Batten down the hatches

I’ve gone and lost my mind.

Class starts back next Tuesday. I’m taking nine hours. Technically, I was taking 12 hours last semester, but I took a mini-session that lasted a week, so…over the course of the semester, I took nine hours. Same as now. I do have high hopes that this semester will be easier. In fact, apparently I got my hopes up SO HIGH that I took on a handful of projects that will take me right about through finals.

1. I’m running a half-marathon.

This one might actually keep me sane. However, it’s getting harder and harder for me to sleep at night, even after running five miles. Six puts me out; five does nothing anymore. Fantastic. I am thoroughly looking forward to joining the intramural center after the halfie, though, so I can swim more.

2. I started a team (of one) for the American Cancer Society.

This was part of my New Year’s Resolution. I am participating in the Relay for Life, but, as you can see, I have a team of me. Yes, you can spell “me” using “team,” but I’d rather have more people. So if you read this and want to sign up…PLEASE DO!! And if you want to donate money to an amazing cause…PLEASE DO!

3. I agreed to chair a writing contest for Junior Auxiliary.

At first, I was thinking, “CAKE WALK.” I mean, pul-heaze, I teach writing, for heaven’s sake. But there are other things to coordinate that I am not talented in – prizes, fliers, speaking in public, oh, my! I have a super awesome co-chair for this project, though, AND have received a lot of information and support from last year’s chair, which have been the only reasons why I’m not breathing in a paper bag right now.

4. Did I mention I’m taking nine hours? Yeah, “smart”…

5. I’m presenting two research papers and going to a total of three conferences in the next three months.

February –conference

March – conference (presenting paper – written)

April – conference (presenting paper – haven’t written)

I’ve gone and lost my mind.

In happier news, I’ve accomplished six of the seven “to do” items on my agenda for today…

*UPDATE: My aunt is currently en route to Chicago to the Cancer Treatment Center. She has her first appointment tomorrow.*

Today is full of hope

I was quite concerned about the beginning of 2011. To be honest, I still am.

We received gut-wrenching news right after Christmas – my aunt, my mother’s baby sister, has cancer.

It still hurts to see it in words.

Since then, we’ve enlisted much needed prayer warriors across multiple states to help, and I hope you will, too. She’s going to the Cancer Treatment Center near Chicago on Tuesday, so if any of you live around there, please let me know. It’s just nice to know that someone I know, even in the bloggy world, is close to my Southern-born-and-raised aunt. Thank God for Facebook. One of my high school friends lives less than 25 miles from the Center, which is a blessing just to know that, even though this friend and my aunt have never met, she is there, too.

But, despite the fact that she quickly got into this great place, I was still mournful most of this week. The sermons on Sunday really spoke to me, and I tried to take comfort in them.  

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

The joy of the Lord is our strength; there is hope in today. Our sins separate us from God, and, yes, we have endured suffering, but our faith is forward-looking. We have hope.

It is still hard; don’t get me wrong. It’s hard to have faith when loved ones suffer. But sometimes, all we need is some good news to remind us that God is still at work in our world. I had that break yesterday with two rounds of absolutely awesome news – miracles, both of them. I’m overcome with emotion with what God is doing in my life and the lives of those close to me.

There is hope in today. I pray my aunt grows closer in the Lord and, selfishly, that God completely removes the cancer in a way that gives glory specifically to Him. I want the doctors and all those who come in contact with my aunt to see God work in her physically and emotionally.

Already we have been blessed with the amount of prayer that has been lifted up to God for her. To know that we have friends who are praying for her means so much to us and to her. Every day I call my mom with news: “She’s been lifted up by this church…by this Sunday School class…by these people.” I am so grateful for the people in my life.

My aunt is a fighter. My grandmother, her mother, has beaten cancer three times. But, friends, continue to pray for her and for my family. It’s hard to endure.

But we have hope in today. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

2010 recap

2010, you were quite a year.

As I looked over this blog from the last year, I noticed a decrease in posts from about July onward – not surprising, as I was taking 12 hours a semester. That was to be expected.

What I did find surprising, however, was how much I had forgotten in such a short time.

Therefore, without further ado, personal highlights from 2010:

* Husband was offered his dream internship for his counseling master’s degree. It was an answer to our prayers and still is.

* The family Chihuahua, Che-che, turned 16. She will turn 17 March 26.

* We got a new car!! (See right.)

* Our Twentysomethings Sunday school class merged with the Thirtysomethings – and now we have an active Pathfinders class!

* My BR cousin and his wife had their first child, a son; and my Memphis cousin and his wife adopted a little boy.

* Our good friends S and T married in New Orleans, and we both were attendants in the wedding.

* Rin and I ran our first half marathon in New Orleans with a time of 2:49:07. While she will be unable to participate in the one next month, she is looking forward to getting back in the running game soon.

* I ran my first trail run, the KD Shamrock Trail Run, with a time of 35:40. It wasn't what I wanted, but I still felt accomplished after it.

* Attempted to complete a triathlon – biked inside (and got a new road bike).

* Ran the Peach Festival 5k and had a PR – 31:30.

* Started training for my second halfie (which will be in February).

* Husband ran his first 5K for the American Cancer Society with a time of 36:30.

* Ran my first 10K, the Autumn Breeze, with a time of 1:05:13.

* Hurt my ankle – my first runner’s injury – but learned a lot about patience and keeping God the Lord of my life, not running.

* After many months of prayer, my academic council approved my Plan of Study.

* Started and finished my residency between June and December and didn't kill anyone.

* The Saints won the Super Bowl!!!

Despite the changes I feel are coming with 2011, with God, I am ready.

I'm dreaming of a break for Christmas

The next two hours are going to be the longest two of my life.

No, scratch that. Tomorrow, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m….those will be the longest hours of my life.

There comes a point in collegiate teaching where you don’t have to teach class anymore…you have high hopes of making lecture notes over Christmas break…and you’re frankly just ready to go home. I reached that point around noon today. Technically, I reached it at 4 p.m. yesterday, when my class ended.

I actually have a couple of things left to accomplish. But they’re small, mundane items that will take about two hours to accomplish. And, as I will need something to do tomorrow, they can obviously wait.

I want to go home and bake. It’s almost Christmas, and I want to bake. I actually have a list, to be honest:

* Gingerbread biscotti

* This delicious-looking peppermint pie

* A chocolate pecan pie (which will be made Sunday)

* Sugar cookies with frosting

* Dinner tonight (BBQ cups – ask me for the recipe! I’ll be happy to give it to you!)

This is coupled with the fact, I’m sure, that I am resting my *^&%^#$ ankle until Monday. No exercise. And, on Monday morning, if that #@$%^* ankle is still hurting after I “test run” it, I’m going to see a doctor. Hopefully, though, rest, ice, elevation, and ibuprofen are all that is needed. We shall see.

As a late Tinsel Vixen report, I gained a pound back. No surprise there with a trip to see my family and lots of good food and a lack of exercise. I’m just thankful it was only a pound! (And, as I weighed at night and not at lunch time, there *might* be a slight difference. MIGHT.)

Sigh. One hour and 55 minutes to go. And then eight hours tomorrow.

BRING ON CHRISTMAS BREAK!

 (Christmas card picture taken by Donald Page)

‘Hood checkup

Well, I feel this week has been a success. I lost 2.8 lbs this week – not sure how that’s possible, but maybe all that healthy eating has caught up with me. Finally. 'Course, now all I want is a Little Debbie Christmas tree cake.

I’m planning on trying to run tomorrow morning. I’ve been cycling constantly, and I did weights, but now it’s time to get back to bizness. I miss feeling accomplished with a good, strong run. However, I have been extremely happy with getting on the exercise bike inside, so running outside is not going to be a fun experience for me. And when you’re alternative is a treadmill, it’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Other than that, this week has been revival week at our church. Can I just say for a moment how much I love our church? Last night was Youth Emphasis Night, and more than 300 students from area schools came out for free pizza and to hear the message. THEN more than 116 of those students went forward, and 80 of them accepted Christ as Savior! Hooray!!!

The sweetest moment of the night came before I even stepped foot in church, though. Tonight, see, we’re having a steak dinner before revival, and we all had to purchase tickets for the meal. I was walking in with three high school students and an older couple, and the husband of the couple tapped one of the boys on the shoulder and said, “Hey, we’re having a steak dinner tomorrow night. Here are some tickets for you and your friends to come again tomorrow.”

It just made me smile to see that. Another lady, after receiving steak tickets from another member, told me, “Everyone is just so kind at this church.” It’s nice to see that after all the religious scandals that make headlines and seemingly endless local bitterness that some people still have a positive view on church and, most importantly, on God.

So that’s my update. Let’s hope tomorrow is a running day!

The Injury

It’s not even a “real” injury. A “real” injury is when I can’t walk, period. Or when it hurts to walk. No, this one just kicks in after I’ve run about a half a mile.

Stupid ankle injury.

I have no idea how I hurt my ankle or what is actually hurt. It’s my right, inner ankle bone, and it’s right on the bone. It hurts when I press it. Found that one out in church yesterday. Yeah, smart, I know. Let’s press what hurts.

When Kelsey and I ran our 10k back in October, I hurt it then. The sidewalk was a bit sideways, and I don’t know if I pulled/strained/stretched or what, but it started hurting. But it was fine in my next run. But this Friday it kicked back up again. I ran five miles Friday, which was a mistake for multiple reasons. Reason 1: I didn’t have my route memorized, so I had to double back once to get it right. Reason 2: I didn’t wear my blister-preventing socks because “five miles isn’t a lot!” so now I have blisters. Reason 3: My ankle started killing me.

I supposedly stayed off it Saturday. Translation: I just walked for two hours up hills – no running needed. However, it did not hurt once.

I iced it multiple times Saturday night and Sunday morning in preparation for a eight or nine mile run. I could feel that it was still tender, but, since I’m not sure what caused it, I thought that it just needed to be stretched out or strengthened through running (As I’ve asked pretty much everyone’s opinion on the subject of hurt ankles, one of the schools of thought is that I have weak ankles.).

We had to walk a lot because of me. By Mile 3, when we were walking uphill, Kelsey asked, “Is your ankle hurting?”

“Yeah, a bit.”

“I can tell. You’re limping.”

Well, poo.

I hadn’t realized I was limping. When she said that, it finally clicked: I need rest.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

One of the worst things you can tell a runner is not to run. Indefinitely (though I’ll probably try again Wednesday – and if it starts hurting, I promise to stop). Especially one training for a dadgum half-marathon.

So guess what’s about to become my best friend? A stationary bike. And ice.

I do see benefits to a hopefully short hiatus, though. First, our revival started yesterday and goes through Wednesday. So I can go to the revival and not worry, “Okay, am I running before or after revival? Should I wear my running clothes there? Where should we run, since it’ll be dark?” That’s not an option right now.

Also, Hubby and I saw Rindy and her husband last night, and I gave her the bad news about my ankle. As soon as I got finished, my husband started in.

“Okay, we’ve GOT to run this week, even if it’s at 5:30 a.m.,” he said seriously. “And we’re going out of town this weekend, so we need to be accountable and run on our own, too. We don’t have much time before this half-marathon, and we need to get into shape.”

I think I might have swooned.

Holiday hoedown update

Meant to update this last week, but when your boss lets you off work basically a day early, everything else takes a backseat to relaxing. ;)

SO. Let's do a two week recap, shall we?

First, let's talk about eating. While I'm still snacking on chocolate and everything else sweet that I can lay my hands on, I have been eating my three fruits/veggies a day. Some days I thank God for V8, though, because that's sometimes the best I can do.

We also added a goal of drinking 8 glasses of water a day. I hit this on most days because I drink a lot of water anyway. I've been doing it since high school, so this one is easy to fix.

Exercise: 3x/30 mins. I've done well on this, exceeding most of the time because a) sometimes when I run, it's only 2 miles, and I want to hit that 30 min mark and b) I run a lot. However, I've been doing other exercises more, like weights and biking, which has been a nice, easy change from the running. HOWEVER, I've completed an eight-mile route twice in the past two weeks (I actually ran 10 miles total on Sunday), but I want my "everyday" runs to get longer. It's just so hard to do that with work, school, blah.

What's funny is my weight, though. After the first week, I GAINED 1.9 lbs. EEK!! But that's okay, because I actually weighed myself at a different time the second go-around, so I feel that had a LOT to do with it. This week, I weighed myself at lunch (like the first week) and (ahem) gained .7 lb from when we first started this challenge. Fan-stinking-tastic.

I'm not weight-obsessed; I'm really not. And I'm starting to realize that my diet needs to change, and that's happening, so I'm holding out hope that within the next few weeks, I can go a little lower on that weight. =)