Well, new season stirs up the desire to start something new!
Soooooo here it is! Going to start blogging about my running! I've looked back over this blog and it has made me feel so good in so many ways reminding me of some very wonderful memories. With that said, I've also felt convicted of my motivation with some of my posts over the years but I know I've grown a TON and seeing that on the computer screen in front of my face is a great reminder! :o)
So along with all the fun stuff I'm involved with and some of my personal growth/challenges I'm faced with DAILY, which I will blog about here, I also want to share this new season of fitness and new level I'm at in a separate blog. Now, can I maintain both and facebook? Hmmmmm...not too sure yet, we'll see how it goes!
One of the greatest things about music is that it sparks up so much emotion in me! I was listening to Pandora today while getting dinner ready and this song came on and just broke me into tears. It was just the song I needed to hear today to go along with the verbal affirmation I got today from one of my very best friends.
If you know me, you KNOW I'm pretty passionate about just about everything...If I love, I LOVE...if I hate, I HATE...it's all or nothing with me, I change my emotions like the wind and don't look back too much. I'm EXTREMELY forgiving, sometimes to a fault. And although I love with every piece of me, I've never truly believed that anyone really "loved" me. This of course started back in my adolescence and I carried those feelings with me into young adulthood. Had a couple of relationships that were so very wrong for me on so many levels. I loved them, or at least thought it was love, but they didn't love me back, not in the way that real, true love is supposed to be. I've done just about anything and everything you can imagine to seek approval and/or love from people. I've made lots OF MISTAKES along the way, for sure! Then just went I was pretty close to what rock bottom looked like...alcohol, drugs, partying like nobody's business, completely wild, there he was....MY SOULMATE!
Listening to this song, I feel so connected to Chris...even though he isn't a Maroon 5 fan like I am, the words make me feel connected to him. They describe his love for me. Chris is the first man in my LIFE to make me undoubtably know he loves me. There has never been a moment in over 11 years now that I questioned his love for me and that is one of the greatest gifts I've ever been given.
Now fast forward to about 4 years ago and I met another Chris, but in the female form! :o) My sweet Erika! Although very different from me, we just connected. I met her during a lonely time in my life. I was living here in Texas, starting a family, becoming a stay at home mom no longer working, and I just felt all out of sorts. I wasn't really happy here, no matter how hard I tried to be. And while I love my family that I have here, we were all doing the same thing sorting through our own stuff and trying to figure it all out too! That's what happens when all of us got married in the same year! :o) I NEEDED a friend, and I didn't just get a "friend", I got another sister.
This girl knows what makes me tick. She knows what I do and why I do it. She knows when I'm speaking in truth and when to let my words slide because they are coming from emotion and not logic. She knows when I need a push and when I need a hug. She's LOVES me. She accepts me, doesn't want to change me and wants nothing but to see me grow. She is the best encourager I know. She is here living life with me everyday and even when I was a total bitch, she has NEVER turned her back on me. I'll say it again, she LOVES me. It is rare to find those friends that truly love you and will go above and beyond to help you be a better you. I only had one other friend before meeting Erika that loved me like that, and that was my friend Danielle who crazy enough is JUST LIKE ERIKA! :o) It's really crazy!
I'm always growing. I'm always changing. I'm always trying to be the best I can be. I can be moody. I can be alot to handle. But I'm loyal. I'm fun. I'm faithful. I'm loving. I'm dedicated. I'm giving. I will serve and serve and serve.
All I ever wanted was to be loved.
Thank you God for delivering Chris to me and through him I am surrounded with the family I've always wanted, and thank you for Erika, through her I've learned just how special I really am, and am surrounded by so many wonderful ladies now.
Where did September go???? I feel like I have so much to write about but my head is just spinning and I can't focus! I got to thinking about why I want to blog, what is the reason for it? Everyone knows I facebook enough and don't really need a long winded post on "What's going on in our world". So I think I'll keep it simple and make it a picture post of what I've been up to!
Experienced my first Beth Moore Simulcast and CAN'T WAIT for the day I can see her in person...this was AN EXPERIENCE to say the least! Total different blog post in itself! :o)
Booked our 10 Year Anniversary....GOING TO VEGAS BABY!!! So excited, I've never been!!!!
Baby Girl just EATS AND EATS AND EATS! LOL Wants to use a spoon and be just like the big kids in EVERY WAY! LOL
Christopher started PreK a couple of weeks after Adrianna started school! He LOVES it!!!
He helped me pick out what his special First Day of School treat was going to be!
Adrianna's First Day of School Cake!
THANK YOU GOD for the change in seasons...this is when I feel my BEST! We are working on the holiday calendar stuff. I'm checking out all the fun little crafts that I would love to do but will commit to only a few this year and that's OK. I'm excited about all the community stuff we have comming up and all the AWESOME WAYS to serve! I'm looking SO FORWARD to continuing OUR family traditions that Chris and I have made for our precious babies. I'm excited at all the FUN stuff coming up with our family and friends!!! AND I can't wait to do The Chosen Half Marathon next month, my first Half Marathon!!!! WOO HOO!
Now I better get to bed...it's WAYYYYYYYYYYYY past my bedtime! LOL
Sorry, I'm a little late on this. With my husband's works schedule and being away one-two nights a week, I was waiting on his travel schedule to tweek my menu for the month. And well, here it is! Now this is something totally new for me to try. I have been toying with this idea for over a year now and am thinking that now is the time. :o)
Now I know there are some of you ladies out there that are like me and will jump on the idea of trying something new BUT if you've never menu planned you may want to stick to a week by week plan and build up to a monthly. Or hey, if you just want to dive on in then join me! LOL I will be posting this week about different reasons to Menu Plan, why do a monthly, different templates, tips, etc. But for now here is the plan, I have to get my Sunday started!
Sad to see you go but THRILLED to have these pretty thangs! :o) I was SO EXCITED at Rogue today when after trying on 7 pairs of shoes at Runtex and leaving with nothing, finding THE shoes!!! Not only are they PERFECT, BUT THEY'RE PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you feel my excitement?
Back at the beginning of the year when I decided to go forward and take on this running thing I got fitted at Runtex for my blue beauties, aka New Balance 1011. At the time (having a 6 month old and still in that postpartum body transition thing!) these were the shoes I needed. I pronated alot and needed the support and stability. My poor joints and body were still recovering from the 60lb weight gain, of course I needed the stability! :o) But now being 30+ lbs lighter and running more seriously I guess I was ready for a different shoe. I tried on the good ol Asics, New Balance, Mizunos and Brooks over at Runtex but they just didn't feel right. I've been having some issues with 2 toes on my right foot and come to find out, my foot GREW, OH JOY! Ha! So after I left Runtex with Erika (my saving grace, couldn't imagine going with my two little ones by myself!!!) we decided since we were down there to just run into Rogue.
Now this guys seemed like he knew what he was talking about! Not anything like the Latin Lover Boy salesman at Runtex!!! LMAO! I put on the Asics, felt good, then a pair of Brooks, felt better (liked the bean bag feeling at the arches), then.....came.....the .....Nikes!! I slipped them on and OMG, I just KNEW they were the ones! I knew that I couldn't leave without those shoes! Light, yet supportive, Roomy, but felt secure, Pretty, oh and yeah Pretty because I don't care what anyone says the shoes have GOTTA look good!!! :o)
The funny thing is as I tucked my New Balance into the Nike box to keep them, I felt a little sad. My poor shoes have been replaced. Those strong blue babies went through my first 5k, 10k, and Triathlon with me! I put my first "long run" on those shoes so they will be kept forever! :o)
So tonight I celebrate on a treadmill (hubby is out of town, so I dont' have a choice) my new Nikes and my reaching a new level with this FREAKING AWESOME sport!
Okay so after talking with a friend at church yesterday, I realized I MUST do some confessing here! I love Mondays for the simple fact that I can try to get it right this week. It's a fresh start and there is nothing I like better than putting the negative behind and moving forward. It's VERY easy for me to drop something that doesn't work and move on, not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing since that can be sort of inconsistent, but whatever, it's me!
Most of my friends know I LOVE Facebook! I can update through my phone and the people who care about me, know that I have a busy life so it's a very simple way of keeping them updated. One of the drawbacks about FBK though is that it may seem like I always have it together and her is a little confession....I DON'T!!! LOL
I can go on and on about all the great things that I've been up to and routines I've instilled but I can also go on and on about all the sucky things I do and can or cannot maintain. But instead I think I will bullet-point some simple confessions to show you that I'm not perfect, I don't have it together all the time, I have lots of insecurities, but I just push forward which is all I can do!! LOL!
I've fed my kids more fast food and junk this summer than I wanted to and I MUST stop this insanity!!!!!
My upstairs game room and 2 out of the 3 kids' rooms are TRASHED and I dread going up there to get it together...looks like a BOMB EXPLODED in the game room!
My laundry was completely done and put away and guess what, it's loaded back up again which is how I will spend my Monday!
My couponing has gone to crap and I'm completely unorganized with it! Coupon box is all screwed up and I don't feel like I have it together there at all.
My budget system went out the window this summer and although I know we need to get back on the ball (we're starting The Money Makeover program next week) I am dreading the "confinement" of a budget.
I feel fat most of the time no matter how much weight I lose, and this is a battle I've had since I was a teenager.
I'm not always comfortable in my own skin and question "Who I am" sometimes.
I don't always want to "Do the right thing" and have to force myself into that behavior at times.
I have "Daddy Issues" and "Abandonment Issues" that I thought would go away but they love to creep up during times of stress.
I don't know how to relax AT ALL but deep down wish I could!
My car is a hellhole most of the time, I have no value for a clean car and really don't care. :o)
My bills are stacked up on my desk and I know I need to get to them TODAY but really don't want to and probably will put it off as long as I can since I HATE DOING BILLS!
I get excited by my running and feel great afterwards but still think I suck at the running thing!
Don't always feel good enough.
Okay so there you have it! These are just a few things I wanted to confess. It's okay to have our moments of insanity, moments of self doubt, moments of poor me, but you just can't stay there. You've gotta focus on the bigger picture of this thing called life and just move forward. I know that I have to stay positive and if I'm feeling negative or down then that's usually a sign that I'm under some stress and I need to do some reprioritizing of some sort. I will admit, I've gotten really good at re-evaluating, taking an inventory of what is what and what needs to go. So that could be considered inconsistent but it's important for me to do that since I'm one that likes to constantly try something new.
So why I like Mondays, is simply for that reason! It's a fresh week, I can put together the schedule for the week (which I don't always stick to) and get some focus. BUT I do have 3 children so schedules MUST have some flexibility and I'm okay with that. :o)
obviously this is NOT me, but I just LOVE this pic!
Well, I can't believe it...I DID IT!!!! 9.77miles plus a half mile warm up so "technically" I did a little over 10 miles in 2 hours 2 minutes and FELT AWESOME!!!! Had a couple of good laughs with the girls of course and LOVED LOVED LOVED my new fuel belt...worked GREAT for me!
I felt like a real runner today and it was well to put it in one word FREAKING AWESOME, okay two words, whatever. ;o)
Took the electrolyte pills, had exactly enough water (32oz) since the weather was PERFECT, started off with a Myoplex Lite Shake at 4:15am, sipped on a cup of coffee on the way and popped some Extreme Jellybeans in my mouth at 5:15 and then took my Cliff ShotBlocks at mile 5. Everything just worked like a charm today! Stretched and had some Dunkin afterwards, then came home a took an ice bath...what a way to kick off a Saturday, I feel really really good!
I was talking to Kim today when we hit mile 7 and said, "Can you believe how good we feel?". We really can do a half marathon, not just that but FOR SURE can do a full one! I felt like I could have easily done 3 more miles today...and THAT amazes me!! Now I am by NO means like the more elite runners I know BUT I know I have the potential to be that, and that right there my friends will drive me for sure! One day I won't be doing intervals but for now, I am okay with the walk breaks. My pace was still great (12.29) for the distance little old me did and I couldn't be happier right now...gotta LOVE the whole "runner's high" thing...LOL!
Sometimes I am still in disbelief that I am doing this. Different seasons in life bring different things and boy am I glad that this is the season in my life for running.....I love you pavement! And I'm thankful for my friends that get up at ungodly hours to run together, encourage each other, laugh together and are always willing to try something new!
