Impatience to anticipation...

Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. 

But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days...

-Genesis 29:20

isnt that romantic?

Not the "paying for her" part... that's jacked up...

... but the love Jacob had for Rachel that made time just pass so quickly

... Romance... love... swooning...

But I also see "seven years"

7 YEARS!!!???

Oh my goodness...

7 years from now, I'll be... well, let's not talk about it...
that's putting me WAY closer to 50 & I want to take my time getting there...

But Jacob had to wait for Rachel
& luckily for him, the time seemed to go quickly.

I think we're all waiting on some things in life that doesnt feel like time is going quickly

I know of people who are waiting for
      healing
              guidance
                       answers
                               peace

heck - I even wait for payday to come!!!
... or even better - 3:00pm - time to get off work!!!

But we're always waiting for something... big or small...

It can be frustrating to wait too... but I know I want to try & change my attitude about waiting.

I want to have faith in God's timing... trusting Him... knowing He has reasons for the timing of everthing.

What if we sat in anticipation of what God is offering...
Thinking about the better possibilities than we even hope & dream of...

So I'm going to try & work on my impatience... try & change it to anticipation
Trusting that God is brewing up something even better then I can imagine....

Weekend Roundup

What a busy weekend... let's Round 'er up

Friday

*Backyard!!!  ... since there were no other singers, I didnt have to sing, but I did get to dance with the Backyard Dancing Gang... Oh yeah!  Me, at my 40 yr old self, spinning & keeping up with kiddos from 8-13... thank you marathon training :)

Saturday

* Had a family photo session - this was my earliest morning session I've done yet... love to see where the sun & light changes everything... but got great shots

(Cant show pics yet - didnt have time to edit... they'll be coming though)

* As soon as I finished the session, I was heading home to hit the road to go to Nashville.... Julie & Steve were down there to find a house & we wanted to see where our family could be living

* Ricky went to get a rental car... I was surprised when he pulled in the driveway with a big Chevy Silverado... that screams comfort, doesnt it?

That's what happens when a man picks up a rental car.

(I will say, it was pretty comfy though)

* The drive to Nashville was pretty nice... until we hit town - TRAFFIC

Cue the car sickness... I finished the last half hour with a barf bag in my lap

* This could be the SPAT OF THE WEEKEND!!!

I told Ricky before to make a hotel reservation, to which he said,

"NAH - we dont need one."

Change the scene to us driving around Nashville for 2 hours trying to find a hotel,

on GRADUATION week....

... it wasnt pretty...

...more barf bag time...

* While trying to find a hotel, half the roads were closed

Why?

A race!!!!

I saw runners everywhere & we saw the start/finish line

I was jealous

Ricky was furious & kept saying

"DANG RUNNERS MESS EVERYTHING UP!!!"

* Luckily, Julie & Steve had been upgraded at their room & had the PENTHOUSE in the Hutton Hotel..

AMAZING!

There was plenty of room & though they tried to tell us to stay with them 2 hours earlier (we didnt want to impose) we finally HAD to stay with them

Glad we did...

* I could get use to a Penthouse life...

maids... chocolates...AMAZING showers...

Here's the view from our balcony... the top floor

* The maid told us that Ted Danson had just checked out of that room & that Justin Beiber & Taylor Swift had stayed there... & Lionel Richie had rented the larger Penthouse across the hall & used this Penthouse for his clothes only... nice...

* Found a cute little Italian restaurant, Maggianos - you order a pasta dish & you get to take one home... WHAT?  Yep, they pack up a whole other full order for you to go... whatever you want.  That's crazy

* know what's crazier?  A piece of dessert that is as big as your head!!! ... look at the side compared to the fork... & what you didnt see?  The back side that was as wide as the palm of your hand...

* we Skyped with the grandbabies that were still in Texas with their other grandmother... they're face was so cute when they saw us with their mommy & daddy.

Luke kept puckering up his face & kissing the computer screen when I was blowing him kisses

... my heart melted....

* we sat on the balcony of the Penthouse... did I mention we were in the PENTHOUSE? ... watching the moon... the breeze was perfect, the night was beautiful - I could have slept out there

Sunday

* Pancake Pantry to start a day off... nothing wrong with that sentence

* Vanderbilt/Nashville area is FULL of runners... & their pace was blowing my mind.  So many people out running the town early

* Found a arts/craft fair... stopped for a minute & I ended up spending $40.00 on jewelry... Dang it! I can spend money anywhere!

* Off to house hunt!

* Off to get car sick...curvy roads

* Do you hear angels singing? 

Here's the house Julie & Steve placed an offer on

Isnt it adorable?????

* Look at this bathroom... we figured at least 5 people could fit in the shower...

& the tub Julie's standing in front of?  A small swimming pool for children

*This closet? 

It alone would sell me on this house...

(& this is only PART of the closet... I couldnt get a full picture)

* So glad they found a house that fits exactly what they need...

now if everyone could pray everything goes smoothly for them to get IN the house

* I think it was the first time I didnt cry leaving Julie... I know I'm going to see her REALLY soon!!!.. I'm gonna like this Nashville thing :)

* Ride home... I slept part of it

* We had some happy dogs when we got home - they wouldnt LEAVE my side

Its good to feel wanted

* Had the WORSE headache EVER!!!

... watched "Once Upon a Time" & off to bed I went

Another great weekend behind me

Friday Fragments

Friday... my favorite day to Frag!!!

*****

So my manager is out today with the stomach flu

... for the THIRD time this year...

& as soon as I get the call she's sick

why do I instantly feel nauseated myself?

*****

Question of Reality TV:

WHY do the chairs not move in the Celebrity Apprentice in the Board Room?

Why do the celebrities have to scoot down five chairs?

That doesnt make sense to me

& irks me every week

*****

Its the Kentucky Derby this weekend around her

.... & I could give 2 hoots....

let me go to the track when there's 100,000 less people

... which means I can go pee without having to wait in line for an hour

*****

The Flying Pig is this weekend in Cincinnati

I want to go up there one year

If anything, to do the 10k

(its always the weekend after the Ky Derby miniMarathon)

Good luck Flying Pigs!

(the only time calling someone a pig is not offensive)

*****

SPAT OF THE WEEK:  MOTORCYCLES

So Ricky & I were out heading to lunch on Sunday when a motorcycle comes flying over a hill...

Ricky said, "He needs to get his light fixed"

...to which led a conversation that he told me that every motorcycle has a headlight that stays on at all times

I told him to remember this moment because when I show him a motorcycles that doesnt have a headlight on, he's going to say he never made that claim

He said he'd not forget

We even shook hands on it

.....

& DANG IT

so far, every motorcycle I've seen?

Its had a headlight on!

DANG IT!

I'm trying to forget this 'hand shake' thing until I find one with a broken light

& then I'll spring it out on him with a big 'HA'!!!!

(who knew?  Do all motorcycles REALLY have lights on all the time?)

*****

Ususally, I post a funny fragment - this week, I'm going for an

INSPIRING FRAGMENT

This video WILL make you tear up, get pumped up,

cheer for this guy, and totally inspire you...

I'm going out this week with these 3 words

NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

(& I totally just threw a mic on the ground & walked away gangsta style)

Yep... more race Pictures

I NEVER buy race photos...

first of all, I always look a HOT MESS

but I had to buy these

& because I just shelled out $65.00 for 5 pictures - I'm not wasting a part of my life where these photos are not involved

So yes, you have to endure a few more pictures

Here I am on the course... this is about mile 10... you can tell I'm still feeling good :)

See why I love running skirts?  You dont have to deal with the 'riding up' factor...

I'm telling you - I'll be a spokesperson for running skirts now

And here's the finish line pictures

with my Hubby!!!!!... swoon...

Officially across! :)

 

Wide shot

 

& yes, my finish time is different then the clock time...

My official Finish Picture

(The 5 I'm holding up is for my 5th Half Marathon)

I can look at it & see my smile & feel again how happy I was in that moment

OK... I'm done talking about it now

(... which you all know is a lie... I'll be talking about it some more some day... you know I will)

HodgePodge

Wednesday... means Hodgepodge Day

1. What are three qualities you most want to see evidenced in a teacher?

I'm trying to think back to my favorite teachers & what I liked about them.  So taking the view of the kids & not the view of the parents - which I'm sure they would all want: Smart, Trusting, organized, blah blah ...

I wanted my teacher to have these 3 qualities:
1. Funny - I love people that can make me laugh.  My saying that I still stick by today when teaching youth is, "if they're laughing, they're listening"
2. Cool - so you came in 2 seconds after the bell rang? dont worry about detention.  Have one of those teachers that lock the door as the bell is ringing & you cant get in?  Yeah - that's NOT a cool teacher.  A cool teacher also let's the room talk the last 5 minutes of class... they dont give evil pop quizes that bomb your grade... they let you chew gum
3. They dont sit you out in the hall for not wanting to listen to Tom T. Hall songs.  (I'm still traumatized... I actually did a post on this a few months back... who cares if it was 34 years ago)

So as you can see - my qualities have actually nothing to do with education. :)



2. You can tell a lot about a person by __________________.

Their wallet

& I dont mean whats IN the wallet, as money...

I dont know why, but since I was a teenager, I would look at people's wallets & could figure out a lot about them.  If a guy had one of those velcro wallets?  Oh, forget it.  I couldnt even talk or look at them.  If a wallet had papers flying out from everywhere, you can see how organized they usually are.  If they had a beautiful wallet, I thought they had it all together.

I started judging people over stupid things early in life...



3. What song makes you think spring?

For me, its "My Old Kentucky Home" ... that's the big song played everywhere around here at Derby week... & Derby weeks is always the first Saturday of May... its officially Spring then baby!

Source: flickr.com via Kate on Pinterest

4. May 1st is Mother Goose Day...share your favorite nursery rhyme.

So I'm a nerd & looked some up.
Here's a site that has a bunch that you can listen to
http://www.nursery-rhymes.info/

Looking at them... I've determined... nursery rhymes are just stupid

A spider sitting down beside Miss Muffet?... a talking black sheep?... an old woman who swallowed a fly & we're waiting on her to DIE? .... a London Bridge ready to fall down? ... 3 poor pitiful blind mice who get their tail cut off with a carving knife?

These are all horrible, scarring stories to children... I refuse to ever tell another nursery rhyme to a child again.



5. What makes someone unforgettable?

What kind of wallet they carry... KIDDING!

For me, I always remember someone who stands out... that can be good or bad.  But someone who makes an impression - whether that be with humor, or the way they carry themselves....

I think its like the good ole Simon Cowell says, if they have the X-Factor



6. Should music and/or art be part of a well rounded education?

Of course!  Isnt there proof that it helps in math scores?

And didnt everyone see, "School of Rock" with Jack Black? It brings a class together..

Source: google.com via Daniel on Pinterest

7.  What social situations make you flustered and nervous?

I actually get nervous at ANY social situation while I'm getting there... once I'm there in the situation, then I'm good. 

To this day, after YEARS of speaking in public, I still get butterflies - but once I get in front of people & speak the first word, I'm just fine..

... probably my most nerve wrecking thing though is knowing where a bathroom is...
Once I know where to pee - I can handle anything :)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Funny thing - yesterday, I posted a scripture that said I liked the NLT version because it used the word "Endurance" instead of "Perseverance"...

I went home & looked in my James Bible Study & remembered that Perseverance actually means "NERVE UP" ...

I thought how ironic that is for me, someone who's dealing with neuropathy - damaged nerves!!!   :) 

I may have to go back to the NIV version... I think it was made for me right now :)

May Scripture... ENDURANCE!

May?  Really?

We're seriously at May already...

blowing my mind!

So its time for a new monthly scripture for my heart.

Right now, I'm doing the Beth Moore James Bible Study.

Loving it too! 

The little things that she points out about words.

But one of the challenges is to memorize the whole book of James!

YAWWZZAAA!!!!

My brain would explode...

but I am willing to try to memorize big portions of it

... & I'll start with this month & dig in

I love this verse anyways

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 

-James 1:2-3 (NLT)

First of all, I study in an NIV version, but loved this NLT version...

all because of the word, "ENDURANCE"

NIV says "Perseverance" ...

but "endurance" speaks to me

Endurance: The ability or power to bear prolonged exertion, pain, or hardship

I think because I just came off a 13.1 mile run

& you need ENDURANCE to make it through

Its training for the LONG RUN

I think anyone can do a 5K

It almost seems over before it starts

but a 13.1 mile race?

You tire out...

... you start off strong

... you feel energy

... & then you wear down

... you want to hit a wall

... you gotta dig in deep to finish

... you have to ENDURE the miles

& that's just 13.1 miles

What about LIFE?

Talk about ENDURANCE!

And what helps with endurance while running? 

Training!

And training isnt easy.... no way, no how!

You push yourself to the point of pain

... only to become stronger...

So when we have troubles in our lives, look at it as training...

...training to make life easier...

its hard to find joy in that 'trouble' in the moment that you're in it

but look ahead

Look at the strength... the endurance... you'll have for future troubles

Because you KNOW those troubles will always be coming at us

So let's ENDURE... be STRONG when they head right at us!

Anyone else pumped up now?

Who knew James was like a Personal Trainer, ready to (CLAP) Pump Us UP!!!

(I so just dated myself with that reference)

Half Marathon #5 Recap

OK - so my weekend Roundup is getting bumped for my Half Marathon recap

Its what made my weekend anyways

First, let me say, I so appreciated all your thoughts & comments & I really took them to heart. But just like that sign said that I posted, It hurt worse to stop ...

& in the end, I didnt hurt at all...

maybe all your prayers are what pushed me through... I'll explain more as we go along.

Pre-Race:  Woke up & it wasnt raining.  They kept saying that there was a chance of rain & to expect to get wet.  It was still a little cool too & I was worried about the rain on my legs, but stuck with my original outfit I planned on wearing.  And I did end up just wearing my old shoes (that was a debate on my Daily Mile page)... they werent horrible & I didnt want to waste $139 on the shoes I just bought.  If they get too wet, they can warp. I'd be ok if they were a few months old - but not a few weeks.

I also got to try out my running skirt.... & now?  I'll never run in anything BUT a running skirt.  I was in heaven.  Comfortable & easy to run in.  I got this at Target & am seriously going to go there & buy as many as my bank account will let me...

(Before we left the house)

Start Line - Mile 1:  It took me about 10 minutes to get to the actual start line.  That's what happens when there was 18,000 fellow runners.  Congestions.  But I thought it was funny because the song that came on was a song that had the lines, "This is my moment.. my perfect moment" & I just felt like this race was going to be OK.... I felt fantastic through the start through Mile 1.  Even had a pace at 9:30 at one point... WHAT?  ME?  ... yep!

Mile 1-2:  The sun was out & the sky was blue... which meant I was warm.  The first water stop was in the middle of this mile. 

Mile 2-3:  I was nervous this mile because this was the mile, that last year, I got knocked down.  I actually got up on the side walk & walked this part.  I wasnt taking changes.  Got past it & started running again & felt like I already accomplished something! :)

Mile 3-4:  I hit my 5k at the exact pace I ran my 5k in March... I like this part of the race because you get out of the small downtown Louisville streets.  Once you hit Broadway, its like a fresh new race.  Water Stop #2

Mile 4-5:  Got to see my buddy, Corey 
who was running the full marathon.  We always seems to find each other, no matter what race it is... His energy just inspires me.  We call him "Superman" for a reason :)

It also was time for a huge DOWN POUR.  There was literally one grey cloud in the sky & it opened up.  Thank God I had on that hat because I was able to put my head down & block it from my face.  Others?  Not so lucky.  It made me nervous too because the old shoes?  They were slippery on the pavement & it slowed me down a bit.

But right when you get to mile the end of mile 4, you take a turn down 4th street & that's where the crowds are cheering.  They make the biggest difference.  There was a girl with a Hunger Games sign that said, "May the odds be ever in your favor" - I gave her the "Hunger Games" 3-finger sign & she laughed.

Mile 5-6:  That cloud went out of the way & the sun was back out.  It stayed out the rest of the race.  So much for a race of rain that they predicted.  But no complaints.

The sweat & the rain had my KT Tape coming off of my knees.  I was a little nervous because I knew it wasnt going to last.  Finally, at the end of mile 5, it was flapping & I knew I had to take it off.  I walked to take it off but then I was afraid of running.  Thought my knee pain would kick in.  But it didnt!!!!  I was so happy... but my inner thigh muscle REALLY got tight.  Maybe I was running different to compensate for my knee?  But I was still feeling pretty great.

Mile 6-7:  Great crowds down the road... lots of pets with their owners... lots of great signs... this is a weird mile though because they take you off the road & around a block.  It's just an odd move.. & the roads there are HORRID.  Lots of cracks & opportunities to break your ankle.  But it was nice because on the turn back onto 4th street, they had Walgreens sponsoring orange slices... that was a nice little energy boost of Vitamin C.

My 10K time?  Exactly like my race I did in March... I was sticking to my usual.

Mile 7-8:  Got to see a woman on the side of the road being arrested... that's always fun. 

This is a great part of the race because you make your turn into Churchhill Downs.  My ipod was on a J-Lo song & let me tell you, I was KICKING it on this part of the race.  Probably my fastest mile.  J-Lo will do that to you.

Mile 8-9:  I couldnt take it any longer... my inner thigh was BURNING.  I knew I had to stretch & I dreaded it.  I didnt want to waste one second of time.  So I made a deal with myself - SIXTY SECONDS.  So I got off the path & stretched each thigh for 30 seconds.  I was watching my time the whole time so I didnt go over.  It made all the difference in the world.

This is where you come out of the Downs (which was cool because they were running horses around the track) & you make the turn to go back Downtown... where the finish line is.

Mile 9-10:  I think there were 2 water stops here.  This race is great with keeping everyone hydrated & taken care of.

Mile 10-11:  This is where I started to get emotional.

See?  I've always done over 3 hr Half Marathons... I keep telling you all I'm slow... I truly am... but my goal has ALWAYS been to be under 2 hours.  I wanted that 2 in front of my number more then anything!! And I kept picturing it in my mind this year - that I was going to come in at 2:58.. dont know where I got that number, but I just kept seeing me cross the finish at 2:58... & then at mile 10, I realize - I can do it.  I can come in under 3 hours.  If I kept at the pace I was at, & nothing horrible happened - which I KNOW CAN happen - I was going to do it.  It hit me & made me want to cry... but inspired me to pick it up.

Mile 11-12:  I was truly on a mission at this point... but I was wearing down.  Was just hungry & spent.  I had a Lara bar & pulled it out to get some fuel & took a bite... & then DROPPED IT.. DANG IT!  But I knew I was so close, I wasnt going to let it phase me.

EMOTIONAL ENDING :)

Mile 12-13:  Here we go... down the home stretch.  I knew Ricky was in the crowd too so I kept an eye out for him.  When I got to about 12:50, I saw him ahead of me & I kept screaming for him.  He almost didnt see me again.  He actually didnt until I was right on him.  He ended up running ahead of me (on the course) & took this picture.

The funny thing, then he was ON the course & the gates were up to block people so he couldnt get out! HAHA!!!!  So I told him he was just going to finish with me.

... & then I was at mile 13 & I had 2 minutes to get to the finish line to make my dream time of under 3 hours...

I grabbed Ricky's hand & he said, 'you're going to do it'... I was going to put the engines on FULL FORCE... I was GOING TO MAKE IT!!!!

We ended up rounding the turn - saw the finish line.  I thanked God that it was downhill & I turned it on. 

You run across a timer that lets them know your name so they can yell it when you run by... they said, "And there's Rebecca Vincent holding hands with someone" :)

Poor Ricky - it was probably a nightmare to him.  He hates crowds & here we are running down the road with hundreds of people watching us...

But we made it... holding our hands in the air across the finish line... & it was UNDER 3 HOURS!!!!!!!!! (I SO cant wait to see this finish line picture!!!)

2:59:43

Think I cut it close?

But I just kept thinking if I didnt take that minute to stretch, I would have been at 2:58!!!  Exactly like I was envisioning!!!!

I didnt care... I made it under 3

& took 7 minutes off my time last year... (I probably would had made it last year too, but with the knocked down thing?  Messed me up)

I DID IT

... & the best part - Ricky was by my side.  I just turned & said, "I DID IT" & threw myself in his arms... it was probably the best moment of my races EVER!!!!!!

Then I looked at the people & said, "GIVE ME MY MEDAL" - they just laughed at me :)

(Right on the other side of the finish line when I got my medal)

But Ricky even said, 'you looked so strong' - I felt strong.  Even being slow, I felt strong.. & I finished... & it was wonderful.

My neuropathy didnt bother me, my knee didnt bother me, my fingers didnt bother me... I think I was just in a zone... I KNEW I was going to do it.

We sat down so I could stretch for a bit.... I just sat with a smile on my face the whole time.  I felt PRIDE in myself...

I waited 4 races to get under 3 hours... my first year?  3:45 - that was the year I thought I would die (no joke)  2nd year:  3:15  3rd year:  3:07 

This was my year...

Ricky said, "you did it... now are you going to stop?"
I told him, "Now my goal is to make 2:45"

He just shook his head & said, "Dear Lord, give me strength" :) haha!!!

All my other running friends - & most people - get in under 2 hours - 2:30 at the most... & its always a stab in my heart.  But I remember that I'm 40 years old... I just started running at 37... & I NEVER thought I'd run my 5th half marathon.  So I try not to compare & I try not to focus on how fast everyone else is.

During one point of the race, someone wanted to cross the road & I told them, "Cross in front of me, I'm slow!"... a lady came up behind me & touched my heart & said, "Honey, you're not slow - you are as fast as YOU need to be"... it made me tear up a little.  I needed to hear that.  So while some may look at my time & laugh at it or roll their eyes at it, its MY time.. & I work hard for it... & I'm PROUD of it :)

So then Ricky took me to Jimmy Johns for a big ole veggie sandwich (I was craving the bread... give me CARBS) & then I came home & headed to the showers...

I didnt want to take my medal off though...

But I introduced it to my other medals... & more specifically, my other Kentucky Derby MiniMarathon Medals... & told them they'd be seeing another one next year

"Have I not commanded you?

Be STRONG & COURAGEOUS. 

Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"

-Joshua 1:9

(This was my verse that got me through... I kept repeating it all the way & truly found strength & courage within my self because of it)

Friday Fragments

Friday... Thank God its FRIDAAAYYYYY

Click the button above & you can join other "Fraggers"

******

First, I'm totally surprised about yesterday's post.  I think every single person told me not to run the race on Saturday.  Not sure why that surprised me, but it did. 

(The phone call from my parents though, that gave me a lecture on running... AGAIN....  DIDNT surprise me)

I truly appreciate your concern ... that's why I love my Bloggy friends

y'all make me feel like Sally Field & say, "You like me, you really like me"

or maybe I should say, "You dont want me dead, you really dont want me dead"

KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!

I really do appreciate your thoughts & concern on the situation

But know I'm Italian & with that comes some stubborness -

(& Mafia ties)

AGAIN - I KID!!!!

So really, I still dont know what I'm going to do.

I'm just waiting to see how bad the rain is

My aches & pains?  That wont stop me... but heavy rains?

Just call me The Wicked Witch - I'll melt in heavy rains

*****

Sophia Grace & Rosie

Are those little girls on Ellen the cutest things ever?

I love when they're on!!!

I have a friend that said that when she has a little girl, she's only talking to her in a British accent in hopes that she turns out just like Sophia Grace.

I love that idea :)

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

*****

I boycotted American Idol this week

Still angry about Colton getting booted

I dont like when I dont get my way

Please Note:  That includes Survivor, The Voice, Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars (WHY SHERRI?????) & any other show that people vote on & dont get it right..

...forget the fact that I dont vote myself

*****

These are the coolest people ever! :)

Source: Uploaded by user via Rebecca on Pinterest

At the Youth Conference this weekend, the comedians gave a shout out to
 "The Hunger Games" & gave this sign..

Half of us gave the sign back
The other half looked at us like we were crazy :)

*****

I have to say, I love that Healthy Choice now has frozen entrees
that are 100% natural..
AND some vegetarian selections

if you read the labels, you see,
its all stuff you can pronounce.
Impressive

And speaking of health - did you see the story where the
lady died from drinking too much Coke

http://www.newser.com/story/144497/womans-death-blamed-on-2-gallons-of-coke-a-day.html

People gasped that she drank 2 gallons a day.
PUL-LEZE!!!! I did that EASILY myself. 
That's just about 11 cans
Which I would do on a 'light' day...

how sad is that?

BUT
I'm now 5 week - NO DIET COKE...
Yes, I'll keep track until I'm a year out
then you dont have to hear about it yearly

*****

SPAT OF THE WEEK: SWISS CHARD
I think my husband is really a 2 yr old when it comes to food.
I got some Swiss Chard in my Co-op basket this week
I've never cooked it, not sure I've ever ate it before
But found a recipe.
You steam it, then cook it in olive oil, red pepper flakes, & minced garlic
OH MY GOSH - it was heavenly!

But I asked Ricky to try it
He was THIS close to laying on the floor & throwing a fit
"NO!!!! Its GREEN!!!!"

So I had to taste it in front of him & go
"mmmm!! See?  I'm eating it... its good"

Then he tasted it
& guess what?
HE LOVED IT

The spat then comes when he wants to eat it ALL himself
And the best part, in my basket this week was another BIG helping of swiss chard
The Hubs was giddy excited about it

Now, when my next spat is some other food name, I can just say the name & you'll know the same thing happened again :)

*****

Hope you all have a Fabulous Fantastic Friday my Friends!!!

Everything against me...

So this Saturday is the Kentucky Derby MiniMarathon/Marathon

I think its the ONLY half marathon in the country that is called 'mini'...

Believe me... 13.1 miles is no MINI..

But tradition prevails & the name sticks

This will be my 4th time running this race... & I'm nervous

Yes, I've trained...

Yes, I've ran this course before & know what to expect

Yes, I LOVE this race

but everything seems to be against me this year

My training got derailed the past few weeks...

Yes, y'all know my neuropathy has played a part in it, but I also didnt tell you what happened a few weeks ago.

The only people that knew was Ricky & Julie.  I had to let her know as soon as it happened because she would understand. 

Afterall, she ran her half marathon with an injury too...

I know everyone gets sick of me whining... heck, I get sick me of whining....

But a few weeks ago, I was on the SAME DARN HILL

when my SAME DARN KNEE popped again. 

Who would believe that would happen again?

Runners Knee in full force

ON THE SAME DARN HILL

SAME DARN PLACE

SAME DARN KNEE

Last race, it was 2 weeks before my race

this time - it was 3 weeks before the race

So I havent been able to run like I like for the past 3 weeks

(Let the major whining begin)

Add in the fact that I'm having some weird thing with my sausage fingers

& a dry mouth that has my tongue hurting when I run

AND, I woke up with a horrible sore throat & feel a cold coming on.
Really? REALLY????

And if physical stuff wasnt enough, its gonna RAIN!

ITS GONNA FREAKIN' RAIN!!!!

So much for new running shoes.

I wont wear them in the rain when I just got them 2 weeks ago

- it messes them up too much.  So I'll have to pull out the old ones that hurt my feet.

This is the first time that I'm actually considering NOT doing the race

... & that's a horrible feeling...

Ricky keeps telling me he wont let me do it if its raining hard & my knee isnt any better at all.... he said if he hears one tiny little 'ouch' out of me, he's hiding my keys & he's not driving me.

'Love' at work right there

But I'm not sure why I feel the need to torture myself -

 do it when I know its probably not the smartest thing to do.

Drive?

Pride?

Stupidity?

I hate the idea of telling anyone I didnt do the race

I hate the idea of the misery I can be in with blistered wet feet

I hate the idea of my knee hurting worse

But I love the idea of pushing through

I love the idea of crossing the finish line

I love the visual of another medal around my neck

So at this point, I dont know what I'm going to do.

I think I'll know Saturday morning at 5:00 am when my alarm goes off

Source: runwithrabbits.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Hodgepodge - Wherefore Art Thou

Wednesday... my favorite day to Hodgepodge

1. Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated on April 23rd...when did you last read Shakespeare? What's your favorite Shakespeare play?

I honestly dont even remember reading Shakespeare!!! GASP!... did I just make all my Teacher friends get a little dizzy & faint?  I remember my Senior year doing some Shakespeare in English, but nothing stands out except when we finally got to watch the original "Romeo & Juliet" movie during class.

Imagine a room full of blushing high school kids during the randevu under the sheets.

But I will say, I am a huge fan of the updated version with Leo & Claire Danes... (blame the soundtrack) ...though I prefer to stop it before they both kill themselves.  I also do that in Moulin Rouge.  Make my own happy endings... that Shakespeare must have loved a tortured heart. 

They have medicine for that now Mr. Shakespeare.

Source: Uploaded by user via Katie on Pinterest

2. What food(s) would you recommend a foreign visitor try when they visit your home country?

I'd tell the foreign visitor to RUN home & eat their own food. 

Welcome to America - the land of the unhealthy, full of wonderous fried foods.  Think other countries have fried twinkies or fried pickles?

.... now I'm hungry...



3. What's a lie you often tell yourself?

It doenst matter to me what people think


4. What's something you're good at that might surprise us? Remember this is a family friendly blog!

Games!!!!  Not as in sports, but as in games.  Board games, card games, drawing games, trivia games, word games...

I owe that to my  mom who had me play games with her everyday when I was growing up ... it was FANTASTIC!

And we'd sit & watch all the game shows during the summer & I was AWESOME!

They just dont make game shows like they used to.  Now you have to be a genius & be on something like Jeopardy.  Give me The Price is Right anyday!



5. Who is your favorite animal character from a book?

Umm... this isnt going to be hard for me... & it WAS an actual book... The BEAST from Beauty & the Beast... or "Beauty" as most books call it...

& I know he was technically a man - but he was turned into an animal so I'm claiming that side of him for this answer!

Source: fandomania.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

6. April showers bring May flowers...do you have a green thumb?

Only when I clean the grass off my dog's feet ...

7. Speaking of rainy days, which one of the following activities would you most want to spend time doing on a rainy day-

sort photos and create albums

bake cookies

read a good book

hold an all-day movie marathon

clean and organize closets, cupboards, or bookshelves

try a new recipe

fix something that needs fixing

I do like me an all-day movie marathon ... it allows for knitting & lots of snacking

I've actually got to do this by next weekend.  With "The Avengers" coming out, I have yet to see "Captain America" & "Thor" - though my hubby can probably repeat all the lines to it.  So we're going to watch those & the IronMan movies (which I have indeed seen) before the big movie!!!

This movie is to Ricky what 'The Hunger Games' was to me



8. Insert your own random thought here.

Advantage of having to be at work at 6:00 am ... I got to work & realized today was our Managers Board Meeting.  I totally forgot!  I get all the financials & reports together for it.  WHEW...no one gets here until 8 am & the meeting isnt until 9 - so with that early work time, I was able to get it all finished before anyone even knew I flaked out. 

The early bird got the worm today... or whatever that means...

Believe 2012

Another year of Believe...

I can't BELIEVE how many times I've got to go on this trip. 

Its always so much fun getting to hang out with Jr. High kids as they get to experience God in a fun, exciting way.

This year, we headed up to Anderson, Indiana - which is now officially the highest North I've ever been

... & which says how sad my travel life is...

Its funny because we usually go in February to Cincinnati & its ALWAYS cold so we thought, great, we're going in April - its going to be warm.  We wont have to worry about coats & jackets & warm stuff. 

WRONG!

It was so dang cold!

Wouldn't ya know.

But cold doesnt take away our excitement & joy.

We loaded up the vans & headed out

Here's my van load I got to truck along with.  The all-girl van.

The other van had 7 boys & 3 girls & when we stopped, one of the girls told me, 'The boys are already funking up the van"

Thank you Lord I had all girls

The trip was 3 hours but it really didnt seem that long. 

I guess when you're singing & eating snacks, that always makes a trip more enjoyable.

We got to our hotel - which was the BOMB-DIGGITY!!!

(& I didnt get pictures of before we bombarded it)

And then headed off to dinner at Taco Bell

We head to the conference.

Now, we're used to HUGE conferences at Believe - ARENA SIZE

We pull up to this small building on a campus & me & some other leaders just looked at each other & was like, "uh oh"

I mean, that's kind of the point of enjoying it....

being in a huge atmosphere

the energy of it

so we were a tad worried going in

but we all agreed that our jobs as leaders was to make sure the kids had a great time & enjoyed themselves

(you'll hear more about this topic later on)

The lobby was very small - just imagine a lobby of a auditorium at a college

 - that's what this was

But this picture is under the lights there.

Isnt it cool?

My artistic moment of the weekend

We get in the auditorium & see it probably holds a few hundred seats

& we were there early

so what are we do?

I got a group of people together & asked if they watched "Ellen" & the dance dare that she has people do...

its where you sneak up behind people & dance without them knowing it

I started us off

I am a leader after all :)

It was the funniest thing

But then everyone wanted to be involved

Before you know it - we were Dance Daring everywhere

And people who were watching us from other churches were cracking up -

LOVING IT

The youth group leaders in front of us said, "I can watch this all night long - its the funniest thing I've ever seen"

& then without her knowing it, we dance dared her :)

Watch this video - the guy in front of her has to walk away because he's laughing

(We had got him earlier too - one of our first attacks & he thought it was hilarious when we showed him the video)

I have like 8 videos up on my You Tube account if you want to see the others

But then time for the conference to start.

This year's theme was "Hide God's Word"

It was so interesting because it showed the history of where the Bible came from - how God's word started out with the Ten Commandments, grew through time, how it spread through the Holy Lands, to Rome, to England, to print, & to America...

I usually blank out when it comes to anything historical, but this was pretty cool

And then we got to be reminded of the TRUTH of God's Word

How its fulfilled through the Bible

How its fulfilled in our lives

How we need to Hide it in our Heart

I loved the speaker said,

"We keep the Word in our Heart so it can KEEP US when we need it"

AWESOME!

And throughout the time, these 2 guys came out to entertain us.

Hurt & Manley

I laughed so hard, I had tears & stomach aches

(could've been the Taco Bell - but I'll say it was the humor)

EVERY YEAR

one of the BEST parts of Believe

WORSHIP!!!!

Nothing like it

Day 2

Its always a tiring time - lack of sleep

But it was so worth it

The girls had a small group discussion together in one of the rooms

I think we could have talked ALL NIGHT LONG

But we had some great discussion, deep thoughts, great advice, prayers flying

it was amazing

THOSE moments right there make it worth the trade of 'no sleep'

Here's Jordan, resting before we got started on Day 2

Here's the speaker of the weekend - Scott Rubin

People like this inspire me

Makes me want to be a better speaker myself

During the 2nd session, the artist Eric Samuel Timm created this 'stained glass' while the worship was going on.

Isnt it beautiful?

This is like his 4th year with Believe & he just brings the 'cool' factor

& the most amazing art you can witness being created in front of your face

Then at lunch time - they gave us a mission

Be CRAFTY :)

We were to take something out of God's WORD that we will memorize

or that we love & write it on something we found at our lunch location

Here is mine (the knife... & the rest of the verse is on the back of it)

& Chasity's - her cup lid...

When the final session started, we had to give our things to the Believe volunteers & during worship, they put it on a pulley system & sent everything up front on stage.

As you can see - I was directly under the pulley line.

I seriously got hit in the head by so many dang pizza boxes

Finally, my group scooted down because they were afraid I didnt need anymore brain damage

At the end of the session, Eric once again made an amazing piece of art out of our things we used... all of these creations with Gods Words on them pouring into a heart

It was funny too because he was saying some of the stuff that was sent up... there were many napkins, boxes, a few 'hats' from Burger King & Steak & Shake... & even a sock someone sent up ??? haha!

And we asked the kids if they enjoyed this event...

it was different then what we were used to

They LOVED IT!!!!

Even MORE then the other place

They said they loved the closer environment

they got to talk to other kids

Didnt feel so overwhelmed by the big arena & getting lost

There were no lines to the booths to get shirts

The drinks were $1.00 instead of $3.50

Candy was $1.00 instead of $5.00

They were able to get right up on stage during worship

They were able to talk to the speakers easily as they walked around the auditorium

Expectations? 

 Never have them because God knocks them all down

We were so thrilled the kids enjoyed it

That's all that mattered

Here we are before we head home

The coolest gang of kids around!!!!

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you

-Psalm 119:11