A New Series: Seriously, Pinterest!?

Seriously, Pinterest!?

I'm all about crafting and creating and baking and all, but there are some things I see on Pinterest and I think to myself:
"Who in the WORLD has time for that!?"

I mean, I work full time, but I don't have kids yet, and I still cannot see myself doing these time intensive projects. Here's one I thought was extra ridiculous...unless you have 8 hours to make the dessert you are taking to your next Christmas party.

You need tweezers? I'm out.

Thanksgiving

When things aren't seeming to go your way, it is hard to be thankful in your circumstances. Of course, there is MUCH to be thankful for, which I cannot take for granted--my health, home, family, freedom, job and much more. But, when you are mourning a loss, or lacking hope, or dwelling in pain, it is hard to find comfort in being thankful for your current situation.  I certainly felt this way for the past two Thanksgivings, and so I've tried to focus on the "little" things to be thankful for.

Here's my Thankful list:

• sweet walks with Maggie
• cute fuzzy ear warmers
• coffee (specifically while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade)
• good books
• my ability to still run 3 miles after my race
• a clean house
• my favorite sweet potato recipe from my favorite second grade teacher, Mrs. Heigel
• Tom having 3 hours off to enjoy Thanksgiving
• a fully decorated house for Christmas
• sleep

I have many blessings to count, and although that doesn't take away pain or hurt, it brightens my soul a bit to dwell on God's goodness.

Truth

This past year I've been struggling with anger and despair and darkness. Sometimes when you are in such a dark place, you repel anything that has even the slightest bit of light. That is what I've been doing. But, in my recent hope, I've let a sliver of light in, and it is oh.so.beautiful. This song came on my Pandora station and usually I would "skip" it, but today I listened to the beauty and truth of the words and was overcome with the TRUTH.

When A Heart Breaks

Life isn't easy and it isn't clean, but BOY do we need Jesus.

Hope

Today I am feeling hopeful and thankful and peaceful. It may not last long, but it is how I'm feeling now. And, if I've learned anything in the past year, it is embrace the hope and the joy in the now. Don't linger on yesterday or tomorrow, but soak in the beauty that is in the present.



I'm listening to Thankful by Josh Groban. It is actually a song from his Christmas album, but it is fitting all year. We all have so many blessings in our life each day and I will cling to the hope and strength and be thankful today!

Honesty

I am by no means a blogger who has followers, but I was recently reading some of the blogs I follow and was so encouraged by their honesty. I was also very convicted.

Honesty. It isn't something we find too often on the internet. If all at. We hide behind Facebook profile pictures and Instagram'd life events and Twitter updates that make our lives seem perfectly put together, uncomplicated, and unbelievably joyful. But life isn't always like that. Often we are broken, depressed, dealing with complication and confusion.

I'm thankful for the honesty of these two bloggers that wrote exactly what I needed to hear yesterday: Across the Pond and Tales of Me and the Husband

Let's be honest with one another. I'll start.

Runner's High

Freezing before the race

In Corral 19...way back there!

Almost to the start line

Alright, I'm hooked! :)  I had so much fun today running 13.1 miles in my first half marathon! I ran the 2013 St. Louis Rock and Roll Marathon in downtown St. Louis. The weather was freezing, which I wasn't quite prepared for. I get hot easily and thought I would be fine in my tank. When I realized it wasn't going to warm up past 32 degrees at 10am, I grabbed a long sleeve running top too. It worked out and I shed that layer at the 4 mile mark. I felt really good the entire time. At around mile 5, 8 and 10 I was bothered by my ankle, but I tried to shrug that away mentally. That worked pretty well, because I felt great coming in at mile 12 and 13.

My goal was to run the whole time, and I did it! I really underestimated myself, since I thought I would finish in about 3 hours and instead I completed in 2 and a half hours. YEA! Next time (yes, there will be a next time!) I hope to beat my time and sprint in the last half mile or so (instead of the last 20 yards). I am really excited about this new passion and hope to run more half marathons in the future, which I think is a great sign as to how the race went.

I also realized how many people were there for me and cheering me on and praying for me. That meant so much!! Especially Tom, who got up early, drove me down and managed to follow me with the camera!

Mile 4

The numbers:

• Finished in 2:30:46, which gave me a 11:31 overall split
• My 5K time: 32:54
• My 10 K time: 1:09:30
• My 10 mile time: 1:54:59

The Finish Line

All wrapped up, it was cold afterwards!

With my medal

-

Enjoying the concert by Atlas Genius and ready for lunch!

We'll see where my next Half Marathon leads me!

Been Out for a Run

I have no reason for my lack of posting recently, except that I have been busy RUNNING! I've set a big goal that I have been wanting to attain for awhile. Tomorrow, I will be running my first half marathon! I'm excited and nervous about running the 13.1 miles. I'm trying to psych myself up for it...I know my body can do it...now just my mind needs to get in the game!

A little motivation:

I can't wait to post about how it went!