On Running/Jogging/Walking/Crawling

CAR UP. CAR BACK. ICE. CLEAR.

     It was about this time last year that I woke up on a Saturday morning to those words.  I had a few choice words on my own I wanted to use.  My house is on the route of the Northside YMCA 10k Training team.  Who in their right mind would wake up so early...on a Saturday...in the middle of winter to go run? Idiots.

     Well, today, I'm proud to say that I am one of those idiots.  There are some days (most days, rather) that I can't wait to move away from Richmond.  It's too big.  I miss the mountains.  Etc.  But today..as I was running up Wilmington Ave. (at the halfway point..coincidentally right by my house, too), talking with Theresa (finally someone who runs at a similar pace!), I fell in love.  I fell in love with Richmond.  I fell in love with this new community I've found.  I fell in love with running.  This new love pushed me through the ice, through the traffic, through one, two, three, four, five miles.  After almost two weeks of not exercising at all, I was incredibly nervous and dreading my run this morning.  As Theresa and I were chatting (me, without a lot of breath), we decided that we would run 6.  My novice group was only running five (remind me to talk about the fact that there were only THREE of us with Al in the Novice group).  I was feeling good (you tend to do that after you fall in love, I think), and we decided to keep going.  I knew if I stopped, I'd probably collapse.  But we ran.  There was no walking.  There was no crawling (until we got inside).  I experienced my first runners' high.  It was incredible. Might I say, even better than the drunk feeling. We'll see if the soreness is better than a hangover.  I'll let you know.

     As part of my Lenten discipline, I'm working on what it means to be comfortable in your own skin- today helped me.  Today helped me learn to love myself a little more... it's a pretty awesome feeling. What do you do to help feel comfortable in your own skin?

Lent.

The Lenten season-

I didn't grow up going to any Ash Wednesday services.  While I knew the meaning of it, it was something that my parents never really wanted to do. Mom says "it just wasn't my thing." 

Up until now, Lent is a season that was never incredibly important to me *lightning strike now*. But I've grown to understand the importance of it. I've grown to understand the humanity of Jesus... What he did for every one- the unconditional love that he has for all of God's children. 

I've certainly never done anything for Lent. I've never given anything up. I've never taken anything on. 

When I was 20, my grandmother gave me some money to buy a (quasi) professional D-SLR camera. I loved that camera. I'm almost 25 and I really hate I haven't used that camera as much as I should these last five years. There have been a lot of beautiful moments I haven't captured. 

This Lent, I've decided to do the whole a picture a day thing. I'll post every Saturday with the pictures from the week. I'll talk about why I chose that photograph- I'll share a little bit of life with you lovely, lovely people. Excited for this Lenten journey. What does Lent mean to you? How do you participate in this season?  

The beginning: Ash Wednesday through Saturday (2/21)

Wednesday included a cancelled Ash Wednesday service, dinner with a handsome roommate (Bryce, not Stella), snuggles with my favorite dog, Cookout sweet tea, and a nail-biting UNC/Duke game. 

I love BTSR. I love the ways people love people. (Love note found on the mirror in the women's restroom)

Chicken eggs from Daisy Hill Farm- spending the weekend with my good friend and beautiful pastor, Colleen. Preaching on Sunday on her last day at Crozet Baptist. New things are coming her way. So excited...

I feel at home in most kitchens (hold all women in the kitchen jokes, please). But I really love this kitchen. The place where meals are made to share together. Where the eggs are washed, where the dogs are fed..where so many conversations are had.