13.1 Miles for Change

Have you been dying to know what the deal is with my new found ambition to run a half-marathon?! Or, for those of you who know me well, you might be wondering what spurred me on to run at all?!  Let's just say, I waited 2 months to drop this news because as someone who swore I wouldn't run even if chased, I wanted to make sure that I could stick this thing out before I clued you into the process.  Just to clarify, you did read this right, I am going to run a half-marathon!  It's okay if you're in total shock; you're in great company because most of my friends are still getting over the surprise!  

This decision may seem abrupt, and in some ways it is, but the process of getting here has been nothing but life-giving, which is what I desperately needed. 

Here's how it happened: about three weeks before student teaching ended in April I started praying about what I could do to take healthy steps towards a balanced life.  After investing all of my resources and reserves so fully into student teaching, I knew I was going to walk away over-tired, emotionally drained and unusually unable to invest well in the lives of others.  I was drained in ways I had never experienced and I was afraid of how long it was going to take me to recover.  As I prayed about the steps I could take to move towards the Lord, steps toward restoration and steps towards other people, I felt the Lord prompting me to run.  

I have always wanted to be a runner but after a trial period for a few months my sophomore year of high school, I gave the sport up in pursuit of something less taxing and kinder to my knees.  When I started college 6 years ago, I stopped exercising because I was so stressed and stretched academically that I didn't have any extra reserves to invest in working out.  I know that working out has been scientifically proven to lower stress, but for me, the thought of making time for it, escalated my stress.  I couldn't balance gym time + school + friends + my job + my involvement in campus ministry + church.  It was too much and gym time seemed like the only thing that I could cut out without academic, emotional or spiritual repercussions.  I frequently thought about working out because my inability to make it to the gym combined with the stress-eating that accompanied long days in the library resulted in 6 years of gradual weight gain.  Gross.

  Now that I am standing so close to the finish line of my college career, I am ready to change my life and develop healthy habits to carry with me all the way through adulthood.   So why a half-marathon?! Good question.   The answer is actually so simple, it's liberating: I needed something that was built to be fueled by the daily commitment to the prescribed process.  I didn't trust myself to build gym-time back into my life and do it in a healthy way.  I didn't want a quick fix and I certainly didn't want to do any crash dieting.   I wanted something that relied on daily progress for long-term success.   I found a pre-training schedule online to turn me into a runner and then I found an official training schedule to build my endurance and mileage over time.

For me, running this half-marathon is about moving towards the Lord, allowing Him to restore my life and trusting Him to continue to be sovereign over my life one day at a time.   Training for this half-marathon has mirrored my spiritual journey with the Lord in so many life-changing ways.  I am deeply thankful that I have had the time to invest in this new adventure.  So far, it's been a good one!  

a little creative domestication can go a long way!

Because I am moving & because I am currently living off the last remaining dollars of my student loans, I have been intentional and strategic about eating the food I have on hand.  This is a simple concept, but what you may not realize is that I picked my current apartment because it was next to a grocery store.  Some of my favorite memories from the last two years involve me putting on my shoes, grabbing my wallet and walking to the grocery store to purchase items for whatever my newest kitchen quest happened to be.   Unlike most people, I love grocery shopping, but it's because I consider cooking more of an art than a necessity.  I know I spend far more on groceries than the average single woman, but it's because I'm funding a hobby more than an appetite.

Although I have greatly enjoyed being able to cook based on what I'm in the mood to make, rather than what I have the ingredients for, this season of my life requires me to be a little more creative when catering to my quest towards domestication.  I have been taking inventory of my food cupboard first and finding recipes second. Because I had barley, chicken broth & kosher salt on hand, as well as asparagus in my freezer, this recipe was added to my quest.   Summer isn't the best time to stand in front of a stove patiently stirring risotto, but with all of the thunderstorms we've had lately, this was the perfect dinner:

Barley Risotto With Asparagus and Parmesan (RealSimple.com) 

Serves 4 

Hands-On Time: 45m  

Total Time: 45m

Ingredients

• 5 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups barley
• 1 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1 pound asparagus, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan

Directions

1. Warm the broth in a small saucepan over low heat. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
2. Add the barley and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in the wine and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally and waiting until it is absorbed before adding more.
3. Add the asparagus with the last 1/2 cup of broth and cook until tender. It should take 30 to 35 minutes for all the broth to be absorbed.
4. Remove from heat, season with the salt and pepper, and stir in the Parmesan. Spoon into individual bowls.

Fairer Still, Today

I haven't blogged in a long time.  The thing is, I have actually had an abundance of time on my hands, and as a result I have made a conscience choice to slow the pace of my life and spend less time on my computer. After 2 very full, very stressful years of graduate school  preceded by 4 years of endurance-testing, faith-building,  undergraduate coursework, this break is much needed.   Despite the fact that I have intentionally slowed the pace of my life, I still have many details and insights to share with you.   I feel like I am finally getting to the place where I am doing more than just surviving because this time off has allowed me to stand before the Lord and let Him renew my life.  It feels so good to sleep long hours, read novels, talk on the phone, knit, cook, watch movies, connect with friends, spend time with my family and mentally piece through graduate school + student teaching.  

There are a few big items that I am saving for another blog:
*I am running a half marathon at the end of the summer.   In many ways, the last 2 months of training mirror the spiritual journey I am on with the Lord & I am excited to share more with you about that soon. 
*I got a job!  About a month ago, I signed my first ever teaching contract & I am looking forward to a stable salary, benefits and the richness that comes from teaching kids who have fragile lives due to poverty and disabilities. 
*Only a few short days after signing my contract with St.Paul, I started looking for a new apartment.  I'm thrilled to be moving at the end of July!
*I have spent a lot of time praying about the relationships in my life and God's desire for my relationships.  I look forward to sharing with you some of the things that the Lord has graciously shown me about myself, others and His intention for building us for relationships. 

As you await blog updates containing the big items listed about,  I am leaving you with the song that has been encouraging me as of late: 

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature
O Thou of God and man the Son
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor
Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands
Robed in the blooming garb of spring
Jesus is Fairer, Jesus is purer
Who makes the woeful heart to sing

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight
And all the Twinkling starry host
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast

Beautiful Savior, Lord of all nations
Son of God and Son of Man
Glory and honor, praise, adoration
Now and forever more be Thine

Chorus:
You are fairer still, today
You are fairer still, today
Precious Jesus, Lord, You are adored
As we worship, as we worship