Half Marathon, completed.

I did it! I completed my first ½ marathon! The excitement and nervousness I felt prior to race day was pretty crazy. I was anxious, due to all the physical complications I had been experiencing throughout the month of September and not to mention just how intense my 12 mile run was, the week prior. BUT, I did it and it was beyond amazing. All glory goes to God for sustaining me with the energy I needed throughout the run.

The weather was perfect and the scenery was magical. It truly allowed me to appreciate God's creations so much more. 

My next goal is to run the Seattle Rock & Roll ½ Marathon in June, so I'll be training for that sometime next year. In the mean time I intend to run a race at least once a month. Throughout the last couple of months, I have developed such joy and love for running that I want to continue this road I've started. 

Nitty Gritty.

Times are tough. 

My faith is not in jeopardy, but my church home/family has been in intense scrutiny the last few months. I haven't wanted to speak publicly about everything that's been happening but I will say a couple of things. It's been absolutely heart breaking for Matt & I - as well as those who have been directly and even indirectly been affected by MH. We've tried to stay away from reading anything the media has to say because who knows how accurate their resources are. But all the controversy and the great amount of people leaving MH has definitely affected our church. I lament with those who have negatively been affected by any of the MH leaders or Pastor Mark, and yet at the same time I feel broken for MH & my chruch family as I have such immense love for them. I've been attending MH for nearly 2 years now and during this time I have desired to know Jesus more than I ever have in my 28 years. I have met such amazing individuals who have guided me how to be a godly mother to Rylan, a loving & respectful daughter to my parents, poured a huge amount of wisdom on what it means to be a godly wife to my future husband and most importantly learning what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ by loving God and loving others. I am forever thankful. Despite any mistakes Pastor Mark or the church has made - I have the utmost faith that God is working to restore and heal Mars Hill. Prayers are greatly appreciate at this time.

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On another note. Training has been a mix of good and bad. August was a great month for me, I was running on all the scheduled days and I felt my endurance and speed getting better everyday. However, September has been slightly rough. My feet and knees have just been aching so much that I've needed to take a break from running for a little over a week now. Praying for physical healing so I can continue training and get through my half marathon run in less than a month. 

You're never really ready for marriage.

I've seeked council from a few of my Christian girl friends in regards to the issues swirling constantly in my head about being "ready" for marriage, waiting for my significant other to feel like he's "ready" to be a leader to a wife and family and just how long am I supposed to wait?

I am thankful for all the love, knowledge, support and prayer while I've been deciphering this all out with God. It's encouraged me to look deeper into what God's will is for Rylan and I. Had a conversation with a girl friend yesterday and she really put into perspective a lot about often times we won't know if we're ready until God requires us to be ready. Similar to parenthood, no matter how many classes we take, books we read or advice we receive we can't apply all the knowledge and guides until we become a parent.

“Most people who contemplate marriage wrestle with the question of whether they’re ready. How much do you wait and seriously consider the weight of the decision to get married? When should you hold back and work on yourself for a while? Is any hesitation you feel about marriage a result of wanting to make sure you’ll be a healthy spouse? Or is it just selfishness and unwillingness to take responsibility? Is it both?

At what point do you stop over-thinking things, determine you’re making a good decision and make a jump?

You can never be fully ready for marriage because it’s impossible to be fully ready for marriage. Nothing can fully prepare you for losing part of yourself while making another person’s life your own. No amount of wise counsel or books or study guides can make you truly understand what it’s like to have and hold another soul, day in and day out—for life.

Marriage is much more a training zone for personal holiness than an award gala for personal perfection. Sometimes, the very things we think we need to have together before marriage can’t happen without it.

You should be asking whether you’d glorify Him better in your singleness or in marriage. If you’ve looked honestly at your life, determined with wise counsel that you’re a responsible and spiritually growing adult and can feel in your heart that you would serve God’s Kingdom better with marriage, you’re ready!” - JARED LAFITTE

Time with God.

“'For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord.
9 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" - Isaiah 55:8-9

Chaos has seemed to enter my life the past few weeks, and in all sorts of forms. Birthdays, work, weddings, relationships and everything else in between. I mainly blame myself for always putting so much on my work load that I always find myself feeling extremely overwhelmed. Fortunately, among all the craziness, I was able to hear the Holy Spirit calling to make time to spend time with God. Which is exactly what I've been doing the last few days. It has been amazing and so freeing. I reflect on my heart and realize how naive I am in regards to the grace and strength God can and does provide for me. 

I may not always understand the things going on in my life, but I know that I'm not always meant to. Some questions will never be answered here on earth and I need to acknowledge that God's will always prevails and whatever it is I may desire in my life, He desires so much more for me. His plans will always exceed any plans I could manifest on my own. God is good, all the time. And all the time? God is good.

Road to training.

After some recent discussion and encouragement from some ladies at work, I've decided to accept this goal of doing the 1/2 marathon in Leavenworth this October. I am not a runner, running and I have not had a great relationship for years now. So, what in the world compelled me to say yes to this challenge? Well, one it's going to help me get into better shape, especially my lungs because boy do I run out of breath easily. Secondly, it's a goal that I can work towards achieving. 

My first run in what seems like years was last night and I proudly did 1.8 miles in less than 20 minutes without stopping to walk. Nonetheless, I was pretty exhausted after my run but this morning I felt great. I am hopeful and yet nervous on how well I'm going to do, but I know I can do it. Wish me luck!