I think I can... I think I can...

2/3 of the way through our first week. Don't worry... we still have 19 weeks to go! Oh good grief! Following our run today Lauren and I decided that hopefully once we get through this first 2 weeks or so of getting used to running again things will get better. Here's to hoping! I'm trying to stay positive because I know there will be worse ones! I'm just waiting for one of us to bust out the "water belt" so we can carry water around with us!

On another note... I enjoy reading. Especially over the last few months. It has been nice to have something to read when traveling. I especially love Nicholas Sparks books. I am a hopeless romantic and often have to burst my own bubble and realize real life is not a Nicholas Sparks book. No one is writing me "every day for a year" or taking me to stand on the state line and give me a temporary butterfly tattoo. So since I already finished the latest Nicholas Sparks book in just a few days (yes I have read them all) I started reading The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition.
 
Now before you judge me for reading a 'singles' book keep in mind this book takes a look at how the love languages impact all relationships in our lives not just romantic relationships. I find studying personalities fascinating. (Meyers Briggs... try it and let me know what personality you are! I love it! Ha! http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) I have found this topic interesting for some time and a couple years ago read his original version which is aimed more towards marriage relationships. When I heard about this edition I decided to check it out to see how he would approach all other relationships in our lives like coworkers, friends, parents, siblings, and of course he touches on dating relationships as well. (He did write a first edition off this idea, you knew he had to mention it) I find all of the love languages interesting and try to compare them with those I know and how to nurture those relationships. But the line that has stuck with me over the last couple days says that relationships bring us the greatest happiness and also the greatest hurt. I find that so very true. I am a relationship person. I enjoy being with people I care about and letting them know how much they mean to me. I know I am guilty of hurting those I am in relationship with and I have also been hurt deeply by those I care about. I feel that the more you care about someone the greater the happiness and the deeper the hurt. I do not want to hurt those whom I love and pray that I can be aware of what is best for those around me. I want the best for others and would do anything for them. If you are my friend and just happen to be reading this I hope you know that you are important and I love you. I hope that through reading this book relationships in my life will grow. I found myself thinking the other day about the close friends around me and about how those relationships must be cared for in order to be healthy. Relationships with people we care about take effort. If someone is on your mind, let them know, tell them you care about them, even out of the blue, I promise it will be worth it. You'll be the best part of their day!

Today as always know God loves you and so do I.

Dear God, please grant me the PATIENCE to seek Your will, the WISDOM to understand it, and the STRENGTH to follow through.

Once Upon a Time...

I've never been good at keeping up with my blog. However, this time I have something consistent to blog about. On February 26, 2012 I will be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon with my sweet friend Lauren. This year has been a rollercoaster for me and I have started a new job. I am not teaching but I truly feel that I am in the place God wants me to be. Through this job transition I have had the opportunity to work with Lauren and get to know her much better than I have over the years even though we went to the same college. Another true blessing in this change has been building wonderful friendships. So here's what happened "once upon a time"...

I had been thinking about running the Disney Princess Half Marathon for some time. My mom had decided that she would run with me and we started to do a bit of slow training to work our way up. I was fitted for shoes that would help me run the best, I took mom to get shoes to help her run the best, and then... shortly into our running mom hurt her ankle. She tried to push through a little and found out that she would not be able to do any activity for several months. A bit bummed I decided I would still do it and my mom would still go with me to cheer me on. A sweet friend of mine who is more like a sister lives close to Disney. I met her when she was in college and spent so much time with her and her now husband they really became another big brother and sister. Through my job I was able to visit with them over a weekend about a month ago. I mentioned my wanting to run and mom getting hurt and so Cherie said she would be running it as well so when I got down there we would run together. Alright! I was good, once I got there I wouldn't be running alone that would help. But, training would be another mountain to climb that I would just have to push myself through. At work one day I thought I would just mention the run to Lauren and see if she would want to go with me. I am a Disney fanatic, I know that. But, Lauren also likes Disney, just maybe not as crazy as our family does. I thought it would be a long shot for someone else to take on this crazy task with me but to my pleasant surprise she agreed to do it. I made a training schedule for us that starts today and takes us all the way to the race in February. We need to start out slow and work our way up so our training is probably longer than others. I have actually been excited about running! I am excited to have a goal and to have time to spend time with my friend. And who wouldn't look forward to seeing Mickey and Minnie at the finish line?!

So... I'll be doing my best to keep you updated. Week 1 of 18... here we go!!

"Dear God, please grant me the PATIENCE to seek Your will, the WISDOM to understand it, and the STRENGTH to follow through."