Komen Race for the Cure 2012

I'm finally getting around to writing about my second 5k.  I think i have procrastinated on starting this one because I can figure out what I want to say.
There's too much to say.
Yes, it was my second 5k in my monthly series of 5ks.  Yes, I got my best time ever.  Yes, I ran the whole thing without stopping.
But those things all paled in comparison to the experience with my friends and the fact that I'm still running for my Daddy.

My sweet, precious, faithful friend Cathy is battling breast cancer.  She is only 34 - too young!  She has 2 small children - too busy, too needed.
We are blessed to have a small group of families that we share our lives with.  There are about 10 families that meet every Sunday evening to pray, eat, and let the little kids play.  The women in this group are particularly close.  I don't even know how it happened - it's just God.  And thank God for each other.  We call ourselves Cathy's Chemosabes :)

As a group, we've been doing whatever we can think of to support our friend.  One lady has organized the meals that are provided, especially on the days following each treatment.  We all gathered in Cathy's basement to decorate for her daughter's birthday party when Cathy didnt' have the energy to do it on her own.  We've worn pink, made ribbons, and prayed on our knees for her healing.

This past Saturday, we joined together to show our support at the North Central Alabama Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Leading up to the race, we've had Pink Sales at church to raise money for out team.  We raised over $1,300!  That's enough for several mammograms for uninsured and under-insured women.

Pink Sale at church

Before the race started, there was a Survivor Parade.  All of the women, and men, who are battling or have battled breast cancer gathered in their hot pink shirts and paraded to the starting line.  Many were smiling and high fiving the crowd.  Others were so emotional that they couldn't hold back the tears.  It was the same for us in the crowd - not many dry eyes watching those brave warriors in pink!  Just as the parade started, we looked up to see our girl Cathy right in front!  She was smiling SO BIG!  She had just met her BC pen pal and was walking arm in arm with her.  So precious!

There were over 15,000 people there for the race and several other supporters there.  What a crowd!  We somehow got most of our group together for the start of the race.  Most of the runners started towards the front and the rest of us gathered around the block.  I wanted to start with Cathy, but I started running at the starting line.

And I kept running.

I ran uphill, downhill, around turns, between people, past people, to the finish line!!!

Once I crossed the line, I got my bottle of water, did a little happy dance, and called my friends who were still walking.  I re-entered the race and found my people.

Here they come!

We completed the last few blocks all together and crossed the finish line with Cathy!

Look at that smile!!!!

The first finish line of many that we will cross by her side!  She's the one doing the work, but we will be with her the whole way!

Silly girls with the PINK Sheriff's car.

I love this picture!

Love you, Cathy!

Creation/Marriage/Trinity

I know that the trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - 3 in one.
I know how God created man and then made man into man and women.
I know that a man and woman become one in marriage.

Am I the last person on earth to make the connection with all three beautiful and mysterious stories?  I've heard the connection between creation and the Trinity.  I've heard the connection between the Trinity and marriage.  And I've heard the connection between creation and marriage.  But I'm just now connecting all three.

The entire history of all of this starts with the Trinity:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formlessand empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.          Genesis 1:1-2

God the Father, the Creator was there, but so was the Holy Spirit!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.        John 1:1-2

Jesus was there too!  They were all together and they were all one. This is my understanding of the Trinity - not something I can fully comprehend, but one of the mysteries of God to be understood when I see him face to face.
The Three in One have always, do now, and always will exist as one in communion with each other.  They work in agreement and in truth together and in their own ways.

God created man in His image.  His image is one of relationship and community - completeness.  He created man to be the same.

So God created mankind in his own image,    in the image of God he created them;    male and female he created them.          Gen 1:28

I've heard a couple of interpretations of this.  The first is that the writer of Genesis knew that he made woman later, so he wanted to clarify that women were created in His image as well.  
I like this better: God created man and woman as ONE from the beginning.  Both parts were there in the whole.  Man was alone though, so the parts needed to be separated to create partners for each other.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.                                                                    Gen 2:20-22

God made us in HIS image!  We are like Him.  We are to reflect Him.  Our instincts to love and be with others are because of our likeness to Him in the Trinity.  He knew we NEEDED each other to experience the completeness that is within His purpose for us.

Marriage is such a beautiful gift from God, but it can be so confusing!  How in the world can 2 completely different people with their own thoughts, their own sets of emotions, and their own backgrounds become ONE???

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.                                 Gen 2: 24

This matches the pattern of the Trinity - different, but one.  Not that I am comparing a human husband and wife to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but He said we are made in His image!
We are to pattern ourselves after them.  They are different in how they bless us, how they minister to us, and how they manifest themselves, but they are united in one being.
God knew what he was doing when he made us.  Marriage was created at the same time of our creation.  He made us as one and then in our own separate ways with this purpose in mind.
He did it on purpose!!!

I am now having new thoughts about the role of a husband and the role of a wife - not as an overlord and a door mat, but as the earthly image of Christ and his beloved church.  More on that next time!

Praying Through the 5k

I'm so excited to participate with my church family in the Race for the Cure in honor of our sweet sister Cathy as she so gracefully battles cancer.  She's a beautiful woman inside and out and deserves every bit of love she's been receiving.

The Holy Spirit has taken me over and organized this team through me.  I take no credit for any work I've done or ideas that have come to me.

His latest idea was for us to pray through each km of the race.  I know most of us will be walking with Cathy, so there will be lots of socializing going on.  Even if you don't pray through the whole race, each km marker can be a reminder to pray in a specific way for Cathy and her comrades in this fight.

Starting line/km 1: Begin the race with a thankful heart.  Thank God for Cathy, our church family, and the ability we each have to participate in this race.  Thank God for the people who work so hard to find a cure - the medical teams, volunteers, and supporters.
Romans 1:8

km 2: Pray for Cathy's family and medical staff - all caretakers.  Pray for their discernment, sensitivity, and strength.  Include Brad, Liam, Tabitha, their parents, and her doctors and nurses.  They all need the Holy Spirit to guide them through her care - what to do and what to say.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31

km 3: Pray for Cathy's complete and total restoration here on earth.  Cry out to God for healing of her body - and for the healing of all the Survivors running/walking with us and for the many brothers and sisters in our own church family battling cancer.
Matt 7:7-11

km 4: Pray for Cathy's spiritual/emotional/mental battle.  Her body is being attacked, but so is her peace.  Pray for peace that surpasses all understanding.  Pray for her to be stronger and stronger in her faith.  She's already been so strong, faithful, and graceful - give God the glory for that too!
Philippians 4:7

km 5: Ask God to reveal your role in Cathy's life.  Ask for clarity in what you are to learn from her and do to support her - and all of our brothers and sisters.  Pray for protection over our church family against anymore cancer or disease.
Romans 12:10

Finish Line: Praise God for his sovereignty.  No matter what trials we go through on this earth, he still reigns and we will all be with him one day!!!
Psalm 115:1

Hot Cocoa, Don'tcha Know

I don't know where this recipe originated, but it is pretty amazing!  I got it from a friend of mine several years ago and it has become a staple in our home.

The weather here is still too warm for it, but I know it is cool enough for the hot chocolate cravings to kick in elsewhere.

Here ya go!

Ingredients:
8 qt. powdered milk
1 lb can cocoa mix
1 lb box powdered sugar
1 11oz jar powdered coffee creamer
5 heaping Tbsp cocoa
*add a box of instant chocolate pudding for extra creaminess (I like to experiment with different flavors)

You'll also need:
a HUGE bowl
whisk
LARGE sealable container to store it in
1/3 cup scoop

Directions: Mix all dry ingredients thoroughly in a very large bowl.  Using the whisk is the easiest way I've found to do this.  Scoop 1/3 cup of the mix into a mug and add boiling water.  I like to drizzle caramel syrup or add a scoop of marshmallow fluff.  Add a candy cane or cinnamon stick too!
Keep the mix sealed tightly and share!

Nutrition:
calories: 165
far: 2.5g

Name That Slow Cooker Chicken Dish

My method of cooking is to either loosely follow a recipe or dump things in a pot as I go.

Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.  Sometimes I'm a little sad while I eat dinner.

Last night I was pleasantly surprised!  Here's my very own recipe:

1 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts
3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp teriyaki sauce
2 1/2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp chili paste (more or less depending on how much heat you like)
1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 tsp ground ginger

1. Dump all ingredients into a 2 quart crock pot.
2. Cook on high for 3 - 3.5 hours.  You could probably cook it on low for 5-6 hours.
3. Eat it.

*Serving suggestion: pour the juice into a pan over medium heat.  Add baby spinach and stir until wilted.

I served mine over fresh baby spinach and poured some of the juice over it to wilt the spinach a bit.

I don't know what to call this recipe.  Asian Chicken is too plain for me.  Suggestions?

Nutrition info:
Servings: 2
Serving Size: 1 chicken breast and 1/2 of juice
cal: 238
fat: 3g
sodium: 786 mg
carbs: 30g
protein: 50g

GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL #4!!!

OK, people.  I have lost 20 pounds!!!  20 pounds!!!

That means I have reached the 4th goal.  The reward for this goal was getting my hair did.  I seriously considered coloring my hair, but that requires up-keep and I'm not really into that.  Besides, my husband is opposed to changing my hair color, so that confirmed it for me - no color.

Since it has been a YEAR since I even got my hair trimmed, it had gotten very long.  I've also had plenty of time to think about what I want my hair to look like.

I've had a lot of compliments on my long hair and I like it long, so I knew I was sticking with long.  I had found a few pins on Pinterest that I showed to Marlow at Sanctuary*, where I got my hair did.

*If you live anywhere near Homewood, Alabama and want to be pampered, go there!  It feels like, well, a sanctuary, without being stuffy.  The entire staff is so nice and so talented!

I am fully aware that I have nowhere near the hair (or stylists) that are in these pictures, but I like that look.  Marlow is magical, so he said "got it!" and started cutting!

Here is me being smiley after...

Still long, but much healthier!

And here is before and after from the back...

Doesn't look too much shorter, but so much healthier!

Next goal: SHOES!!!

The Valley

I've been chugging along getting my exercise in and eating right while taking care of my Mom, coordinating a team of 50+ for a 5k, planning another 5k, and making things for fundraisers.  I was starting to get a big head with all of the "good works" I've been doing.  I didn't so much feel proud, it was more a feeling of satisfaction that I was enjoying doing things for others.

I should have known I'd hit a wall.

BAM!

There it is.  I don't want to work out.  I'd like to eat everything in sight.  I don't feel like cleaning.  The laundry can wait.  Husband?  He will be fine if I'm always asleep.

I'm mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted.

I'm in a total rut right now.  I'm interested in hearing what you do to get out of your rut, or pit.

DIY EASY Pumpkins

My Daddy is a handy man.  And he's always willing to help me out - great Daddy!
I've been spending a lot of time my parents' house lately trying to help with Mom's care.  While I'm there, Mom teaches me to sew - giving directions from her bed.
Daddy likes to get in on the action too, so I have shown him a couple of projects I wanted to do that I needed wood for.
I LOVE pumpkins for the fall!  Any kind will do.  I wanted to make some large simple pumpkins like the ones I saw on Pinterest.


So, Daddy got to cutting and I hammered some nails on top for stems.  With a little spray paint, some tulle, and some cute sale-bin ribbon, I made these!  So easy and I LOVE them!

Squirrel approves too!

Week 6 Challenge: Not About Me

Week 6: Practice at least 1 random act of kindness each day.  

Becoming focused on your own health and fitness can become very self-centered.  While you do have to focus on yourself, let's not forget that our weight loss and health benefits are not just for us.  It is a great example to set for our families and friends, but it also gives us energy to serve!

Shouldn't that be the whole point?  

If we are at our best, we can give our best.  Can a sick tree bear fruit?  Not likely.

Now that we are becoming better versions of ourselves, let's share the fruit with others!  

Week 5: Work It!

Week 5 Challenge: 1,000 exercises!

EEK!  Sounds scary, huh?  We can do this!
This is doable for those of you who don't have an exercise plan in place.  Do them during commercials, waiting for water to boil, or making copies at work!  You can find time for 1,000 exercises this week!

I plan to get as much out of the way up front as I can.  Keep track of how much you do of each exercise each day and share it with us.

What's your strategy???