C25K - Week 4, Day 2

Let me tell you, "Murphy's Law" is for real.  I discovered that the college next door to my job has a nice track.  I was going to try it out today, but it started raining.  In the city where I work, it always rains way more than it does in the city where I live.  So I decided to run in my home city.  I left my earbuds at home accidentally.  I stopped by the Dollar Tree and purchased a pair for $1.  My ears are small so the earbuds that wrap around the ear never work for me.  And you know, that's what the Dollar Tree had, so I got them anyways.  When I got to the cemetery, I put my phone in my newly purchased arm band and the plastic covering was already coming loose on one side which meant my phone has a greater risk of falling out.  Putting all that aside, I ran anyways.

I ran.  With earbuds falling out of my ear, keys on my neck strap jiggling to their own beat, arm band slipping down my arm, I ran.  When one ear bud completely fell out, the arm band slipped down and I had to strap it to my skinny wrist, I ran.  Probably looking a hot mess trying to run while holding one earbud in with one hand and grasping my keys and the other dangling earbud in the other, I ran.  And just after I passed a seemingly super fit guy jogging to a steady beat and I was entering into my last 5-minute run, a little girl probably no older than 3 years old looked at me approaching her as she sat on her tricycle.  As I got closer, I waved, she smiled, then turned her tricycle around and began to peddle ahead of me.  It was as if she was helping me to push through that last leg in the race.  All of this awkward Day 2 was worth it.  "And a little child shall lead them."

Week 4, Day 2

p.s.  In spite of all of this, I was able to surpass my average running time by 0.01 miles.  Just imagine if that stuff hadn't of happened.  Looking forward to Day 3's results.  :-)

Pressing on,

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C25K - Week 4, Day 1

Today was a tough run.  I know it was because of two factors - it was quite humid and there had been a long gap between my last week's run and this one.  Why?  Blame it on Isaac.  Today I was able to squeeze in Day 1 of the Week 4 workout, but squeezing it in meant I had to run in my yard.  I don't totally despise running in my yard, but it is awkward.  You just go round and round the house and my yard isn't level so you do have to be careful not to step incorrectly.

The funny thing about creating a new habit is that you have to be consistent.  Each week I honestly look forward to the jogging experience.  However, this week although I was looking forward to it each day (I even brought a change of clothes to work each day), I could tell that after the disappointment of not being able to run settled in, I was also starting to feel less hesitant to get started even on today.  I started rethinking the idea I just formed this week of participating in a women's only 5K at the beginning of October.  This event is sponsored by the Women's Center of a hospital and is in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, an issue that is very dear to my heart.  Anyhoo, I pushed those thoughts aside and trudged out there.  And I made it.  It was tough, but I made it.

This picture is how I really finished my workout today.

Week 4, Day 1

This picture is for those who like to see me smiling, inspite of everything.  :-)

Until next time,

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I may be linked up to the following parties:
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Sharing the Joy of Crochet {Part 2}

So, it's been quite a long and busy weekend, but when I arrived a church on Sunday morning, my little pupil was arriving at the same time and was eager to tell me that she brought her crochet materials!  I didn't think I would have any time to devote on this day because her family wasn't eating dinner with us on this Sunday.  After church, I noticed my little pupil was crying.  I don't know the reason, but I said, "Go get your crochet things so we can practice some."  All tears dried quickly, I saw a great big smile, and off ran this little one to get her things out of the car.  (In case you're wondering what everybody else was doing, they were just talking, some were cleaning in preparation for a fellowship service we were having with another church that evening.  But what did my little one and I do?  Crochet!)

My 6-year old pupil and her 4-year old sister

We continued to practice the single crochet (sc) stitch.  I realized that since this stitch is multi-stepped, I would have to scaffold her so she wouldn't get frustrated.  So, I inserted the hook into the bottom of the chain, she pulled a loop through, yarned over, and completed the stitch.  After a while of that, then she practiced inserting the hook into the proper part of the chain.

Little sister really wants to do what her big sister is doing

Although 6-year olds have a short attention span and I kept having to say, "Pay attention" in the middle of the steps because she would often talk to me about something or look at someone in the middle of the stitch and then forget where to pick up, I do think that she will be very good at this thing called "crochet." 

A 2 - year old wants to see what going on in the back pews.  Her mom had to drag her away.

And as you know little ones are quite the curious ones, and so I have been challenged to find the answer to her question, "Why do they call this crochet?"  She told me to look it up on the internet.  Crocheting blog friends, do you want to help a 6-year old out?  lol

My little pupil has discovered a new yarn holder - the back of the pew!  But her feet must find another lodging place.

p.s.  It's official.  I'm going to have to learn to hold my yarn properly.  I've got my own style, but I don't want to teach that to a child.  I'd rather they learn the "proper" way and break the rules on their own, without my help.  :-)

 

Until next time,

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I may be linked up to the following parties:
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