Body for God: Couch-to-5k in 9 Weeks

I've decided to do a 9 week program to get back into running.  I mentioned in my previous post, I have had a lot of injuries this year, due to thinking I am invincible starting out too hard and fast, and not giving my body enough time to adjust to new routines.
I was browsing training programs and stumbled upon this guide here.  I have a hard time accepting that this is where I am at, because I honestly do not enjoy running under 3 miles.  I am more of a distance runner, in fact, I love running 6 or more miles at a time.  I now understand that in order to get back there, I have to take baby steps or I'll be benching it yet again, waiting for my injury to heal.
The thing I love about this particular 5k training program is that it only requires 3x a week.  That is less than half of the days, which seems like less pressure to get out and run.  Time won't be so much of an issue either, 20-30 minutes per workout is all that it takes.  
I have to get my jiggly-self outside (rain or shine) and do it this week, or I'll likely be faced with the "it's too cold outside" dilemma.  If I can get back to an addictive 3+miles a run before the brutal chill of winter, there is a very good chance I will be in crazy-running-addict-mode enough to run in the 20 degree tundra that I expect will be hitting by December.
If I get my way, next fall I will run my first marathon, in Chicago!  I've been dreaming of running that 26.2 mile race for the last couple of years.  (Not to mention visiting Chicago, which I hear has some serious foodie-friendly restaurants!)  
What are your fitness goals for the fall and the winter?  Do you want to try the 9 week program? 
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Deep Breath In, Deep Breath Out

What a day I've just had!  Seriously, today was full of challenges, crazy temptations, and emotions.  Before I plunge you into the madness, let me just say that, I have really changed.  Not like, "Oh you hit your 30's"maturity boom, but more, "Wow, God is really changing me from the inside out" kind of change.

I've always been sort of a "hard" person - extremely tough on the outside, stoic, unshakable even.  Not. Any. More.  Lately, I have been repeatedly blindsided by my emotions, the outward display of them as well as the intensity.  I'm not on any hormones.  I am not a wimp.  I am just easily moved to deep feelings over things that I used to appear numb to.

Don't get me wrong...this post is not a complaint at all, more of a revelation or an "ah-ha."  I used to think that my inability to display emotion was a permanent part of my personality, but I've come to realize, over a lot of grueling soul searching over the last decade, that it was actually a self-defense measure I acquired in childhood.  I am realizing how it made me seem phony, and callus to many people who I genuinely care about and longed to connect with.  I fear I may have even lost out on friendships because people took my lack of emotion as indifference or contempt.  Brutal introspect aside, and as uncomfortable as my newly flowing emotions are making me, there is so much joy in knowing that the huge wall that kept me so reserved, is now down.  I feel, ALIVE!

I am vulnerable and it feels great.  There, I said it.  So, about today, already...

Top 5: October 2011 Events

Oh October, the month where days turn a little darker, a little colder and remind me how very few of them are left in the year!!  Looking forward to:

1.  Date Night! I am slightly embarrassed to admit that Jerry and I have not been out for a date in many months.  That is all about to change!  We have a sitter booked for the evening and will be heading out for a little romance - all a surprise to me at this point.  Can't wait to follow up with a post for that night!

2.  Mom's Group! I volunteered to host a mom's group (sans kids) on Thursday evenings (bi-weekly) starting on the 6th.  I am not only excited to dig into another meaningful study of God's word, but to reconnect with some ladies I have not seen for most of the Summer.

3.  Family Visit!  My wonderful mother and father in-law will be joining us the second weekend of the month and we have already begun to plan a trip to farm for fall festivities including: apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn mazes and petting fuzzy little farm animals.  I can't wait for Zion to experience this for the first time, and in the company of her grandparents!

4.  Fall Festivals!  New York City has a ton of kid-friendly events to celebrate fall.  While Jerry and I are not big on Halloween itself, we are fine with Zion experiencing the fun of the non-scary activities.  We'll be hoping to attend a few different events, possibly the Madison Square Park Fall Kids Fest, Halloween Parade & Pumpkin Sail and the 69th Street Halloween Block Party.

5.  Baking/Cooking with Fall Ingredients: This year I plan to make my first ever Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Spiced Apple Cider with my juicer (and the apples we pick), Pumpkin Bread, delicious roasted Acorn Squash and so much more!  Don't worry I will definitely be posting up recipes as often as I can!

What are your plans for October?  What do you love about Fall?

Far Away From Home: Why Community Matters

I have a rather large family, which continues to grow.  Pictured above are my 5 sisters, 1 brother and 3 step brothers.  (Not shown is 1 brother and 2 brother-in-laws, 1 sister-in-law).  As crazy and ridiculous as it can be to have so many siblings, it is also a ton of fun.

When my sisters and I were younger we used to dream about living on the same street, raising our families together...growing old together.  We never anticipated that we'd end up spread out across the country, thousands of miles away from each other.

Developing a Theology of Homemaking

Image from TheWayEverlasting.com

A few weeks ago during a message series called, "Joining God in the Renewal of All Things", our Pastor Jon Tyson spoke on being on the "Redemptive Edge" of your industry.  A key example of what he meant by that statement was his description of a common misconception of how we can bring change to our very broken and corrupt world.

Pastor Tyson gave the example of placing a strong Christian in a "CEO" type position at a major cable company in order to create lasting change in broadcasting and programming.  He refuted this idea by stating that even if that were to happen, any major changes would be usurped by the demand of the masses for the very material we would want removed.  It wouldn't take long before the board of directors would send the Christian CEO packing.  

Instead, he suggested, that same Christian could get thoroughly invested in the philanthropy oriented area of the company, where he could offer suggestions where large amounts of profit could actually be used to do good in the world, therefore redeeming it for the Glory of God.   

Mommy's Little Helper, Daddy's Little Princess

Zion is growing and changing with each passing day.  We are incredibly blessed to have such a beautiful, charming and spirited little girl.  We can't help but look at her now with pure delight, even as she begins to explore her independence and test her limits.

I have found that where she used to love to follow simple commands, and as a result receive lavish praise from Jerry and I, she now gives me a little smirk as if she's saying, "What if I don't?"  In order to combat this, I have noticed that I now need to make every simple task a fun and exciting one.  This is actually pretty easy...I just ask her if she will be Mommy's Big Helper, to which she enthusiastically nods her head.  Granted, it does take sometimes 3-4 times as long to do the simple things, it prevents a melt down and keeps her busy, while making her feel proud and purposeful.

Zion has always loved being a girly girl.  From the very beginning she has loved it when I have gotten her dressed in "Prih-tee" clothes or have spent time doing her hair.  She loves to gather all of the materials from my bedroom - her hair pretties, brush, spray bottle and comb.   She plops down on my lap and away I go doing her hair.  The minute I finish, she pops up quickly and toddles over to the full length mirror to admonish herself.

To see her big smile as she looks at herself and loves what she sees, is adorable.  She appears to be getting close to the age where twirling and showing Daddy her "Prih-tee" dress or "Prih-tee" hair is a part of the day to day ritual.  We sure love our little princess, who's personality is certainly blossoming before our very eyes.

Faith Filled Marriage: The "For Worse" Times

While some people believe that being in a marriage where Christ is at the center means a flawless and uneventful home life, the reality is that Christian marriages are just as susceptible to hurt, pain and trial, statistically ending in divorce just as often.

The truth of the matter is that we are all dealing with brokenness to some degree, and as a result, face many trials, and sometimes more than our "fair" share of heartache.  So, if suffering to some degree is inevitable, even in our closest partnerships, what can we do about it?

I have been meditating a lot on this recently because I have been battling issues from my childhood for what feels like over a decade now.  I was naive in the beginning of my marriage in believing that Jerry would only bring out the best in me, imagine my surprise when I realized he could easily bring out the worst!

There are three major mistakes we can make in our marriages when faced with the reality that it is not all sunshine and roses all of the time.