He WILL hear me

I woke up today knowing it was time to start focusing on my relationship with God.  I have been mad, really mad at him lately and when I am mad I ignore him.  That is NOT what He wants and I know that, it is just my way of coping with my pain.  Yes, I understand that I need to seek Him during my pain along with my joys but I have a hard time with that.


There has been a lot and I mean A LOT going on in my life the last few weeks.  Some joys, some pains but mostly me just walking through life unaware.  I just go through my daily task as if nothing is wrong and do what needs to be done.  I don't do more to lift my spirits so I just walk through life in a daze.


Today that will change.  I started reading a new book called "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.  It is a daily devotional and I was hesitant to start because obviously it starts January 1. I figured I need to stop making excuses and just start so I jumped to today June 21 and this is what it says..."Wait patiently with me while I bless you"  


Hello slap in the face!  He is telling me to be patient.  Yes I believe that 2 years is being patient but that is not a long time for Him.  That is very hard for me to do when I want something so bad but I know that He is watching over me and He is planning it all out in His timing.  Do I wish His timing was sooner, yes but I know it is always right.

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7

I HAVE to believe the He WILL hear my prayer and He WILL bless me with a child.

So I leave you with the newest addition to the Schafer family...Hank!

Conquered the Hills!

So I conquered the hills of Kansas City and it was great!  I ran Hospital Hill half marathon this past weekend and it was an experience.  It was hard, it was rewarding and it was fun all at the same time.

Race day I was up at 5:30 trying to settle my nerves, which was not working!  I didn't get much sleep the night before because I was nervous and excited.  I knew this race was going to be tough and I knew it would challenge me in a way I had not been challenged before but I was ready.  I went down to grab some breakfast and quickly made my way back to our room.  I got dressed and hydrated and just tried to think of anything but racing...yeah right!

Around 6:15, Matt and I made our way to the race area.  This was a lot bigger than the last half I ran and so I was a little overwhelmed with everything.  We were in a corral start so once I found my corral I was ready to go...kinda.  I tried to meet up with a friend but we could not find each other before the race started.  It is probably a good thing for her because she ran way faster than me!  It is fun to be around other runners and get to talking about the day and the race and how everyone is feeling.  The weather was absolutely AMAZING!  Usually this race is hot and humid but today it was cool and breezy.  6:50 we have the National Anthem and 6:55 the wheelchair racers begin.  It's almost time and I am getting nervous!

7:00 the cannon (yes, not a gun but cannon this time) goes off and the 1st corral is on the streets!  I have a few minutes as they are letting corrals go 2 minutes at a time but once I am up and ready there is no turning back.  i cross the start line and the adrenaline kicks in.  I have my ipod going actually on the playlist this time and I was going.  I had a goal in mind so I kept those pacers in my sight.  I knew as long as they were in front of me I could do it.

Mile 1-already there is a hill.  I take it slow, listen to my music and try my best not to think about what I am doing.  I just run don't focus on pace I just get up that hill.

Miles 2-5 I am feeling pretty good.  There have been some hills along the way but nothing too bad.  The downhill is always the best part anyway!  They had aid stations every 1.5 miles so that helped me as I did walk through those so that I could drink some water.  I still have not mastered the jogging/running while drinking out of cups, maybe one of these days I will figure it out so I don't have to slow down each time.

Mile 6 I began to hit a wall.  I had not trained as well as I wanted for this race and I started to feel the pressure.  My back started acting up as I do have lower back problems.  I tired hard to not focus on the discomfort and just power through.  I had some great music and a lot of encouragement throughout.

Mile 10 was the BIG hill!  A mile and a quarter long but it was great to get to the top and know I was almost home.  The volunteers on that mile were great. They were so positive that I couldn't let them down and walk because as much as I wanted to they were there supporting me the whole way!

Miles 11-13 were great.  I had one hill to get through and then it was all down hill from there...literally!  I crossed that finish line at 2:15:39 and was so happy!  It was only 4 minutes slower than my first half but with more hills!  I know if I would have trained better I probably could have been faster but I was happy to finish without having to walk more than just through the aid stations.  I finished before my goal and that is all that matters.  I got my medal and my finisher flip flops and I can't wait to sign up for it again next year!

Hospital Hill Half Marathon!

Holy geez I am just 3 days away from my second half marathon and I am not prepared at ALL!  I can not believe that the time has come for me to get going on the crazy train again, haha.  Oh well, I signed up and I am going to do it.

Hospital Hill is what people call the "Grandfather of Kansas City Road Races" so you can imagine what it is going to be like.  I have heard mixed things but most of all I have heard that once you are done it will be the best accomplishment you have to date!  I can't wait to cross that finish line after 13.1 grueling hilly miles.

Look for a post race write up :)

Oh and here is a fun pic of me and my buddy Scout!  I was going fishing and he tried to get in the truck to come also.

Sometimes a song hits home...

Today I was listening to Spotify and a song came on that really hit home for me.  Lee Brice's Song "Falling Apart Together" tugged at my heart strings.  When things are going on in my life there is no one I would rather "fall apart together' with than Matt.  Give it a listen, it might mean something to you too!

Round 2 HERE WE GO!

So I have jumped on the crazy train!!  Yep, I have signed up for my 2nd Half Marathon and this one will be rough!  It is called Hospital Hill so you can only imagine what is in store.  This time around I really am looking to just finished especially with all the hills!  I have about 4 weeks to train so I will be doing a lot of hill running!

Wish me luck!

13.1 and Done!

I DID IT!  I ran a half marathon and lived to tell about it!  It was the most amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again.  The training was not good but the race was WONDERFUL!  If you could not tell I am pretty pumped about it.

FINISHER!

The day started out early with me checking facebook updates all morning because it was storming and I didn't know if they would postpone or call off the race (which I was not hoping for...or maybe just a little).  Matt and I had some breakfast and I could barely eat because I was getting so nervous but I knew I had to get something in my stomach!  His parents got ready and we all headed out the starting line.  We got there about 7:05 which was a little later than I had planned but it was ok.  We found a parking spot pretty quickly and then we head in.  I was getting more and more nervous as we walked closer to the start.  I of course had to go to the bathroom and the lines were forever long but I new if I did not go now I would have to stop along the way and I was not willing to do that because I would lose time :)  It is hard to hydrate but also know that you need to be empty to run 13.1 miles!  So I got in line and Matt stayed with me and cracked jokes to help lighten the mood.  With about 4 minutes till I was still in line and they made a call over the PA system which in turned helped because some people made a mad dash to the start line WITHOUT going to the restroom!  I thought that was kinda silly since your time does not start until you cross and I know they were not going to be winning it.  I just stayed in line for the fact that I wasn't racing to win and I knew my time would not start at the gun but when I crossed.  The gun went off and a few more people got out of line to start running so I was finally able to get in and get out!  Took all of about 1 minute past the gun start.

So I got going and it starts raining, and I am not meaning a light mist, I am talking full out rain!  Big rain drops that kinda hurt when they hit you.  It was pretty fun but not something I had ever though I would do.  I had a pretty quick first mile so I knew I needed to slow down if I was going to make it the whole way.  Matt made me a playlist that I had not even heard until race day.  I did not realize that I didn't have it going until around mile 1!  HA, so I finally got the playlist going and it was fantastic!  He is so funny and was able to make a list that he knew would help me keep pushing on.

The rain is still coming down and there are puddles all over the course plus mud now, but I was still having fun! Around mile 5 I got to see Matt and his parents.  It was a nice sight just to see people that were supporting me and the fact they were standing out in the pouring rain just for me, that is a great feeling!  I was still making pretty good time although the next few miles I slowed down more than I wanted to.  The rain really started coming down during miles 6-8 and it was cold so it didn't make for fun running.

As long as I didn't think about the rain, as hard as that was, I was ok.  I had a blast and felt great!  Mile 8 came around and it was my second chance to see Matt and his parents.   The course looped so they stayed in 1 place and I got to see them twice!  They were soaking wet when I past at mile 8 but it gave me that last burst of energy that I needed to finish out the last 5 miles.  The course was mostly flat with just a few hills.  I rounded the park for mile 12 and felt like I could kick it in but for some reason I thought I had 1.25 miles to go not just 1.1.  I didn't start to kick until almost mile 13 but then I knew I was so close that my adrenaline went into overdrive!  I got chills and it was AWESOME!  I crossed that finish line hands in the air and a big smile on my face.  I can not wait to run another one!  The pouring down rain didn't stop me like I thought it would.  I crossed at 2:11:48, which averages around 10:00mile.  That is WAY faster than my long training runs and blew my goal (2:15-2:20) right out of the water!  I can now cross "Running a Half-Marathon" off my bucket list!

It's FINALLY here~

Yep it is the week of my very first HALF MARATHON!  I can't believe that the time has finally come for me to cross this off my bucket list...well I still have a few days but I am confident I am going to do it this time.  I have trained several times for this and each time I got hurt but not this time!  The week is here and I am feeling great.  I can't wait for Sunday to be here so that I can get the first one under my belt.  I am sure once I get this one done I will be hooked!

This past weekend was so busy with K-State Open House, Junior League Next to New and Tyler and Annie's Shower that I did not have time to run my last long run until Sunday.  It was great!  I felt good the whole time despite the 22-25 mile per hour winds!  This gave me the confidence booster that I needed after my week of not so good runs.  I know how I need to fuel myself for the run and I can't wait to see what I can do and what I have in me for Sunday.

I am sure this is how I will feel on Sunday but I am so READY!

Next week's post will be a picture of me with my FINISHER medal!!!