Thursday, December 31, 2009

Training Update VIII


*before my snowy run last night. I cant wait for new fitted running pants..hopefully I will get them this week. I realize I look crazy but I had to layer for the snow!


I am so excited to report that Brian and I both stayed within our goals for the Holidays. Brian is weighing in at 156 and myself at 126! I am so proud of both of us. Tomorrow I will start over with Training Update I as it is the New Year along with a few resolutions. I dont typically do resolutions but I thought it would be fun to write out my goals this year.

So last week I got in a lot of great workouts. I went to spinning on Monday, ran 3.5 on Tuesday, took Wednesday off, went to a 1 and a 1/2 hour intense spinning/Biggest Loser type Xmas Eve kickoff workout at the gym, took Friday off and ran 3.5 with my sister on Saturday.

I caught a virus and when I weighed on Tuesday, it said 122!! If only...lol. Due to being sick, I didnt workout until yesterday. I ran 4 miles. I am not sure if I will do more this week or not. ...depends on how I feel. I may do free weights today and try a run tomorrow.

So this concludes my end of the year report! We've come a long way!! Here's to even better health in 2010!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Merry Christmas!


Grandaddy and Jackson (yes, thats the leg lamp from A Christmas Story in the background)

Melody playing with Ty and Chase

Grandaddy and Gigi

Melody with dad and Chris

Brian, Chase and Julia

Rachel (baby Hovis) opening her gift from us

Brian opening his gift from Melody..he will have many good nights out because of this!


"Should I or shouldnt I?"

Tayler and Chase playing (Tayler played so well and entertained all of the younger kiddos:)

Aunt Melody loving on Chase
YAY! Under Armour for mini marathon training! (from Melody)

Tayler, Jackson and Chase


Katie and Chase

Gigi, Tayler, Chris, Katie and Jackson

Dad and Melody were serious about their game of Risk

Katie and Jackson


Chase playing in his ball pit!

Jackson and Julia, so cute!

My sister Katie opening her sweater from Melody

Chase's new chair from Aunt Rachel
Lunch with the Hill's and Johnsons

Opening my boots from Brian!

Julia in her princess outfit we got her

Father/son love

Tayler lovin' his new sweater from Aunt Melody

Mandi and I Christmas day

Brian opening his PJ's Christmas Eve

My mom, Tayler, Melody and me

Tayler before opening his PJ's

Dad and Chase having a blast Christmas morning!

Chase and I

Brian as a sheperd at CPCC's nativity

Tayler giving his gift to Chase...so sweet!

Cousins, Addison and Ty with Chase on the Smart Toys cars

Julia and Chase playing!

Family playing Risk

Chase in his ball pit

Baking cookies with Daddy

Jackson and Chase

The family

We had a great Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we did our usual traditions. We opened Pj's, baked cookies and attended CPCC's service. This year, Brian acted as a sheperd in the live nativity. He tells a funny story about getting into character and reigning the sheep back in the stable...Oh Brian and his stories!

Christmas day, we woke up, opened gifts and enjoyed cinammon rolls. I did a lot of cooking for our lunch with the Hill's and Johnsons. We had a wonderful lunch and afterwards left for Knoxville.

In Knoxville, we saw everyone from my mom and dad to my aunt and cousins. It was a really good time. It was an awesome feeling to look around the room and see that everyone there was your family. We dont get that often. It seems as we are getting older, we are reconnecting with extended family and that is a great feeling.
We ended up catching a stomach bug at the end of the trip that was absolutely brutal but we are on the mend now.

How was your Christmas?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Training Update VII/update on Wed:125.8 this morning!


*This pic was taken at the resort after my run. If you compare to the next pic, you can see just how much working out makes a difference. We tried to take the below pic in this same outfit and it looked horrible! My stomach and legs looked completely different! Even though I am around the same weight, my body shape looked nothing like this pic!


*This pic was taken before Spinning class last night! It was great...I used to spin several times a week in college. Its so intense, I love it!




Cant believe this is my 7th post and I really havent gone down much since I started! In fact, this week, I went up 2-3 pds. I am working my way back down now and am 129.8 this morning. But, thats what happens when you eat lots of cookies and dont work out! With my foot injury, I took three weeks off. (I ran once a week each of those weeks) But I was working out 3-5 X a week. Anyhoo, I am pretty much freaking out and am determined to work out at least 4 X this week if not more. I did spinning last night, I am running tonight (we will see how that goes:), intervals and weights tomorrow night, possibly a class on Thursday, taking Friday off to travel, and Saturday running with my sister, Melody for the FIRST TIME! I am really excited about that!
Let me know how you are doing, what you are doing if anything! How are you losing/maintaining during the Holidays? My overall goal was to not gain during the Holidays or if I did, to not see 130 again...we will see how that goes! Brian has also gone up a few pounds! We cant lose sight NOW!!
On another note, I have been extremely nauseaus for almost two weeks. My stomach is bloated and burning (which could be partly responsible for why my body shape looked so different) I am concerned that maybe I have an ulcer or some sort of minor stomach bleeding from taking too much Advil over the years....It is so bad, it woke me up several times last night...if it doesnt go away soon, I will see the Dr. But, first I will try the simple approach. I am eliminating all Advil for a few days (and forever!) to see if it goes away soon.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The road that leads to Growth...




I struggle with what to name this post. But, God has been doing a work in me that I wanted to share. I want to share it because He alone gets the glory in it. He alone is the one who deserves all the credit. Not me. Not us.



Brian and I have experienced a really great week(s). I have found this particularly interesting as our outward circumstances would indicate that we should be really stressed. But instead, not only have our bonds been tighter, our overall countenance and attitudes have been good. We are listening to one another more, spending lots of quality time together and it seems truly enjoying one another's company. And although we should be burdened, it seems our loads are light. I havent been able to put my finger on what is different.



You see it all started with a "promotion".....For those of you who dont know, Brian is in Management and recently got the contract of seven more stores. He oversees a program in all of these major retailers across the State. (12 total) But with the exciting news, came a catch. He learned that once he got the additional stores, his commission would be eliminated and thus his pay would be cut in half. Sure there was potential to make six figures but that would take time, lots of time...



To go back a little further, when I stepped down from my part time job to stay at home in August, we were trusting for God to provide. We prayed and talked about this decision for six months before making it. I of course still write for the church (only 8 hrs a month) and work for Toasty Baby from home 10 hrs a week. This money helps with groceries and little things but Brian's income is our main source.



Once all of this happened with his job, we had a few responses. Fear, wanting to run, questioning ourselves, our calling, etc. And although, we are at a place where we could be questioning God, his providence, his faithfulness, it appears we have actually grown up a little bit. Instead, right now, we are content and trusting. Maybe the year of 2007 has something to do with this. Perhaps we have learned a thing or two since then.



Recently participaring in advent readings with our small group, we took part in an experiential exercise. There were a series of questions that if you answered yes to, you took a step forward. Things like, do you feel loved? Do you feel valued at work? Is there food in your refrigerator? etc. Once we all took several steps forward, Brian continued with the reading and told us that Jesus chose to walk the other way. As we are always striving for love, importance, wealth, validation, Jesus chose to walk away from what this world has to offer. He chose to come as a helpless baby, to be born in a smelly stable, with only a few people in attendance. He would be perceived as nothing, be betrayed by all of his closest friends. He would innocently die on a cross when he had all the rights to be King.



I was really touched by that. Over the last six months, God has been answering my questions of suffering and I think I understand for the first time this elementary teaching. "If we are to share in His glory, we must also share in His suffering." I finally get "IT" that we should expect suffering not run from it. And not only expect it, but consider it joy because with trials come perseverance and the working out of our faith. How can you have faith if it is never worked out?



We wonder what will happen...Will the position produce enough income in the right time frame? Will the position be eliminated with a new company coming onto the scene? Should he apply somewhere else? Will we lose our home?



But in the end, we know that God is in control. That He loves us and that we are his children. And just like Chase doesnt question our care for Him, we dont have to question God's for us. We can peacefully lie our heads down at night in complete trust.



Singing at church this morning, I put my finger on it. On what was different. I realized it was the JOY of the Lord. Joy isnt happiness based on circumstances....its the peace of God in your hearts...a contentedness. Joy is ruling in our hearts despite our outward circumstances. I know there are several people praying for us and for that I am so glad. But, I also sense that God has grown us, changed our hearts, released faith in us....that we are being sanctified.



We dont know what will happen in the next few months; but for right now, we have each other, our family, our awesome friends ..and most importantly we have God- the creator of the Universe -dwelling inside of us! And that alone, is ALL we need.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Training Update VI


There's really not much to update. Only worked out the one day last week. It ended up snowing and I just didnt want to go back out. It didnt help that the foot was flaring up.

As far as weight goes, I was 128.0 at the Dr. with clothes on, on Friday...so I was pretty stoked about that. So, my weight is around 127.0. I seriously want to lose a few pounds before Xmas but I am just not feelin' the discipline right now....once my foot was hurt, my motivation pretty much went out the window. I am going to run at least 3 X this week though...unless the foot prevents me. I am going tomorrow night, Thursday night and not sure what other day. Does anyone else use the exercise channel? I am thinking I might do Yoga on there. I just dont feel like getting out in the cold to go do Yoga....

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Snowy Day



Chase LOVES Tayler


The view outside our house



Chase was fascinated by the snow





Uncle Scott and Aunt Laurie know the good gifts to get!






Chase's new PJ's/ Snow Day outfit.



Thinks he's so sneaky...



Super Baby!