One of Those Weeks

I've had "one of those weeks".  I've been cranky, tired, and hard to live with.  I hate my job, I'm fed up with politics, I hate the teams going to the super bowl ...you name it, I've complained about it.  So, it's probably time to do a gratitude post.  What do you think? 

I'm thankful for my son.  He's 16 now, and starting to think about college, driving, and the typical things 16-year-olds think about.  I'm so incredibly proud of him.  At the end of May, as part of a requirement for earning a congressional award, he will be traveling to TURKEY for 21 days.  He will be taking classes there and teaching English for service credits.  Of course, he will also have plenty of time to explore.  As someone who has never been out of the country, I am incredibly grateful that he will have this wonderful opportunity. 

With his new passport...I'm kind of jealous that I don't have one. 

I'm thankful for my husband, who celebrated his birthday yesterday!  He inspires me every day to not focus on the negative and live for what we have today.  He is strong in his beliefs and values and does not back down from anyone who challenges his feelings.  Don't tell him I said this, but I kind of love that about him. 

I'm thankful for all of the material things with which we've been blessed.  A warm home, food to eat, clothes to wear, cars to drive, the things we daily take for granted. 

The car my son wants to drive

I'm thankful for my health.  I'm thankful for the ability to run and exercise when there are so many who can't. 

I'm thankful for music.  So often, when I feel sad or disheartened, I can sit and play the piano or just listen to music.  Soon, that sadness is replaced with peace and contentment. 

If anyone would like to buy me this as a gift, I would take it!

I'm thankful for living in Nevada.  Seriously, so beautiful!  God's creation is so prominently displayed in the mountains, the deserts, the lakes, and...wow...just look at these sunrises!

Driving in to work the other morning

The start of a run last week

I'm thankful for a GREAT 8-mile run today.  After a 6-miler earlier in the week, I felt like throwing in the towel altogether on this whole running thing.  My legs felt heavy, my breathing was labored, and it was just hard!  But, as always, every bad run will soon be replaced by a good one, and today was it.  It's the farthest I've run since the marathon, it was pain-free, and that love was back!  The sun was shining, the air was cool, and the sky was blue.  What more could you ask for?

What are you thankful for today?

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30)

Back to "Normal"

I felt there hasn't been too much to say these past few weeks, so I haven't posted in awhile.  We're finally getting back into the swing of things after the holidays.  I feel like we're back on a schedule now, and that's pretty tough (what...you want me to work a full week??).  Good thing I had today off for another quick break.  :)

A lot of people (my husband and son, for example) like to sleep in on those days when work and school are not dictating our wake-up times.  I, personally, like to get up just a little later than I normally would (come on...I'm not going to get up at 4:15 on my day off...I'm not that weird), and enjoy doing something different than the normal routine.  I don't HAVE to immediately get dressed and go running or HAVE to put on work clothes.  I can make a cup of hot chocolate, sit and relax, or whatever before starting the day.  That, in my opinion, is the best part of a day off.  Of course, I did HAVE to go running today, if for no other reason than to work off my frustration with the Packers game yesterday.  So hard to watch!!  I had to self-medicate with this after the game.  

Yeah, I don't take these losses very well. 

Running on a day off means I can run in the daylight!  I can actually enjoy the scenery.  Some pictures from today's run:

FINALLY!  We got some snow...desperately need the moisture in this area. 

I've been running again pretty consistently for over two (2) weeks, now.  I've felt great and, for the most part, pain-free.  Right now, they're mostly shorter, slower runs.  I don't even look at my Garmin.  I do plan on working more on my speed, but I'm just trying to get back into it at this point.  Now that my mileage isn't at marathon-training distances, I have time when I finish my runs to get some ab / core work in.  HATE this!  I've never been disciplined when it came to these types of workouts, but I realize it will help with my running (and in defining creating ab muscles), so I try to work it in at least three times a week.  I've started self-torturing myself with "planks".  If you don't know what they are, keep it that way!!  They are not fun (unless you're my family who has fun watching me try to do them)!!!  I also do crunch variations and all that other stuff....blah!  

Looking at some races I might enter in the first half of the year.  I'll probably try this one (in Sacramento):

My husband is looking at maybe hand-cycling in this marathon,

the Windermere Marathon in Spokane, WA, so I might do the half there, as well.

We're waiting to see how everything pans out as far as scheduling. 

Hope everyone's new year is starting out well!  Have a great week.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  (2 Cor. 5:17)