Running

Well, here I sit. Out of high school. Out of sports. Out of college. To be honest, I have been feeling kind of crummy athletically for the past few years. I miss being in my athletic high school shape. Back then, I always wished I was in better shape too, but looking back... I was in good shape! (Our coaches sure knew how to whip us into shape for volleyball!) It seems like that's how it always is. At the time, we are not satisfied or happy with ourselves/lives, but when we look back, we see it in another light. Sure, we probably look through rose-colored glasses at the past, but that's not all bad. Anyways, I guess I am feeling nostalgic about my former athletic condition and am regretting my current one. Especially when I have a certain absolutely beautiful white dress to fit into (and hopefully take in) in 266 days! :)

To help me get back into a healthier version of myself, I am turning to running, as well as other cardio exercises along with strength training. My goal is to get back up to running 3-3.5 miles and if I am feeling great there, push myself to 4-5 miles. Two summers ago, I was running 3 miles a day in about 25-30 minutes, which is not the best but for not training for a marathon or anything, it was enough to make me happy. :) Running and I have had an off and on again relationship. As a young child/early teenager, that was ALL I wanted to do. Run, run, run. For some reason, after freshman year of high school hit, I didn't love it so much. Maybe it was all of the running we did in volleyball, but I just was burnt out by it. It was not my favorite. It still isn't my absolute favorite, but I know that it is a great way to work out my entire body and get a great workout! So I am setting out on this journey to rediscover the joy of running. Wish me luck! :)

P.S. I am thinking of investing in a good pair of Nikes. Any suggestions on which women's style is best? There are SOOOOO many to choose from! Right now, I am looking at these two shoes:

http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikewomen/en_US/shoes?hf=10001^12001^4294967132&p=PWP&t=Women%27s%20Running%20Shoes#?ll=en_US&ct=US&pid=401982&cid=101101&pgid=401983&p=PDP

http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikewomen/en_US/shoes?hf=10001^12001^4294967132&p=PWP&t=Women%27s%20Running%20Shoes#?ll=en_US&ct=US&pid=400880&cid=101101&pgid=384342&p=PDP

You're Faithful, Forever...

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Awe.

That is the feeling that has been coursing through my thoughts constantly over the past month. I am in awe of our Creator. Our Sustainer. Our Provider.

In one of my recent blog entries, I wrote about change. How it scares me. How it has been shaping me into the woman that God has created me to be. Now, based on the verse I posted above, some of you may think that I have a full time job. I still do not.

BUT! I am in awe and so incredibly thankful for God's provision in my life. As I have been telling those around me, in the past month, God has been teaching me to rely on him daily. To trust him with my seemingly obscure and insignificant daily needs. But let me tell you that He has been so faithful. So good. At the beginning of the school year, I was scheduled to work about 8 hours a week guaranteed. In the past almost month of working, I have literally been called in for a job everyday except for two days (averaging about 20-30 hours a week).Is that not incredible? I think it is!!!!

Despite my worries about the future, God has been so faithful in meeting my daily needs. Completely. 100%. What an amazing God we serve! :)

Bittersweet & Change

Hello friends! As many of you know, I am a major bookworm. Sadly, ever since I started attending college in 2007 & working full time every summer, I have not had much time to read as many books as I used to. :( Lately though, I have been trying fit in reading time before bed and in any down time I can scrounge up. One of the books that I have been wanting to read for a very long time now is Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist. I had heard WONDERFUL things about this novel & finally purchased it a couple of weeks ago. I am only on chapter 11 out of 35 or so, but this book has already been such an incredible blessing to me. I have found myself underlining quotes more often than I usually do in other books. It is simply the story of an average American woman who has had trials like the rest of us, some more challenging than others, some not. But her honest opinions, thoughts, and wisdom are such a blessing to read. :) Anyway, I just wanted to share my favorite piece of the prologue with you which sets the book up. I found Shauna's take on the word/idea of "bittersweet" to be utterly refreshing. I hope that you do too. :)

"Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful. Bittersweet is the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity. Bittersweet is courageous, gusty, earthy..."

"This is what I've come to believe about change: it's good in the way that childbirth is good, and heartbreak is good and failure is good. By that I mean that it's incredibly painful, exponentially more so if you fight it, and also that it has the potential to open you up, to open life up, to deliver you right into the palm of God's hand, which is where you wanted to be all along... when life is sweet, say thank you & celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow."

I hope that these quotes have been either encouraging to you or have made you stop and think. I have never looked at bittersweetness and change as a good thing. Change is not my favorite thing in the world to experience, as I said in my previous blog. :) However, I am learning to look at bittersweet things and change as opportunities to grow and to become a better person. I hope that you do too. :)