Goodbye Weekend Sleeping In, Hello Race Training...

So it has begun! Half Marathon #2 for 2012 is scheduled! San Antonio, November 11, 2012. I decided this time I was going to document my training-- the good, bad and ugly. I am planning on documenting each days wins and losses. Here goes nothing! Week 1 - August 13 - 19, 2012 I started the week out and woke up early, put my running gear on and headed out the door. I was shooting to run / walk 3 miles. Well, in Louisiana August is one of the hottest months ever. We were predicted to have storms which means HUMIDITY HUMIDITY HUMIDITY. So pathetically, I only made it 2 miles, but I was happy I made the choice to get out of bed and go. Tuesday, I gave myself a break and slept in. After the day ended, I rode a quick 3 mile trek on my bike. This is really bad and I'm working on it. I didn't run again until Saturday and I did 3 miles. Sunday, I met some friends who were running 15 miles. I ran my 4 in 43 minutes with them. Forgot to mention, I bought new running shoes on Saturday. So far so good with the kicks! After the 4 mile run, I went on a 10 mile bike ride. My legs are pooped! Goals 1. Run comfortably at a 11 - 10.5 minute pace. 2. Strengthen core 3. FINISH the race!!!! Stay tuned for exciting running adventures! Love!

Let's Build a Patio... Day 4

Yes, this is one of the longest home projects I've done in a LONG stinkin time! I made like 12 wheel barrow loads full of gravel from the front yard to the backyard. It was exhausting, and I didn't get anywhere. On Saturday, my friends the Camerons came over and helped me. At this point, things started moving FAST! We filled where the gravel was to go very quickly. Then realized that we have a ton of gravel left. Soooo now we have new projects....... Until then... Enjoy!!

Let's Build a Patio... Day 3

We got ROCKS!!!! Technically called "pea gravel" ... but who's getting technical ... And yes, they dumped it straight on the driveway. And no they couln't get any closer and yes I forgot a tarp.

... now I get to move them to the backyard ... Oh lucky me!!!!!
Love!

Let's Build a Patio... Day 2

Phew! I'm tired just thinking about this... So John came in on Friday, and we went to Home Depot and racked up on sand. We stopped at WalMart after looking for large stepping stones to fill in because we knew we would be short on bricks. We found 4 cute ones along with plain ones. We woke up Saturday and started the project. In order to get to the bricks, we had to clear a nasty pile of firewood, flower pots and trash. In the process, we found several friends....

Yep, 6 snakes... John thought we should keep them and let them go.
Anyways, we spread sand then laid bricks and mapped out where the stepping stones would go.



After all of the bricks were in place, we pushed the sand in to make grout. Then blew it off and sprayed it with water. John got us some landscape lumbers to lock all of the bricks in place. We got some metal landscaping pieces to line the walkway.





Stay tuned for finishing the landscaping border and filling the gravel in...
Love!

Let's Build a Patio... Day 1

When I bought my house, I decided it was missing a patio. Growing up, we would always sit outside on the patio to eat supper or sit outside just for fun! Anyways, my house needed a patio! Paul and Leigh-Ann had finished the front porch with antique brick and had some leftover-- the perfect amount for the perfect patio!
Day 1 consisted of clearing the land.



Along with clearing the land, the land had to be leveled. A lot of work to be done!!!!!
Next I decided it would be best to put down landscape fabric to help prevent weeds and to help outline where I wanted to lay the patio.



Next up, John comes in to help save the day and lift the heavy things!!!
Love!

a little lagnaippe.

Haven't blogged in a while!! I'll catch you up on my world later, but for now, enjoy a little history from Louisiana! This is the history of the Mardi Gras holiday.  Mardi Gras was introduced to New Orleans in the 1700 on the banks of the Mississippi River.  The date of the actual day of Fat Tuesday is determined by the church calendar that is used to determine the date of Easter.  Fat Tuesday, the other name for Mardi Gras, is always celebrated 47days before Easter.  As everyone knows the colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold power.  The King's Cake is an oval cake in honor of the kings who came to visit the baby Jesus.  The oval shape represets unity of faith.  The small baby inside represents the Baby Jesus. The season of Mardi Gras begins on January 6 which is also known as Epiphany.  Epiphany is the day that the kings arrived with gifts to visit baby Jesus.  Fat Tuesday is the day right before Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent.  Lent is a 40day season of preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the day we know as Easter Sunday.  During this 40 day period many Christians choose to make a personal sacrifce by giving up something that they enjoy or could fast from.  Lent is 40 week days before Easter Sunday.  Typically it is and has been something sweet.  Many denominations celebrate a Fat Tuesday pancake supper. This ends Epiphany and the next day, Ash Wednesday, begins the Lenten season.

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are usually derived from burning the blessed palm branches left from the last Palm Sunday celebration. The ashes are blessed, sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense. This reflects the central ritual of this holiday, the placing of ashes on the forehead to symbolize mourning and penitence. 

Ok so this is my history lesson for today!!! Enjoy!! Remember what Jesus did for each of us by dying on the cross and taking away all of our sins in that one instant, not just during this Lenten season, but everyday!!! 
Lassiez les bon temp rouler!!!!!!!!

Grace

Grace. It's a tough word and concept to wrap my mind around. Ephesians 2.8 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" Grace is a gift each of us are given each and every day. Man, how wonderful is that!?!?
How often do we show grace to others? When we're sitting in traffic? Or checking out at Walmart? Or dealing with children? Or to people in our every day lives? Or to our parents? Or to the elderly? Or to strangers, people in general?
Since when did we all become so perfect we don't need grace shown to us? I'm fo sho not anywhere close to perfect! And obviously see that others aren't either. Why is it so difficult for us to show God's grace that was shown to us to other people? I don't know, but I do know that through God's help, I am slowly becoming a better grace giver. That's the only way to become a grace giving person. And let me be the first to tell you, it is not easy. At all.
So let's all show some grace. It'll make the world a better place!
Love!