Ella

Ella, my crazy But also crazy adorable goldendoodle puppy. This picture was taken at five weeks when I meet her for the first time.

This is Ella at ten weeks when I brought her home. She pretty much doubled in size from the first time I meet her to when we got to bring her home.

"She is so fluffy I'm gonna die!"

Cuteness overload!

First bath!

She wasn't sure about it but she did well!

She smiles a lot and makes me smile a lot.

breakfast

There is something so good about a warm bowl of oatmeal topped with fruit for breakfast.

1/2 cup old fashion oats 

1 cup water

Boil for 5-10 minutes or until desired texture.    

Maple syrup and fruit to top!    

Organic fruit always tastes the sweetest!

YUM!

July 30th, 2015

"It's funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different..." 
C.S. Lewis 

Joyfully Running

       I'm learning to fall back in love with running. I had run countless miles last year with spring running, cross country and winter running. Then I took a break from running because the weather became impossible; single digits, a foot of snow and a sheet of ice. During my break from running I started taking yoga and barre classes weekly and I started to enjoy strength training more. Then spring came around and I had a really hard time getting back in to the swing of running daily. I ended up with shin splints, and other tightness and pain in my legs. The last thing I wanted to do was run. I hated having to go for a run. I tell myself excuses, not run and then feel very guilty. It been came a unhealthy cycle.  

      I started to think, why do I not want to run? The first reason why I didn't want to run was it hurt. I was very busy and I was not stretching well after runs and I did not ease back into running. I'm not sure what I was thinking because not running for over two
months and then going out and running a 5k is not going to be easy and its going to leave you sore especially when you are not stretching well after. I was also putting too much stress on distance and pace and my body couldn't handle it. I had it in my mind that I had to run and I should run. I wasn't thinking of running as privilege but as a chore. I started resenting my body and running. 

     Through God's grace the holy spirit was persistent in always pointing me back to God, my loving Savior, the God of forgiveness and grace. I then started read "Devotions For A Healthier You" by Katie Farrell.

      Through pray and reading God's word I realized I needed to start caring for my body again; being active, eating well, and giving my body proper rest. I also didn't just need to start caring for my body physically but spiritually. I needed to read the Word and pray faithfully not just in times of joy but in times of trails and stress. I had always knew this but I had lost sight of it through out the past months. I had been turning to sleep, Netflix, and food for comfort. But these things only created more stress, anxiety, and weariness. True comfort comes from God and not from anything on this earth. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (‭Psalm‬ ‭107‬:‭9‬ ESV)

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ESV)

Reasons why I started Running 

1. To become Healthier 
2. To get outside more
3. To challenge myself 

  Why I had loved running 

1. I became healthier 
2. I felt amazing after a run
3. I loved breathing in the fresh air 
4. It felt good to sweat
5. I enjoy being out in God's creation
6. Running made me want to eat healthier 
7. I grew stronger
8. It became a way to relief stress
9. It gave me time to think and pray. 
10. Through God's grace running helped me become grateful for my body.

These were all great things so why did I not want to run? A 
question I still don't have an answer too But I going to get back out there and start running more, not necessarily more miles or minutes but just getting outside and going joyfully. 

  Changing my mindset about running

God blessed me with two legs, lungs to breath with and a strong heart. He wants me to take care of my body because I am his workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). I have been praying and asking God to help me have joy and enjoy running. Through His grace I am once again falling in love with running. 

   Tips that have been helping 

Here are some tips from other runners that have been helping me enjoy running again:

1. Unplug, no music, no timing or distance tracking.
2. Go slow
3. Run new places or places that you love


Tips from me:

1. Pray, for joy and perseverance 
2. If you need to catch your breath just stop, it's okay.
3. Run walk intervals
4. A short run is better then no run!
5. Switch up the time of day you go running 

      When I don't want to run I always try to get outside and hike, bike or go for a walk. Walking and hiking where I live is one of my greatest loves. Now that it is summer I work most mornings and I don't have time to run in the mornings and it's too hot when I get home in the afternoons. So I have been running between 8-9 pm or taking walks/hikes if I'm too tired to run. It has been very nice and I look forward to that time of the day!     

Isaiah 40:31
 

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Cape May, 2015

I can't believe May has come and gone already! May is always a busy month and goes by to fast. My family and I went to Cape May beach last week. It was so beautiful! This was the second time I have been to the beach, the first was when I was three years old...so I feel like that doesn't count because I don't remember much. I remember a bit but I can't tell if is a real memory or memories from pictures from the trip. Away, I feel like this trip was the first time I really met the sea and sand. The start of a long friendship between the ocean and me. I feel like Emma from Jane Austen, and how she had never been to the seaside. The difference is when she went to the sea for the first time she was on her honeymoon and when I went I went with my parents, my brother Eli, sister Laura and my brother's girlfriend Brandi but it was still a fabulous!               

This picture is of Eli and Brandi in the beach house we stayed at in Cape May, it was small but super cute and it was a nice walk to the beach or quick bike ride. One of the things I loved about Cape May was I could comfortably bike about anywhere; to the beach, to cute shops, or somewhere to eat. I have never been able to comfortably bike anywhere before, I live on a farm with only dirt roads to take me to my brother's house which is up hill or over to a tractor shed. So yes, biking around was a favorite of mine!

 Laura; all your freckles are coming back and your blond high lights too..oh what sunshine does. 

The beach! 

The sea, sand and sunshine are a lovely combination.  

Sense it was still May the water was too cold to go in beyond our toes but it was still fun!  

Beach, Best Escape Anyone Can Have. 

The handstand...I am not good at them but Eli was.

Snacks are always a good idea.  

The first day of our family beach trip was my parents twenty-sixth wedding anniversary! They were so sweet to take us all to the beach!

 I give my Dad my camera and he got me in some pictures instead of me being behind the camera. 

It was super windy when we where trying to take pictures. Laura and I where holding down our hair...Laura had curly hair when we left the house and by the time we took these pictures it is mostly straight. 

And this was the only picture I took of us walking around Washington Mall in Cape May...I'm not sure way I didn't take more of the houses and town because it was all so cute!  

The last night Laura and I shared this cookie cookie sundae from Ben and Jerry's...it was so good. 

We had a great time at the beach, and I was very tempted to not come home.