Happy Monday

Yesterday was PF Changs, Rock N Roll half marathon.  Another 13.1 miles down.  Another year I ran it after saying I wasnt going to.  And another year I'm glad I did.  We ran, walked and had a blast.  It's just amazing to me how the human body can remember.  I mean, we havent had much training (again).  I've been getting about 3 to 4 miles in, 3 days a week, but not seriously training for a half marathon.  Delinda and I started picking up our miles about 2 weeks before the race and only got up to 8 miles.  But when the big day arrived, our bodies knew what to do.  We weren't fast, but we were able to do something (fairly easily), that litarally scared me to death when I first started running.

Life is like that.  All new things are a little bit (or a lot) scary at first.  But once you get started, the initial fear subsides.  If you keep doing it, not only does it get easier, you get better at it, and it can become a lot of fun.  I' m not saying that running a half marathon isnt hard work.  Yes, it's still painful, it still takes a lot of time.  But it's not quite as daunting a task as I first imagined it.  And the painful muscles and joints go away much quicker than before.    

Maybe you've been thinking about doing something new. Or maybe the Lord has placed something in your mind and heart to do that may seem way too big.  It may be scary and may cause some pain.  You may have to give something up, like time, money, comfort.  But, if you will allow yourself... if you will make yourself do it.  You may find that it was worth it.  It may even become fun.  

Happy Monday.  Have a blessed week.

Debbie

Gratitude

This was a little blessing in my path yesterday

While running PF Chang's race in January, I hurt my hip. I was complaining in my mind about the pain and whining to God. Then, at about mile 10, I came upon a beautiful, strong, little woman, who had no use of her polio ridden legs. She had done the entire race on crutches; the kind that are strapped on at the shoulders. I could only imagine how painful it must have been for her arms and shoulders. But as I passed her, she looked up at me and smiled the most radiant smile. Suddenly my little ache in the hip didn't seem so big. I began to count my blessings. Which also prompted me to pray for her strength. Wow! What a lesson for me. Praise God for two good legs!

In that same race I kept intermittently passing a man and his son. You want to talk about determination! This man ran pushing his grown son in a wheelchair the entire race.  The poor man was so exhausted you could just see it all over him. But he never quit, he just kept pushing. Wow! Thank you God for my healthy children, for my healthy body. How could I complained about a little pain in my hip!

Next time I start to feel sorry for myself, I will remember how truly blessed I am. No matter how bad things get, there is always someone who has it worse than me. I am so blessed to have been born at this time in history, in this country, to loving, godly parents, and to have good relationships with all my family members. And have a strong, healthy body and capable mind.

True success,  happiness, wholeness and peace in life are impossible without gratitude. When a person looks around them and counts their blessings instead of complaints, the complaints seem to fade away.

Will you take the time today to count the blessings in your life and pray for those less fortunate than you?  I think you will be glad you did.

My newest little blessing, Justin Max

Have a blessed day.

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The Narrow Branch.

I'm an average woman; a woman no different than any other..  Average abilities, lower than average height and higher than average weight (for my height).  I step out of bed one foot at a time, I don't function without a cup of coffee in the morning.  I've lived a less than exciting life (with a few moments of shear ecstasy woven in).  I have a less than average education (one year of college), less than average job excitement (Ive changed jobs an average of every three to five years most of my adult life).  And I have raised 3 healthy (thank God) adult children, (not sure how they turned out so good.)

I'm just saying that there is nothing in my life that marks me as special, gifted, wise, etc.  And yet I have done some pretty amazing things that I never thought I could or would ever do.  It really makes me wonder why other people wont step out on that narrow branch and spread their wings to fly.

I know that there are those gifted people who shine in their area of expertise ( the Michael Jordan's of the world), not that their achievements aren't hard earned, but they do seem to have an edge over the rest of us.  But, I'm talking about overcoming the fear, procrastination, laziness, time constraints, etc and all the other excuses (because that's what they are) and doing something they have always wanted to do.  Just throwing off the constraints; yelling to the world "Screw it!!!" And plunging in with everything they have!!!

I never thought I would be a runner.  I'm too short, too slow, too fat, too old, to whatever! But at 40 years old, 5' tall and 180 pounds, I decided " Oh what the heck!  I'm tired of all the excuses!  I'm tired of being fat, I'm tired of being tired!  I'm too poor to join the gym, and don't have time anyway!"  So I started running. well, walking first.  There was no way I could run more than a few feet a that point in time.  But I decided to move my butt!   (Why don't people decide to move their butts?!!!)

Yes, I had to make some sacrifices!  I had to get up earlier in the morning.  I had to endure sore achy muscles as I added more time and speed.  After quite a long time and humiliation (being passed by an 80 year old man), I worked my way up to 3 miles of jogging.  I lost 50 pounds and eventually moved o Arizona ( from WA state), where my darling sister spurred me on to add more and more mileage.  The first year here, every run brought a new milestone.  First 5 miles, then 6, 7, 8 (this one was huge!)  I ran my first half marathon in 2006 and I felt like I had accomplished a flight o the moon and back   We continued to add events and worked up to 3 half marathons per year.  Until 2009 -   When my Friend and coach convinced me to run a full marathon.  She told me that my sister said she would if I would and told my sister the same about me.

We ran the Tuscon half in December, the PF Chang's Rock and Roll in January and the IMS Arizona Half in February.  Then 2 and a half months later or first full marathon.  26.2 miles in San Diego California (which was totally awesome!)  But the 2.5 months of training just about killed me!  You want to talk about sacrifice!  We were on the road by 5 am two mornings per week and ran 5 to 20 miles on those days as well as 2 medium sized runs during the week in the evenings.  We ran in freezing rain (on the 18 mile day), we ran in the heat (101 degrees on the 20 mile day).  We got dehydrated, chafed, blistered, sick, sunburned, and chilled to the bone.

Yet we continued our practice runs long past when we hit the wall and were ready to quit, long past throwing up on the side of the road, being chased by dogs, getting lost in the desert and screaming at the top of our lungs (mine in particular) "I'm done!!!  Bring me the truck!  I'm not taking another step!"  (that was on the 101 degree, 20 mile day.  Thank God it was our last long practice run!)  We continued.

What made it all worth it?  What made it so good?  It was crossing that finish line in San Diego  with a smile on my face!  I had endured the hard parts - those practices.  The real race, in 62 degree San Diego was a breeze!  tI not only was physically easier (because of climate), but it changed me.  I learned some things about myself.

I learned that I'm not just an average, short, chubby, girl.  No!  I elevated myself  into a whole new bracket.  I am above average!!  I have accomplished something that 95% of people will not even take the first step to accomplish.  That puts me in the top 5% of people in the world.  If I can run a 26.2 mile foot race in a short, chubby, average, 49 year old body, what else might I be able to accomplish?  The sky's the limit!

I've started to raise my expectation of myself.  I've continued to run at least 2 halves every year and I've run in some really neat places like Seattle.  I've also hiked the Grand Canyon, North to South rim.  I've changed careers yet again and have doubled my income in the last 2 years!

I've learned that "average" is a state of mind.
And everything worth having or accomplishing is worth working for.

And the doors have continued to open for me.  Sometimes taking a step toward the door is all it takes to open it.  As long as they continue to open for me, I'm going to walk, or Run, through them.

I hope you will too.

Monday Praises

I'm in love with Today's technology.

Why?  I'm actually blogging right now and taking a run/walk, thanks to voice texting. I'm walking the last part of my run so I can use the time to work on my blog. (How cool is that!)

This is the first time I've actually been out all summer long. Here in Arizona the weather is much too hot to be running outside In the summer. So I spent the summer either running on the treadmill at home or jumping up and down in my living room with my daughter doing "insanity."

But this morning it was a lovely 79° at 7:30 AM when I headed out for my jog. It felt so wonderful to get outside this morning that I decided to take some pictures of what I saw on the route. I feel so blessed to live in such a pretty area.

I spent the first half of my run contemplating what I would say for "Monday Praise",  This is a gathering of Christian bloggers who want to give God the glory for all of the blessings in our lives. And today is the first day of Monday Praise. 

The idea was started by Amy at WalkhumblywithGod.Word press.com But I thought, "what a wonderful way to start your week." By giving thanks and glory to our Savior. I am so thankful for my salvation. I began counting my blessings, and I have so many things to be thankful for that it was hard to pinpoint one. 

Then I started noticing my surroundings. 

How blessed I felt!!

  I can run. I can walk. I can move and breeth.  I'm awake, I'm alive. I'm surrounded with the beauty of God's creation. Thank you God for that. 

I have an awesome family. I thank God for them.  For my children and their spouses and children. What a blessing they have been in my life. I'm in awe. 

I meandered this morning and lollygagged so long that it took me an hour and 10 minutes to finish a 4 mile run. And I loved every minute of it. 

I am amazed at the beauty surrounding me, and how much I take for granted. I never think about the desert as a beautiful place. Yet I see the presents and evidence of God everywhere. And as you can see, it doesn't look like the desert at all. 

We still have flowers! and its summertime!   I guess I'm saying I'm thankful for the small things as well as the big ones. 

Psalm 9:1&2 says;I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult you: I will sing praise to your name, Oh Most High. 

Joel Osteen said it nicely in his book; Your best life now.  "one of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful… We let what was once a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to his goodness it becomes a routine… "

It's easy to praise God for the big blessings in our lives, but I don't ever want to let the small wonders of life become routine. I want to always see God in them. And be thankful for them. Because they each are their own little God moment.

Expect the best. And make it a great day!