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

goals

A goal is the desired result that a person or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve: a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development. Many people endeavor to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines.

It is roughly similar to purpose or aim, the anticipated result which guides reaction, or an end, which is an object, either a physical object or an abstract object, that has intrinsic value. (Wikipedia)

I started walking years ago

as a way to get outside in the fresh air

and get a bit of exercise.

To clear my mind

and have some alone time.

Goals.

I walked through my entire cancer diagnosis, surgeries, and treatments.

Walking was a way for me to have control;

I didn't have control over losing my breast or hair

but, I had control over feeling sorry for myself-

for curling up in a ball and giving up or

getting off the couch and getting outside.

I started out slowly.

As the years went by, I began to add

mileage and speed to my walks.

A few years ago,

my Mother in law was in the deep, ugly depths

of Alzheimers;

my sweet and loving  husband
 became one of  the main decision makers
and caretakers.

It was hard.

It was stressful.

It was sad.

I used walking as a way to

escape and decompress.

I walked.

I prayed.

I cried.

I sang.

I was renewed.

Out in the fresh air

I could let it go.

~~~

One day a friend of mine asked if

I was interested in doing a half marathon.

What?

No way! I can't run that far!

He encouraged me to just walk it.

So, I signed up and walked that 13.1 miles.

It was the beginning.

I wouldn't say it has become an addiction...

but,  it's close! Ha

I have done 4 half marathons since then 

and am signed up to do 2 more this year.

One I am even traveling to another state to do it in!

Goals.

~~~

In 2015

as

 New Year resolutions

started circulating,

I decided to commit to participating in a 5k every month!

I am happy to say that I did it!

Even when visiting my daughter in Vienna, Austria:

I did a virtual 5k while my grandson, husband, and daughter

played in a park.

At one point,

my grandson who stopped to watch me

as I lapped around the park

asked me,

"granny are you racing?"

"Yes, I am!"

"are you winning?"

I laughed and said,

"why, Yes I am!"

Goals.

Currently,

I belong to three separate online running groups.

We challenge and support each other.

Because of one of the groups

I have committed to 

walking/running

2,016 miles in 2016!

Goals.

I have now moved on to 

longer walks

and can now run a complete 5k

without walking!

This is huge for me!

Little by little.

Step by step.

Mile by mile.

I have become stronger.

Goals.

My youngest daughter texted me

a while back.

She wanted to know

about all these goals

and how I found out about these

5ks.

She said she had seen my posts

on Facebook

and that I 'inspired' her!

What?

I almost cried!

We never know who is 

watching.

Wow.

Last week I participated in a 5k

with 4 of my friends.

We had to be at the Seattle Space Needle

by 5:30am.

Two of us ran it

and the other three 

walked it.

At the finish line

I discovered that I had 

run my fastest 5k 

and PR'd.

I still am not a fast runner

but, I always say:

"Faster than everyone sitting on their couch!"

Yes, I got up at 5 am

to

Run for Chocolate!

~~~

As far as long term goals.

I have one huge one.

I have decided I want to do a full marathon.

I picked a 'milestone' birthday

to complete it by;

which gives me

three more years

to actually get

this goal accomplished!

I have decided

by the grace of God,

I will do it.

I can.

I will.

I am determined.

Age ?

Yeah, I believe

that age...

 is only a number!

Goals.

little words

little words

can pack a punch!

little words

can hurt so much

little words

can heal so much.

little words
have power!

sometimes it's easy 

to ignore those

hurtful words

and sometimes it is not

sometimes a simple

word of kindness

means more than

we will ever know

those little words

can either

knock someone down

OR

they can pick someone up!

melody-mae 2016

I belong to a couple online running groups

and have signed up to 'run the year' 2016 in 2016.

These groups are very active on facebook 

posting runs/mileage but, also posting 

personal triumphs and struggles.

A few days ago, someone posted about her run.

Jennifer said she was out running and a couple

other runners said some very hateful and mean words

about her, thinking she couldn't hear them

because she had headphones on.

Well, guess what? She heard them...and the words

were just plain ugly!!

So ugly in fact, that she turned around and went

back to her car.

When she posted this story on to the running group,

the support and love were ASTOUNDING.

I am still amazed at the outpouring

she was shown!

Yesterday, Feb. 3rd we were prompted to dedicate our runs/walks

to Jennifer and to wear red. (Jennifer was wearing red

the day of her run)

I couldn't even tell you how many miles were dedicated to

Jennifer or how many pictures of people in RED

popped up in my newsfeed on facebook!

It was moving, to say the least.

It was awesome to be a part of this.

To witness the goodness in people,

the support that was shown.

It was also a HUGE reminder

that even little words matter.

Words can have an impact,

positive or negative.

Words matter.

Little words offered up in kindness

can truly matter.

they can make a difference!!

The power of simple words.

Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." C. S. Lewis

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.

mountain & mole hills

Today as I walked, I took on those 'hills' again

 only this time my attitude was SO much different.

 Instead of making those hills into a 'mountain' I looked at them as 'mole hills'.

 My attitude was better which made the task that much easier!

 Taking note of this: every time I climbed UP one of those hills, I also got to go DOWN one of those hills!!

 In life we all have mountains to climb...each time I have had to climb one it has made me so much stronger; physically, emotionally and in my faith.

 I learned to be thankful and grateful for my wonderful family and friends,

 to take time to see the beauty around me

 and for all the many blessings I receive each and every day from God!

 Wherever you are today,

 whether it is climbing UP a mountain or coming DOWN a mountain,

 I pray you know you CAN DO IT!

~Melody

a sweet little swap

i am having fun with the swaps
i have been joining.

this one was a ton of fun.
we had a limit of fifteen dollars
and a few ideas of what the
swap partner liked.

it was fun shopping for
someone else and exciting
to see how well it was received!

i happened to get my friend laura
as my partner
and was happy to know she
liked all the things i picked out
for her! :)

jenni got me as a partner
and she did an awesome job
getting me things i wanted/needed!

i walk usually six days a week-
and i live in the pnw
where it gets chilly this time of year.
i have always been a fair weather walker;
in fact, i have been saying that as the
weather gets colder and wetter
i am not sure how consistent my walks
will be. :) haha

so, with that info in mind...
jenni sent me some 
fleece gloves and matching ear warmers
along with a sweet journal!

i love them! thank you, jenni!

each gift was wrapped individually

and had a sweet little note stuck inside them. :)

fun times. fun times.

life is good

it is the little things
you know that day in and day out
stuff that keeps you going?

each day
i wake up with a fresh start,
another chance!
it is what keeps me going~
knowing that the past is behind me
and the future is before me.
that all my past mistakes are just that...
the past.
that each new day is a fresh beginning!

so these last few weeks have been filled
with wedding plans and with moving my eighty nine year old MIL
into a small home on our property.
i wake up and walk just to get out and clear my mind!
do you know what i mean?

i have a feeling that my walks will become longer and longer
as i try to get the happy endorphins to stick around! ha.

the past friday

i went with the grandson on a field trip

to a pumpkin patch~

the colors of fall were amazing!

seeing beauty every single day.

my morning walk is a great time

for refection and enjoying God's handiwork!

and last but not least~

my farmer boy

harvested his corn

so much that

it turned into a corn mountain! ha

wear

happy thursday!


what have i been wearing?

lots of work out clothes!

but, when i am not walking....
i wear:

what are you wearing?

we did it!

yes.
the bellingham bay marathon
is now under our belt!!

i did this with my husband, our best friend,
his daughter, her husband
and one of her friends
and
we did it!
we made it!
we finished the race!

we walked in the rain;
(yes, remember i live in the PNW)
they were predicting a rain AND windstorm
but, we missed it.
we still had rain, mostly a light sprinkle
and some wind
but, nothing that made it miserable!

we had over 5500 people participate.
i broke my record even though i was
only trying to complete a half marathon
it was my fastest long distance walk,
according to my runkeeper app! :)

yay!

we did it!

now we

can chalk that off

our personal bucket list! ha.

i am not sore at all today
although a bit tired.
today i will take the day to
mend muscles and sit by the fire :)

enjoy your monday!
it is the beginning of a new week.
a fresh start.
a new chance at something wonderful!

smile. shine. see beauty!

we picked up our bib numbers and shirts the day before.

we parked and walked to the starting line.

excited and ready to go!

two grandpa's and one granny. :)

my hubbie and our best friend!

we have been best friends with him (and his wife)

for 23 years!

the 'team'

we met up with 

our friends daughter, son in law and her friend

yes, it was raining as we waited

to get started.

afterwards.

13+ miles later;

we are still able to smile! :)

our medals for completing the course!

screen shot of my 

runkeepers app!

i love how on the bottom it says:

your best time!

bucket list

i am officially signed up!

yes, our friend asked my hubbie & i
if we would be interested in
walking a half marathon
with him.

i immediately jumped at the chance!
but, let's be clear here- we are WALKING it.

still, it is a pretty big deal for me. :)

that means we will be walking thirteen miles!

i have been hitting the roads.
averaging between five and seven miles on most days :)

i am super excited to do this!
it will be my first half marathon
and something i can check off my
bucket list! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



may you have a blessed day!
my wish for you is that you take a
few minutes each and every day-
to see some beauty around you;
because my dear friends,
it is there, if you only take the time

to look!

puget sound race for the cure

the puget sound race for the cure
was held last sunday
and my oldest daughter and i participated
in the co-ed 5k.

i have been doing this particular walk
in seattle since 1998.
i have had at least one of my three daughters
walk with me each year except the very first year;
which i walked with my sister in law.

it is always very moving for me.

i am sure you know this but,
just in case you missed it...
i am a two time breast cancer survivor

on this day, survivors all wear pink tee shirts
and it is quite an emotional experience
to be a part of a 'sea of pink'

i am more than thankful
for the many blessings in my life!

embracing each day
& trying my hardest to enjoy
each and every moment
and to see the good that is in
each day.

i am blessed beyond measure
and do not ever want to take any
of it for granted!

my daughter and i before the race.

a friend since i was ten years old

happened to be walking with her two sisters

who are both fellow bc survivors!

the 5k starts at the seattle center

underneath the space needle.

the sky was amazing that day;

it was hard not to

keep

 looking UP!

may you too, see the blessings

that are in your life.

because they are there...if you look!

will you join me today?

will you look upon this day and see all the

beautiful!?

spring in my step

spring in my step

mr. sunshine has officially 

decided to show his lovely face,

this week in our little part of the world!

it is amazing how the sun 

can just wake up the world.

since we live in the pnw

we get a LOT of rain & gloom,

so when the sun comes out...

oh dear,

it is just happy days!

birds are singing

lawns are being mowed

gardens are being tended

people have smiles on their faces

and a bit of a bounce

in their step.

i also know when the 

sun comes out

i see the dust bunnies a bit

more clearly

and my windows that

need a good cleaning! eek!

regardless of the dust and the dirty windows

i think a walk in the glorious sun 

it what this girl needs!

yes. indeed. 

i plan to get outside 

and enjoy it all!

it is a happy day!

it seems a waste of a great day

if i don't go out

and walk and enjoy this 

some of this loveliness...

and you?

what do you do when 

the sun finally comes out?

wear

what i wore wednesday!

for the record
i am not a jeans and tee shirt kind of girl;

at home i am almost always in
yoga pants or leggings with a long tunic
if i go anywhere
if i leave the house
even just to the grocery store...
you will find me in a skirt or dress
tights or leggings and boots!
i have had family/friends ask me
why i always dress up so much
and to tell you the truth
i don't think it is dressing up! ha
dresses with tights or skirts and leggings
are FAR more comfy to me than jeans!

so here are a few of my outfits from
this past week.

and for the record;
i do not proclaim to be
in anyway, shape or form
a fashion blogger. ha

cowboy boots, leggings, dress and a hoodie?

perfect for a movie and coffee with the hubs

dress, tights and boots for church.

after coffee date with with a friend...

i went for a walk in the sunshine! 

(i was wearing leggings, a sweater dress and converse!)

so tell me
do you feel more comfortable in
your yoga pants, leggings, jeans or skirts?