My sister running :)

Today I started running again.

A lot of people run. A lot of people start their love affair with running later on in life, in their college years or in their twenties. Some even start it in their 40s and 50s! And they fall head over heals in love with running. I am not that person.

Running and I have a familiar relationship. Running is like a sibling to me. Is anyone head over heals in love with their siblings? No. But I sure do love my sister in a way that I can't describe to someone unless they too are that close to a sibling. Running is like a sibling to me and not an old friend, because I ALWAYS go back to running. It's a sure thing with me, and it will love me no matter what. Friends come and go, some are life long buddies, but it's different than a sibling.

Running and I became sisters so to speak in 7th grade. It was not a willing relationship, much like what I am watching my boys Logan and Owen go through now with their new brother Eli. Sure they love him, but it's not something they would have chosen for their life. My relationship with running began like that. Apparently I have a "runner's body" and was not in any sports, so my 7th grade coach, "Coach Jay", told my parents to put me on the cross-country team. And so there we were, my sister Leah and me, two gangly girls with high tops who couldn't even run 1/4 of a mile. I continued running right through high school. I was actually really good at it. And so I always come back to it. It's something I know how to do, it's something I know well, and it's always there for me.

I will probably run on and off for short spurts my whole life. Much like Leah and I talk on the phone... it's more about quality than quantity. I will probably never do a marathon (but we should really never say never)... but I will enjoy my 5Ks just like I enjoy my 10 minute rambles with Leah.

Now I am off to walk with my mom-in-law. 174lbs and counting... moving on purpose :)

Relationship and Muscle Building

So I have started walking twice a week with my mom in law, today we put in another 2 miles. To date we have walked 8 miles... that's AWESOME to accomplish before my six week appointment eh?

So for Lent, Brandon and I have undertaken the P90X craze! We finished our second work out tonight. We are both out of shape... but it feels good to move and get INTO shape. We'll be one hot family for Easter :)

The point of Lent is to refocus on your relationship with God, and I believe that in spending that extra time with my hubby, I am doing just that. It's fun to work out together, something we've never done!

In even crazier news, Brandon has given me full control over his food intake and I have promised not to mention the job search for these 40 days. This may be the Lent of building our relationship... I like that!

A week from today I return to work. Wow.

Life just keeps on keepin' on... and I will keep moving.

The point... discovering spanx

So last night I went to the wedding of one of my very good friends. It was both her and her husband's 2nd marriages and it was intimate and short and sweet and to the point. It was a lesson in how we should all think about how we do things in life. Let's get to the point! Invite only the people you truly love and care about, and focus on the marriage that is to come rather than the wedding that lasts for an evening. It was lovely. Plus I enjoyed half of an amazing martini... I wanted to enjoy the entire "Mango Crush" as it was aptly named, but I thought Eli might not enjoy it as much.

So, this blog's focus is moving on purpose, and I am using my friend Theresa's wedding as an analogy of what life is all about in general. So let me get to the point!

I've now been blessed with two pregnancies that ended in two amazing little boys. Each one took a toll on my body, yes, but the point was having two healthy boys and I got that!

Now the point is to revisit my body and get it back to shape. Again, let's realize the goals, I simply want to be toned and feel good about myself. In life I feel that women in particular spend way to much time comparing their body to someone else's. I feel that we do that with many things including weddings... so I am going to have a second marriage weight loss journey. A bare bones, to the point story.

In light of my new found perspective, I feel that all women should buy spanx. I know this seems random and off topic, but I had run out to Nordstrom Rack before the wedding looking for something that would make me feel gorgeous instead of a frumpy post pregnant lady. I was frantically searching the racks (as it was after 2pm and the wedding was at 5) when my friend Jess walked in the door. She was like an angel. You see Jess knows how to shop, I do not. She quickly picked 10 dresses off the racks for me and then led me over to the spanx section. She said I need both. I tried on the dresses, found one I loved, and then bought some spanx. I got home, put everything on, and realized that nursing with a dress was going to be near impossible. Plus the dress was a little tighter than I felt comfortable wearing for the evening. Alas I had to settle for clothes I already owned. To be honest, I own very little in the size department I am in right now... but I found a skirt and top I wore to a wedding shortly after Owen was born, and it worked perfectly... and the spanx, they just tucked me in in all the right places.

So, now that I have three walks with my mom in law under my belt, totalling about 6 miles, I will celebrate that move on purpose and keep on keepin' on! I will also celebrate the ability of spanx! And that they allow me to feel toned and gorgeous instantly and remind me of where I am headed. Because after all, life is short, and we need to get to the point!