Oh Happy Day!

Church is always a good way to start out a Sunday, but today ended up being an even better one.  My Christmas break has just been awesome in general.

When we came home from church I had a snack and got to work on some Sticky Toffee Muffins from the Runner's World Magazine I got last month.  They were originally cupcakes, but they aren't too sweet, so I made them without icing to have as breakfast.

In the book I have just finished reading, I Still Belive by Jeremy Camp, I found something that made a lot of sense to me. Jeremy was describing how he had gotten super busy with so many things in his music ministry career.  It is a good thing because he had such a platform to share with others from.  However, it was getting him distracted and stressed.  I often feel this way, too.  I get involved in so many things.  Although they may be good things, they consume me too much.  I need to remember the words of Jeremy’s dad, Tom, “We can get so busy doing the work of the Lord that we forget the Lord of the work.”  My work for Him won’t be efficient until I am connected with Him and fully trusting Him to guide me in the work.

Later in the afternoon, Dad and I went on a nice, long run!

Then he made his amazing chili for our dinner!  I absolutely love this stuff.  I mixed some corn bread in, too.  Now, an even better part...There's no school tomorrow!  They called it off because of weather!  Made my day.  Whooooo!

Footlocker South Region 2013

This is the second year that I have gone to this race, the Footlocker South Region.  It is not a school affiliated race, but it is a post-season qualifier for a national race held in San Diego.  We left Friday morning around 10:00 to head to Charlotte, North Carolina.  After going to Subway for lunch, checking in at race registration and the Hilton hotel we would be staying at the next two nights, we headed to meet some other people from Morristown to jog the course.  McAlpine Park is the location of the South Region.  It is a gorgeous park with trails, sports places, a dog park, and ponds.



Last year I found the perfect place for dinner, Nothing but Noodles!  After running, this is where we went.  This pasta is whole wheat penne topped with marinara sauce, grilled chicken, spinach, carrots, broccoli, red bell peppers, zuccini squash, and whatever cheese they use.  It was absolutely delicious!

I went on Tennessee Runner and saved some pictures of myself from the race, becuase I haven't yet looked at the ones my mom or a friend's mom took.  This was in the time we had in the "runners only start area" in the half hour between our start and the race before us.  A chilly 30 degrees kept us in our warm up clothes as long as we could.  The first 1k was also straight into a headwind!  This was such an amazing experience!

Not everyone in the seeded/championship girls race fit in this picture, but here we are about to take off.  I was excited to get to start next to two girls that I have raced against since middle school.  They are twins, juniors from Beech High School.  Cross country races are also the perfect chance to meet new people and gain encouragement!

Here's a shot from along this beautiful course.

Here I am next to one of my big competitors for the past two years.  (She is in the tshirt and shorts and under armor headband.)  I didn't race her too often, but every time we met, it was always close!  I pulled this one out ahead from the big hill not too far past this point.

 

This race was super fast!  I even got a new PR, the goal of what I had been wanting for this race all season.  My new PR of 18:14 was 14 seconds faster than I had previously run.  Next year my goal is to break 18:00!



Last year we ate at the Cheesecake Factory after leaving McAlpine.  My boy/bestfriend and his dad came with us, too.  My foursquare wouldn't get rid of the borders.  Here is some white bean hummus with wheat toast!

Here is some white chicken chili!  It was very yummy, although it doesn't compare to my "second momma's" (2 of my best friends' mom) white chicken chili.

And of course, the main event--the pumpkin cheesecake!  I put this thing away fast!

This is the shirt everyone received at registration!

 

On the way to the race, I opened up my Bible to where we have been studying at church, Hebrews 12.  Although verses 1 and 2 are our school team verses, it never really hit me the same as it did that morning.  I know I need to get my life better prioritized.  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  So many people see me every day in so many ways, but I have so much going through my head and so much to do.  I need to let go of the things that don't really matter and focus on bringing God glory.  He paid it all, so I should focus on living for Him.

 

I learned a lot this weekend.

Just because you miss some workouts and some feel awful, that does not mean you won't perform better than you ever have.

God placed me in Charlotte that weekend to run, not to be more concerned with what I am doing/eating afterwards.  (I say this because I came down with the stomach virus just hours after the race.  I was so excited about the Cheesecake Factory, the Southpark Mall shopping, and free continental breakfast I got from having to sleep on a pull out couch bed, that until I got to the race, I was not focused.  God has provided me with so many opportuinities I must not take improper advantage of.)

God gives me so much grace I don't deserve at all.  He really should've gotten me sick 24 hours before, so that I would've been unable to run at all, already all the way in Charlotte, so then I would've felt even more awful for wasting so much of my family's money and time.

There is so much to be joyful about :)

Ice Cream and Birthday Cake!

What a blessing it is to have a this thing we call birthdays!  Saturday night, I had the cross country team (girls) over for a little 16th birthday celebration.  I wanted to make the food for my party instead of going out to eat somewhere, so we had a hectic day at the Jones house!  I went on an eight mile road run after I woke up, Dad following behind me on his bike.  When I came home, I made some pumpkin caramel pancakes with some coffee for breakfast/lunch since it was already almost 12:00 by the time I got to eat.  As soon as this was finished, Mom and I began the cooking!  I had chosen two recipes I found for my dessert.  What fun is a party without eating all the good stuff?  That's what I love them for!  (And the fun fellowship of course)  So these recepies are actually healthy, so I could eat a ton witout feeling too bad.  It's my birthday (party) , so I'll have my cake and eat it too! 

 

We made a Snickers ice cream cake, then topped it with peanut butter mousse. The cake is made of pudding mix, peanuts, chunky peanut butter, ice cream, cereal, and cool whip.  The mousse contains more cool whip, cream cheese, peanut butter, milk, and Splenda.

This super tasty treat is also super easy to make!

 

Dad made 5 double-batches of his chili, cooking all day.  Mom and I also whipped up a pan of the amazing cornbread.  All the food was a hit with the girls!  I am so thankful for all the hard work my parents put in for my friends and me!

 

Yes, I stuck a candle in an ice cream cake.  No, it did not melt while the girls sang.

I also loved it so much that I ate 6 pieces.  I would've just finished it off, but I made myself just walk away from the pan.