Just keep running...

Here is the view that I see every day that I run. Yes, I am a runner. It used to be my joke that I say the only way I was running, would be if someone was chasing me. Now I have gotten accustomed to running everyday, at 7a.m., starting at the beginning of this month. Watching the Biggest Loser this season has been a good motivator to keep on keeping on! I want to be disciplined and self-controlled, so I desire to say with Paul,

“ 23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:23-27

Here are some sights/smells that I have come to love to encounter:

- The sunrise that greets me as I get over the hill (which I affectionately call to as “the Beast” :))

- The llamas that I see as I run over the peak of the hill. It always seems to me that they are looking at me, wanting to say, “What exactly are you doing?”

-The exhaust fumes of the 2 school buses that bring me back to riding the bus in middle school

- The old man who occasionally walks with the biggest headphones I have ever seen. We just wave because I know there’s no way that he could hear me with those things on!

-The elderly lady that is either coming out to get the paper or sitting outside under her car port talking on the phone with an old friend

- My next door neighbor, who is in his 60’s. I usually am on my way back while he is coming up, but he runs faster than I do and always passes me on the way down. In my defense, he doesn’t run as far as I do. We always comment on the weather and he told me that he used to be the electrician for Pine Cove.

-There are thankfully no yapping dogs- the only dog that I see is behind a gate and he is free to yap there.

I am up to running up to 2 ½ miles, with quite ease. My roomies just signed up for the White Rock ½ marathon, and are encouraging/slight pressuring me to sign up. I think I am going to sign up today. I can’t believe I am going to do this!! Quite honestly, it has NEVER been a goal of mine to run a half. When my other friends have done it, I always thought, “That’s good for you, just not for me”. So this will be a stretch for me, but I do desire to be healthy and it will be a neat illustration of finishing something that I started. AND it is good because I have other friends who will encourage me to do it when the going gets tough. Nevertheless, it will be interesting and an adventure!

Jenny's Triathlon

Jenny competed in her second triathlon and I had the chance to be at both of them! She decided that she would do it last minute. She is a very good swimmer, and has been running and after attempting to bike, realized that she could put all 3 of them together and compete!
She swam the 650 m in 12 minutes
She biked 14-15 miles in 58 minutes
She ran the 5k in 31 minutes. Well done Jenny!

Here are the fans of the day: Jenn, Ally, Holly and myself. It rained the whole time and that made it pretty frigid. We endured and was determined to cheer Jenny on to victory!

Jenny crossing the finish line! Way to go, Jenny! I'm so proud of you!

Jenny right before the race and as cool as a cucumber!

24"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. " 1 Cor 9:24-26

Starting the last couple of weeks ago, I committed to get up and run and/or strength workouts Monday- Friday to be in the discipline of self-control and getting my body into shape. By God's grace I have gotten up in the morning to do just that. I hope I can make this into a habit. It really is a great way to start off the day in prayer. This was definitely great motivation to continue on!

Cory & Kristin's wedding

Kristin and her bridesmaids




This was right before the wedding; I remember fighting back tears even then!




7"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." Rev 19:7

There is nothing better than having a twin! And not only that but to have an amazing twin like Cory!!



Ok, I am the first to admit that I have majorly slacked off and not doing posts for close to a year now. Yikes! But with the changing of the season, I am reasolved to start anew and begin again. What better way than to do just that wit my twin brother's wedding!


Cory & Kristin got married on August 29, 2009. It was seriously one of my top favorite weddings. Kristin was the calmest bride EVER and it's not not everyday that your twin brother marries your best friend. It was a definition of a divine appointment when at freshmen orientation, me and my freshmen roommate, Julie Autrey, first meet Kristin, Katie McGowan & Lauren Baker while we are waiting in line!


I've got to admit that I have been praying for a long, long time for the woman Cory was going to marry, because I didn't want it to be someone that would just run all over Cory. Little did I know that God was preparing Cory for Kristin and vice-versa. And now my best friend from college is also my sister-in-law! I couldn't be luckier!! Here are a few pics from the wedding- I thought it was the photographers job to take most of it and me just to have fun! :)

I've Been Tagged!

Last month I was tagged by my favorite sis, Angie, tagged me on coming up with 6 interesting facts about me. I am just getting around to it (or procrastinating- you decide).

It's goes something like this: Link the person who tagged you, mention the rules, tell 6 quirky yet boring unspectacular things about yourself, tag six other bloggers by linking them, and then go to each person's blog and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged.

Here it goes:

1) If you know me well, and have driven with me around town, you will know that I do not like to go the same that I came. I honestly don't know where this quirk came from except I think that I had on the radio once that it is not good for you to drive the same routine day after day because your brain goes on autopilot. I also like variety and what I call "controlled change."

With that being said...

2) I also do not like to wear my hair the same way 2 days in a row. Weird, I know. I am very aware that 99.9% of people never take notice about me and I could care less if they do or don't because I do it for me, not other people. So, this means I could wear my hair straight and down one day, half up half down the next, curly next day and the day after in a ponytail. It brings variety. And some days I wear my hair the same way as I did the day before, because that in itself, is different. (When I did that one day, my friend Julie said "Wait, you can't do that!" I replied "Yes, I can! It's my quirk, so I can decide how it's done!" :)

3) I love to sing! I am an alto through and through and really only hear the harmony in most songs. I miss being in choir (I was in choir starting in middle school and all the way through high school) and wishes that there would be some sort of choir that I could be a part of. Maybe in a later chapter of my life I will be able to again! :)

4) One of my life goals is to be able to play the piano proficiently. I played for a few years in elementary years and I was not very disciplined in practicing every week. When I decided that I wanted to quit, my mom said that when I was older, I would regret, and you know what? I do!

5) Here are a couple of my "simple joys":

- I love to take hot bubble baths. It is very relaxing to me and I try to take one once a week.

- There is nothing like a Sunday nap!

- I love to read! I prefer non-fiction over fiction. A few of my favorite authors are Andrew Murray, Dallas Willard and Henri Nouwen.

6) Since of the age of 12, I have felt called to do missions. I didn't know when or where, I just knew that at some point in the course of my life I would be going long term to share Christ's love through my life to people, children, and families. I am drawn to the outcast and the poor. I am trying to quickly pay off my my student loan and car payment so that I will be debt free. I am less than a year away from that becoming reality and I am currently be at the beginnings of looking at what my options are in regards to what organizations I could go through for missions. Please join me in prayer as I start making my dream become a reality and all the many details that come with it. May God continually be magnified and glorified!

Well, those are some random things about me. Thanks for reading! I am now tagging: Joanna, Michelle, Lauren, & Darcie. Have fun, ladies! Love y'all!

Time brings change, and change takes time

Rolling River God Little Stones are smooth Only once the water passes through So I am a stone rough and grainy still Trying to reconcile this river's chill
CHORUS: But when I close my eyes and feel you rushing by I know that time brings change and change takes time And when the sunset comes my prayer would be just this one that you might pick me up and notice that I am just a little smoother in your hand
Sometimes raging wild sometimes swollen high never have I known this river dry The deepest part of you is where I want to stay and feel the sharpest edges wash away

River God by Nicole Nordeman

"7How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. 8They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. " Psalm 36:8

"4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. " Psalm 46:4

2"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3"For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" Isaiah 43:2-3

10"Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her;Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her...12For thus says the LORD, "Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; Isaiah 66:10,12

This is what the Lord has been teaching me since August: He gave me a word picture of a river- a time of transition and transformation. The river signifies change and I knew it would be coming and He is so good to me b/c He knows I don't like change, and now 2 months later this change is happening. In His Word where there is a river, there is joy and delight. And while at the moment, the change has brought sadness and hurt, I know that as I cling to the Lord for strength, that there will be joy- if I allow the joy of the Lord to be my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

With a heavy heart

My heart, along with the rest of the Pine Cove family's heart is very heavy and saddened. Let me set up the story...
Andy and Connie Tate was a part of the Pine Cove Family for quite some time. Connie had married Andy and had 2 boys, Aaron and Nicholas, from her previous marriage. Even though Andy was not their biological father, he treated the boys as his own.
Mr. Andy worked at Pine Cove in maintenance and was handy in woodworking, making gifts out of wood to the people he loved. He also had a green thumb and it seemed like everything he touched flourished.
Ms Connie started working in HR at Pine Cove a few months after I started working full time. We were in the office building and it was obvious how proud and in love she was with her husband, beaming everytime she spoke of him.
On January 1, 2006 Andy died in a car accident on his way to go hunting. The car burst in flames when another car collided with his.Everyone was completely devastated for Connie and the boys, and walked alongside them in the stages of grief. Connie 6 months later left Pine Cove, wanting to get her massage therapy liscense so that she could do healing with her hands. But even with her leaving, the Pine Cove family kept close tabs of Connie and the boys.
This past Monday the boys, now 14 and 16, were on their way to school when suddenly, Aaron lost control and hit a ravine and their car bursted into flames with the boys trapped inside, causing their death.
When I heard the news, it was like someone punched me in the stomach and took the breath out of me. Why, Lord? Why- not even 3 years later would you take Connie's 2 boys away- the exact way that Andy died?
Many prayers have been offered up and many tears have been shed this week. I am thankful that the Lord is big enough to take my questions, anger, frustration and every other emotion that I have experienced this week. I know I serve a God of all comfort, a God who is intimately acquainted with grief, a God of hope.
Please be in prayer for Ms. Connie. She has a long road ahead of her. The wound that had just begun healing now has now just been gashed open again. Pray that loved ones will surround her- not trying to attempt to give her answers as to why, but people that will tell her truth and have the wisdom to know when to speak and when to keep silent. Thank you in advance to your prayers.

This is a pic that we took last weekend of my precious sister's family while we were in Waco: Andrew, Angie, Austin (turns 3 in January) Audrey (18 months) and Ainsley (3 months). Having 3 kids under the age of 3 is a feat, but it truly is amazing to see my sister love on her kiddos, even through the craziness! I love this family so much and I am so grateful to have the role of Aunt Zuzu (that's what they lovingly call me) in their lives!

Yesterday was Lori and Emily's 27th Birthday! We always like a motto for the number of years you (like 26 & in the mix), so we are going inbetween 2 mottos for 27:

27... bread unleavened

27- act like you're 11

These are 2 of my closest friends- Emils just started music teaching job for pre-k thru 2nd grade job, and I know she is doing an amazing job! I can't wait to see her kindgarten christmas program! Lori is just 80 days until she gets married and I have the honor of being a bridesmaid in her wedding. They are alike in some ways and very different in so many other ways. The Lord is using them and their lives to advance His kingdom and I am blessed to call them friends!