You got LAID OFF-why the smile?

I wake up and it's Monday....I have no job to go to and I am more awake then ever. I am more focused, I even have a pep in my step I cannot explain.
It's gotta be a "God thing". Don't get me wrong-I am scared and nervous, but for some beautiful reason I am calm.
Like majority of Americans I am a 'pay check to pay check' kind of gal, not proud of it...but its true. How scary-huh? Yes, but again I have to learn from this. As most of you know God will propose a test, now he is not the type to just slam the test on the desk and leave you in a room by yourself with a #2 pencil...and IF that pencil breaks "TUFF", He is a merciful God.
I find it joyful to be tested by Him. Now don't get me wrong I have broke many many pencils and have asked if I could just maybe start the whole test over again, and I have even cried thinking I would get that hall pass to the nurse so I could lay down with the HUGE paper towel they call a blanket.

"Mom-are you going to OK-why are you smiling? It's because you get to nap all day huh?"
I am smiling because I have a clean canvas, I get to listen to God with no one around, I get to read His word and wait for my instructions. I am the lucky one. I know people who really never get tested they never allow themselves to feel the anxiety of being tested. They are scared, and so am I but feeling the stress of a test is healthy to me. With Jesus as my professor how can I fail. OH...I can fail, but He doesn't ask me to leave the room. He sits down with me.
We all have had that teacher that just sat next to you, she was either watching you to make sure you weren't writing notes or she was sitting just in case you needed her. Jesus is sitting right next to me, waiting for me to look up from the test and ask for help.

No one knows, unless you were in theatre but SO much goes on behind the scenes and then the curtain opens. Everything runs smoothly. The show is entertaining and fulfilling. Sometimes the show does not start ON TIME, sometimes the lighting is 'off', sometimes you forget your lines. But to the audience it looks perfect and smooth....and they can't wait to clap at the end to show their appreciation.

The curtain is about to open, and I have to take a deep breathe, and be prepared to break a leg.

Running even when your not being chased.....

I am a new runner....if you know me you know how NEW I really am. It's pretty sad when you have to google "running new start breathe" to even get started with the process.
I learned that there is a process, and if you don't follow it perfectly you can be in DANGER-sounds scary-huh? Tell me about it.....

I print out the instructions and I wish they would have NOT let me read ahead-but I did.....
and who ever wrote these instructions is a very excited runner who has never doubted herself a day in her life...
"In just 9 short weeks you will be running 3 miles"
"9 weeks huh.....OK!", I said still standing at the printer.

You start out with 60 seconds of running and then 90 seconds of walking and you do THIS back and forth for 20 minutes. pretty easy huh? I couldn't wait to get started-really.
SO-I made the Acadamy trip-we have all made this trip-I was even walking different when I went-I was a runner and I was acting like one. I was confident and I knew what I wanted.

Instead of walking around the store I decided to ask someone b/c I didn't want to get winded.....
I asked, "Yes I need a new stop watch-mine broke" I did NOT want to sound NEW.
They pointed me in the direction and I WAS OFF.....to go and search for my new best friend.
WOW----if no one has ever searched for a stop watch you are in for a surprise. They had everything you could think of except for the one that RAN FOR YOU...don't worry I looked.

After searching for almost 30 minutes I started to sweat because they didn't have the air on in there-because we are athletes and we DON'T care about air, I finally found one.
Now I needed a new shirt-a running shirt-because I had to look amazing and a new shirt can make you run faster.....well Acadamy does not carry plus sizes, I am guessing because once you make it to that store you should have already lost your weight, needless to say I was upset.
I ended up buying a men's T-Shirt that was actually perfect and on sale. All this for a 60 second run.
While waiting in the check out line I ended up picking up some "Energy Beans" I know I couldn't believe I found those so quickly, but finding the right stop watch was so difficult.
After eating them I learned that they just gave me that sugar high that I can get with any kind of JELLY BEANS....the picture of the "ENERGY" Bean on the package with the sweat band on threw me off. "ok?"

I was ready.
I looked like a runner.
I sounded like a runner (iPod Shuffle was charged)
I could keep time like a runner (stop watch)
I WAS A RUNNER

I get to the track and I am ready to BE A RUNNER....I go to a high-school track around my house and if there is something going on at the school I cannot get on the track....well I drive there, I am pumped and ready...THE ENERGY BEANS HAVE KICKED IN!
And-yes you guessed it something was going on AT THE TRACK.....

SO-I went home and started the real journey the next morning.....
I DID purchase a Jump Roap though and did that (whatever you wanna call it) for 12 seconds, I was NOT going to let all that prepping go to waste.......I drank a Vitamin water and went to bed!

What an amazing start to this amazing journey!