Tackle it Tuesday

So a couple of days into a new week ... what's on my agenda this week?

• Training plan:
• Monday - skipped it!
• Tuesday - 3x1600 mile repeats 
• Wednesday - Core strengthening with a cardio block from Lindsay Brin
• Thursday - 5 mile tempo run
• Friday - Linday Brin Fit Friday Challenge
• Saturday - Rest
• Sunday - 10 mile long run
• Church books - I've been doing the books for our little church for several years now.  I'm a little behind on making the deposit (need to get that done) and getting the last few months of bank statements balanced...
• Laundry!! (when isn't this on the agenda?!)
• Pictures - I had pictures of the girls taken in January but haven't given them to anyone yet... need to get that done!
• Fertility story ... this is something that I really want to share but keep waiting to start it until I've got some time to sit down with it... I just need to share it.  I'd like to get one post out about it this week (I think it will take several to tell the whole story).
• Ordering seeds for my garden!

and just because, here is a picture of Karen and Lauren!  Can't believe how much they are growing.

Lent "restart"

So, Lent 2012 is more than half over and I have to give myself a big FAIL on my lenten intentions.  I had lots of really good ideas of things I wanted to do or give up to help bring myself closer to Christ, because at the heart of it, that is the intention of Lent...

You give up something that you enjoy, or do something extra to put yourself in the desert as Christ did in the bible.  When you give up something, not only do you put yourself "in the desert", but you create an "empty" spot in yourself that is normally filled by a food or activity that you enjoy.  When you couple your giving up of something with prayer, you invite Jesus into this new "empty" spot, thus moving closer to him through the 40 days of Lent.

As I said, I give myself a big fail thus far.  I really haven't made much of an effort to meet those good intentions I had at the beginning of Lent.  However - my old self would just continue down this road, beat myself up, and consider Lent2012 a fail... One of my focuses in 2012 is trying to persevere... and at the heart of that word is knowing that you can only accomplish it if you keep trying.  So, with three weeks left of Lent... I'm recommitting to starting my Lenten intentions and putting myself in the "desert"!!

Friday Randomness

I love Fridays.  Most people do, but being a SAHM you would think that there would not be anything particularly different about Friday over other days of the week... but there is and most weeks, I love it!  So, because my mood is a little "free-spirited" today, this post is just some random thoughts...

• I'm two weeks into my ten week half-marathon training... yeah!!  they say it takes three weeks to make a habit, right?  here's to hoping I don't "fall of the wagon" next week!!
• We have been having crazy wet, windy weather.  Which is fine since it is spring but I'm really praying we don't have a spring like last year (it lasted until mid-July!!)
• I just read through my post about goals and realized that while I'm failing miserably at some of them, I'm actually accomplishing some like praying daily with my husband, realizing that I am never, ever caught up on laundry, starting to work at getting comfortable in my own skin again... 
• Patience... still something that I REALLY need to work on!
• Jessica - I miss you still almost every moment, every day.  I can't believe my girls won't know you or be able to remember you.
• I'm already thinking about crider baby #4, if there will be one, when, etc... lots of logistics go into that though, details for that when I've got more time to write.
• Chocolate milk is a great post-workout drink!
• We are in the process of finishing our basement.  I'm thrilled about it, we currently only have two bedrooms so no room for guests.  But I'm also not looking forward to having twice as much house to clean!  Anyone else struggle with this?
• I'm hoping the weather lets up enough that I can run outside this weekend.  I have an eight mile run on my schedule and doing long runs on the treadmill is BORING!!!!
• My favorite way to pray is by meditating on the rosary while I go for a walk... doesn't happen very often anymore (at least not the walking and praying part).

March Madness!!!

Let the madness begin!! Do you love NCAA March Madness??  We do - my husband played college ball and has a life-long love of basketball.  So, I married into it.  I've always enjoyed sports but never really got into the "madness" until I met Carl.  Now it is a tradition every year.  On the first day of the tournament, his mom makes lots of goodies and several people are invited up to their house and spend the entire day parked in front of the TV taking in the games. I enjoy joining this day-long basketball-fest, but am finding with kids that it is not quite as relaxing as prior years - still fun though!

Our beloved Zags are in the tournament again this year (both men and women)!!  In fact, the women play here in Spokane, so we might have to consider seeing if we can get some tickets to the games!  We saw our lady Zags play in the sweet sixteen and elite eight here last year - fun times!!  It is yet another one of those wonderful memories of my niece Jessica - she had a FABULOUS time at the game... her smile at being there was amazing.

We also fill out brackets each year and submit them in a couple of local pools... let me just say I am BAD at choosing brackets.  I've been tempted to not do it because inevitably I end up picking the wrong underdog, and then feel conflicted in rooting for the underdog that actually is making a run at it because their win will mess up my bracket... :)  Do you fill out brackets for March Madness?  What's your trick?

Trying to move forward

You know how they say progress (or life) is two steps forward and one step back??  Well, lately I feel like it has been more one step forward and two steps back!  I'm still really struggling with losing Jessica and I think postpartum hormones aren't doing me any favors!  I had a couple of really good weeks in January (see my post about goals...) and then things have taken a nose-dive since...


I'm trying to get out of my funk though.  Last week I got myself back on the exercise wagon.  I started my training program for a half marathon in May that I want to run.  I describe that program here.  I also started doing workout from Lindsay Brin who started Moms into Fitness ... I love the variety of her workouts and the fact that she has gone through getting her body back three times, she drinks her own kool-aid, so to speak!!  My current favorite is her Fit Friday workout which is a cross-fit type workout.  It definitely kicked my behind and left me with that pleasant soreness, you know that kinds that feels good because you know you really worked your body?!

Finding the motivation to exercise is so indicative of how I'm doing in the rest of my life... If I'm finding the energy and motivation to make time to work out, I'm finding the energy and motivation to keep up on my prayer life, my house, my laundry, activities with my girls, etc.  Here's to hoping this trend continues and March coming in like a "lion" will be going out like a lamb!