Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study - Newbie and Excited!

 

I'm a regular reader of Through Heather's Looking Glass (formerly known as Running With Sass) and she participated in this thing called a "Blog Hop" as part of an online Bible study that she was participating in with Proverbs 31. Okay, I'll admit right here and now that I didn't fully pay much attention to her posts each week that were specific to the bible study. I kind of skimmed through them and then continued on, but not necessarily because I didn't care - but I was skimming through a lot of the blogs I was regularly reading due to time constraints.

But then I found myself thinking that I needed to find a really good devotional because I was feeling like I needed that deeper connection and inner peace that comes when I'm walking the path with God and not by myself. Call it a lot of life stress or whatever, it was just the place I was. So I went online, of course, and started doing searches on Amazon and Barnes and Noble but wasn't really finding that anything was jumping out at me. Then I read a few blogs and Heather's was one of them and it was the final post in the study that had been going on. And the light bulb went off. Maybe I should have been paying better attention or checked them out earlier, but whatever - I finally decided to check it out and a even though the current study was ending, a new one would be beginning in just a couple of weeks, so I signed up - FOR FREE (best part)!

Buy It For Yourself Here

Now, I'm not new to bible studies, but I'm definitely new to an online bible study. I'm not new to online education either, and I've always really enjoyed virtual learning. So it seemed like a great thing to try!! I've actually been really excited and anxious for it to start. I purchased the book via Barnes and Noble on my Nook so I can easily carry it around and make notes as needed.

*I guess a side note is that I consider myself a Christian and I feel like I have a pretty darn good relationship with God even though it took me a long time to feel like that. I don't care about denomination, religion or what brick and mortar church a person goes to. I think that each person's relationship with God is theirs and theirs alone and it will look different for everyone. For me it means that I don't go to church on a regular basis but that doesn't mean that I don't have church in my car, or my home, or in a random field somewhere all by myself. I don't think any of that really matters, but I wanted to give at least a little perspective for anyone that follows along during the study. :-)

I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm really hopeful that I will just draw closer to God through this study. It's interesting that this particular study is about overcoming doubt because there's a lot of that in my life right now. So as a reader, you may not even believe in God or whatever and that's okay. But I truly do believe that God led me to this study because it's what I need to be more confident in Him and His plan for me and my family. So I'm hoping that at the conclusion I will have A Confident Heart - which, hey what do you know, is the name of the book we will be studying! Coincidence??? hahaha

Anyways, I'm going to do my best to participate in the Blog Hop each week and if you're not interested in following along on that part of my journey, then feel free to skip those posts each Thursday. No harm, no foul! Or feel free to do what I did and just skim through it. You never know when something might hit just the right note in your own life.

The study starts this Sunday, October 13, and the blog hop will happen each week which means that they provide us a couple questions and we choose which one to answer on our blog and then we hop to the others. Oh, and if you want to get in on the bible study there's still time to sign up!

Summer Bucket Recap...in October.

You know, I've been meaning to do this for weeks now...pretty much since summer officially ended on September 21. Okay, so I'm 2 1/2 weeks late - I guess I won't be winning any punctuality awards anytime soon. Oh darn...BUT you have to take into consideration that I was raised by Mormons and they all operate on their own timeline (15 minutes late is actually EARLY) so really, I suppose you could say that in relation to a calendar year, I'm right on Mormon Standard Time. hahaha What's that? You're not buying it? Yeah, me neither. Alright - let's see what I accomplished on my bucket list, but I'll warn you now that it wasn't much! 

• Beach Trips - I did one. Pathetic!!! I documented it here.
• 2-3 Mountain Hikes including the end of summer kicker hike to Suicide Rock - I did one. Pathetic!! We haven't even talked about going back and tackling Suicide Rock. It was supposed to happen on Labor Day weekend, but I think we must have been busy. The one hike I did was also documented at the link above.
• Beach Hike 
• Camping
• S'Mores - With not camping, S'Mores didn't happen either, but we are doing them this weekend in the backyard...so move this to the Fall Bucket List maybe?
• Homemade Ice Cream - Made one batch and it was delicious! Mint & Chip
• Spend time under the stars - heck, maybe even sleep outside under the stars like we did as kids!
• Reading at least one "beach" read (AKA - a less than serious novel! haha) - I read lots of books over the summer actually...some that aren't really worth even sharing because they were such fluff, but read a fun little series called Rock Chick and talk about a summer read!

• Reading at least one classic - I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy and it was a fabulous, if dreary, book. The writing was simply amazing. My first Cormac novel.
• Refresh my music playlist - I definitely did that when I got the new 30 Seconds to Mars Album - Love, Lust, Faith + Dreams. AWESOME!!! I am seriously addicted and keep going back to it.

• Visit a museum 
• Picnic lunch (or dinner) in the park
• Take more pictures documenting the fun (I'm horrible about taking pictures it seems...LOL) - I tried...my phone sucks. End of story. I need to buy a simple point and shoot camera and really wish I had one when I was in Oregon.
• and even more! - I have to say that the "even more" was the trip to Oregon. It was absolutely fabulous and I had such a great time with my mom & sister exploring trails and rivers and seeing family I haven't seen in years and years. I mean I ran on Pre's Trail for goodness' sake!!! That was an experience that I'm still savoring on a regular basis...that and the trail run along the Willamette River in Corvallis. Those are experiences that will live with me until the day I die.

So even though a lot of the stuff on my bucket list either didn't happen, or didn't happen in the abundance that I was hoping it would, I have to say that I had a fantastic summer! I really, really hated the 10-hour work days and they took a lot out of me this year, but I enjoyed spending time with the family and relaxing at home...in the air conditioning. HA!

But, alas, it is time to put summer behind us. Especially as I sit here listening to the rain fall outside knowing that when I get home my husband has the first fireplace fire of the season going. Can't wait to celebrate fall and cooler weather, crunchy leaves, baking, turkey, and even more! 

Off to a Good Start!

So I have been able to keep the mind games to a minimum this week and am off to a great start training for my third half marathon! Even though I'm only three days in to my training cycle, I am very optimistic that I'm going to be able to conquer the training instead of vice versa. Granted, it might be just a tad early to start declaring success, but I'll go ahead and give myself what credit I can for now!

And the credit I can give has been earned because I've gotten up and done what was scheduled even though there have already been times that sleep would have been oh-so-better! Take yesterday for example - I knew I had 4 miles on the plan and that being the slower runner that I currently am (which is to say even MORE slow than my normal slow thanks to the knee) it was going to take a little longer than the 30 minutes I sometimes give myself when I hit the snooze button repeatedly.

So that alarm clock went off at the un-Godly hour of 3:30 AM and I only hit snooze ONE TIME. Yay me!!

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Then I got to it and got-er-done! Four miles including warm-up and cool-down and two miles at 1/2 marathon pace. I kept it at the low end of my half pace because my brilliant plan is to gradually get to the other side of the pace range as I move along in the training cycle. Since this is the beginning, I'm at the slower end (and I'm not complaining, thankyouverymuch)!

But you know what else? I actually enjoyed myself! I had fun and I was able to pretty quickly lose myself in the sound of footfalls on the treadmill belt, fan whirring, and awesome music playing.

So even though I can't declare the training a success yet, I can certainly say that it is off to a good start!

Let the (Mind)Games Begin!

I "technically" graduated from the 10k Training plan that I was doing. I say "technically" because I haven't run a 10k and several of the last couple week's workouts were skipped or lessened down to not be as many miles. I could offer up all kinds of excuses about how September was so busy and whatnot, but what it mostly comes down to is that I just didn't feel like it. Hey, just being honest for the moment!

Not that I didn't like the training program, because I did. I think I was just bored with 10k training as a whole. Where I really wanted to be was in Half Marathon training. I couldn't wait for the 10k plan to be done so I could move onto what I really wanted to be doing - training for my third half marathon.

You see, I was in training for my third half marathon when the knee disaster hit. And immediately after finishing the third, I was going to continue training for my fourth. Neither of those happened both because they were cancelled and I wouldn't have been able to do it anyways because my body was not going to be ready. Side note: both half marathons were by the same race company - IO Events - and they cancelled them and said little about refunds. The first cancellation was probably about two weeks before the event (January 2013). I really don't know how these companies get away with that kind of thing. I've heard of several others that have done the same thing since we went through it earlier this year and they don't refund the money either. I can't help but wonder if they then just restart as a new company and do it all over again. Seems like fraud if you ask me but there isn't any agency that is willing to do anything about it; sadly enough. Alright - back on track here...

I was ready, mentally, to totally KILL my half marathon last January. I went into the training cycle wanting a PR and ready to work my tail off to get it. Obviously that didn't happen. Life fell apart and my body revolted. And even though I'm not looking at a PR in this next race, I want to go in to it in the best shape I can possibly be in. I want to feel trained. I can't say that I have EVER felt like that going into my previous two half marathons (Mission Inn in 2010 and Tinkerbell in 2012). There's probably one time that I went into a race feeling trained and ready for it - it was the Idyllwild 10k that I participate in each year (did the 5k this past year due to the knee issue that is beginning to sound like a broken record excuse) and after it kicked my rear the first year out in 2010, I hit the hills and upped my mileage and went in the second year in a much better place. I did PR in that race, but that was probably the last time I really felt like I was ready for a race. Not good considering that was back in June 2011. *sigh* Just in case you're curious, I did run the 10k in June 2012 and didn't feel trained and got pretty much almost the exact time as Year 1. So there you have it. Training DOES make a difference.

So my usual method of training is coming up with a really awesome plan, getting it done and rocking it out for the first several weeks, and then just slowly dropping a workout here, or not hitting the paces there, eating like I'm training for an Ironman or something, and then showing up on race day completely unprepared for the effort and usually a few pounds heavier than I even was when I started. And it shows. I go out and struggle through it and then question everything.

I feel like a fraud. Like who do I think I am?!? Do I actually believe that I'm someone that should be "racing". (Keep in mind that term is relative...) I line up at that starting line wearing the "gear" and feeling like I belong and then the buzzer goes off and within a few miles I realize that I was only fooling myself. I don't belong out there "racing". The haphazard fashion that I treat training says that I should be out there doing a Fun Walk with a group of girlfriends...and maybe small children or babies. Because then I could actually keep up and not want to die. Then I wouldn't feel like a fraud and even more so I wouldn't LOOK like a fraud walking along the course while old ladies pass me by with hardly any effort.

This time around I also can't help but realize that the half marathon I'm shooting for - The Citrus Heritage Run is basically just about the EXACT same time of year as what should have been this January. So that means I'm training at the same time. I shudder at the thought of re-injuring myself; or creating a whole new injury. Will I actually be able to even make it through a training cycle to see if I am not the fraud I've been the past two times? Maybe I'm just not capable of doing it?? Yep - MIND GAMES. They are in full force.

So to combat the mind games I really need to stay committed to my training AND my diet. I need to drop some pounds AND be smart about rebuilding my fitness. I need to recognize that boredom is my enemy...when I'm bored, I bail out. I can't bail this time. Yes, there are times I can skip a workout, but there aren't weeks that I can skip workouts. If I don't want to be a fraud, then I need to stop being a fraud. I need to show up and train like I want to compete against myself in the best shape that I can possibly be...physically AND mentally. Because running a long(er) distance race IS a mind game.

So really I guess I need to just say - Let the Games Begin!! No mind games necessary. I'm ready. I can do this. Yes, I can!!!!

Don't Call it an Update...

I recognize that I'm pretty horrible at this blogging thing...I just haven't had anything to say lately! Now, there's lots going on and lots of things I've thought about and I may have even had some epiphanies in there, but they never seem to take root for very long and by the time I sit down to pound it out, the thought is gone and I've moved on to the next thing. And then before you know it, I feel like all I'm doing is a lame "update" post about what I've been doing lately. Silly. Or as my granddaughter Angelique would say, "you're siwwy!" That is one of her favorite things to say! Another favorite? If you say to her "Angie, where's Daisy?" she says back in a little squeaky run on voice "IdunnoknowwhereDaisy?" as she looks around - even if she's literally RIGHT THERE she still looks around like she can't find her. And you know why? Because I don't think she's just looking for Daisy the family dog, she's looking for Daisy Duck! It's pretty darn funny because it's her first true sentence - she can't find the dog or the duck. Siwwy!

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We celebrated Joshua's 3rd birthday this past weekend - he turned the big three on Friday the 13th. Good thing we aren't superstitious, right? We headed to Disneyland after I got off work at noon and we had a blast! That kid already knows how to do Disneyland up right! I think his favorite ride was probably Tow-Mater's Junkyard Jamboree over in California Adventure. I didn't ride it because we had just eaten food and my stomach was a little unsettled, and watching the ride I figured it was a safe bet to skip it at that particular time! The girls said he laughed the entire time he was on it though. His other favorite had to be Luigi's Flying Tires. Oh, and he got to meet Lightning McQueen! Well, sort of anyways. They went up to him after waiting in line and he panicked! He couldn't do it...just held on to his Momma as tight as possible. Oh well, maybe next time he'll feel a little more brave.

"This way, Momma!"

I just love the little skip in his step in that picture! And yes, that's his Momma walking with him, and yes, she really did birth him, and no she didn't get the fabulous bounce-back-after-baby-genes from me seeing how it's been 19 years and I'm still trying to drop the "baby weight"!

Hey - did you hear? The Autumn Season has begun!!!!! How do I know? These are back in stores and me and the hubby could not be happier!!

Forget Pumpkin Spice Latte, or PSL as they seem to be calling it this year, at Starbucks. The first sure sign that Fall has arrived is the Thomas Pumpkin Spice Bagels! As I said to my hubby in the text message I sent him with that picture attached: Ohhhhh yeahhhhhhh!!! That's some good stuff right there. Fall is on its way, Thank God!

My knee continues to do great and I'm progressing along on the 10k training. As a matter of fact, I will complete it next weekend on 9/28! Hard to believe that time is flying by so quickly. Oh wait, it's not hard to believe at all!! That's just life, it seems. I'm pretty darn excited to wrap up the 10k training and move on to Half Marathon. I think we just might have found the race too. It's a small, local race that has been running a 5k and 10k for the past 4 years, but has added a half marathon for their 5 year anniversary. It's in Riverside, CA and is the Citrus Heritage Run. Not signed up yet, but definitely seriously considering it. What's not to love about a local race through the orange groves capped at 800 runners with an awesome citrus designed medal and tech shirt? We just might find out...

I would love to sign off by pledging that I'll be a better blogger, but we all know how that goes! So how about I just sign off by saying no worries - I'll be back when I'm back. As Tigger would say "Ta-Ta For Now" (TTFN).

You're Killing Me, Smalls!

I'm in a little bit of a funk and it's just weird because there really is not a single reason in the world that I should be in one! So, in the wise words of Ham, "You're Killing Me, Smalls!" I need to pull myself up and out of this here funk I'm in and what better way to do it then watching a classic scene from The Sandlot. Seriously one of the BEST movies ever made. 

Enjoy!

I Graduated!

This past Saturday I officially graduated!! I know the time has passed already for all the high school, college, etc. graduations and I know I'm well past the age of someone that is graduating from high school. What I did graduate from though was Couch to 5K!

Yep - Eight weeks passed in what seemed the blink of an eye. It started off with little short intervals and then gradually upped the ante until I was running for 20 minutes, then 23 minutes, then 25, then 28, and finally for 30 minutes solid!

This was my second time through the C25K program; the first time was truly my first foray into running and took place back in 2009. This was definitely different than that time. It was easier in some ways, but scarier in others. I couldn't help the little voice in the back of my head so many times - the one that said "is that your knee twinging?" "is that a pain in your leg?" "are you going too fast, pushing too hard?" But I found that if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other that little voice got quieter and quieter. I don't know if it will ever completely go away, but I think it is realizing that it doesn't need to be such a nuisance!

The reality is that I probably didn't need to do C25K. I probably could have just gradually increased my running all on my own; but I'm glad I did do a structured program because it helped to rein me in. I think without the structure of C25K I would have been running further & faster than I am which isn't necessarily a good thing. Slow and steady is working and I'm gradually feeling like a real runner again.

So what's next? I am doing a virtual 5k race, in celebration of my graduation, this Friday and then next week I'll start the 10k Jeff Galloway app; however, I'm going to start it up at Week 6. I really feel like I don't need 13 weeks to get through this one and I'm itching to get back to half marathon training.

For the record, I used the C25K by Zen Labs from the iTunes app store and it was fantastic. It was a free app, but honestly, I would have paid for it because it was everything I needed it to be. It allowed me to play my own music and it worked great every single time I used it. I had no issues with crashing or not working as expected. If you're looking for a C25K app - I highly recommend it. Oh, and what's even more awesome? They donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can't go wrong with that!!