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Showing posts from July, 2016

Training Week 3: Family & the County Fair

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We  survived savored another crazy week in July! My husband's parents live 1,748 miles away and we were so blessed to have them stay with us this week. Time flies too fast when spending time with family and it was hard to see them leave on Friday. The days seemed like a blur and my in-laws were so helpful during their visits. I was even able to mow the lawn in peace while Grandma played with the boys. Who would have thought lawn mowing could be so fun?! We spent Thursday at the county fair in my hometown and that was a bunch of fun jam-packed into one day. After early lunch at the fair, we toured the animal barns, exhibits and children's barn. Now E thinks we need a bunny... I have mixed feelings on that idea. E went on a bunch of rides (mainly the same 4 kiddy rides over and over and over again) and we all baked in the hot sun. Ice cream, folk music and then the drive home. The kids were asleep before we even made it out of town. I love the county fair but one fair

Training Week 2: Free Week + Compression Wear

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July is CRAZY! Seriously, July has got it going on. I feel very thankful for that.... and slightly frazzled. The week itself has been rainy but the kids and I did sneak in some gardening time. Our spinach was ready for its first harvest and the garden was a jungle in need of weeding. E said he wants to be a "master gardener" when he grows up! Spinach fresh from the garden just tastes SO much better... On Friday, we hit the road for a camping and wedding adventure and, honestly, marathon training had to go on pause. So, yes, this was a "free week" for training. With all of the wedding stuff going on and not having a super safe route to run on, I thought it was best to put things (mainly a 16-mile run) on hold for the weekend. The wedding was beautiful and truly God-centered. Marriage is under heavy attack in our country and I feel so blessed and encouraged to see godly marriages beginning and then being lived out for God's glory! "Love must be

The Taste and See Devotional by John Piper {Book Review}

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This is my favorite view in the morning—Bible cracked open, hot coffee with cream and the Taste and See devotional by John Piper. (Don't get me wrong, I love waking up to the faces of my family but I do my best to be up before the party starts!) The Taste and See devotional is written by respected author and theologian,  John Piper . He has been the Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1980. I really have admired his messages and writing in the past and this book certainly followed suit. In the preface of this book, Piper states, "The best writers intensify our taste of the Bible, and especially for God himself." He was referring to John Edwards' effect on his life and I find that to be true of this book as well. Through the sharing of experiences, anecdotes and references to Scripture, Taste and See allows the reader to savor God's omnipotence, the beauty of His Word and the sweetness of His prom

Training Week 1: First/Last 5k for 2016

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This past week felt extraordinarily long even though it was "short" with the 4th of July on Monday. Lots of fun but I'm okay with the week being over and a new one beginning. One surprise for the week was that I raced a 5k on Saturday! The original plan was to walk/run the 1-mile with our 3 year old but he ditched me to ride in the Kiddie Parade later that day instead. For the first time in 3 years , my husband was able to be home for our town's yearly festival! It was great to enjoy the weekend with him; he cheered me on in the race and I was able to race without the double stroller. Having him here with the kids, Grandma and I was the best. Here goes the world's shortest race recap: I had no plan except to run hard and spend most of the 3.1 miles in the anaerobic pain cave. The morning was a little warm and humid (for MN) and I was very thankful for the early start of the race. Per my watch, the mile/pace breakdown happened like so: Mile 1 - 6:30 M

How Far Would You Run For Ice Cream?

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I hope you had an amazing Fourth of July!  We are blessed with so much freedom in this country and it is truly something that shouldn't be taken for granted. I am proud to be an American—one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! Today has been somewhat of a "recovery day" from our camping trip and a jump back into normal life. Before I share a few adventure pictures I have to ask... How far would you run for ice cream? I am SO thankful to have an active family! Seriously, watching our herd fly down the bike path brought me so much joy. With three long boarders, three bikers, one jogging stroller pusher and two little passengers, we were like a mini parade. After a 10-mile long run on Saturday, we headed out on one more trek, this time to stop at the ice cream shop. We were all pretty well spent by that point but we covered the 2.6 miles there to get that ice cream. The ice cream was well worth it! So maybe our gigantic chocolate