3.21.2014: Engaged!

My most favorite day:

Josh had mentioned earlier in the week that we should go to the outlet malls in North Bend then check out the lower Snoqualmie falls viewpoint since it just reopened after years of renovations. 

Seems nothing of suspect for a beautiful, sunny Friday. 

I came straight from work, so at least I changed out of my work jeans into yoga pants. But I had my hair grossly up, glasses on, makeup nonexistent. 

Glad he loves me anyway. 

Get to the viewpoint, I'm still totally oblivious. 

I start to take a couple pictures of the falls--(there were rainbows!)

As I took that picture, Josh got down on one knee behind me :) 

I turned around, and he simply asked, "Kirsten, will you marry me?" 

:) 

My eyes got huge and I said Josh!!!!! 

And then of course I said Yes! and just started hugging him--so much so that he had to say, "Well are you going to put the ring on first!?" Oh yeah :) 

Total blessing was that before we got to the viewpoint there were other people, and about 5 minutes after he proposed a bunch of people came down, but for those 5 minutes we had it all to ourselves. He told me how he managed to ask my dad (4 in the morning when he was in SD over Christmas, my dad wakes up crazy early). He told me he had had the ring for about 3 weeks. I was so excited and still couldn't fully believe it all was really happening.

As we walked back up the trail to the car he told me the story of buying the ring. The main diamond is from his grandpa's ring--he passed away shortly after Josh and I met, so I never got to meet him. So the ring is even MORE special! 

Once we were in the car, Josh said only his parents knew he was proposing that night, so he suggested going to their house and going out to dinner with them to celebrate! 

The car ride back to their house was filled with me calling my mom, dad, grandma, and close friends. I was still sort of in disbelief I think--everything was such a blur of excitement! 

Once we got to Josh's parents house, his mom and dad were sitting in the living room, so they jumped up and gave us both hugs and looked at the ring--they helped pick it out, but they hadn't seen it on me yet! ;) 

Then Kevin said, come on into the kitchen we started some appetizers! 

I walk in...first saw this:

...and thought, "that looks like Brittney's sign.."

Then, SURPRISE!!! The kitchen was filled with friends!!!!! 

Surprise engagement party! I was SOOO excited, is this all real!? How could it possibly all be this perfect!?!

Good job, Josh :) 

So we got to tell the story to everyone, and we just felt SO loved! 

I spent much of the party continuing to call and text my MN friends (two of my best friends didn't answer when I originally called). 

Then towards the end of the night, Josh said something about his "bride-to-be".

And I think that's when it finally truly hit me :) 

I get to marry the most wonderful Christian man and spend the rest of my life with him!

That is certainly something to celebrate! 

My Run Plan.

I've signed up to run a full marathon in June. I know it's not that big of a deal, lots of people run marathons. Grandmas even run marathons. But it's a big deal to me. 

I've run 3 half marathons (13.1 miles), but never had even the smallest desire to do a full (26.2 miles). 

To be honest, I still have no real desire to run a full...but I'm doing it anyway. Why? Because I sort of think I can't. So I need to prove to myself that I can. (Kirsten logic.) 

I would be ecstatic if I finish under 4 hours, but honestly I'm not too concerned about that. I just want to cross that finish line with very minimum walking to get there, if any.  

But one thing I'm going to do differently during my training season, is to run a little less, and lift more. In doing so I'll probably get a slower time on my half marathon than I've previously gotten (running the Tacoma City Half in May), but...I think I'll be okay with that too. But maybe stronger legs will make me run faster? 

Who knows. I like surprises. 

In the past I've trained by just stacking on the miles according to Hal Higdons training programs. It works. I've always met or exceeded my goal pace and felt well-prepared. Plus, I like having a schedule to follow and little goals to meet.

But all I did for 9 weeks was run and run and run. My hips always hurt after longer runs, my knees would occasionally give out...and I lost weight. But I wasn't trying to. I'm not going to eat crap foods to keep weight on because then I just FEEL like crap. And eating lots of healthy foods is dang expensive. 

It's a struggle. 

Here's my training program for this marathon: 

That's...a lot of running. (Ps. 8 miles the first week!? This is just craziness.) But I'm going to try follow it about 80%. 

Maybe TMI but being not a very curvy girl to begin with, lots of cardio does NOT help. 

Plus, as I mentioned earlier, lots of crazy running kinda ruins your metabolism. (For me it results in too quick weight gain or loss) 

SO. Yes, I'm still going to run lots during these next 16ish weeks of my training, because you have to train well to avoid injury building up to running 26.2 miles. 

BUT. I'm going to push/force myself to strength train each week too. I've never really done that in the past while training. And ultimately I'm just going to try keep a healthy metabolism and stay injury free. 

How am I going to make time for all that? Who knows. Guess I'll just have to eat more and run faster ;) 

Hiking.

Hiking.

Love it. 

I love that my roommate will hike with me.

 

I love that it's like a mini-vacation.

I love the freedom and happiness it gives me.

I love getting to workout outside of a sweaty, packed gym.

I love how amazing of a Creator my God is! 

And my adventure here has just begun :) 

Step out of that Boat!

If you listen to Christian music at all, you've probably heard one of my new favorites: Oceans, by Hillsong. We also sing it at church and last week the chorus really hit me. In a terrifying way.

Maybe "convicting" is a better word than terrifying...here is the chorus: 

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior"

It's beautiful, right!? But if you really pay attention to what you are asking Him to do, it is sort of terrifying. You are giving Him permission to take you way out of your comfort zone. Being a true Christ follower does not set your life up very well to be comfortable. If you're always comfortable, ask God if that is truly where He wants you. If we are comfortable, that might mean we aren't letting Him lead us. 

Or maybe we are letting Him lead us, but we aren't deciding to fully follow. 

I don't know about you, but being able to walk on water, by faith, would be...pretty awesome. But that requires us to first take action. We have to first step out of the boat. Step out of our comfort zones. 

It is up to us to take that first terrifying step when He calls us...whatever that might be. 

Maybe deciding to follow Him in the first place, when we know our friends and family will tease or even disown us. Maybe to quit our job and move to a new state...with no new job in place yet. To go and sit at the table with the quiet kid who doesn't have many friends and strike up a conversation. 

Maybe to give up that new fancy car in order to help a family in need. To start training for a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon even when you completely doubt yourself right away. To quit your job, uproot your family, and become missionaries in a different country. Maybe even to breakup with that boyfriend/girlfriend who you love but isn't living a Christian life and is starting to pull you down with them. 

None of that is comfortable. None of that is easy. But all of that could drastically and immediately change your life if you do them in faith in response to the Lord's calling. All of those types of decisions could allow you to proverbially walk on water. 

So what are you waiting for? 

Don't let this life fly by and not ever experience leaping out in faith and seeing how God catches you and makes something even more beautiful out of your life. 

And once you do? Don't ever stop telling people about how God is faithful. And don't ever stop asking Him which boat you need to step out of next. 

Hockey & Cheese Curds.

Once upon a time, I started thinking of cheese curds. And that, my child, is how this post came to be. 

Things I miss about Minnesota: 

...besides the people. Of course I miss them the most, but I'm going to try to not make this too sentimental. Because, well, it started with cheese curds. 

1) Outdoor skating rinks. 

I really just want to break out my skates and teach some little Washington kids how to skate. I was a figure skater growing up, and it can actually be a pretty good workout. It's kinda like yoga but with a little cardio. Kinda. 

In Minnesota, outdoor skating rinks are EVERYwhere because it's cold out and you can do that. People put up boards and flood their backyards. You can grab a shovel and go to almost any river, lake, or pond and bam! Instant rink. The city also maintains a bunch in various neighborhoods too--those even have little warming houses. And they're usually free and not super busy. Even if they are a little busy, everyone there knows how to skate so they're not bumping into you. 

2) Hockey. 

Yes, they have a littttle bit of hockey here, but no one really cares about it. 

At all.

It actually makes me sad. 

3) Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis.

Of course there are tons of lakes and great places to run here, too, but the Chain of Lakes was a runner's dream. More so in the summer months. But I'm just getting a little tired of running loops in boring neighborhoods. 

Paved trails and great people watching. (To give you perspective, Lake Calhoun is about 3 miles around.) 

I can get a little sentimental about great running trails, can't I? 

4) Upper Room church. 

Smallish, but not too small. Amazing worship, awesome teaching, a very cute baby population (loved working in the nursery), and the services were on Sunday nights. Something pretty special to me about that place. 

5) Cheese Curds. 

Last, but of COURSE not least. Yes, I know these are Wisconsin's thing...but they're everywhere in MN, too. And yes, you can technically find these at some places here in WA, but the ones here are more like mozzarella bites. It's all about the batter. They're supposed to look like this:

 

NOT like this: 

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE! 

Okay, that's all for now. Happy to be living in Washington, just had to pay some respectful tributes to my native land. 

Now, "Let's play hockey!!"

Don't be a NYR bore.

New Years Resolutions. What a topic. One year I resolved to not drink pop (soda...whatever) for the entire year and it lasted until March. I was at a pizza party and It was just gross to eat my Thin n Crispy (with extra cheese) pizza with a water. Dr. Pepper came to my rescue and my friends cheered me on as I ceremoniously broke my New Years resolution. Friends are awesome like that. 

So bear with me here, isn't it kind of annoying to ask someone if they have a NYR and they reply with, "Oh I don't make resolutions because....I never keep them/they're so cliche/I'm setting goals all year round, etc" (Sorry if that was you this year. I'm guilty too.)

Ohk then. Conversation over. 

How about just make something up for the sake of humoring me. Tell me you're resolved to wear a blue shirt the first day of every month. How about checking the couch cushions for spare change once a week to save for a vacation. Walk the dog on a new route every day. 

Be creative. You don't even have to follow through with your NYR...because who does that? Plus, who could remember to wear a blue shirt the first day of every month, seriously. 

It took me a few days to come up with some after my own "I don't make New Years Resolutions because..." excuses, but here are 2 of my week-late resolutions: 

1) Write shorter blogs. Not super short, because of that I'm incapable. I'm a rambler writer by nature. But I want people to be able to sneakily read them at work. Not avoid them because who reads more than 140 characters at a time anymore? 

YOU SHOULD. 

2) Run a full marathon. Because it's 26.2 miles. And I'm 26 years old. And apparantly crazy. 

That's it. 2 resolutions for 2014. And yes, I've already blown #1 with my last blog I posted, but oh well. At least I'm not failing on a couch-cushion-checking schedule. 

Now, I know I'm a week late...but let's try this again. What are your New Years Resolutions!? 

A Calm Life (part 2)

What does a gumball machine, an elephant, fireworks, and a leprechaun all have in common? 

Well, nothing. 

But I spent 10 days in South Dakota over Christmas! 

What I loved most about it was getting to just hang out at the house and spend time with my parents and Josh. No morning/afternoon commutes, no running around from one thing to the next. Yes, we still did some sightseeing, went to a hockey game, went to church, and ran some errands, but nothing ever felt rushed. 

It was truly living the simple life. The first few days I slept a lot. But once I was caught up on sleep it was like a city life detox. My mind was more peaceful, I felt more creative, and I was SO much happier. 

I didn't get stressed out over small stupid things like I have been lately. Seriously you should see me when I can't find anything to wear and I'm running out of time. I get obnoxiously crabby and my mind races and I feel like I could just cry at any moment. 

What? 

Really. I get total First World Spoiled Teenager attitude. It's pretty gross. 

But after coming back from SD, while getting ready to meet up with friends on New Years Eve, I had no good dressy shoes to wear...so I wore my puma-style tennis shoes. With a dressy outfit. And I didnt care. Because I'd rather wear the wrong shoes than be crabby. And even typing all of this I am embarrassed by my "First World Problems" syndrome. I'm working on it. 

While in SD I also started reading a book I got from my roommate called Simple Life by Thom & Art Rainer. So good. It looks at how our culture looks up to people who are involved in everything, put their kids in every sport, club, extracurricular activity....but everyone is stressed out, feels disconnected and discontent. 

SLOW DOWN, people. I'm not a parent, but I can totally see the temptation to involve your children in as much as possible to give them opportunities. But what does that ultimately do? Stresses parents out trying to juggle everything, and teaches the child to live a busy and hectic life as well. 

There is a balance. Try to bring some simple back into your days. Yes, you probably have to work 8+ hours a day, but what about all the other extras? Limit your extra activities to what you really value and enjoy doing. Step away from activities that always stress you out or consistently cause you to feel rushed or overwhelmed. 

Life is so short and goes so fast!! Don't fill it with meaningless busy work or life-sucking obligations that leave you exhausted and stressed out day after day. 

Fill it with quality time with loved ones. Fill it with adventures you want to reminisce about on your 80th birthday. Fill it with finding out and doing what God created you to do. 

I realize going from a stressed out life to a simple one takes time and may seem impossible. But you only have to go one step at a time.  

My first step? Don't be afraid to sometimes wear the wrong shoes. 

So far I've nailed it.