Celebrating Love!

Valentines Day: most people are thinking about, talking about, celebrating or wishing for love....Some single people get depressed around this holiday, some have "singles parties"  or "I hate Valentine's Day" get togethers. Some "ignore" that it's a "holiday" Etc...However, I have decided to enjoy the day, even as a single person - because it's not just about having a Valentine, or eating chocolate, or getting flowers - it's a reminder for each of us to celebrate the people and things that we LOVE!

I realized lately that I say "I hate..." a lot - usually being dramatic, "I hate pull-ups," "I hate doing payroll," "I hate wearing shoes" etc... but there really are a lot of things I LOVE about my life and since I am 30 and single (not complaining - really), I thought this Valentine's day, I would celebrate some things I love!

Just a few things I LOVE:
I LOVE my friends. I have some pretty amazing friends - near and far, young and old - God has given  me incredible friends.

I LOVE my car - it's not pretty, it's not fancy, it's not clean - but it's MINE.

I LOVE coffee. Every thing about coffee! Mmmmm, I LOVE it!

I LOVE Disneyland! Especially at night - and at Christmas it's even better! There is nothing like getting a cup of coffee, sitting on the bench and watching Tinker Bell fly across the sky. *magical*

I LOVE CrossFit!....more than that, I LOVE getting fit. I LOVE the feeling of pure and utter exhaustion and pain after a WOD. I LOVE lifting heavy weights and I LOVE dropping the bar in "victory" and falling to the ground in a pile of sweat when the WOD is over.

I LOVE being outdoors. Whether it's 100 degrees and humid or 40 degrees and windy, I would almost always rather be outside. 

I LOVE Texas...yep, I do. I really do - it took me awhile, but it's true. I love the rodeo, the cowboy hats, the culture, the values, the "yes ma'am" and "y'all"

I LOVE avocados. I used to hate them, but now I LOVE them - a lot!  

I LOVE music...and dancing to music. I LOVE that every time I dance I realize that in a lot of ways I am like my mom....and I LOVE that I am like my mom in those ways.

I LOVE kids. I LOVE their laughter, their simplicity, their innocence, their honesty.

(I especially LOVE these kids)

I LOVE trying new things (unless it's weird food).

I LOVE going to sporting events - any sport, any team!

I LOVE being an aunt. I didn't realize how amazing it would be. I have some incredible nieces!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE traveling - long flights, road-trips, adventures and new cultures! 

I LOVE pedicures, especially when the chair is a massage chair!

I LOVE my family! Every single one of them. I would not want to be related to any other crazy group of people! I LOVE them so much it hurts sometimes!

But most of all, I LOVE love! Not the mushy gushy feelings (although I'm sure those aren't bad either), but LOVE, pure, self-less, honest LOVE. I LOVE that God has given us the greatest example of what LOVE really is and that if we accept that love we are able to also love others in the truest definition of the word.

"Love is PATIENT, love is KIND and is NOT JEALOUS; love DOES NOT BRAG, and is NOT ARROGANT, does NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY, it DOES NOT SEEK IT'S OWN, is NOT PROVOKED, DOES NOT TAKE IN TO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED, DOES NOT REJOICE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, but REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH; Love BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. Love NEVER FAILS." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"God is love."  1 John 4:8

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 1 John 3:16

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The ability to love is an incredible gift we have been given. "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. .... Single or not, this Valentine's Day, I challenge you to take some time and celebrate the people and things that you love! 

My relationship with pull-ups - setting a goal!

I hate pull-ups! Pull-ups are my current weakness!

I was thinking about my relationship with pull-ups the other morning as I was getting ready for the gym. When I began CrossFit I was at an affiliate that did "jumping" pull-ups, and for me, who was out of shape and had never really attempted a pull-up, that was great....for awhile. However, I soon realized that the jumping pull-up was doing nothing to prepare me for a "real" pull-up. 

When I moved to CrossFit Victorious, Kelley, my trainer said, "um, no! We don't do jumping pull-ups, get on a band." ... A BAND?!?!? I was terrified of the band - I don't know why, it just scared me...until I tried it. The nice thick green band! It made pull-ups kinda fun, my chin was getting over the bar - I felt good....until, I was told to move to a lighter band. :( I liked my green band. 

I moved to a blue and red combined and it was, okay....then to a blue...not too bad... Recently however, I have been for some reason avoiding/neglecting to practice my pull-ups during warm-up and skill time, and feel I have developed this "hatred" for them. As bad as I want to get a kipping pull-up, a REAL one without a band, I just can't seem to mentally make myself work for it. 

Isn't it FANTASTIC how life sometimes makes you face the things you are avoiding the most? The same morning I was thinking about my hatred for pull-ups and trying to convince myself that I need to start working on them and set a goal, I walked in the gym and saw this: 

YAY!! Pull-ups....

Not only were they in our skill work, but I also saw this:

MORE Pull-ups!

I had to laugh because "Helen" used to be my least favorite girl WOD, not because of the pull-ups but because of the running. I used to hate running! Now, I hate pull-ups! I thought about that....that I USED to hate running, until, I MADE myself run more. Sooooo, I guess that means I have to MAKE myself do more pull-ups?? *sigh*

Although I have SAID a kipping pull-up is my goal (everyone "says" it's their goal), I have not really SET it as a goal, I have not established a timeline or a plan to achieve it. A goal cannot be reached if it is not really set. 

So - here it is! Here is my goal: I want to get a kipping pull-up by the end of August (if I get it sooner - GREAT)
It's a simple goal, but it's a goal. 

How am I going to acheive that goal?

PRACTICE - stop avoiding the pull-up bar

NUTRITION - lose a little weight so there's less to pull-up. :)

PRACTICE some more!
POSITIVE ATTITUDE - stop saying I "hate pull-ups," I don't really hate pull-ups, they are just an area of weakness (and I hate feeling weak)..but I LOVE that I am in an environment that allows me the opportunity to work on strengthening my weaknesses.

What are your goals?
What are you avoiding?
What are you going to start doing to reach your goals?

 

Tough Mudder - Obstacles!

A little over a week ago a group 23 athletes from THE BEST CrossFit Gym, CrossFit Victorious, came together in Edna, Texas to take on Tough Mudder. I was crazy enough to be sign up to be a part of this group.

Tough Mudder is a 12 mile course with 25 obstacles designed by British Special Forces. I have to admit, when I signed up I didn't really know what I was signing up for. I saw the link on FB, heard CFV was forming a group and so I clicked the link, filled out my info, paid my money AND THEN I started watching the videos and scrolling through the slide show, and began to freak out.

12 miles....TWELVE....MILES.... 12 miles seemed like a loooooong way...I drive 11.2 to the gym everyday, and I began to imagine if I had RUN that distance. For anyone who has known me for any length of time, especially before my CrossFit days would know that something like Tough  Mudder would have been LAST on my list of things I would even consider attempting. I am the girl who faked whatever symptoms I could in High School to avoid PE. I have never been athletic and Tough Mudder just seemed insane. However, because of CrossFit and the confidence the Lord has given me over the past few years, I signed up. Yes, I was still scared, terrified really, and certain I was going to die, BUT  I was excited to see how far I could go.

A few days before the event I got a text from a great friend who said "remember to pay attention to the parallels."  For some people, events like these are things they accomplish and move on....however, I tend to analyze and try to find significance, and as my friend reminded me, "parallels" as to how lessons learned can carry over in to real life. Little did I know, there would be SO MANY "lessons learned."

First Lesson: Facing Obstacles

One of the first verses that came to mind with Tough Mudder was James 1:2-8
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. BUT if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,  being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Most of us know the "consider it all joy..." part and really try to face challenges with joy, knowing that, in the end, something good will come. 

However, what stuck out to me after Tough Mudder, when I looked back at this verse, there is a second part...the "but" ... "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

It's easy to say "consider it all joy"... or this is "testing your faith/endurance"...however, we (I) often look over the part that says "if you are lacking wisdom."  

There were MANY obstacles in Tough Mudder that I "lacked wisdom" or  "lacked the ability." The one example that sticks out the most is the large walls that we had to climb over.  I know, left to myself, there is no way I would have been able to make it over them. But, I had help: Two of the CFV trainers were there to help me get over the wall. Once we all got over the first wall, they would come over and assist us in getting over the next walls. As I approached one of the walls, they were not there yet, however there were a few other people ready to help. I looked at them for a second and then decided I'd wait. I didn't want to ask just anyone for help. I wanted to ask the right people - those who I could trust, have faith in that they wouldn't let me fall.  

 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,  being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." "

A note in my Bible says that the definition of a "double-minded" man is someone who asks, but then doesn't wait for the wisdom, but reacts instead according to his own strength/wisdom. If we ask for the wisdom, we must have the faith that He will give it us. It would be ridiculous for me to ask for help over the walls and then try, on my own, to jump over the wall, while they are right there waiting to help.  

 There are few instances lately that I have been guilty of this. I have asked for wisdom, strength, guidance...then I move over on the "wall" and try to accomplish it on my own - which, usually ends in failure - not joy.  We not only need to ask for wisdom and strength, but rely on it, trust it, then we will truly be able to face the obstacles/trials with joy, knowing that although they may be tough, they will be conquered and result in amazing growth.

Fool Proof Chicken...

...and I would know - because when it comes to cooking chicken, I am a fool. I have NEVER in my adult life been able to successfully cook a chicken. Sure, I "cook" chicken, but it has yet (until now) turned out to be anything but slightly "edible." I blame it on my paranoia of undercooked chicken that has caused me to overcook it every time.

Awhile back I came across, and tried, this recipe on the "Every Day Paleo" website. I have since made this chicken several times and it is so good and one of the easiest things I've ever made - seriously -  so, I thought I'd share

Start with a 3-4 lb whole chicken (innards removed). Wash and pat dry.  Lots of salt.....that's it. No other seasonings, no veggies, nothing - just salt. The recipe says to "let salt rain down" - inside and out.

Place it in a "roasting pan" (I am single, this is the closest I have to a "roasting pan") - it works!

Bake for an hour at 450degrees

* Warning: If you live in an apartment or a small house - this WILL set the smoke detector off - several times. It WILL happen - expect it, deal with it, apologize to your neighbors in advance if you must.

Remove from oven....and enjoy! It really is that simple. 

Chicken.Salt.450.1hr.YUM!

I forgot to take a picture of the whole chicken before I started picking the skin off!

The skin is crispy and delicious and the meat is juicy, tender and so yummy. I ate mine tonight with green beans and a little red wine. :)

*side note, if you would have told me a few years ago that I would eat chicken straight off the bone (dark meat in particular) along with the skin I would have said you were crazy. However, CrossFit, paleo/whole30 and, I guess, just growing up has opened my eyes to the deliciousness that is dark meat chicken and crispy/yummy skin! This is now one of my favorite meals (aside from the annoying smoke detector).

Enjoy!

Let It Go

"Let It Go" - One day while I was explaining to a friend (okay venting) about a particular life situation that had really messed with my mind, (not  just every day drama but something that shook  me to the core) he looked at me and said "let...it...go."  At the time I was little frustrated, because I didn't want to let it go. I wanted to hang on to it, to vent, to feel sorry for myself, to make people understand the wrong that had been done to me and the hurt I felt. But again, he looked at me and said "let...it...go."

I heard him, and thought, "yeah, easier said than done!" However - he was right.

We cannot control what other people think, say or do, the only thing we can control is our reaction. When we choose to hold on to the things we cannot control, they begin to control us. Anger, bitterness, confusion, and hurt can keep us from moving forward and seeing clearly what is actually before us.

Let....it....go!

Things I've realized lately that I need to let go:
Expectations of what life should look like - LET IT GO
Disappointment and hurt from friends/family - LET IT GO
Personal failures/goals unmet - LET IT GO
Sins committed/embarrassing or bad choices  - LET IT GO

I am not perfect - life is not perfect. We all make mistakes, we all make choices against our better judgement, we embarrass ourselves and others, we let people down, and we are let down. It's part of life. It's easy, even comfortable sometimes, to hold on to these things, to live in the guilt, to hold on to hurt, to not forgive (yourself or others). However the tighter your grip and the longer you hold on, the harder it will be to understand true freedom and forgiveness. God's grace truly is amazing and He has chosen through His son to forgive us our sins - If a Holy God can look past our iniquities, shouldn't we also be able to forgive the sins of others and ourselves?

For some reason this phrase reminds me of balloons. I have some special kids in my life who, occasionally when we'd go somewhere, they'd get balloons. However when it was time to get in the car, or go home they had to "let them go." Of course they would be sad, what kid wants to let a balloon go? However, we would say "send the balloon to Jesus." This made it easier for them to "let it go." They would watch as the balloon traveled high in to the sky until it was out of sight, "with Jesus" and they could get in the car and move on.  Like these balloons, we need to "send our issues to Jesus." - Let them go, until they are out of our sight so we can "get in the car" and move on.

We can choose to hold on tight, to live in anger, fear, guilt and/or shame OR we can "let it go" and walk forward in grace, forgiveness and joy.  Things may not be as we wished they were, we WILL experience hurt and we WILL cause hurt -  do not let circumstances, hurt, disappointment or choices of your past dictate the steps you take towards your future.

Let...it...go!

Have I mentioned I hate running?

6 months ago, that statement was 100% true! However, I think my hatred towards running wasn't necessarily directed at the act of running, but more how running made me feel: weak, breathless, sore, and very un-athletic. As I would watch others so "effortlessly" buzz past me with their headphones in their ears and smile on their face...or better yet, chatting away like they were on a leisurely stroll, I would role my eyes, gasp for breath and mumbled to myself  "I hate running, I hate running...".

The more I talked to "runners" the more I was encouraged that although they may look like it's effortless, it really does take a lot of work to get to that point. So, instead of staying frustrated and constantly expressing my hatred for running I decided to, well, start running.

A few months ago I met a lady at a charity event I went to for work. Her name was Theresa and she mentioned that she started Bel Inizion, an outreach to women in recovery.

From their website: (it's long, but worth the read and explains it far better than I can)
"Houston has a generous giving community and great compassion for those in need. We have emergency shelters, transitional housing, and half-way houses. The agencies offer case workers, recovery programs, and job skills training. What gets lost, and is critically needed, is helping individuals achieve the self esteem and confidence that can come from an ongoing exercise and nutrition program.

Bel Inizio (Beautiful Beginning) was launched to help meet this need. Our participants are women ranging from their 20s to their 50s. They are female veterans who have had a challenges from sexual abuse, substance and alcohol abuse and homelessness. Most are in recovery, and all are working hard to re-enter the community. And now many have the opportunity to succeed in a way which they never thought possible: they will set a healthy goal and achieve it.

Bel Inizio teams train to complete a 5K, and in the process learn about commitment, fitness, and nutrition. They see healthy behaviors in action and are offered tools to help them succeed once they are out on their own. Bel Inizio shows each woman that they matter. We help prepare them for the ultimate race — the race for a better life." 


After meeting Theresa and reading about Bel Inizio online I decided that I needed to be a part of it! Through the CrossFit community, I have been encouraged and pushed to train my body to do things that I NEVER in my life thought I could do. I was excited about the opportunity to be a part of something that is teaching and encouraging women not only to have physically discipline, but to build healthy practices and the self esteem to overcome and accomplish great things.

I started started volunteering two weeks ago and my first 5K with them was this past Sunday. I stayed with the group that did the run/walk pace! After the first run I felt great, my body settled in to a good pace and I was good to go! :) I didn't once think "I hate running" in fact, I wanted to just keep running, I wasn't ready for the finish line.

Before the race!

We finished!

I am looking forward to more races with this group as together we build up our strength as runners and as women!  Check out Bel Inizio for more information.

No Excuses

Enough Said! :)