Church and Cakes

I know you have been waiting on pins and needles for my next post. I know, not really but here it is. I've been a little behind. The last two weeks have been a little crazy. 

My husband is a priest and we just recently merged two churches into one, to form a totally new church. 

Here is our brand new sign!

Last week we had the Bishop at our church for our first meeting as Church of the Resurrection and for confirmations.

Bishop John and My Husband Caleb

We had a wonderful service where four ladies were confirmed. We also had a huge luncheon afterwards. Can you guess what I made?

Cake!

If you guessed cake, you are right. Not my smoothest cake but it was tasty, or so my four year old says. You can check out our new church's website here, but keep in mind it is still under construction as the church is barely a week old. But can hear my husband's sermon from this past Sunday on there.

I also completed yet another cake this weekend. Here it is.

Sleepover cake

I was hired to make this cake for a seven year old's very first sleepover birthday party. I think it turned out pretty well.

This week should be mellow. No cakes on the calendar, just training runs (thank goodness I am pain free!), work and being a mom. I do have another cake next week.

I hope you have a great week.

God Bless.

7 weeks!

After I wrote my post on Monday I forgot to follow up with how my gym time went. I went to the Y with my husband during his lunch break. I did a mile on the elliptical a half mile on the bike, 100 crunches and an arm circuit. My calf felt great but I didn't want to over do it. But the run itch as totally taken over. Tuesday I decided not to run because I wanted to give my calf a break just in case. Wednesday I totally turned off my alarm and kicked myself all day when I couldn't fit in a run. But yesterday morning I got my lazy booty out of bed and ran! I ran two miles in twenty minutes in glorious weather. It was an awesome first run back. I wanted so badly to run this morning but I knew that I would be sore all over. I woke up this morning and I was glad that I hadn't planned on running. I am sore in places that I didn't remember I could be sore in. So, maybe tomorrow.

How was your morning? Any weekend plans?

God Bless.

Quick Cupcake Update

I've been baking cupcakes like crazy lately. Here are three of the latest that have left my kitchen.

"Chocolate covered cherry!" Maraschino cherry cupcake with dark chocolate frosting.

Vanilla cupcakes with lemon cream cheese.

Vanilla cupcakes with chocolate buttercream.

These one's didn't leave my house :)

This is a busy weekend for my family as we launch our new church. Check back next week for a cake and church update.

Have a great weekend.

God Bless.

Six long weeks

Thursday of last week marked six weeks since my last run (and also since I fell down my stairs and cracked a rib). As you may have read before I pulled something in my calf during my last half marathon in April. I took two short weeks off after the race and then got back at it, but I wasn't pain free. I wouldn't say that I was in a great deal of pain but achy. Achy is not good though.

After hobbling through Esprit de She in Cary NC (due to my calf and my back) I made myself take some time off. My running partner here in VA who coaches me and paced me through my half marathon told me to take six whole weeks off. He said to stretch and do some strength training but that was it. Then after six weeks to ease back in. I complied by stretching, doing some strength training exercises at home, using my trigger point kit and foam rolling. I had every intention of running this weekend but it didn't happen. My husband is a Priest and we are in the process of combining two small churches into one new church. This weekend we closed one of the churches, a very historic old church. It was a somber weekend so I wasn't too sad when I was too busy to fit a run in. And last night I went to bed with my dang calf aching! It hasn't ached in over two weeks. Maybe I spent too much time on my feet yesterday at church, but geez. 

Six weeks of not running has been really hard for me mentally. I'm not upset about being injured, I'm upset that I can't run and it just doesn't make me feel good about myself. So I had every intention of getting up and running a very short and very slow run this morning. My body must have needed the extra rest because at some point this morning I turned off my alarm. I saw my Oiselle running clothes (origami tank and distance shorts) still neatly folded in the corner while I got dressed for work. Side note: I totally planned my all Oiselle outfit. I wanted my first run back to be all Oiselle run since I am now an Oiselle athlete :) Since I didn't get my run in this morning I will sport my awesome Oiselle outfit and hit the elliptical at the Y. My husband thinks I should ease back into running using the elliptical before I hit the roads. He is a wise man. So that's where you will find me at lunchtime today, the Y. 

How was your weekend? 

God Bless.

The Ups and Downs of life.

Today is a bittersweet day. My cousin Rachel would have turned 37 today. She died suddenly just four weeks before I met my daughter for the first time, so almost five years ago. I miss her like crazy.

But yesterday I got some amazing news. I received an email that was titled "2013-2014 Oiselle Voleé Team Welcome!" 

I can't tell you how excited I am to represent Oiselle (prounced wah-zell) as team runner. I stumbled upon their running gear two years back and I have loved every purchase I have made. I can't wait to wear my Oiselle singlet in my next race. If you aren't familiar with Oiselle (from some of my previous posts), I highly recommend the distance shorts. They are my favorite running shorts. Period. 

Have a great weekend.

God Bless.

10 years back

Today I was talking to a runner friend via text while I was doing some balance exercises and realized that it has been over 10 years since I had knee surgery. With the surgery came some of the most heart breaking news I had ever heard in my 18 years of life. "You will never be the runner that you were, don't bother coming back to team [Sonoma State University Track & Field] next year." 

Well guess what Coach? I am thinner, faster and more determined than I was ten years ago. I can run farther and faster now. I am not the runner that I was before the surgery, I am better!

I feel very blessed to be runner that I am today. Yes, I may be on an injury break right now but doesn't mean I'm not a runner. I'm taking some needed healing time and then I will be back at. Yes, my running goals have changed for this year but I am still a runner. I have had some amazing opportunities this year. I ran a huge goal race for me, the Nike Women's Half in DC. I paced a friend for her very first 5k. I got to be a race ambassador of the Esprit de She in Cary NC. I will  be a race ambassador for Pretty Muddy next month in Richmond. I was chosen to represent Kind Runner and Girls Gone Sporty as an ambassador. I've continued my ambassadorship with Fit Approach as a Sweat Pink ambassador. It's been a good year.

So, thank you Coach Hiserman for not so politely telling that me that I was not good enough. I took your advice and used it to my advantage. I am a better runner because of you, but you can't take the credit. I sailed over the hurdle you set in front me (pun intended since I was a hurdler for him) and I am pressing on towards new goals.

And all of that makes me think of my favorite Bible verse, Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

God Bless.