Registered

I AM REGISTERED! Something feels great about it. I will need lots of support so please put February 15th on your calendar. I will need people along the course to hand me power gels and cheer! Keep praying for my training! It will be here soon!

Ratliff

That's what Stephanie Elizabeth McGilberry calls me. My old last name. I love that it now sounds foreign to me and that I have fully embraced the name of my wonderful husband. I got to see Steph  and Christina on Tuesday. We called it our Christmas party and had a blast.

"The Girls" (that's what I will call them because both of their first names are ridiculously long) and I became friends in youth group way back when. I think we were all Sophomore's in high school when we met but am sure I will get corrected if I am wrong. After graduating from SVHS in 2002 we all went our separate ways but have managed to stay close at heart! I love love love them! Steph teaches 4th grade in Marshall TX and Christina just returned from a 4 month long mission trip to Indonesia. I equate our friendship to the sisterhood of the traveling pants and nothing can separate us. 

LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!!!! 

Be Ready

This mornings run was the worst one I have had so far. 

Mistake Number 1: Didn't eat anything before I ran...WHAT??? Who can run 16 miles (or even think about running 16) on an empty stomach. I was dizzy by mile 4. 

Mistake Number 2: I have been putting off getting new shoes. The tops of my feet were killing me by mile 6. 

Mistake Number 3: I let my mind get the best of me and was in desperate need of encouragement. I didn't make it the full 16 but I also did not prepare myself to run 16. I now CANNOT wait to join up with my new running team. Please pray that I will keep pushing it to the marathon. 

ONLY 58 MORE DAYS

Rogue Running

I joined a running team today!!!!!!! It didn't take long to realize that running alone is, well, L-O-N-E-L-Y! After much difficulty in the last few miles of my half marathon I began research on a running program that would fit right for ME!! My husband's cousin Lynette trains with Rogue Running and she told me all about how wonderful it is to run with them. I went to the Rogue Running Website and found that the marathon training program had been in session since September 6th (which is what I figured) and I emailed the name listed as person to contact. Ruth wrote me back first thing this morning to let me know that they would be happy to have me join their program AND they would give me a prorated rate of $75.00 (instead of $300.00 if I would have started back in September)!!!!!!!! I am very excited and encouraged! She said she will be sending me emails with exactly what I should be eating as I train and we meet 3 times a week to run!!!

I will let you know how it goes! Other than that I have a 16 mile solo run in the morning to stay on schedule with them and will be able to complete it only because I know it will be my last long training run BY MYSELF!! HOORAY!

20 Miles

My 20 mile race is on January 11th. I still have plenty of time for training but am frustrated by pain in my right foot from the half marathon. I finished the half in 2 hours and 27 minutes. 3 minutes faster than my goal time. Mile 12 was the hardest one. I really thought that I was going to be sick but when I could see the finish line I was able to make it. This is most definitely one of the most challenging things I have ever set out to accomplish. I think it might be more challenging then finishing 4 years of college (and I'm not kidding). I have a goal and must persevere. 

I hope that everyone is getting as excited about Christmas as I am!!!

Jenny Squared

I have only known Jenny Helm for 2.5 years and already she has become my supportive friend. She cheers for me daily in whatever I achieve and will be the first to pray for me on days of joy and struggle. We do a really good job of letting each other know what is going on in our lives and speak on the phone an average of twice a day. I love all of what the above picture represents of us. A picture is worth a thousand words and I will do my best to describe this moment. I think it's pretty significant:

*Jenny H started her own business making the very cute and inspiring banners that you see hanging behinds us. She sold them this past weekend at her first ever craft show (BudaFest) and you can order yours at Helm House Creations 

*I arrived at the booth to root for my dear friend after completing my first ever Half marathon in 2 hours and 27 minutes. 3 minutes faster than my goal! *NOTE* the word "half" on the shirt I am wearing. I don't allow myself to wear the race day shirt until after I have completed a race! 

*Jenny H has been working out and setting goals and achieving much at Gold's gym where she trains. She looks fabulous and her outlook on life is pretty inspiring. She beams and feels great and it shows!

*I am still running and training for that marathon because of the encouragement of my dear friend Jenny. On mile 12 I was about to throw up and I kept thinking about how in a few short hours I would be posing in my race day shirt with Jenny at her booth! 

I know that this is just one of the many things that Jenny and I will  go through in life together as friends but it sure feels good to have a friend who brings you up and who you bring up. There are so many things that I could not have done if it weren't for Jenny H and I am so blessed to have her as a friend. I think that this picture represents a world that is wide open for us and we just have to run with the challenges and go for it. I will end with a quote that I saw hanging on a high school wall about a month ago, "The truest test of relationships is not how loyal we are when our friends fail but how THRILLED we are when they succeed" Jenny H is thrilled when I succeed and loyal always. May we all be that kind of friend and be thankful for friends like that!

How He Loves Us

KIM WALKER

HOW HE LOVES US

He is jealous for me

Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.

Oh, how He loves us so

Oh, how He loves us

How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us

Woah, how He loves us

Woah, how He loves us

Woah, how He loves.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes

If grace is an ocean we're all sinking

So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,

Woah, how He loves us

Woah, how He loves us

Woah, how He loves