Serenity

This will be my last post on this blog. It will not be shut down for memories sake, but perhaps a new blog will be created as a continuation of my life sometime in the future.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.Amen.

-Mary

RN-BC

I passed my big test this week! I am now a medical/surgical board certified registered nurse. The test was like taking my boards all over again, so I was pretty nervous since I haven't taken a big test in almost 6 years when I initially got my RN license. 175 questions and 2 hours later I can add another abbreviation to my title. Tonight we will celebrate with tequila and friends, supposedly for Cinco de Mayo but I know the truth.... it's all for me.

34:08

A lot has happened since my last blog update... yeah, over a month ago. I'm a terrible blogger. But I'm ok with that because I have been OUT in the WORLD..... LIVING! I have barely used the computer since I started training for a 5k, and I have no regrets at all. Speaking of 5k, I finished my first one 2 weeks ago. It wasn't a timed race, but my unofficial time was 36:30 (right around 12 minutes per mile, and I had to walk a short distance). Today, this morning, April 23, 2011, I finished my first timed 5k race! I ran every bit of it with a goal of finishing in 36 minutes and my official time was 34:08! I feel so accomplished and satisfied. And I can officially say I'm a runner. No one will be able to understand this on the level that I feel it. For my entire life I said "I can't run" and now I have conquered and I CAN run. I am a runner. I continually put my running shoes on and beat what I didn't think I could do. My times are getting better. My legs are stronger. I can run 3 miles and continue on with my day without feeling like my legs are made of jello. It is one of the best feelings in the world to know what I can accomplish when I put my mind to it. And I'm doing it all. for. me. No husband, dogs, parents, friends. I go out there and impress myself just for ME.

When I started training, February 4th of this year, I could barely run 3 minutes without having to walk and catch my breath. Ever since then I have ran 3 times a week, first for 2 miles, then up to 3 miles, pushing myself further to continually get a better time. I've gotten great advice from other runners. Like stretching! My God, my calves would be killing me a mile into a run. Now I stretch them 2 minutes on each calf and no more pain! Another great tip, sprinting at the end of a run to push my heart and lungs to their max. It's a killer in the Florida heat but worth it!

Now that I've conquered 3.1 miles, I'm going to start interval training to improve my time. As of now I have my pace so under control I don't get out of breath at all. It's time to start pushing my heart, lungs, and legs to the max. Every day the temp is reaching above 90 degrees here in Florida so it will be interesting to see how well I do in the heat (I only run outside, never on a treadmill). My goal is to run a half marathon so I can get one of those cool 13.1 bumper stickers, and the self gratification of knowing YES I CAN!

I would go for a marathon, but that just seems obsessive to me, so I'll stick with the 13.1 mile goal. I've also started one other "I can" project. I'm not able to share all the details yet, but it's MUCH bigger than running 3.1 miles, and will change my life if I'm able to accomplish it. My "I can'ts" are very quickly becoming my "I cans" and I couldn't be happier.

And... Breathe...

I haven't read a blog or checked in on my own blog in weeks. We have been busy swimming with manatees (although we didn't actually see any), having friends over for dinner (Jordan's New Years' resolution), I broke laptop number 3, we replaced all the hedges around the front of the house, I signed up for my first 5k and have been training 3x a week, Jordan has been sick and started working 10 hour days, my brother went to boot camp, and yes, I am still working on the living room. And.... breathe.... Oh, and most importantly, we signed up to go whitewater rafting in June for 3 days in the Grand Canyon! We are SUPER excited about that! I've been browsing through YouTube videos watching other people's adventures, which is making me even more excited! This one is my favorite so far.

I did finish the living room end table, which I like very much. Here is a quick pic I snapped with my iPhone when I got it done. I used the same paint from my kitchen cabinets, but added white to make it a little lighter green. I also scuffed up the table after painting it to give it a distressed look. I might scuff it a little more, right now it looks a little too "planned scuffed". I replaced the broken tile in the top with glass, and placed a faux bois print cloth napkin under the glass, just to add some texture and uniqueness to the table. I went with glass for the top so I can change out what's under the glass with different seasons or design inspiration. Right now I really love faux bois and I like how the wood on the table is painted, but the cloth has wood print on it. Just to mix up what would be expected.

Before

Found the 2 rectangular tables for

$15 each at a thrift store.

After

Paint and glass were free.

$18 table.

This Saturday we are going to Bok Towers with friends so the boys can take pretty pictures of the blooming azalea bushes.

On Sunday we will be going to the Florida Strawberry Festival to eat strawberry shortcake and continue Conquering Fear 2011 with some crazy fair rides.

Doesn't look like we will be slowing down any time soon!

Conquer Fear 2011 - Gators

Back in December/January I decided to make some goals for the new year. Well, one goal specifically, to conquer fear. I named this year Conquer Fear 2011. I made a list of stuff that I avoid to prevent an uncomfortable feeling. I'm not naturally a fearful person, but there are certain things that hold me back from living as full as I could. I'm definitely not the type of person to say I can't do something. But I kept finding these little things that I would avoid just so I wouldn't be uncomfortable/afraid/scared. I wasn't made to live in fear, so I'm going to conquer it. Take it head on. Then laugh in it's face.

My list consists of very specific to activities that send me into "freak out mode". Some of it may not make sense to other people, but it's all stuff that I avoid due to fear. So here it is (straight from my iPhone list labeled "2011"):

1. Canoe gator infested Wekiva Springs
2. Hold a spider
3. Learn to Fly
4. Ride a roller coaster

Small list but I can add to it. Today was gator fear conquering day. It worked out really well. I went canoeing with my best friend Maribel, and Jordan and her brother tagged along in kayaks. She and I had been canoeing down the springs before and I remember the sense of desperation to "get out" when I saw any gators. Didn't help that it was me and another female in a canoe, which means we were definitely not going fast and I was a brand new canoer so I wasn't very good at it. Trapped, inexperience, gators, ya, that sums up most of my anxiety inducers right there. But I love water. I love being outside in the Florida sun. I love a good physical challenge. There was no real reason for me to hate canoeing besides the unnecessary anxiety. So that was definitely first on my Conquer list. I made a couple videos while going down the springs. I have no video editing skills so it is what it is.