Sham Rock On...

So, I've been waiting for pictures of the race to come before I posted on my Shamrock experience... unfortunately, the picture they sent to me was for the person with bib number 2022...mine was 2072. That part aside... I completed my first race a few weeks ago. It was an amazing experience - it was an early experience. I cannot tell you the anticipation that was inside of me the night before. I was so nervous about what to expect and going it alone since Laura (who had planned to run with me) had gotten sick that week and wasn't going to be able to run. It was almost a dread in my stomach.

I left our house a little after 6:00 am to meet up with some friends and drive down to the oceanfront where the race was being held. Once we got there, it was so much chillier than I had anticipated - which turned out to be a good thing once the race began. After waiting for awhile, we gathered at the START. I felt calm and so excited waiting for them to shoot the gun off to get started. 8:00 am arrived and the gun went off and the sea of people began to disperse and spread out. It was incredible. On the second half of my first mile I was struck with the realization that I was doing this...I'm doing this!

Running along the boardwalk was incredible - smelling the salt of the water and the sand, watching the sun climb higher over the water. I relished every part of it and completed in a time I was pleased with. I'll never forget running towards the King Neptune statue hearing my friend yelling my name from the crowd and me hollering back at her (like you would only do in an athletic/competition setting or camp, I guess) and busting across the Finish Line. Great experience...awesome feeling...and that was only an 8k... what do you think a half marathon would feel like?

My husband and ...

The way I love to start out this story... Guess who John and I had breakfast with on Monday while in Alexandria? Well, technically he was eating two booths over. John and I had gone to DC for the weekend (a cloudy, rainy weekend - but still it was great to be in the city and together) and we decided to leave on Monday morning after having breakfast at an 'out of the way' corner diner. We walk in and take a seat. Our waitress greets us - rather distractedly - and tells us that Val Kilmer is sitting in the booth behind us. Which at first I didn't believe because there was an African American man sitting behind us and I knew that Val Kilmer was White... So... finally I see him - or rather hear his deep voice and I know it's him - two booths away. It was quiet enough that I think he enjoyed his breakfast, but there was enough commotion for the waitress and the owner to get their pictures with him, a local to have a full conversation with him (and get a phone number), for my eggs to be delivered to another table (and I got to watch them get eaten), and the customer service to be less than great. I think our waitress forgot about us in the midst of the excitement. John couldn't place who he was so he wanted to get a picture. I chickened out - my thoughts - he gets enough of that - let's just leave him alone...So, out to the car we go. John grabs the camera and I take a seat in the car and call my sister to tell her about our morning. I wait a couple of minutes before I see him coming out and looking a little smug - he met his movie star and took a picture to prove it...

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Just a few things I've been thinking of lately that I really love and am so glad I have been introduced to... (it's the little things!)

- My Cuisinart Coffeemaker and Krups grinder - makes the BEST coffee ever. Especially when coupled with my next favorite thing...

- Trader Joe's coffee... or Trader Joe's anything for that matter - but especially the coffee. Currently, I'm loving their Breakfast Blend. Their Blends are decently priced and fabulous!

- Trips to Trader Joe's. I love it that Grocery Shopping has again become an adventure - browsing the aisles and finding some unique selections. Granted, it's not every week which makes it more special - Even better when you take a friend along!

- A good running route to prepare for the Shamrock.

- Don't hate me for this next one... my Melaleuca cleaning products.

- Monday nights with my husband.

- A free set of hi-lites from my Stylist on Saturday - did you hear me say FREE!

- Cereal...anytime.

- Moving furniture and rearraning the dishes in the cupboard

- Dinner with our friends, Wes and Katie (we had a great time Saturday night, guys!)

- Random emails from my sister, Debs, during the day while I'm at work.

- My husband John's laugh

In general, there are so many things in our every day life to enjoy - so blessed beyond thought.

Today, I signed up for my first run. I'll be participating in the Shamrock this year in the 8K run. I am so excited about this. The training schedule is printed and hung on the refrigerator and I am avidly reading about training for a long run. I am also a little bit nervous about this. Once you pay your fee - you're committed. No second thought - just hitting submit on the Registration Form and focusing on the fact that if you train right - you're body is capable of more than you give it credit for. So, let the training begin...see you at the Finish Line Celebration!

New Year - new goals...

I'm not one for New Years resolution. I do find that the beginning of the year lends itself to evaluation of one's life and activities. I'm also thankful that our Lord is the one who works in our hearts to bring us to desire change. I believe He has been doing so in my life lately. I'll be 27 at the end of this month...(if you are already over 27 - bear with me on this...) I'm not where I thought I'd be. And I guess we can each say that at every birthday, but the fact remains that life is passing - each year a little faster and fuller. Who am I becoming, what have I done, whose life have I touched, how much more do I love and know my Saviour this year? Seminary is half way over for us - are we ready for the ministry ahead - what have I done to prepare post college? All thoughts that have played through my mind last week.

On Thursday night our associate pastor spoke in Women of CBTS. What he shared with us continued my thinking with training and preparation. I decided to come home and make a list of books I'd tackle this year. Last year I wanted to do this also, but the difference this year is I've already stacked up my selections next to my bed. I also decided to read a few categories (thanks to Pastor Jim). History (David McCullough's John Adams - very excited for this), theology, Counseling (How People Change), Marriage (When Sinners Say I Do), Fiction, Bible Study. And I guess I'm posting for some accountablity. John challenged me to blog my 'book reviews' so we'll see what you all get. Maybe I can encourage my readers in this small way. If there's an aspect of personal growth you have endeavored to see in your life over the past years - let this be the year you see it take hold in your life. I hope to see this happen in my own life...I wish it for you also!

Have you tried Nutella?

So, my sister Debs received a multi pack of Nutella in her stocking for Christmas. My first thought... What is Nutella and what's the big deal about it? Tonight I was browsing through Farm Fresh (one of my favoirte things to do after a busy week is hit a 'nice' grocery store) and found some Nutella so I figured I'd give it a try. Wow! I see what the excitement is about! Fabulous. Chocolate in place of peanut butter (which I'm also a BIG fan of)!! Why didn't I think of that?

So many things to be thankful for...

I would have titled this blog the same if I had written it last week, but even more so after this week. John and I have seen God interact with us in a special way over the past few days and since this afternoon my fingers have been itching to blog about it and put my thoughts down.
On Monday morning as I was backing out of my parking spot in front of our apartment my bumper was side swiped by one of neighbors. A paint job is the main thing it will need. The car is still driveable and neither one of us was injured or hurt. It was an inconvenience that made me late for work, but it could have been worse.
Last night we dropped my car off at the local mechanic shop for the state inspection. John had noticed his battery light had lit up in his car but after a trip to Auto Zone found out the battery was in good shape. He figured that the alternator must be going, but it may be a while.
This morning, I took John's car to work and drove home to meet him for lunch and to go pick up my car from the mechanic shop. When we got in the car the battery was dead and the car wouldn't start. At just this moment our neighbor drives up (different than the one who I had an accident with on Monday am) in his work van and is able to jump start the car. So, we start off...again... only this time the car starts jerking and not shifting and the gauges on the dash board aren't working! I wasn't sure we were going to make it to the mechanic shop, but thank the Lord we did. We also began to wonder if the alternator was instead the transmission going...
Many things to be thankful to the LORD about in the midst of this...

1. My accident could have been much worse.
2. John's car behaved while I was driving (because I would have not known what to do if it had started acting like that while I was driving)
3. Our neighbor drove up just as we needed him.
4. We made it to the Mechanics.
5. My car was driveable - so thankful an accident had not rendered it useless
6. We had left extra early so John wasn't late to work (small, I know - but important).
7. The Lord will provide for the repair, whatever it is...
8. More details to come on #8....
9. Not every day I get extra time with my husband on a ride to work!

I do have to say that the beginning of this week has felt a little bit like falling down the last few steps of a staircase - bump, bump, ? but we are so thankful for our God's provision and even the way He has turned our hearts to Him! We don't know the outcome yet but we trust Him. Hasn't He been good? So, I guess I would sum up the rest of my Thanksgiving as follows...

Thank you for the cross, Thank You, Lord, for drawing me
Out of millions lost, Thank You, Lord, for saving me
Haven't you been good?
Glory to Your name, Glory to Your holy name,
Thankfulness and praise for grace and mercy never changing
Haven't you been so good to me?