love/hate.

i grew up in a family of runners.

my parents were both/ are both marathon runners. my brother is a runner. my extended family runs. they all run. and i am not just talking about when something is chasing them... they actually ENJOY it... crazy fools. 

since i was in college, i have dabbled in running. im fairly active. i enjoy an occasional trip to the gym. ive done a couple of 5ks.  my junior year of college i had a brain lapse and did a half marathon, which i did not properly train for. terrible decision. 

but lately i have realize that i need exercise. i need to to keep me sane. i know understand my fathers need to wake up and go run at zero dark thirty every morning. i understand the challenge that my brother enjoys from enduring ANOTHER marathon (overachiever...). i am slowly (notice that word, slowly) starting to realize my need to run. i am becoming a runner.

please note: i do not want to be an olympic runner. gross. eww. never.

but i love the feeling of coming back from a jog and having the feeling of accomplishment. that "i did something" feeling. it feels good. it gives you the warm fuzzies. 

so yesterday i did something. something that i may regret later but in this moment i am so excited about it.

i registered for a half marathon.

not just any half marathon. the disney princess half marathon. 

so. this is the beginning of my training. this is the continuing of my love/hate relationship with running. i am scared, excited, but most of all ready. i am ready to train for this half. i am ready to run this race well. 

guess its time to put on my training heels.

survey says...

one of my daily reads is a lovely little blog, girl meets life. 

i love this blog for several reasons. gracie (the author, who i like to think of as my beast friend that i haven't met yet) lives in new york, she loves delish grub, she is a single blogger (unite!), and she loves jesus.

so when her most recent post popped up on my reading list i knew that i knew that we were destined to be friends.

she did a survey that she took from a blog meals & moves.

and of course i decided that i needed to complete it as well. 

so here we go!

A. Attached or Single?

single

B. Best Friend?

moose, the pup

C. Cake or pie?

cake. exception my grandma's recipe for homemade apple pie

D. Day of choice?

i love thursdays. the anticipation for the weekend but still have time to be productive before the weekend

E. Essential Item?

rosebud salve. never leave home without it.

F. Favorite color?

yellow, bright and cheerful.

G. Gummy bears or worms?

this is where i get picky: only haribou gummy bears & only sour gummy worms

H. Home town?

Marietta, GA

I. Favorite Indulgence?
dolly parton and marcoons

J. January or July?

january 

K. Kids?

ill take a dozen, one day... (real talk: i would love 3)

L. Life isn’t complete without?

people to share it with

M. Marriage date?

n/a.

N. Number of brothers/sisters?

2 brothers: they are studs

O. Oranges or Apples?

apples... with honey peanut butter (devine!)

Q. Quotes?

R. Reasons to smile?

i have breath in my lungs

S. Season of choice?

the inbetweens (fall & spring)

T. Tag 5 People.

your it

U. Unknown fact about me?

i am an expert balloon animal maker

V. Vegetable?

spinach

W. Worst habit?

biting my fingernails (nasty i know)

X. Xray or Ultrasound?

ultrasound

Y. Your favorite food?
mexican

Z. Zodiac sign?
taurus

you. yes you.

welcome home.

well, i have officially checked off two of my 26 before the 27 list. 

i traveled to africa (zimbabwe to be exact) as well as marveled at one of the seven natural wonders of the world. i promise more pictures and stories to come later.

i have traveled a good bit in my life. many of my adventures have been through mission trips so i am no stranger to the condition "mountain tops"; however, this trip for me was completely different. maybe because i was an adult leader, and i feel like when we are leaders the lord likes to constantly remind us that we are so inadequate yet he can do incredible things in and through us. in our weakness he is ultimate strength.

this time coming home was harder. it wasn't just missing being away from everyday life (although 2 weeks without a cell phone was extremely freeing). it wasn't getting to mountain climb in the dark with a head lamp (so hardcore), or walking with lions (yup, i did that!!). it wasn't just being in a beautiful place with beautiful people. i think for me this trip was different because i saw people being completely real with each other. i saw walls come down. i saw a place that was free of judgement. a place where you were loved for who you are not what you did or who you were pretending to be. i saw encouragement. i saw laughter.it was refreshing. 

i saw grace. 

grace for each other. grace for the children, women, and men that we were serving. it was just a taste of the incredible community that awaits us in heaven.

so although i am home... i am homesick for my true home. 

"learn to hold loosely all that is not eternal"

- maud royden