The Threesome Takes Dallas

Two of my closest friends put their heads together, picked a weekend, and flew to Dallas! We live in three different cities now and rarely have the benefit of face-to-face time. The timing turned out to be particularly perfect, coming on the heels of my Papa's death and memorial service.

These two were just what I needed! At the close of our fun weekend, Tyler turned to me and said, "I haven't seen you laugh that hard in years!"

High school years! They took me out for a fun day when Tyler moved to Nashville.
Ghetto Orlando Skycoaster for the win!

They stood by me on one of the most important days of my life!

As it turned out, I was in Orlando for Papa's interment service, so Sierra and I flew from Orlando to Dallas together. It was such a relief to have a flying buddy after such an emotionally exhausting two weeks!

Friday was a day of outdoor exploration. I had been planning to hike at Cedar Hill State Park, but it was closed due to flooding. Sierra's only request was to do something outside. So naturally we started the day at the dog park.

Bird dog buddies! Loving the newly renovated White Rock Lake Dog Park!

Afterward, we hit up the Dallas Zoo! This was a first for me, so I didn't know what to expect. The dinosaur exhibit sold us, and we were both impressed by the cleanliness, diversity, and professionalism of the zoo!

Life-size puppets at the Dino Show!

Lion around :)

Elephants for our friend, Sara!

 After a hot day outdoors, we hit up Steel City Pops! Post dinner, we went to Klyde Warren Park with hopes to ride the McKinney Ave trolley. Turns out that is slammed on Friday nights, so instead we took a rather long stroll down McKinney. We found a burger bar and enjoyed the patio while we waited for Haylee's flight to arrive.

Have I mentioned that Brooklyn LOVES having company? She thinks everyone comes to visit her (she's probably right!), and every morning she can't wait to get up and see our guests. I had to keep her at bay until an appropriate morning hour. When I finally let her out, this is what happened.

"Mine. My friend."

Sierra went with me to pick up puppy Brooklyn from the breeder's house, so Brook must have a special bond with her. :)

Once Haylee arrived, we hit the road running! This girl is the definition of the energizer bunny! I have been on multiple road trips with her, and she sure knows how to pack it in! I was determined to show them both the wonders of my city, so we hit up some of the biggies in Big D, as well as some of my lesser-known favorites:

The Arboretum, Kylde Warren Park & food trucks, Dallas Museum of Art, Knox/Henderson, Greenville Ave (including another trip to Steel City and my favorite Company Cafe), Unrefined Bakery, and Houndstooth Coffee.

Food Trucks at Klyde Warren!

Hooray for Art and A/C!

Saturday night, Ty and I had a race planned -- or rather, the race date was changed due to all the flooding we'd been having. The girls were super flexible and immediately volunteered to come cheer us on!

After a long morning of walking around the city, we lounged around, ate popcorn, played cards, and listened to Adventures in Odyssey. And laughed incessantly. Just like old times. We also tried to make gluten-free, dairy-free pizza for an early dinner, and that was a big fiasco, ending in a jammed oven rack, egg-chunk sauce, and a broken cake plate. I think this was mostly because my brain was in left field, but we had fun nonetheless. Basically it's a miracle that we had an edible pizza when it was all said and done.

Haylee and Sierra dropped Ty and me off at Community Beer Company for the Moonlight Madness Half Marathon and 10K and then hit up the Bishop Arts District while we ran.

I could probably write an entire post on this race, but I don't think I will. I summed it up on my Instagram account this way:

"Half marathon number five done! First 10K for Ty! Thankful for a pain-free race (even if I was in knee-deep water, alone for the final 5K, and hoping I was even on the course!) and the best cheering section ever!"

It was crazy -- not very well organized, super dark (glow sticks really don't give off much light in complete blackness), rainy, partially flooded, and directionally unclear. All that to say, I had a great time! It was my first long run in months, thanks to my nasty IT band injury. I took it easy, ran my second slowest half marathon, laughed at the quirkiness of the race, and enjoyed running without pain or a time goal. Tyler ended up winning the entire 10K, but he didn't even know it until well after the race! There was no finish line to break, or even a cheering committee to welcome him back. Just quirky! But we love to run, so it was still a good time.

Blurry view from the run! I ran over the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (the white arch on the right) twice during that race.
It was fun the first time. Mile 10? Not so much.

My speedy hubby! 

Best cheering committee ever!

Sunday we had breakfast at Company Cafe (that restaurant is a Dallas rite-of-passage in my book!) and then went to church. We took it easy all afternoon and played more cards and ate more popcorn until it was time to head to the airport. It was a short visit, but it was filled with touring, eating, lounging, and laughing. And more laughing. So much laughing.

Can't wait for these two to come back and visit again! They are good for my heart. Brooklyn can't wait either! She moped around the house all day after they left.

Lounging on their bedding!

Monthly Musings: March

Seems like I posted a lot about our March happenings.
I'd like to do something slightly different by remembering last March.

Here is something I shared this week on Instagram:

One year ago today, I was anxiously awaiting audition results and struggling to trust that God had a good plan for my family. His plan has been infinitely superior to my wildest schemes and dreams. (And I'm a planner!) We are beyond blessed.Celebrating ten months of adventure with Tyler, and sending hugs to the Sunshine State.
(Photo: http://www.michellebill.com/)

I don't mean to say that our lives are perfect now, or that we're happy just because God granted our wish. No, more than ever I'm aware of our dependence upon Him. I'm thankful, because I know none of this has been accomplished by our hands. Last year, I clung desperately to this verse: 

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Today I want to remember. I want to give thanks. It's been a hard week. I've been under the weather, I've had to be when I've wanted to do, and my recital is tomorrow. Still, He is Good
He has given us the ultimate Goodness by sending his Son. I love this Psalm for many reasons, but it seemed especially appropriate as we remember Jesus's death and resurrection this weekend.
May these words bring rest to your souls.

Psalm 118

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

Out of my distress I called on the LORD;

the LORD answered me and set me free.

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

The LORD is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!

They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!

They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Glad songs of salvation are in the tens of the righteous:

"The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"

I shall note die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.

The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we pray, O LORD!

O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD!

The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the rental sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

The Impromptu Race

We've had a month full of races!

Two weeks ago, I ran the Trinity River 10K.

BIG fun with Mary Anna!

The following week, Ty and I both ran the Dash Down Greenville 5K. (Yes, it was basically a beer run. Don't get me started.)

When it's his idea to race together, I'm never going to decline!

Then there was the half marathon. The one I'd planned not to run. It's part of the Rock n Roll marathon series. I've been hearing about this race since the first day we moved to Dallas. My neighbor does it every year. One of my professors has been an annual participant since the inaugural race. Even a man from church told me he had signed up.

But you see, I have a recital in two weeks. In an effort to cut back and learn to say NO!, I declined. I can't tell you how many times I visited the website and nearly registered. I just went about my recital preparation and continued running for the love of it and for the sanity of my dog.

On Friday afternoon, everything changed. I found out that my favorite runner, Olympic medalist and U.S. record holder, Denna Kastor, was leading the 1:45 pace group. My group! (Yes mine, even though I wasn't registered.) And even though this race now had a RunDisney price tag, and even though we had an impending departure time for the youth retreat, I drove to the Dallas Convention Center and registered for the Dallas Rock n Roll Half Marathon a mere 36 hours before the race.

I think I ran twice last week? It rained every day, but I still managed to break in my new shoes a bit. The church youth gave us quite a workout with their endless games of capture the flag. Definitely counting that as sprint training.

We returned home from the youth retreat Saturday night, and I decided I should probably find out details about this Sunday-morning race. With 13,000 participants in the mix, I had to have a plan. The plan? Show Tyler the race map, buy some band-aids for my heels (thanks very much, ballet flats!), and pin on my bib.

While waiting in my corral, I realized I was an arm's length away from Deena! Other people started to notice, too, because the iPhones came out and the selfies ensued. If I'd have had my phone, I might have been one of those girls, too. Thankfully, we'll both never find out. The minutes drew nearer, and the crowd hype simmered. So much, in fact, that Deena spun around and said, "Isn't anyone going to run with me?!" I found the courage to reply, "I am!"

And for thirteen (point one!) miles, I did. A handful of us did. Our pace group talked about dogs, hills, California, ironman races, Deena's daughter, jumping in puddles, Dunkin Donuts, and embarrassing race experiences. Deena coached us up the hills and encouraged and rejuvinated everyone around her. I listened a lot, partly because I'm shy and partly because sub-8s for thirteen miles isn't that easy for me.

Someone was waiting for Deena at mile 12 with donut holes. That was the only time I saw her refuel.

As we approached the finish line, I had to work really hard to keep pace. Normally I run a fast final mile and sprint toward the end. I actually remember slowing way down and waiting to cross with my pace group. All for the "million dollar photo," as Deena called it!

We crossed the line at 1:44:12, and I felt more energized than ever! Not bad, considering I hadn't trained and still managed to knock three and a half minutes off my previous PR. I couldn't have been happier! The course was awesome and the company was spectacular! I still can't believe it happened.

Turns out I didn't need my phone after all. The professional camera men were busy snapping photos. It was fun to see these pop up on social media throughout the day. (I'll save you the ones where I'm drinking water like a pig.)

Don't mind the watermark!

The stats:

5K split: 24:30

10K split: 48:55

10 mile split: 1:19:21

Half marathon: 1:44:12

Average pace: 7:57/mi

Overall: 586 out of 8486

Gender: 133 out of 5164

Division (25-29): 29 out of 725

Yes, yes, the stats are important for this Type-A, but I'm happy to say that this race was truly more about the experience than the numbers!

As always, my faithful fans were there for me!

"She ran without me?!"

After a very unrestful spring break, this busy weekend was exactly what I needed. I guess rest doesn't always mean naps and Netflix. In this case, it was a break from the rigorous demands of grad school, enjoying my hobbies. This was hands-down the most wonderful race experience! Truly an impromptu experience of a lifetime!

Because when life gives you ice cream, you simply have to make hot fudge sundaes!

All this running is making me hungry...

Monthly Musings: February (Birthday Edition, Part I)

My favorite day of the year came and went. It was absolutely perfect. (We're talking about my birthday, in case you didn't know. February = Jessie's birthday.) Texas even got with the program and made my birthday last nearly a week. Monday and Tuesday were both ice days, so the celebrating continued into the week.

Let me back up.

A February birthday for a Floridian means perfect weather: light jackets, sun, and a nice breeze. Dallas made planning a bit tougher. During the week leading up to the big day (Saturday), the forecast changed four times. It vacillated back and forth between torrential downpour and clouds and 70s and 30s. Finally, on Friday it looked as if Saturday would be cool and cloudy, perfectly acceptable for my birthday plans.

Birthday Wishes:
1. Run a half marathon
2. Go hiking with my family

Likely because of the unstable weather forecast, White Rock Lake was wide open. On an average Saturday morning, the lake is highly populated with runners, walkers, cyclists, dogs, strollers, etc. We saw a few running groups training, but I'm guessing many anticipated the clouds would turn to rain and the forecast would change yet again. Mary Anna ran with me, and we headed counter-clockwise around the lake this time. We parked in the neighborhoods surrounding the lake, ran the 9 miles around the lake, and then ran back to the car. Unfortunately, I slightly miscalculated the distance, so we had to add another mile at the end of our run. But in the end, we completed 13.1 miles in 1:48:56. It occurred to me afterward that neither of us have run a half marathon distance since our race in October. Not bad at all.

On top of the dam - I love this stretch!

Hydratin'!

I had a post-run recovery breakfast cooking in the crockpot for when we finished. I called my family on FaceTime and opened their gifts. I think the kids were a bit disappointed in the "grown up" gifts under the bright wrapping, but I've been enjoying my essential oils starter kit daily!

Annual birthday picture! (Looking a little rough, but I had just finished a half marathon, thank you very much. :)

Birthday flashbacks: 2013 & 2014

After a tasty breakfast, some quality foam rolling, and a shower, Ty and I headed to an outdoors store down the street. My Welsh fam sent me some birthday money, and it was burning a hole in my pocket already. Afterward, we packed a lunch, loaded up the dog, and took the highway south to Cedar Hill State Park. What did I buy with my birthday money?

A backpack for Brook!

I have been wishing for one of these for quite some time. I plan to use it for my long runs, so Brooklyn can carry all our gear. Hands-free running is a dream! We're also hoping to do some more hiking/trail running, so I have great plans for this pack. On Saturday, she hauled our lunch. (It's about time she pulled her weight!)

If you thought Brooklyn would be tired after running a half marathon, you guessed wrong. She was wild as ever! We took a 3-mile trail that is shared between hikers and mountain bikers. For safety purposes, we walked counter-clockwise, while the bikers took the route clockwise. Ty's favorite part was dreaming of biking the trail and simultaneously reliving his Nashville biking memories.

Cedar Hill is known for its hilly areas, and the trail had some good inclines. It also veers around Joe Pool Lake, so we could sometimes see that in the distance.

After our hike, I was certainly tired, so I put my feet up, iced my knee, and watched some Netflix. After that respite, the dinner party preparations began. Mary Anna and I had sliced most of the veggies the previous night, so there was very little to do except the actual cooking. After a long run and a hilly hike, I was stoked about this dinner.

Green Curry

Pad Thai

I didn't manage to snap a photo of our dinner guests, but it's because I was entirely present in the evening. After dinner, we enjoyed brownies, hot tea, and the 90's Edition of Trivial Pursuit. I could not have asked for a better evening. Finally, our sleepy guests departed with full bellies and wide smiles, and I was struck by how very blessed I am.

Stay tuned for Part II: Icemageddon!

Fall Festivities

Don't get me started on the weather here. It's unpredictable, to say the least. What I do know is that when it's sunny with a high of seventy five (did you hum along?), you don't complain and you don't remain indoors.

I've lived through twenty-four eighty-five-degree Octobers in Orlando, so I offer no apologies for my enthusiasm about experiencing this phenomenon called autumn. Even if I am a little over-zealous. 

Look a him go!

I was on fall break Monday and Tuesday this week, so I decided to take Brooklyn to a dog park Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, those plans were never realized, but not for lack of effort! I arrived at three different dog parks, only to discover all three were closed for various reasons. Poor Brooklyn finally realized we weren't getting out of the car....

After that nice detour (on the toll road, no less), we went home and made our own "park" in the backyard. I enjoyed a cup of tea and a book on Soviet music while Brooklyn chewed on sticks and old coffee tins. We were thankful just to be outside.

It's taper week, so Brooklyn and I have been taking it easier on our runs.

"Can we go faster, please?!"

Strolling through our neighborhood on a lazy Saturday

I had an appointment at school yesterday, which I realized was unfortunately scheduled during the SMU football game. Honestly, I don't know how people manage such enthusiasm for a team who is predicted to lose every game this season. The football team's record definitely hasn't dampened the tailgating scene. The main drive of campus is covered in red and blue on game days. Because of this, parking is always terrible! Yesterday I took advantage of our proximity to campus and walked. The weather was perfect, the football scene was hopping, and the friendly policemen stopped traffic for me at the crosswalks.

Saturday has become our weekly date night, and last night was exceptionally adventurous and fun! We drove to Ennis, Texas (about 30 miles south) to a drive-in movie theater. They offer double features at each screen, and you can choose from six different screens.

We saw Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Naturally, I slept through the second film.)

The theater was packed! Our screen was the most "family-friendly," so there were vans full of soccer teams and trucks with dogs and kids alike. The "regulars" were easily recognizable with their trucks backed in and camping chairs in the truck bed. Our wagon worked just fine, and I made a comfy blanket bed in the back.

The theater provided us with an FM station, so the sound came right through our car speakers. They also had the old-fashioned speakers staked in the ground next to each parking spot. We tuned in, rolled down our windows, grabbed some snacks, and enjoyed the show!

During the first movie, Brooklyn stood watch over the wagon and alerted us to any activity. Since she wasn't barking, we let her fulfill her role as watch dog. During the second movie, she and I both conked out!

And now, some shots from our relaxing lake walk/run this morning. Again, no apologies. Please come visit. I'd love to take you there.

Following a much-needed church service (have I mentioned what a blessing King's Parish is in our lives?), we had some friends over for lunch. Hospitality is so much easier when I don't stress about everything being prepared and perfect ahead of time. In fact, I just put the ladies to work today, peeling potatoes and washing lettuce. The men tended to the grilling. It's always more fun to cook together anyway.

Missing Hannah in the photo, but we had fun with these folks!

We're reaching that point in the semester where things speed up at an alarming rate. Paper deadlines approach, performance dates loom, flu germs float through the hallways, and bed times shift to a later hour. In the midst of all that, I am grateful for time to feel human. I love Sundays, and slowly I'm learning to love rest.