Training

Running is challenging. It's a battle of the mind. It's not so much a physical game, but a training of will power, a drive to keep moving.

There are some mornings that I wake up, put on my tennis shoes, and take off, knowing that a solid run is ahead of me. Other mornings, I feel like Elmer's glue trying to peel myself out of the bed. My legs feel like they have lead inside them, and each step takes all the strength I have.

Despite the kind of morning I feel when I wake up, I know that the run is necessary, a jump start to the rest of my day, and a goal I must meet. It's on those mornings when my legs feel like lead that I have to push myself the most. Yet when I reach my goal, I grin with pride. Pushing myself past the point of comfortable, even through pain, I finished the run. It's not by my own strength...surely I know that. Only through The Lord's encouragement and refreshment am I able to make it through those tough runs, and it is for His glory that He gives me that strength.

Praise The Lord that He gives us the things we need to accomplish the goals He has laid before us! What a Mighty God we serve!

Gardening

Sometimes, The Lord closes a window in our lives so that He can open a new door for us to look out. It may not be pleasant to close the window, but when we can finally look out of the new door that He has opened for us, we realize the wonderful reason why He was longing us to look at a new view.

For a while now, I've been looking out one window in "my house," enjoying the view of wildflowers and dandelions. I've had some wonderful laughs and memories from this window, but The Lord helped me to realize that it was time for me to take a look from another door: The front door of "my house." How is it that I've been missing this view for so long?

I had become so distracted by the beautiful view from the window, that I forgot to be experiencing life from my front door, the place that The Lord has been longing for me to return to. What a blessing that He closed the side window to bring me back to the center of my world, my relationship with Christ.

I'm so excited to be looking out the front door, helping My Savior work in the flower beds and pull up the weeds that have collected in my life. What a Great Friend He is to take this special time with me, working in the dirt, to create a more beautiful expression of His glory through my life.

chocolate

Tonight, I gave in. It was just one of those nights.

The Working World

I'm sitting now in the MSU athletic office...actually in MY office, with a view! My own computer, nice big desk, and a wall of windows looking out over the lake. (It's not technically my office, but will be until a position is filled and shifts me to the cubicle.) :)

I started my new GA job today and I think it is going to be so much fun! I have been here since 10 this morning, and this is now 5pm, so my four hour work day has turned into seven! But I love it!

My cousin Steven, who found this great job for me, works in the same office, and was so sweet to drag me around this morning so meet what seemed like the entire campus faculty, though it was only a small portion! I am quite overwhelmed, but everyone is SO sweet and hilarious! It's a great atmosphere! (I got to see the football team working out and saw Coach Dan and lots of other cool people!)
Blah blah blah...to many details... I'm just bored now because my boss is in a meeting and I don't have anything to do!

My job is to basically be a personal assistant to my boss, who is great. I get to walk around with a calendar and clipboard and make sure that she makes it to all her meetings and all the events get planned! What fun!

This makes me ready for school to start and for football season! Go Dawgs!

The Sweet Life

The other day, The Lord knew that I needed a refresher lesson in who to put first in my life. Sometimes, this can be a hard lesson to learn, but necessary, nonetheless. There are lots of things that sneak into my life to distract me, and then The Lord has to come in and gently remind me to place my eyes back on Him.
Why am I so stubborn in continuing to make this mistake over and over? My heart wants to obey so badly, but my flesh sometimes gets in the way. I know that the more I walk with Jesus everyday, the easier it will become to keep my focus on Him. This is when we taste of the sweet life!
What a delightful peace comes when we know we are walking rightly with The Lord. He is the giver of all things good, even gentle reminders, and for that I am eternally thankful.

Watching Grass Grow

Summer School was over early last week. Fall class doesn't start until next week. And I'm in Starkville, just filling time with anything I can come up with.

1. Moved my furniture into my apartment- dealing with the mustard yellow walls.
2. Read The Help- loved it.
3. Organized Children's books on the bookshelf :)
4. Painted toenails- Dim Sum Plum
5. Made Homemade Pizza
6. Re-potted plants
7. Went to a Rehearsal Dinner with Luke
8. Ran into Marathon Makeover Runners Sat. Morning
9. Made friends with our new cat, Eliza (Doolittle)
10. Hung a picture collage in bedroom


Homemade Pizza is SO much better than store bought.
-two packages Great Value pizza dough- just add water
-small can tomato sauce
-pizza seasoning
-turkey peperoni
-mozzarella cheese
-fresh tomatoes
-whatever other toppings you desire!


This is such a quick and easy recipe! Yummy too!

Tomorrow's Project:
- getting copies of old pictures I found in our attic of my parents when they were dating! Anniversary gift?

Happy Birthday to my brother Benton! I Love you so much, little brother! I'm excited about us being in Starkville together this year.

Later Tater! :)