Sad Day

I will be the first to admit that this is a first world problem, however when I read the e-mail I still was very sad. I ordered some running shoes about a month ago and thought it was strange that I still haven't gotten the shoes in. I emailed the online company selling the shoes and asked why I hadn't yet received the shoes (my credit card hadn't been charged yet either) and I was hoping that my order had just gotten lost somewhere in the shuffle of things. This morning when I opened my email what I had feared had happened, they no longer have my size or my shoe available. SHOOOOOOOOOT. Not so excited to read that this morning. What this means, it means I can no longer get my beloved shoe.

I am seriously debating emaling the asics company just to see if they happen to know of someone who has these shoes sitting around somewhere that I could buy from them. I love these shoes, they fit like a glove and I love running in them.

Sad day, I think I am back to the drawing board and have to go try on shoes again. Stink. Stank. Stunk.





Any suggestions for shoes?
Any favorite kinds I should try?

Thankful

Today I give thanks for the physician's assistant who perscribed me meds. Seriously, after fighting whatever I am fighting (she thinks my body is now battling several things due to how long it has stretched out). I am thankful that she slowed down enough to listen to what I had to say and trusted me that I wasn't just seeking meds but really wasn't feeling well and that it was time to give me something to help aleviate whatever my body is fighting. Thanks be to God for caring doctors, nurses, and physician's assistants. I have never been so very excited to pick up a perscription. Although I would guess most times I am picking one up I am generally fairly jazzed as I don't go in unless I am fairly sick. Now to hope that the meds to their job and kick in rapidly.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

This post will be rambly for sure. Feel free to read on and enjoy the craziness of my mind this morning.

Confession: I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Hunger Games, I was drawn in instantly, and I would like to note that I read them long before they became popular. The movie is good on its own as well, yes, I know there are lots of differences between the book and the movie.... however they must be viewed semi-separately. They can't include all the glorious details of the book in the movie it would be 65 hours long!Anyways... I love the books and the movie. I was captivated and drawn in.

Anyways... The phrase "may the odds be ever in your favor" frequently runs through my head. I text it to a few of my friends the morning of rally Sunday (kick off of Sunday school and really the fall church year), as I begin a run (in my head) I say it and everyone I pass I pretend is competing against me. When I get on the treadmill at the Y (which I try to avoid treadmills) I am totally racing the person next to me, it doesn't matter how long they have been on or if they are even walking, we are racing. Somehow this foolishness motivates me. Seriously. I am a strange duck I think.

I know the phrase doesn't work fairly quickly, no I am not out to kill everyone around me and I am not trying to be the last one standing, however some days the phrase just carries me. Yes, there are lots of other phrases that carry me that are probably much better however, I still love this one. I love the drive and the determination of Katniss to beat the odds and rise above when no one thinks she will. I love the way in which it is assumed she will not return and death will be the victor, I love that she faces the impossible and overcomes. I love that at the end of the day death will not be my victor either, I know that death (while still really really painful for friends and family of those who have died) does not have the final say rather life and life and life abundantly in and through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. There rests my hope, in the triune God, who continues to mold me and transform me, who continues to transform the world around me.

Totally unrelated: a dear friend of mine took some pictures of my fiance and I on Sunday (she supposidly isn't a professional photographer but rocks and could be if she wanted). Yesterday I got a cd of teh pictures and they are super fun! We had brought Dakota along and she played along really well. We had a blast hanging out at the arb and taking photos. Here are a few for you to enjoy. I love my sweet puppy and my fabulous fiance. I love the photos. It was hard to pick which ones to put up here, they all turned out amazingly. You may end up seeing a few more because I love them so much. Now to pick out which ones to hang in my house.

Do you have any phrases that motivate you?

What are your favorite books?

Sick

Dear sickness invading my body,
   You have had your four days and I am over you, okay so I am clearly not over you as I still feel like crap. I have tried going to the doctor (which for me is a huge step) and they say you are viral and there is nothing I can do other than let my body battle you. I am annoyed with you. My throat hurts and my nose is like a faucet. I am taking vitamin c to combat you as well as drinking far more water than I can fathom. Yesterday I tried to flush you out with over 150 ounces of water. Leave me alone.
    Truth be told what annoys me more than being sick is the training you are screwing up. Do you know that I am running a half marathon on the 20th? While I am thankful you didn't show up over that weekend, I am still over the top annoyed. I can't make up for the training lost or the miles I wish I had run. I can't make up for wanting to get in one more super hard long run and you screwed it up. Three-fourths of the way through you make me incapable of finishing what I had started, I was coughing and my throat stinging. You annoy me. GO AWAY and do not come back, you aren't welcome.
     When you leave please also don't go to anyone else. So far you have stayed away from my fiance (which I am not certain how as he as sat on the couch next to me as I coughed and coughed and coughed, not to mention he leans over and kisses me goodnight when he is leaving each night) please continue to do so. I need to keep training, I need to keep running, I need to be able to talk on the phone to run and not sound like I do. So please please please, leave me alone.
Love,
  Me

Family Faith Journey

Family Faith Journey logo
created by our amazing office manager

It is an honor and a priveledge to walk along side families this year as we explore the Old Testament. I was skeptical but God kept giving me the nudge saying: go ahead, I am with you, go for it, dive in deep. So as a congregation we dove in deep, we took out walls, we bought some tables, (working on getting chairs),the vision was cast, hundreds of conversations were had, and Family Faith Journey began. It isn't Sunday School as the 1960's knew it (not that I remember the 1960s however you get my point). Second-fourth graders gather with their parent(s)/adult figure in their lives come together to learn and grow, to hear the stories, to wrestle with what they mean, to ask the big questions, and wonder what God is calling us to do or who we are called to be.
We gather as families. The Family Faith Journey continues to transform and grow into what the families need it to be. The Family Faith Journey is inviting other families to join us, each week since we began we have been seeing an increaed number of people joining in the journey, coming alongside one another, praying, growing, discovering, being the body of Christ. We proudly celebrate our differnces and our likeness. We rejoice in the way God created all people. We ask the big questions, we pray, we get frustrated, we grow, we learn, and we love.

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins - Review

This past week I made some delightful pumpkin streusel muffins that I found on pintrest (I LOVE pintrest). Here is the pin.

I followed the recipe exactly as it is written. It made 12 muffins although I think there was a ton of dough and could have easily made 18 muffins just as easily. If you make 12 know that your muffin cups will be super full, but it does still work out fine. This was a super easy recipe to make. I made them for our all board retreat at church, they were gone fast. I am making them again this week (I think I am going to take them down to my brother & his girlfriend).

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the cinnamon streusel topping:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

For the glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.

To make the streusel topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, butter, eggs and vanilla.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray. Sprinkle with reserved topping, using your fingertips to gently press the crumbs into the batter.

Place into oven and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

To make the glaze, combine confectioners’ sugar, butter and milk. Whisk until smooth. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar as needed.

When the muffins are done, cool for 10 minutes and drizzle the glaze on each muffin.

Allow glaze to set before serving.

September Foodie Pen Pal

This month my foodie pen pal package was the gift that keeps on giving. I LOVED IT! I'll give ya the break down on my opinion of it all. I received my package from Bethany at One Girl's Taste On Life. (I am now following her blog as well, it is fun to read, I encourage you to check it out)

Apple Butter: Confession, I had never eaten apple butter until I got it in the mail. It was absolutely delightful. I find myself trying to not eat it on my toast every morning so it will last a little longer.

Apple Cider: Sooooo yummy, I have already had a couple cups. Sooo gooood, this time of year I can't help but just keep drinking it.

Garlic Butter: Delightful. My fiance thinks we need to eat a ton of pasta right now so we have an excuse to just eat the garlic bread with this amazing seasoning.

Grilling/Seasoning Rub: WONDERFUL blend of spices that taste AMAZING on both steak and burgers (all we have tried it on so far, but we are scheming up other things to try it on as well)

Evening Mocha Sachel: Definitely not edible but smells delightful! I put it in my living room and it spreads through my whole house.

Hickory smoked Bacon salt: My fiance tried this one before me, he attempted to take it back to his apartment before I even got a sample. It is great. She nailed it on the head of our love of bacon, (she saw on my blog earlier about baconfest and thought I would appreciate this bacon salt, and I definitely do!)


THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Your package was amazing Bethany!!!