Currently

1. I'm looking for a behavior chart for Goose. Something with rewards and incentives for listening when asked to do things the first time. This is one hard-headed boy. :)

2. I'm still enjoying my Bible study with my girlfriends and recently while Chris and I have been visiting new churches, we've decided to join a life group that meets every Tuesday night. The book we are doing this time is called "Crazy Love." It's supposed to be awesome so I'm excited about having Chris by my side during this particular study.

3. Praying for a friend who lost her daddy last week. I know that pain all too well. So sad for my buddy.

4. Loving this fall weather! Here's to sweaters, boots, pumpkin coffee, and awesome weather for running!

5. I'm excited about trying out this new exercise called Pure Barre. It's supposed to be hard but give some serious results. Bring it!

Run



I wanted to do a running update for my own benefit. Chris constantly tells me I should journal my runs but my phone keeps my data so I just leave it at that. Sometimes it is good to sit down, uninterrupted and journal so I thought I'd do that tonight.

I've never wanted to be a competitive runner. I've never been worried about times or paces but thanks to the encouraging words of my Chris, I've started to take notice and do a bit more speed work to become some faster. I will never run sub 8 minute miles(right now, at least) but my goal is to finish the OBX half with all sub 10 minute miles. If I can do that, then I will have taken 20 minutes or more off my first 13.1 time that I ran back in May. That would be pretty awesome, I think. I think the competitive spark emerges when I start competing with myself and realizing what a long way I've come since this whole journey began last December. In looking back at my previous 10 mile runs, my average pace has stayed around 10:50. This past Sunday, I completed my 10 mile run with all sub 10's and a 9:08 pace on the last mile. I swear it felt like flying.

The emotions that come with running and getting better are completely overwhelming. Running has brought me to tears more than once- not because of pain but because of perseverance and pushing through the times I wanted to give up, walk, or turn back. Never in a million years did I think my body could endure what it has. I never thought I'd wage a war with myself to see how strong, how fast, or how far I could push. That battle is constantly stirring in me to go faster, be stronger, run longer.

Running rewards me in so many ways and tests me more than I ever imagined. As for the long run, 26.2 sounds mighty fine. Maybe that will be my next quest . . .

Life Lately

I guess the biggest thing to start with is that Webb started his first official day of preschool on Thursday. I took time off to take him cause everyone knows that being a mommy is number one. I ran that morning and did all my crying down Weaver Drive. We had a nice morning at home, eating a good breakfast and taking our time getting ready. I was able to snap a few pictures at home but Webb is seriously too busy for pictures.

 

Walking in . . .

 

Once we got inside, you could have just forgotten I existed. Webb gave Ms. Karen a hug and started playing. I thought maybe he'd be a little clingy and not want me to leave but he just said "Bye, mom!" and kept playing. I left with a happy heart knowing that he was fine, happy, and would have fun with new friends. I spent the rest of the morning planning at my favorite coffee shop and then headed to work to see my other sweet little people.

 

 

In other Webb news, he is totally becoming a three year old! He's very independent, wants to do everything by himself, and is wild and silly as ever. He notices when we miss a word in a book, reminds me to put my seat belt on and to close the garage door. He is a picky eater still, loves walnuts, strawberries, and graham crackers. He is using the potty well and helping around the house some. He loves his Lightning McQueen car, Mater, monster trucks, dump trucks, big tires, pipes, and all things truck related. He loves the Old Courthouse and drains- especially the ones at the Y. He loves putting laundry away- which usually means I end up with random clothes in my workout drawer. He can be a not-so-good listener and will then elect to sit in time out all by himself. He loves to spin in daddy's office chair, climb in the window upstairs, make tire tracks in his play dough, playing in his "cwub house" at Mimi and Pawpaw's house, and playing with kitchen utensils. He asks for mommy every morning as he comes downstairs, snuggles with me, kisses and hugs me, and lets me carry him around. He loves wrestling and climbing up daddy. He loves bike rides in his trailer, going to the park, getting ice cream, and playing on his tractor.

 

He is the love of our lives and we just enjoy him so. Until he's a not-so-good listener and then we want to pull our hair out. :) Patience is key here.

 

 

My girlfriends and I are doing a Bible Study. We changed the book and are now doing Beth Moore's study of James.

 

 

We had our first meeting last week and it was totally amazing. The leader is such an inspiring mom and friend and the rest of us just click so well. I really feel like I'm going to learn something from this and grow closer to God. Until we meet again, I have a lot of homework to do! And I'm actually looking forward to doing it!

 

 

Last weekend, we went to eat Thai to celebrate my friend Catherine's birthday. We had such a fun night out.

 

 

 

As you've heard me say a million times, my first half marathon is two months away! Now I'm going to run another half a month after that! It's the Mistletoe Half Marathon.

 

 

Then, I think I'll do one in either February or March. I told you I was addicted. :)

 

 

 

That's about it for now. Hope everyone is doing well!

 

 

 

 

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