One Goal Down, Next One Fast Approaching

So I did complete the Survivor Mud Run!  And I have to say it was so much more fun than I ever thought it was going to be.  I went with 2 of my co-workers/friends and we had a great time.  It was pouring down rain (one thing I was praying for months it would not do) but honestly it didn't affect my mood.

It was a great reminder to me that if I set my mind to do something I CAN accomplish it.  I need to stay focused on the positives in life, on my personal goals and trust that the Holy Spirit is always with me.

Before the race, I was worried about how I would do compared to one of my co-workers who seemed to be in better condition than me due to the fact that I had been injured and unable to train the way I had hoped.  But the week prior I kept reminding myself that it was about personal achievement.  Doing something outside my comfort zone, living life to its fullest, and just having fun!  So that is the attitude I had when I arrived that morning.

I did have a great time and surprised myself by not worrying about my time or where I was compared to my friends or others.  I was proud of the fact that I did not struggle too much with the obstacles and yet they were just the challenge I needed.

Now, here I sit, still with the same hip injury plaguing me.  My next adventure coming up in less than a week.  The Ragnar Race, 15 miles!  Running farther than I ever have and wondering how I am going to get through it.  Will I let my team down?  Will I be the weakest link?  Those are my biggest fears.  But again, I have to tell myself over and over that it is about Faith, Trust and Perseverance.   I need to have faith in Jesus Christ that he will see me through this, trust in myself that I can do this, and persevere through the pain and the tiredness so I can reach my goal because I know the wonderful feeling of accomplishment at the end! 

I AM living life to it's fullest this year and I hope to continue to have that attitude for the rest of life.  No longer will I sit back and feel sorry for myself.  Do I have bad days or moments?  Absolutely!  But they will not drag me under any longer. 

Next, up after this I already have planned a girls day to do a ropes challenge course and zip-lining.  Am I scared?  A little....okay more than a little.  But I am also excited!  A great way to build some friendships and stay young.

Hope you are living life to its fullest as well!

Proof That My Blog Title Is True!

So here we are almost halfway into the year and what have I accomplished on the goals that I set forth in my previous post?  I am sad to say.....not much.

I am still signed up to do the Survivor Mud Run on June 18th.  However, after an accident at work, and current chiropractic treatments, it still remains to be seen if I will actually make it to this event let alone survive it.  I am trying to eat healthier, and when I am cleared to, I will be running again. 

But right now that seems to be the least of my worries.  Raising my 11 yr old daughter to be a responsible person is a more pressing issue. 

After the biggest scare of my life yesterday afternoon, I am lost on the answer. 

She had asked to go to a friends house after school, to which I said yes, but to call me at 5:00.  "Call me"  being the most important words here.  She knows I do not like her crossing the main road on her own.  I might mention that she does not have a cell phone at this point.

About 5:10 she had not arrived home yet so I proceeded to call the friends house and was told she had left at 5 walking home.  My husband and I were leaving so we decided to drive and pick her up on our way.  However, we never saw her.  We drove all the different paths she could have possibley taken home.  Panic started to rise and quickly took over.  My husband dropped me off at home to stay there and call the police while he continued to search.  The other parent also drove around searching after being notifed that she was missing. 

After almost 40 minutes (and no police) my husband had stopped at a neighbors to ask them to help search.  Well upon them opening the door, there sat our daughter.  They had invited her in to visit.  What a relief!    I was so happy and overwhelmed that she was safe and nothing had happened to her! 

My husband and I had completely different reactions.  He was very angry with her, I was relieved and honestly confused about how to feel.  She knew immediately that what she did was wrong and was very sorry!  She apologized over and over and kept hugging me.

I talked with her about how important it is for her to LISTEN to my instructions when I give them to her.  That with freedom comes great responsibility.

Do I think she learned a valuable lesson?  Yes!  Do I think she won't make any mistake like this again?  I can only pray the answer is no.

Getting started on the second half of life in a big way!

So here I am!  It's 2011 and I am now 36 yrs old.  I have thought about doing a blog many times but thought who would read it?  What if no one reads it?  But then on my way home today I got to thinking, who cares?!  A blog is really a place to journal.  Something I have always wanted to do but never follow through on because writing with a pen just isn't for me.  I am much more comfortable with the computer.  So this is where all those thoughts that run through my head that I wish I could share with someone can now go.  And if you want to read them GREAT!  And if not, well then that's okay too!

You may be wondering why I titled my blog 'Imperfectly Perfect'.  One thing I will share with you right off the bat is that I am one of the most imperfect people you will meet.  I am a Christ follower who has been blessed beyond measure with God's grace and mercy daily.  Sometimes hourly, and sometime more frequently than that!

I used to suffer from self-esteem issues which were a result of many things in my life.  However, as my relationship with Christ has evolved I have come to know that He has made us in His image and in that we are perfect!  But, and yes I said but!  But, we will never measure up to His complete perfection.  There is and will always be something missing.  He has given us free will which leads us to make so many choices/mistakes if you will that ultimately bring us to cry out and depend on Him for His grace, mercy, forgiveness and love!  Without Him and all that He has to offer us we are not complete!  We are not whole.  

So I am 'imperfectly perfect'.  I am just right, just the way that I am.  I know that it is okay to make mistakes, that it is okay not to be a beauty queen, to mess up as a parent sometimes, to not be a perfect christian, etc. etc. etc.  As long as I am always seeking Christ and learning God's will for my life, I am okay with being imperfect.  That is what He wants.  He wants me to see that I need Him!

So I am living the second half of my life if you will, with more confidence.  I hope that I live to be older than 72, but if I don't I hope that however long I have left on earth I live it to the fullest.  So to start here are my goals for 2011.  Maybe by posting them I will hold myself more accountable.  Who knows?

1.  Run the 1/2 marathon I did not get to do last year!
2.  Complete the Survivor Mud Run on June 18th (more on this in future posts)
3.  Read the entire bible this year
4.  Stay on track to pay off our credit card debt
5.  Have more date nights with my husband
6.  Tithe regularly to my church

These are not in any order and they are not the only goals I have but they are important ones to me.  Ones I hope to look back on and say YES I did those things!  

I hope not to take myself so seriously and to let loose a little more.  Enjoy life and try new things more often.  And honestly I already did that by signing up for #2 on my list.  Look it up!  Just put Survivor Mud Run, Seattle in your browser.  I have less than 6 months to train.  Think I'm crazy?  Maybe I am.  But I'll never know if I don't try and what kid inside of us wouldn't want to play in mud? :)