God Is Faithful

Mickey sent me this verse from 1 Peter 4 after my rough morning on Saturday.  It came from a book he was reading and it was exactly what I needed to be reminded of.  I looked it up with several different translations and always  seem to gravitate to The Message and it's user-friendly language.  God has a funny way of reminding us of his wisdom sometimes...

^12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

Here's a pretty version of it from another translation---good for a vision board or the fridge:

source

Basically--Trust God. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.

He knows that if I don't get a break every now and then, I might blow a fuse, so he gives me friends who take me to the fancy restaurants and the opera so I can escape from reality for a bit.  He knows how looong weekends without plans can be and he gives me friends who invite me over on a lonely Sunday to enjoy great company, gorgeous weather, and more fun than more boys could ever imagine.  He gives me struggles so that I learn to cling to Him when times are rough and see how he gets me through.  I know I've been complaining A LOT lately, but I'm hoping to see things in a new light now and be grateful for the work God is doing in my life.  I can't wait to see what he has in store for me...now if I can just remember to enjoy the ride and trust that he's got things covered.  Everything is going to be OK!


Just in case I didn't get the message thoroughly enough, my devotion this morning centered around this verse...

source 

I may be tempted to get discouraged or throw in the towel, I may be tempted to let my fears and emotions get the best of me, I may be tempted to feel sorry for myself, but I am not alone...I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  Thank goodness I've got him on my side.

Oh, and I got a new supply of this Pure Fiji lotion that is seriously the BEST STUFF EVER!  I'm back in my coconut heaven...YAY!

I'm excited to try out the new sea salt soap too.  It's hard to beat good skincare products.  

I got a head start on my Best Body Bootcamp workouts for the week yesterday with some awesome strength and cardio burst supersets which definitely challenged me.  I was seriously cursing Tina as I did the downward dog pushups paired with bench popovers.  My shoulders were SCREAMING! The only things I had on the fitness docket for today were some cardio and core work.  I decided to tackle my 40 minutes of cardio on the elliptical with my kindle this morning.   I also have a "date" with Bethany Learn at  Fit2B to continue working on my transverse abdominis when I am done with this post...I wish my darn core would just heal already!  It truly is a journey.

The boys went to their play group this morning and made these lovely decorations...

Apparently Mason didn't like the messy glue too much.  He called it quits after putting on 5 pieces.  So far it doesn't seem like arts and crafts are really their thing...maybe because it requires staying put for longer periods of time than they care to put up with.  It will be interesting to see if they develop more of an interest in it as they get older, especially since their Daddy is a graphic artist.  

They do love to draw on their chalkboard, which kept them entertained while I got read this morning...

While they were playing with their friends, I was able to cross off everything on my to-do list except for picking up more toilet paper.  We still have a couple of rolls left so I can save that for my next outing.  It felt good to get so much done.  I even got to go get some new running shoes...

I am trying out a new style since my mileage is a little lower and I'm doing lots of cross training too...not messing with the brand though.  I'm a Brooks girl through and through.  I'm also trying out some inserts.  Hope it all works out well for my ridiculously flat, long, narrow feet.  Would you believe that a size 12A actually fit me?  CRAZY!  Brooks do run a half size big so thats really like an 11 1/2 but seriously, can you imagine if my feet had grown while I was pregnant with the boys?  At least my new shoes are much less "grandma-ish" than my previous style?!?  On another note, I learned that running shoes are important for the elliptical today.  I always thought I could just wear whatever since the elliptical is non-impact but it turns out I was wrong and the forward motion requires a running or walking shoe.  I'm glad I asked so many questions.  I can't wait to take them for a spin tomorrow.  

Check out my cuties with their shades...  

They have been wanting to wear their glasses constantly.  Colton is still trying to figure out how to get them on right-side-up.  Makes me smile!!

Booster Seats, Sunrise Runs, Music Class and More...

Last night we crossed a big milestone for the boys...they transitioned from high chairs to booster seats.  Boy do they think they're big stuff now that they can sit at the big table.  How fun!

Our night was pretty uneventful besides that highlight.  We did have a yummy vegetarian dinner though.  It's the second time we've enjoyed it.  If you like cheesesteaks and you like mushrooms, I highly recommend the Portabello Cheesesteaks from Men's Health.  Mickey thinks they're delicious too.

Their picture, not mine.  Mine looked almost as good...

This morning the boys let me drink my coffee and read before they got up.  I even snuck in the bathroom for some alone time, but they wouldn't let me get out the door alone so I took my favorite running buddies along for the ride.  They're such good company and love to rock out to The Kingston with me.  Here they are at the summit...

Aren't they cute in their jammies?  It really was a beautiful morning for a run and I'll happily take them with me as long as they're willing to ride along.  We got in our 4 miles to satisfy the half-marathon training plan for the day.  It was a little slower than I hoped but I usually add time when I add the bridges. 

I hope my half-marathon training continues to be as enjoyable as it has been so far.  It is reinforcing my love of running.  I also love having a goal to work towards.  It's super-motivating! 

We had a yummy breakfast when we returned home, thanks to Mickey.  I forgot how much I love hummus on a sandwich.  Mickey put some on our egg sandwiches this morning and it was delish.  I'm glad I whipped some up yesterday using the Forks Over Knives recipe.  The only change I made was to add 2 tablespoons of Tahini.  I must say it's the best hummus I've ever made in my life.  Part of its success is owed to my awesome Ninja blender.  I know it's not a VitaMix but it's the next best thing and fit our budget much more easily.  I love that thing!  I'm so happy to be finding vegan recipes I like as I work toward becoming a plant-based eater.  Baby steps...  I think I'll be more successful if I already have some tried and true recipes to rely on.

Mason had fun with my running shoes while Mickey and I ate our breakfast.  Apparently someone thinks my shoes aren't as dorky as I thought...

After some play time at home and the usual morning chores.  It was time for music class.  The boys loved it even more this time than last time.  I really hope we can get them signed up for the fall semester.  I love that I get to learn some sign language and other tricks while I'm there too.  I can reinforce what she's teaching at home.  We all know I need all the help I can get...

Today, Colton was very intrigued with the guitar and the piano while Mason wanted to march to the beat of his own drum...or shaker.  He was very good at marching!

We came home in time to squeeze in a quick workout session with a friend and then devour a yummy lunch.  I'm running out of organic produce but had enough to make one more yummy salad today.  Guess we're headed to BJs this afternoon.  Their organic salad prices are UNBEATABLE!  I love buying the big tub of spinach too and throwing spinach into everything.  

The highlight of today's salad was definitely the wasabi peas.  I love the spicy crunch!  

Make it a great day.  Don't forget to move!