14

For the past month or so on Saturdays I have been meeting a group of people to do a long run.  This week we ran 14 miles.  The longest I have ever ran.  I am loving it.  I am signed up for my first full marathon in December but am wishing I had signed up for a closer one.  Several of my running friends are running 7 Bridges and others are running New York.  I am loving running and teaching at the gym.  We have had a lazy summer but I have to say I am kind of enjoying not having a lot of plans:)

I got a job!

I started working at a local gym this week as one of their fitness instructors.  I have been teaching classes at my church for over a year now and when a facebook status popped up that the gym was hiring I replied and then went in, talked to them and got the job:)  I am teaching Cycle and BodyPump on Monday nights, BodyPump on Wednesday afternoons and Cardio/Sculpt on Friday mornings.  This makes 5 days a week of teaching classes for me. (well, this summer my cardio/sculpt class at church is only on Thursdays so it is only 4 days of teaching until Fall)  I LOVE it!  My body is sore because of doing something different.  I typically exercise everyday anyway but this has me exercising multiple times a day.  I've also increased my running mileage.  I actually found someone local to run with and it has been GREAT!  I've signed up for a FULL marathon in December and I know I have lost my mind but it's a goal that I hope to fulfill.  I thought I would show my workout schedule for this week just for the fun of it.

Monday- Interval Training at home

Tuesday- Ran 6 miles

Wednesday- Ran 5 miles and Body Pump

Thursday- Cardio/Sculpt

Friday- Cardio/Sculpt

Saturday- 11 miles- running for the first time with a group that I call the "real runners" of my town

Sunday- much need REST day- I've only taken 1 other rest day the entire month of June

Sweet Summertime

I can't believe we are quickly approaching the end of June!  It seems like the kids just got of school yesterday.   If I allowed all my kids want to do is spend hours watching t.v and playing their electronic devices.  Today I taught my fitness class this morning and then we came home and I let them do whatever until after lunch.  After lunch I declared that they had to spend a few hours doing something besides watching t.v, playing on the computer or their electronics.  They didn't like me very much at first but then I told them that when I was a child I spent most of my day outside playing in my tree house or on my trampoline.  We also had a pool in our backyard but I didn't mention that;)  So, Kayla decided she wanted to paint in her treehouse and gathered her supplies.  Hayden quickly followed.  They painted and then decided they wanted to squirt each other with water while they played on the trampoline.  They spent 3 hours outside in the backyard.  That is HUGE for my kids...they never go outside when we are here unless they are forced.  It is weird.  I must confess that Summer isn't my favorite season.  I am more of a Fall or Spring type girl.  I don't like to be hot but of course I don't like to be cold either.  I don't love sweltering in the heat to be outside in the summer.  I am also not a huge fan of hanging out at the pool...I know, I'm weird but I just don't love it.  We have passes to the local water park and have been several times and we have also been to my Dad's pool to let them swim.  Actually, that is what we did yesterday. 

Here are a few things we have done so far this summer:)

We spent the first few days of summer at my Mom's in Fairhope, AL and drove over to Gulf Shores everyday for some beach fun:)

We went to the forest for a family hike one Saturday.

We had VBS last week

I hope everyone is having a GREAT summer:)

Rice , Cheese and Summer

I am currently totally addicted to brown rice.  I had some this morning for breakfast with 1/2 tbsp of honey drizzled on top...YUMMY and filling:)  I am having some for dinner with some fish fillets.  I have also had a thing for string cheese lately.  I eat at least 2 sticks a day.  I guess my calcium intake is low or something.  This actually could be true since I don't really drink milk anymore.  

I can't believe that my kids only have 1 week from school left.  Their last day is next Thursday....crazy...summer is almost here:)

Easter through the years

This is more for me than for anyone else to see.  Thankful that I took charge of my health:)

Ecuador

The hand of a little boy who stole my heart.  I can't show pictures of the orphans faces.

I visited Ecuador for the first time on a mission trip this past summer and to say it changed my life is an understatement.  I can't even put into words how I feel about that country, the people and those sweet orphans.  It was a dream come true to go and be a missionary for a week.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it.  I long to be there.  As crazy at it sounds I would leave everything. I have to go do mission work every day of my life.  If I could do life over I would go spend some time in another country doing just that.  It is harder to say yes to something when you have a husband and kids.  So far Ken doesn't feel the calling that I do to do these types of things.  It isn't that he is against anything I do but his heart isn't there like mine is.  I would move today, adopt today, do something totally radical today but the decision isn't completely up to me.  I am leading a trip back to Ecuador in October and I absolutely cannot wait.  It can't get here fast enough!

Longing

Most days of my life my heart aches and I long for something more.  It isn't about being dissatisfied where I am in life now it is more of wanting to make a difference and not sit back and act like there isn't anything I can do. My heart longs to do so much more about the orphan crisis and poverty in this world. I just can't fathom that people go through life with no family and others with no food.  It aches me to the core to know this and I know this crisis could be solved but so many sit back and act as if it isn't happening.  Why?  Because it doesn't effect their life.  It should effect all of us.  What if it was you or your child?  Would we feel different?