Independence Day 2019

It’s hard to believe that it is July already. Summer just got here, but it seems like it is slipping away so quickly. Before we know it, summer will be gone, it will be fall, and we’ll be slipping into winter. After that comes the new year! Sigh.

Tomorrow is a big day here in the U.S. It is our Independence Day celebration. What are your plans for Independence Day? Growing up it meant a block party! There were five houses on our street. In the evening people would begin to gather. We had all kinds of homemade treats to sample. The most exciting treat was always the homemade ice cream. There was often a strawberry sauce to put over it if desired. There was always homemade hot fudge sauce. Once we had our fill of ice cream, cake, brownies, and fudge sauce it was time for the fireworks. Most of the time the weather cooperated. I can remember times that it was so cold that we were sitting out in the yard in our sleeping bags.

Times have certainly changed. We’re all much older now. Some have passed away, others have moved away. None of us have the metabolism or the stomach to eat pounds of sugar in one sitting.

Tomorrow I’ll start my day with a 4-mile race that goes to benefit a local hospital. This is the third time I’ve done this run. It’s a small race in a small town and lots of fun. Afterwards, I’ll have my BLE muffins for breakfast. They’re really good, but nothing compares to homemade ice cream and Mom’s hot fudge sauce! (Hot fudge sauce on a blueberry muffin? Now you’re talking!)

Later, we’ll get out our copy of the Declaration of Independence and give it a read. It’s a nice reminder once a year. I often do it in the car–it’s easy to hold everyone’s attention there.

Freedom is a valuable thing. We’ve had so much of it, that we often take it for granted. We have reaped a bountiful harvest yet are not cautiously storing up for the famine around the corner. We don’t even recognize when our freedom is slowly being taken away. Our founding fathers understood the value of freedom and what it was like to live without it. They and their families were willing to give up everything to guarantee that you and I would have the luxury of living in freedom. Let’s honor them, as we should, on this carefree day.

Physical freedom is a great thing. Let’s not forget where the most important freedom, spiritual freedom, comes from.

 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  John 8:36

Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures has a nice Independence Day post. Hop on over there and check it out!

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It’s Summer!

Yes! Summer is here! It’s my favorite time of year. What’s yours?

I feel like summer is a time to be free and enjoy the outdoors. As a school-age child, summer meant no school and lots of time to play outdoors. As a homeschool mom, it’s almost the same feeling! It’s a time to lighten up on the academics and to concentrate on being outdoors and preparing for the next school year. Planning the next school year and seeing what we’re going to be learning is always exciting.

Summer is a time of lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Lately we’ve had blueberries on sale in the grocery store. I love blueberries and have been able to have fresh blueberries instead of frozen with my BLE breakfast every morning.

I love going to our local farmers’ market and loading up on local produce. I take my fold-up wagon and buy what’s available–corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, eggs, fresh made bread, and the list goes on and on.

June 21st is often referred to as the “longest day of the year.” I know it’s not actually the longest day of the year since all days have 24 hours in them. However, it is the day with the most day light. That is the one drawback of summer–the days are going to start getting shorter in terms of daylight.

Our summer started with thunderstorms, a possible gustnado, and torrential downpours this morning. There were 18,000 people without electricity due to high winds and lightening strikes. There were over 25 water rescues due to flash flooding. However, tomorrow is bringing us warm, 90 degree weather. After a morning run, we are planning on being poolside!

What are your summer plans?

He made the moon for the seasons; The sun knows the place of its setting. Psalm 104:19

A Huge Disappointment, Second Quarter Update

April’s race was the Tortoise and Hare. This is a small race in a small town. I was not able to do this one last year due to a conflict, but I did run it with my two daughters in 2017. We had quite the weather change, and it was my first warm race of the year!

Transitioning from winter to summer is always difficult for me. It takes me longer than it should to shed the extra layers, so I often end up too warm. That was the case for this race as well. The forecast was for it to be foggy and cloudy that day, and I was counting on it. We were lined up at the starting line waiting for the gun to go off, when the fog lifted and the sun came out. I could immediately feel the warm sun on me, and my first thought was that this was not good.

I was wearing my running jacket that I really, really like. I quickly looked for a place to ditch it, but didn’t see one where I thought it most likely would still be there when I got back. Instead, I ended up taking it off and running the entire race with my jacket tied around my waist. It was aggravating, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

May’s race was the Brandon Russell’s Flash Dash 5K. I ran this race last year as well. This race is on a very flat course that zigzags through town. Last year it rained and rained until the race started. This year the rain started right before I got to the finish line. It was warm, so it felt good!

June’s race, the Hero Hustle, was a welcome surprise! I had a friend that had registered for a race but was going to be out of town, so she transferred her race entry over to me. She ended up canceling the trip and registering for the race again so we could run it together.

We have had the wettest May on record–ever. The original location set for the race is now under water and has a bridge washed out making it impossible to hold the race there. The race coordinators were able to find another location for the race. The race was held in a park with a walking trail. It rained and rained the night before the race, making it hot and humid. The shaded trail of the park was very much appreciated. My time for this race was not lightening fast, and I don’t expect it to ever be, but it was the best time I’ve had in a long time!

I mentioned in last week’s post that the Couch to 5K program was going to be kicking off this week and that I had been asked to help coach. We did not have enough people sign up for the program, so it has been canceled for this season. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was to hear this. However, our coach has offered to go ahead and meet with anyone that wants to, so we are still meeting! None of us are new runners, and we’re all training for various races and distances, so we are getting together and working on speed and distance. It’s going to be a great summer with lots of hard work ahead!

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Celebrating 200 Days of Bright Line Eating

As of tomorrow (Thursday) I’ll be celebrating 200 days of Bright Line Eating (BLE). It’s sounds like such a long time, but it has gone by quickly. I’m not sure how to describe the last 100 days except to say that it keeps getting better and better.

What is so significant about the last 100 days you might ask? Not only does it keep getting better and better, it also keeps getting easier and easier. I’ve learned that my biggest weakness is in the grocery store where there’s lots of NMF (not my food) around. Actually, I don’t even call it food. I call it food-like substances. I’ve learned that if I pause and think about what my Indulger often tries to tell me, that I can counter those thoughts and leave the store without the NMF and without the stomach ache later.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I keep feeling better and better. I’m putting food designed by God instead of man into my body every day. My body is definitely appreciating it and making good use of it. It’s jumping up and down in excitement, so to speak.

I am the slowest runner on earth, but Strava keeps telling me after every run that I’m getting better. My number one person to beat every day is myself, and I keep doing that over and over.

Couch to 5K at our local community center kicks into gear next week. This year, I’ve been asked to help coach. I am really excited about this. I know I’m not bringing any great skills to the program, but I do want to encourage others to give running a try. I am definitely that person they can look at and say, “If she can do it, so can I.”

My encouragement to anyone new to BLE or any other program is to stick with it and give it time. I can imagine that most people start BLE as a way to lose weight, but there are so many other benefits as well. I’m glad I’ve stuck to it and am seeing the long-term benefits. Now there are so many reasons to keep on keeping on!

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;  Genesis 2:16

It’s Global Running Day

Today, June 5, is Global Running Day. What is Global Running Day?

Global Running Day is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving. It doesn’t matter how fast you run or how far you go—what’s important is that you take part, and how you do it is up to you. Run a lap around your block, take your dog for a long walk, or call your friends for a pick-up game in the park. The important thing is that you have fun being active—and you inspire others to join you.

I’m in a group that regularly meets on Wednesday nights, so we’re having extra fun tonight. We have a photographer coming to take pictures along our route and the pizza place we meet at is having specials for us tonight. It’s a time of fun and fellowship!

There are plenty of specials online as well. Discounts on races and drawings for prizes. Fun, fun, fun!

Our local running store is asking people to post pictures of their favorite running buddies which might get you a free race entry. My two daughters are my favorite running buddies.

My two daughters are my favorite running buddies.

The important thing is to get out and have fun with the people that you love.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and [yet] walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
I John 1:6-7

The Blog Post About Nothing

The last several weeks I’ve had a particular topic that has come to mind that I wanted to write about. This week, I don’t have one.  I guess you could say that this is the blog post about nothing.  (Seinfeld fans will get that one.)

I feel like it’s taken a while, but I’ve gotten into a groove. After all, today is Day 185 in my Bright Line Eating journey. I feel like I’ve finally gotten to the point where I can ignore the Indulger and the Saboteur. This doesn’t mean that I have it all figured out and that I can let my guard down. I know I can’t. I know I’m just one step away from where I was a few years ago.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m loving running again. I know I’m never going to be fast or a superstar, but I’m getting better every time. I’m able to go further at a little bit faster pace each time I go out. I am working at it but still enjoying it and not feeling like I’m going to collapse when I’m done.

I’m feeling solemn, yet grateful today as we spent part of last night in the basement due to tornado warnings. We were fortunate that it doesn’t appear that we have any damage. But, not far away, there are people whose homes were leveled. Reports are that there were a few minor injuries—nothing major and no deaths. Absolutely amazing.

And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”  And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.  And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  Mark 4:37-41

First Quarter Update and My First Running Injury

I haven’t posted an update on running for a while, so I thought I would do that for this week’s post.

Running outdoors is very weather dependent.  And once you start enjoying running outdoors, the thought of running indoors, especially on a treadmill, is almost crippling.  I’d almost rather do anything else but run on a treadmill.

That said, we had a very snowy and icy winter this year.  Our Sunday church services were cancelled three Sundays this past winter.  Most of the schools in the area have started taking away holidays and days off to make up for the days the schools were closed this winter.  So, even on days where it was unfit to run outside, it was also too treacherous to drive to a gym or to the caves to run.  There were lots of days that we opted to stay home for safety.

For January, I again registered for the Battle of the Bean 5K.  This race was early Saturday morning, and we had a snow storm predicted for Friday night into Saturday morning.  At packet pickup, everyone was being asked if they were planning on attending the race.  If not, you were not given a timing chip.  I went to packet pickup with full intention of running the race on Saturday morning.  We all got a nice mug like last year except that they were blue this year.

As predicted, the snow and the blowing wind came.  The race was still on, but my friends and I decided that it was not worth the risk to drive across town and then run on a major thoroughfare and risk getting hit by a car.  And, after seeing photos from the race, it was clear that we made the right decision.

For February, I again registered for the Sweetheart Run 5K.  This was my third time to run this race.  We had had lots of snow and ice a few days before the race, so I did go check out the route when I went for packet pickup.  I was glad I did, as the parking lot was literally a sheet of ice since it was at a place that has closed and is no longer in use.  The route had lots of snow and slush on it, but I saw a snowplow working on it, so I was hoping it would be in better condition by race time.

Race time came.  It was cold, and crunchy.  All the snow and slush was now frozen into ice.  It was a whopping 14 degrees with a 13 mph wind.  The emcee was telling people that if they didn’t want to run that they could hand in their timing chip in exchange for their medal.  Most people were taking him up on his offer.  I thought about it, but decided that I knew I would get warmed up once I got started.

The race was slow-going but doable.  Everyone had slowed down to where it was pretty well one big pack.  It was cool, but I did get warmed up once we got going.  Then at the mile two marker I stepped on a ball of ice from the snow plow and rolled my ankle.  It was excruciating, but I did not think it was as bad as the last time I rolled my ankle.  I tried running after that, but couldn’t.  I had to walk the rest of the way, but I finished.  This was the coldest, crunchiest, iciest, and most treacherous race I’ve ever run.   This was also my first running injury.

March’s race was again the Hospital Half and 5K.  Actually, I believe they gave it another name this year, but we’ll go with this one.  This is my third year for this race as well.  I was still recovering from my ankle sprain and had done some walking but no running at all.  I had a friend that injured her knee a few days before the race, so we decided to walk the race together.

It was cold, and the wind was blowing.  The race also started and ended at a different location with a whole new route.  The vendor expo was inside, which was probably a good thing with the cold and wind.  The new route was extremely hilly.  I’ve heard that there were enough complaints that it will be a different route next year.

Once I saw the finish line, I couldn’t walk any more.  I ran across the finish line, which ended up being a wise decision.  This little sprint made me second to the last in my age group by two seconds!

This will give you a summary for the first quarter of 2019.   I will write more on what has been happening in my next post.

A plan in the heart of a man is [like] deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5

 

Self-Care

Last summer I did participate in the Couch to 5K program except that our coach also offered a 5K to 10K program.  The race we’ve traditionally run at the end of the program offers a 5K or a 10K option, so it was an easy addition to the program.  I registered for the 10K program.

I ran more miles last summer than ever before, but I made a huge mistake.  The school year before had been stressful and difficult, so I really felt like I just needed to rest and relax.  So, I decided to relax and have fun with my running.  Instead of listening to a metronome to keep my pace on track, I toyed with listening to music.  I tried different genres and different tempos, but never found a tempo to keep my pace where it should be.  I know a lot of people listen to music or podcasts while running.  It just doesn’t work for me.

I naturally want to run slow and with a long stride, so that’s what happened.  My stride got longer and I got slower which makes for more work on the body.  By the time I realized this, it was so late in the program that I decided to not try to correct it at that time.

I did complete the program and ran my first 10K!  It was a great feeling of accomplishment.  Cinderella participated in the Couch to 5K program for the first time and did a great job as well. By this time, I was the heaviest I had been for a few years.

I’ve learned that relaxation can come in the form of self-care.  That has been my focus in 2019, which is why I’ve shared with you some of the new things I’ve been doing this year–like journaling and Bright Line Eating.  Little things like this add up quickly and can give us the energy we need to do other things well.

If you’re feeling tired, exhausted, discouraged, or burned out, I encourage you to find some things that you can do regularly to take care of yourself.  Think of it as maintenance just like you would maintain your car to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.  Filling it up with gas, keeping the oil changed, keeping the tires aired up, giving it a wash and wax every now and then are all important in keeping your car running smoothly so it will perform the way you want it to.  We must do the same for ourselves, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

My 10-Year Journal

Journaling or keeping a diary is not something I’ve ever kept up with for very long.  As a kid I had the typical diary with the lock and key–you know, the kind that anyone can open.  That lock always made it seem so exciting and mysterious.  However, I never kept up with it for very long.

I have always enjoyed writing, however, as long as I had someone to write to.  In seventh grade, we had a teacher that sent off and got pen pals for the entire class.  I did get a pen pal, maybe two, but again that didn’t last long either.

My favorite and most faithful pen pal was my grandmother that lived 600 miles away.  Remember, this was before any form of electronic communications.  Snail mail was the way to go, and getting a personal letter in the mail was exciting.  This was also the time of being billed by the minute for long-distance phone calls, so talking on the phone to someone outside of your city was really special–and expensive.

I am once again trying journaling.  Some of the books that I’ve enjoyed reading are made up of people’s journals.  I found a 10-year journal on Amazon that I am really enjoying.  Once I get a few years under my belt, I’m wondering if I’ll enjoy going back over the previous years’ entries.

Even though this journal claims to be a 10-year, it’s technically an 11-year journal because it goes from 2019 to 2029!  It has a very nice leather cover and comes in a variety of colors.  It also has very thick pages that are of high-quality paper.  There is no worry of your ink bleeding through with this journal.

The people that created this journal have thought of everything.  First there is a table of contents and then an introduction that explains the various pages of the journal.  There are some lined pages for notes, and then a planning page for each year.  Then you’ll find a 12-year calendar.

For each month of each year there’s a monthly summary page to record something short and sweet that you want to keep track of.  It could be your weight, your blood pressure, the weather or outdoor temperature.  It’s up to you.

Next come the daily entry pages.  There’s plenty of room to make your entry for the day, along with a place to put the page number if you have a long entry for that day and need to continue it on to the back of the journal.  Almost like reading the newspaper and finding the article continued to another page.

Eleven Years of Plans

12-Year Calendar

Daily Entry Pages

Continuation Pages

Event Tracker

Monthly Memo

In the back you’ll find an Address & Phone book page for just that.  Then you’ll find an Event Tracker page for each year where you can record medical events, automobile repairs, or anything else you’d like to record.

Last, but not least, is a Monthly Memo page where you can record birthdays anniversaries, and other celebrations.  Once recorded, everything is in one spot.  No more missed birthdays!

This is the first pre-printed journal that I have enjoyed.  After trying a few others that I did not, I spent a lot of time looking and viewing the inner pages before purchasing this one.  I am enjoying stopping to think about the day’s events and recording the ones that I think are noteworthy and that I’ll want to be reminded of in the years ahead.  So, if you’ve tried one in the past but decided that journaling just isn’t for you; I encourage you to do some contemplating and further looking.

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Do you journal?  Why or why not?  Tell me about your journal.

Another Four Miles on the Fourth

July’s race for 2018 was the CRMC 4-Mile run which was on Independence Day.  This is the same four-mile run we did last year, with the same course.  The money from the race goes to support a local hospital.

This year, we had more friends join us for this race.  Cinderella decided that she wanted to run this race this year as well, so she also joined us.  Why she wanted to run this race so badly, I have no idea.  I tried to remind her that race time was at 7:30 am, that it was a 40 minute drive, so we would be getting up very early.  She insisted that she still wanted to run this race.

A friend and I went together for packet pick up the day before the race.  This was her first time to run this race, so after packet pick up we went and drove the course.  At least we knew what the course was this time!

I was immediately reminded of the steep hill at the beginning of the race and the hill at the end of the race as well.

Race day morning was ugly.  All the excitement of the race had worn off, and getting up and out of bed at an unreasonable time no longer seemed fun to Cinderella.  However, she did get up and get out the door.

We were plenty early, which worked out well since my oldest daughter still had to register.  There was a playground nearby that kept Cinderella and Sofia the First occupied.

Start time was finally here, and we were off.  The sun was bearing down and felt very hot so I was trying to run wherever there was shade.  After about the first half mile Cinderella decided she couldn’t run any further.  We did some walking and I tried to encourage her to do some more running, but to no avail.  Then I tried running ahead quite a distance, but that didn’t work either.

Finally, I decided to suck it up and walk with her.  She was extremely cranky, and being around her was not pleasant.  I reminded her that I was five times her age.  At one point she asked me to let her win.  I told her not to worry, that I would let her go ahead of me across the finish line.

At the three-mile mark was a water sprinkler that felt really nice.  Shortly after that was a group of cheerleaders.  For some reason, Cinderella decided that was her cue to run; and run, she did.  She took off like a bullet and there was no reason for me to even try to keep up!  She crossed the finish line before I did, and it wasn’t because I let her win.  She was so excited to get second place in her age group!

Afterwards, we went to the same local diner as last year and had breakfast.  Seeing men in uniform was yet another reminder of the great country we live in and the sacrifices individuals and their families make every day so we can enjoy our freedoms.  Thank you to all that have served.

Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof, Leviticus 25:10