i can't wait for this! i'm so excited.

it's been months in the making..well actually 13. and it's finally here. this sunday i will run a half marathon. a half marathon. i actually can't believe i'm saying it. 6 months ago i couldn't run a mile and now here i am. granted, i'm not the fastest runner, but i'm going to run 13.1 miles without stopping. and in a respectable time. that is unbelievable to me. and its all been through the grace and strength that God has given me. i could have never done this on my own. He is my strength. He is responsible for it all!! Through this whole process, the verse that i've probably said most often was Phil 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." That verse has been on repeat in my head.

i ran my last long run this past sunday. 12.15 miles. ran along a pretty hilly path and i still made it in 2:13:04. so stoked. so on the flatter course, i think i'll be able to go a little faster.

this weekend is the culmination of a long, hard, but wonderful year, in which God has done so many wonderful things in my life. " If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come." 2Cor. 5:17 I am a new person. God's love, forgiveness, and grace are abounding. And they are anyone's for the taking, but we must first humble ourselves and ask for it. This year i begged for God's forgiveness...and he graciously and lovingly gave it. and he made me a new person. i am different inside and out. i am so thankful.

(pictures taken from the runfresno.com site)

feels like fall.

the weather here has been gorgeous.

today was a high of 71.

love wearing long-sleeves, jeans, and sandals.

went for a long run of 11 miles this morning.

it was chilly when i left...about 49 degrees.

but of course, i warmed up pretty quick.

rich met me on his bike about halfway through the run with some sport beans and water.

he's an awesome pit crew :)

made it back in under two hours. woohoo!!1:59:08

i'm not so scared anymore about the race.

i know i can make the distance, just have to keep training and getting stronger.

off to have a celebratory piece of pumpkin bread with chocolate chips.

yummy.

keep running.

yesterday was my weigh in day and because of my happiness when i saw the 160, i decided to splurge a little bit :) went and had a hamburger with onion rings. planned on eating the whole thing. but... i couldn't. it tasted SO good, but only ate two onion rings and half the hamburger. i was stuffed.

then i ran an easy 6 last night on the treadmill and i'm off to bootcamp this morning :)

feelin' good

yep...woke up this morning and weighed myself like usual.

i know..i shouldn't do it EVERY morning, but i do.

and was surprised to see 160.3 WHAT???

finally moved off the 163. i was stoked.

ran about 5 miles.
did intervals again...this time...mile intervals.

ran a mile warm-up
then 10:30
then 9:53
then 9:24
then mile jog

all in all a good workouts.

today is......wednesday.

the days are flying by....can't believe its wednesday.

ran 4 on the treadmill.
and intervals....1 minute run at 8.0mph....1 minute walk...repeat 7 times.
could have gone a few more, but had to get the kids from school :P

38 days....

39 days left....

today its only gonna be 78 degrees!! yahoo!!

that means i'm gonna run tonight :)

busy with bible study and working in the kids classrooms today.

yesterday ran 8 mi on the treadmill in 1:32:13...not bad...felt pretty good...started getting a second wind after 6.

this past weekend a friend of mine invited me to an exercise bootcamp. there is a gal at our church who does these and they are super fun. it was a great time for fellowship and exercise!

last friday i ran 6 miles on the treadmill in little over an hour. (gotta remember to blog when done exercising. lol)

46 days left....

and the clock is ticking. i'm already starting to get nervous.

ran last night.

an easy 3 miles,

then some interval sprints.

i'm off to help in ryne's room today

so i'm gonna do my workout later.

off to eat my breakfast of champions :)

monday morning.

ran an easy 4 miles on the treadmill 44:32. then did some situps/pushups.

listened to the new david crowder band single...shadows. awesome song. their new album comes out tmr....can't wait.

talking about music.... wanted to write the lyrics to a song that i absolutely love and listened to it over and over when i first started to run on the treadmill. its by addison road.

Run

Stoplights, breakdown, we cry, last try
Worlds collide, time to decide
Where you want to go in this great big world
Where you want to go in this great big world
Stuck here too long in this sad song
Lost in a street, everyone has
Vanished and you're all alone
But you don't know where to go
Yeah you're all alone
And you want to go home
(CHORUS)
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Next page, new day, finding my way
Stumble upon the strength to move on
I am not alone in this great big world
And you are not alone in this great big world
(CHORUS)
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run
Your free, free falling
A new beginning
This is our time
(CHORUS)
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run

10 mi run that was really 9

went out for a ten mile run this morning. my buddy, portia, went along with me on her bike. she's the best. came to cheer me on and keep me company. the trail was busy this morning with lots of friendly faces. at one point we look up and see hot air balloons. i forgot the hot air ballonfest was this weekend in clovis. so great to run on the trail with balloons all around. on our way back, one of the balloons had landed in a mini storage facility and one was getting ready to land and bumped into a tree. so funny. i felt great the whole run and even had a little at the end for a little kick. i felt i was making good time, but couldn't really tell because i didn't have mileage markers. my goal was to make it under 2:03:00. a month ago i ran 10 miles and that was my time. so if i could beat that ...i would be happy. i made it home in 1:38:34. so i was stoked. i mapped the run and it turned out only to be a little over 9 miles...not the ten i thought. oh well...i have another ten miler next weekend. but i felt great. loaded up on jellybelly energy beans about half-way through the run and chewed my gum, so i was set.all in all ... a good run. can't wait for next weeks.

start over again.

yep...that is my intention.

starting over in alot of aspects of my life. like this blog...thought it would be a great idea to keep track of my training for my half marathon in november.
yes..i said half marathon.

never have i been a runner, but about 5 months ago i began a journey.

a journey to be the best person that God made me to be, and that meant losing the 65 pounds that i had added over the past ten years. started weight watchers at the end of april and have been going strong since. i am down 42 pounds total. i now weigh 163 pounds. but along my journey of exercise and eating better i became a runner. it didn't start out like that though. i started on the treadmill, and could barely walk a mile. but little by little, i started to run, and soon i was running a mile. then two. and now i am up to ten. and run about 25 miles a week.

i have 51 days of training left and i thought it would be fun to document that journey.

is it summer yet?

i love this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU


(i wanted to embed the video, but can't figure it out :p)

cardboard testimony

what is your cardboard testimony?

thursday favorites

1. Goodies from OneRipePeach! (my "go to girl"), 2. Birthday Tea Party Invitations..., 3. They sang in the moonlight together........., 4. The Posie studio, repainted and reorganized at last!, 5. A thank you for a friend, 6. hat3, 7. Festive Hats, 8. Vintage Wallpaper, 9. birthday fairy wands, 10. rosettes made with paper punch., 11. Dreaming of a *Pink* Christmas! I can't wait!!, 12. Easter, 13. Original Art by Lisa Kaus at Daphne's Cottage, 14. Untitled, 15. Pretty Vintage Seam Binding

been thinking about a new project i'm working on
and got tons of inspiration tonight from flickr.

glad

to be back. it's been a while and i've been super busy.
been feeling the bug to sew & create...so i decided to make some aprons,
and quilts and a bunch of other stuff. take a peek here.
maybe you'll find something you like :)

more to come...

soon.
i promise.
been working on lots of stuff.
can't wait to share.

santa cruz

hi everyone!
we're back from vacation.
had a great time.
been busy getting
the kids ready for school.
been enjoying the last
few weeks of summer.
hope you are too!!

posted more pix from the
trip here.

we're off on
an adventure
for a few days.
lots to talk
about when
i get back :)

embroidery anyone?

you need to run...i mean run...over to Red Velvet Art Kit Club and order this kit. The girls put together all the goodies you need to make this fabulous design board and fabric covered push pins. so cute and lots of fun to play with. and now i have this fun little board to hang in my scrapbook corner. makes me happy :)

happy sunday.

ok...so i joined this journal swap over at SIStv. the rules were you could make a journal or send your buddy materials to make a journal. so being as busy as i have been i figured i would just send all the goodies. well then i found out my swap buddy was someone who totally inspires me on a daily basis...kerry lynn. i love how she adds vintage items to her pages and her style is just amazing. if you haven't seen her stuff...check her out. anyways...when i found out i had kerry lynn i knew i HAD to make her a journal. so here is a peek of the journal i made her. i used old book covers and bound them with wool fabric and vintage feedsack material. i mailed her package already...when she gets it i will post the whole thing. i absolutely love how it turned out. hope she does too :)