February Running Recap

In February, I logged 41 miles of running. This is my highest monthly total, ever. I'm currently on week 3 of half-marathon trsining, and my longest run to dste has been 5.5 miles, just this past Sunday. I'm down 6.6 pounds since January, and I think its really helping my stamina and speed. By the end of March I should be running 8 miles and I hope to be down another 8 pounds. My time goal for the half-marathon is now 2:30. The mileage challenge for March is 70 miles.

Racing Against Cancer

This year, I am once again volunteering as Treasurer for the Fado's Annapolis St. Baldrick's Fundraiser. The event is March 11th, and we are hoping to raise $80,000 this year.  While i am not shaving my head, I would like to raise money for this event. I am doing  fundraising run. For every $50 that is donated by 11 March, I will run 1 mile. 

To donte, simply visit my page, here.

Please spread the news and help us beat cancer.

My Lenten Challenge

I've never been a huge "giver upper" for Lent. I would much rather focus on doing this that make me a better Christian and a better person. This year I am running everyday for Lent. This will help me to reach my yearly mileage goal of 300, help me to prepare for my half-marathon in May, help me to continue on my weight loss journey, and force me to take some time for myself.

My training plan has me running 4 times a week, so on my "off" days I am running st least 1 mile, but doing it without a timer and without my iPod. I am running in silence and alone (hopefully without the stroller) and using the time for reflection.

I've encouraged others to do this, or some variety of this, by adding something instead of giving something up, my challenge is on Daily Mile, and you can follow my progress there and here, as i plan to recap each Sunday.

February Photo Challenge

I'm all about challenge this month so I added a photo challenge! I'll post here and on FB.

January Goals Recap & February Plans

My January Goals were:
1. Lose 5 pounds
2. Put every $1 in the savings and not spend it

Recap:
As of this morning, I am down 6.2 pounds. We are still working to remember to put our $1s in our savings jar. But we've collected about $10 so far. Not too shabby.

My February Goals are:
1. Lose 5 more pounds
2. Organize the garage (and those blasted foot lockers!)
3. Hit 6 miles in my long runs.

One of the things I started on Jan 8th was to work out every day for the rest of the month. I succeded in doing that. I'm hoping to hit 30 total running miles in February.

The Beauty Challenge

This morning, a friend invited me to this Event on Facebook. It was one of several invites I had pending this morning, and I almost skipped over it. I'm very glad I didn't. The information is below and I couldn't help but thing this is a great idea. Abigail is still too young to know about stereotypical beauty, but as I thought about it, we have already instilled "pretty" into her vocabulary. I want both of my kids to know that beauty comes from within, and that we are all created in God's image. 


**The Beauty Challenge**
I know it'll be hard, but thats the point, we will change and we will help change the lie so girls can live the TRUTH..that we ARE beautifully and fearfully made!~
We will be fasting from makeup, jewelry (except wedding rings) and dressing up for a week to fight the lie that our beauty is found in anything else besides our Creator. To symbolize that we're learning how God is our source of beauty! Laurens (my daughter) college started this and I am SO proud that young women stood up and had this kind of courage..I am a Mom and therefore accountable to show how to live..I am standing up with them! Who will join me..Thursday Feb 2nd thru the 9th..(copy and paste and lets see how many will join in to change young girls view and beliefs about Beauty!

IF your IN! please say YES and lets defeat the lie..let His beauty be our confidence!~

For one week (starting today) through next Sunday night, I will not wear makeup, I will only wear my wedding ring, and I will make a conscious effort to dress for the occasion.

Never compare

A lot of women, in particular military wives, spend a lot of time talking about their struggles, sacrifices, and challenges. A few people may think of it as whining, but often its a combination of venting to friends and lending advice. Veteran wives often use their experiences as examples, or a how-to-deal manual for newer wives. Often we get caught up in "comparing" what our husbands do and how much we have been through instead of supporting each other. 

Its very important that we remember it is our husbands who do this job, not us. We are vital to our husband's career - but not to the military. How we respond to challenges affects how our husbands respond and deal with those same challenges. We need to be strong, supportive, and flexible. We need to be consistent, understanding, and level headed. But most of all, we need to stand together. We need to remember that the words we say to other wives, while they may make us feel better or make our husbands sound important, can hurt others. 

Usually, starting something with "I need to vent" sets the tone for the conversation. It lets your listeners know that you are not really complaining, you just want a listening and sympathetic ear. We all have that one friend who we can vent to about anything. It doesn't matter if her husband has been gone months and yours is working late, she'll understand, let you vent, and tell you what you want to hear. But not everyone will be that person, so venting to everyone may backfire. 

Bottom line: All military spouses know this is a hard life, and some days are harder than others. But as the picture above states, its not a competition. We have our own stepping stones in this journey and we all handle them differently. And, of course, don't equate a husbands job with their wife's feelings.