Beautiful Night

The minute I got out the door tonight, I knew it was the perfect weather run.

Sunny, but not blistering. Breezy but not windy. Warm but not hot. Shady but not cool. The kind of night that I’ll long for come the dead of winter, when it is dark by 6 pm, the wind roars at 20 mph, snow is blowing and it is 7 degrees out. When I’ll lovingly recall wearing my running skirt and hot pink tank top instead of 2 pairs of pants, wool socks, 3 tops, scarf, gloves and hat. When I my eyes sting from the snow and wind and my breath creates an icy layer on my scarf.

So instead of the 3 miles I had planned I did 4.35 miles. Just to take in the perfect night a little longer.

I averaged a 9:29 pace, which I’m more than pleased about, given that music keeps my pace up and I didn’t listen to music. Just the sounds of water, my foot steps,  snippets of conversation and my thoughts to keep me company.

Engagement Anniversary!

Brent and I like to celebrate our various Anniversaries! Doing so seems to keep things exciting.

So last week was our four year Anniversary of getting engaged!

In the summer of 2007, my sister Emily was working on Mackinac Island. I hadn’t seen her for months, so Brent and I decided to go up there for the weekend. I took a half day off of work and got a message before driving to meet Brent at his parent’s house and heading to the Island. It has been a hard week, as I was forced to decide to put my cat down. Even though Charlotte was skittish, she was my first real pet as an adult and it was terribly hard to put her down.

Charlotte

On the ride up to the Island, I got up the courage and asked Brent when he saw us becoming engaged. He replied it was in his 2 year plan. Oh, it would have been sooner than that, as we had looked at rings over 6 months prior.

Sharing a big hug with Emily!

Friday night we went to dinner with my sister and Saturday was our adventure day. We rented a tandem bike and rode around the Island in the misty weather. We had stopped and hiked (121 stairs) to Arch Rock and were getting a little crabby as we rode back towards town.

Ready for a tandem biking adventureArch Rock

Hair Cut!

Today I met my miracle worker (aka hair guru) for a little trim. But she had a better vision for my out of control hair and did me one better. A shorter, spunkier new hair cut!

Before (about a month ago):

Long haired Katie

After (on our way to a wedding. I also wore this dress on Brent’s and my first date, almost 5 years ago!):

I’m loving it so much! Just hope I can curl it like she did or straighten it or something!

 

Ludington Love

Last Saturday Brent and I headed to Ludington, MI to cash in the Groupon we bought for the Ludington House Bed and Breakfast and to celebrate our anniversary!

We took an alternative route due to a detour and discovered the fun town of Manistee! We stopped to check out Snyder’s Shoes and their Bargain Basement. Holy CUTE shoes, but I kept my wallet shut!

We got Ludington before we could check-in to the B&B, so we window shopped. I got a new pair of Columbia sandals, something I can walk in without killing my back.

We also grabbed a late lunch at House of Flavors! As soon as I saw they had speciality hot dogs made at a local meat market, I was sold. Sometimes I really crave a hot dog and it was one of those times. So I ordered a Chicago dog with sweet potato fries. The meals also came with a free scoop of ice cream and I got eskimo kiss.

We kicked back in our sweet B&B and super relaxing, comfy room (complete with robes and Crabtree & Evelyn shower supplies!!!)

Then we headed to the State Park for a 4 mile round trip walk to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse. It got really cloudy, windy and dark but thankfully we didn’t get rained on. But my new sandals gave me blisters 😦 I’m hoping it was due to the 12.6 miles I ran earlier and the fact my feet were covered in sand!

It was a wonderful weekend away!

Great Lesson

Tuesday was Brent’s and my THREE year anniversary! Those years have flown by and are just a short snippet of the lifetime we plan to share together.
I’ve learned a lot during my marriage.

#1 – Ice cream for dinner is acceptable

#2- Snuggling right before the alarm clock goes off, is an effective way to skip the gym in the morning.

 The biggest thing I’ve learned and have struggled with time and again is the freedom in submission. Sounds like an oxymoron, right? But no, God’s plan for submission to Him and my Husband is all about giving me freedom.

Prior to October 2009, I’d read time and time again “Wives submit to your husbands” and brushed it off as the custom of the time. Certainly nothing that a modern, efficient woman like myself needed to do. But God started working on my heart and slowly revealed to me the freedom, not restriction or oppression that Godly submission brings.

As I submitted increasingly more to God and Brent, I found myself full of energy. Energy that was often spent trying to prove my point and argue why I was right. I found that my opinions and thoughts were more important to Brent, as I was able to discuss things in a non-combative tone and manner. I found that I was free to pursue the things that I was called (and wanted) to do, as my time wasn’t spent plotting ways to win arguments and second guessing decisions. I found greater peace, joy and comfort in my marriage. I found that submission isn’t an old fashion relic of days gone by, but God’s right plan for martial success!

Fill in the blank Sunday

It is Fill-in the Blank Friday Sunday. Again, 2 days late, but whose counting? Care to play? Head over to Lauren’s and join the fun!

1.   The best prank I ever pulled was barely a prank, but I remember telling Papa that my sister’s head was stuck in the clothes hamper and he went to help free her and it was all a joke. Funny when you are 10! 

2.  The best prank ever pulled on me was  Not really a prank, but Brent said that getting engaged was in the 2 year plan the day before he proposed, so I though he was joking with me! After he got done asking me, I replied with “Are you joking?!?!” I thought he was pranking me!

 

3.  A day without  love is a day wasted.

  

4.  The most important things in life are faith in Jesus, family + friends that love you and you love back.

 

5.  I dream of   a sub 2 hour half-marathon, Hannah moving back to Michigan, an organized house, finding my crafty side and going on a cruise!

6.  I dread   the sound of the alarm, my doctor’s appointment tomorrow and a day without Brent.

7.  A discovery I made this week was   vanilla GU not only gives me a needed kick on a long run, but taste awesome and has caffeine. Is it bad that I want to eat it for a snack?

Greetings Galore!

My birthday celebrations were amazing! Gifts is one of my lowest Love Languages, but the ones I got this year were fantastic! Here is a run down of my birthday celebrations!

Saturday night my in-laws (Mom, Dad and Bro-in-law) took me out for Chinese! In case anyone thought I was getting old, I proved them wrong by competing with Brent in a spoon on your nose contest. He won 😦

We were going to go to a movie as well, but we were too tired. Instead we rented “The Other Guys” and all fell asleep! I also opened my gifts! I got some new fine mesh strainers, baking sheets, Anchorman DVD and cash. Woo Hoo!! And my Dad-in-law made me a funfetti cake…YUM!!! Yes, I can’t wear real clothes for more than like 3 hours at a time! And my hair…was it even windy? I hope so…

Sunday Brent spoiled me by taking me to Boone’s for steak! I love steak! We also did some shopping and I used that birthday money for new running shorts, running skirt, tank and capris from Target. I love their workout stuff, cheap, cute and functional. Brent picked up my gifts while in TC too. I got a new bowl and beater for my Kitchen Aid and the cats got me slippers. Thanks girls! Instead of more cake, we stopped at Tasty Treat and I got a Jersey Mudslide, a hot fudge, marshmallow, malt powder sundae. Later our friends came over for Amazing Race viewing and Settlers of Catan playing.

I was greeted at work Monday with a blueberry peach pie, card and book on decorating from thrift stores. Monday night was family birthday dinner! I requested tacos and mom did an awesome job making them. But the best part was the homemade cream puffs she made. Just look at my face, I obviously was not excited at all! My parents got me money and my sister, Emily, got me a beautiful necklace. Sadly, the pictures of me doing my best America’s Next Top Model moves with it are on her camera 😦

The gifts were great, but I really LOVED all the greetings and cards I got! Even a “Happy Birthday” left on my facebook wall brought a smile to my face! Look at all these cards, all with a hand written note in them. They touched my heart and will be kept so I can reread them when I need a lift. Note all the pink, 2 with cats and 2 with crowns…I am a Princess!

Bat bites the dust

FYI – We have an attached garage and the doorway to our basement is in it.

A couple of months ago, I was in the basement doing laundry, when I saw a flying object. I screamed and fled upstairs and begged Brent to go investigate. He grabbed our ancient tennis racket and went down. Minutes passed before he came up empty-handed and claiming I was crazy because nothing was down there. Later that evening, the racket we heard in our cold air exchange, let us both know that a bat was flying around somewhere!

Sunday I went down and put some laundry in the washer. Ever since the last bat sighting I rush to the washer and dryer, keep my head down and eyes averted, I don’t want to see any bats!

I was cooking when the wash got done, so I asked Brent to get the laundry so I could hang it up. Seconds later, he was pounded up the steps, slammed the basement door and burst into the kitchen demanding the tennis racket. I thrust it into his hands, as he breathlessly explained there was a huge bat down there. Moment later I heard a cry of victory, the bat was dead!

That is the second bat Brent has killed in our house (the first was about 4 years ago) and I’m VERY thankful to have him as my tennis wielding knight in shining armor!

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Sunday I got in a 7.07 mile run in 1:12:10. It was good mentally and physically but at a sort of disappointing pace. The roads were fairly clear (no yak trax), but I ran into some slush that I had to walk through. I also had to scramble up  snowbanks a couple of times to stay out-of-the-way of speeding semi-trucks.

Today I tried 4×800 in 4:16 on a treadmill during lunch hour. I got in 1×800 in 4:11 and about another 3/4 mile total, before calling it quits. The pain and tightness in my ankles, shins and calves was pretty bad and I could feel the pull up my legs. I think the fact I was stuck on the worst treadmill (and I was the only one running!) and the belt was so shaky/skipping I could barely let go of the sides, was a big part of the problem.

Tomorrow I’m busting out my last pair of beloved New Balance 767s. These have literally been the only shoe I’ve run in and they have been discontinued for a while but I always buy 2 pairs at a time from an online source. Now they are out and are also out of the 2 more recent models as well (768 and 769). I might find another athletic endeavor instead of trying to find another pair of running shoes I love like the 767s!

Worst Valentine’s Day EVER!

This tale was once told on my first blog, but it is so good (and timely) that I had to post it again! Enjoy!!

Flashback Valentine’s Day 1994

 I was really excited, this year was the year that I had started noticing boys and hoping they noticed me.  My mom and sister had the flu and I remember mom kept asking me “Are you sure you feel alright for school? I’m too sick to come pick you up, so stay home if you aren’t feeling well!” But the twinge in my tummy was not about to stop me from experiencing Valentine’s Day 4th Grade style! I had all my Valentine’s cards to handout secured in paper bag that I had stamped hearts on.  I even decorated the envelopes, I went all out!

 I boarded the school bus and headed for school. The bus was crowded and I was squashed in the middle of the seat with an older boy on either side. I was excited and nervous about this big day, I had done my hair (probably some sort of garish bang curling occurred) and wore something cute just for it (probably something sparkly with black leggings or my jeans that had zippers at the ankles…HOT). As the miles past, I began to feel sick and before I could stop, I threw-up on the bus. All over my back-pack and coat. All over the pants and shoes of the boys sitting on either side of me. All over the Valentine’s cards I had labored over.

Valentine’s Day was ruined. I was so ashamed and embarrassed to have thrown up on the bus and on the most “romantic” day of the year. Soon I started crying, so I was a puke covered, teary, snotty mess. No wonder no boys liked me! My crush rode my bus and he dutifully helped me into school and carried (at arm’s length) my puke covered back-pack for me. He hunted down our teacher to report that “Katie threw up all over on the bus” before racing out to the playground, no doubt glad that his 4th grade civic duty was complete! 

I remember sitting in the school office, just heart-broken. Then dad came to get me and had a big green bowl in the truck, in case I threw up again (I’m sure I did). When I returned to school a few days later, a stack of cards was waiting in my cubby hole for me, but they were all generic. No great declarations of love for me that year. But after the puking incident, it was no surprise. 

Even though my crush helped me so kindly that day, he never turned out to be anything more.

What was your most embarrassing Valentine’s Day?