Stillness, strollers & a Savior ....{Thankful Thursday #121}

This week I am Thankful For:

{The numbers go with my One Thousand Gifts / just ignore}

267 / Blue Apron meals
I usually have one dinner that I give the side eye too or just cant invest the amount of time it takes to make one of these dishes - but this past week, I ended up making all three of the dishes - & we loved all 3.  I LOVE when that happens. Makes that cost of the delivery not seem so bad.

Spinach Mozzarella Pizza... This was AMAZING!!!

268 / Mighty Nest
I just love Mighty Nest... Its a subscription place that you pay $10.00 a month & you get a eco-friendly SOMETHING in the mail.  I've gotten steel straws - I've got reusable wraps & this month were these beautiful cloth dish clothes.  If you've never used it, I do recommend it.  I have 2 free trials where you can try it for a month & see if you like it.  Let me know if you are interested, I'll share with you.

 269 / Taxes done!
Nothing like waiting to the last minute. We always say the Lord giveth & the Lord taketh away.... we get a refund but property taxes are now due.  The circle of tax life.

273 / Ice cream time with my MSM girls.
This isn't usually the same batch of girls that does the hangouts.  We switched up the nights & ended up with another group of our girls & it was so great getting to know these sweet faced girls better.

275 / Photo Session went beautifully.
We had to change the time on this session & it worked out so beautifully with the sunshine & the wind... we had just finished when the winds kicked up for the day.  It would have been a real problem if we waited even an hour later to do pictures.  I just loved getting to spend time with this beautiful girl too.

276/Time to sit still.
I was going to meet my friend at the coffee shop at a certain time & she text me to tell me she was running late & she would hurry. I told her to take her time.  I had run over to Walgreens behind the coffee shop & picked up some markers & paper & came back & got a chai tea & it was just the nicest time to sit & be still for a bit.  I'm always on the go go go & go ... it was just so nice to sit & be creative & play & just relax. She apologized when she got there & I told her it was the best medicine for my soul to have those few minutes of time to myself..... needless to say, that time with her far out passed the time alone... so it was the best of both worlds.

278 / Outside seating.
I think I could sit outside for any dinner we go out to.  Ricky HATES eating outside. He always says that God made air conditioning for a reason.  I think God made fresh air for a reason.  The debate continues on between us.  So I had to laugh when Ricky put in for "inside seating" but the lady heard him wrong & thought he said "outside seating"... HIGH FIVE GOD on that one! That one was for me.

279 / EASTER!!!!!!
I love Easter.Everything about it.  PRAISE THE LORD - HE IS RISEN!!!!
Loved the whole day of Easter - being at church, worshiping, being with family afterwards.  Just a wonderful day.

I even practice lettering during church services... I love my bible notebook & all the lessons I write down

281 / Starbucks open on Easter.
Yes - I am happy for that. Everything else was closed on Easter Sunday so I was giddy excited when we drove by & saw it was packed. I felt bad for the workers actually - but man, glad to have my iced coffee.

284 / Bruno walks
This stroller is definitely getting its use.  My little man cant see diddly squat, but he loves the motion of it & all the sniffing he can do sitting up like a regal king.

285 / My friends son.
I just wanted to cry happy tears of joy when I got a text from a precious friend that her son, whom she has been praying for for YEARS, accepted Jesus into his life on Easter Sunday.  I know how much she has been praying over him for this & that her momma's heart was just filled to the brim with excitement.  Praise the Lord... He is faithful!


286 / Team Wood
I have been after my niece for the longest time to get me her tennis schedule... & FINALLY got it.  I love watching her play & her progress... & love that she's got her own fan club going on.

287 / Dogwood Tree.
I love our dogwood tree in our back yard.. & loved that it bloomed right on Easter weekend.  So appropriate... so perfect.  I love the story of the Dogwood tree & the pedals & what they represent.  Have you ever heard of that story?  If you haven't - let me know - I'd love to share it with you!!!

What good things have happened in your world this week?

My motivation is apparently injured....

My next half marathon is next weekend.

I can't believe it.

I've actually lost count on which one this is... my 8th.. or 9th? Maybe my 10th?.. I get confused. I need to count my medals when I get home.

Regardless, this isn't my first rodeo.

So I know what to expect.

The thing is, the training this time has NOT been what I expect.

I know you all remember, because so many of you have been through it with me here on my blog, but I am the injury queen.  Seriously - I am.  But I'm still waiting on my sash & tiara for that.  I get instead, more KT Tape & smelly things like Icy Hot for that title.  A bonus includes a warehouse club size bottle of Aleve.

But here we are, 1 week away, & I've seemed to make it through this round injury free.  Now, don't get me wrong - everything still hurts.  My knees have been bad since I was in elementary school & I'm 45 years old. It of COURSE means everything hurts.  But my knees have hung in there this time... my low back has been stretching out well.  My bicep tendon is even playing along with just mild aching instead of miserable throbbing.  Progress.

.... I'm scared to death I just jinxed myself & my next run, I'm basically going to get hit by a MACK truck & karma will say, "you said what?"....

What is new to me this time around though... the thing that IS injured in training.
My mind.

This time around, I just dont care.
I dont feel it.
I have no desire to run. None.

I've even told Ricky I'm not sure I'm going to do the race... the race I've been training for for 16 weeks.

I just dont care.

Usually, I am so excited to start a half marathon training program.  It means consistency.  It means a plan is ahead of me. It means a calendar full of workouts lays on my counter for me to mark off for 16 weeks. I LOVE THAT KIND OF THING.

& I was excited to start.

But it was just a week or two into training & that stomach bug hit me... & it took me a bit to get back into the game.  & then my stomach started cramping on every run because that GI thing had my guts in literally total disarray.

& then a tooth broke in two in my mouth - or out of my mouth (makes more sense) & I had to have the rest of it cut out of my gums... & that just isn't fun to run with.

& lets not forget my latest mishap with new shoes & blisters on the bottom of my feet & a toenail that got infected.  Geez.

Let me be sure to add that I've just not felt like running. I've gained a few pounds back (thanks Easter candy that started coming out in January)... I feel like a slug.... I'm tired all the time... my run times are just getting slower & slower....

It doesnt help that allergy season is in full force & making me feel like I'm walking under water & my head is always ready to bust & the ear stuff that comes with pollen is kicking my vertigo back into a daily battle....

& all the while, its like these things have just sucked the motivation right out of me.

My training runs?  I do them - but usually they are done with whining & groaning & complaining.  Ask the hubs - he'll be so glad to tell you that's exactly what I've been doing the past few months.

My last words to him every day I walk out with my running shoes & ipod.... "I dont want to do this"
... but walk out the door & do it anyways.  & am grumbling the entire time about how much I hate doing this.  Sounds like fun stuff, huh?

When I tell Ricky I'm not sure I'm going to do this race, he said he knows me & I'd be too upset if I missed it so he's not going to let me.  I mean, I'm the one who has literally held myself together with tape & limped up to start lines & cried desperate tears for having to miss races.

But in all honestly, I really dont think I would care.  That's how much I've just sort of given up on this.

& truthfully, the past 2 weeks, I've not trained at all. I did the 10 mile run - which was my slowest race in the LONGEST time (which added to my motivation going downhill) - but after finishing the Triple Crown, I just didnt feel like doing anything more.  I know going into a half marathon with no long runs in tapering is going to be a bad thing.

I dont know what the deal is this year.

But let me tell you, this mind thing has been my biggest hurdle of 'injuries' I have ever dealt with in any training time.

... we'll see what happens next weekend.  Will I go?  Who knows.

Anyone got a match?  If so, apparently I need it lit under my butt.  Badly... & fast.

Anyone else just loose all motivation for things they usually love?

The weekend that was full of HOPE... & void of a long run (totally ok with that)

My new canvas I made for the hubs for Easter for his man cave

Praise Jesus... He is Risen... Hallelujah...

Easter weekend.  There is just nothing like it to me. So exciting... so full of HOPE.  I just love it all.

& this weekend was so full of so many happy moments, it just was a great weekend. Busy... but great.

I made it a point to try & take lots of pictures so this is going to be picture heavy, but I'll try to keep the words down to a minimum... more of a show & tell weekend for you.

Friday kicked off with a nice Easter surprise when I came back from lunch & had an Easter basket on my desk.  Isnt this the cutest flower?  All the ladies in the office got one.

It was time to leave work & head to the grocery where I went with intent to get lots of green stuff....

... but also ended up going for some yummy stuff.  Hey, at least its healthy yummy stuff.

Time to head to Starbucks for some fuel for the evening. It was time for an MSM Event.

& this was a special MSM event because we had planned for some of our small group girls to go out afterwards & go for some ice cream.

It was a perfect evening to do it because it was warm & we got to sit outside & chat the night away.

I had to get up early on Saturday to finish up a few things around the house & then load up my camera gear. A photo session for some senior pictures. I always say how much I love senior pictures because teens are up for anything. & this was even more exciting for me because it was an amazing young lady that I used to have in our youth ministry.  She is so smart & funny & I cant wait to see what she does with her talent in life (SO MANY TALENTS!!!)  I hadnt seen her in awhile & was excited to catch up & see how life had been treating her.  I had to laugh because the first thing I did when I saw her was say, "YOUR BRACES ARE OFF" haha... I notice these things...

She has turned into quite the beauty.  We had intended for this to be a super quick session & it ended up being a full blown 1.5 hour session with a load of pictures. I couldnt help it... she was just so perfect in front of the camera & the morning was perfect.  I loved the extra time to just hear about how her senior year has been going & to hear what her college plans are. I left her with a hug & a prayer of nothing but the best. She so deserves it.

I left from here to meet up with a friend for a quick coffee date.  Except it was nothing quick & I am so thrilled it wasn't.  We ended up sitting in the coffee shop for nearly 3 hours chatting away on life, ideas, laughter, HOPE... & even more laughter.... My face truly hurt from laughing with this lady.  She is honestly one of the most precious people I think I know in life.  Her realness, her humor, her love for Jesus... she is just the most amazing person & I'm so excited that our friendship has been growing more & more.

Well, I was supposed to get in a 6 mile run but I MUCH rather trade that in for the friendship & laughter... & iced chai tea....

& then I headed home & had to hurry & get ready to head to our sweet friend's engagement party.  You may have remembered I did their engagement pictures a few months back...



It was in downtown Louisville & it could NOT have been a better night to take a walk in downtown. People were every where.  The weather was amazing.  The sunset was gorgeous. It was just so nice.

& loved getting to celebrate these two.  I cant wait for their wedding!!!  She's going to be one stunning bride.

It was so fun because our friends were there with our grand buddies... & one little girl is quite the fan of her Pappy lately.  She was so happy to have someone to chat with. She just kept wanting to hug him. Melt my heart.  I know this picture is blurry, but these 2 never stopped...

After we left the party, we ended up getting stuck in traffic with everyone being downtown...

I actually worked on my lettering in the front seat & took some pictures as we stopped every few feet.  If I had to be stuck in traffic, at least it was an entertaining trip & beautiful weather to have the windows down for fresh air.

We finally made it across the bridge & went for some dinner.  I was so happy that we got some outside seating too. That's my favorite thing in the world to do on a nice night....

Sunday we woke up bright & early because I got to serve at church before the service we went too...

Easter morning....

My job? I got to take pictures. PERFECT FOR ME.  I love our church has a little photo op area with the cutest little back drops & I stood there & was able to take people's phones & snap their picture for them.  I got to see some of my youth kiddos & meet their whole family, got to see familiar faces, got to meet a LOT of new people... it was just the best place for me. I'm so comfortable at taking pictures of people & getting kids to look at me.  Someone even told me, 'You're so good at this"... I just laughed.

But the first service I served was even more fun because one of my own small group girls was serving as well taking pictures at one photo op area while I was at the other.  When it slowed down, we had to take advantage of the area ourselves.

Isnt she the cutest!!!!

The service... AMAZING!!! I literally cried twice... once at the most precious baptism I think I've ever seen... & then the message on HOPE.  God has not been silent to me lately on using that word.  It was just such a special message.

But I jetted out at the end of service because I got to go back & do another round of picture taking.

It was time to get home to once again turn around & leave to go over to my parent's house.  They served the nicest Easter lunch for us all... including veggie burgers for me.  AHHHH - they are totally feeling my vibe... even if they make fun of what veggie burgers look like.  I'll still take it. & my mom's potato salad & mac & cheese will always be vegetarian approved so I was one happy girl.

We even topped off our lunch with a bundt cake that my sister in law brought. Apparently there is a new bakery in town that makes nothing but speciality bundt cakes. OH MY WORD. It was so delicious... creamy... & that icing? TO DIE FOR...

It was then time for an Easter egg hunt... & Ricky & I got to go hide some eggs.  I think we had just as much fun hiding them as the kids did finding them.... which I have to say, for 12 year old girls, they need to pick up their game. We had to give clues on there most of the eggs were.  If anyone needs good egg hiders, contact me or Ricky.. or even my parents - they were pretty good too.

Cochese even trying to help them find the eggs

The girls had motivation for finding eggs because hard core cash was in those babies.  When they would get a little upset about finding a ONE dollar bill instead of a FIVE, or a FIVE dollar bill instead of the big prize of a TEN... we had to remind them that when we were little, we got pennies & quarters were the big prize of the egg hunt. #thegoodoledays

I just always love when our family gets to get together though. That to me is always such a big thing for Easter.  The icing on the cake of celebrating such a wonderful day

... the rain finally settled in for good & after eating more left overs, it was time to head home & get some stuff done that needed to be done.  Bills & laundry. No pictures of that. Don't worry.

So needless to say, this was super busy... & so full of JOY & smiles & friendship & family... & the celebration of our Risen King... this totally goes down high in the books as a wonderful weekend.

How was your Easter weekend?

Friday Favorites

I think most of the world is off for Good Friday.
... I'm not jealous... nah... not in the least.
(insert picture of me sobbing)
Anyways - I'm still at work so decided to go ahead with my Friday Favorites
but wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Easter weekend!
HE IS RISEN!! Praise Him!!!

Favorite Thing EVER TO HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD!!!

Favorite Food

VEGAN TACOS

• 1/3 cup salsa
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 cups shredded cabbage, divided
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 (15.5oz) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons fiesta or Mexican seasoning
• 1 large beet, peeled and grated or spiraled (or 1 bell pepper, sliced)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 8 corn tortillas

Method:

1.   In a medium bowl, mash avocado with salsa and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Toss in 2.5 cups cabbage and green onions and coat well.
2.   Stir in garbanzo beans and seasoning.
3.   Either stir in beet/bell pepper, or reserve as a topping.
4.   Fill each tortilla with cabbage mixture and beets. Sprinkle on remaining raw cabbage. Place 2 tacos onto each plate, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 277 | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Net Carbs: 32g | Fiber: 13g

Favorite Beauty & the Beast



Look at Cogsworth! What a perfect little bag!

Favorite Motivation




Favorite Shirt



Favorite Coffee Mug



With photo sessions kicking in high gear, I feel like I need this in my rotation


Favorite Peencha

Favorite Funnies














.... when I walk in the office every Monday




... the hubs when he's watching sports in his basement man cave & still thinks I'm bad luck to his team




... when I get up in the middle of the night & step in something squishy & wet on the carpet




... every time I look at my new cable box's remote control that never works




... me at 4:00pm




Happy Weekend Y'all!!!