A Dose of Perspective

Oh my dear friends, have you ever been served a humbling piece of perspective from a five year old little boy?  God used my sweet little dude to speak volumes to me this week.  The last couple of weeks or so at work have been extremely busy and I've found myself just taking care of one emergency after another between technical issues, assisting fellow coworkers, meeting requests from the corporate office, etc. etc. etc.  But, we all have seasons like that whether it's at work, home, ministry, etc. right?  This really wasn't any different than any other busy time at work, but for some reason it was overwhelming me a bit right now.

One thing I cherish so much in our home (even though it doesn't happen all the time) is having dinner together as a family.  I love the time together, catching up with each other and just reconnecting a bit. Now don't get me wrong, sometimes there's arguing, complaining or silence.  Monday evening, the conversation went like this:

Josh - 'How was your day at work?'
Me - 'Oh, it was okay.  Just a little overwhelmed though as I just feel like I'm putting fires out and not getting much accomplished and getting behind.'
Jayce - 'Mom, why don't you just borrow my Lego Fire Truck to help you put out your fires?'
Me - 'Oh, Jayce that's so sweet of you, but they're not real fires.'
Jayce - 'Well it's not a real fire truck either'

The next morning, Jayce brought me his fire truck, so that I could take it to work for a couple days to help me with my 'fires.'  I love this little boy's sense of humor and how God used him to remind me that these little battles I've been dealing with at work and at home needed a little perspective.  They're not near as big of deal as I was feeling they were and I just needed to take a deep breath and realize these aren't real fires and God's got this!

May you also find a little perspective in the midst of your battle and find peace in God's grace!  And if means putting a toy fire truck on your desk as a visual reminder, then do that too!

As we enter a weekend, I'm going to rest on God's promise in Matthew 11:28.  'Come to me, those who are weary, and I will give you rest.' 

Blessings,

Krystal

A Day in My Kitchen!

Clare with Peak313 just recently wrote a blog post that really touched my heart called 5 Misconceptions about Healthy & Fit People.  I can relate to these misconceptions so much and there have been a few times where these misconceptions almost prevented me from continuing to blog about my journey.  My health and fitness journey is just like everyone else's and I am a constant work in progress.  I have struggles, enjoy a sweet treat once in a while and some days wander if it's all worth it.  My purpose for blogging about my journey is to share how God has carried me through every struggle, success and/or just encourage someone else on their own journey.

My precious family has been sick on and off for several weeks, which has resulted in inconsistent eating, fewer miles on the treadmill, and laundry that just won't end!  These are just aspects of life where we must grant ourselves the same grace that God gives us.  Although it's been a priority for us all to love and care for each other, I've greatly missed my time in my kitchen (and so has my little man).  I absolutely love stocking up on healthy snacks to put in the freezer, preparing meals for the week and just trying a new recipe.

Both of my kids enjoy being in the kitchen with me, but my youngest tends to come 'running' when I'm baking on a Saturday morning.  As I've shared before 'Granola Energy Balls' are a staple and favorite in our house.  Since Jayce wanted to help me make them this weekend, I let him pick the 'sweet' to go in them.  He picked mini M&M's to go in them.  Was it the healthiest choice?  Of course not, but it is an option that they enjoy and one that Mommy can be okay with.

I love this time with my little man!

Ready to go in the freezer and be enjoyed as a snack or dessert!

I also need to share a little funny and epic fail from my kitchen this weekend.  For those who have frequent restaurants with me, you know that I constantly ask about sweet potatoes and avocados.  These are two of my absolute favorite foods!  I've seen several recipes on Facebook, blogs and Pinterest that are brownies made with sweet potatoes, avocados, applesauce, etc.  I finally decided to make some.  My family thought I was absolutely crazy for making brownies out of sweet potatoes and avocados, but that certainly didn't stop me from trying.  And not only did I make a single batch to try, I decided a double batch would be worth the effort.  

Here's a picture of the end result.

The picture is definitely deceiving!  My family were great sports and actually tried them, but along with them, I had to admit that they were bitter, the texture was no where close to the consistency of a traditional brownie, and they were just terrible (with the exception of the frosting, which was amazing).  Even though I didn't care for them either, I still found myself sensitive to the honesty given by the 7 and 4 year old.  They naturally went on and on about how terrible the brownies were, which of course made me upset.  I ended up throwing them all out.  After Jayce noticed how upset I was, he said 'Mommy, I think you need to go take a nap.'  We all laughed and appreciated his concern and recommendation.  I'm not sure I'll get my family to try this combination any time in the near future again, but putting avocados in brownies is definitely something we'll be giggling about for quite some time!

The lesson on this day in my kitchen... there are times you're going to fail.  When that happens, just throw it in the trash and go take a nap!

Blessings,

Krystal

From Bitterness to Gratefulness!

I've always heard how very different each child is, but never 'really' understood it until we had our little boy.  Oh, how I love this little boy.  He's extremely silly (trying at times), loves an audience (even when it's not appropriate) and is just down right funny!

Although, I absolutely love this little man and everything about his sweet personality, this post is a thank you on behalf of a little girls' Mama.

Just like with any child, some days can be hard and sometimes there are people who may unintentionally hurt our kids or us as parents, but if I've learned anything over the last couple of weeks, it's that life is short and forgiveness is crucial!  I just recently spent some time reflecting on all the different ways others' have blessed us through loving on our kids.  Miss Kylee is what most people would call 'shy.'  I prefer to refer to her personality as reserved and genuine.  Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to speak to a reserved child and not get a response.  It's also been a challenge for us to teach her that it is okay to be reserved, but not okay to be impolite.  With that in mind though, I absolutely love seeing relationships form with Miss Kylee as she gets comfortable with someone and develops a very 'genuine' relationship.  I'm also so blessed to see the joy in other's when, after they've tried for so long, this little girl finally opens up to them or simply gives them a hug.

Here's a side of Miss Kylee that not everyone gets to see.  She has such a fun loving heart (thanks to the dear friend who made Kylee this hat to support a friend with breast cancer).

Another special side of Kylee is her love of music.  We pray that she continues to use this gift for God's glory and we greatly appreciate all who have encouraged her on this journey!

I love this little girl with all my heart and have a little thank you to some very special people...

• Thank you to our dear friend who has watched this sweet girl from the time she was just six weeks old.  You have helped shape and love on her like one of your own. 
• Thank you to the elderly man at church, who goes out of his way to say hi to her each and every Sunday, even when she just smiles back.
• Thank you to the sweet man at church who wouldn't let Kylee leave church until she gave him a hug after he's worked so hard to develop a friendship with her.
• Thank you to the sweet friends who brought Kylee flowers for her first piano performance at church, which was such a big day for her.  You touched this girls heart more than you could imagine.
• Thank you to the dear friend who spends time out of her week to teach Miss Kylee how to play the piano (and to the special guy who picks her up after school each week to take her).  She truly lights up every time she plays and absolutely loves this special time with you!
• Thank you to all of the teachers and staff at her school and church, who love on her.
• Thank you to our sweet photographer who ever so kindly and gently is able to capture the beauty and personality of Kylee.
• Thank you to the dear friend who went out of her way to give this sweet girl a piggy back ride through a derby track just to show this girl how much you love her.  She just recently requested that photo be hung in her bedroom and thinks so much of you!
• Thank you to this girls sweet aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents who love her for the special girl she is!
• Thank you God for loaning this special girl to us!  We pray that You continue to give us the wisdom and encouragement daily to help her grow to love and trust You!

This list could go on and on and on to all the countless people who have showed their love to this sweet girl with countless acts of kindness.  Each and every one of you has not only made a lasting impression with this girl, but you've touched her Mama too!  May God bless each and every one of you.  May God continue to teach me to love my children just as they are and just as He designed them!  It is inevitable that at some point someone will hurt our children (typically unintentionally), when (not if) that happens I challenge you to quickly forgive and reflect on the many people and times that someone has loved on your child.  It will quickly change your heart from bitterness to gratefulness!

Blessings,

Kylee's Mama

How to Get Started

With a new year fast approaching, we all get excited about a fresh start and tend to focus on our health a little bit more.  I am by no means an expert nor do I have all of the answers, but am honored that a sweet friend came to me for some help on how to get started with a running plan and lifestyle change.  There are so many resources out there that it can definitely be overwhelming.  Here are the top 10 tips on how to get started.  Again these are just tips that helped me get started and have helped me maintain this new lifestyle for the last 18 months.

1.  Set a 'reasonable' and 'measurable' goal, as well as a non-food reward!  
    ~  Sign up for a race
    ~  A weight loss goal.  If weight loss is a goal make sure that you not only record your weight, but also your measurements (i.e. chest, hips, waist, hips, thigh, calf, neck).  Through this journey there may be periods of time where your weight may stabilize (or even slightly increase), that's why it's good to have your measurements too.  Also, please make sure that you don't weigh yourself more than once a week.  It is so easy to allow this area of your life to become an idol and we can easily get obsessed with this number.
    ~  An increase in distance or speed by a specific date
    ~  Make sure that your goals are high enough that you must develop consistency in your lifestyle to achieve, but not too high that you set yourself up for failure.
    ~  Once you reach your goal, quickly establish a new one so that you stay motivated and focused.
    ~  Establish a reward for yourself when you achieve your goal.  This could be a new outfit, new gear, a trip to the spa, a quiet day to yourself etc.

2.  Establish Accountability!  
    ~  Find a friend working on the same goal.  Workout together or find a time where you can touch base to check on each other.
    ~  Sign up on www.dailymile.com.  This is a great site to record your workouts, hold yourself accountable and encourage others on their journey.  If you get signed up on there, please let me know and we can help encourage each other!
    ~  Put your workouts on your calendar.  This can be done an app, on the calendar on your phone or find a weekly planner.  I just recently ordered a life planner from Erin Condren and will be putting my workouts, meal plans and goals in it.

3.  Establish Workout Plan!  
   ~  The Couch to 5k Program is a great app for beginner runners.   
   ~  Cross Training and Strength Training are just as important as running.  They help build strength, prevent injuries and help prevent boredom.  This could include biking, walking, weight lifting, push ups, sit ups, jump rope, circuit training, etc.  Make this fun!  I currently spend 3 days a week running and 3 days cross/strength training.
  ~  Establish Consistency - If possible workout at the same time every day while remaining flexible when 'life' happens.
  ~  Establish 1 or 2 rest days (days where you don't workout at all) a week to allow our body to recover.  These days are just as important as the days you workout!

4.  Meal Plan with the 80/20 Rule!
  ~  Take baby steps in adjusting your eating habits.  I plan on 80% of my meals being healthy.
  ~  There are a lot of great resources out there to help you find some great healthy recipes.  Here's a few of my favorites.
      * Dashing Dish is a great resource.  Katie has a ton of great recipes where she's created healthy alternatives to the foods and dishes we love!
      * Clean Eating magazine is a great resource too. 

5.  Gear - Take care of your feet!
  ~  Shoes - Good shoes are one of the most important things you'll need for this journey.  There are a lot of different brands out there.  Brooks have definitely been my favorite.
  ~  Mileage - It's also important to keep track of the miles you put on a pair of shoes.  It's recommended that you don't put more than 400-500 miles on a pair of shoes.
  ~  Socks - I also find a good pair of running socks to be equally important. Pearl Izumi socks are my absolute favorite running/workout socks.  They are fairly expensive for a pair of socks, but worth every penny.

6.  Get your family involved.
  ~  Go for a walk together
  ~  Workout together
  ~  Plan your meals together
  ~  Run a race together
  ~  Let your kids watch you workout (there's nothing like my four year old asking me how my run went).

7.  Track your progress.
  ~  Write down your progress in a journal
  ~  Share your success and failures with those closest to you for encouragement, prayer, and support.

8.  Don't let a busy schedule, weather or traveling cause you to get off track.
  ~  Most hotels have a great fitness area.  I have found utilizing them makes travel much more bearable.
  ~  Explore the great outdoors when on vacation.
  ~  Stay flexible in your schedule.  If there's a day where you can't get a run in, then change it up where you do various circuits where all you need is your body (i.e. push ups, sit ups, squats, jump rope, planks, etc.)

9.  DRINK WATER.
 ~  Quite simply drink water and drink a lot of it.
 ~  I would strongly encourage you to cut out ALL soda through this journey (including diet).
 ~  Most resources recommend that you drink a minimum of half your body weight in ounces on a daily basis.  For example a person who weighs 140 pounds should drink at least 70 ounces of water each day.
~  If you get bored with water, try adding some fruit to it (oranges, lemons and strawberries are my favorite).  I take a little time on Sunday afternoons to slice fruit to go in my water for the week.

10.  Enjoy the journey and take it one day at a time!
  ~  Find a bible verse or quote that you can memorize, post and just keep you motivated and encouraged.

As most of you know my favorite bible verse for my health, fitness and spiritual journey is Hebrews 12:1-2.

The key to my success has been planning!  Sit down think about these tips and develop a system that will work for you and your family!  If there's anything else I can do to help you get started, feel free to contact me!  I truly enjoy sharing my journey :)

Blessings,

Krystal

Fitness became my idol!

If you've been following my blog, you probably already know that I used to suffer a lot from migraines.    My mother has suffered from them for quite some time as well, so I'm sure it's partially hereditary.  Most of my migraines would come right after a stressful period.  I remember back when we went on our first flight with both of the kids a few years ago.  I was so stressed about getting everything caught up and ready at work, getting the packing done, anticipating what the kids would need on the trip, and the list goes on and on.  We finally got everything packed and arrived at the hotel close to the airport and I was FINALLY able to relax and then the dreaded happened, I got a migraine.  It was horrible as I wasn't at home, didn't have any medication with me, started to panic over the worries of recovering before our flight the next morning, it was just awful.  I did recover and we were able to continue our trip, but it was definitely a rough start.

I was so excited when after running for several months, I realized I was no longer getting migraines.  The balance between improving my health and a way to manage the stress of life, was eliminating them completely.  Over the course of this last year God has taught me a lot about priorities, making rest and sleep a priority, improving my eating habits (and that of my families), scheduling my workouts and not skipping them, and most importantly to seek Him during the difficult times.

Running has definitely become a huge part of managing my stress.  It's an incredible way for me to clear my head, stay fit, spend time in prayer and challenge myself.  Some of you may remember me posting about having a really bad run a few weeks ago.  I had given blood the day before and my body had not recovered before trying to run eight miles.  I was so discouraged and began panicking about running my first half marathon race.  After a good friend saw my post she wanted to do something to encourage and support me on this journey.  There's nothing that supports a runner more than prayer and a run!  It was so kind and encouraging and was just what I needed.  We invited other running/walking pals and got together early Wednesday morning before my big race.  I also asked my husband if it would be okay to invite my little girl to join us and let me just say this little girl was SO excited!!!

I can't thank all of these ladies enough for running with me!  It was a beautiful morning and I was so touched by how God was using each and every one of these ladies to touch my heart!  A great support system is so incredibly valuable for any goal we set in life!  Thank you Lori for putting this together and thank you ladies for inspiring and encouraging me!  I pray that I can be the same encouragement to someone else!

I experienced a great amount of encouragement and peace immediately after this run.  I was FINALLY to the point of not feeling nervous or stressed about the half marathon.  I had been over thinking and stressing about this big day for weeks.  I was ready to just relax and enjoy the experience.  Kylee and I then headed home so that I could shower and get ready for work.  Right after I got out of the shower the dreaded happened... I started seeing spots.  I couldn't believe it, I was getting a migraine.  I had been so excited to be done with migraines and couldn't believe I was getting one.  I immediately took the medication I have to decrease the symptoms, laid down for about 15 minutes and then tried to go to work.  I quickly realized that it wasn't a good idea to try and work and the symptoms were getting much worse.  I headed home and went through the painful motions of getting through a migraine.  That evening I finally felt better.  After eating with my family, my dear husband wanted to talk about my stressed induced migraine.  He reminded me that running had been a way for me to deal with stress and as the race began approaching it BECAME my stress.  Clearly this was a dangerous combination and one I have to learn how to manage or I won't be able to continue racing.

Just a few weeks ago I was chatting with a dear friend about how working out, fitness, losing weight, etc. can become our idol.  I praise God for that precious conversation as it helped put things in perspective for me.  God definitely used this migraine to convict me of this very issue.  I don't regret signing up for the half marathon, or improving my health and fitness, but I do know that I need to be more aware of the necessity for balance and not to let it become an idol as it did in these last couple weeks.  I found myself focusing much more on this big day than other important areas in my life, including time in God's word, valuable time with my husband and kids, and just not taking the time to praise God for what He's done in my life.  As you all know the first two big goals I set for myself on this journey was to run my first half marathon and to lose 25 pounds... my next goal, for the next 6 months I will spend as much time in prayer and in God's word as I do working out.  That's actually a pretty big order as I'm hoping to run another half marathon in the fall and you all know some of my long runs take a good amount of time.  My prayer is that it will help me keep my priorities in order, manage my stress level, develop a new perspective for my journey and simply draw me closer to God!  God has been so incredibly faithful through this journey and I'm excited to see what He has in store for this next year!

Stay tuned for my race recap from the big day!!!

Blessings,

Krystal

Watch the 'Spirit of the Marathon'

Several years ago my husband and I turned off our satellite and rarely watch television.  On occasion we'll watch a movie together as a family or I'll simply watch hulu.com while I'm scrapbooking, blogging or just catching up on some computer work.  At first I thought this change for our family would be difficult but it's actually quite wonderful.  We enjoy more frequent quality time together and when we do watch television it's very deliberate.  We also don't have to worry about what shows our kids are watching (or commercials).  I'm so grateful we had already made this change before Kylee started school and before I started training for my half marathon as it has made an incredible impact on our daily routine.

Last weekend while blogging and scrapbooking (in between some baking), I decided to watch the "Spirit of the Marathon" after seeing all of the excitement of 'Spirit of the Marathon II' that has just come out.  I highly recommend this movie.  It's an incredible documentary of several people training for the Chicago marathon.  An elite female runner, an elite male runner from Kenya, a single mom, a father/daughter training and running together, and others. It was actually really emotional for me to watch just days before my first half marathon as I reflect on the training, every drop of sweat and tears. The struggles they endured during training and during the race and the rush of emotions as they cross the finish line!  I'm so excited to experience this for myself next weekend!

If you need some inspiration or encouragement as you prepare for a race or are even thinking about running, take some time to watch this movie.  I guarantee you'l be encouraged and inspired regardless of the distance you're currently running!  I certainly was!  I'm looking forward to watching Spirit of the Marathon II!


Blessings,

Krystal

It's JUST 2 Words!

A little conviction today!  I've come to realize that there are two words that should be eliminated from EVERY runner's vocabulary!

The first word that should be eliminated is the word 'just'!

I have found that this simple word can be so discouraging to not just myself but those around me.  I began to realize the danger of this word when friends would ask me about our family run and I would say 'We "just" ran the 1 mile.'  God began teaching me a lesson regarding choosing my words and encouraging others around me.  What was 'just' a mile for me after training for a year was a REALLY big deal for my precious little girl who ran in her very first race.  I don't ever want to risk discouraging her (or anyone else) from wanting to run again by her feeling her distance was in any way inadequate.

The other dangerous word for a runner is the word 'only'!

Just recently I was talking about my training with a friend and caught myself saying 'I "only" ran 6 miles today.'  As I reflect on my journey over the last year, I was reminded when 6 miles or 3 miles was a really big deal for me (and on some days they still are a big deal).  Running is such a mental challenge and using these words can cause myself unnecessary struggles during a run.  I've since realized that when I'm sharing about my training, there may be someone who is just thinking about running and me using the words 'just' and 'only' could really discourage them from starting.  Or someone may be struggling with reaching their 5k goal and I risk discouraging them too.  Earlier this week a good friend came to me and said she wanted to get some friends/running pals together to run one of my final training runs with me before my first half marathon next weekend to simply show their love and support as I had a really bad run last weekend.  I was so incredibly touched and blessed by this and realized that just as I need encouragement once in a while, so do others around me.  I'm so excited to meet up with these ladies this week and am also so excited that my little girl is also going to get up and come run and support her mommy.  I have come to love this sport and lifestyle, and want to encourage others who are considering giving it a try or have been doing it for a long time and just need an encouraging word to keep persevering through each and every step!  

I know that I've been guilty of using these words when I shouldn't have and if I've discouraged any of you through my blog or through just chatting about running with these two words, I sincerely apologize and pray that you can forgive me.  I praise God for His mercy and grace every morning! 

Every single mile is an accomplishment and a part of your journey!  

Get out there and run a mile, a 5k, 10k, a half marathon or a full marathon... just run :)

Blessings,

Krystal

My Before & After

I've been working out on a regular basis for several years but didn't really take it seriously until a year ago.  When my dear friend suggested a mud run, I had no idea how much of an impact that one moment would have on my journey physically, emotionally and spiritually (as well as the friendships formed along the way)!  As I began running so many things changed in my life.  I focused on what I was eating as it was taking more 'fuel' to continue to increase my distance.  I still have a long ways to go in this area, but it's baby steps.  I also had to pay close attention to the amount of water I was drinking and had to eliminate one of my favorite drinks... sweet tea!  My daily routine and sleep habits had to be evaluated and adjusted.  I was really just focusing on improving my health as I was suffering from migraines and issues with stomach pain and not necessarily weight loss.  The weight loss was just the icing on the cake. 

After losing about five pounds, I found myself focusing entirely too much on what the scale was showing and wanting the number to continue to decline.  I had to constantly remind myself to focus on the bigger picture, which had nothing to do with numbers.  After a year of blood, sweat and tears I have lost 30 pounds (and 3 dress sizes) and find myself still wanting to lose another 10 pounds, get stronger, run faster, BUT I have to learn to be content and happy where I am at right now and praise God for the journey and just continue working to improve my health!  Over this last year, I've also learned that there is no shortcut to a lifestyle change.  It takes a lot of planning, commitment, support and love from family and friends and it's a constant learning process.  And I can tell you that it's worth every step.  When this journey began, I had no idea the impact it would have.  Over this last year God has restored my health, renewed my marriage and reminded me that my body is a temple and I praise Him for every step of this journey!  I had no idea that a year after this journey began that running would be a family affair!  I'm training for my first half marathon, my husband has enjoyed a couple of races and we're doing our first family fun run this weekend.  Nothing bonds a family like running does!

God has also reminded me that every day is a gift, celebrate and rejoice in it!  I recently decided to do a 'Journey' photo session with my favorite photographer Cherished Snapshots as a way to move forward on this journey, celebrate what God has done in my life, for increased motivation and for one other silly reason... to replace an old high school volleyball picture my husband STILL has in the dash of his pickup :)  I had so much fun with Jenn taking these pictures.  She has such a gift of coming along side her clients, create a vision and join them in the celebration.  It was so different having pictures taken without my dear husband and precious kiddos, but I have learned that taking care of myself allows me to take care of them the way God has called me to!

So, without further ado here is my before and after pictures as well as a few pictures from my 'journey session.'

BEFORE & AFTER

One of my favorite pictures of the entire photo session!  This is such a reminder of how I feel after the journey I've endured this last year.  My hope is to hang on to this feeling and continue to focus on my health and the health of my family!  One other piece of wisdom I would share is set reasonable goals for your journey and CELEBRATE when you reach them!  The goals I set for myself about 10 months ago was to run a half marathon and to lose 25 pounds and I was so excited to reach them both!  Maybe you celebrate with a new outfit, new gear, a special getaway, or a fun photo shoot, the list goes on and on!  Now to set some new goals!  Maybe I'll think about that on my next long run. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

Blessings to you on your journey and thank you for your love, support and encouragement as I continue and share mine!

Krystal

The Best and the Hardest!

Since I've started seriously training for a half marathon I've been doing my long runs on Saturday mornings as it's just too hard to do that many miles before getting ready for work and taking my little girl to school.  When I woke up this morning I got the biggest surprise!  Joshua asked if he could go run with me.  I was completely surprised, excited and nervous at the same time.  Like me when I started running, Joshua hasn't done any sort of running since high school but let me just say this guy is in incredible shape!

I had 9 miles on the training schedule.  It was about 35 degrees this morning when we headed out and just a slight breeze to begin with.  After we got past 1 mile I kept expecting Joshua to turn around and head back.  At mile 3 I thought for sure he would head back and finish 6 total miles but NO he wasn't about to let a girl beat him.  He ran with me the ENTIRE 9 miles.  I absolutely loved having him beside me.  He kept pushing me, making me smile and even made sure to protect me from the traffic :)

After we hit the half way point to turn around we had a terrible head wind and a few hills to climb again.  I'm not sure I could have finished this tough run without him!  Did I mention this was a REALLY hard run?  Joshua has always been incredibly supportive, but nothing beats struggling through a long run together.  God is so good to bless me with such an incredible man!

We were both FULL of smiles (and hungry) after we finished!!!

Blessings,

Krystal

My Ultimate Trainer

I'm currently reading Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure.  In this book she shares such wonderful wisdom regarding the connection between our physical and spiritual fitness.  I've really enjoyed relating to Candace as a Christian, a wife, a mom and a women trying to reach my fitness potential (which will ALWAYS be a work in progress).  Plus I was always a fan of Full House when I was a kid.  What a reflection this has been on my journey.  She shares that Jesus understands our struggles and various demands in our daily lives, which is what makes Him the ultimate trainer.  Although I've reached out to Jesus through many workouts as I wasn't sure I was going to make it, I've never really reflected on the concept of Him being my ultimate trainer.

Wow, the absolute perfect trainer.  He's the perfect companion, His service is free, available 24 hours a day, loving, encouraging, available in EVERY aspect of our lives, and the list goes on and on!  Just this morning, I found myself smiling while I was running as I was picturing Jesus on the treadmill beside me.  All I can say is I've never experienced such encouragement during a run as I did this morning!  This was such an incredible week for me as I have never thought about Jesus being my ultimate trainer!  Thank you Jesus!

Blessings,

Krystal