a walk with my favorite

a simple walk after church.

we took advantage of the sunshine

before the thunder storm...

to take a walk 

and enjoy the crisp air and pretty fall trees.

life is good

leaves

outside on a walk
leaves crackle under my feet
squirrels gather their food

a healthy habit

a daily walk or run

time alone

all to myself

something that I do daily

it is mine and mine alone

I can spend it:

praying, singing, praising, meditating

a daily walk or run

outside in the fresh air-

great for my health and attitude

but, oh so good for my soul!

God's handiwork

we took a walk on a gorgeous bluff
overlooking the pacific ocean

listened as the waves
lapped at the waters edge

the scent of the salt-water &
soaring birds filled the air

stepping over branches, twigs and rocks
we explored the wooded path

the ground was littered with
leaves rich in the colors of fall

gold, brown, green, orange and red leaves
all tossed on the ground, so artfully...
a colorful outdoor carpet

as we took a beautiful walk among the leaves

it was hard not to stand in awe;

grateful
thankful
blessed

as the beauty of God's handiwork
enveloped us

just me. that's all. me.

a week from today

i will be participating in my 2nd half marathon. :)

i will be doing it with

a group of friends this time...

a bunch a gals who can talk

a mile a minute.

should make the 13.1 miles go by

pretty quickly.

i walk six days a week

well, most weeks anyway...although

living in the PNW there are days when

the rain is coming down in SHEETS

and i decide exercising

in the house sounds good

or sitting in front of the fire 

with a good book

sounds even BETTER!! ha.

since faithfully power-walking for the past year

my distance has increased

along with my speed.

my husband says:

i walk faster than a lot of people jog! :)

although i must say,

i am competing with no one

but, myself.

truly.

i am competitive by nature, though.

it could be growing up the only girl

in a house of boys?

regardless,

i am fairly competitive

and am usually pretty good at sports.

that being said, 

i set out each morning

to just get a walk in!!

nothing more than that.

just to get out and walk.

not competing with someone else...

just me.

truly.

i am not comparing myself to anyone else:

 not how many 

days someone else walks

how FAST they walk

or how FAR they walk...

just getting outside by myself.

hitting the road and walking-

mile after mile...

walking clears my head.

it helps me stay fit.

i  also use walking 

for contemplation,

and alone time, with God...

not to mention the happy endorphins! :)

it doesn't matter how far or how fast i go...

really it doesn't.

as long as i get out and do it.

you see

i am not competing with

anyone

except myself!

trying to be the best possible

me, i can be.

i walk

for me.

and ONLY for me.

no one else!

i am not trying to be better than anyone else.

just a better, melody!

that is all.

happy spring!

we went for a walk

a week ago,

taking advantage of the sunshine.

around here

in the pacific northwest

you need to 

learn to take advantage of the

sunshine 

when you can

because,

tomorrow it could

rain! :)

we went to one of our 

favorite coffee shops;

it is near the

 boardwalk

and walked along the ocean.

the sailboats

the ocean

and a cup of coffee

with the one you love?

does it get much better

 than that!?

my wish for you?

that you too,

 have

a wonderful spring,

that you would be able

to look

and

truly see;

the lovely and the beauty

in each and every

single day!

the beauty 

is there.

sometimes

it is in the simplest of

moments.

but, it is there.

we just need to 

Be Still.

it is there.

treasure it.

hold on to it.

savor it.

be thankful for

all.

be blessed

smile

and shine!

again

last september
i walked in my
very first half marathon
and said, "i can check that
off my bucket list"

well, again
i can say it! :)
this time i will be
participating in a local event
with a bunch of my high school friends;
we call ourselves the ya-yas and have
been close friends...some of us
since grade school!

i have promised
to not walk my 'normal' pace
with them
and to take my time and have
fun visiting...i am sure that will not
be a problem. ha.
we never seem to run out
of things to talk about! LOL

so, again...
i will do a half marathon
and am thinking maybe i
will be doing more and more
in the future!!

lookout.
here i come!

here is a picture from
today's instagram.
i love, love, love that my
new workout leggings
remind me of
mystique from x-men!!! :)


have a wonderful week
my friends.