First Day at the Beach!

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I just can't express how good it feels to finally be at the beach! It's been around two years, and it's been the roughest two years of our lives. We have needed this more than anyone can know!

Mom and I headed out the door just after 8 to bike and run. She used to follow in the Yukon, but that only lasted a few times several years ago. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but she had to try. Now she bikes alongside me, and she loves it. I love it for her. It makes me so happy to see her getting to spend time outside and exercising and enjoying the beach even more. This year is a bit harder for her because she is having some major arm issues and is having surgery after we get home, but she is a trooper and enjoying the ride for both of us. On this route we get to see a little bit of hotels, but then go back into the Dunes Club and see some nice houses and part of the golf club. Out and back twice today.

I was excited to try a new breakfast after this run, and it was one of the best I have done! I wish I could do it again, but I only had one sweet potato left at home to bring so it wouldn't go bad. This breakfast bowl was sweet potato, cinnamon pops, dried kiwi, honey, egg, almond, and cashew milk.

Mom and I got to sit and talk for a while, just having a great time relaxing and laughing! I read a little and did some Bible study before making a smoothie for lunch. What is the beach without a couple smoothies? This series of devotions was titled "Don't be a Sluggard." Now, I know most people would say that this is irrelevant for me; I'm always going-going-going and working hard. In a way, this is true. But at the same time, I go so much sometimes that I don't have energy or focus to do fun/social/other things. These things are hugely important to the life of a believer! God wants us to have energy, fellowship, and opportunities to connect with others and share life with them. He wants us to have a full life, not just a life full of busy-ness. When I have too much on my plate, I get tired, and yes, lazy. I don't do simple things like clean my room or go to some kind of social or youth group thing just because I'm tired and want to sit at home. This is selfish in a way, and I can be lazy just like anyone else. When I fill my days with work of various sorts, I get lazy with other things. I also tend to put off change. That's laziness, too. I have good intentions to do new things, but I always put it off until "later" or "tomorrow." Then it's always too late or not a good time. When God calls us to action, He wants us to act! When I am sluggish in my responsibilities, it impacts others. When I leave a mess at home, it is harder on Mom. If I don't bring over the bag of flour and fill the containers when I have a slow morning at work, it makes it harder on the next shift. When I stay at home rather than go to the park with some kids from church, I could be missing out on the fun and fellowship and encounters to share Christ. Sluggishness shows up in more ways than you think! Even the most hard-core of us have our own ways of being lazy. I admit it. What is it for you?

Another thing that I have been trying to do is use things that I've bought and to do things for myself! I don't like to do things alone or just for my benefit. But as this trip is going along, I am really enjoying it. A couple of those things I already got started on today: used some new dry shampoo--the bottle and name and smell all just make me so happy (Plump For Joy); wore my hair in a bun and tied a ribbon in it; used my Ben & Jerry's glass. These are such small things, but they make a big difference!

6-1 is National Nail Polish Day! And National Donut Day, much more well-known.
More on this to come!

Working my Way into Vacation

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A day delayed but still passed just as quickly, it is finally the day to leave for the beach! Technically it will be around 3 a.m. tomorrow, but I consider that today. It's a long day ahead, but I know that it will pass quickly...hopefully not too quickly because I still have a lot I need to do!

The run wasn't too bad; I was so thankful for good weather yet again! It was super humid, and rain came hard later in the day. It also really helped me through the run knowing that vacation was up next! I told myself that I wouldn't have to run those hills for two more weeks, but then that was maybe not such a good thing...coming back to them would be just as killer.

I spent basically all day packing. I was a busy bee for sure. No nap, no Bible study, no laptop, just packing and cooking. I made myself breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at once so I knew I had everything done to sustain me into the closing shift at work. I could stay up later and pack if I needed to, but thankfully, I got it all done beforehand!

Work wasn't too busy as it was a week night, but it was still a pretty good flow. The shifts before me were not as OCD as I am about working through a mess and cleaning later, so I walked into a mess and spent most of my shift cleaning rather than baking. People...it's easier on you and everyone else if you are careful with food/drinks/ingredients and clean as you go...also, oil makes a mess. It doesn't mix with water. It is not easily cleaned. It makes everything slick. The longer dirty dishes sit uncleaned, the harder it is to get stuff off of them. If you leave batter on the outside of cups and squirters, gelato on scooper handles, it then gets on your hands and therefore on everything you touch thereafter...I digress.

Once back home, I ate some leftover poppyseed chicken casserole before getting ready for bed. That was short-lived. Bed around 12:45, awake again to go to the bathroom at 2:15, then didn't get to sleep too much longer before having to get up again to load the car. Sweet Dad was awake with us; he and Phoebe wished us farewell as we pulled out of the garage around 4 a.m. Needless to say I didn't sleep too well  or too much on the ride, but we ran into a traffic jam when a semi-truck had caught on fire somewhere between our Spartanburg bathroom break and our Camden breakfast stop (both McDonald's that we dare not go anywhere else...creature of habit). I had a blanket, pillow, and stuffed animal to cover me and support my head, substituting for the comfort of my bed and darkness of my room. I was half-sleeping, often woken up by Mom's huffing and puffing at other drivers and the occasional (yet restrained-volumed) road rage. I also appreciated her playing KLove instead of classic rock, even though she previously said she needed something to keep her more awake. You will see later in the week just how much this woman does for me.

At the McDonald's/gas station we go to for breakfast, I have started choosing to treat myself to a gas station coffee instead of McD because I can get much better flavors! And how often do I do that!? Maybe a couple times a year when we are traveling. Gas stations are always so temping for me to buy all the snacks!

Cool Bible study connection from the ride over! One of the daily devotions I read was on the same topic that we had just done in Sunday School the weekend before. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord.” This can give us great peace when we accept that there are things that we simply do not have the answers to. No matter how hard we try, there are things we will never understand, at least not on our time and efforts. God knows all the ins and outs of everything, and He keeps it that way. When He wants to reveal something to us, He will. We don’t have to worry in uncertainty but can have peace because He is in control. Personally, I am glad that I don’t have insight into everything. I screw things up often enough with what I do have responsibility in, so it is good that there are things God has such control over!

When we got to the hotel around 1 p.m., we walked into an entirely remodeled lobby! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, but it was much better than if we had come the day before! We sat on the beach for just a little bit then went back upstairs to finish unpacking and get ready to go out for dinner and groceries.

Fuddrucker's! I am not a burger person, but I will eat the one's at Fudd's. I especially like the buffalo burger. It's more expensive, but bison meat is so tasty and lean, and it is something I rarely to never get. It is the highest-iron meat, too, and I really need that. To make it better, they also have really good wheat buns and the Fudd-famous topping and sauce bar. I can load that sucker up with whatever and how much I want.

Ever since I was little, I loved going to Walmart that first night to get all the snacks and essential items for the week. It is just more anticipation for the big trip in the coming days. I was also excited to try some new foods and products that I got there. (To be featured soon, including but not limited to: Breyer's 2-in-1 ice cream blasts, Not Your Mother's Plumpfor Joy dry shampoo, and the best coconut conditioner on planet earth.)

We ended the day in my favorite beach way: dessert and watching NBA! Sadly, it is the finals already, but our evenings will usually be filled with things to do whether or not there is a game on. The past couple beach trips, Mom and I have had a fun time at night with a sweet treat and NBA or Big Bang Theory.

Unfortunately, this was also the beginning of even later nights…I guess I am a teenager/young adult in more ways than I thought.

Third Time's the Charm

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Third Time's the Charm
9:10 AM on Tuesday, May 29th

This morning did not start off too well...I was late getting started to head to the old house to run, but then I realized I forgot my watch (which I had also done a day a couple weeks before). It was also raining. The weather forecast was wrong, as usual, but I don't like running in the rain. (At least it wasn't cold, I told myself) I hadn't gotten too far, so I turned around and ran upstairs and back out. Then after making it a little farther down the road, my windshield wiper flew off. Why? I don't know; it wasn't even raining hard. They were brand new wipers! Just a couple weeks old! So there I was, still driving down the road, called Mom to ask her what to do, and she told me to come back home because I can't be driving around in the rain with no windshield wipers (but I thought later now a legit reason to say that I couldn't go into work at moment's notice). Frustrated with circumstances but pleasantly surprised by Mom's encouragement, I headed out the door for a third time. This time I ran and made it the whole way with no disasters. The rain wasn't even bothersome.

Following this run, I was most excited to try a new egg scramble that I thought up. For some reason, I've been craving avocado lately. I didn't even like avocado until like two weeks ago. I think it's my mind and body trying to tell me something. So this bowl was scrambled egg (which I do in the microwave--so fluffy and fast!), avocado, and onion. And coffee, always (unless it's tea). "Life is crazy good" even though today life started out just crazy. I'm thankful to have been safe, healthy, and able to run.

After taking one last day to do a deep conditioner and face mask, I worked on some clean up and packing tasks around the house then laid down for a nap. When I'm having a hard time, this is something that I have come to cherish to get me through a day. My sleep has not been acceptable the past few months, so I'm trying to make up for it where I can. It was a great nap, too.

Lesson learned, I can get blood drawn and shots no problem, but stick something through my ear, and it tears me up. I'm personally fine with it; there is just something about the afterthought of there being a hole punched through my cartilage that makes me sick when something goes wrong. Long story short, I tried to change my stud to a hoop, and it was a curved post that I could not get in the right angle. I finally did, but then I couldn't latch the back, asked for Mom's help, and that was even worse than just trying to get it through my ear. I almost passed out/threw up twice and ended up leaving it until the next day not even latched in the back.

Next up was another new wonderful waffle! I really like carrot cake, and I discovered that using leftover canned carrots from previous dinners is one of the tastiest things...I've started using it in both oatmeal and waffles! I'm also in that point before vacation where you throw together random leftovers, so in this batter was also some peas, white beans, and pineapple juice. For the carrot cake affect the batter also had almonds and raisins, which is more normal. The topping was peas, carrots, honey, juice, and maple peanut butter.

Another habit that we have gotten into is eating dinner really late. So this night Mom and I actually sat down around 7! That was early! So I took a break between dinner and dessert to do my devotion for the day.

I have all kinds of Bible study things I would love to get to, but I have come to really believe in quality over quantity. Some days I may only get through a few verses or one small page in a devotional, but it can still speak to my heart more than much lengthier things sometimes. All it takes is a little work of the Spirit. The last in a series of 4 about seeking to glorify God, this was focused on trials. In Philippians 1:29, we are told to remember that with believing in Him includes suffering for Him. But we can find peace when we suffer in living for Christ because then we are doing something right. If life was easy in this world, if the world accepted us, we would not be living the life Christ has called us to. What really stood out to me here was the direction of prayers. It is natural to want to pray for relief from a circumstance (even Jesus asked if the Father could save the world any other way), but the way we should turn our hearts is to change our attitude. The challenges we face are great opportunities to grow personally and to share with others. “Tests lead to testimony.” I can surely attest to that. No, I don’t like all the things I have been through, but I am thankful for them. I may have failed, but I have received grace, mercy, and strength to come back and be able to try again, and more importantly, to share the encouragement that I have received with others.

Speaking of encouragement...Beth Moore is a good one, and I am glad to see that she seems to support the Warriors! GSW FTW.

And it was national paperclip day. Small, but so handy! Papers, picking out things, poking things, unlocking doors...

Longish Weekend, Longish Post

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Slippery and Slower (Metaphor for the Day, too)
9:12 AM on Monday, May 28th

I wanted to go to the park one last time before the beach, and this was my best bet to avoid rain. It had rained some the previous days and there was rain in the forecast starting later that day. I made it through with just some light drizzle at times and some wind, only slipped once. It was on the grass, too, so I didn't get any cuts or muddy! However, from a combination of my tiredness and putting safety before speed, it was much slower than I have been going. My whole morning was slow; I didn't get started until almost 9:15!

On the way home, I went by the old house to see Mom and Dad who were set up in the garage trying to yard sale some last few things. I went through a box from my room of lots of old stuff that I am going to mostly part with. There are such great memories of my childhood passions in there...I took some pictures, although there are some things that I've already gotten rid of, because I am going to make some memory scrapbook pages this summer (I hope...I have lots of projects on my list...).

After the sale was done, Mom added up the money, and I will proudly say that I earned them $208 extra dollars (they only made less than $50 from the actual sale) from posting things on Facebook and talking with people on there. I wanted to get paid commission, and they didn't like that idea.

More slippery: back and forth on our plans for the beach. The weather looks pretty rough for the next couple days, and Mom doesn't want to drive through downpours nor do our check-in and grocery shopping in it, so she is thinking about waiting a day. This got me so sad! I have been wanting this vacation so bad...we didn't get to go last year, and our family just needs a good time away! Mom is having surgery right after we get back home, so there is no chance of us extending our stay like we did the last time. But again, I have to remind myself that my joy in life does not depend on where I am or when, the weather, or anything else. I just need Jesus.
So the final verdict? Taking a day from the beginning...but I will make the most of it! I hope it pours all it can the next day or so, so when we get there, there will be no rain left! Sorry for all my Manley Church friends there at beach camp!

After the yard sale I stopped in GB to check on how my friend's first solo shift was going, then had a core workout to do when I got home, so I didn't get to the shower until after 1:00! Also being tired, I was moving slow. I got stuff done around the house, but it just took a long time!

In my Bible study today, it hit two things that I encountered today: the glory of God's creation and doing every little thing, even the daily mundane tasks, to the glory of the Lord. Even though the weather at the park for my run this morning wasn't the best, it was still so refreshing to get out there in nature to run rather than on the roads again. I go to the park when I need an extra boost. "The whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3

The second page of today's devotion was with 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." Simple, but so meaningful in that God gives us ways that we can use things we already do every day to bring Him glory. So no matter where I am or what I'm doing, I have purpose. For my running, I can be thankful that I have the opportunity, in my eating, I can fuel myself to have energy to do what He brings me to each day. I have to eat well to be able to live well! I believe that is why this verse begins with eating and drinking. If I am not healthy, I can't do anything else. Even on days like today when I do seemingly menial tasks like help my parents at a yard sale, unload the dishwasher, or chat with someone on Facebook, I have the opportunity to do something positive.

This was not planned at all, but it is National Hamburger Day! Dad grilled for us after he got done working on the old house. It was really late, but I am getting used to that by now. It was a great coincidence that this holiday fell on Memorial Day this year, since so many people celebrate with cookouts. Just unfortunate that it was not good weather. I am not a big burger fan, mainly just the plan/premade kind (I need more flavor), so Mom let me buy some of my own choosing! These were chipotle salmon burgers from Aldi! She wants me to eat salmon because of the more fatty acids it has compared to other fish, but she hates the smell. So here we found compromise. I didn't have to eat a cardboard-tasting burger, and she didn't have to smell salmon in the kitchen!

Now for the end of the weekend!

I got an email from both Elli Quark and Aldi, that for a limited time, Aldi would be carrying Quark! None of the stores around here have it! Aldi is one of my favorite places anyways, so I had to go check it out. FOMO is real in my life. Now you may be asking, "What is Quark?" and I don't blame you. It's yogurt, kind of, but it's not. It's actually cheese. So rather than yogurt, it's like cheesecake in a cup! It is German-style, which takes a lot longer, but it has a unique taste and texture, along with cleaner ingredients, no added sugar (no added anything actually), and 12-17 grams of protein! This is one of those times when I take an opportunity to treat myself with something special even if it costs a little more.

New waffle again! I am also in the process of finishing many leftovers so I don't have to throw away or freeze much before vacation, so that encourages me to get creative! I am so happy that I've been able to get my waffle fluffiness back like I used to. I do better with the waffle iron than the pancake skillet, too, for now. This one was banana, avocado, and a new natural chocolate peanut butter that I picked up at the wholesale store. I really wish I had gotten more packets of it now! I used to not like avocado or guac much, but one day I got this sudden craving for it, and now I can't get rid of it. I think it is my body craving higher-quality fuel for my training. Adding moisture to waffle and pancake batter is key to getting the right consistency, too, so this is a win-win!

Finally, my Daniel Plan book that I ordered on eBay finally came! I have gotten the emails for a long time, but they have been so encouraging that I decided to get the book to read while I am at the beach. With this second opportunity at a great life and competitive running, I want to make more effort to take care of my mind, body, and spirit the way God intended so that I can live out my full potential!

Long Hours, but Short Time

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Long Hours, but Short Time8:59 AM on Saturday, May 26th

The day seemed to go by so quickly, but it was actually drawn out so far. I ran and luckily missed the rain again. It was off and on all day. I somehow got distracted before I took a shower and missed the opportunity to take a nap. It started when I put away some freshly washed running clothes and decided to pick out the clothes to take on my trip. I've saved up a lot of my new/nicer running clothes for this beach trip, and I get strategic with my color coordination! I have different stacks of various outfit options with each color combo. I am so happy to be healthy and getting even fitter! It just feels better to wear new clothes, too. I never want to wear my new things or use new products, etc because I am always waiting for "a better time," but I've come to realize that there really is no "better time" than now, because time flies by, and I end up with so many things unfinished. "Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16 This summer I am heading back into a new lifestyle with really running cross country, back to being more social, joyful, and sharing my life, so the time is now! It's already the end of May! Agh!

This is one of my favorite snapchat stickers with the cute little egg, and this Saturday I was really excited to try a new egg scramble that I thought up! It wasn't much special, but it was good and things my body needs after a run! I also needed to finish a bag of roasted chickpeas, so that helped, too. Egg, chickpeas, coconut oil, onion, and honey.

(I'm all about the free things. Yes, I take packets from restaurants.)

And of course to feature some highly relevant comics...

Before I knew it, it was time to go into work. Our hours have stretched out, so my shift would inevitably be later than it already is. We had a lot of customers, which is good, but it is also hard to train a new employee when we are having to serve people all the time. However, I plan my later nights when I will take a rest day the next day, so I am more at peace with being there late as well as taking a break the next day! This was the latest that I've been there, though. It could've been later, but we got just enough done to get by with having enough cones for the mall the next day.

Of course, Mom and Dad were already in bed when I got back, but I went in there and sat because they were watching one of our favorite funny movies: Dumb & Dumber! I was tired and just wanted to go to bed, but I know I can't sleep well if I'm too hungry, so I still ate some...making bed even later, but I know that's how these days go!

I know it's good for me to not be so strict about my timing and just go with the flow and "live a little," but I have gotten into a really late night habit all the time, and this is making my days hard when I have a lot to do or have to get up super early! Sometimes I get naps, but I need more night hours so I can get up early. Work and workouts and projects and summer fun need my time and energy! #PrayersPlease

Extra Rest Day, XC Yay!

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Extra Rest Day, but XC is Here!
9:55 AM, Thursday, May 24th

This is the first week that the work schedule has been way drawn out from morning to night every day, so I am getting a taste of every shift option...not sure how I like it or how I will be able to work it with my workouts. Lots of work, right? Yeah, all kinds. Personal projects, making money, and training. I worked late last night, so I am taking an extra rest day! I actually enjoy that since I've been working there. Late shifts give me a greater incentive to fuel better post-run and to recover more the next day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and hot, so I was sad that I had to stay inside. However, I spent the morning outside and did a nice bike ride (and ran up one hill for fun). Then I laid out and listened to last Sunday's church sermon that I missed until literally 15 minutes before my shift started, then rinsed off and changed clothes. I didn't even wear makeup.

I have finished the grain mix of buckwheat, quinoa, and millet that I've been using every day, so I am finally back to oatmeal and pancakes/waffles! Today I used a new peanut butter that I picked up at the wholesale store, and I really wish I had gotten more now! I am also so happy to get my fluffy consistency right again! This one has strawberries, blueberries, natural chocolate peanut butter, and an egg. Must say, one of my best.

I also made some great new smoothies at work today! #UpsaleCertified getting people to add fresh strawberries. The first guy said he liked orange creamcicles, so I suggested our mango and vanilla and added berries! The second was like strawberry lemonade, lemon sorbetto, fresh berries, and coconut milk! I am not a super trendy follower, but I do love nut milks' taste better than cows' milk.

But above all that, I am so excited that cross country season is finally getting started! It has been so long since I've really been training for anything, and my insides are full of fire and butterflies. I'm a little nervous, but really just fired up. I'm ready to get back into training and being with teammates! Coach has been sending out info and training schedules this week. It will be a lot of new things, but I'm excited to get started.

Resilience

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Over the Hump (fluffy dog, burnt backside)
9:09 AM on Wednesday, May 23

This day started out rough, but I got over the hump. It was also hump day, Wednesday, so I guess that fit. I've been super tired, and this run was tough, especially since there was a lot of wind one direction compared to what it has been being. I told myself during the run that it was good prep for the beach next week. I was glad to have more time at home before going to work later in the afternoon, so I went over to the old house and did one of those routes. I was feeling down and discouraged all morning, but on the run, I started getting over that hump, too. Mental energy affects physical energy, which didn't help me then, but once I got motivated, it got better. (There is also this huge fluffy dog in the neighborhood, and the past few times I've been there, he has followed me home. He's like a bear; I could cuddle him, but he is basically as big as I am.) I really need to change some things if I want to be able to have more productive days, keep my job while still doing all my cross country training, eat well, sleep well, and have time for family and friends.

Mom made dinner while I was gone running (yes, in the morning) because she was going to the old house to mow and get stuff ready for the yard sale. This let me have some time to myself and have a good meal to take with me. Thanks to Mom for making sure I get the fuel!

It was a beautiful day, so I was determined to take advantage of it! This week I've finally gotten to start working on my tan and getting used to the heat, but I know the beach will still kill me this year! I always tend to lay/sit more where my front gets more sun, so I laid on my belly all I could. That ended up being the whole time I was outside...hours! It was the hottest day I've had so far and the most sun I've gotten, hence the "burnt backside," but it wasn't bad. 

The (second) best part of the day was my fort! I was a creative kid, and it came back out today. I wanted to be outside, but also had so many things to do and look at on my laptop or iPad (emails, articles, calendars, Bible study, etc). As you probably know, you can't see those things well in the sun. BUT I made a cover for my head, papers, books, snacks, etc, while my body was still in the sun! That also helped me keep myself from overheating. To make it even better, there was an outlet right there, too. This was one of the greatest ideas I've had.

My Bible study that I did here today added to this day getting better! It was like a direct answer to my prayers. I've been so indecisive over what to do for my job and balancing my life, asking God to show me what to do. I have gotten so many little messages from God along the way the past few months, I had no doubt that He would somehow guide me, but I didn't know when. This Daniel Plan devotion started with Isaiah 48:17. WOW. The theme of the devotion was resilience. Dictionary definition-the ability to bounce back and recover from illness, adversity, depression, and the like. WOW. It kept on, hitting at simple things like if you don't eat a good breakfast, you can still eat a good lunch. If you make a wrong decision, you can learn from it and start fresh each day. When we face challenges, we can see them as opportunities. These are the things that I have been keeping in my mind to help me through the tough days. Yeah, the day may have started out rough, but every step of the day is a new opportunity.

I also worked from 4:45-10:30, training two new employees, but it was good, so at least that wasn't too stressful. My job is more tiring than you would think! But good coworkers make it so much better. Then I got to watch NBA on the couch and eat some more dinner with mom and dad. That is my favorite way to end the day.