the benefits of a run...

I have been off... to say the least. So many things to do-not enough hours. I had all these deadlines at work, Children's church to plan, papers to write, finals to prep for, laundry and ironing and a messy house...

I found this the other day and laughed out loud in my office--the story of my life

But I knew it was bad because even the chocolate was not bringing the happy back :)

Saturday was spent trying to check some things off the To-Do list as well as spend some Q-time with the kiddos (we took a fun walk on the trail, played at the park and went to the movies). So come Sunday my tank was empty. I thought that I would be able to work on my final in the afternoon, but it didn't open until 9 pm. Soo... I made the executive decision to run instead. I needed some time outside to myself. AND WOW. I think a HUGE reason that I was so stressed was just my lack of exercise. My whole being needed some endorphines--and a release of all that tension I was holding in.

It also helps that we live in such a beautiful place with great trails! It was so green and lovely. The temperature was just right! Sometimes the mental break-a deep breath of sanity is just as important as all the physical benefits of a run. But man, I can tell you, I feel like myself again.

I still want dessert :)

I never knew I was a control freak...

Until recently.

I feel like this is something that you know about yourself early on. Maybe I was just in denial. I like to think of myself as a go-with-the-flow kinda person. But the reality is, while I am "going" with the flow, I am mentally planning the A, B, and C scenarios in case the "flow" is not what I thought it would be. Being in control can be really exhausting. The plate spinner is the mental image that I have. Trying to keep all the plates spinning-work, home, school, church, friends, family. It's tough, and yet letting go is so much scarier to me.

But that is what I have been learning lately. Letting go...

Don't sweat the small stuff

It doesn't really matter if your house is dirty

Sometimes you just need a cheeseburger and fries

It certainly isn't an easy lesson. I like plans and agendas. I like order. Worst of all, I never like anyone to see that I am having trouble spinning all my plates. However, God had other plans this year. Cause, well, He can see what everyone else can't. And so about 4 months ago, at our community group, we did a prayer night. And it changed all of us, I think. I found out that most of the women were just like me. Trying to keep it all together, not asking for help, putting on a brave face. And we developed a mantra for ourselves.

"It's OK to not be OK".

It is hard to live it. It is certainly hard to be vulnerable. But man, it is nice to have people in my life that I don't have to pretend around. If it has been a hard week at work and I am feeling inadequate at life, I can go to Becki's house and have a glass of wine and be honest. Or if Abby is run-down from school and work and just needs a break, she knows she can come over for dinner without an invite. (And of course, my faraway friends are always available via gchat, email, phone, text :) I haven't always had a community like this, but letting go is so much simpler when you do it together.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.

~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

The Dads in my life...

I have a really great dad. His name is Harold. He works in the mines. He loves the Mountaineers, and old trucks, and old coins, and shoot-em-up movies. He has always dreamed big for me and always pushed me to work hard for them.

Then I got married and I inherited another really great dad. His name is Rick. He is an engineer. He loves music, and tractors, and Nascar. He has been an amazing source of encouragement for me over the last (almost) 10 years.

And then I had a baby. And I discovered the dad inside of my husband. His name is Corey. He is a nurse. He loves drums, and golf, and pork. He is my best friend and my biggest fan.

The three dads are very different in some of their tastes. They don't do things the same way. BUT they all love their wives and love their kids and I am SO LUCKY to have them all in my life.

Happy Dad's Day...to all the Dad's in my life.

5 minutes...

I have already worked out, taken a shower, packed my lunch. Usually the kids are up by now, but this morning, they have blessed me with 5 minutes to sit and blog.

I know I keep saying how crazy the summer has been, but it has!! Work has been busy, busy. I'm writing a lot more than I ever have before-which is good practice, but leaves me drained. Legal writing, creative writing, basically anything but blog writing exhausts me. But writing is definitely part of the job, so I need to get used to it.So since I only have a few minutes, here are some of the things I'm doing currently...

READING:

Such a great book about a woman who was abducted and kept in a room. She has a child with her captor. The story is told from the little boy Jack's point of view. I will definitely blog about it when I finish.

LISTENING:

Bon Iver; available on NPR. I have probably listened to the whole album 3-4 times. The first song more than that. It is a really lovely, mellow album. I was not a huge fan the first time I heard For Emma, Forever Ago, but it grew on me. And now I am hooked.

EATING:

source

Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. We've been grilling veggies at night and making fruit smoothies in the morning. I love summer!

DREAMING:

VACATION!!

Corey booked a few nights for us in Charleston, SC. I am pumped to end my summer in a fun and beautifully historic city!!

Sunday afternoons...

I used to so enjoy Sunday afternoons... We would relax and catch up on TV shows. I would read a book and prep meals for the week. However, this summer, Sunday afternoons have become the day that I do all my homework and iron. Two of my least favorite things.

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I do not know why I dislike ironing so much. Whenever possible, I take my wrinkly clothes (that cannot be fixed with more time in the dryer) to my mom. She is always nice and does a great job--THANKS MOM. And now working full time and wearing big-girl clothes, I have to iron every week. EW.

Luckily Corey and I had a really fun Friday/Saturday to make up for the blah Sunday afternoon. Friday night we had a nice date to The Golden Finch. We shared a caprese salad, bowl of crab soup and the mixed seafood grill. It was delicious and out waiter was great! After that we walked all over the downtown campus before getting our first Coldstone of the summer season. We finished up just in time to head to Mountain State Brewing Company to listen to the Sam Lamont Band and hang out with some friends. Saturday was spent OUTSIDE. All day. We participated in Corporate Cup for United Way. It is a really fun weekend where businesses compete in different games. I played softball (hahaha), Corey played horseshoes, and we both played Volleyball. It was great. I am sore!

Tonight, I am chilling with the kiddos and my friend Abby-chipotle and black bean veggie burgers with mixed veggie chips and salsa are on the menu as well as some adult beverages! It will be much needed after the stack of ironing-Boo.

The Story of Ellen...

Ellen is one of a handful of what I like to call "insta-friends." Yes. I categorize my friendships. Insta-friends are the ones that require no effort. Once they are in your life, they are your best friend. You feel like you have known them forever-and all you want to do is share your life with them more and more each day. Other categories include... "over-time friends" who required more effort, the love had to really grow into an amazing friendship. There are also "for-a-time friends" who are very special for the time that they are in your life, but they are not forever.

ANYWAY! Back to Ellen. She arrived in my life almost 3 years ago. And BAM. Insta-friend. We had things in common. We had differences. But God knew that we needed each other. So one January evening we sat in our other friend Becki's living room and cried and laughed and shared our lives together and from that moment on we were a part of each other's lives. She was the one who inspired me to get in shape-who imparted a love for running into my soul (which was a MIRACLE). She played Settlers of Catan with Corey and I-a favorite past-time. She was holding my hand through my first tattoo (and my second). She was around-for good and bad stuff, for mundane and exciting stuff.

Our time together was a little over a year. But Ellen was a transplant from Texas-with little holding her in WV (except me :). And the time came for her to go home. I have lost friends before. Some on good terms and some not. I wasn't sure if this meant that she was a for-a-time friend, and that the closeness we had would be over once she made the long trek to TX. I had not had much success in keeping in touch with friends once they were out of sight.

Lucky for me, Ellen was always around. We chat on the phone, we email. We facebook. We have not started skyping yet, but I wouldn't put it past us. In November, Corey and I (and the Taylors) travelled to Austin, and Ellen was there to hang out. And she chose WV as her vacation spot-to run the half-marathon with me and catch up. I think I can officially put her in the category of "forever-friend" now.

Whirlwind weekend!

WOW! I had such an amazing visit with Ellen this weekend. I have tons more photos to share, but two important things happened.

FIRST: I finished!! I finished the half-marathon in 1:58.39 I should say WE finished. I would never have been able to do it without Ellen cheering me on (especially around mile 12). The first 8 miles felt amazing. We had a great pace; we were catching up on all that had happened in the last year and a half; we got a little nostalgic about the couple of years that Ellen lived here. It was awesome. The last 4ish miles were harder. My body was tired. But we finished.

Check off that goal!

SECOND: We got tattoos. YAY! Ellen went first and got an angel on her bicep. She made some pretty painful faces, and I was not sure that I could go through with it. But she held my hand (just like last time) and I got my butterfly. I love it. It is inspired by newness. The old has gone...the new is come. I really like 1 Corinthians 15:52b which says "and we will be changed." The way things are right now-it isn't forever. I hold on to that hope!

More later on what I am learning... what we are doing...Libby and her progress...

NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!

Close to checking off a goal for the year...

Tomorrow is the big day--Decker's Creek Half Marathon. Less than 24 hours stand between me and achieving a goal I set out at the beginning of the year. I am psyched (and nervous) and pumped (and terrified). So much is going through my head now--I have badgered Ellen to tell me every tip and trick she has so that I do not fail. But really. I will finish. One way or another. I will hobble over the line and cross this off my list.

Pics and details tomorrow I PROMISE :)