grateful for ... insoles, almost

When I planned to start a "foundation for fitness" this month, I knew I would need new shoes eventually. However, I'm just not ready to plunk down the $150 that new running shoes will cost. Is it really worth the cost? Absolutely, but just not yet. I'm not running yet, just walking (at least 30 miles according to my goals). So, I really don't need those expensive shoes yet. I'm thinking they will be part of my January budget. I do need something though. The shoes I have now are almost completely broken down. I need something that will get me through the next two months, something that will allow me to increase my fitness level and not kill my feet.

So, I bought some insoles. I had planned to get the more expensive, fit to your feet insoles sold after you do a foot analysis (you've seen those machines at WalMart), but they were out of my size/fit/whatever. So, I settled for a much cheaper style. I'm not in love with them. I still get fatigue from a tiny 3-mile walk but they are definitely better than nothing! So, I'm limping along (ha ha) until I either break down and get those expensive shoes or I get different insoles. Either way, I'm walking regularly, tracking my food, and already losing some weight. More importantly, I have more energy and am feeling stronger. I can do 30 miles, no sweat!! Bring it November. :)

grateful for ... social media

Because of work and family commitments, I have not gone to my ward in a month and have not heard any of the announcements on upcoming activities. Through social media, I found out that today was Stake Conference, at 10:00am (not 11:30am), and was at our ward building (I would have normally gone to the Stake Center). It wasn't until I got there that I found out it was a regional Stake Conference. If I would have gone at 11:30 (regular start time for church), I would have missed an amazing meeting. Thank you facebook! :) 

grateful for ... friends who can talk

I am a very quiet person. I don't need or want to be the center of attention. I get overstimulated quite easily, which kicks off my anxiety. I prefer small groups to big ones. I prefer classical music to anything else. I prefer to sit in a corner and people watch. I prefer solitude.

That being said, today I trekked to Blackfoot, ID for an SCA event, Artemisia Kingdom Collegium. Collegium is just what it sounds like, college. It is a full day of classes on all things medieval from cooking to fighting to embroidery to card games to book binding to you name it, we have a class on it. It is an all-day affair and one of my favorite events. I love to learn!

First, I went to documentation classes (2 of them!). Yup, I want to start entering Arts and Sciences Competitions and I wanted to learn how to do the documentation. Then, I attended a class on strategies for winning archery tournaments. Wow! No wonder I'm not great! I also talked to the teacher about coming to my little shire and teaching some technique classes. Then, I spent the afternoon learning some embroidery. I knew all the basic stitches but it was good to learn a different style. The highlight of my day (well there were several) was learning how to sew gems on fabric! It was amazing. I really want to do something with gems everywhere. :) This picture is of the one I started. I didn't want to use all the teachers supplies so just went far enough to know that I was doing it correctly. Isn't it amazing?

What does all this have to do with friends who talk a lot? Well, I can't drive after 8pm. I can but it is not safe, for anyone. I just fall asleep too easily and have had some pretty close calls. I just don't start a long trip if it will go much past 8pm. However, I knew Collegium would go until about 7pm, which meant not getting home until about 9:30pm. Ummmmm, that's a problem. So, I asked a friend to ride with me. He's a great talker and kept me awake. Totally made my day! I was able to go to Collegium and stay awake.

It was a good day.

grateful for ... sunshine

It's true. I bathe in sunlight every chance I get. After a few days of rain, the sun was brilliant today! I went for my first "foundation for fitness" walk today and just basked. I wish I could have walked longer but, being my first walk, it just wasn't going to happen. After I came home, Georgie and I sat out in the courtyard for a few minutes and now I'm sitting in the office with the blinds wide open enjoying even more sunshine. I know that there are many, many sunshineless days ahead of me and that makes me even more grateful for today.

gearing up for November on purpose

In trying to do something on purpose every day, I found that I sometimes didn't do anything (on purpose or not). I need to focus better.

I did try a couple of recipes in my crockpot and they have helped me eat better. I'm eating more at home and not out as much, which is much better. I've also started tracking my food so I know how much I'm consuming every day. I wanted to start walking (to build a fitness foundation) but it has been raining for two days. I'm a wimp when it comes to walking in the cold, wet rain. I'll get better at it.

I also started getting up earlier (just one hour) and am getting a ton more done in the day! I swear that one hour actually transforms into four by the end of the day, I'm not sure how, but it does! It is a time management miracle.

So, on to November... and being more purposeful in what I do. I have goals! Specific goals. They are a great mix of fitness, time management, budgeting, spiritual, and work.

I won't share all my goals, but here are a couple. I want to walk at least 30 miles in November. I want to climb the stairs on Old Main Hill at least six times. I want to deep clean and declutter my entire house in November (yeah I'm ambitious). I want to live by my budget and not fudge it once! I want to finish two more scrolls. I want to embroidery a belt pouch. I want to create basket covers for my Needleworkers' Guild ladies. Yeah, I want a lot things.

Especially for November, I want to look for service opportunities every day and making sure every day has a purpose. I can do it!!

going in circles on purpose

Sometimes the only way to get from point A to point B is to go in a circle. At least that is what it felt like. I had meetings in Detroit this week and thought, "hey, I'm only four hours away from Kirtland. Why don't I just go in a day early and head on down?" Didn't make sense NOT to, so I did.

I got into Detroit about 6:30pm on Sunday evening and started the long trek to Garrestville. My GPS said it would be a three-hour drive but a closed exit and several construction zones made it just under four hours. We went, almost, straight to bed.

Getting up early we started our drive that went in circles. I know that we passed the Johnson Home at least four times, although I didn't realize the first pass until much later. I'm not kidding when I say we went around in circles! I wish I could map it out for you but I have no idea where we went and how we got there. I'll just give you the highlights.

Starting at the beautiful Kirtland Temple we got the tour. I dragged them across the street and into the cemetery were we found a monument with Wells on it! More family research to do. :) I knew most of the stories about the temple but it was so nice to finally see it. I had always wondered why that temple is so, so different from every other temple afterwards and finally had that question answered. The Kirtland temple was built so that Jesus Christ could bring the organization of the church back to the earth. He as able to appear after the dedication and do just that. This temple had a completely different purpose than our temples today, and now I know!!

After the temple we went to the Kirtland Visitor's Center, watched the movie, walked through the Whitney store and home, and the other buildings there. What an amazing family the Whitney's were. They gave up so much! The biggest surprise for me here was the size of the room where the School of the Prophets held meetings. Wow! It was so small! I just don't see how you can get 20 people in there comfortably, then add the pipe smoke, and the hosts of angels and that is one claustrophobic place. Section 89 was probably a breath of fresh air (haha!!). As much fun as it was to see the buildings and hear the stories, meeting the other missionaries was my favorite part of this visit. What amazing people they all are. I can see why Mom and Dad love the work and the people so much.

After the visitor's center, we stopped at the Morley Farm. I have to admit that this is one place I would have driven by as unimportant if I would have been on my own. I have to tell you...DON'T DO IT!! Another amazing story of faith and selflessness. The Morley also gave up their entire lives for the church. The property is beautiful. If I worked there, I would walk up to the trees and just sit there for hours. Seriously, isn't this such a serene place?

Next we stopped by Emma's, a small Amish store, to pick up some bread. We, of course, helped ourselves to a fry pie each and I got a rug and Mom got a stable for her nativity set. A couple of the quilts were so breathtaking, I really wanted one. But I was strong!! and settled for my rug. :)

Then it was back to the Johnson Farm. Wow. Mama Johnson had STYLE! I loved the house and the colors and everything about the home. Again, another amazing family that literally gave up everything for their faith. I knew these early saints did it, again and again, but to see what they actually gave up gave me a completely perspective. I thought many times about giving up what I have and doing the same thing. I hope that I could and would. The revelation room is as special as I've been told. You can feel the Spirit when you walk in the doors.

I have such a different perspective on Church history and the Doctrine and Covenants. I am determined to reread it before Thanksgiving. Adding to my living on purpose this month. :)

It was a very special day. I am so glad I was able to take the day and share it with my missionaries! Are they just the best!!

running on purpose

Yup, you read that right, running. If you know me, you know I really don't like running. Like REALLY don't like running. I would rather ride my bike for 100 miles than run for 3. Yeah, I love it that much. So this blog might surprise you a little. It surprises me a lot...and I blame social media. I might have to cancel my facebook account. lol.

I struggle with exercise during the winter. Here in Cache Valley, we get cold. COLD. and I mean COLD. And I hate, HATE the cold. I really need to move south but that just hasn't happened yet. Maybe some day. I'm putting a southern move in my five-year plan. But, in the meantime I live in Cache Valley which has great outside weather for about three months out of the year. So, I struggle with exercising during the winter. But, I want to really hit Spring riding with a good base of fitness. In order to be consistent about exercising, I need something to work toward. Something on the horizon that will kill me if I don't train. But I can't ride my bike during the winter and I don't want to spend a ton of money on a gym and that is my only option for spinning classes so I thought, running, I can run. Well, I can walk/run. And I can do that indoors when the weather is super bad (i.e. Jan/Feb) and outside on nice days the rest of the time.

Earlier this month, I signed up for the Odgen Half Marathon lottery. The minute I clicked submit, I thought "What am I doing? I'm completely insane! Oh well, there is a chance I won't get in." I felt a small piece of relief. AND THEN...I got in!! Ok, several deep breaths later, I decided this is a good thing. This will not be my first half marathon. And I have done this one before so I know the route and what to expect and train for. I now know how to train and have a plan. Since I am woefully out of shape, the next four weeks are going to be walking weeks. I need to build a base of fitness before I start running. In addition, I am going to go back to strength training classes at the Rec Center.

Plan for weeks 1-4: Work up to a 6-mile walk that includes the stairs on Old Main Hill once a week (but climbing them three times on that day) and go to strength training/boot camp classes 2-3 days a week. I have to work up to that much exercise because I would get injured if I did it all in one week. I am starting today with a 2-mile walk at a fast pace to see how my legs and arches keep up. Because I have a ton of meetings and travel scheduled for the next two weeks, I will focus on walking and add the strength training when I get back from Detroit. I also need to start tracking my food so that I am eating well.

No, this is not a plan to lose weight (although that would be a great side benefit). My focus is getting to a fitness level that will get me through a half marathon in about 2.5 hours. My fastest time is 2:47. I want to cut 15 minutes off that, which means much better training than I have done in the past. Here's to running on purpose! Oh, what have I done! :)

  I've started something on purpose!