Winter Runnerland 10k

The "Moms Run This Town" Winter Runnerland racers

Murray Half Marathon training group. We finished a 10k!

We kept a good pace together during the race.

Murray Half Marathon training group. Love these girls!

Winter Runnerland 10k medal

January 2013

Just wanted to take a moment to recap January 2013. I have done a fairly decent job at keeping up my New Year's Resolutions. I finished the Hunger Games trilogy yesterday, and I have a long list of books to read. I'd like to try to read one book per week. So far, so good.

I cooked more in the first two weeks of January than the past couple weeks, but keeping up with my half marathon training is taking more time than originally anticipated. For the entire month, I've ran 4 times a week. Two weeks ago, I also started going to a fitness class two nights a week to strengthen my core. The long runs on Saturdays have been fun this time around. I'm training with several of my friends from college and church. We plan to do a few smaller races in the next couple months to help us prepare for the half marathon. Having a group of friends to train with definitely motivates me more than just about anything.

I have already begun to see a difference in how I look and feel since training began. Hopefully, I can keep this up until May 4. That's when we leave for our cruise. I'd love to be more in shape then than I ever have been. I have exactly 100 days to get there!

Perspective

A friend posted this today. I really like this change of perspective and how it reminds me to be thankful for all things in this life.

"I am thankful for:  
The taxes I pay because that means I have a job.
The clothes that fit a little too snug because that means I have food to eat.
The shadow that follows me because that means I'm out in the sunshine.
The halls that need to be swept and laundry that needs washed because that means I have a home and loved ones to spend my time with.
The spot I finally find at the far end of the parking lot because it reminds me that I still have the ability to walk.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
That lady at church that sings off key because it means I can hear.
The beeping of an alarm in the early morning because that means I'm able to wake up to live another day."

Chicken Pot Pie

My First Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

For the recipe, click here. I did make a few slight changes such as:
-using Heart Healthy Bisquick instead of flour
-using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth
-using dried minced onion instead of real onion
-adding broccoli, cauliflower, and poultry seasoning

2012 Recap & 2013 Resolutions

A recap of the resolutions I made in 2012:
1. Grow closer in my relationship with God. (Lifelong process)
2. Read and study Scripture more fervently. (Lifelong process)
3. Exercise more and eat healthier. (Lifelong process)
4. Graduate from the Master of Business Administration program in December. (Completed!)
5. Get into the Master of Science in Information Science program at UTK. (Completed! Although I'm almost certain I've decided not to continue with this program.)
6. Pass the Certified Administration Professional exam in May and get the 9% raise. (Completed! I didn't take the exam in May as originally planned, but I did take it in November and passed!)

2013 Resolutions/Goals: 
1. Grow closer in my relationship with God.
2. Read and study Scripture more fervently.
3. Exercise more and eat healthier.
4. Cook and read more. (Off to a good start: I cooked ham, green beans, purple hull peas, mashed potatoes, pumpernickel bread, and a double berry crisp dessert for dinner last night, and I am almost finished reading the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy.)
5. Train for and run in the Murray Half Marathon in April and complete it within 2 hours and 30 minutes or less.
6. Lose 10-15 pounds before our cruise in May. (I did great with my healthy eating for half of 2012. The past couple months are a different story. So goes that yo-yo effect I am bound and determined to conquer someday!)

Christmas with the Copeland's