Savor. 601-650

601. Running my last 8 mile taper run through Black Mountain.

602. Naps on the deck at the Knob.

603. Second chances

604. Hard questions

605. The warmth of arms wrapped around me.

606. Friends who teach with me.

607. The same two friends who meet me at Los Compadres for chips and drinks.

608. Sharing in life stories.

609. Julia, mom and Grace picked me up from the airport the weekend of the Akron Marathon!

610. Grace's smile.

611. Raising over my goal for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of my sis.

612. All of the messages that we received in support of the marathon and my sister.

613. The grace that my parents offer so that I can struggle less.

614. Rolling a ball with Grace.

615. Excitement of walking through the Akron Marathon Expo with Julia and dad.

616. Getting to know Julia's community better.

617. Digging through old pictures to find some of dad for his surprise retirement party.

618. Hugging dad and Paul before the marathon.

619. The feeling of freedom & strength while running down the hill before I got on the towpath around mile 12 during the marathon.

620. Knowing I would finish the marathon.

621. Passing Brandon the last two miles and giving him my arm band.

622. How I always sob as I cross the finish line.

623. Running up heartbreak hill. Or walking it. I hate that thing but I get to the top!

624. Finishing strong - and thankful that I got my nutrition & water intake right this year!

625. Dinner with one of my girls, Jamie at Los Compadres. Love getting to know her better!

626. Catching up with my amazing, strong warrior of a friend - Mary Ann.

627. House sitting at the Kuna's for over a week. Such a great place to be still. 

628. My cell phone does not work at the Kuna's.

629. The Brantley's opening up their home for our Fall Break movie night!

630. Getting to know youth families even better.

631. Going to Wilderness Trail for a Fall Hike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

632. Sharing a ministry that I love so much with my new church family.

633. Being invited to the oldest UMW Circle at Lebanon FUMC to share my story.

634. Vacation in Utah! 

635. The wisp of cloud resting on the tallest mountain.

636. Rising up and away from beauty

637. Having a friend who can get away for a week 

638. Michelle being willing to be flexible for three days to see if we could get a permit to hike the Wave.

639. Feeling so small and insignificant next to mountains

640. Crumbling the edge of sandstone with my boots

641. Yellow trees that pop up unexpectedly

642. Driving a long road that has a new view around each corner

643. Chopsticks trying to grab the last of a shared Pho

644. Remembering how yummy Del Taco guacamole salad was

645. Stopping the car for fire roasted pizza on the side of the road. Even though we already ate lunch. 

644. Giggling as we walked back to the pizza with frozen yogurt in our hands

645. Melty mozzarella on a margarita pizza

646. Finally getting my Zion National Park stamp - it was closed last time

647. Finding my stamp that Mary Ann signed for me - verifying that I had been in Oct 2010. 

648. Sharing that moment with her over text

649. The cameras in cell phones now

650. Listening to songs that I hadn't heard in awhile

"I'm so glad that I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Mom & Dad's the night before the Akron Marathon. September 2013

Savorings...501-550

501. That I took the risk to meet meet Nathan. 

502. Free haircuts & color from Merrill. Technically not "free" because I'm housesitting for her but I like this trade!!

503. Finding a spot in Percy Warner Park to hang my hammock. 

504. Beautiful, cool weather at the beginning of August - so I'd want to hang out in my hammock.

505. Heading out to the McIntyre Farm for the first time.  They have turned their farm into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast... Cascade Hollow Lodge. 

506. Meeting Dave and Patty McIntyre.

507. Setting out my running gear to run 12-14 miles the next morning even though I was in a new place.

508. Actually getting up to run at 6:00 am.

509. Running 14 miles in Normandy, TN. Which means I'm following through with my marathon training. 

510. Yummy breakfast that Patty made for us!

511. Kayaking in the rain.

512. Experiencing life in a small community. 

513. Yummy barbecue and live music at River Cafe, Normandy, TN.

514. Hearing about Nikki Mitchell's story - the original owner of River Cafe before she died this past spring of cancer.

515. That I'm invited to come to Cascade Hollow Lodge anytime for Sabbath.

516. Enjoyed the last Sunday night of the summer out at the Broadway Brewhouse.

517. Matt and Kim live at Live on the Green.

518. Living in a place with so much great live music all the time!

519. Napping & reading and cuddling with Panda & Bear. 

520. Laughing so hard with Matt after we almost fell off the picnic table and pulled it on top of us.

521. Running 16 miles and sharing stories with Emily Edmonson.

522. Celebrating that Emily ran her farthest mileage ever!!!!

523. That Nathan is willing to hang out with me after my long runs even though I have no energy for much.

524. First annual Eggstravaganza at Lebanon FUMC!

525. Standing in a circle sharing prayer requests as the sun starts to go down and we are all covered in egg.

526. Leaving the house key for Dave & Merrill's house at the church. 

527. Locking my car key in my car when I get to their house.

528. Standing outside covered in egg wondering which neighbor had their key.

529. Being able to laugh about the entire situation.

530. My shower when I finally got inside after 1 1/2 hours.

531. Remembering Lee and praying for Shannon, Lila & Luke.

532. Open windows and doors in August. Love this.

533. Shorter long mile days. 

534. Being surrounded by friends from Pensacola and Lebanon For RUNMS:TEAM JULIA.

535. Realizing again & again that I belong to such a beautiful community!

536. Having friends from my own youth group join TEAM JULIA.

537. The Wilson County Fair.

538. Just how excited everyone at the church is for me to experience the Fair.

539. Eating corn on the cob dipped in butter.  Fair food!

540. Got to experience Cascade Hollow B & B with both Ingrid and Abe.

541. The gift of being with friends and eating yummy food!

542. Having Emily & Becky meet me at mile 5 to run their 7 miles.

543. The silence of running before 6:00 am on the greenway by myself.

544. Finishing up my 18 mile run even though the last mile was incredibly hard and hot!

545. Being asked to share my experience with Niki G's.

546. Sharing about my Appalachian Trail hike at Walter J Baid Middle School FCA!

547. Another day on the boat with the Glissons and Heather Graviss.

548. Looking and pictures and remembering the end of the AT hike TEN years ago!!

549. Having space to rest over Labor Day weekend at Michelle's house - house sitting.

550. Summer Beer and home made calzones

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all." - William Faulkner

Normandy, TN August 2013 

Year Four. Day 51.

It was a beautiful day to run a marathon. But they still do me in. Did great till I got home & started packing. Now I'm laying on the ground at the airport. Thankful for all of you!!! 

Year Four. Day 50.

The youngest RUNMS: TEAM JULIA member!!  She's pretty adorable!!

Year Four. Day 42.

Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies!!! Not too bad!! 

Year Four. Day 22.

"Earthly"

Trail of Tears...

Year Four. Day 18.

"Change"

There's been a lot of it this year...

Year Four. Day 16.

"Darkness"

Love running early enough that I get to see the sun come up...

Year Four. Day 9.

"Justified"

After running 10 miles I really want the cookies. Made a fresh strawberry smoothie instead. 

Year Four. Day 7.

"Travel"

Bootcamp agility training... Running through the ladder!