Making Mountains out of . . . well, really big hills

I like to run.  I really really like to run.  But I have to say that my 9 mile run yesterday made me question my own sanity (well actually more the sanity of the people who designed the trails where I was running).  Now I realize how lucky I am to actually be able to run 9 miles and go on to live a relatively active and normal Sunday afterwards.

However, I have to be honest and tell you that when I was running THIS . . .

I actually felt like I was running up THIS . . .

And that did not feel good.  But I made it through, and now that I'm no longer mid-torture, I can say it was well worth it.  And I think that's the way life is a lot of times.  You go through how-am-I-ever-going-to-survive-this moments and look back a few days/weeks/months removed and say "That was well worth it" or "Oh, now I see".

So all in all, I'm glad for my hard run and for the insight it brought . . . just don't expect me to be taking the stairs two at a time or doing jumping jacks in the near future!

Happy Hour

Each and every one of you probably knows that, for me,  there are very few things that top an ice cold Coors Light when it comes to a refreshing and relaxing way to end a stressful day in my world.  And for that reason, Happy Hours are usually a welcome event in my life at the end (and sometimes middle, and well let's be honest, sometimes beginning too) of my work weeks.  But last night, I had one of my Happiest Hours in a long time, and it had nothing to do with ice cold beer.

Last night, a hot and muggy Nashville Tuesday night not unlike most nights this summer, I got together with 3 of my very favorite girls.  These are UK-loving, live-in-a-house-with-40-other-women-and-no-air-conditioning, laugh-or-cry-with-you-over-anything-and-everything kind of girls.  I feel so blessed to call them my friends and to know that I can sit with them on the patio of an crowded restaurant and be a part of some of the most interesting and hilarious conversations I've had in a long time.  The kind of conversations that make you think about your life and where it's going and who you really want to be.  The kind of conversations that make you laugh until you snort and cry and snort again.  The kind of conversations that make you realize that though you will never go back to college again, you get to relive the best parts of college through these friendships that will last a long, long time.

I feel so lucky to have friends like these.  I'm looking forward to many more "Happy Hours" that have nothing to do with half price drinks!

Running on Water

This weekend I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world!

On Saturday afternoon, it was actually cloudy in Nashville, and I could hardly wait to go running without having to worry about the sun mercilessly beating down on me.  But, as it turns out, these dream running conditions were too good to be true.

I started out from my apartment and had a nice little 3 mile route planned out.  It was perfect- or so I thought.  As I started out, it started to sprinkle a little bit.  This only made me happier, as I truly believe the best run includes a little LIGHT rain.  I mean, you don't even notice you are sweating when you've got rain coming down!

Unfortunately, this enjoyable sprinkle turned into a deluge about a mile into my run.  At first, I figured I would just run through it.  I mean I was already soaked, so I might as well just keep going.  If anything, it would make my shower when I got back one of the best ever.  But, this rain was a force to be reckoned with!  The drops got so big they felt like they were pelting my eyeballs, and I figured that instead of running blind and possibly ending up as roadkill, I should probably stop and wait for the downpour to pass.

Luckily, I was close to a shopping center AND a Fire/Police station, so I found the awning of a Japanese restaurant to hide out under for a while.  As I was waiting, the owner of the restaurant was kind enough to bring me some hot tea (which warmed me up but made my stomach a little jiggly for the run back).  I waited for what seemed like forever, but the sky just would not close up!  

So, I decided that perhaps the men charged with protecting and serving the general public would be kind enough to take me back to my apartment.  This was not as simple of a request as you might think however.  I darted over to the station and found a fireman and asked him for a lift.  He kindly informed me that unless I was hurt, neither he nor any of his coworkers would be able take me home because of the "liability" involved.

So, I trucked home in the rain with soggy shoes, a see through white shirt and a blue sports bra, and shorts that were suctioned to my thighs (which as far as I was concerned were already drawing too much attention when the shorts were loose and dry), thinking that this rainy day was not as much a stroke of good luck as it was God's practical joke on me.  I made it safely, and I will say that my shower was one of the best I've ever had.

Needless to say, that turned out to be one of my LEAST favorite running experiences, but I did learn something out of the situation: If I'm ever stranded again, I will be sure to "sprain" my ankle so that I can get a ride home!

.

I stole this . . .

from a friend of a friend of a friend's blog.  But, that doesn't make it any less true, and I'm hoping I can believe this, REALLY believe this every day.  And more importantly, I'm hoping I can live it out.


“I will set you apart from everyone else. 

The whole lot of you. 

I will give you the ways to walk, show the roads, and teach you about myself. 

All of you. 

I will be good to you. I will meet your needs in ways you would never imagine. 

If you will follow me, I will do these things – and people will notice. 

People will see – all of them – that you live differently. 

You give. You rest. You trust. You love. You serve. 

You do these things because we know each other, and you know this is enough for life. 

I will call you my prize possession. My treasure. My beloved. 

You will be my people, and I will be your God. 

The whole world will see our relationship, and they will see how I treat you – and how you live in response to me. 

This blessing I give, it is to act as a charge upon you, a responsibility as you speak when others ask you as to who I am. That you mediate, explain, encourage and teach who I am. That you shout to others, “Come with me to the house of the Lord, for He alone is God.”

And that your life is lived dependently upon me. For I am strong, and I will do what I have promised. 

If you will keep my covenant. This is your identity, this is who you are. You are a nation of priests. Your life is to usher others in – the generations to come – that you might teach them and show them that the Lord your God has dealt graciously with you and loved you."

Leftover Macaroni

A few Saturdays back, I had leftover macaroni . . . and it was DE-LI-CIOUS!  Eating leftover macaroni may seem like a silly thing to dedicate any time writing about, but it made me think.  You see, it wasn't too long ago when I would have refused to eat macaroni that was a day old.  It was only fresh Kraft macaroni for me, and I can remember my mom and I having several tiffs about my snob status when it came to processed cheesy noodles.

So as I was scarfing down my day old lunch a few weekends ago, I had to laugh.  Eating leftover macaroni is just one of the things my mom did/wanted us to do that I deemed "unreasonable".  And yet, it is one of a number of those unreasonable things I find myself doing now.  Buying generic products (though I still hold out for name brands on pop-tarts and cereal), microwaving spaghetti noodles instead of cooking them on the stove, and buying jeans from Target because I refuse to spend more than $25 on a pair are just a few of the other "mom-practices" I've reverted to as I've lived life on my own over the past 8 years.

And the funny thing is, I've realized that mom's ways really aren't all that bad, and though I may never tell her, I completely understand the benefits of the choices she made.  So, while I used to dread hearing "you're so much like your mom" when it came to the things I did or said, now I consider it a compliment because if being like mom means saving time and money, I'm all in.

 Plus, macaroni really is better the second day . . .

Run Baby Run

THIS . . .

is the running I will be doing over the next three months to get ready for

THIS

My 5th Half Marathon in Virginia Beach!!!

Now, I"ll be honest.  I've had a rocky return to my running routine (wow, that was quite an alliteration; my English teachers would be proud!).  But, I'm hoping the knowledge that I've paid to compete in a race in 3 months, not to mention that I'll get to lay on a beach the 2 days before, will be enough motivation to train, and train HARD.  My best half marathon time was 1:58 in Phoenix, and I would like to beat that.  It's going to take a lot of work in the dead heat of a lovely Nashville summer, but you only live once right?!  So, if while reading this, any of you have become inspired to join me for a run (and a little beach vacation) in Virginia, I would love some company!  And if not, just think happy and fast thoughts for me as I run!

I'm Super Pumped!!!!!!

Why you ask?  Because . . .

This girl, yep the one in orange, is moving on down to Nashville.  And as you can tell by this picture, we know how to have a good time together.  Look out Nashville; life as you know it is about to change . . .