Today...

I am grateful for Modern Medicine.  We had quite the scare last night with my Grandpa Blaine.  He had a seizure because his medication was off.  I am so grateful that he quickly received help and that he is doing ok.

I've seen medicine heal many people.  It is truly a miracle.  I don't understand all the ins and outs, but somehow it helps us and makes our lives easier...and often saves our lives.

I believe the Lord has blessed us with medical knowledge for our benefit and that we should use it as often as necessary to live the lives we are meant to live.

I'm proud to be an American

Today I am grateful to live in a free country where my opinion counts.  I'm thankful to know that I have a responsibility to choose the best leaders we have available and then pray they will make the correct decisions.

I VOTED, and I hope you did too.

I am thankful

Well, it's been a while and I have a lot to post about I suppose, but I'm going to pull back a bit and try to do one entry every day of something I am grateful for.  Maybe it'll inspire me to do some extra catch-up posts here and there.

But for today, I am thankful for...

My Job


Especially at a time when so many people are looking for work, I am so grateful that the Lord has led me to not only have a job, but to have one that is enjoyable and teaches me new skills almost daily.

Things Change

I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about my running.  Sorry, I'll try to post something else next time.  And something with pictures...it's been a while. :)

I was thinking the other day about how I've always felt about running.  I used to always say, "I hate running". And that was not an exaggeration in the least.  I really did hate it.  Invariably, there would be someone that would say, "I used to hate it too" as if this would inspire me to change.  I would think, every time I heard that, "yeah, but there is no way you hate it as much as I do".  And I really believed it.  These people claimed to have hated running at some point, but now they loved it?  Obviously, they didn't understand my level of hatred towards the sport. I HATED running.  I could not see a way for that to change.

BUT, things do change.  When I was younger I hated a lot more things than I do now.  Coconut, blueberries, peppers, pants (as compared to shorts), etc.  (Yes, I realize most of those things are food, it's all I could think of off the top of my head...I've always been a picky eater).  


I'm not saying running is my most favorite thing to do in the world.  But, I look forward to it, I love the way I feel when I'm done.  I love the way it makes my body feel (except for my aching knees).  I often have to really push myself to finish my run, but at the same time, I enjoy it.  I hope I never stop.

Who would have thought?

Running Update

Well, I'm still running.  For some reason, the last couple of weeks have been hard, but I've decided I'm going to start telling myself that I enjoy it.  During the day, I find myself looking forward to a run at night, but then sometimes the run itself isn't always what I want to be doing.

I have run outside a few times now.  2 times this week so far.  Turns out I like it MUCH, MUCH more than the treadmill...especially our crazy treadmill.  AND, I'm a lot faster outside, which is nice b/c that fits into my schedule much better.

On Tuesday, I ran 5 miles outside and it was nice.  I ran by a few other people.  One guy raised his arm and gave me a fist pump from across the street.  It made my night.

Lately as I run, I've been listening to Conference talks.  It gives me a chance to focus on what's most important.

Basically, I still don't love running, but I'm getting there slowly.

Timing

I recently re-listened to an old BYU devotional by Elder Dallin H. Oaks from 2002 called Timing.  The first time I heard it was when it was given.  It was right before my mission and it felt as if he were talking just to me.  Anyway, lately it's been something I've been thinking about again.

There are so many things I wish I could be doing right now.  Some big, some smaller.

• I wish I could take a class at the community college.  I miss learning. 
• I wish I had time to work on Family History.
• I wish I could serve at the temple as an ordinance worker.
• I wish I was a wife and mother

But, I know I'm where I'm supposed to be right now, and right now, the Lord has asked me to do other things. Listening to Elder Oaks' talk reminded me that "we cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord's will and in the Lord's timing".

I'm not complaining, just sharing.  I am content to do what the Lord has planned for me right now in my life.  It often means I sacrifice the things I want, for the things He wants from me right now.  Not that I think I won't eventually do all of the things I want to do.  I just have to wait it out.  I've seen Him bless my life time and time again as I've tried to do His will.  I know he will ALWAYS continue to do so.  He is "wonderful great".

Running

The other day Candie suggested that I should write about running.  As usual, she's right. :)

So, I have been keeping up with my running.  I've done all of it on the treadmill in our garage so far.  I know, I know, running on a treadmill is not the same as running outside.  I'll get around to it, I promise.  Maybe this next week even.  I finally went and bought an arm band for my ipod, so that'll help things.  I should make myself a running playlist.  Any suggestions?

Anyway, the running has been going fairly well.  It's rough sometimes, especially on my "long" run days that really push me.  I've been doing those runs on Saturdays and will probably continue.  So, for example, today I ran 6 miles.  6. MILES.  I know to a lot of people that's kiddy play, but to  me...it's amazing.  I am sore now, but I've learned it'll be fine tomorrow.

Sometimes I don't feel like running, but I do it anyway.  I run 4 times a week (this week it was 3 miles, 4 miles, 3 miles, 6 miles).  It's really hard to fit into my schedule sometimes, but I've made the commitment and I like what it's doing to my body.  I like how much stronger I feel week after week.

Sometimes I feel like I'm not sure if I can do it, but I just keep telling myself I can.  And...I do.  The one exception was yesterday.  My running all got pushed to the end of the week, so I had to run yesterday and I didn't get up and do it before work, which left me with the only option of running right after work...in 102 degree weather.  It was rough.  I only made it 2.5 miles (out of 3), but I figure it's ok just that once...plus, it was HOT.

Well, that's a lot of words for one post.  I'm grateful for a body that works and for the desire to push myself.

Oh!  I finally decided on a 1/2 marathon I think.  A couple of friends suggested I go with them to the Santa Barbara 1/2 marathon (well one of them plans to run the marathon) on November 1.  It's a little later in the year than I'd originally planned, but I think it'll be good.

Now, on to working on some of my other goals (I did do a little sewing today, so that fits into the creative, right guys?  Right?). :)