A Day Between Two Busy Weeks

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Since I haven't had much time to do anything "extra" this whole semester because of work and school, I haven't posted many blogs. There are so many great things from life that I would love to share (That's what God does; when you are full of Him, He makes you want to pour it out!), so hopefully over time I'll get some more opportunities. For now, I do it in person whenever I can! I do a little recap of my day along with my runs on my Strava page, and today was full of good things from the weekend! I just want to share a little of God's simple goodness on this Monday.
Mondays can be good. It's just a day like any other!

The Only Time I'm Leaving the House Today PTL

(Home and study day, work, answered prayers, babysitting, family dinner, holidays, shoes)

I can't tell you the last time that I had an entire day that I was home all day. I also can't tell you how happy this made me. I have been on the go for so long, that I was looking forward to this day all week last week! My internship is over,  I have finals the rest of the week, and yesterday was packed with things to do, so today is the perfect day to regroup after last week and get ready for this week. (By the way PTL is praise the Lord in case you were wondering; I've literally been praising Him for this beautiful day!)

Today I sat outside for a while to do my Bible study and some Spanish studying, and may have started on my tan! I am really white, and one month from today I will be at the beach. I have to get some tan before I go or I'll get fried. It's happened. On the first day. I blistered. It scarred.

Saturday night was a very long, busy, and late night at work, but it was an answer to some prayers and fell right along with my Bible study. I have been praying for opportunities to be a light for Christ wherever I am, and He always responds! I know that I have this leadership position at work to be able to impact people and be encouraging to take positive steps in their lives, so that motivates me when I am frustrated and worn out. I got to work training one of the new employees, and we had some good time to chat, too! It also made my day when President Miksa from Walters State came in! He is the coolest man, and I am really going to miss him next year when I go to Chatt, but I will keep in touch. 

Yesterday, I ended up having to work most of the opening shift again, but it was okay with me so that I could sleep in a little more than usual Sundays. I also got to talk with one of my newer best friends whose shifts changed, so she did extra baking. Another answered prayer! This job has also helped me keep myself from isolation, one of the biggest weapons Satan uses against me. 

However, right after work I barely had time to change and blend up a shake before heading to my old neighborhood to babysit! This was also a blessing. The whole time we were outside. We rode bikes down the road, and I got to stop by and see my favorite neighbors! Then I got to talk to the other neighbor, too. While the kids played with their new friends down the road, I got to sit. Just sit. Peace in the sun. That was so nice.

A wonderful way to end the weekend was with a family dinner at our favorite restaurant, El Sazon. Dad suggested it since we have all been crazy all over the place and never really home at the same times. I felt like I talked nonstop all day, but it was good! We got to share so many good and even funny stories. It's been months since we've eaten out at all since we have been so busy with moving, working, and house projects. It was a lot of fun even if just for an hour and was great foreshadowing the summer to come.

Even when life is trying to run me over, there is still so much joy in it. 

"Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for great is your reward in heaven." Luke 6:23

PS-today is also National Raisin Day, National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, and National Oatmeal Cookie Day, so here are my celebrations!

And the Dunkin Donuts emoji is on their most recent update featuring the shoes they have partnered with Saucony. They have donuts on them. And they're such pretty colors! I want them so bad!!

Spring (Break) has Sprung

#SB2015
(That means Spring Break 2015)

Chronologically previous post:  Focusing on Faith

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Spring just ended a couple days ago, so summer is in full swing.  Good time to talk about the best part of spring:  the part where we have no school.

 

I wasn't exactly wishing for Spring Break to come so quickly, but at the same time, I was. I wanted a week away from school so bad!  Just as I knew it would, though, it came fast enough. I really needed a break from school!

Good thing:  Frisco got a bath.

Bad thing:  It was in my bathtub.

Speaking of dogs...

Spring is a time when hopeful feeling well up!  Grass get greener, the sun brighter, weather warmer, flowers bloom, birds and squirrels come out of hiding, new flowers bloom, etc.  It's a great time to get out and try new things!

"For behold, the winter is past; the rains are over and gone.  Flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."  Song of Solomon 2:11-12

 

Mom and I took a trip to Sevierville to shop at the Tanger Outlets and Bud's Gun Shop and Shooing Range.  The sports outlets are always my favorite!  I bought some new running tights in Under Armour (not pictured), but I also wanted these tank tops!  Deciding that I would rather spend my money on the tights, I took pictures of the shirts instead.

Between Tanger and Bud's, we stopped in Dunkin Donuts, and I treated Mom to an iced coffee and muffin because she treats me way more often than I deserve.

I always see someone I know at Workout Anytime.  Q was in my spanish class last year, and we had so many laughs!  It was a great surprise to see him this morning.  It also gave me some better--living and breathing--entertainment than my phone while I biked!

Snoopy sweats.

 I saw a worker at Chick-fil-a wearing one of these, so I asked if I can have one, too.  I love Chick-fil-a and cows, so that is a good enough reason.

 

 

Another thing I love!  My mamaw!  She is so sweet, pretty, and smells good...and cooks good, but what mamaw doesn't?

I did my morning run on the road from home through town and back to Chick-fil-a to meet Mom and her parents for lunch!

I finally got around to changing my stuffed animals' clothes from their Christmas attire.  Snoopy is ready for the sun and surf, and Hal is keeping it classy.

Sophie and I are twins!  Can't you see the resemblance?

Frisco felt left out because he didn't match, but he jumped in the picture anyways.

During the spring season, my most common pancake flavor was banana chia with peanut butter banana glaze.

Spring was a stressful semester for me in school, track, home, and just everything that was happening.  There was just too much to do and not enough time!  Despite all that, I still tried to "Be Hoppy" with the days that I had.  It was good to have a break from school and regular track practices, so I could work on "throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and...fixing our eyes on Jesus..."  (Heb. 12:1-2)

The song by Colton Dixon, Through All of It, really related to me going through all the ups and downs.  If you haven't heard it, you should take a look!  God is always there!  (Dueteronomy 31:6) 

One thing I reallly wanted was some freedom in my mind and soul from all the stress and worries of life.  Two verses I fould encouraging were

Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery."

and 2 Corinthians 3:17 "...where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 

We can live freely, no matter where in the world we are, because Christ has given us freedom that nothing can ever take away.

 

Do I really look 5 years older?  I may not look much different on the outside, but man have things changed!  No more basketball, all running.  Not planning on studying education, but communications.  Praising God for the good times and reading His word when I was at church or when it was convienient was typical, but now I am thankful for the good and the not-so-enjoyable moments, because each and every one has been a part of these changes that have made me who I am! 

"...The old has gone, the new has come!"  2 Corinthians 5:17

 

The same morning that I took the picture on the right, our Sunday school lesson was, yet again, just what I needed.  It was about hope!  As Christians, our hope is not in the temporary, but the eternal!

Science Hill hosts a big meet every spring called the Tri Cities Track Classic.  We went last year, and it was one of my favorite meets ever, mainly because they had a steeplechase.  I had SO MUCH FUN doing that.  I won with a NBN qualifying time in my first ever steeple.  I had no practice.  Sometimes that's what you gotta do.  Just go out and try something new, and it may turn out to be one of the best decisions you make!  I also won the 2 mile that same night, so it was a good weekend.  Sadly, our team didn't go this year, and we couldn't enter as an individual, but MileSplit used my picture in their sidebar advertisement!

This brought back good memories as well as hopes that I can do it again.

A post I saw on Instagram inspired me to make this cross-shaped pancake.  The ones I saw were small circle and oval pancakes arranged to form a bunny-rabbit, with various toppings for the eyes, nose, etc.  Bunnies and eggs are fun things that go with the Easter holiday, but the best thing about Easter is the reason we celebrate it.  We don't celebrate Easter because bunnies have babies and chickens lay eggs.  We celebrate Easter because Christ was crucified and came back to life.

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.  By His wounds you have been healed."  1 Peter 2:24

What a great hope we have.  He died so that we can live.