Perfect Day

Yesterday was a nearly perfect day. 

Everything I needed to get me ready for the craziness to come these next few weeks!

And because I know you all want to know every detail of my life... I'm going to tell you all about it! :)

I started off the day with a hill repeat workout (still getting ready for xc!) followed by a short, but intense lifting session at the gym. 

You want to hear a secret? I love lifting weights. More than running sometimes! And I love the gym. Everyone their is just, super jazzed about fitness. It's great. 

You want to hear another secret? I used my sister's gym card to get in.... :) 

I'm the only person in my family without a membership, because usually I can just use my school's gym. But as I am home for now, I couldn't. 

I feel bad, but they don't use theirs' that often, so just once, it seems ok. 

Then I made protein pancakes (my favorite days always start with pancakes!), did some journaling, caught up on my new favorite Netflix tv show, Dance Academy (its all the cheesy drama of ABC family with an Australian twist), and got ready. 

Around noon, my little sister, Liberty, and I, went with another friend to go get TCBY frozen yogurt (their hard-serve froyo is my favorite dessert of all times) and brought it back to the house for a day of movie watching and art projects. 

It was the perfect, relaxing day. 

The day continued to get better when my sister and I decided to go on a date at the Cheesecake Factory before church. 

 Hanging out with her is always a good time... :)

I love her so much. It is unreal how much she has grown up the last couple of years. I look up to her in so many ways... she is not my "little" sister anymore!!!

Then church was great, as always, and I am sad that the school year is starting, because I won't be able to go as often on Thursday nights anymore. I have so many great friends there, and I keep meeting new people each week. 

I'm ready for this new season, though. At least... 

I'm trying to be. 

And I was so encouraged by Colossians 1:11-14 today (Message version)

As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

Its amazing how a little time reading the 
Bible can encourage me so much!!!

Weekend Recap

It was another busy but amazing weekend. As my cross country season and school draws nearer, I'm taking advantage of every moment I have to see my friends in Boise. I only go to school an hour away, but I'll be so busy I do not know how often I'll be back!

Friday night I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends, Christi... again. 

She left to go back to school Saturday morning, so a few of us went to her house for pizza and swimming. Swimming didn't actually happen, but it was really fun. We all talked and helped her pack.

I already miss her!!

We haven't lived in the same city the last two years, but we are still close as ever. 

I left at around 11:30 and headed to my church for midnight prayer. It's a thing the college kids do in August on friday night. Why not pray at midnight? 

Well, because I'm an old person and like my sleep :) But seriously, so worth it!

I got in bed at around 2:30 a.m and had to get up at 8:00 a.m. for a ten miler!!!

When I got back I dug in to this baby. I laughed out loud when I realized... I have almost single handedly eaten this whole thing by myself. 

That on top of the pb and almond butter I had with me at school. I can't get enough of it!

Then I went shopping with my mom. All day. It was so fun, but exhausting!!! I wasn't feeling like doing anything too crazy, but a dollar movie sounded nice. So I texted my lovely friend Ally, and we met up for dinner, a movie, and dessert (frozen yogurt!!!). 

She made me this CD for my long drives back in forth from here to school. How sweet!!! :)

Then church on Sunday. It was so good. I'll have to recap the message on a later blog. 

Stripes and Starbucks!!!!!

I spent the rest of the day completely relaxing, other than this art project I tackled.

Sometimes, you just have to create stuff. 

Practice starts one week from today!!! Ahhh. 

Being "Irresponsible"

Hello, July! :) 

I must admit, July has completely snuck up on me. 

I only finished two weeks ago, and its only just now starting to feel like summer! 

But nevertheless, July has arrived, and it has brought beautiful weather with it! 

I am happy to say that the last week of June was one of the best weeks 

that I have had in a long time!

 

I have caught up with friends, gone to amazing church services 

(I love being back at my home church!!).

 eaten copious amounts of frozen yogurt,

 bonded with my little sister, 

done art projects, 

Decorated my shelf!!!

spent money on unnecessary purchases (Starbucks)... 

 stayed out way too late,

 gotten hardly any sleep,

and all while having to get up early and run before work!!!!

The responsible girl inside of me tries so hard to drink enough water, eat healthy, get enough sleep, be frugal with money. 

She tries to be home by midnight so she can force herself 

out of bed in the morning for her runs. 

She stresses and worries about being good enough at everything that she does. 

And she always does what she should do, not necessarily what she wants to do. 

None of this is necessarily bad. Sometimes, 

you have to make sacrifices and be responsible to succeed. 

That being said... 

I am twenty years old!!!!!

 Sometimes, I just need to let a little loose.

 Stay out way too late. Spend money to go to the movies with friends, 

even when I'm trying to save. 

Be spontaneous. 

Play. 

Be "Irresponsible".

I have been doing a lot of that this week. 

So I haven't slept hardly at all.

 I still got my runs in. I still made it to work. And the extra money I spent won't kill me. 

Like I have said before, it's all about balance. Moderation in all things. 

I am so grateful for this last week, 

and I am so excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store for me :) 

St. Patrick's Day Post... That Has Pretty Much Nothing to Actually Do With St. Patrick's Day...

Today was such a great day. 

Of course, I wore green :)

I woke up and ran with my roommate, and it was lovely, 

because I always love easy runs the morning after track meets.

I studied in a cute local coffee shop all day that makes me like Ontario much more.

I actually went on a walk... and I discovered a local co-op that has all organic face products and healthy foods (all crazy expensive of course) and wanted everything. 

I'm so impressed to find out that Ontario has such trendy places I didn't know about!

I had a very encouraging conversation with my mama. 

I got so much work and studying done!

I cleaned my whole dorm room. 

I had went out to frozen yogurt with tons of people that I don't usually hang out with,

 and they had all the girl scout cookie flavors! Can you say, heaven? :)

And I spent the rest of the evening encouraging a friend who I normally never hang out with... but God brought us together tonight. And we prayed together and sang worship songs with the guitar and read the Bible and felt his overwhelming love so much.... 

Days like today make me feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. 

I'm so content, and I feel so beyond blessed.