Why I Run

I used to run to try to lose weight.  Then I realized I ate too much to lose weight, so I changed my motivation ...not to gain weight! This worked pretty well.  I didn't LOVE running, but it was an easy and quick way to get a work out in and not get fattER.  :-)  I entered a few team relay races, and although I was nowhere close to fast, I would compete with myself for faster times each race.

Then I couldn't run anymore.  In fact, I could barely walk.  I had been complaining about a weird pain in my foot for a few months when it became unbearable.  My foot was so swollen I couldn't wear shoes and any pressure on it was extremely painful.  I went from doctor to doctor and after another few months, I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (an auto-immune disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis, but not usually affecting as many joints.)  Mine was just in my left foot.  After a couple more months of trying to figure out the right treatment plan I started to feel better.  I went from being constantly tired and uncomfortable to having energy again!  At this point, my 30th birthday was looming.  After months of sitting/laying around and hobbling let's just say I wasn't in the best shape.  I wasn't about to leave my 20's and enter a new decade like that.  I found out there was a half marathon that literally went right by my house that was the day before my 30th birthday.  A handful of my girlfriends decided to run too, in solidarity, and even more friends cheered us on.  Then I was running to prove to myself that nothing could stop me - not the dreaded 30's and certainly not arthritis!  I hung on to Philippians 4:13

" I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"

It was a REALLY tough run, but I was so thankful I was able to finish.

I guess the lazy bug bit me and I stopped running.  Last summer I got to my heaviest weight and was just tired of it.  A couple of friends were joining Weight Watchers so I tried it.  I shared before that it really worked for me.  I lost over 30 pounds.  During the winter I started running again and was amazed at how fast I could run and how much easier it was with 30 less pounds on my body.  People at work started talking about running in the Baltimore Running Festival and using that as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for World Relief.  They were even able to set it up as a fundraiser for those who wanted to be involved.  I don't talk about my job a whole lot on here, but I absolutely love it!!  The mission of World Relief is to empower the church to serve the most vulnerable.  That couldn't align more with my passions and beliefs in life AND I get to work on my dorky spreadsheets while serving this mission.  We are connecting churches and giving tools to the churches around the world to help those who are the most oppressed - like women and children.  I was already bordering losing too much weight, so I certainly didn't need to run for that reason any more and I had already proved nothing could stop me, but I was motivated this time just because it's something I CAN do!  I run because I'm able...because I have food to nourish my body, because I have shoes to protect my feet and legs from injury, because I have free time to train.  The people we serve don't have these luxuries.  Some don't have food to feed their children, or any pairs of shoes.  They spend their days doing hard manual labor if they are able.

Those who are familiar with World Relief know that we STAND for the Vulnerable.  I'd like to think in this instance that I'm running for them!

Here's a link if you'd like to help me!  You can also find out more about what World Relief does and other ways to get involved by clicking here!
http://worldrelief.org/page.aspx?pid=3312&tab=0&frsid=514

Oh, and I have to mention - I got new running shoes a few weeks ago...

I'm not gonna lie - looking down at those Ravens colors sometimes helps keep me going :-)

Wow

Thank you all for sharing your struggles with me too!  I think one of the reasons God created us to live in community is so that we can encourage each other just like this!  Life isn't easy, and I know some people struggle more than I can even imagine - but no one is alone!  I felt so encouraged by the people who sent me kind words and shared their stories with me.  You all are awesome!  


So...while I don't want any of you to fall into the trap of obsession with food and exercising, I was thinking it might be fun to share some links/tools that help me make good choices in my journey to stay healthy.  I want to take some pictures, so that post will be coming soon.  


Do you all read any blogs or frequent any websites or have any helpful tips for living a healthy lifestyle?  Maybe we can include them in the comments of that post.  It's amazing how much great stuff is out there!  i love reading about people's journeys - our stories have some much power to encourage others!


It's also amazing how much crazy stuff is out there!  Do you know there are blogs dedicated solely to tearing down other people who blog?  There are people researching other's lives, making guesses about what mistake they'll make next.  Seems like so much energy you could direct somewhere else!


I feel like I'm starting to get a little rambly, so I will leave you with a verse that I was praying through this morning... 


Search me, God, and know my heart; 
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24


Like I said, one thing that really makes me anxious is food, and that is not how God wants me to live.  Thank the Lord, He IS leading me in the way everlasting, so I can look at things like this and still feel relaxed...

Cupcake wars at work. AMAZING!

Dinner at my dear friends'.  They are amazing, generous and talented women of God!

Inspiration

I don't take really great pictures.  I don't always have funny anecdotes to share.  I don't have thoughtful political ideas to theorize.  I guess I just haven't been feeling very inspired to blog lately.

Since I've lost weight , a number of people have told me that I have inspired them to lose weight and get healthy.  That is amazing and humbling.  Don't get me wrong, I love helping to motivate someone to be more healthy, but it really made me examine my own motives for getting skinny.  I think it started out to be more healthy.  Before I lost weight, I was slightly "overweight", but was active and pretty much healthy and happy in all other respects.  My goal was to get into a healthy weight range.  I started going to Weight Watchers, attending meetings and logging my "points" in online.  I had great encouragement from friends doing Weight Watchers too - sharing recipes and meals and helpful words.  But like many things in life, too much of a good thing can sort of turn you upside down.  I was very successful with my weight loss and felt so good about the control I had over my eating and working out.  I was good at losing weight and I became obsessed.  I reached the goal that I had set (about 15 lbs above the low end of the range for someone my height), which I felt like I could maintain without feeling deprived.  I did 6 weeks of maintenance and lost about a pound more, which was still right on track.  Over the course of 4 months I lost about 10 more pounds as I obsessed about every piece of food I put in my mouth and paid my penance at the gym.  My boyfriend has been encouraging me, almost since the time we met, to chill out about it.  My mom gets frustrated with me when I bring food to her house.  My friends ask me to go out to eat or e-mail me about their concern.  And I love them for it.  And I know it's a problem.  And slowly, but surely, I am changing and letting go of control, but it's a long road for me.  I am proud of the weight I lost, and will probably gain a little bit back as I let go of control, which is hard for me to think about, but I know it's good.  (I am NOT buying anymore new clothes though!  This whole losing weight thing could break the bank!)  I learned GREAT tools from Weight Watchers about choices and moderation, which I am trying to put into practice without obsessing anymore.  I pray daily that in ALL areas of my life, I would release control and give it to God.  Seriously, I have to ask for this every morning.

I only say all this to request that you don't use me as your inspiration to "get skinny,"  although if you see me make healthier choices and think "I can do that too," then by all means, go for it.  And to those who have told me I've inspired them - THANK YOU!  Your words definitely encouraged me and even now are helping me to get healthier.  I thank the Lord that I am healthy and fit and able to do so many things.  I would much rather be an inspiration, though, to leverage a healthy body for God's glory.  Rather than "she's skinny", I want to hear, "she has a lot of energy to serve the Lord."  Actually, don't tell me that, just use your energy for the same!
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:30


I hope my story will inspire you as well to seek the Lord in the areas where we fail and let him lift us up!
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13


I don't have it together.  I don't get it right even half the time, but thank the Lord, He never lets me go.  


And just to give you a little taste of my progress - 

This was dessert on Saturday night, and thank the Lord I didn't even feel guilty!  :-)


Like me, you may not take the best photographs, or have the most interesting opinions, but your story is worth sharing!!  

Up Close and Personal

Is it sad that this chicken is the most interesting thing I could take a picture of this week?  Oh well.  This is my life :-)  The other day said chicken was a little too close for comfort.  Are chickens territorial?  There is no zoom going on here, she walked up that close to me.  And after I snapped this shot I slid away :-)  That beak looks sharp!
Interestingly, the next day, there were chicken feathers all over the parking lot.  Not quite sure what to make of that.

It is hot hot hot here!  And I love it!  I don't know if I'll be loving it tomorrow when I'm sitting outside at a wedding (my outfit choice is based purely on what will show the least sweat.)  But seriously, I am so excited for my friends Greg and Christina and cannot wait to celebrate their big day with them!!  They are 2 of the kindest, most easy going and generous people I know!

In case you thought the chicken was the most exciting part of my week, here's some evidence to show otherwise...

I texted this picture to my boss on Wednesday when I got our Keurig set up!  First things first - Jesus is the primary source of joy to my day.  Hot coffee falls high up on the list :-)  It's the little things.

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
 Praise the Lord with the harp; 
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 
 Sing to him a new song; 
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.

 For the word of the Lord is right and true; 
    he is faithful in all he does.
 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; 
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Psalm 33:1-5

Happy Friday!

Do you see what I see?

I've got a joke for you!
Why did the chicken cross the road, er, ugh, I mean tracks?
Oh - you've heard that one before?
Well that's ok, I don't know the answer anyway.
But what I do know is this...
I was late for the train today, and it just pulled away while I was getting out of my car.  I've chilled out A LOT with my obsession of getting the early train, so I took it in stride, pulled out my book and passed the time, glad to be outside on the first day of summer!  That's when I heard the sound - a low pitched scream coming from the bushes.  I looked over.

Do you see it?

And I thanked God that I missed that train, so that I could see this funny sight!  And I was reminded that my day can be filled with moments like this, when I slow down and live in the present.

I have no idea where she came from, or where she was going, but I was glad to start my day with her.

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10a


Yep, today I'm thankful for a run in with a chicken :-)  What are you thankful for today?

Wake up in the morning feeling like...

...writing a blog post.
I know, I know!  Where have I been?  It's funny you should ask!  It's been a busy few months.  Here's an idea of what I've been getting into...

There've been lots of weddings!

Many congratulations to Keisha and Noah and Liz and Jack.  Praying for both couples!










There's been some gardening...

...and the neighbor drama that always ensues!  I know she means well, and she does ask *sometimes*, but digging up my potted plants (even just a few flowers) and planting them in your yard is not ok.  There's a bit of a language barrier, or maybe it's cultural - I don't know.  All I know is that my little work of art here is much thinner on the flowers, and she amazingly now has some in her front yard.  And I was actually watering them this time.  Oh well.  From now on, they go straight in the ground!!  Thank goodness all the veggies are planted on the deck.  I just have to keep the squirrels away from them.

I also had my birthday, which was fantastic.  My wonderful boyfriend and his wonderful sister took me to dinner at an Indian Restaurant none of us had tried.

It was the absolute perfect setting, perfect weather, perfect company and perfect food!!

To celebrate we also spent the day in Annapolis with my family, which included sailing of course!

The whole weekend included a lot of cake - which is my weakness.  Thanks to my small group, my family and my co-workers for knowing just what I like!

It has already started feeling like summer and to celebrate we had some crabs in the back yard.

We will definitely be doing this again sometime soon.

And this past weekend we celebrated the Sailibration (200th anniversary of the war of 1812) with my bf's family and the tall ships.

Of course Mexico was my favorite.  We got to see a little bit of the blue angels as well, but getting pictures of them was quite the comedy of errors.

I also got to go home with the bf to his parents house and spend a weekend there, which was really nice.  We ate great food, but I forgot the photographic evidence.  Fried oysters aren't that appetizing to look at, but they are DELICIOUS!

I've also managed to spend a little too much time at the hospital for my liking - one scheduled trip, one because I passed out at the doctor...and sprained my ankle twice (I skipped the medical attention on those!) I thought I'd spare you pictures of that mess.

It's taken all I have to keep up with my work load, but it seems to be easing up a little.  It's also taking all I have to keep up with maintaining my weight, but that's a story for another blog.

We are starting a heat way here in Baltimore, so keep cool friends!

Time is short - energy is low

First of all, Happy Birthday!!!! to my Dad today.  He is such a great man and I am so thankful for him!

To say that work has ramped up would be an understatement.  But it's ok - I have a long weekend coming soon, including a mystery trip with Seth.  He hasn't even told me what to pack.  If you're an ultra planner like me, you know this is extremely difficult! At the same time, though, I'm super excited to not have to plan a thing!!
Life has been busy lately.  One of my very best friends, Liz married my other good friend, Jack two weekends ago and I got to celebrate with them as one of her bridesmaids.  It was an amazing ceremony on the end of a pier in the harbor and not even the blustery wind could dampen the Spirit there.  The whole weekend was so beautiful, and I will post some pictures as soon as I have time to upload them!

It's funny, people often ask me, since losing the weight if I have "so much more energy now."  The truth is, not at all!  I think it's time to practice slowing life down again!
One way I plan to start slowing down is making a weekly date with a friend to watch So You Think You Can Dance again.  It starts at the end of this month!  And for the record...I know I still can't dance!
Here's the proof :-)