never felt that way before.

In retrospect I had bonked. I looked it up later and all of the signs of wanting to just curl up and lie down and of not being able to move clearly indicated I had bonked. I spoke to my spin instructor who is also a distance runner. I told her what happened and she told me I had bonked. She said that salt balls coming off my face and my inability to use the bathroom showed that I was dehydrated. She also thinks that my kidneys were starting to shut down and that I should have gotten IV fluids after the race. My neighbor, a nurse, did not think it had gone that far, but that I was definitely dehydrated.  Come to find out, I was not only dehydrated I was also way under fueled. I found my mostly uneaten bagel in the car when we returned from the race. I had forgotten to eat. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of running with my dad and the thought of getting a PR, I had forgotten to finish my breakfast. I was running on a handful of almonds and a few bites of a bagel. I am the first to tell people to fuel up before a run and what to eat. I have run so often I know exactly what will carry me through each distance. And for this crucial race I did not follow my own advice and simply did not remember to eat. Ridiculous! Frustrating! Irritating! I could have done so much better.

Completing our first half together

I did finish the race by sheer determination. It took every ounce of strength and energy I had to cross that finish line running. My dad and I crossed at 2:51:47. It was not my best time and it was by far the worst running experience I have ever had. It took most of the day to recover. I cried when I got home. I cried for a few days after.  The worst part of the race was disappointing my dad. And I know I did. I could see it on his face and I could hear it in his voice. And it was pretty much confirmed when we had talked about doing another one in the future and after the race he's not really sure he wants to do another one. He was feeling good and looking forward to this race. And now, he doesn't really want to do another one.  It's a bummer. It should have been a good experience for him and it wasn't.

Dad and I post race

As I was finishing up that mile I kept thinking there is no way I can ever do another half marathon, much less a marathon. This run is killing me. But I have run 13+ miles before and never felt that way. But now I know what I did wrong. And now that I have come to my senses, of course I'll run another half marathon. I actually have my eye on another one next month and another one scheduled in April.  If the plantar fasciitis in my left foot can heal in the next few weeks I'll sign up for the one in October. If not, well, this certainly won't be my last half marathon.  I'll just keep running, because that's what I do. I just keep running.

I wish I had the following verse with me on the last five miles of the race:

Our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Almost Wordless Wednesday--Fun Run

Lolo and Lola with the kids before the Fun Run

My son's school holds an annual 1.5 mile fun run. They've been doing it for about 6 years now. We participated last year. I pushed a stroller while running with Buggy and Bananas in it while Boogie ran the course.  Hubby was out of town for work that week and it was just me and the kiddos. This year, Hubby was unable to get home from work in time and my folks stepped in to run it with the big kids while I ran it with Mr. Bananas. I'm pretty sure he was the youngest participant.

The big kids did really well and ran most of it with very little walking. I never saw them once they passed us.  I stayed with Bananas the whole time and he did really well. He is the most excited about running and may very well be my running buddy when he is older.  He ran most of the course and walked very little. He never asked to be carried. He did ask for his shirt to be taken off halfway through. He had his own cheering section any time we passed a group of people. At the halfway point we passed the table of volunteers who were recording times and they cheered him on.  Throughout the run he kept saying, "Go Big Boy! Go Big Boy! Go Mommy! Go Yem, Go Yen! Go Big Boy! Go Yo-Yo, Go Yo-Ya!" He cheered on each of us as he ran along, even if no one else was near enough to hear him.

Me with the next generation of runners

It was fun evening followed by DJ and dancing on the school grounds.

Mr. Bananas on the first loop of the Fun Run

Second loop of the Fun Run

Hey You! You should be running!

Dancing at the After Party

Big Kids Dancing Together

Playing in the dirt after their run

My First Half Marathon

Packing for the race

I am two days away from running my second half marathon and for some reason I have avoided writing about my first half marathon. There is no reason for it. I finished faster than I had hoped, it was a great run, my kids and husband were there to cheer me on, my friend A. ran the 5K portion of the race, and my friend S. ran the half-marathon and cheered me on to the finish. It was an awesome day and an awesome race for a first time half marathon.  It was also a women's only half marathon and for my first, I liked that idea. I had read on various blogs and reviews that a women's only race is different from the co-ed races. The women tended to be more encouraging while running.

I was really lucky that my first half marathon was just a few miles away from my best friend's house.  My family and I attended Saturday evening mass at a church that was at the halfway point between our house and her house. We met her after for dinner for some yummy mexican food and then I loaded my stuff into her car, said my goodbyes to my kids and husband, and spent the night at my friend's house.  I was nervous and fidgety.  The night before the race I prepared everything I thought I would need for the race.  I had a horrible time trying to fall asleep because of nerves. Hubby texted me around 10pm and told me to get some sleep. I finally fell asleep and slept well and then woke up trying to figure out where I was.

Buggy getting a high five from a runner with Mr. Bananas watching from the side.

A. and I gathered our stuff, ate our breakfast and made our way to the race. The weather was so, so cold. It was in the 50s. I didn't want to wear too many clothes and be too hot, so I did my best to keep moving. Since A's race didn't start until after mine she graciously took my stuff when I went to the corral to get ready. I was so nervous and thought I would puke before I even started.  I ran into another woman while waiting in line for the bathroom. She looked equally nervous and asked me if this was my first half marathon. I could tell by her nervous demeanor, the fact that she wore her race shirt, and the new hydration belt we got in our goody bag that she might be a new runner. As a note, most veteran runners won't wear anything new on race day.  They like to run with what they already know...running outfit, hydration system, etc.  No one likes surprise chafe on a long race.  We chatted with each other and wished each other luck.

A., me, and S. after the race.

When I got to the corral I decided to follow one of the pace groups. After one last trip out to the port-a-potty and the national anthem we were off. And then I moved to the side and out of the way and stopped. My running app on my phone was not starting and I really, really wanted to keep track of my time since I don't wear a Garmin. I wanted to analyze my running splits after the race.  After about a quarter mile or so I finally got it to work.  And I was off, but much further behind the pace group than I would have liked.  The weather was perfect and I ran. After the first 3 miles I told myself that the next 10 were nothing but a training run and I could do that.  My brother-in-law later pointed out that my "training run" was after I had run 3 miles.  Yeah, yeah.  By mile three I could feel a large blister forming on the bottom of my foot and all I could think was I can't stop, I have 10 more miles to run. I powered through and tried to ignore the incessant rubbing on my foot.

The kiddos at the race and my cheering section.

The course was hilly with lots of ups and downs. I don't think I did enough hill training to prepare for them.  I remember powering up a hill fist pumping as I listened to P!nk raise her glass. One of the older ladies warned me to slow it down, but I was fired up and feeling good.  We ran through several neighborhoods.  After the motivating crowds and spectators at a recent running festival, the lack of spectators was kind of disappointing.  Thank goodness for good music.  I did manage to find my pace group and kept up with them for a while and then I passed them.

I knew my family would be at mile 6 and I kept running. I wanted to see them. When I did, I sprinted towards them.  My husband waited until the elite runners had gone by before allowing the kids to stand and put their hands out for high fives from the runners.  My kids loved it!  They loved the attention and later throughout the race several women told me they loved seeing my kids at the half way point.  It was there that I decided to make my first pit stop and that was a mistake. The good part was that I got to talk to my family for 15-20 minutes while I waited in line for the lone port-a-potty and mile 6. The bad news was that I had to wait 15-20 minutes to use a port-a-potty and it slowed down my pace by a lot. I saw my pace group run by and I never caught up with them again.  I could have kicked myself later. Not half a mile down the road was a set of 3 port-a-potties without a line. I had scoured the website to find info on the facilities. I remember reading it on one email and never found it again.  So I didn't know that  I could have run a few more minutes and then been on my way. Oh, well. It was a learning experience.

After mile 6 I tackled the steepest hill I had ever run.  I knew it was coming and gritted my teeth for it.  On the hill there were some spectators and there was a sign that said, "Make this hill your b*tch." And I did. I ran it and I conquered it only to be faced with a longer, not as steep hill right after.  The cop helping out at the top of the first hill was really encouraging as we all faced that monster.  But I have to admit, by mile 10, I think I was done.  I kept running, walking some, running some more.  At one point, a woman wearing her Boston 2013 jacket called me by name and shouted out encouragement (our names were printed on our bibs). This was just a few weeks after the Boston bombing and I teared up thinking, wow, she just ran Boston and she's cheering me on? Inspirational!  She cheered for each of us as we ran by her.

After mile 10, I ran next to a woman and played cat and mouse for a while. I'd catch up to her when she started walking and tell her to keep going and that she was doing great. I'd pass her, run for a while, lose steam, and start to walk. She would run up to me and give me some encouragement to run again. We did this until I lost her around mile 11 or 12.  There was another woman I used as my pacer and tried to catch up with her. We ended up running the last 2 miles together. We hit another hill at mile 12 and decided to walk up it. We were spent.  At the top of the hill we started running together and talked and encouraged each other as we ran.  We talked about how we started to hate those that shouted that we were close to the finish line, knowing darn well we were still more than a mile way from our destination. It was the longest mile I ever ran.

As we entered the chute to finish the race Hubby and the kids were at the beginning. Buggy and Boogie jumped in to run to the finish with me. Unfortunately, Buggy bit it after a few strides in and everyone told Boogie to go back and help her. I waffled about running back to her or to keep going. Hubby told me to keep going and he would take care of it. Boogie was disappointed to be told to go back to his sister. I think that's my biggest regret in the race. I should have grabbed Buggy and carried her into the finish with me and I should have let Boogie finish the race with me.

We finished! Sporting our medals :)

My racing buddy and I sprinted to the finish and she beat me by several seconds. I heard my friend S. screaming from the sidelines and that gave me more motivation to keep going. I sprinted in and finished the race.  I was given my finisher's medal and someone walked me to the side and took off my racing chip for me. Thank goodness for that, I didn't have the energy to bend down and do it myself.  I met my family and my friends at the finish line, happy, proud, sore, and exhausted.  I finished 45 minutes faster than I dared hope. I finished in 2:44:20.  Not the best time, but I'm still proud, because I trained, I made it to the start line, and I finished.

I found the two women I had been running with for the last part of the race. I told Joy it was a joy to run with her and I thanked for pushing me the last two miles. The other woman Hadley told me that I pushed her to run faster and thanked me and I thanked her for her encouragement along the road. I never found the new runner Deborah whom I had met earlier in the morning. But I saw that she finished with the pace group with whom I couldn't keep up, darn single port-a-potty line. But awesome for her for keeping up!

As I begin to rest for my race on Sunday, I'm a little nervous. I feel the beginnings of plantar fasciitis in left heel.  I desperately want to go for a run kind of like a last minute cram session before a big final. But I've trained hard and I've trained moderately well. My training times haven't been great, but if I rest my foot for the next two days and give my tired legs a rest I should be fine. I'm also running with my dad and he is a great pacer. I look forward to running with him. We decided to run sans music and headphones. Just him and me and 2,000 other runners.  It should be a good race. I have to finish within 2:45 before they shut down the course. Even though my training times have been lousy, I have faith that I'll make it in at least 2:44:20.  Happy Running!

5K PR and Kentlands 5K Race Report

Last Saturday I ran in a local 5K.  I have been training for the last few months with my friend. This was her first 5K since high school. I ran this 5K exactly a year ago and 10 pounds heavier.  I have been running faster and working on my speed and endurance. Since last year's 5K I have run in 1 marathon relay (7.1 miles), 1 5K, 2 10Ks, and a half marathon.

The day was hot and by the 8am start time the temperature was a sunny 70 degrees and it was just going to get hotter. This year I wore a hat and a tank top and shorts. Last year I wore a short sleeve shirt and capris and felt I was going to pass out at the end. I thought I was going to pass out again this year. It must be the heat and humidity.  Last year I started way at the back of the pack and was a line of people before the stroller group.  This year I started with the 10-12 minute group.  I thought I might be a little overly ambitious as my training runs have been 13+ minutes per mile. But I noticed that for my racing times I am averaging a 10+ minute per mile. I was right to go with the 10-12 minute wave group and after dodging a few people at the start it was fine. There was a moment when my life flashed before my eyes when a 9 year old girl darted out in front of me and I quickly moved out of the way. She was trying to move and didn't look and all I thought was "Oh, wow, I'm going to fall and break my legs."

The Kentlands 5K is a road race around a neighborhood. There are moderate hills and it's a fairly easy and wide course.  The start was crowded and it took some weaving in and out to pass the slower runners. There were quite a few middle schoolers running the race who would start fast, slow to a walk in the middle of the course 4 or 5 abreast, and then begin running again. It was a little aggravating and it took me some time to finally get away from them. They have local bands play at various points on the course and there are 2 water stops. I always walk through the water stops and I think the last water stop was a mistake for me. I should not have taken a drink. It made me feel ill. It was the high humidity and I felt the water sloshing around until I finished my race.  There were employees from the local running store holding signs of encouragement. One of them happened to be the sales clerk who sold my new Mizuno's to me. Her sign? "Walking? You ain't got time for that!" I did happen to be walking at that time because I had just run up a hill and I was tired, however her sign gave me motivation to keep running. I needed that.

As we were coming up to the last hill, the band at the bottom of the hill was being encouraging telling us it wasn't that big and that it wasn't that hard. I kinda wanted to punch him in the nose at that point. I was hot, the water was sloshing in my belly, and I remembered that hill from last year and it's not fun. I also knew that it was all down hill after that. So I put my aggression into climbing the hill, which didn't feel as high or as long as it did last year, thank you hill repeats!  I so badly wanted to walk the last tenth of a mile as my gait felt off. I walked a few steps to even out my stride and ran my way in. As I came to the finish I saw the race clock at 35 minutes. Up until then, my fastest 5K was a 36:56. As I saw the seconds tick up I grimaced and sprinted to the end, completing forgetting that the race clock would be different from my chip time because we started in waves and my time didn't start until I crossed the mat at the start. As I came across the finish I heard the announcer say, "She's coming in strong." He must have seen the look in my eye, because I crossed the mat he said, "I think you got it." It being a PR, and he was right.  I ran that race at 33:32 knocking more than 3 minutes off my fastest 5K time and it was also a course PR.  I also felt like barfing at the end of the finish line making me believe that I had run my hardest and I did at the end. I was still 10 seconds off my fastest pace per mile, but I still PR'd and I'll take it.  And for the first time ever in a race I was in the top half of my age group.

I was at the finish line waiting to cheer on my friend. I missed her completely, but I am so proud of her. She worked incredibly hard in training and had to train the last two months by herself because our summer schedules did not align.  Today we met up again and we started working on hills and we're looking for another race to run together.

It was a good race. I like that it's local and that I can get there, run, and be home within a couple of hours. The race was well organized and many of my friends and acquaintances run the race so it's nice to be able to recognize someone and run alongside someone even if it's for a short time.  I appreciated the water stops and the cheering families who sat on their porch steps or on street corners cheering us on.  A big bonus was that there weren't long lines for the port-a-potties and they were the cleanest I have ever come across in a race. Priorities, priorities :) Overall, a pretty good run day :)

Long Training Runs

My dad and I at our first 10K together last April

I am training for my next half marathon.  This time I will run it with my dad and I am really, really looking forward to running this event with him. In April we ran a 10K together and it was a great experience. He is a really good pacer. He runs about 2-3 minutes per mile faster than I do, but he stuck with me during the 10K and as a result I was able to PR (Personal Record) on the race running my fastest ever pace per mile.

However, with the hotter weather, a change in my husband's work schedule, and having training runs that were a slower pace per mile, I was having difficulty with wrapping my head around the fact that I was training for another half. Especially a half with a time limit of finishing in 2:45.  I finished my first ever half at 2:44 and that was with 15 minutes waiting in a long line for a port-a-potty.   When I considered doing the half in September I thought I'd nail it and be in well underneath the time allotted. By right now I'm not feeling it.

For two weeks I struggled with getting in a 9 mile training run. I'd wimp out and not finish it citing one reason or another for myself.  Not getting up early enough, it's too hot, or I don't want to run 9 miles on a treadmill.  Finally last week while we were on my vacation my husband asked me what was going on and I told him I just didn't know and that 9 miles seemed awfully long. He looked at me incredulously and said, "Haven't you done that at least half a dozen times already?" In reality, no. I ran 9 miles 3 times my entire life:  in a 9 mile training run, in a 10 mile training run, and in my first half.  That's not very often.  He told me to suck it up and get it done and that he'd take the kids out while I was running. So a week ago I gritted my teeth and I laced up my running shoes and opted for a route that would take me 4 1/2 miles out so that I would be forced to run (run, walk, crawl, whimper) the 4 1/2 miles back. It was definitely the way to go. If I done the loop route 4 times I would have talked myself out of it by mile 6 and called it a day. By making it so that I didn't have that choice it ensured that I would get in my nine miles and I did.  And it was great feeling of accomplishment, but my knees were killing me by the end of the day. And I realized that I wasn't enjoying running and it was because my knees were hurting so badly by the end of my training runs that I did not want to go back and do it again.  The thing is my shoes were only 3 months old and had only 250 miles on them. They should last 300-500 miles on average. New running shoes every 3 months can get to be a very expensive habit!

I was so excited to put these on for my training run and they didn't disappoint!

After talking to Hubby we agreed that it was time for new shoes. I knew I would cry if I had to run 12 miles in the current shoes. A few days ago I went out and got a professional fitting once again. The last one was 3 years ago and I should have known then the shoes weren't right for me. I had huge blisters on my arches and I had to break in my shoes. Runner's note:  You should never have to break in running shoes.  You should be able to run in them right out of the box and not have any trouble.  Case in point, today I did a 13+ run in my new shoes the Mizuno Wave Rider 16s and besides my feet and calves being tired from the mileage I did not incur any blisters or other ailments on my run. Runner's delight!

This time my run was different. I prepped myself for completing my 12 mile training run. I self-talked for the last week (super geeky, but it worked) about finishing 12 miles, made sure my audio book was loaded on my phone, and bought a pair of shoes that were professionally fitted for me. It also helped that the weather was perfect for running.  The result was my own personal half-marathon training run. I went further than my 12 mile training run and ran 13.1 miles. And it was awesome! My knees don't hurt as much. There is still residual pain that I have had since my first half but it is definitely less in my new shoes.  After breaking in my orthotics the knee and hip pain should be completely alleviated by next week!  I more than accomplished my goal and I was able to push past my personal wall of negativity.

13.1 miles in the books!

Running was beginning to feel like a chore to me. Not only was it a chore, but it was physically painful and I dreaded putting on my shoes.  That is not how I want my training runs to be because that is awful.   Today I had a boost of confidence and new shoes always help in motivating me to get out the door and try them out. A 13 mile run might be a little much to try out new shoes but my Mizuno's held up to the test quite well.

Running is my solace. It is my "me" time. It is the time that I can step back from the trials and tribulations of the day or week and take a fresh perspective. It's a time where I can listen to a favorite book and enjoy it without feeling guilty. It is a time to set and meet goals and feel accomplishment.  It is my prayer time and my reflection time. It's my time with God. It is my time to go out and kick some butt and then come home filled with endorphins and be a better Mama.

Long training runs can give you that time to think, to analyze and to give you a fresh perspective on life.  And I've read that if you can't come up with a solution for a situation while you are out on a long run, then maybe the solution is that you accept the situation as it stands.  I ran for more than 3 hours today and if I couldn't come a good answer for whatever I am facing then maybe I have explored most if not all the options. Fortunately, today I didn't have any situations or obstacles that needed to be addressed. Today was a training run, yes, but today was also a fun run and it was fabulous...well until the last half mile when I was tired, but you know ;) It was still a good day! Now I know that I can complete the half that I am scheduled to run next month with my dad. And while today's run lasted a half hour longer than I have to complete my half, I have no doubt that Dad and I will get it done and finish before time is up!  Happy running!

Meeting Diana

Last month I had an amazing opportunity to go at an author's event for my favorite author Diana Gabaldon.  This was huge for me because I notice that she doesn't travel to my area very often or at all for speaking engagements and for this event she would only be one state away.  I was introduced to the magic that is Gabaldon's writing by my mother-in-law and fell in love with the Outlander series. I don't know quite how to categorize Outlander and I don't think any one can. In a nut shell it's historical fiction with a little fantasy and romance thrown in. My huband's favorite summary is that a nurse from the 1940's walks through a set of standing stones in Scotland and finds herself transported to the 1740's and has to marry a hunky Scot.  Mind you, he hasn't read any of the books and is gleaning this wee bit of information from bits of pieces he's heard me tell him or that he's heard while I'm listening to my audiobooks.

Deb and I waiting for Diana!

I was fortunate to go to the event with a colleague from my former teaching days.  The event was hosted by a public library and when they opened the event registration they were hoping for 400 participants and ended up with over 1,200 in addition to a very long waiting list.  As a result they had to change venues to a gymnasium to accommodate Diana's Outlandish fans.

It was perfect.  I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go. I was at the event for more than 4 1/2 hours, but it was worth it to me. While meeting Diana and having her sign one of my books was a great honor and I was most definitely starstruck, the best part of the event was listening to her speak.  Being a wannabe writer myself I was enthralled and really enjoyed hearing how she started in the business.  At the time she was working full-time for a university and was raising 3 young children.  In her spare time she wrote and she was never going to publish her work, she just wanted to know if she could write a novel and see it to the end.  She shared snippets with an online writing community and what was once a personal project turned into a highly acclaimed and beloved series.  My favorite anecdote was answering a question about whether or not she does her own researching and why doesn't she hire someone to do that work for her. Diana's answer, granted this is not verbatim, but you get the gist:  She has a personal assistant. If she wants hot dogs for dinner that night, she'll send her personal assistant out who picks up the fixings for dinner and they eat hot dogs. But if Diana, herself, goes out with the intention of buying hot dogs for dinner, she might come across chicken breasts on sale and then she thinks hmmmm, I can make curried chicken, I have all the spices, what else would go well this? Oh, look at that lettuce, it looks fresh and beautiful with the water glistening on it, let's make a salad, let's add some walnuts, and oh, look at these tomatoes, I'll add that as well.  And she ends up with curried chicken and a hearty salad instead of hot dogs for dinner. Why doesn't she use a research assistant for her writing, if she did then you'd just get hot dogs ;)

Listening to Diana!

I was so enamored with her and breathed in every word.  I thought to myself...it might be possible. I might just be able to pull off my dream some day and write something that is worth something to me.  I hung on to every word as if it were a gift just for me and I am so grateful that my husband enjoyed an evening with the kids while I trotted off to another state for the night to meet my favorite author and to gain some inspiration from her.

She signed my book!

After the event, my friend Deb and I joined the 1,198 other Outlandish fans and patiently waited in line for Diana to sign our books.  I brought my current crocheting project with me and it was good thing I did because we were in line for over 3 hours. My only regret is that I wish I had worn more comfortable shoes and chosen comfort over style.  My companion was great and the Outlandish fans charming. I was impressed with the group and how everyone was polite and courteous to one another.  I was very impressed that Diana agreed to stay and sign all of our books (with a 2 book limit, though if you wanted more signed you could go back to the end of the line! Super generous!). I had waited 3 hours for her to sign a book for me and for my mother-in-law. Not only did she sign our books she took a picture with each of her fans.  After I left the line, she easily had another hour of signing to go. She was gracious and beautiful and I was awestruck. I barely managed to squeak out that my mother-in-law and introduced me to Jamie and Claire and I had been a fan ever since.  I think my voice was breathy and soft and just every so squeaky.  She graciously signed my book with "Best Wishes" in Gaelic. It is a treasured book that I hope to pass on to my daughter some day when she is old enough to read about the adventures and passion of my favorite characters James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser and his wife Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Fraser.

Meeting Diana...swoon!

If you have never read Outlander I suggest you do. Diana Gabaldon is an amazing storyteller. Her ability to weave the intricate scenes, story lines, and characters is extraordinary.  She is so descriptive that there are times when I feel like I am in the story, sitting on the sidelines and observing and hearing every conversation. Davina Porter is an amazing narrator for the audiobooks. I have recently started rereading the series again in preparation for the next book due to come out at the end of the year Written in My Own Heart's Blood. With my busy schedule I have little time to sit and enjoy the luxury of reading a long book filled with historical information, many characters, and several story lines.  However, the beauty of today's technology has allowed me to download my books onto my smartphone and now I can take Jamie and Claire with me on my long runs. It is a gift to my myself every morning to find the time to read a long and intricate book combined with my passion for running all before the kids wake up.

Thank you Diana for letting us into your world! It was an honor to meet you and to hear you speak!

Tapadh leat!

Another Year Older

Happy Birthday to me :)

Earlier this month I turned 35.  I can't believe I am 35, but there it is. However, I think I am the healthiest I have ever been.  Seriously.  How is that possible? I'm in my 30's and now is the time that I have become my healthiest.  It's taken being pregnant, having kids, and staying home with my kids full-time for me to realize that I need to take my health and my weight seriously.  I mention my weight because when my weight goes up my knees hurt, I trudge along, my energy is low, and I am hungry all the time.  When my weight goes down I feel like a rock star because I can move more easily, my energy (for the most part) is up, and I eat much healthier and I don't crave the junk food.

This is a big year for me.  I am at my lowest weight since being pregnant for the first time. Yeah, it's only taken me 7(!) years to finally get rid of the baby weight from all 3 kids.  Not only have I lost the weight I have discovered a passion for running. And, no, I'm not being chased!

Blessed beyond measure

I have run in the past and I have run in a few 5K, a couple of 5 milers, and a 10K over the last 7 years.  But this past October after coming off an injury (I had a wicked case of Plantar Fasciitis) I ran in a running festival with family and I was hooked!  I ran my first ever 7 miles as a member of a 4 part marathon relay team. I started training late for it because I was scared and I was kind of hoping that we weren't going through with it. But once Hubby's cousin took the lead on our team I made a definite commitment and kicked my training into gear.  Everyone else could run longer distances and at a faster pace. But I was happy to be included and I didn't want to let them down.  Oh.My.Goodness! I ran faster than I thought possible, LOVED the vibe from the spectators, and truly enjoyed participating in this event with family. It was a great bonding experience and made me love them even more. One awesome benefit was spending extra time with Hubby's cousin and her husband. I was able to spend the night with them so I didn't have to drive an hour to the race site in the wee hours of the morning.  We looked at old family photographs, talked for hours, and I got to know them better. It was great. But that entire event, the bonding, the vibe, the spectators, the runner's high, and reading Born to Run...it all totally hooked me.

And now at 35,  I am running in my first half-marathon. WHAT?  That's right. You heard me, I'm running in my first half-marathon. This chubby little girl in her 30's has fallen in love with running and ran 13.1 miles last Sunday.  How did I fall into that?  Well, my seat mate on the bus to the first leg of the marathon relay in October told me about this race and told me the registration date. She planted the seed in my head and I talked about it for months. After overcoming a few more injuries (a calf strain and hip pain) that took a couple of months to heal completely, I decided to start training keeping my eye on the registration. Finally last month after a conversation with my husband he told me to go for it. I was already training as if I was registered why not just do it. So I did. And did you see that? You better take a look because that was pigs flying. Never in a million years did I ever believe that I would sign up for that kind of crazy. I will definitely write a later post about that experience, because it was awesome.

So at 35, where am I in my life?

• I am a stay at home mommy to my three children ages 7, 4, and 2.  I have been blessed to be home with my kids for the last 4+ years.  
• I am a wife to my amazing husband and I have been married for almost a dozen years.
•  I am still trying to find my career calling.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I was a teacher, my husband thinks I'll be a teacher again. I'm taking classes to keep up my certification, so maybe he's right.
•  I'm still writing, but not as often as I would like. Does that still make me a writer, even if it is done causally? 
•  I am a runner.  Overhearing your daughter tell her friend, "My mommy is a runner" kind of makes it official. 
•  I continue to make baby blankets and full length afghans for family and friends.
•  I volunteer at my son's school and in different ministries at church and I love being a part of each volunteer opportunity.
•  Somewhere in there I try to be a friend to my friends, though I know that I am falling down on the job because I am almost never home and my hours are crazy (I'm up by 4am 4:30am and I collapse by 8pm and try to eek out more time in my day by staying up just a little bit later).
• And finally,  I am imperfect and I am thankful for God's grace and forgiveness. 

Thirty-five isn't looking too shabby.  I will continue to work on myself to be the wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend that God wants me to be. I am blessed beyond measure by family and friends. I feel so good physically and I look forward to tackling yet another half-marathon.  God has been so good and while I am enjoying where I am right now, I look forward to what God has in store for me.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

In Bed by 7...

So much time has passed since my last posting and I'm not doing very well in my resolution to write more and to write often.  A lot of it has to do with me taking a course to keep my teaching certification current. In my state, I have to take 6 credits every 5 years to keep up my certification.  Even though I'm still two years out from having my certification expiring, I feel the need to complete the credits now so I'm not scrambling last minute. I'm getting better at not waiting to do things the last minute. Not great, but better.  So I'm currently taking a 3 credit self-paced online course. Taking one class is the way to go.  I have about one solid hour of study time a day when the little kids are napping. I'm able to complete a reading, watch a video, or begin a writing assignment. I have to get better at not getting distracted when I need to write a response.  We'll see how this goes and I'll try another one in the fall. Even though I have been signed up for 2 1/2 weeks, I am STILL waiting for my textbook and DVDs to arrive. If they don't show up by the middle of the next week I'll have to call them. Ugh! Fortunately, I have links to the videos and some of the readings are online...just not the ones from the text book. I'm supposed to be reading a chapter for each session and right now I'm winging my responses based on the readings I am able to access.

What else has been going on? Oh, yeah. I've registered for my first half-marathon. Yikes! Seriously what was I thinking?  But I am so totally excited. After running in the relay with family in October's running festival, I've been hooked.  I have been training for the last 6 weeks. I'm finally over my calf and hip issues. I realize really, really need to listen to my body and not run when I'm injured. I only injure myself further when I do that.  It took weeks of spin classes and using the elliptical machines before I was better. And weeks of patience, of which I had very little and spent most of it grumbling about not being able to run.  I had planned on building a base slowly and getting stronger. But I found I had just about 12 weeks to train for the half-marathon when I was finally injury free. So I'm not starting the way I want to, and it's taken the last 6 weeks for me to build up my endurance, but I'm doing it again.  As I write this, I feel twinges in my ankle and I'm praying I don't injure it. I'm thankful that my friend J. saw the wisdom in buying me an ankle compression sock as a "just because" gift earlier this year. I have a feeling I will be using it more often. So the race is at the end of next month. It's an all female race and I've heard that it has an amazing, encouraging vibe. My overall goal: to finish and not to get swept up!!!! My realistic time goal: 3 hours 13 minutes.  My "the gods are smiling on me" goal: 3 hours. And my "Hey at least I'm out here" goal 3 hours 30 minutes. The course closes at 3 hours and 40 minutes so it gives me a little cushion. Hubby said he and the kids will be out there to cheer me on. I sure hope so.  It would rock my world if they were there for my first half-marathon.  It would rock my world if other local family and friends were there but I'd settle for a few race day texts wishing me luck and sending good vibes ;)

Let's see what else. Well Mr. Bananas had a big accident last week. He was jumping around at my mom's house and totally bit it on her very hard wood sofa arm.  Yeah. Her sofa is going to outlast all of us it's so durable. Unfortunately it left a big thumb length dent in his forehead.  I called the advice nurse and after confirming that he will probably be okay, she still scheduled an appointment with my pediatrician.  After my nephew's head injury last fall, I really didn't want to take any chances. I love our provider and they were awesome about setting up an appointment for us.  We saw the pediatrician within 45 minutes of the accident.  Hubby even left work early to join me.  When the pediatrician first saw she said, "Well he's acting like he's okay. Where's this dent we're talking about?" When I lifted Mr. B's bangs she said, "Oh, yeah, there it is. Let's go ahead and schedule an x-ray, shall we?"  She was calm but urgent.  We went down to x-ray and the x-ray tech said "Who are we seeing today? This little guy? We're doing a skull x-ray."
Me: "Yes, there is a dent in his forehead" and I lift up his bangs.
X-ray tech: "Why yes there is, let's get him in for an x-ray" and she said it in that same calm, yet urgent, voice the pediatrician used.

Fortunately, the x-ray showed that everything was intact and there weren't any fractures or fissures. Thank the Lord!  I was terrified!  The dent appeared to be in the soft tissue of his head. It took about 4 days for the dent to pop out and bruise. But it did. He seems to be fine overall. Praise God!

However, five days later he started throwing up. Now we're dealing with a stomach bug.  Buggy and I had a touch of it for about 2 days, but we're better. Mr. Bananas is still dealing with it. Fortunately, the vomiting stopped after the first day. But we're still dealing with really nasty diapers. So I've kind of quarantined us. If he's not better by tomorrow I'm going to have to cancel play dates that I have scheduled for next week. I really don't want any of my friends or their children to get sick. This is one nasty bug.

So with all of that going on, I've been in bed by 7pm or 8pm every night (from sheer exhaustion) and up around 4am to hit the gym and get runnin' or spinnin'. One of my friends asked me if I was sick when I told her I was going to bed so early. No, not sick, but exhausted. And with Mr. Bananas being sick he hasn't slept through the night in over a week and has ended up in our bed sometime in the middle of the night just about every night last week.  Which means Hubby and I haven't slept through the night in over a week. I am one tired pup. Oh, and I have mountains (yep, that's multiple) of laundry to wash, dry, and put away.  It's amazing how much laundry you have to do when someone has the stomach bug.  Yuck!

I am hoping that I will adjust soon and be able to stay up later and work out harder.  I was chatting with another friend at the gym and told her I was going to take a class and I happen to mention that Boogie was starting soccer and little kids were starting gymnastics. And she asked, "And you thought this was a good idea to start everything at the same time..." Well, yeah, until she said that! No, it wasn't a great idea in retrospect. But here we are.  Oh, did I mention that Hubby is coaching Boogie's soccer team? Let's just add that to the mix.  I'm so proud of Hubby for stepping up and coaching Boogie's team, especially since Boogie's last coach was awful. He would just stand on the sidelines during the games wearing sunglasses, a knit cap, folded arms, and a scowl never once provided directions or encouragement to the kids during the game.  Gah! So Hubby stepped up and offered to coach this season. Which is totally awesome, but does add to the strain of we're all going in a billion different directions and Mama's anxiety and stress is going up. At least running is my outlet. I can train for my race and let go of my stresses from the day. Running truly keeps me sane. Did I mention I heart running? I do. I really do.

So that's what I've been up to. So if you try to call me after 7pm and I don't answer, I'm probably in bed. And when I'm up and moving around, you're probably still in bed. So there you have it. I am never available and probably won't be until summer...HA! Then I'm the Flipper rep for the kids' swim team and swim team is a full-time activity...so maybe in the Fall...but no, we'll have all the kids in activities again and I'll be taking another class...Winter? Who knows????  Know that I love you and I'll try to keep up the blog so you know we're still here. I'm sorry about the lack of pictures. I'll try to do better next time. And no, I didn't take a picture of the dent. I should have. It was righteous. Ugh.

Shout out to my friend C...(Where are you?  Right here!)...

xoxo

New Year's Resolutions 2013

I've decided to look back over last year's resolutions and see if I've stuck to any of them and to decide what I want to work on in the new year. I think it's important to set goals, reflect, and adjust as needed.

Last year's resolutions included 1) spending more time with my kiddos, 2)  saying no to volunteering in leadership positions, 3) write, write, write, 4) spending more time with God through devotions.

So how did I do?

My priorities

I think I have spent more time with my kids. Again, I know it sounds silly that I posted I wanted to spend more time with my kiddos since I am a stay at home and don't I already spend a ton of time with them?  Well sort of, but usually they are playing around me while I clean the house or accompanying me on errands. Not exactly quality time.  I think I am doing better. I think I need to alter that and say I want to be present:  not on my phone, not on the computer, not letting the kids play around me as I clean and take care of chores, but actually be present. Play a game with them, have conversations, read stories, and be with them.  This year when we had family movie night I put away my crochet project and watched the movie with the kids...that is when I didn't fall asleep from sheer exhaustion ;)   The little kids and I spent a lot of time reading stories before nap time and that has been fun.  Boogie and I bonded over swim team meets and staying up late to meet the team at McDonald's to retrieve his ribbons while the little kids went home with Daddy and went to bed.

I'm happy to say that I said no to volunteer leadership positions. I was not on the planning committee for Summer religion camp but was happily a preschool teacher for a week.  I think teaching is my true calling and I was happy to do it. I was also happy that it was only a week.  I prefer teaching older kids, but those preschoolers sure are cute!  I dropped the leadership position in MOPS and that has made things so much easier.  I'm still in MOPS but I'm debating in dropping it for the Spring Semester to spend more time with Hubby when he is off from work on his flex Fridays. I still volunteer by crocheting baby blankets for the knitting/crocheting ministry and for friends, teach infant baptism classes, and participating in Summer Religion Camp.

Write, write, write. Oh, I wish I had the time to write more often.  I still don't get to write as often as I would like, and I think I've actually written less this year. Huh. I need to get on that.

I have been able to spend more time in devotions and found a great devotional blog at Proverbs 31 Ministries.  It's been a part of my morning routine and I found that when I found the time for God, my days goes more smoothly. It's a time of daily reflections and for focusing my day.  This is now a daily routine and I don't have to add it as a resolution because it's just a part of my day. Awesome!

In addition to what I have written above I want to add/extend the following to this year's resolutions:

Accomplish Tasks with a Happy Heart
Lately I have found that I am grumbling throughout my day when I have to accomplish tasks or have to help someone.  It's not a good attitude to have and makes daily tasks and acts of service much less fun.  If I can approach my chores or times I have to help someone with a happy heart, I might find the service more rewarding.  Just the other day I was getting a few things done to help me get the kids out the door when my daughter helped my youngest son by wiping his face and hands after breakfast and lifting him out of his booster seat. With a cheerful, "I cleaned up Mr. Bananas, Mommy" he was done.  I love her servant heart and I want to act in the same way.  She continues to be a shining example of the kind of person I would like to be.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, have the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,... (Philippians 2:1-423 ESV)  

My new favorite shoes,
a pair of Bikila LS

Run a Half-Marathon in 2013

I could just as easily write, lose weight, be healthier, run more. But I figure I can accomplish all of those tasks if I train and run a half-marathon this year.  In late September I really got back into running. Running no longer became a "have-to" and a dreaded activity, it became a "How can I get through the day without my daily run? I can't."  My running life changed after reading Born to Run By Chris McDougall.  It was a recommendation given to me by my husband's sister and brother-in-law.  I switched from wearing stability running shoes to my beloved Vibram 5 Fingers.  When I ran I found that I lost weight without actively trying and I felt great.  I find that I am in a better mood when I run at least 2 1/2 miles a day.  Due to injuries and strains over the last few months I have not been able to run as I would like.  Fortunately, in the last week I have been able to get back into it. It's been tough and I have to build my base again, but every day is a little easier.  Right now I'm eyeing an iron girl half-marathon that will take place in April...we'll see if I can make it!

But you, take courage!  Do not let your hand be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 
(2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV)

Write, Write, Write

This one goes back on the list because I haven't accomplished it.  All of my 2012 goals were accomplished except for this one. I still write, but definitely not as often as I have in the past.  It's been put on the back burner because of time. But this is my goal not only for right now, but for after my kids are in school full-time and I may have a little more time on my hands (I said "may." I realize that my time is quickly replaced when one thing moves off my plate.)  But after 2 years it's still on my mind daily so I'm not quick to write this one off ;)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve on another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:  whoever speaks , as one who speaks oracles of God;  whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  (1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV)

As for the new year, I wish all of you peace, love, and hope.  I pray that you will be given peace when worries and anxieties creep in to your life.  I pray that you receive love and give love. Love and kindness make this world a better place and what better place to start than with you.  I pray that you find hope when prospects look dismal. The glass is not half-empty, it's half-full.  May you have a wonderful year of blessings. Peace be with you.