Merry Christmas!

Running has been going well....some short runs here and there and still doing the 30 day shred. I am taking a few days off to enjoy the Christmas season with family, sleep in a little, and just relax. I may even enjoy some of the yummy food of the season. Shock, I know...it is all about balance, right? A few cookies won't hurt anything. : )

We all will be missing my dad, being the first Christmas without him. In bittersweet times like this, I am even more sure of the True Light of Christmas, Jesus Christ. It is a joy to worship Him this Christmas Day and everyday. I pray you all will be doing the same.

Enjoy your family and the memories you will make. Merry Christmas!


(From Country Living)

Cold Gear in Full Force....

I know a lot of you live in much colder environments than me, but it has cold here and I have to wear extra warm things on my runs. I love to run in the cold, but I have to be covered pretty well to do it! This morning I ran a 3 1/2 mile run with hills and felt pretty comfortable in my cold gear attire...plus, a neck warmer, hat, gloves, and 2 layers under my Under Armour hooded sweatshirt. Plus, there was really thick fog and I could only see about 20 feet in front of me. Thankfully there is usually no traffic(or very little) where I run, so I didn't feel like the visibility issue was a concern.

I am enjoying running. I am still having some pain issues in my lower right abdomen if I add to my distance. Maybe for now, these short runs will have to do.

Rainy, but still determined.

It is a very rainy morning here so I decided to spend some good quality time with my dear friend, Jillian. I have not had her over in a while, so it was time to get the dvd going, grab some weights, and hit it hard!

I have been doing the push up challenge and I have worked up to 25 push ups X 3...so 75 all together with short rest in between...and I can really tell my strength has improved. So much so, that I could handle the level one *real* push ups on the shred dvd without stopping at all. Wow! Last time I did it I would do a few real man push ups, stop, and then finish with the easier version push ups. I am happy with my progress....and it does feel good to be able to keep up with Jillian and the girls on the dvd.

I am hoping to run 5 miles tomorrow or Friday...yes, I said 5. I am slowly increasing my distance and so far so good! We will see how it goes.

Once again, it feels so good to be out there again and enjoying the blessing of a healthy body. Continuing to praise God through the victories and the days where I am not so sure I can do it...knowing that it is all because of Him anyway! Pressing on!

Running has been going well. I have been able to run short distances with little or no pain. I even increased my distance some on Monday and only felt that dull lower abdomen pain right at the end. It did not stay with me all day like it has in the past so I am very thankful I still continue to improve, even while running.

My last run on Monday morning was a very great run! My pace felt quick(maybe in the 9 mile range)...still not wearing my Garmin, so I am not sure, but it felt like the pace I am very comfortable with on a normal running of day not trying too hard, but not being cautiously slow like I have been running. I ran farther...maybe 4 1/2 miles and it felt really good to keep going.

I know I am nowhere near all you marathon and ultra running runners out there, but I am very blessed and thrilled to be able to do what I love again!

God has really been working in my heart this week. I know that this time of the year is always hard for me...not in a bad way, I love this season...but I can get easily stressed about everything that needs to get done and also very easily distracted by all that glitters and shines...please visit me at Lifesong to read how I am trying to focus on God's truth about Himself. As women we need to pray for one another...that we would serve our families with joy and treasure God above all. That is my prayer.

Crisp Morning

I slept in a little bit accidentally, but did manage to get my run in this crisp fall morning. I am one of those people who love the mornings(I was frustrated that I slept past the alarm!)...I love to get up early, read the Word, pray, run, cook or prepare a nice breakfast for my family...all of it is good! I have the most energy in the mornings, but by 9pm I am usually going downhill fast. My husband is the opposite, so he wants to discuss important issues and make major decisions around 9pm or 9:30. I just sit and contribute very little because I am so tired at that point of the day. He always laughs at me. I guess that helps me to be submissive and allow him to make all the decisions...I am too tired to not be. We try to compensate for our differences and I really do try to be awake when he needs to talk.

I said all of this to say that I love running in the mornings. I don't think I could in the evenings. This morning was especially beautiful. It was cool--there was a little frost on the ground, but I wore shorts, a warm top, hat, and gloves. The sun was a little brighter since I went a little later. I felt zero pain and actually felt like I was back close to my old pace. It is still weird, I feel things some days and others days, I feel great. I am just thankful for being able to have made this progress so far and thankful for God healing me to the point that I can run.

I ran into one of my ortho doctors last weekend and he asked how I was doing. I told him I am able to run short runs and I rest in between each run and he said that was good. He mentioned that if I feel any pain to stop and I think he really wants me to have an MRI....thinking it could be a sports hernia or something like that since it has lasted so long. I still consider having one, but at this point I am managing and am hoping it is all going to become a distant memory and time of growth for me.

I am doing an excellent Bible study right now on the book of James and I am learning a lot about responding to trials with joy...seeing that God is conforming to His image through it...no matter if it is a big trial or a small one(like my injury)...He is working through them all and I am very thankful. I have known this, but studying it again has been a good refresher course for me. We tend to want out from under the pressure of the trial, but as believers we should be persevering with joy and allowing God to do His work in us. Trials should be joyful. Only by God's grace can they be. That is hard for this stubborn heart to really live out, but I am trusting the One who can do it through me.

My second oldest is running in a 5K tomorrow morning with a friend...oh, how bad I want to, but I know I might push myself too much, so I am not going to try any races for a while. I'm okay with that.

Another Good Run and 100 Push Ups

I am very blessed to say that my running is going well and the pain has almost subsided completely. I do feel some twingy type pain in lower abdomen every once in a while, but I think it is just the after effects of whatever injury I had. Overall, I am running at a nice comfortable pace and feel great. I'm still trying to be patient and keep my mileage low and be super careful...afterall, pushing myself is what got me here in the first place...so PATIENCE and paying attention to my body is what I am trying to do.

Today it was bright and sunny, cool enough for my frosty running tights,and just a gorgeous morning! I ran a little bit farther...I think close to 4 miles,I am guessing it was close to that since I know how long each stretch that I normally run is. Plus,I am not wearing my Garmin yet, so I don't have exacts. I felt good at 3 miles, so I added little bit more. I was fine and actually did really well with the distance. So, Yay!!!

I have also been doing this challenge..trying to get to 100 push ups. My older daughters are working towards this, too. My 6 year old is trying to do it, too...she can do 10 real push ups! I may not get to 100, but I am already getting stronger am able to do so much better than when I started. I did 4 sets of 10 yesterday. I like following the workout schedule, but some days I do my own thing. It is fun!

A Bit Nippy...

A beautiful crisp cool morning. I usually overdress because I do not like to be cold, but today my legs were a little cold in my running shorts...but I did have on a cold gear top and gloves. Very nice morning for a run and I was so thankful to be puffing up that big hill!

3 miles with hills and lots of early morning sunshine!

Looking forward to lunch out with some dear friends in Little Rock today...