A taste of what's to come...

No kids yet or any time soon but I am starting to grasp what life with children will be like thanks to Turbo.

I bought a basket for all his toys. I put them all in there when he isn't playing with them and seconds later...

...this is what the living room looks like. I put them back in the basket and he does it again.

We have gone on with this for several minutes until I just give up.

Knowing he has won, he goes off to lay down and not play with the toys.
Silly dog!

Flowers no more...:(

I came home from work on Friday and look what happened?!?!?!

A deer ate all my flowers and then he had the nerve to lay on the grass in front of our house chewing his last bite! Oh I was mad..

I can't commit!

I am so frustrated at myself. I should have gotten up this morning to go running, to train for the marathon that I am "thinking" about doing in September. When I decided to run the half marathon sometime last March it was easy for me to stay on schedule; I never missed a day. But this time, I am having a really hard time comitting. I suppose there is a part of me that thinks I am pushing it too soon or that I don't have what it takes to run that far. I need to keep praying about what to do but right now I am just frustrated. :(

Thanks for listening.

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

Since we live in a town home, we are not allowed to plant any flowers, trees, bushes or shrubs. The HOA has complete control of the outside. This is great since we never have to mow the grass, water, or worry about the roof.

However, this year I have been very interested in flowers and wanting to plant some of my own. Since I am not allowed, pots will have to do. Yesterday I went to Home Depot and picked out some of my favorites while talking on the cell phone with my mom (for moral and gardening support). I have never been good at watering plants so hopefully all these beautiful flowers will survive.

--Loving the pink and orange--

--Hydrangeas are my favorite!--

--I need another flower in the middle--

Any Suggestions?

--Now all our porch needs is a cozy little bench--

The Ingrams

We had Jeff and Amber over for dinner last week. We always enjoy hanging out with them and appreciate how easy they are to be around. Here are some pictures from us competeing in the Wii Olympics:

--Our Wii Characters--

(Amber, David, Ali, Jeff)

--Jeff and David "Running" the 100 Meter Dash!--

--Look at Jeff's Perfect Form--

--Look at my Horrible Form--

(never played baseball as a kid!)

--I think Turbo is in love with Amber--

On the corner of Crooked Tree Lane and Four Winds Way...

is where I met Amanda when I was 3 years old. We had just moved to Monument and I was riding my bike down the street. We were instant friends but funny enough, began fighting that very day. Throughout childhood we rode bikes, played house, went to the dog track (and played with funny money, her grandparents owned the track), watched movies, had sleepovers, tortured her brother, rode horses, went to Camp Shady Brook every summer and still fought almost every other day. We must have been too much alike!

I can't remember the exact year that she moved to Montana but I think I was in 5th or 6th grade. We kind of lost touch through the years but I would always try to send her a birthday card or write from time to time. Oddly enough after high school we have gotten better about keeping in touch. She even came out for my wedding in 2006 when I didn't even expect her to come (I sent an invitation for nostalgia sake). We keep in touch mostly through Facebook or Myspace now (gotta love em') and through the occasional card in the mail. Last Saturday we were even able to meet for breakfast here in CO. She was out from D.C. for a wedding and we made sure that we were able to see each other. I must say how thankful I am for friendships like ours. We have known on another through all the seasons of life. I appreciate the way that we can connect even after we have led such different lives.

Thank you, Amanda, for being my friend for 22 years.

The Joy of Achievement

This past week I have run two races:

• the Bolder, Boulder 10K (on Memorial Day)


• the Steamboat 1/2 Marathon (on June 1st)

This was my second year running the Bolder Boulder (over 54,000 ran this year!). It was my goal to run it faster than last year. The weather was absolutely wonderful. It had rained earlier that morning and it was still cloudy. There was a slight breeze the entire time. I was able to start in an earlier wave which is a great advantage. The faster your time, the earlier the wave, the less people there are running. Less people means, less walkers, and it is much easier navigating through people to go faster. It was hard a times to push myself to keep running fast but all I could think of was David telling me to run under 55 minutes and to honor the Lord with trying my hardest. You see, I wasn't always able to run like I do now. A few years ago the Lord healed me of asthma so running is truly a gift.

My time last year: 55:46

This year: 53:36

My goal since January this year was to run a 1/2 marathon. When I discovered the Steamboat 1/2, I thought it sounded perfect. I started training at the end of March (if you need a good training program go to: http://www.runnersworld.com). I had never run more than 10 miles in all of my life and I put all my trust in this program. Sometimes I felt good running 8 miles and other times I felt like I could barely pick up my legs. All this to say that when race day came, I was COMPLETELY nervous about how things would go. My mom and niece made the trip to Steamboat with David and me (with Turbo of course). We rented a cozy condo for pretty cheap and made a small vacation out of it. The race was so beautiful. We ran along side of a river, cows and horses in their pasture, beautiful green fields. I even saw an old friend from nursing school. When 11 miles came along I couldn't believe how well I was doing. Even though I felt like I was going pretty slow, I was still able to move my legs. Then 12, 13 and the finish line. It was over, I had done it.

It was amazing all the little boosts of encouragement that I got along the way. The man at the aid station that called out my number and said "way to go 1394." My friend Elizabeth who ran with me for a bit (she did awesome). The lady in teal at the port-a-potty experiencing the same curse as I was (ask me later). All the bikers that helped keep us on track and offered words of encouragement along with running tips. The lady in red who ran by the end of the race, looked at me and said "you can do it, keep pushing hard." Then the most precious, my family who stood at the finish line for 2 hours waiting for me to finish. They rang their cow bells, screamed my name, took pictures, and hugged me.

It feels so good after such hard work to feel the joy of achievement. However, it isn't lasting joy...it usually fades over weeks and months and new, better goals arise. There is always a longer race or a faster time that I can achieve. Some people live for the high of running. I could say that do in some aspect because it is why I train and why I keep going even when my legs keep screaming "STOP!!!!" But, if that is the only joy I knew, it wouldn't satisfy me. Even now, just a few days after completing the race I can sense the emptiness. I need something else to train for, I need another goal.

Yet, I do know another joy--an everlasting joy.

Jesus.

It sounds so simple, so much like 1st grade Sunday School. That is why it is so true. Without the Lord, nothing would EVER fill me. Nothing would ever satisfy. Not my college degree, not my marriage, not my job, not my family, not my cute clothes :), not running a race, not...well you get it. When what I have done fades, all my good intentions and all my hard work, the only thing that remains is HIM. Everything else is a feeling but He is the source. He is the only one I can count on. He is the only one that I can run to. He is the only one to give me true joy.