Why do I always blog after I run? Not sure. But here we go!
Today was difficult. I left work early, very eager to get to the park since it was so nice outside. After jogging merely a couple feet, I knew this was going to be a looong run. My calves were not happy. Not happy at all. It's probably from when Jered and I alternated sprints with walking this past Monday. Oh yeah, and we were sure to make our sprints on the uphill.
So anyway, today was a day where I told myself, Self, you just need to buckle down and do this because it's not going to get any easier.
There was a moment of "oh this is fun!" when as I was running, the sun broke from behind the clouds and Mumford & Sons were singing "Awake my soul!" and I was on a downhill facing the beaming light and I spread out my arms and swayed back and forth a little and it was a perfect moment where myself, the world, and the universe was one in song and motion.
Sometimes I dance while I run.
On an entirely different note, I just finished Hunger Games. Couldn't. Put. It. Down. I went to the library online to put a hold on the second book and I'm number 200 on, like, 11 copies. So I told myself that if I was really, really good and didn't eat any cookies or drink any Starbucks at work and if I worked out and was really, really nice to my husband then I would go buy myself the second book.
Well, that day was today. I bought the book after work.
So then I told myself, if I am really, really good and don't eat any cookies or drink any Starbucks at work and if I worked out and was really, really nice to my darling husband then I will go buy myself the third book on Monday.
I'll let you know how that goes. What good incentive!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
This is January?
Jered had a Youth Event today since it was MLKjr day and nobody had school. They came by Target today to say Hi and it was a nice distraction from the otherwise every-dayness of this morning. Brother Sam stayed the night last night and we watched the new Star Trek and he liked it.
Today: Beautiful! I told my boss that I would volunteer to help cut our payroll hours by leaving 1 1/2 hours early from work today (this was at 2p). I felt like I was in school. Boss: "Do you have your leadership status done?" Me: Yes. Boss: "Do you have your business walk done for last Friday?" Me: Yes. Boss: "Okay, have a good afternoon. I'll change the schedule so you can leave at 2:30".
Jered was still out with the youth so I went to the park and ran. There were a lot of people there and I was a bit tired from our whirlwind weekend, but I still managed to pound out three miles :) When I got home, Jered and Sam were here and we played PS2.
Days like today make January bearable. Jered has always told me that my mood is completely dependent upon the weather. I don't see how it couldn't be. I don't see how some sun and 55 degree weather (and great music, I must add) can't dramatically alter good days into perfect days or bad days into good. Maybe that's me.
I hung outside today on my breaks at work and I've been listening to The Virgin Queen soundtrack from Martin Philipps (who also did the score to the new BBC Persuasion which is so very very lovely). I enjoy the tracks that are just music although there are vocals on the soundtrack as well that are quite good. Track 5 has been on repeat. . . well, since I began this blog and to be quite honest, it's been playing in my head all day. It reminds me a bit of some of the great soundtracks of the past like Last of the Mohicans or the soundtrack from The Piano. If you heard it, after you were done falling in love with the violin solo, you would agree.
I want to save all the money I can now so I can play hookie all the time when spring gets here. For now, what a lovely blessing! Thank you, God.
Today: Beautiful! I told my boss that I would volunteer to help cut our payroll hours by leaving 1 1/2 hours early from work today (this was at 2p). I felt like I was in school. Boss: "Do you have your leadership status done?" Me: Yes. Boss: "Do you have your business walk done for last Friday?" Me: Yes. Boss: "Okay, have a good afternoon. I'll change the schedule so you can leave at 2:30".
Jered was still out with the youth so I went to the park and ran. There were a lot of people there and I was a bit tired from our whirlwind weekend, but I still managed to pound out three miles :) When I got home, Jered and Sam were here and we played PS2.
Days like today make January bearable. Jered has always told me that my mood is completely dependent upon the weather. I don't see how it couldn't be. I don't see how some sun and 55 degree weather (and great music, I must add) can't dramatically alter good days into perfect days or bad days into good. Maybe that's me.
I hung outside today on my breaks at work and I've been listening to The Virgin Queen soundtrack from Martin Philipps (who also did the score to the new BBC Persuasion which is so very very lovely). I enjoy the tracks that are just music although there are vocals on the soundtrack as well that are quite good. Track 5 has been on repeat. . . well, since I began this blog and to be quite honest, it's been playing in my head all day. It reminds me a bit of some of the great soundtracks of the past like Last of the Mohicans or the soundtrack from The Piano. If you heard it, after you were done falling in love with the violin solo, you would agree.
I want to save all the money I can now so I can play hookie all the time when spring gets here. For now, what a lovely blessing! Thank you, God.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Week One
Winter Grass
I posted this photo in our Artistic Imagery blog last month but I sure do like it.
Jered has recently (re)discovered blogging and as is his nature, fallen completely in love with the process. Nearly every day now he wants to create a blog for a new reason. I enjoy celebrating tiny moments and beautiful things of nature and I had a thought to tell him we should create such a blog. But then, I thought, well, I could just post those things on my already-have blog. So I am. Here is the first of what I will try to do at least once a week. Our friend, Robyn has a similar blog and I'm not sure what "day" she is on, but it's some fairly high number. Good for her. Here is my attempt at my own doing.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Hectic weekend
Just finished up the most hectic weekends ever. And yes, I know today is Monday but I just finished my 6-in-a-row work week. Remind me this time next year to take a vacation the first week of January. Seriously. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased that Target has been meeting or exceeding every one of their sales goals for the week. Um. It just hurts when we're on such a tight staffing budget AND THEN everybody and their brother, niece, Uncle Joe and Grandma Darleen call in sick for their shifts.
One call-in just this morning was my fabulous lead baker and I felt very sorry for her because she was up all night with her mom and the paramedics and she had a very real, serious emergency. . . and that meant that I got to handle my first solo bake this morning. And do two breakfast trays. And decorate my very first solo for-real-guest-ordered 24-ct pull-a-part cupcake with a Scooby Doo edible image pasted on top. Not to mention that today was a "walk" day with some very important people.
But God is good and with His help and a lot of grace, I managed to bake some edible product and ice a great pull-a-part and make a couple bfast trays and leave the place in not too much of a mess for the closer.
Whew. And today is just an example of how hectic the past six days have been. The icing on the cake of the weekend was getting to photograph a beautiful January reception for this incredibly friendly couple who's engagement photos I had the privilege of taking.
I love photographing weddings. The thing about love, though, is that it is a choice. And sometimes it's difficult to love weddings. Sometimes I get really frustrated and tired and burnt-out of dealing with people in such a high-expectation and high-stress way. But then, even in the midst of that, there's a pure beauty and sense of gratitude that comes with working with people on their wedding day. I love listening to the vows and I love being reminded of how lucky I am to have the husband I do and I am grateful to be paid to hear the best marriage sermons told by very different people but they all focus on one central thing: love. Saturday, I stood there in the ballroom of the DoubleTree hotel and once again, I was just amazed that I get paid to eat great food and see fabulous places and to capture the love story between two people and immortalize it for their families and future children and grand children.
It's a very nice feeling. All sorts of warm and fuzzies.
Having said that, I am thrilled to death that tomorrow is my day off and I get to spend it with Jered. We have a wedding consultation at 7p, but other than that, the itinerary of the day is to chill out.
And to begin, I am going to leave this off and go make some dinner. Peace out.
One call-in just this morning was my fabulous lead baker and I felt very sorry for her because she was up all night with her mom and the paramedics and she had a very real, serious emergency. . . and that meant that I got to handle my first solo bake this morning. And do two breakfast trays. And decorate my very first solo for-real-guest-ordered 24-ct pull-a-part cupcake with a Scooby Doo edible image pasted on top. Not to mention that today was a "walk" day with some very important people.
But God is good and with His help and a lot of grace, I managed to bake some edible product and ice a great pull-a-part and make a couple bfast trays and leave the place in not too much of a mess for the closer.
Whew. And today is just an example of how hectic the past six days have been. The icing on the cake of the weekend was getting to photograph a beautiful January reception for this incredibly friendly couple who's engagement photos I had the privilege of taking.
I love photographing weddings. The thing about love, though, is that it is a choice. And sometimes it's difficult to love weddings. Sometimes I get really frustrated and tired and burnt-out of dealing with people in such a high-expectation and high-stress way. But then, even in the midst of that, there's a pure beauty and sense of gratitude that comes with working with people on their wedding day. I love listening to the vows and I love being reminded of how lucky I am to have the husband I do and I am grateful to be paid to hear the best marriage sermons told by very different people but they all focus on one central thing: love. Saturday, I stood there in the ballroom of the DoubleTree hotel and once again, I was just amazed that I get paid to eat great food and see fabulous places and to capture the love story between two people and immortalize it for their families and future children and grand children.
It's a very nice feeling. All sorts of warm and fuzzies.
Having said that, I am thrilled to death that tomorrow is my day off and I get to spend it with Jered. We have a wedding consultation at 7p, but other than that, the itinerary of the day is to chill out.
And to begin, I am going to leave this off and go make some dinner. Peace out.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Monday Funday
"This is crazy, you know." Jered stared at me as I pulled on my windbreaker.
"It's not that cold out," I replied.
"You're crazy," he echoed as he slid his Michigan hoodie over his head. He flipped the hood over his hat and stared at me. I grinned.
"Once you get going, you won't feel cold at all."
It was 34 degrees outside and I had convinced my husband to run with me. He'd picked me up from work-- a gruelling 8 hour extravaganza of intense commercialism the likes of which hadn't been seen since Christmas Eve. . . but we'd only had ten cashiers today. And only a handful of sales floor associates. Our food business partner was visiting tomorrow (my day off) and amongst the throng of people and pleas for my help, I'd attempted to shore up my department the best I could after having the past weekend off. Not an easy feat and I was more than glad when 4:00 rolled around. As I slid into our Saturn, I knew that a good, chilly run at the park was what I needed to shed the stress building on my shoulders.
Thankfully, I'd had foresight and had packed my running gear that morning in the car.
It was beautiful and cold. Between puffs of air, Jered told me about his day-- about his conversation with his dad. We made plans for tomorrow and plans for a prayer walk. The tension slid off my body like a snake's skin and when we fell into silence beside each other, it was enough to just concentrate on the breaths I took, matching them to each foot fall, counting in beats of three.
I'd been running so long by myself, it was nice to run beside my husband. I was proud and pleased to share this new and enjoyable experience with him. We didn't run long-- it got dark and cold quite quickly-- but after about two miles, we called it quits and went shopping for milk and oranges at Aldi.
As I type this, fettuccine is boiling on the stove and turkey meatballs are baking in the oven. What a great start to 2012!
"It's not that cold out," I replied.
"You're crazy," he echoed as he slid his Michigan hoodie over his head. He flipped the hood over his hat and stared at me. I grinned.
"Once you get going, you won't feel cold at all."
It was 34 degrees outside and I had convinced my husband to run with me. He'd picked me up from work-- a gruelling 8 hour extravaganza of intense commercialism the likes of which hadn't been seen since Christmas Eve. . . but we'd only had ten cashiers today. And only a handful of sales floor associates. Our food business partner was visiting tomorrow (my day off) and amongst the throng of people and pleas for my help, I'd attempted to shore up my department the best I could after having the past weekend off. Not an easy feat and I was more than glad when 4:00 rolled around. As I slid into our Saturn, I knew that a good, chilly run at the park was what I needed to shed the stress building on my shoulders.
Thankfully, I'd had foresight and had packed my running gear that morning in the car.
It was beautiful and cold. Between puffs of air, Jered told me about his day-- about his conversation with his dad. We made plans for tomorrow and plans for a prayer walk. The tension slid off my body like a snake's skin and when we fell into silence beside each other, it was enough to just concentrate on the breaths I took, matching them to each foot fall, counting in beats of three.
I'd been running so long by myself, it was nice to run beside my husband. I was proud and pleased to share this new and enjoyable experience with him. We didn't run long-- it got dark and cold quite quickly-- but after about two miles, we called it quits and went shopping for milk and oranges at Aldi.
As I type this, fettuccine is boiling on the stove and turkey meatballs are baking in the oven. What a great start to 2012!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2011 wins and opps
On our walk yesterday, Jered and I discussed things that went well this past year and things we look forward to in 2012. Along with that discussion was a list of what we'd wanted to accomplish last year and what on that list was fulfilled. I thought to post part of that list here :)
Wins:
1. New House!! We love our new place out here in the wild west of Shawnee. Esther, at church this morning, was commenting on how loud the fireworks were last night and she couldn't sleep. We had no fireworks. Out here, we fell deeply asleep by 9:30 and woke up at 7:30. Ahhh, 10 hours of sleep. Now that's a holiday!
2. Two new vehicles. Our shinny black Saturn and our trusty pick-up. They're both new to us in 2011 and thus far, working out so nicely. It's been a pleasure to have a reliable car and the convenience of a pick-up all at the same time!
3. Target. Thus far, the promotion has been a huge blessing. I'm not a fan of working till 9p on Christmas Eve and in general, corporate America is not my cup of tea at all. However, I greatly enjoy my job and the people I work with. This in itself is a large part of the blessing.
4. Jered's raise at work. The church really blessed us this past year with a sizable increase in Jered's pay checks. This was a huge gift to him and also meant a lot to him as a validation of everything he's been doing with the youth.
5. Renters in our Hannibal house. Also huge. No more paying so much on a house nobody's living in. Now, it can be a blessing to another family.
6. New tires in time for winter. A huge Thank You to my provider husband, Jered, for covering the cost to get all 8 of our tires replaced in time for winter. That's part of the deal when buying used cars. . .
7. Running my first 5K.
8. Running a first joint 5K with Jered.
9. Taking our Missouri tour last summer. Very cool to hang out with Aimee and Robyn and roam in the countryside.
10. Celebrating our 6-year anniversary by camping in Oak Grove. It was rainy, but we stayed in a Kamping Kabin and it was good.
And now for some opportunities for 2012:
1. Spent waaaaaaay too much on advertising for Artistic Imagery. We spent nearly half of our total income this past year just on advertising. Definitely rethinking things in that department anyway. . .
2. Raised our AI rates for weddings. It's high time we put ourselves up for what we're worth.
3. While we're on the subject, new lenses!! Yes!! Let's get them!
4. Credit cards can be a blessing in hard times. Um. Let's pay them all off, shall we?
5. Being able to give more. How nice to go beyond just tithing and actually be able to be a financial blessing to those around us and far away.
It's good to set our sights on the next year and thank God for all His provisions and gifts this past year. Being on 2012. Amen!
Wins:
1. New House!! We love our new place out here in the wild west of Shawnee. Esther, at church this morning, was commenting on how loud the fireworks were last night and she couldn't sleep. We had no fireworks. Out here, we fell deeply asleep by 9:30 and woke up at 7:30. Ahhh, 10 hours of sleep. Now that's a holiday!
2. Two new vehicles. Our shinny black Saturn and our trusty pick-up. They're both new to us in 2011 and thus far, working out so nicely. It's been a pleasure to have a reliable car and the convenience of a pick-up all at the same time!
3. Target. Thus far, the promotion has been a huge blessing. I'm not a fan of working till 9p on Christmas Eve and in general, corporate America is not my cup of tea at all. However, I greatly enjoy my job and the people I work with. This in itself is a large part of the blessing.
4. Jered's raise at work. The church really blessed us this past year with a sizable increase in Jered's pay checks. This was a huge gift to him and also meant a lot to him as a validation of everything he's been doing with the youth.
5. Renters in our Hannibal house. Also huge. No more paying so much on a house nobody's living in. Now, it can be a blessing to another family.
6. New tires in time for winter. A huge Thank You to my provider husband, Jered, for covering the cost to get all 8 of our tires replaced in time for winter. That's part of the deal when buying used cars. . .
7. Running my first 5K.
8. Running a first joint 5K with Jered.
9. Taking our Missouri tour last summer. Very cool to hang out with Aimee and Robyn and roam in the countryside.
10. Celebrating our 6-year anniversary by camping in Oak Grove. It was rainy, but we stayed in a Kamping Kabin and it was good.
And now for some opportunities for 2012:
1. Spent waaaaaaay too much on advertising for Artistic Imagery. We spent nearly half of our total income this past year just on advertising. Definitely rethinking things in that department anyway. . .
2. Raised our AI rates for weddings. It's high time we put ourselves up for what we're worth.
3. While we're on the subject, new lenses!! Yes!! Let's get them!
4. Credit cards can be a blessing in hard times. Um. Let's pay them all off, shall we?
5. Being able to give more. How nice to go beyond just tithing and actually be able to be a financial blessing to those around us and far away.
It's good to set our sights on the next year and thank God for all His provisions and gifts this past year. Being on 2012. Amen!
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