Running = Overcoming

Running is a challenge for me. Always has been, most likely always will be. I was not made to be a runner. I have pretty short legs... this makes running difficult for me. However, last week I decided short legs were not an excuse. I ran every morning last week, for at least 30 minutes. I overcame one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced. Overcoming this challenge made me overcome other challenges in my life, too. I began a new routine last week of waking up every morning to workout and then doing a morning devotional. I was a different person. I was incredibly energetic & productive. I was more loving. I was a better person.

It is interesting to me how long I struggled with making working out a part of my normal routine. I know I should, I know how to, I just never wanted to. The last 6 pounds of baby weight finally got to me. I needed to lose those last six pounds so that I could move past the baby weight and focus on getting myself to my ideal weight. I am well on my way, now, thanks to a God who does not give up on me even if I give up on myself. All week, when I did not want to work out, there was a little voice inside of me saying I needed to... and more importantly... that I could.

So today was day #1 of the second week of my routine. I woke up, fed Katie, went to Reid Park, and started walking. About 10 minutes into the walk, I felt a little push from the Lord to start running. AND I RAN! I ran for 50 minutes straight. I loved every second of it, too. I felt so good and so incredibly proud of myself.

I have overcome!! It might seem like a small victory, but I know now that I am capable of being the person I always wanted to be. I am a new woman. A refreshed woman.

So after my run, I did my devotion...and this is what the Lord had for me today.
"Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you... humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up" (4:7,10). I have been lifted up. Praise God for this faithfulness, even in the small things... like running.

It has been forever since I updated...

Well it has been almost a year since I updated our blog. I guess you can say we have been a little busy. The last time I wrote we were 20 weeks pregnant... now our beautiful gift from the Lord, our daughter Katie, is almost 6 months old. What a wonderful 6 months is has been. Katie was born a healthy baby girl on 12-8-09 at 9:57 PM. She was 7 lbs 0.4 oz.

Since December 8, Ryan and I have learned a new kind of love. We have learned a love that surpasses all we ever though possible, both for one another and for our daughter. What was once a small "gummy bear" inside of mommy is now a healthy, beautiful, happy little girl and we are in constant awe of the blessing she has been to us. Katie is a sweet little girl with a smile that lights up a room. She has big blue eyes that will just melt your heart. Lately, she has discovered her feet, the fact that we pick up toys off the floor when she throws them down, and that she actually does like to sleep... even if that is not how she felt initially :)

I am hoping to keep up on this blog now that we are settled in and used to the new life. I have been working on a lot of things lately, both in the house and in my personal life. Getting in the Word, working out, eating healthier, and attempting to be a good wife/ mother every day. I am thankful to the Lord for helping me with this, because for so long, I tried it on my own. Now I know I am incapable and unable to love well, be patient, and keep up on life without completely relying on the Lord. I am so thankful for that.

I have grown as a woman of God in being a mommy. I have been reading in James lately and I was incredibly struck by the truth behind the verse that says "Every good and perfect gift is from above". This made me realize a couple of things. 1) that our children are a GIFT from the Lord. 2) Our children are from above. The Lord entrusts us with our children, but they ultimately are the Lord's. This has increased my prayer life ten fold. My prayers always seemed selfish, but now I cannot get through an hour without praying about something in regards to my daughter. Whether it be for patience for myself when she is having a little meltdown, or when I look into her eyes and only want the best for her in her life. I absolutely adore her.

It's late and I'm tired. I will post more often now. I am looking forward to sharing my life and thoughts with anyone who reads this.