To Run Or Not To Run...

I started running/walking again four days ago as a result of a doctor visit that revealed my high cholesterol count! The desired cholesterol number is 200 or below. Mine is 218.....HOLY CRAPOLA! The doctor told me I need to be exercising AT LEAST 5 times a week for 50 minutes or more and I need to go on a low saturated fat diet. Wow!!! What a wake up call. Not to mentioned I turned 34 this year. Dude...I need to do something different! I have ran on & off over the past 10 years. I get going for a couple of months & am feeling really great having made & stuck with a commitment to myself. Then I lose momentum & one missed opportunity after another passes by & then I'm back at square one...not exercising anymore. I hate that. I hate when I just give up. Well...not anymore!!!! I desire to be a runner. Not for competition...not yet anyway. Not to show how long or how fast I can run. Not even to look better in my jeans. I enjoy the feeling of pushing myself physically. My mind focuses on the movement...the steadiness...the pace...the breathing..the music playing...the wind....

I usually run on our treadmill that is in our garage which faces the street. The treadmill & I both enjoy when the garage door is open so we can feel the breeze on our faces. We gaze at the pretty pine trees across the street, passing cars and cats & dogs that have escaped from their owners and use our yard as their bathroom:) Nevertheless...we are focused on our mission to burn calories & run long stationary distances. This time around...I am making a commitment to myself to keep running so I will be a healthier Meloney.

On a more spiritual note....I also enjoy running because I feel closer to God. As I struggle to keep running the pace I am at on the treadmill...it is all relative to the race I am running in my life. Sometimes I keep a slow steady pace in my walk with God spending a little time with him weekly. I may miss a day or two during the week. Kinda of just getting by. Then other times I keep a fast pace that causes burning deep in my chest and deeper concentration because I am so desperate to hear from God. I desire to finish the race well. That means being obedient to him. Trying to worship him in spirit and in truth. Deciphering his voice and trusting what he is telling me. Believing that he wants to give me good things spiritually. I love how God is connected to everything. Running opens my eyes & my heart to that. Not sure why. I think it's because I am pushing through an invisible resistance physically & spiritually. We have to push forward. Nothing can stop the army of God!!!!!

Don't Give Up!!!!!!!!!!

Be encouraged today! Don't Give Up!!!!! Stand firm for what you believe in. God is real & working in each of our lives. I'm telling you not to give up on yourself & your faith in God. He loves you & desires to give you good things. Life altering "good" things. Not material things, spiritual things. If bad things are happening, remember that Jesus loves & cherishes you. If he knows every hair on your head then he definitely loves you. Why would he even care how many hairs we have on our heads if he didn't? How many people do you know go around telling us...my love for you equals the amount of hairs you have on your head. Oooowww la la. Hopefully you have a head full of hair...! His love is deep! His love is wide! His love is overwhelming! If you would surrender to him...he will fulfill your life. I love you Jesus & thank you for loving me. I will not forget how you picked me off my feet when I was desperate for a better life. I desperately wanted to know that you were real & you showed me you are. Thank you Lord. You are my closest friend.

Glorious Inheritance

"I want you to realize what a rich & glorious inheritance he has given to his people" Quote by the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!

It is always exciting when a new baby comes into this world. Today, my friend Lauren Siddall gave birth to an adorable baby boy. I am so happy for Lauren & her husband Josh because I know that they have both been through alot in their lives. Thank you Lord for blessing this couple! I love them both.

"Congrats" to Lauren & Josh Siddall on the arrival of their son Jayden Braxton Siddall. He is 7.0lb 19in long.

Oatmeal cookies

Woke up this morning not really feeling all that great. Today at lunch, instead of my normal route to my house to let out the dogs, wake my sleeping husband, turn on the TV, make a quick bite to eat for me & my love then back to work, I decided fill up my Honda with gasonline & headed to Starbucks to purchase two oatmeal raisin cookies & a grande mint tea. I have to say that I was taken back by the two ginormouse cookies in my brown Starbucks goodie bag. I proceeded to eat one on the way back to my parking spot where I would spend some quiet time playing Tetris Mania on my cell phone & savoured every scrumptious, sweet bite. I highly recommend Starbucks' oatmeal raisin cookies for anyone who has taste buds that crave sweets at least 3 or 4 times a day. I say all this about these cookies to emphasis the poor nutritional choices that come with not feeling good physically. The mind seems to get a little numb & you do things that you normally wouldn't do.

Till next time.

Marshmellows

So it's 4:20 p.m. on Monday afternoon/evening & me & my friend Lindsey are munching on pretzels & marshmellows! I have to say that I LOVE the marshmellow. They are so fluffy, lightly sweetened & creamy! They are little clouds of sunshine in my mouth:) I think they actually made me happy. That's a good thing. It's the little things in life that make us happy sometimes. I'd like to have many of those little things!!!!!!!!!!

The first day of the rest of your life

So, my husband suggested I start blogging. This of course is something people have been doing for years now & I have NEVER done. I used to keep a journal & quit a year to two ago. Not sure why. Maybe I found my thoughts to be insignificant & thought to myself, "why do I need to remind myself how weird I am & have those weird thoughts stare at me on white lined paper".

Anyhoo, today is my first day of blogging. The thing that is consuming my thoughts is I'm turning 34 this month. To most this is not a big deal. You have either past this age or think you are far from it. Believe me, I thought I was far from it as well. I feel like I have been reading my life in a book...a very boring book... and have turned to page 34 & it's blank. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. God has given me a loving, caring husband. My family & my husband's family are wonderful & supportive of our lives. But we have not had children yet. This lack of procreation has somehow defined my life up to this point. I have loved my God, Jesus, my husband, my family & many many friends. Yet, I feel like a part of me has yet to be written. Maybe will never be written/lived. This is not meant to be depressing. Although, I have been there-done that! These are just my thoughts.

With all this said, I still believe in Jesus & love him with all my heart. I do question him as to why not me? But his word, which i do believe is true, says that he hears my prayers & will never leave my side. Some days it really doesn't matter that there are no little Stephen's or Meloney's running around our house. Then there are other days, when my heart aches desperately for that opportunity. The opportunity to be a mom. Those who have children...if you are reading this. Be thankful for your children. Love them. Don't be too hard on them. They are a treasure.

That's all for today. Love to you all.