Life at 35

As the high school choir sang the Trace Adkins song You're Gonna Miss This, I began reflecting on my own secondary school experience. My cousin crossed the stage to get her diploma, and memories of my youth filled my mind.

Did I miss it? NO.

Not even a little. Surely there were perks to being a high school kid, but they aren't what stick out most in my mind. Memories of high school, college, and my early adult life only lead me to the conclusion that life does indeed begin at 30. Or rather that's around when my really started to get good.

Here's why:

1. This guy
   
   Never will you hear me claim our relationship to be perfect. He has his faults and I certainly have mine, but we work well together.
   
   In social respects, we're the classic opposites attract. I'm a social butterfly and he'd be a hermit if given the opportunity.
   
   When it comes to frugality we're a perfect match. I love it when he opens our financial spreadsheet and he talks nerdy to me.
   
   (Which reminds me - my 5 year plan puts me to age 40. EEK!)
   
   Whether it be our next investment or How can I not love a man who can nap and rub my feet simultaneously? A man who loves traveling the country (and the world) with me.
   Which leads me to...
2. Choose-your-own-adventure
   
   For a couple who decided early on in our relationship to aim for big vacations every-other year, we have far more adventures in our (imaginary) scrapbook than our 7 married years would imply.
   
   We've been to California, Hawaii, Maine, the Caribbean, the Grand Canyon & Las Vegas. And of course our latest vacation could be considered the most epic, visiting 7 total countries in 16 days.
   
3. Quirks
   
   Not only am I learning how to love someone who can be so different than me at times, I'm also learning to love myself.
   
   More than that, I'm becoming comfortable in my skin. In the words of Jamie,  The Very Worst Missionary, "Not everyone likes you. Get comfortable with that...trust me, it's liberating."
   
   
   
   While I wouldn't say I have what youths call haters, I certainly have plenty of people who don't get me. Whether is a lack of appreciation for my personal brand of humor, or a misunderstanding for my honesty, I'm not everyone's cup of tea.
   
   Jay loves me, accepts me, not despite of who am I but because of it. Same with the good friends I've made in the past decade of my life. They know I'm crazier than a bag of raccoons and are totally cool with it.
   With this acceptance and self realization, I'm settling into my own quirky style. Whether I'm finding a way to wear my Arizona Cardinals tee to work, or my Captain America tank to church, I love an outfit that's comfortable, pretty, and like nothing anyone else would wear.
   
   
4. Mission
   
   Last week, I won this necklace on a blog giveaway. Blending personal style and my life's mission, it seemed to be speaking directly to me.

   "Work While You Wish"

   My calling isn't in the future when circumstances are different. When I find a church which accepts my gift of teaching. When I'm finally called into the mission field. When I have a large social media platform or a book deal.
   
   My calling begins each morning when I get out of bed and start my day. I live on-mission as I drive into work, or go for a run, or sit down to compose a blog.
   
   This realization has taken me a while - both to know and to accept. Its most certainly a work in progress, but I'm getting there.
    
5. Wisdom
   
   Whether it be money, knowledge, or an appreciation for talent I've never been this wealthy before. Not that I consider myself rich, genius-smart, or uber-talented, but I can appreciate the assets I do have.
   
   I have a better perspective on life, both who I am and what the real world looks like. Pick an area of life and I'm coming to realize that some have it better and some have it worse: sanity, financial, family, occupation. Although with each day I'm starting to think I'm more in the "better" column.
   
   If this is what comes with maturing for 35 years, my 70th birthday should be a blast!

Join us by linking up your  "Perks of Being {age}" post with Kelly aka Mrs Disciple.

What has been your favorite season of life so far?
Is there any particular year you'd like to go back and relive?

Gratitude - In Pictures

Friday

pedicure!

Saturday

Bush's museum + dinner with my parents, sister, BIL, niece & nephew

Sunday

rafting with the run crew

Monday

Jump Jam birthday party for a friend

Tuesday

card writing ministry at church

Wednesday

dinner prepared by niece with my parents & nephew

seat-belt for the little man's tricycle

Thursday

y'all know how much i dislike photos of my legs, but i heart a good cropping tool.

Friday
 movie night with my darling
watched: Snatch & The Lone Ranger

Saturday
 picnic at the park with Bible study crew

Sunday

Monday
 more track work and dinner w/the socialites

Tuesday
last game of the regular season
first game Jay and I have attended all year

Wednesday
safety awareness training (+ run + dinner) with the run crew

I also had Thursday/Friday plans to round out my week, but those fell through. I'm scheduling this post, in hopes that I'll have time over the holiday weekend to rest up and regroup from all this excitement.

 

What's on tap for you and your crew this holiday weekend?

KTC Scavenger Run

These days, my blogs have been a bit picture heavy. Unfortunately, I'm not all that great of a photographer. There are just some adventures words aren't adequate to cover. The annual Knoxville Track Club Scavenger Run is one such event.

Our fearless leader creates rhyming clues to lead us from point to point and numbers us off like in gym class to form teams. A certain PINK friend of mine showed up a bit late, after we'd already broken up into teams, so we were more than glad to welcome her to team Purple People Eaters.

The boys named our team because of my outfit. YES, even my shoes were purple. And YES,  I did wear the purple ones to match. Too much? I suppose it depends on who ya ask.

Our first clue, and team picture took us a block up the road to the Melting Pot. We didn't get the restaurant logo in the picture, but as you can see above, it was pretty obvious where we were. (Please tell me you get it!)

The Masonic Temple was referenced with "secret hand shake" so we all joined hands. I guess my left hand was feeling a bit left out and decided to get wild?

Our adventures took us to a graveyard...

and to a speak-easy with an off-putting painting above the fireplace. (The kid is so creepy he photographs as a glare.)

A K-town event isn't complete without a power "T" - I'm the "U" of "UT" - I thought it was pretty self explanatory, but my darling love thought I was doing the "touchdown" signal.

The World's Fair Park is another "must" on the list of Knoxville "musts." We rocked out for a moment before moving on.

Our final stop of the evening was a rental car business. Celebrating the "we'll pick you up" claim, we got a bit creative with this one. Apparently we had a creeper photo-bombing the background (notice the eyeballs peaking up over my shoulder.)




Gretchen and I have another fun run planned tomorrow. For my birthday we - along with Amy and Christal (4 out of 6 from our Ragnar team van) - are going to do a Mud Run. I'm not sure we'll be able to find a way to bring a camera along, but knowing those girls we'll find a way to make pictures happen!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Dolly!!

I wasn't able to get any great photos at the Dolly Parton Concert on Wednesday, but this certainly was a great moment! Dolly singing Coat of Many Colors live made me tear up, of course the song always has that affect on me.

Jay has been dealing with hella bad allergies this week, so my friend Kristi went with me to the show.

We clapped, danced, and sang along where appropriate (Apple Jack, 2 Doors Down, 9 to 5, and Islands in the Stream.)

She also sang some songs from her new album. I didn't know any of the words but she was still fun to hear (and watch!!)

She ended the night with I Will Always Love You, and of course we swayed along.

I need to do better about keeping my real camera charged for moments like this. The phone is all well and good for selfies and goofy race photos, but being on the 30th row I have no excuse for not getting better pictures than this!!

Once in a Lifetime?

Earlier this week, Jay & I looked at a cabin we are interested in purchasing. On the back deck, I snapped this picture.

The property overlooks a river, and has beautiful surroundings. My intention was to make this my "best shot" I shared this week.

HOWEVER

Odd as it may seem, I've owned more real estate than cars in my life. Heck - I've owned more houses than cars!! (That is assuming that my car that I brought into the marriage is mine and his cars are his.) 

Yesterday, I had to pull over on the side of the road and take a picture of something so rare, I've never seen it in my lifetime. Discussing it over dinner with my parents, its not anything they have ever seen either. Not to say, of course, that I'll never see it again, but Quinn will always be my first.

The first car I ever paid for,

My first brand new car,

and now

My first car to ever hit 200,000 miles.

Thanks for the memories babe! 

And cups up to another 100,000!!

Landscaping Laziness

Since neither Jay nor I have the patience to deal with the maintenance of landscaping, he came up with a genius fix that still allows us to have curb appeal.

Instead of mulching and weeding, he ordered a truck-full of rocks to spread around the perennial bushes which came with the house.

He laid it all (with a bit of help from a buddy and my father) over weed barrier to help save on labor costs.

I'm pleased with how well it turned out! He had quiet a few rocks left over. Next week I hope to share pictures of the creative ways he finished up the pile.

If you'd like to link up, hitting us with your best shot, check out Nancy's blog.

Paradise

Every week, Nancy challenges her readers to "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." I'm not a photographer, so every entry of mine has always been of a goofy/cool subject matter. I'm gonna switch things up this week.

Courtesy of the good Lord, I have a picture work sharing. Not because of the camera I used (my phone) or my (lack of) photography skills, but a subject matter so beautiful it was impossible to screw up.

Several comments on past blogs have suggested I live in paradise.  I'm inclined to agree.

Frugal Date Night - Outdoor Movie

As a couple without kids, Jay and I are as purposeful as we should probably be about designating date nights. Sure we spend plenty of evenings just the 2 of us, but just like any couple, we get into a routine that quickly turns into a rut. When I saw a billboard for a free outdoor movie, I knew I'd discovered the perfect date night!

I'm not sure where/why/how, but I thought the movie started at 6pm. Jay (and a coworker) questioned how an outdoor movie could be viewed before dusk but we headed out to Burger King for a quick bite. I get off work at 5, so by the time I got home to pick up my man we didn't have time for slow food.

As Bjay headed to BK, I noticed the billboard again. 

American Graffiti - 8PM - The Island

Not 6. 

We had hurried for nothing. Instead we had plenty of time for goofing around. Phones weren't allowed on the date save for social media picture posting. Given the amount of likes the above picture received, I don't think anyone understood the "date night fit for a King" caption.

The Island will be showing movies every Thursday through May 15th. (Presumably stopping then since the dark doesn't come in the summer until far too late to start a movie.) Since this was our first experience, we took a blanket just in case we had to sit on the ground.

Instead, straight back chairs (with cushion) and inflatable rafts were provided. Next time, I hope to get a bigger raft so we can snuggle, but the individual sizes were comfy for kicking back and enjoying the show.

A vendor was set up selling dinner items as well as movie snacks. Although I didn't notice a sign discouraging people from bringing in their own food.

I'd never seen the movie before, but the plot wasn't so complicated the distractions kept me from enjoying it. That is until a kid stacked rafts up 5 high directly in front of me - nothing a little scootch to the left didn't cure.

We ended up spending $7 in snacks (jumbo hot dog, chips and a drink), but had I a little more self control the outing would have been totally free.

I'm an early-to-bed kinda girl, so the 10:30 movie end time was a bit late for my taste. I'm yawning up a storm this afternoon as I write this. But we had a great time, it was well worth it! 

Do you "date night?" Do you have a budget or do whatever your heart desires? I'd love to steal read some of your ideas!

Best. Invention. Eva

Once again submitting a bit of randomness for Nancy's Hit Me With Your Best Shot link-up.

My dad received this as a free gift for ordering a box of cigars

Now I want to take up stogies just to get a cool hat.

Who am I kidding?

 I want my dad to just give me his.


EDITED: its a bottle opener. on the bottom side of a ball cap.
you know, for when you're smoking a cigar and having a bottle of pepsi.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

I'm not much of a photographer, but my buddy Nancy hosts a photo link up every Friday.

 While mine could never be mistaken for art, I do have an interesting picture I thought I'd share.

Ground pork.

In the shape of a pig.

You're welcome.

Have a great weekend!!!

Rediscovering My Motivation

I've been experiencing some anxiety when it comes to running. The night before my 10 mile race last month, I had serious race anxiety. The anxiety for this weekend's half started on Tuesday, so I reached out to my Facebook running group. We share our struggles and triumphs, mostly with running but also with life when need be. Our group is dedicated to praying for the members - through racing, injuries, and fear.

(Our group photo, courtesy of Clay)

When I expressed my anxiety to the group, one of the ladies suggested I go back to the drawing board. I race so much these days, getting caught up in PRs and new experiences, I have forgotten why I run in the first place. Turns out, I have had a board laying out each of the reasons I'm a runner.

Several years ago, The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans gave their readers homework - build a motivational board. First up Derek Redmond - "I'm going to finish my race." I remember watching those Olympic games in awe. How could anyone push through injury to finish a race? 

Being active is a part of my life. There are so many things I want to tackle, including a hiking/camping trip through the Appalachian Trail. I've never been camping, so I'm not sure I'll ever be made of sturdy enough stuff to hike the AT in its entirety, but I do enjoy being able to hike on any given day without effort. 

My niece and nephew have grown so much since I made this board! They've been at the finish line of races and I love the encouragement I get from my sister and her whole family. The Princess wanted to bring me flowers at the finish line of one of my first 5Ks. Instead, my mom convinced her to bring me a stuffed animal (from a collection at home). Now I see her gift every night before going to bed.

Something I've gotten away from is having a "race verse." Maybe its because I'm racing too much. Isaiah 40:31 was written on my arm for my first marathon. I repeated 2 Timothy 1:7 over and over during a monster bike climb during my first triathlon. Maybe I should go back to scripture memorization for/during races?

And finally - finishing on the 50. Only this time, instead of going for my fastest 5K time ever, I'll be heading into the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium to run the last 50 yards of 26.2 miles. Right or wrong, this marathon training cycle is all about getting that PR. No clue what a reasonable finishing time might be, but I'm a faster runner than I was 2 years ago when I last races this distance. That's gotta count for something.

Motivation. Sure PRs are part of what motivates me, but they don't tell the whole story. And its about time I remembered that.