A Fulfilling Sunday!

I was up and feeling very sore... 

No run on Sunday! No run on Monday. No run on Tuesday. No run on Wednesday. Maybe by Thursday...

I did a load of laundry and went for a walk, which included picking up trash and stopping at Carrefour. I did not get home in time to cut Mom's hair. We had an early lunch appointment. We went straight to church afterwards and it was a long service! It was the Inauguration Service plus praying for the Overseers! We also had a great love feast afterwards. Mom was quite hyper! 

We helped with clean up and didn't get home until after 8pm.

I got Mom to bed and started sorting through the bags of clothing that were left at our front door. Some very nice stuff... 

The week looks busy... So, what else is new?!?!?!

Daily Lovely Insight:

A picture from a bystander who was there:

I had snacks and salt pills stuffed into the pockets of my shorts. I had a hip sack underneath my T-shirt! And I took off my jacket, but just after this picture, I put it back on as it was easier to run with it on! And I had four hankies with me, wiping off the sweat! Yes, I had those knee things on for the entire run! I also had those black calf sleeves! I will upload more pictures... But I hope you can see the joy in this picture, even in my weariness!

Seek Him First!

I Finished!

I was up early and out and there were lots of people. It turned out that there were several 'events' -- 3k, 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon and a 50k, plus the CHALLENGE 63.4 which was what I signed up for! So, a total of 600 people. For the Challenge, there were only 131 people! Trust me, I understand why!

The run started at 6am and it was tough... Wow... the toughest one I've done... the 12 hour run was tough mentally. This was tough physically and mentally, facing all the hills, whether up or down!

Alan and Isaiah and friends from church came... It was great to see them. I finished in 8:23:24, first in my age range and 8th for women and 67 overall!

I rode home and showered and did not want to eat. I just wanted to sleep. But we booked for a massage after Mom went to bed! YEAH!

Isaiah went back to work.

I was not hungry... at all... That's the way I am when I run these longer events!

Tomorrow... I think it's going to be difficult to squat... and for sure I will take some time to recover. I probably will walk but no run until Friday!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Only by the power of the Holy Spirit did I make it back... It was enjoyable to be out there and to meet people and to encourage others. I will find a picture to post and you'll see my smiling face... Even through the pain, I looked at our family verse and just persevered, taking one step at a time. I wasn't looking at the next 10k, just the next step. And my watch ran out of battery towards the end... but it lasted for 51k. That was pretty amazing! So, I know it was being powered by God!

Thank you again for all the prayer support! 

Now, I do have a full marathon at the end of April. You can start praying now!

Seek Him First!

Feeling Tired Already!

I was up early and did not go run as I'm taking it easy... but then of course, I couldn't take it easy as I had to get everything ready for the helper for tomorrow. What a task!

Alan and I went out for our date and had lunch at his favorite place! We had gone there so many times with Isaiah and it was always closed. Well, it turned out that they close on Saturdays!

Before going to lunch, we went to our old house to get a box, which I will pack for Abby. I have so much stuff for her! After lunch, we were going to head home but our road was being resurfaced. We had to wait for an hour, so we decided to drop things off at church! YEAH!

I rested as soon as we got home as it was already 4:15! And Mom was back all too soon! I could have rested for another hour!

I made PB&J for my run tomorrow and packed up all the gears. It's going to be an early morning! I also ordered the goods for Annie. Man, I thought I was early, but it turned out that I'm way late... I couldn't get the delivery date for before Alan leaves! That's crazy! So, I will have to go on Wednesday to pick up everything! I think I might have to cancel my tutoring on Wednesday. We shall see! It turned out that for three of the dates, the pineapple cakes are not available, because they reached the daily allotment. And I couldn't order way in advanced because the goods have an expiration date because they are so fresh! 

Isaiah had dinner out with his colleagues. I don't even know when he got home as I was already in bed and fast asleep!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Fun Sabbath!

Today was a mixture of things... 

I ran my 8.5k so for four runs, I have 36.6. Hopefully, when I finish my run on Saturday, I would hit a total of 100k.

I came home and after a quick shower, it was Mom Duty!

After she took off, I got out Mom Bea's sewing machine to hem a pair of nice pants and then I sewed up a couple of other things. Yes, Mom Bea, I love having your machine here!

I also fixed a chair that had two missing screws.

Then I ate and read and napped!

At 1pm, I went to the Brooks shoes sale. It wasn't as great as before. But I was able to buy five pairs for a grand total of 70US$ per pair! I think I'm going to use one of them to run on Saturday. Wow... they are so comfy with great traction!

I then went to get a massage! 90 minutes!

I was home and got Mom's dinner in the microwave and yes, Mom was back!

I had a free evening, so I worked on my talk by reading more about the Holy Spirit!

Daily Lovely Insight:

From Vanessa Myers, Family Faith Builders:

Ebenezer moments are times when you know without a doubt that God has intervened in your life. You realize that only God could have allowed the outcomes you have experienced. His help has brought you through. 

Read I Samuel 7:12!

On Saturday, I will need a lot of Ebenezer Moments! I hope not 10.5 hours worth of Ebenezer Moments! I am sure God's help will bring me through!

Seek Him First!

Acts of the Holy Spirit

I decided that to be the title for a series that I will be sharing on starting January 21st. 

So, I went out early and it was raining. Ran 8.61k and took a shower.

I did another load of laundry and got Mom up.

After she left, I went and tidied up and started on my message prep!

That's what I did the whole morning!

I also made dinner and I'm going to try to finish off what we have in the freezer while Alan is gone. Will it be possible not to buy food for the freezer at Costco for five weeks? That's how long Alan will be gone. Of course, I will have my Tuesday morning Bible study ladies, but I think I have enough to make lunch for them. We will see... So, today, I finished the burger patties and hash brown. Oh, the concoction turned out so good!

I had tutoring at 4:30, so I had to brave the wind and the chill to scooter up to the student's house. I stopped at WGE on the way home. On the scooter, my layers of clothing barely kept me warm. But inside WGE, I was quite toasty! Now... what am I going to do on Saturday if it's this cold???

Tonight, after Mom went to bed, I worked on updating our family list of verses and themes. I also had prayer time with another sister at 9pm.

Daily Lovely Insight:

I read this from one of the articles in preparation for my series on the Holy Spirit. If you have time, read II Cor. 3 and reflect on the importance of the Holy Spirit!

Paul’s teaching on the Spirit in 2 Corinthians is found mostly in chapter 3, where Paul features the Spirit’s work in the human heart, his impartation of life, his conveyance of glory, his procurement of freedom, and his agency of transformation.

Seek Him First!

Errand Day!

Yep, since I didn't have my tutoring this afternoon, I decided to do the errands! (Annie, I did not do the passport errand! I first have to get that letter done again!)

I ran my 9km and then after a quick shower (I cleaned the shower stall, too!), I headed out to the Household Registry to get my mom's free transport card redone. The lines were so long... but I got it! Then I went to Nangang to get my phone checked out. It works fine! YEAH!

I was home by 3:45 and there was a huge bag of clothes for donation. I sorted through that and decided to lay down on the sofa! I fell asleep! Wow... It was a 30 minute nap! Very refreshing! 

Mom was home promptly and dinner was ready.

I put in a load of laundry. Tonight, I also had prayer time with two gals!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Someone asked me what are some of my goals? I have quite a few... 

Read at night before going to bed. It's from the Daily Light for Our Daily Path Devotional. I highly recommend it.

Give away one book a month, which means I will need to go through our collection of books and decide which ones to give away. That's only 12 books a year, but it's a start.

Of course, I hope to continue to run to keep fit. After April, I will not continue my membership at World Gym Express. I also decided not to continue Tap Dancing. If I wasn't tutoring at all, then I will add that back on my schedule. And I am absolutely keeping my weekly Sabbath!

Seek Him First!

What a Way to Start the New Year!

Even though I was in bed at 2am, I wanted to be up before sunrise!

Then I went for a quick run after setting the washer on 'clean mode'. I ran 10k as this week I'm cutting back. 

I went to WGE to take a shower, as I had a book to drop off for a student. I also wanted to go to Costco. Coffee for HOP and packets of coffee for Annie and Mom Bea. (Yes, Mom Bea, I know you don't need any, but these are 2-in-1 packets, so no sugar. I thought you'd like to try a few!) 

Costco was packed, so that took longer than I had planned.

I was home for Mom care but Mom was so active... so, let's not talk about what happened!

I had oatmeal and raisins for her and bananas.

I went and ran an errand while Isaiah was home to keep an eye on her! But she actually looked tired! She had a lot of phlegm! 

The afternoon passed... I forgot to get a lightbulb, but I remembered the batteries!

After Mom went to bed, I blogged and we had Family Time.

Daily Lovely Insight:

"It is the difficulty encountered on the hills that drives us to the throne of grace and brings the showers of blessings."

I'm going to remember that on Saturday. I'm running God's hills... and I'm trusting in the showers of blessings that He will bring. 

Deut. 31:8 

Seek Him First!