Newness—Is that a word?

As I've said before, I'm not the best at trusting in God's timing. I definitely try...but I fail, a lot. It's hard for to not be able to plan my own future. I'm a huge planner and organizer. If things don't go my way, I get upset. Yes, I realize this is a problem and yes, I am constantly working on it.

LOTS of new things have been happening lately. Do I know why they all happened at once? Nope. But I do know there was a reason for it. New dog, new house, new church, and new job! It's insane to think that there are so many changes in my life right now. I'm excited for the future and mad at myself for doubting. I am so thankful that God's plan is best and that he is always watching over us.

Before and after house pictures will be in my next post. I promise!

Need vs. Want

I often think about how blessed I am. I have more than I need. I have the best husband out there, own a wonderful home that is more than big enough for us, have two adorable (and usually well-behaved boxers), have a job....and the list could go on and on.

BUT here is where I let my materialistic desires get the better of me. No matter how much I have, I always want more. I want better decorations for my house, a newer car, nicer clothes, etc. It's kind of funny....the more I get in life, the more I want. And I know I'm not the only one with these feelings. Unfortunately, it's an American mindset. Why do you think America is so far in debt? We spend more than we make because we are not content with what we have.

As someone who budgets religiously, I can say that I will never allow my desire for more to overcome my desire to be wise with money. I really respect those friends of mine who don't own a lot but seem so content. In a way, living minimally seems like it would give you a piece of mind.

So here's my question. What do I need and what do I want? I desire to live a content life without constantly comparing it to others. What makes me happiest?

Some things that make me feel truly rich:

My relationship with God
My wonderful husband
Sunshine
Long runs
A clean house
Coffee

It's funny...when you think about it, you really don't need much :).

Happiness

I read an article on what true happiness is and I couldn't agree more. The article is written from a secular perspective. As a Christian, I definitely believe that true happiness comes through a genuine relationship with God, but all of the facts stated in this article are characteristics that Christians should have.

I thought I'd share:


http://successify.net/2012/10/31/22-things-happy-people-do-differently/

4th Half Marathon

I have a half marathon coming up in a few weeks and I'm definitely the least prepared for this one out of the three I've run. I'm still getting my long runs in on weekends but weekdays have me bogged down these days. With the entire process of buying a house and moving, I've had no time to get my normal runs in. This can be soooo frustrating!

One of my goals this year is to pick up my running speed. I'm pretty slow (around a 10 min/mile). I'm very comfortable with this pace and usually can go very long distances without getting tired. Lately, I've been picking up my pace to about a 9 min/mile. I've actually been pleasantly surprised that I'm able to keep up with this min/mile. Like they always say, your body can do far more than your mind thinks it can. So far I've been able to keep my 9 min/mile for about 3 miles. If I keep this up, maybe I can run a half marathon in under 2 hours. Crossing my fingers! I'll keep you updated on my half and post pictures. Pictures of our house renovations are coming too!

Is it Summer yet?

Things have been a little chaotic these days...to say the least. We have a one year old boxer who is not potty trained and thinks that he is ok to do his business anywhere he chooses. I'm tired of picking up poop. Our house is everything but clean. Boxes, trash, dirt, snow, and more boxes are everywhere. If anyone knows me, they know that I feel like my entire life is in complete disorder if my house isn't clean. And for some reason Colorado Springs thinks it's ok to snow every other day now. I hate it...with a passion. Cold weather puts me in a bad mood....that and clomid. And speaking of clomid, I've been experiencing one of the known side effects—hot flashes. I will never make fun of my menopausal mother again. These things are awful!

If I could fast forward to June, that would be great. Warm weather, an organized (new) house, a green backyard, and a tan. I'll keep dreaming :).