Savoring Summer

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 The last week of summer break approached faster than I could imagine.  It hardly even seems like we had a summer.  I spent every moment I could outside, soaking up the sun.  I love summer weather so much, I don't know how I get through the rest of the year.  This summer was one of the best, but there's still fun left to be had, always things left that I want to do.  Here are some things that I squeezed into that last little bit.

I had this little event planned for at Panther Creek one morning to invite people to do a little devotion and bring items to donate to Food on Foot as they have a rush of needs at the beginning of the school year.  They are always open for donations and volunteers, and I believe that this is a great way for anyone in Morristown to help the people right here where we are.  This world is a pretty dark place, but God is the light that overcomes it all.  When we are filled with Him, we are also a light that He uses to reach out to others.  I am really motivated this year to live differently, do new things, make my life a better gift to the Lord!

This is the view of the lake from where we met.

I have a friend who graduated from Tennessee High a couple years ago and now runs cross country and track for ETSU named Macy Carrier.  She is such an example to this world of how to be a light!  I see her heart for others at work all the time, and it makes me smile and want to do more myself.  Living life like that really is contagious.  You don't have to boast in all you do; people notice.  "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  2 Corinthians 10:17  She has gone on mission trips, babysits, and is just a positive example in general.  The past two years, she and some friends have even put together very successful 5k races to raise money to build a well of clean water and to raise money for a children's home.  I came upon this article about her from her town's newspaper that tells a lot about how great a girl she is and learned some things even I didn't know!  I just wanted to take a moment to share a little about her!

 There for a while, it rained at some point, usually multiple times, every day for a couple weeks.  That obviously frustrates me!  I redecorated my dry erase board with this verse and picture to try to keep my perspective right.  I am blessed, and I shouldn't let a little rain ruin that!  (Although that is one of my most difficult times to be positive.)

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all the living creatures of every kind on the earth."  Genesis 9:16

I couldn't believe it; after our team's cross country camp, I made RunnerSpace again!  This was two weeks in a row!  (Jessica and I were flying high-bottom right)

I don't watch a lot of tv, but when I do, it's usually with my mom and dad at dinner.  We always watch sports if there's a good one on or Big Bang Theory.  That show just cracks us all up!  However, my dad laughing so hard, or as mom says, "getting tickled," is funnier to me than the actual show.  Sheldon is my favorite.  Here he is with all his cats. 

This summer the weekends just did not work out for the lake, which makes me sad!  I am used to spending all Saturday and Sunday out at the lake, as well as the long weekend Mondays!  This year, I have only been out 3 or 4 times total!  Mom and Dad went a few more times, but between house projects, family events, vacations, camps, and bad weather, this was the least we have ever been out to the lake.  We took a couple weeknights to go get some skiing water while we had the chance.  It's so nice at night; there are few people and calmer water.  It's quite peaceful!

We had to take a picture together to prove that I really did get to hang out at the lake some!  Erika and I have literally grown up together on the lake.

When you have a long day at the lake, dinner to go is convenient.  By that time, we're usually pretty hungry, too!  We often stop by Taco John's.  They have room for us to park the boat, too, so that helps!

I actually found this verse a while back, but couldn't find a time to work it in, but I gotta share what I learn!  I hate feeling like I'm wasting time, so this verse goes right along with that.  If you waste the time God gives you, you're not going to have anything good come out of it, or you may find that your free time is taken away!  When you put your mind to doing good, God will help you succeed.

As a little kid, I would daily sleep in until around 10:30 when Mom would come drag me out of bed.  There's no time for that anymore!   Sleeping in is considered 7:30-8:30, sometimes 9:00, but I do cherish a good night's sleep!

I really like this quote.  Every day is a new one.  Take it on as a challenge!

Another positive quote I came across was from Aristotle:  "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."

New phone wallpapers!

"...See how the flowers of the field grow...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field...will He not much more clothe you?...So do not worry...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:28-31, 33

I got paid a couple times during this last week of summer!  I dog sat for my neighbor's grandkids and bathed my own dog for mom and dad.

Even more money!  I find change almost every day.  I am a professional runner.  I get paid.  Kinda...

After losing my beach tan during the weeks of rain when we got home from the beach, I have finally gotten it back!  This weather has been pretty great lately, hot, humid, sunny.

I feel like this is how my parents look at me all the time.

And speaking of food...

The Florida State coach came over for dinner and dessert one night to talk about me and their running program, which was really cool!  We fixed grilled chicken salad because that is something just about every single person, especially athletes, likes, and it is simple to make!  I had to snap a picture because it was the prettiest salad I've ever made.

The meal on the right is a new thing I've decided that I like together.  It is also one of the best post-workout meals I could make, too!  It's sweet potato with it's cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg topping; fish with some seasonings; and chia seed on top of it all!  I added some turkey sausage to this one, too, for an extra umph.

More new goodies I've found at the store for heading into school

I am stocked up on protein bars for like months, but there are just so many varieties of flavors that I love!  Kind is also a great brand with tons of good-for-you ingredients.

 

On our way back from a visit to Alabama, we stopped in the Target to look around, nothing special in mind, but you just can't pass up a Target!  I ended up getting these two gelatos and a yogurt to have for my road trip dessert!  I also got a new granola to have on hand, which is a variety available exclusively at Target!  These were all new products to me, and they were all a success!

These are two new protein bars I found at Walmart.  They're pretty good, but not my type.  After I finish them, probably not getting anymore!  They are very chewy!

We have a new race this year at a new location, so we had practice there one afternoon to try it out.  It is in a mowed hayfield, so it's pretty hard to breathe!  Along with the recent weather and no shade to be found, it was a tough afternoon.  But there were some really pretty sunflowers!  You can find good anywhere if you just think about it. 

"For all people are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever."  1 Peter 1:24-25

My main goal (going along with using it for the Lord):  Enjoy Life.

"So I commend the enjoyment of life because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him."  Ecclesiastes 11:8

 Simple, yet so wonderful!  Here I was participating in "enjoyment of life...under the sun,"eating a dark chocolate chip waffle, drinking coffee, and followed the rest of the day with even more joy in what I did!

Last thing before school started on Monday:  sub deb pledge tea at the country club.

We all got dressed up and had a dessert buffet while we got to introduce ourselves to the freshmen and their moms and talk about some things we're going to do this year!

 

Nasty November

To start things off, here's a funny video of a high school cross country team that recorded a parody of the song "Fancy."  Even though it is high schoolers, it looks pretty fancy!  No pun intended.

Another random insert:  This is an old post from before there was snow on the ground for this season, but I like goats and I like Colorado skiing!  One blog for a resort that I follow, ABasin, has lots of goats, and they even post about them sometimes.

This month has had some crazy and nasty weather, which has made some days very discouraging!  But of course there are always smiles to go around town!  You just have to have that attitude about it!  This month seems to have gone by just as fast and been just as busy as October was!  Just colder.  And wetter.

Practices during this month were rough...the weather was pretty much all cold and nasty, hence the title "Nasty November."  We had one week that Farmer told us to only cross train after state, which was not too exciting for me since we still had a race left, but I did it anyways.  After that, though, we were back on the trails, leaves, mud, and all.

After going to Hobby Lobby, mom took me by Sweet CeCe's to use a gift card my grandmother gave me. I haven't had froyo in a while, and this was amazing!  I'm talking heaven in my mouth!  I tried mint with Andes mints, chocolate caramel turtle with Resee's Pieces in the little cup, then in the big one I had egg nog and pumpkin pie with cheesecake chunks and cereal!

This was inspired by Jenna, my Sunday school class college leader. When you mis your face soap with baking soda, it makes a mask!  My face felt quite refreshed afterwards. 

Hobby Lobby could entertain me for hours during the holidays!  Mom and I went the Tuesday night after we got out of school for Thanksgiving to do some Christmas shopping. 

Wednesday morning was the first day of break, yet I still had to get up earlier than I had been. Farmer wanted to have practice early so we could have the rest of break to do what we needed to. 

Every Wednesday morning that we have Bible study, I always head a couple streets over in my neighborhood to pick up Megan!

Marshmallow is my favorite!  Well, I have lots of favorites, but anything marshmallow catches my eye, especially scents and tastes.  I was hooked after the first time I ate marshmallow frozen yogurt.  I have never gotten to try TCBY's yet, but I am determined that I will one day.  I think it's too late for this year, out of season, but it's eggnog time now!  I love those, too!  I've gotten to try the Silk Nog at TCBY and the Eggnog at Sweet CeCe's now, too!  Like eating a cloud...(as I go back to edit this, I can now say that I have gotten to try the marshmallow!  YUM!)

Because of post season races, we have had to change our Christmas decorating plans.  We always used to spend all day the Friday after Thanksgiving and some of the weekend decorating the house!  Now we aren't home at that time, so

I've been eating lots of bananas lately.  At least one a day if not more! 

I have been addicted to banana and almond butter quinoa.  I ate it almost every day for two weeks during the end of cross country season!  Cocoa powder makes a great addition, too.

Squash is one of my favorites, so I'm branching out to varieties other than butternut.  Acorn squash is okay, but I think it looks better than it tastes.  Butternut is still my favorite, but spaghetti squash is cool because you can cut it up or string it so easily!  I have fun with my food.

Handheld pencil sharpeners are usually crap, but this one is the best I have ever used!  Thank you Mrs. Porter!

Now that the regular season is over, it's time for the banquet.  We all get to dress up and have a buffet and get all sorts of awards.  Since we never get to eat pasta...sarcasm...the banquet is a pasta buffet.  We got salads, too, and the dessert buffet table was the best of all the gatherings we've had!  Three flavors of pudding, cheesecake, and pies! 

Coach Owens and Burroughs are over there trying to look all cool.

        

 

Me, Katlyn, Maggie, and Ana down one side of the table

Farmer giving his thoughts and feelings

Elizabeth and Abby on my other side!

We're all so goofy!  Especially when it comes to meal time!  We are almost always around a table or something with food when the team gets together.

       

Every year we get to watch a slideshow and video of highlights from the season.  Parts are exciting, sad, sweet, heartwarming, intense, and funny.  The bloopers and terrible face sections are hilarious!  Here we have a road run on the left, me coming in at the end of one rep of a mile loop speed workout, then a prerace chant.

  

Even though it is now December, there still has not been a day to match this low temperature!

 

I am following the RunFurman blog, and enjoy following how they perform throughout the season on instagram, too.  I know some of the runners from camp and racing against Emma last year, but others I just follow on instagram.  Grace Tinkey is one of those!  One of the RunFurman blog features was on getting to know her, and I loved reading about it.  Not only is she one of the top runners out there, I respect her even more for her attitude and spirit for the Lord!

 

One of my favorite starts to the Christmas season:  Operation Christmas Child!  My mom helped me find which age group got the least "attention" and that's what we bought for, the middle age boys.

Post season regionals and nationals started pooping up about every weekend. I am so glad Iive down south!  This was the conditions they day of the Nike Northeast Region. 

I made this bookmark to use during the fall.  No matter what the circumstances, we can choose to be joyful. Joy depends on having Christ, no this world. Joy is also an acronym for Jesus, others, yourself, so that's why it is squared!

Pugs and coffee all in one picture!  When it's cold out (and inside) during the winter and some fall months, I make a cup of coffee last all day to help keep me warm. 

Another thing that is great during cold weather is chili and soup!  This is a heaping bowl of chicken tortilla soup.   I also added some cornbread and extra veggies.

My friends mom have me this gum as a little surprise on day!  It's the little things that bring genuine smiles to faces. Remember that as you go out today!

Our school has been under construction, as is everything else in East Tennessee. This is a painting of our principles on the wall blocking the entrance to where the new freshman academy will be. 

How cute is Woodstock dressed up like a turkey!?

Allie Ostrander is an amazing runner!  She just recently has become big on the stage, because she is from Alaska and never really had any competition. A couple weeks ago, she won the Nike National title. She is also point guard of the basketball team. And tiny, like me!  Milesplit is doing a mini video series on her, and it is very cool to see the sights from where she gets to train!

I was really excited to finally wear these socks that I got at the beach last year. 

The NCAA national championships were just recently, too, and I was looking up how some of my prospective schools were doing. This map divided up te regions for me, because I didn't know who went where. 

Chick-fil-a does awesome Tuff around the holidays!  They made a decoration with fall muffin cups that the staff wrote down things that they were thankful for. They also provide Operation Christmas Child boxes for anyone to pick up and fill to give. 

I love Luna Carrot Cake!  The Larger Cluf version is great, too. I like to use them as dessert. 

I found a new cool protein!  Tiny shrimp!  They are so tiny, they are no bigger than a fingernail!  I was so fascinated. 

Chick-fil-a also has it's downsides. Since they switched to the new coffee, it doesn't quite taste the same, and the cups are crap. They're paper instead of styrofoam, they leak, and they sit have a cover for the hole you drink out of. 

My friend Katlyn sent me this. I need this sticker!

Yes, I live with a stress test, too, my mom. Don't worry, she would say the same about me. 

This is a joke with our family, as my dad is not exactly the most technologically savvy man when it comes to smartphones. Once he tried to take a picture of me and a lady cold basketball player, but kept saying he couldn't see us. He has the lens up to his eye looking the wrong way. 

We had a festive sock day at practice without even planning it!

One morning, we actually got a little snow!

I also finally got to try the apple pie flavored coffee that I got from the Apple Barn last month. It's pretty yummy!  I like to use my hoot hoot mug during the fall. That's also some more almond butter banana honey quinoa!