Afternoon on the Beach

So we had an amazing weekend, and will probably take all week to recover! I kinda got sun burnt, and am so sore that I can hardly walk up the stairs at work in my high heels. I went running on the sandy beach early Saturday morning, played volleyball for almost three hours that afternoon, and then sat out on the beach for a couple hours on Sunday! It was such a gloriously relaxing afternoon!

It's probably the last weekend I'll spend relaxing before my wedding in 3.5 weeks, so it was spent merrily soaking in the 90F sun. I know I'll probably get stressed and overwhelmed when I get to Dallas, so I'm trying to relax as much as possible until then.
Getting married is probably the most life changing decision I'll ever make, and I can't wait to start forever with my love of my life! There is no other person I would rather be gallivanting the world with, scheming big dreams with and living life with. We are a team. I am looking forward to spending everyday what it looks like to die to self & serve the other before ourselves.
I'm thankful to live this life... It is bigger and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Running on the beach at sunrise

Well, I cannot lie, the sun was already high in the sky when we got to the beach at 6:30AM this morning to run, but it was still orange and reflecting off the water! It was a breathtaking sight, and it just filled my turbulent soul with peace. I decided, upon moving 3 miles from the beach, that I'm going to run on the sand as the water laps the shore, at least 3 times/week. I know this is a lifetime opportunity, and I don't want to miss out on it because I'm lazy (which I am. really lazy). So in order to beat the heat (because I'm also a wimp and can't handle running in 95F weather), I've started early morning runs. This morning I was so fortunate to have my fiancee, Tyler, join me... He could run a 1/2 marathon if he felt like it, so my workouts seem like a sunday morning walk to him... but it's so wonderful having him run beside (or ahead) of me!

This is by no means a habitual thing, I'm just so excited to be this close to the water that I'm like a golden retriever puppy, chasing down to the beach whenever possible! I know there are benefits to running on the sand, but didn’t know what they were until I researched it.
I decided to share with my friends what some of those benefits are, and hopefully be inspired to make the drive down to the boulevard for some early morning runs!



A fellow blogger, Dav Davis, sites the reasons that running in the sand is benificial to ones workout

If your workout needs a makeover, take it to the shore to start reaping these 5 benefits of running in sand. Not only does it provide optimum strengthening of the lower leg muscles, but it’s also easier on your joints and burns more calories than running on pavement. One of the best running workouts you can get, regularly running in sand will transform your body and increase your coordination...

1. You’ll develop more strength in your lower body running on sand. Because of the sand shifts beneath you as you run, your ankles, arches, and calves are engaged and will become stronger.

2. Running on sand burns more calories. YES!!! A study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology proved that people who ran or walked on sand burned between 1.2 and 1.8 times more calories per mile on each run. That’s between 20 and 80 extra calories per mile. It’s thought that because runners sink into the loose sand, they use more energy when covering the same distance.

3. You’ll become more coordinated and have better balance by running on sand regularly. The uneven surface of sand not only activates the muscles of your lower body, it also engages your upper body as you subconsciously – or sometimes consciously – struggle to maintain your balance. Your core abdominals, back and shoulders all get a workout as you move through the shifting terrain. THIS IS REALLY TRUE!!

4. Running on sand is easier on your joints. Running on a softer surface gives joints and muscles a break from the pounding they take on asphalt or pavement. Every time your foot hits the sand, the impact force is minimal, so your body is subjected to less strain.

5. You can’t beat the view. Whether your run along the beach at sunrise or sunset, nothing beats the water lapping against the shore... and I am usually eager to jump in for a quick swim!

Dav Davis entire article, "5 Benifits of Running in Sand", can be found at: http://www.mademan.com/mm/5-benefits-running-sand.html

"Aunty Mandy"

I'm finally an Aunt! I can now be refered to as "Aunty Mandy" and I'm so excited!
Here is a picture of the little fellow =) His name is Maddex Ryder Van Hierden



Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.
Elizabeth Stone

I get to pick up my wedding dress today!

I know, I know, the last blog I posted... I wrote about how I'm getting married!
To all you recently engaged folks, I know a wedding sounds amazing, but just elope. It's so much easier....
despite that, I'm still estatic to have finally found a dress, which was purchased off the rack because I ran out of time.
This is what happened. Fell in love with this dress that was right in my price range. Well, closer to my price range than anything else in the store. Who has an extra grand to throw at a wedding dress? Anyways, the super brillant sales lady put me in an extra long dress... and didn't tell me. When I came back to purchase the dress with my cash in hand, I decided to try it on again. They gave me the regular lenth dress and the long one had a 18 week wait to order.
This might make me a drama queen, but I cried in the dressing room and decided I wasn't going to worry about dress stuff for a couple weeks.

So when my mom and sister came out several weeks later, and we went to every dress shop in the area (well, only 3, but it took all day!). We tried on ball-gowns, mermaid, beach dresses, vintage and classic dresses... and I finally found the one I wanted!
Since we were so short on time, I had to purchase it off the rack, but it fits like a glove and I can't wait to wear it. I'm not allowed to gain even 3 pounds or I won't fit into the dress!

I'm getting married!

Tyler picked me up at about 6:30am Saturday morning for the Shamrock 8k race, which we ran in 53 minutes! He ran along me and encouraged me the whole race, and practically carried me across the finish line. We then got all cleaned up and he took me to Fort Story to see the beautiful lighthouse on the beach. It was a breath-taking view with all the barges merrily floating down the coast. The water couldn't have been bluer or the sky brighter!
After enjoying the magnificent view from the ancient lighthouse, he suggested we walk down to the beach... which of course I would have suggested had he not. Since it was a little chilly, he offered me his hoodie and we started to wander by the water.
He got kinda quiet, which is slightly unusual... and then started telling me things that he loved about me, how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and how precious I was to him. I tried to grab him in a hug and tell him the same things, but he pulled back...
so he could...
get down on one knee... whipped out the ring box... (which, at this point I was completely SHOCKED) and asked me if I would marry him.
As per tradition, after big questions, I just hugged him instead of answering him. Poor guy had to ask again, at which I just laughed at him and answered "Of course!" And then I pulled that ring out the box and slid it on my finger before that boy changed his mind! We just held each other for awhile... until this older gentleman came up and asked if he could take some pictures.... which is how we have pictures of our special moment.

Back in the garage...

So...I'm back at the garage. I was hit last week in 7-11's parking lot. How annoying.
My tire ended up being completely flat... So the military boy that hit me changed it and put the spare on. Since the original tire seemed ok, I got it blown up and put back on. You know... Just in case.

Well, I got in my car to go to work this morning and my tire was flatter than a pancake. Like... The ones where you put too much water in? Yup. Couldn't drive. 
So... Good thing it wasn't my white Jean day... Because I jumped out and changed it faster than that military boy. 
Tyler was proud! :) 
So, since SAMs club is around the corner, and their garage doors are open, I decided to check if they could help me out. Fail. They were there usual 'discourteous' (note: word change due to astonished feedback) selves. I think that's a requirement they demand when hiring people... Cuz they are the rudest people in retail I've ever met. 

So now I'm at merchant tire. They're kinda grumpy too... But non of us are in sparkly happy moods at 8am Monday morning! They're replacing my tire, and I don't really care what it costs because I'm getting the military boy that hit me to replace it. I'm Just annoyed at the whole mess. Just get me out of here so I can get to work... Go home& Study for my mid-terms... And Skype with Tyler :) 

Happy Birthday Broadcast Church!

Good Morning Broadcast Church! We had a delightful morning celebrating.
I have included some remarks from our Paster Jess Holmes' blog, which can be found at http://broadcastchurch.com/happy-birthday-broadcast-2/... so if you're thinking about checking out the church, check-out the website!

"What a GREAT service we had on Feb. 6th, 2011. We celebrated our first birthday. We wanted to record what happened on this special event. We always open with some delicious coffee. Then at 10AM we started our worship through music. Trey and his team really honored the and worshiped God. The music was so moving. Then Trey dismissed for our “Coffee break” and people went to the back and had some delicious cake that was made in honor of this special event. "

I also included a few pictures I took of the celebration!

Speed "Networking"

Oh, is that what we call it here at Regent? "Networking"? Well, I'm texting all my single friends at Regent to show up at this event to get "networked"... today at noon!

Speed dating is a formalized matchmaking process or dating system whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a large number of new people. Its origins are credited to Rabbi Yaacov Deyo of Aish HaTorah, originally as a way to help Jewish singles meet and marry... so even speed dating had religious roots.

Don't kid yourself, Regent. Just call it like it is... speed dating!

decorating my office pad

So the other day, after being inspired by my other creative friends in the office, I decided to spruce up my space as well. Now, I'm not sure how receptive others in the office may feel about my new-found urge to create a pretty 'pad' for myself, so I've introduced it slowly. First, I started with stapling 12x12 scrapbooking paper up on the wall in front of me, and then put up a few pictures. Soon I may add poster sized pictures of people... and things, but that will need to be added after my conservative co-workers have acclimatized to the current changes.

I want to feel inspired as I do my job, as it's not... you know, really... like... inspiring... So this helps. I want my on-campus job at Regent University experience to be as fun and enjoyable as possible!

Today: what I miss about home.

Let's just say I had a really rough class, and I was at home... I would go straight to Crazy Cakes Bakery and get a super rich chocoalaty cupcake (gluten free) and eat it in 2 seconds. Like, pretty much stick the whole thing in my mouth at once, buggle my eyes in surprise at how big it was, and that it actually fit... and proceed to slowly gulp it down.



It actually used to be called Spudnuts, but to preserve the 'historical' downtown, they left up the original signage.
I would especially like to stop in before work and do homework for a couple hours,sitting on the bar, watching the snow fall through the huge glass windows. It's adorable, and the perfect place to take your mother for Mothers Day... like I did last year =). She loved it!

Anyways, had a rough class this morning and just wanted to stuff my face with a Crazy Cakes gluten-free cupcake =) Amaaaaazing!!