Disappointed but not defeated

Today is March 25th and that means that it was the big day. The big day I thought enough of to put a countdown timer at the top of my blog. The day my running buddies and I have anticipated and looked forward to since December.

At the sound of the gun, our corral inched forward and crossed the starting line at 8:12. The butterflies had finally subsided and our race was underway. It was a gorgeous morning. Not a cloud in the sky. My first half marathon with an offering of good weather.

Shortly after I crossed the 2 mile mark I began to feel my knee...the one that started hurting about 3 weeks ago. The further I ran the more I felt it and by the 5k split, it was throbbing and locking up. I slowed to a walk but I WASN'T going to stop! I even had an invitation to ride on my friend's back and piggy back the 2012 Rock & Roll Half Marathon! Right after mile 4, I spotted a medic station and pulled over and took a seat. I thought maybe I could ice it or they could re-apply my KT tape or they might be able to give me some kind of tip to try to finish out the race successfully. Nope! Instead he told me, "You can't continue. This is only mile 4 and it would be very unwise to run any further with your knee in this shape." I cried.

And cried.

And cried some more.

But my will gave in and listened to what my body was saying to me. I walked to the ambulance, had them put an ice pack on it and walked to the next corner where my husband picked me up. And the tears wouldn't stop. I'm not sure when I've ever been so disappointed. Ever.

But as I sit here on my couch with ice piled on my knee, I'm thankful that cooler heads prevailed and I didn't choose to injure it more because of pride. I'm thankful that I have a wonderful husband who knew the minute he heard my voice that something was wrong and couldn't get to me fast enough. I'm thankful that once he got to me he just wrapped his arms around me and let me cry all over him. That I got to be at the finish line to see my friends cross it. That I have the kind of friends who would offer to carry me on their back and cry with me over my disappointment and send me verses from the Bible to keep me encouraged. I am truly blessed. I will get up off the ground, shake off the dust, and look forward to healing for the next race. I am disappointed but not defeated.

It's random today...

So the rest of my day on Monday continued with the theme it started with and instead of just delaying the doing of the tasks on my list, I completely ignored it. After I sat on the patio in the sun at Starbucks for 3 hours, I went over to my friend, Nancy's house and we laid out by her pool for the rest of the afternoon. It was a glorious day of vitamin D.

Then...on Monday evening I took in the last episode of The Bachelor...and wowzers...does he ever look like his mama! But I just want to say that I think he needs a new do. Some can pull off the messy look and make messy look quite appealing to the rest of us. I do not believe Ben is one of these people. And maybe all he needs is to change where he parts it because down the middle makes him look like Alfalfa. But then again...look how I used to fix my hair...so what do I know!

Like my glasses? I wanted some bigger ones, but those were all I could afford!

And then...well...his choice leaves me not knowing what to say except that, like all of us, there must be a battle on the inside of that little model. For out of the heart, the mouth speaks...and spews all over 24 other girls who come near. But I was not put here to judge because the good Lord knows that I have been known to have some times where I spewed some yuck on others! I wish only happiness and healthy growth for them.

I laced up my new running shoes yesterday morning and ran 3.5 miles with my good friend, Jill. Y'all...the mosquitoes were everywhere and am sure because of the warm winter we had they will be everywhere from here on out. I think I might stock up on some Off now! And...and...blisters on the back of my foot. Ick! I am hoping I can get those shoes broken in before next Sunday!! Which means I might should put them on several more times and actually run. But it really gets in the way of my laying around doing nothing and enjoying spring break time.

Oh...and I was also elated to hear from AFAA saying they were pleased to inform me that I successfully completed and passed both the practical and written portions of the Primary Group Instructor Certification exams. Now this is exciting because at some point I will get some type of exercise group off the ground and take the choice back out of my working out. People will be there waiting on me to give them a good workout and when that is the case I am on it! However, I guess I better stop writing posts about how I plan to work out but then something more fun comes up and I choose that instead of exercising because then nobody will be interested in paying me to give them a good workout!!

And finally...the last random thing on my mind...spaghetti squash!!! Dang! Does anyone have any tips for cutting those things in half without butchering your hand and fingers? There is a price to pay for eating healthy and I don't just mean hunger pains! I found this recipe on Pinterest that looked really healthy and yummy. So I decided to give it a go.

Here is what it was supposed to look like:



And here is what it actually looked like:



And the Whataburger Jr. with cheese that I actually ate for dinner was divine!

Behind my eyes...

Today is the first day of Spring Break and I couldn't be happier about it. The sun is shining brightly and my weather app is promising me a high of 81 degrees. A little taste of summer has welcomed me to my day (although with a high of 81 it's more like a little taste of a summer day in North Dakota or Seattle or somewhere way north of these parts!)

I have a whole list of things I want to do this week like clean out closets and drawers, getting rid of a bunch of unnecessary excess, and of course do some spring cleaning because really...there is good reason we have not invited friends over since Christmas! I also really really really need to run since I have a half marathon coming up in less than 2 weeks. So my plan for today was to get up and do my bible study, run 9 miles, come home and finish the leftover laundry, vacuum and mop the floors, organize at least one of the junk drawers, and prepare a fabulous and healthy meal for my dude.

And here's how it has played out so far...

I woke up at 7:46 and what was behind my eyes before they opened was the fact that every single morning when my alarm signals me at 5:30 that it's time to get ready for work, I wish...every single morning...that I could just lay in my warm bed till I decide I want to get up. And then have coffee till whenever I want to stop drinking coffee.

So...I opened my Francine Rivers book and read for an hour. And then the nurse at my doctor's office called with not one piece of not so great news, but two. So I worried a little bit and talked to two beautiful people who encouraged me to stay faithful to trust in God and not worry anymore because, truthfully, worry gets you nowhere. It just takes up time and space in your heart, soul, and mind that could be better filled with Grace and peace. So I stopped worrying, made some coffee and cinnamon toast, got back in my warm bed and turned on the t.v. Now the chicks from The View are entertaining me...and I'm still drinking coffee! Some might call that lazy...but maybe they don't know what it's like to work in education.

Spring Break is a wonderful gift of time...time that once it's gone, I won't ever get back. So, while there are things that need to be done, getting them done this morning will not make life any richer. Enjoying the gift and the 81 degree day will.

You enjoy your 81 degree day...or whatever degree you are in today!

I need a ukelele...

At 5:30 this morning, my eyes made an unfortunate decision and opened wide without my prior approval. I laid still and quiet for 30 more minutes to try to trick my eyes into going back to sleep but they would not have it, so I threw the covers back and placed my feet firmly on the floor and started my day.

I came downstairs and parked myself on the couch and turned on the t.v. Delighted to see that I Love Lucy was on, I quickly selected that channel. I have always had a particular fondness for Lucy Ricardo and if I had had the chance to know her and she were real, I'm sure we would have been friends.

Anyway...the episode that was airing was one I had never seen. And I was surprised by that because prior to this morning I thought I had seen every single episode of I Love Lucy since I have watched it for at least 35 years. Alas...I had not.

In this particular episode, Little Ricky was supposed to play his drums in front of an audience when out of nowhere he was overcome with stage fright. He thereby declared that he was done playing the drums. Well...that of course concerned Ricky and Lucy because they knew that giving in to this fear could affect him negatively in the long run and could bleed into other more detrimental fears. And we all know that when Lucy encounters a conflict she thinks of a plan! And she did not disappoint in this episode. She went to great lengths to help him to overcome his fear. She tried to reason with him and bribe him and eventually Big Ricky used a wonderful analogy with him and talked him into playing in his night club. And of course in any good sitcom, there has to be some kind of wrench thrown in the plan especially when there's still 10 minutes left. And this happened when the manager of the night club came in and freaked out in front of little Ricky because the ukulele player bailed on them. And little Ricky declared once more, "I'm not playing the drums without the ukulele player!". Lucy promised him that there would be a ukulele player when he got on stage. And it just so happened that after he walked out the door, she turned around and there was a ukelele sitting right there along with a costume for the band! Her long eyelashes batted and the wheels began to turn. And when little Ricky took the stage there sat Lucy dressed up in a little boy's band uniform playing the ukulele right next to him. And...he played the drums like he never had...thus putting that dadgum fear to rest.

I couldn't help but think of our heavenly Father in this little story who does the same thing for us that Lucy did and that any good parent would do for their child...whatever it takes to help us overcome our fear. And to start, He sent His Son to die on a cross for us so that we can live on this earth free from fear and anything else that keeps us in bondage. He promises us blessing when we trust and believe that His precepts are in place for our good, not to harm us or take away our fun. I believe with my whole heart, soul, and mind that He desires for us to take Him at His word so that when we do, we can turn around and just so happens that we have what we need at our fingertips. He can then sit right next to us and watch us play the drums like we never have!

Things that are awesome...

I was reading my friend's blog the other day...going back through some of the entries of late that I missed for one reason or another. I came across an entry she posted not long ago that I luh-uvvved! So...I stole the idea and title from her. But...I'm giving her credit...and by her I mean my beautiful friend Tina...who by the way is a published author and my writing idol. She's fabulous at the craft and you should go and visit her blog if you know what's good for you!

So anyway. Things that are awesome.

1. Thin Mints and Tagalongs. I have a love-hate relationship with them, and it might be borderline co-dependent. But I can totally handle it, and it is awesome.

2. Sore muscles from working out. Is anyone else weird out there and like this feeling?

3. New pens. Even though I write mostly from a keyboard these days and have totally lost any penmanship skills I once had, I still get a charge out of buying new pens.

4. My new app - Fighter Verses. If you are trying to implement the practice of scripture memory into your life, I highly recommend this app. It is more than awesome!

5. Running. From the time Coach Benny Jones made us run every day in P.E. my freshman year of high school to June 2010, I l.o.a.t.h.e.d running. No...more than loathed. And then the C25K app changed my view point and my life. Well...it was one of the catalysts for the change. And now I love it.

6. Today is March 1st. And that means spring. And spring means spring break. And spring break means the end is in sight. And the end being in sight means that I just might make it through my 21st year of my career. And that, y'all, is awesome!