Last night we had a little lesson in simple machines. Yes, we were in a restaurant. Yes, we were getting strange looks. It was worth it, though. Totally worth it.
It’s useful information, you know.
This kind of event always makes me feel like we’d be a good unschooling family. I know, it sounds totally crazy, but sometimes I think I just might go for it. 
When I ran my first half, I was over the moon. It’s not something I ever thought I would be able to do. I thought I was going to run another last October, but life kind of got in the way. It was extremely hard for me to come to grips with the idea that I had set out to do something and wasn’t going to do it. Also? I was nervous I wouldn’t do as well and would let myself down. It sounds silly, but I ran a crazy-fast (for me) pace in that first half. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to match it. I had all but turned off all thoughts off ever running another… until yesterday.
Mrs. R and I decided to run the Cocoa Half Marathon relay a couple of months ago.
I knew it was long enough that I’d need to train some (ie, get back into a regular running schedule without it ruling my life) and that it would be do-able after the holidays. I actually didn’t end up training, which is just plain nuts–I still want a regular running schedule. I don’t want to be a chronic race runner.
When I got to the hand off point, though, I knew I could’ve kept going. It was such a pretty run, and it went by super quickly. I took the chicken route signing up for the relay instead of the half.
I headed to the finish line to wait for Mrs. R, and I all I could think about it how I’ve been holding myself back.
I know–especially if I get back into a routine–that I can absolutely run another half. This was a fun change of pace, though, and I think I might be able to work a little on speed at that distance (it was a little longer than a 10K).
We enjoyed all the post-race goodies (it was called the Cocoa Half Marathon–there’s the real reason I signed up).
I’m so glad Mrs. R ran with me! I’m glad I have the confidence to step out and run another half sometime in the near(ish) future.
Sorry to all the Rev Your Lifers we graced with our stinky-ness after!
These Fashion Friday compilations were much funnier when I had my phone on me more often. I’ve got to find a way to not miss photos, but not be on my phone (will power, anyone?) because I feel like I’m missing out on Baby Gray’s hilarity.
Mostly, the phone itself (read: camera) isn’t the problem. It’s me working while I’m on the phone and one thing leading to another, to another, and on and on. If it weren’t an issue, it wouldn’t have been part of my goals for the year.
My emails no longer push through, but I still manually check them, just to make sure there’s nothing I need to do (I want to make sure I’m on top of things, and prompt, but at what cost?) right then. I’m thinking I might go the “Do Not Distrub” route since iOS has been so nice to equip us with that function. Then I still have quick access to the camera, but it blocks me from working until nap time.
I know it sounds silly, but it seriously becomes a downward spiral of “what can I do now?” I don’t want Baby Gray to remember me as working all the time. I want him to remember that we played, laughed, loved, and learned. I want him to know that my time at home with him is valuable to me. I want him to be my priority when we are together. I want to be intentional, present, and engaged. I want to slow down and savor every minute of this sweet time. He won’t be two forever.
I love to give gifts. I love picking out exactly the perfect item and then watching their face as they open it. My friends are always the most fun to do Christmas and birthdays for (I’ve also been known to give “just because”) since I know them so well.
I love when the inverse happens as well. Yesterday, Bean and I had lunch. We did Christmas after we ate, and the gift she got me was perfect.
See, I’ve been going back and forth about buying the Jesus Calling app on my iPhone (I promise this is pertinent). I don’t usually spend money on apps; maybe a dollar here and there but usually no more. Jesus Calling is $9.99. Wow. Way over my usual app budget. I downloaded the “lite” version and tried it out. I still wasn’t quite sold. (Mind you, had these been a bound book for $9.99, I’d have thought it was a great deal and never thought twice. Why is that?)
Back to lunch yesterday. I unwrapped a beautiful leather-bound book stamped with Jesus Calling in the cover. So exciting. Even better? Mojo (my “aunt name”) was stamped in it, too. The leather is gorgeous; the stamping it beautiful; the leather feels great in my hands.
The fact that the four of us (Honey and Cookie got them, too and Bean got one for herself) will be reading the same scriptures each morning will be such a great start to the day.
I used to be a morning person. Then I had a child who is his father’s son. He sleeps like a teenager. I no longer needed to wake up quite as early, and my internal clock adjusted.
I also like to work out in the mornings–when I’m actually working out. Yesterday, because I had somehow lost my mind, I woke up at 4:30 to go run. To run in the morning, I have to fit my run in a pretty tight squeeze between the time I go to sleep (usually 1:00 am or so) and time Mr. Gray goes to work (about 6:00 am most days).
Did I mention I’m also a night owl, too?
I made my way to bed and hopped almost right up at 4:30. I ran and was home in time to get quite a bit done before Baby Gray woke up. I ended up having the most productive day. I loved it. I can’t run this kind of schedule everyday due to some other obligations, but I definitely foresee 4:30 am in my future.
You know how sometimes something is really, really, really good and you want to make it over and over and over? That’s how I feel about these turkey wraps–every single time I make them.
They’re super easy, you can make them on one of the Christmas plates you’re trying to rid from your cabinet, and they’re delicious!
Grab a few things.
Mix it all up! It’s not pretty–but it’s good!
Spread it.
And roll it!
Now for some actual details.
You will need:
Tortillas or wraps (the big burrito ones are almost too big)
8 ounces cream cheese with chives
1 can Mexicorn, drained
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 1/2 cup grated Colby Jack cheese
1/2 pound turkey (I get my shaved, but it’s a little easier with thin sliced)
Just a quick preface: I am totally on board with Matthew 6:16, “When you fast, don’t make it obvious…” in general. Since we were fasting as a church, I feel like it is a good time to look back, write, and reflect. I do not publicly acknowledge when we are fasting as a family or individually.
So, if we’re being honest, and I strive to be, I have to say that I wasn’t really hungry last week while we fasted. I was aggravated, annoyed, and acting a little like a spoiled ninny-muggins, but legitimately hungry? Not really. If I got hungry, it was more because I didn’t want to eat what I had as an option at that time. It wasn’t even like a had a headache or any withdrawal symptoms. The physical was minimal (if it existed); it was all mental.
The Daniel fast provides plenty of options to allow actual hunger to subside. Again, being honest, I actually enjoy vegetables, beans, and the like–when they’re covered in butter or baked in a casserole (that’s a slight exaggeration, but still). I choose to eat them over other things many times. The kicker? Fruit. I don’t like fruit. I can stand most berries and the occasional banana, but I don’t enjoy them. The bigger kicker? I have an intense sweet tooth (I know, you’re surprised; if you are, feel free to catch up here, here, here, or here) and no strawberry, banana, or organic, non-sweetened fruit snack is going to suffice.
So, basically, while my husband was working through a juice fast, I was whining because I wanted a brownie and some crunchy cereal. It made me very aware of my husband’s leadership in our family. I am so blown away by how hard he works, how he leads us and lets me come around without forcing things on me. He leads by an example through hard work and excellence in all he does. I am so incredibly blessed to call this man my husband.
It also made me incredibly aware of how blessed we are to be able to choose our foods on a whim. We can eat what we want, when we want. We are able to go out to eat because I have on a cute outfit and want to go on a date to show it off (that actually happened and I wished we could have gone out). We are able to eat dessert, hamburgers, steak, or just about anything we want at any given time.
I know that fasting is about more than food. It truly is. I just happen to like food. A lot. So it works well. I was able to reflect. I was able to lean in more. I was able to press in and grow. I was able to look at things in a new light. I was able to think about my role as a parent; I was able to think about my role as a wife. I was able to think about my role as a daughter of the King. It allowed me to spend some time thinking about how I spend my time and where my priorities are. It was a good way to start the year, and just like last time, I think we’ll continue to use it as a tool in our life as we go forward.
I know I’ve shared this already, but I didn’t get many silly fashions this week–and it’s just so funny.
This kid is Aggie through and through. More than anything we’ve done, he’s just latched onto it.
He did a little work around the house, so he had to have on all his gear to accomplish anything, of course.
It’s a good thing he’s so handy!
A couple of weekends ago, we headed out to the Ranch for Baby Gray to ride his fourwheeler and take a spin on Mosey. He said he wanted to try to ride him with the saddle, so we (and by we, I totally mean Annie; horses are not my thing) saddled him up, and off the boy went!
He fed them all oats and hay, kicked dirt around in the barn (in his brand spankin’ new TOMS because I forgot his boots), and didn’t ride the fourwheeler.
Such a fun, albeit cold, afternoon.
As part of this week of New Year’s Revolution, we were encouraged to read Psalm 100 and reflect on the things we are joyful for today. As we have fasted, I have actually found myself doing this pretty naturally (you know, when I’m not pretending the strawberries I’m eating are a brownie).
Many things bring me joy, but I am so grateful for a husband who provides for us and leads our family well.
Our son brings so much joy–to everyone he encounters! He is a light, and I pray he will continue to use that for the Kingdom as he grows.
Blessings. I have been most acutely aware of this while we are fasting, but we have an abundance of food, warm clothes, and so much more. Our Father cares for us well. We work to be use all that we have to show others His blessings and provision.
