June Goals & May Re-Cap

So, May came and went and those goals I tried to make..  well, I sort of did them.  Here's an update and then a short list of some June goals.  Intention is good right?

RUNNING: - get up to a 4 mile run.        Um..  I did run in May.  And then I got sick in the middle of the month..  allergies/cold/cough..  and running stopped.  I think I got up to 2.5 miles.  We will try again in June!  

HOUSE:  Clean out my closet and drawers...  and donate those clothes.       I got this MOSTLY done.  All my drawers and half my closet.  Then I got distracted..  but also got some stuff donated!  

PICTURES:  .  So - my goal is to begin working on the 2013 photo book - decide what online site I will use, choose the design and get some pages done.      Did not do anything with pictures.  Nothing.  And it aint happening in June..  

OILS & BUSINESS:  In May I added 2 more people to my team which was exciting!  And, I've had a few good conversations with people about oils.  I wasn't in touch w/ my downline as much as I wanted to be, so that is something to work towards.  

SO, as you can see I had good intentions with May goals but wasn't super successful in completing them.  Always room for improvements yes?  

June is a rather busy month..  vacation and a youth mission trip means not a lot of time at home.  So - my June goals are going to be quite simple and very little...  

1. Running..  keep it up.  yep.  just keep it up.  Especially on vacation..  I want to do 3 runs on vacation.  Easy right?

2. Oils - Keep learning about them and keep talking about them.  Tangible?  2 more sign ups.  And..  continue to participate in the 30 day learn and share challenge..  learning and sharing something about oils every day!  

3. Date with John - we need a date..  life is busy..  2 kids...  it takes planning..  but we both need to be more intentional with eachother in doing this..  so - a date night this month with John.  

I plan on having July be more productive, but with 2 weeks away in June - this is it.

Anyone else have any June goals?  School ends, kids are home and the possibilities are endless right?!  Happy June! 

What I learned about marraige from my wedding day

John and I got married 9 years ago today.  May 21, 2006.  It was a Sunday.  I don't remember what the weather was like, sunny?  rainy?  No idea!  I don't remember being nervous or worried about the details.  I don't remember conversations with people or what I ate that morning for breakfast.  My wedding day was memorable, but not for all the reasons that one might remember their wedding day.

What I remember about my wedding day was missing my rehearsal dinner and spending the rehearsal in the church bathroom.  I remember eating saltine crackers and drinking a pepsi at the hairdresser while getting my hair done.  I remember talking to John on the phone and wondering how in the world we were going to make it through the day.

Sick.  We were both sick.  Terribly so.  Up. ALL. Night. Throwing Up.  It wasn't pretty.  What I remember is standing in front of the church with John while both of turned green.  I remember shortly after the pastor started the sermon, that John excused himself.  The groom left.  The bride stood by herself in front of the church.  And the congregation wondered what in the world was going on.  John could barely stand up..  he was so dizzy and nauseous and sick to his stomach.  It was during our vows however, that I, the bride..  excused myself.  Exited through the side door as I wretched my crackers up.

Nothing like being terribly sick on your wedding day.  It was not the wedding of my dreams sort of day..  but it was our day.  And we stood, rather shakily, in front of the altar that day and promised our lives to each other.   So here is what I learned about marriage on that day that I got married.  

I learned that marriage does not always go as planned and it's messy and it's hard and sometimes you just have to laugh and all of that is okay.  Because there is always beauty in the mess.  One of my prayers for John and I during our engagement as we prepared for our wedding day was that we would not be so focused on that day, but that we would more focused on our marriage.  And you know..  all those things that you put so much time and effort into for your wedding day - like the flowers and the pictures, the table settings, the food - those things don't matter.  They aren't important.  What is important is the commitment that we make to each other that lasts a lifetime.  I have learned that the promise I made to love John is a promise that I make every day.  

I remember my wedding day.  I remember the feeling of disbelief that we were SO sick that day.  And I remember the man I married, most of all I remember standing before him, next to him declaring my love.  In the midst of everything going wrong  - I remember Love.  

Happy Anniversary Babe!  I loved you then and I love you now.  Let's keep living life together.  

When Asher couldn't breathe

Last night shortly after going to sleep myself, I'm awakened by Asher crying, frantic, in a near panic mode and when he was finally able to say something - it came out as a frightened and frustrated, "I can't breathe"  And then I heard it..  the feeble attempts to get air into his lungs.  He breathe was raspy, he was coughing, hoarse and his chest was so tight.  It was scary and I was one foot out the door ready to take him to the ER.  I held him tight..  soothing him and trying to get him to settle down so we could concentrate on slow breathes.  I opened wide his window right at his bed and we breathed in the cool air.  He was less panicked, but still struggling.  I was trying not to panic myself!  I grabbed my oils, quickly thinking through what might help.  I put a dab of Vicks on his chest first - hoping the vapors would help..  it didn't.  I grabbed my essential oil RC (a blend of cypress and eculyptus) and I rubbed that into his chest.  We kept breathing the cool air, rubbing his back, speaking calming words into his ear and praying.  He started to settle, I could hear the raspyness start to lesson.  I started breathing again.

As he started to settle a bit more, he said to me, - "I think my allergy roller (a mix of lavender, lemon, peppermint and fractionated coconut oil) would help"  Smart boy!  I got it and rolled it ALL over the bottom of his feet, the insides of his wrists and across his forehead and cheeks.  He layed down and in minutes was saying..  I feel like I can breathe better.

I finally relaxed.  You guys.  It was so scary!  I don't know all of what was going on.  ..  but that was a first for us.  After he was laying there for a bit, I put some purification and lemon on his spine and he finally fell asleep.  I laid there next to him ALL night; Listening to him.  He slept, coughed a bit..  I heard at one point the breathing becoming labored again - a little bit..  but then eased up on its own.  He's home today..  on the couch watching TV.  Still not feeling good, but breathing.  We'll work on the cough today and take it easy.  Momma could use a long nap!

But here's the thing.  we stayed out of the ER.  I didn't even give him any medication.  These oils not only relaxed him, made him less frantic about it all, but they helped him breathe better.  Ya'll.  I'm not a Dr.  not a nurse.  I'm just a mom.  I'm not about to diagnose what happened last night and maybe he would have settled without the oils..  or maybe not.  But I'm convinced (even more then before) how much these oils help my family to be and to live healthier.

#PrayerandOils.   #OilsandPrayer

#YoungLivingEssentialOils

If you are interested in trying some oils - you can order some through me using my 24% discount or maybe you are ready to dive in and order your own starte kit which includes 11 oils, a diffuser, becoming a part of an amazing and supportive community, lots of encouragement and education about the oils...  click HERE and sign up for the Premium Starter Kit.  

Busy or Relaxing

Yesterday was a wonderfully relaxing day.  It's been a while since any day around here has been relaxing.  Being busy is over rated ya'll.  And yet, I find that of late..  busy is everyday.   And I'm sure I'm not the only one caught up in the running here and there, the to -do lists, keeping up with kids schedules and homework and what they need to be taking into school on a daily basis.  Wash and dishes - is anyone every on top of laundry and dishes?   Goodness gracious.  My mind feels too full.

So relaxing yesterday was so needed.  The kids played.  The hubby grilled and my mom and I sat outside in the beautiful shade and talked.  That was it.  No running around.  No dishes and no laundry.  It was good.  needed.  necessary.  I need more not so busy days.

I LOVE all that we are doing..  all the things that are making us busy - I love it all.  Ok. maybe not ALL of it..  but most of it.  I like soccer practice and games.  A lot!  I like being in a small group on Wednesday nights.  I like the work I do at the church and the conversations I have about Essential Oils.  I like playing outside with my kids and going to the park.  I like conversations with my husband and friends.  I like helping at my kids schools and being involved there.  I like blogging,   I like, well.. find it important to exercise.  I don't mind working on keeping the house clean and organized..  but fitting it all in   - that is where it is hard.

So, I'm going to make more time...  for relaxing.  Sigh...  Maybe.

More time for books.
More time for walks.
More time for naps.  YES!
More time for movies.
More time for games
More time for sitting on the patio.

Sounds good to me.

Some May Goals

So, to be honest, I'm not a goal setter.  I know setting goals is good for me, but I just don't do it.  Mainly because I don't follow through very well with my goals, so I give up long before I even get close.  BUT..  I've seen other bloggers who have set up some goals each month and post it on their blog.  So, I figured..  Why not?!  Here are a few goals for this month...

RUNNING:  I am JUST getting myself back into running after taking off all winter..  not intentionally, but it happened.  so - my goal is to be back up to being able to do a 4 mile run.  That means - some scheduled runs during the week!  

HOUSE:  Clean out my closet and drawers...  and donate those clothes I. AM. NOT. WEARING.  which happens to be most of my wardrobe.  Funny how we buy SO many clothes and yet wear the same ones over and over.  

PICTURES:  All my pictures are on my computer.  I was keeping up with doing a big yearly photo book..  and then I got behind.  2013 and 2014 Still need to happen.  So - my goal is to begin working on the 2013 photo book - decide what online site I will use, choose the design and get some pages done.  (I'll update in June what site I decided to use - this is partly why I am behind..  I can never decide which site is best/cheapest/easiset to use...  ).  

OILS & BUSINESS: So, I'm fairly new (ish) to using essential oils.  And I love it.  But there is a LOT I need to be learning about how to best use them for my family.  I also have begun being a distributor for Young Living..  so I've been attemping to learn the business side of things..  and be more..  business..y...  not a word, I know!  But - trying to balance out the teaching/talking/telling without feeling like I"m pushing it onto people.  All while attempting to turn this into a business and earn some extra money.  I've had some great conversations with people about oils and even have had people sign up under me!  yea!  But - my goal for this month is to be more in touch with my downline folks in order to encourage them in the oils they are using.   And I'd like to continue building my business - by getting another sign up and having some get togethers to talk about oils...  April was a good month which makes me excited for this month!  

Ok..  I could keep going and come up with a bazillion other goals..  but let's be realistic!  

What goals do you have for the month of May?  Care to share?!  

Oh My - April!

Well, blogging has definitely taken a backseat this last year.  For lots of reasons.  Or no reason at all.  Just cause.  I miss it.  I miss contributing to the online community, putting my thoughts out there, challenging myself and others.  I miss taking pictures and editing and posting.  But time has been spent elsewhere and really..  thoughts are not there.  I do want to remember this time and record it and go back and read again what my days were like when my kids were 2 and 3 and 3 and 4..  5 and 6..  So - I want to be back.  Back to this..  but I promise nothing!

Look at those kids up there.  Can I pause for a moment.  Because they aren't babies anymore.  And my heart breaks.  Yes - we sleep through the night finally and I'm not wiping hiney's anymore.  Amen and Amen.  But..  they talk about friends and write on their own and have strong opinions.  Okay - they always had strong opinios.  But I miss my babies.  But also, this age..  5 and 6 years old.  So. Much. Fun.  The learning and doing things together and moments of growing up and reading together and riding 2 wheelers.. it's fun.  it's exicting.  And I look at my 2 babies and am amazed.  And then they whine and cry and fight and argue and melt down in the middle of art fairs and book fairs and I sigh again.  Parenthood.  It's crazy.

We are eagerly awaiting summer and vacations and the pool.  Lazy mornings and movie watching and long walks.  Sounds fabulous yes?  Let's pretend for a minute it all will be!

This weekend we are gearing up for soccer games and a red carpet prom night youth fundraiser at the church.  Next week I'll be back here with some May goals and Prom Pictures.

February Favorites

Some our favorite things at the moment....

To Listen to:
    Hannah - anything Frozen related.  She belts it out ALL DAY LONG.
    Jamie - This Album from Katie and Bryan Torwalt

To Play:
    Asher - Paw Patrol or Geometry Dash on the Ipad which I can't figure out what it really has to do       with geometry...
   Hannah - Anything having to do with DOGS.  partnered with, "Mommy, I really wish I could get a     dog...  "

To Read:
     Hannah:   Patti Cake..  It's Adorbs...

.  

   Asher:  Magic Tree House Books..

   Jamie:  Currently working through  Tables in the Wilderness, A Memoir of God Found, Lost and Found Again, by Preston Yancey.  I'm not loving it, and it's taking me longer then I wanted to get through it, but his story of struggling in community and with faith is interesting and at times; relatable.

John:  Newspaper, anything related to running and/or biking...

To Eat:
   Jamie :  Salad with apples and walnuts on it.  Yummy!  Add some cheese and few pepperoni's and I'm happy.

To Watch:
   Hannah - Disney Jr's Jesse show.  I admit..  it has me laughing too.
   Jamie:  A few favorites right now.. - Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.  Have you seen?  And, a horrible admission - the Bachelor..  have you seen the drama train this season?  It's awful!  And... Yet...  I....  Watch....

Some Favorite Moments of 2015 thus far..
     Asher - finding out he was student of the month for his class!  Wohoo.

   

Hannah - getting better and better at her cartwheel.  Lots of practice.

John - being a part of the Philadelphia Historic Homeshow and talking windows with lots of
               people!

Jamie - Taking 17 students away on a 2 day retreat to snowy Gretna and being a part of their faith
                journey and new commitments to Christ.

Favorite things we are looking forward to:   Spring!!  Summer!  The beach!!  What else?

Testimony Tuesday

Thieves has seriously become one of my favorite oils!  First - it smells great.  Love!  Secondly...  I'm pretty sure it has helped to keep my family healthy this year (so far).  Hannah's birthday is in the beginning of October.  And every year..  around her birthday.  as we move from summer into fall and those colds begin..  Hannah ends up with a cold and an ear infection.  I think for her - it was part cold/part allergies that just got too bad and end up in her ears.

 This year..  along with doing an oil allergy mix (lavender/lemon/peppermint - of which I'll share more about in another Tuesday Testimony) - I have used Thieves..  a lot.  And ya know what?  We made it through the fall without even getting a cold.  No cold, no allegies, no ear infection, no Dr. visit and no antibiotic.

Lavender has been another great oil in keeping those yucky ear infections away.  Just over Christmas break, we were up at my mom's for 2 days.  I took my diffuser and some of my oils..  because - well..  I'm attached!  The second day there, Hannah slowly took on a fever, complained of a sore throat and her ears bugging her.  I did not even have with me any children's medicine.  But - I had my oils!  Of course.  I rolled Thieves onto her spine.  Rubbed drops of lavender around the outside of her ears, and also put peppermint on her feet and lemon on her back.  But the time we had gotten home that night, her fever was up high and she was pretty wiped out.  I kept up the oils and also did give her a dose of childrens medicine to help with the fever.  Within 2 hours - the fever was gone.  The next morning - she woke up completely better.  :)  No more fever.  No sore thoat, no ear infections.  Normally - that first day would have led into more days of fevers, ear infections and drs visits..  always  - that is how it would work for her.  Not this time.  Nope!

So how do I use the oils?  What do I do?  Simple!  I diffuse a lot.  At least every other night I diffuse 2 or 3 drops of thieves in the kids diffusers.  I also made up a thieves roll on (about 20 drops of thieves and the rest a fractionated coconut oil to dilute) in a roll on bottle and I roll that on the kids spines (and mine) and on their feet.  Not every day..  but def. when it seems that something is starting to come on..  or we're around someone who is sick..  or..  when I think of it!  Thieves can also be used ingested.. - you can put a drop under your tongue to ward off a sore throat.  Be careful though - it's spicey!  Or you can gargle it and swallow.  I have to be honest.. - I havn't gotten there yet!  For Lavender..  I diffuse it, put a drop on my hands and rub it on my pillow at night to help with sleeping.. and I've used it on a bad burn I had on my hand - it helps with healing and there is no scar!  I have also used it around Asher's ears, Hannah's ears and my own ears when I have felt an ear ache coming on.

So far - this winter - we're good!

If you are interested in finding out more about how oils could help your family - email me; Jamielindtner@gmail.com     I would love to see your family benefit from the use of oils just like our family has!


I am not a Dr and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any diseases. The Oil images are from YoungLiving.  

It's a new year!

Well, I'm a wee bit late in the Happy New Year Department, but at least it's not February yet! Here's some highlights from the last month or so..

*  We had a fun Christmas, kids enjoyed being off from school and we spent some of Christmas break working on my mom's kitchen and hanging out with her new puppy dog Sadie - which was fun!

 * The transition back to school as been..  well, more rough for some..  but, we are getting there.

 Hannah has started gymnastics at the Y while Asher does a PFX Training class which he is loving.

 I'm trying to motivate myself back into running, while John runs circles around me.

We had a 'reveal' party at youth - revealing where we are headed this summer for our mission trip.  We are ALL excited about the beach!  And we are looking forward to helping repair some houses that had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

We even got a little bit of snow.  Now can spring please come?

Let's talk Oils.

I am not a die hard fan of anything really..  I'm pretty flexible when it comes to most products.  I go for inexpensive and covenient.

And then, I got into oils.  Young Living Essential Oils to be specific.  And I can't get enough.  I am loving them.  And after nearly 5 months of using them, I'm ready to start sharing about how we, as a family, have benefitted from them.

I first started to use oils in September because I wanted to find something natural to help with Hannah's allergies.  I really did not want to resort to giving her medicine every single day but she needed something.  Her allergies are constant.  Her eyes bother her most - they get red, itchy, weepy..  so a friend told me that a combination of Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon - diffused or rolled directly onto the bottom of her feet or the back of her neck - can help.  Instead of just ordering those 3 oils, I ordered the starter kit - which included 11 oils, some information about the oils and a diffuser.

Ya'll..  I love diffusing.  My kids LOVE the oils.  And.. they work.  For Real.

Hannah doesn't take any meds for her allergies.  I'm sure come spring - I'll need to be even more on top of her w/ the oils, - diffusing this combination every day as well as rolling them on her every day, but for now I will occasionaly diffuse the combo of Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon - at night in her room to help.  No more itchy eyes.  No more weepy, watery eyes.  and her congestion is so much better.

We use the oils for lots of other things too..
    *  Peace and Calming and Lavender - I diffuse at night to help with sleeping.  Asher is all over Peace and Calming.  He says, it helps him sleep.  We didn't have it for a while and he kept asking me - when will we get it..  once it came and I put it on his feet at night - he responded by saying.. "Now, I can finally get some sleep!".
     * Thieves.. - this is one of my favorite.  It has kept us healthy this fall/winter.  I'll write another post on that soon.  Thieves is a MUST HAVE.
     * Valor - totally helped me on those long runs when I was training for the half marathon.
   

I'm a huge fan.  I feel like these oils have helped us to be healthier and have provided an alternative way to dealing with health issues instead of over the counter meds.

Email me at JamieLindtner@gmail.com - if you are interested in learning more about Young Living Oils.  I'd love to share our experience with the oils and how they can help you!

2014 books

I love hearing about what others are reading, going to bookstores and looking through books, collecting books on my nightstand....  yep - I've got a whole stack of books to read just sitting there.  I love books with pretty covers..  how can you not read it if it looks pretty?  Seriously!  So, in case you're looking for some good books to read..  here's some books that I've read through this past year.

Bread and Wine  

This was one of my favorie books that I read this past year.  Maybe a foavorite book of all times.  LOVED her stories, her emphasis on community and intentional relationships.  And, she writes about her favorite recipes too.  Win win!

The Shack

This book shook me to my core.  Oh. My. Word.  It's a story about a man who gets a note from Papa  (God) to come meet Him at the very shack where his daughter was brutally murdered.  What happens at that shack is a beautiful conversation between this man and the different persons of the Trinity.  I was so drawn into the development and characterization of the persons of the Trinity.  The hard questions that are asked, that we all want to ask God - and the responses.  The way that God meets us where we are but then draws us out of that.  Amazing.  It's a hard read, but it was a tremendously eye opening read.  

The Circle Maker

I was given this book over the summer by a pastor in Washington DC.  He was dreaming big and praying big and for a day my youth group and I were a part of preparing an old building to be a Christian school for kids.  This book challenged me in how I pray.  It challenged me in persevering in my prayers and in expecting our big God to do big things.  

Lean On Me

I was drawn to the cover of this book - look how pretty it is!  This was another book about intentional community.  It took me a while to get into it - but once I was - I was drawn in by the authors story.  She went through a time of darkness, lonliness and she speaks on how her community of people led her through this.  I love the model of community she talks about.  The need to be vulnerable and to go deep with people  - our longing for that intimacy and connections.  It's a good read!  

I'm sure I read more, but these are the books that I remember and stood out to me!  What books have you read this past year that are worth a mention?  

Being Significant as Moms

Yesterday at the MOPS group I'm involved with, I sat with a couple of other moms and we talked about how hard being a mom is.  We shared stories of what surprised us about motherhood.  We wrestled with dark, hidden things of motherhood that no one ever tells you.  We struggled through the trap of undermining the work we do as mothers by tossing the phrase 'just a mom' around when asked what we do.  We gave ourselves permission to say that who we are and what we do as moms is important work, significant work and no less valuable then those sitting in conference rooms disucssing plans to change the world.

There are a lot of things about motherhood that I did not realize.  Like the constancy of it.  It's all day, every day.  We don't get to 'turn it off'.  We don't stop being a mom or thinking like a mom just because our kids go to school or off to bed.  Mom..  it feels our entire being, our doing.  And ya'll - that is significant.

Remember those early days and even more  - those nights with newborn babies.  The darkness of the house.  The silence..  except for that little baby and his crying.  all...  night...  long...  No one tells you how hard those nights are.  How tired you will be.  How frustrated you get.  Trying to learn how to nurse and how much that hurts and the emotions after giving birth..  Goodness - whose body is that and what in the world is it doing?

Or the disciplining of children.  What is right?  what works?  and how in the world am I to help my children become kind, responsible, hard working, generous, loving, selfless human beings?  Some days it feels impossible.

The exhaustion.  Feeling totally unprepared for these little people and their constant questions and needs and requests and arguments and defiance.  Oh my word, the defiance gets me every time.   And how is there any significance in doing dishes every single day and yet the sink is never empty?  The toy rooms that never stays clean.  The mundance of doing wash, folding wash, putting wash away..  me?  a mom?  significant?

YES!  moms..  and you too dads...  the work that we do as parents of our little people - it is so significant.  As I fold socks, I pray for the paths those little feet will walk upon and that they will always follow after Christ.  We hold hands and redirect behavior and pray that those little hands will always be gentle with others.  We clear the toys and make room for new messes and we let our children be children who pull every single thing out and giggle with innocence and excitement and then we teach them how to clean up toys so some day they know how to clean up bigger messes and they can go into the world and make a difference.  Those snuggles in the morning when the sun is not even up yet help little ones to start the day feeling safe and loved and brave and valued and some day we will sleep again, but not today, not when our babies need our arms around them.

We may not be bringing home big paychecks, or shaking hands with other CEO's  or executives or well dressed people every day planning meetings and building company's and saving lives on the surgical table.  We may go days without fully brushing our hair or getting out of our yoga pants.  Some days the only conversation we have will be with our children and our husbands.   But momma's..  hear this.
YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT.  The work we do in raising our tiny human people, in teaching them manners, in helping them learn to read and do math and build towers - it is important.  The hugs, the kisses, the yes's and the no's: the books read over and over again; the child hanging on our leg while we are trying to make dinner; the conversations over homework, or in the car or at bedtime..  the work in the house and on the house that isn't getting done because we are being moms  - it is all important.  Be significant in who you are as a mom.  Those little people are worth it.

Be Still

Psalm 46
- God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  THEREFORE, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging....  

Though wars rage, and children hurt other children with words and actions, and mommas whose job it is to keep their little ones safe who instead become abusers and OH, when precious children know NO love and endure such atrocities and when schools evacuate and parents worry and police are called in to the very halls where our children walk.  Though, harsh words and inpatient spirits and starving children and more pain this my heart can handle...

Though...

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she WILL NOT fall; God will help her at the break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms falls

HE LIFTS HIS VOICE, The Earth Melts.  

The Lord Almighty is With US!!  The God of Jacob is our FORTRESS!!  

Be Still and KNOW that I Am GOD.  

I will be exalted among the nations.  I will be exalted in all the earth.  

The Lord Almighty is with us' the God of Jacob is our Fortress.  

Needing my sweet Jesus' reassurances this morning as I grieve the hard stuff in this world.  God is God and he voice alone makes the earth melt.  Today, I am resting in the presence of God, In his victory, in his mercy and in his grace.  Maybe you need that comfort to?  

Thursday Thoughts

It is cold.  Fall is here..  officially.  It's cozy pajama's and blankets and warm socks around here these days. 

   Last weekend I went away with some youth last weekend to serve with The Philadelphia Project which rocked.  We had a blast!  We worshipped Jesus and just laughed a lot and we got to serve some precious homeowners.  LOVE my job!  LOVE my students.  They make my job easy and so much fun and they inspire me daily.  

Liking this quote by CS Lewis; - "I Need Christ, Not Something that Resembles Him" 

~Jamie

Half Marathons

This past weekend I ran in my very first half marathon!  That is 13.1 miles.  That is a lot of miles!  I've been training since summer, some weeks were better and more committed then others.  My longest run was a 10 miler then week before.  I don't think I was really feeling ready for the race, but I was excited for the race.

We were up by 4am on race day..  leaving the house by 5 and in Dover by 6.  The ONLY good thing about the race starting that early was watching the sun rise!  We started the run in Dover Downs..  the race track.  That was pretty cool too.  Ready to go!

I ran the first 6 miles well.  My pace was faster then my usual pace.  I was feeling good and enjoying the beautiful run.  Seriously..  the sun, the sky, the clouds - gorgeous!  I snapped a few pics along the way.

Miles 6 - 9 were slowing down a little..  feeling tired.  And by mile 10, my legs were aching.  I was ready to start taking some walking breaks around mile 10 - but then I saw my mom, my sister - in - law and Mother in law and my 2 kids..  and that pushed me to keep running!

Hot, sweaty, around mile 9 or 10...

Probably from 10.5 to the finish I allowed myself some short walk breaks..  I found that I ran faster when I ran if I could walk for 30 seconds here and there.  I was feeling pretty sore and achy at this point.  But I knew I was nearly there...  so I pushed through.  My goal was to finish in 3 hours...  I'm not fast by any means and this race was not about time for me, but about doing it, running most of it and finishing it.  I finish 11 minutes faster then my goal time which was awesome!  I credit that to my first 6 miles being a faster pace for me.

I felt pretty good after I finished.  Excited.  It definitely was an awesome feeling to accomplish something that I never in a million years thought I would or could do.  Not just the race itself, but also the training...  the time commitment..  seeing it through - all of that was so good for me.

Sunday - Tuesday were tough.  I was exhausted..  and incredibly sore.  But glad I did the race.  I'm not sure I would do another half..  10 miles may be a good limit..  but we'll see!

John did the full marathon and he came in 2nd for his age group.  The kids had been up since 4 in the morning and they were SO done!  So we came home and John stayed on to get his medal!

It was a fun day!