Run For It!

I have long joked with my husband (the runner) that I am his biggest athletic supporter. Runners speak of finding their strides, being in the zone, pacing themselves, listening to their bodies, and of course fartlek (yes, this is real…aka speed play). All of this is in preparation to toe the line. I have never really felt the pull to run, but somehow this year I experienced a twinge of desire to run the Peachtree. The Peachtree Road Race is an Independence Day 10k tradition where roughly 55 thousand participants go the distance to claim the coveted T shirt. It is the largest 10k in the world. Hey, if I’m going to make my debut why not do it with a bang!!

So, let’s talk training. This is the stuff that you have to do on a regular basis. (Did I just say regular???) This is definitely my biggest challenge…following the training schedule.  This involves regular runs plus “long” runs on the weekend.

I got this. I can do this for 6 weeks, right?

I remember having to run the 600 yard test in PE in junior high. I was always the last one…by far. I crossed the finish line dramatically gasping for air and begging for water.  My face was beet red (an attractive side effect from extreme cardio) and I could not EVER imagine that I would do something like this by choice. They say time heals and that we grow wiser as we age. ..

You might be thinking, “Why didn’t she start her training earlier?”

 There was a smidge of procrastination, but, I discovered I was lacking purpose.

I thought that I could just want to do it and it wasn’t enough. I thought it would be cool to share in Todd’s active lifestyle…still not enough. I envisioned myself to be in better shape and lose a few…nope, not enough.

My parents celebrated 50 years of marriage this week. I have really been thinking about how incredible this is on so many levels. They have traveled. They have 3 awesome kids (and I do mean awesome). They have 11 grandkids and 2 great grands. They are happy.  Now that’s a sweet life.

And then it hits me…I want to celebrate 50 years of marriage with Todd.       

          I will think of this when I don’t feel like going for a run one day.

                   I will think of this when I am fatigued during a run.

                             I will think of this as I start up cardiac hill on July 4^th.

 Yep, I am going to run for it J

Jack of all

I am a jack of all trades…master of none. There are times when I embrace this and other times when I struggle.  It takes boodles of discipline to become a master at something. You know… the learning, the practice, more practice, laser focus, and still more practice. It’s pretty much the last three steps that get me every time!

You see, there is so much out there to learn and experience.

           I don’t want to be stuck doing just one thing.

                    So I choose to do many things…whilst leaving perfection completely out of the equation.

Today is the last day in April. I started this blog as ARiskADay project and I have made it to the end of my commitment…a HUGE accomplishment for this Jack! It has been fun to put my thoughts into words. I want to continue blogging but it will now happen in a weekly format.

I took a class in ASL (American Sign Language) this winter and explored the world of blogging in the spring. I must say, I am excited to see what summer will bring!! 

With Perseverance

There is a story about a little boy, Todd, who was born with his legs turned in so badly that his toes on each foot faced each other head on. He had to wear braces until he was 5 to help correct the position of his legs and feet. As you can imagine, he did not walk or run with the ease that other kids experienced. But, this did not slow him down. If anything, it gave him more determination.

Fast forward twenty some-odd years and you find this young man preparing for his first ever 10k. He has come a long way. The only hint today of his early struggles is a slight turn in of the toes. He trains with discipline. He stays the course. He keeps his eyes on the goal. He finishes the 1996 Peachtree Road Race in just over an hour.

This is a huge accomplishment…but only the first of many. ..

          This year he will run his 18^th consecutive Peachtree Road Race ...AND

                    He has run in 2 half marathons and 8 full marathons in the past twelve years.

This amazing man is my husband.  We joke because I am his biggest athletic supporter!! He commits his plans to the Lord and then keeps his eyes on Jesus. Solid and steady is a great way to describe him. He inspires me beyond words and loves me beyond measure.

To him I say, “Run, Forrest, run!”

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12: 1b-2a

Clover All Over

Several years back my mom gave me a small clover plant in a cute little pot. It had dark purple leaves and delicate light purple flowers. I knew if my lovely plant wanted to stay that way, then I needed to get it in the ground, sooner than later.

You see…I don’t have a green thumb.

The only plants that survive around here are the ones with sheer will and drought tolerance. Seriously, we install only the hardiest plants and even then, some can’t go the distance. But, this little clover plant was special. Not only did it make the adjustment from pot to ground successfully, it began to thrive! It pokes its sleepy little head out of the mulch in early spring and hits the ground running until late fall. It has grown and expanded into a lush bed of purple wonder.

It makes me smile. I thank God, the creator of everything, for my little clover plant.

Earth+Day=Awesome

Earth day is my daughter’s favorite holiday. She readies herself for weeks to live this day as simply as possible. It is a day in which our bellies are filled with wholesome food, our rooms are lit by candlelight, and our feet walk more than normal. Of course there is always an annual, one of a kind tee shirt that she makes. Quite creative, she is.

We do try in many areas to take conscious steps to care for the Earth. We carry cloth bags to the grocery and to the mall. Our recycling can is as big as our trash can and is always heavier to pull to the curb. We have energy efficient appliances and windows and such. We have even switched our Christmas lights to LED lights. I would really like to figure out how to get a few solar panels up on the roof, but that hasn’t happened… yet.

Earth day is a great time to assess what we are doing and where we can make improvements. Something that I have noticed is how much paper we recycle. I will work harder this year to reduce the amount that comes into the house, thus lessening the amount in the recycle bin. I will let you know how I do!!

Goodness Gracious

There is nothing like a weekend retreat… a time to get away and truly focus on something other than the everyday stuff of our lives. This past weekend I had the privilege to attend our confirmation retreat. We had twenty one of our finest 5^th-9^th graders with us. We learned loads about the church and what it means to be a Christian. We played games, ate snacks, enjoyed the great outdoors, and worshiped. It was amazing.

Grace was one of our topics. Grace is a gift freely given that is not earned or even deserved. God’s grace is there before we know Him, as we claim Him, and all the days that follow. There isn't anything we can do to earn this Grace. The action we can take is to accept it and pass it on.

I can only imagine what our world would be like if we were half as gracious to one another as God is to us… Goodness gracious, what an awesome world it would be!

Soul Feast

Picture it:

A cozy threadbare quilt, the soft glow of candlelight, a worn Bible, a favorite journal and stack of worthy reading material...

Rising early each morning to start each day the best way...

Praying, studying, listening, praising, reflecting, journaling, hoping, breathing, singing...

To live each day to the fullest we must make the most of it from the beginning. The spiritual discipline of morning quiet time is very important. It is food for the soul that truly impacts the rest of your day in a positive way.

Breakfast anyone???  :)