Blessings & Snapshots : December 2014

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Run Tab Run

A goal of 100 miles...to some it would seem an attainable goal in a matter of weeks and others would deem it nearly impossible...for me, it kept me going even when I felt as if I couldn't.
After three months at camp, I was eager to get back into running and exercise. I made a goal to run 100 miles before the end of the year. As much as I regretted making the goal during the many many agonizing runs...and especially at the start of December when I had over 40 miles...I knew I had to finish. So I put on my shoes and found some new trails....and dedicated every other day to running (I gave myself a day off so I could have something to look forward to after my run.)
It helped that I had friends cheering me on and even running with me, Mom making me protein shakes after long runs, Dad actually running 100 miles too, and Audrey to take pictures and comment on all my runs...but I finally finished my goal right in time for the new year.

A few snapshots from the days full of blood, sweat, tears, and lots and lots of stretching...

100% never felt so good	Love runs on beautiful fall days
Just some impromptu stretching	My trusty shoes that got me through
Running on the Louisville Loop	#whatwasithinking #sore

On the Tuesday before Christmas, I knew I only had a few days left to finish, so I decided to run on a cold, wet, muggy, and miserably drizzly morning. Why I did is the question I asked myself the whole time...but I realized that I was out there with the marathon runners and tricked them all into thinking I was one of them...

Although I finished my 100 miles, I still relate to every one of these...

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas 2014

"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

Christmas 2014 was a fun day spent at home opening homemade presents, small treasures, and practical things that were bought the weeks before and simply wrapped up to be put under the tree. Although it's a little different than when we were little, I still think it's magical with the Christmas tree lights sparkling like glistening water on all the wrapping and bows.

"Christmas Is" by Francesca Battistelli, one of my favorite Christmas songs this year, sums it up perfectly...."Christmas is music and family in town...Christmas is Snoopy and Charlie Brown...it's anticipating that snow's gonna fall..." "Christmas is paper and ribbons all over the floor..." "Christmas is rooftops covered in lights. It's away in a manger, it's a wonderful life." But most importantly perfect said with..."Christmas is all of these fun things for sure, but Christmas is really oh so much more...It's good news of hope for the whole world beause Christmas is JESUS." Always love spending a day celebrating our Savior and his birth, death, resurrection, and life that has given us hope, grace, mercy, and love.

Christmas Spirit

Nothing like a little Christmas Spirit to get you in the Christmas mood...

The days before...

Picking out the tree and getting all the Christmas decorations up is one of my favorite parts. One day I decided to "put up the tree all by myself" with my little dollar section Target find. Eventually, we got the real tree and decorated it with lights and of course the classic family ornaments and topper.