Run. Stop.

Two thousand fourteen, resolution number four.
Become a runner.
My intention was to be careful and avoid injury.
But I am of the Mark Pauls family. One of the things that we seem to be born with is a competitive nature. That competitiveness drove me to become one of those "all in or all out" types which can be both a very good, and a very bad thing. This attitude became a big problem when it came to the runner that I wanted to become.

I didn't listen to what my body was telling me, pushed myself to hard, and managed to get myself injured with what I thought was shin splints.
Since we are a active family and playing sports together in summertime becomes a daily event, I knew I wasn't going to quickly heal from this "minor injury". So I decided to suck it up and just keep on running.
Mistake number two.

To make a long story short, through research I have determined that I do not have the symptoms of shin splints as I had previously assumed, rather of tibia stress fractures. Not only that, I have somehow managed to acquire a new injury in my foot, which demands rest.
So I stop, until healed.
Which will make it impossible to compete in the "Thanks for Giving Run" this year, and I will also be unable to complete my marathon training.
(Which makes me sad. But I'll get over it.)

Even though the "running season" ended in a sour note, and I did not end up running any of the races that I had intended, I did learn a lot.
I learned about different paces that aid to reduce risk of injury and completely shifted my training method.
I learned that speed coupled with endurance is not always necessary to build strength for the long run (I don't always have to run 5k pace!).
I learned that there are different types of runs, (recovery runs, long runs, threshold runs, interval runs, steady runs ect.) and each of them are fun!
I also learned to increase quantity, running up to 8 times and 40 miles a week.

I did become the runner that I have always wanted to be, maybe not the way that I wanted to... but still, a runner.

Now, as wintertime swiftly approaches and racing season comes to an end, I determine to get back in to the activity I have learned to love once I am again in running shape.
Becoming therefore one step closer to being the woman I know I was created to be.

I'll Dream For You

School is beginning again. And again there are those moments that find me sitting at a table supervising school work. Idle hands itching to write.

So I write, maybe about nothing at times. 

Maybe about certain subjects that are being laid on my heart. 

Maybe about frustrations, dreams and aspirations. 

Maybe there will be no words, but a lone picture.

Whatever the case, there will likely be more posts popping up on this my internet space, more often as the school year progresses.

Today I share a song that has been one of my favourites since I heard if for the first time one harvest evening spent in the grain truck with my big brother.

It speaks to my current inner struggles, and shares a message that stills my soul.

I have dreams, but God's dreams for me are so much bigger. Even just knowing that is enough.

She did it again!

See this beautiful girl?

She is responsible for the new blog design that you are now beholding!

Isn't it amazing? Isn't she amazing?

(thank you Megs! I love, love... love it!!)

At the Moment

Waking up in the morning, beginning an new day.
Most of us, myself included, go about our day giving no thought to the possibility of a sharp turn in the road of life.

But the moment that you hear of a car accident that a friend was in, or that heart stopping incident in which your brother was inches away from being hit by a falling auger, something changes.
Instead of just living the moments as if you will have a lifetime of them to hold, you are treasuring each moment as if it was your last, or the last with those that you love.
The common expression "Live every day as if it was your last" becomes more then just a saying, it becomes a heart beat.

I wonder why it takes a tragedy, or an almost tragedy for us to remember that the only real guarantee we have is that God holds our tomorrow?
Though there is an overwhelming sense of peace in that knowledge, the truth is, WE don't know what lies ahead in our everyday. Today could be the day that life changes forever.
The question then becomes, do we want to experience regret at the end of this day? Or do we want to have the satisfaction of knowing that today we put forth an effort to be the best version of ourselves for God and for the people we love?
Those things that you want to say to someone, or that something that you felt God is calling you to do... don't put it off any longer, because we don't know how much longer we have.

Today I am going to remember the fragility of life.
Not in a worrisome, fearful way.
Rather in a way that opens my heart to love big and live better, bringing glory to the name of Christ.

Mom's Day

Today we celebrate the birthday of a very special woman.

My mom.

Any person that really knows her, would acknowledge how privileged they are to have her in their lives.

She is a treasure of grace, strength, compassion, wisdom and has one of the biggest hearts of anyone that I know. She holds so many close in the love that she is ever willing to share.

As a child I loved, adored and looked up in admiration to her. 

Those feelings do not diminish with each year that goes by, but rather become stronger as I gain the knowledge that comes from the passage of time.

Then my mom. Someone I went to for the love and comfort that only one with that title can provide.

Now, not only mom, also my inspiration, confidant and best friend.

I love you mom, and hope that you have the happiest of birthdays!