Today I trained with my iPod .  I’m still listening to Wayne Jacobsen, and at this point, I’m working through some of his podcasts.  I am so challenged and excited by what I’m hearing.  It’s all I can do to refrain from shouting “YES!!!” while I’m listening.

My iPod was cleared this weekend – on purpose, due to a hitch with my Nike+ system – and I’ve been painstakingly replacing all the info/settings/log-ins on it for the past two days.    I woke up Monday morning and realized that my long and detailed “to do” list is missing.  As are all my spectacular alarms (I’m a little bit anal…)  At first, I panicked.  Then I realized how freeing that was.   As I listened to the podcasts on my walk this morning, I realized that it was probably the hand of God, helping me on this journey of freedom.  I’ve not tried to replace either one (though I may have to put the laundry alarms back on to avoid backlog there…)

In the podcast Wayne shared how he likes to simply wake up in the morning and ask God what He had planned that day, and how he (Wayne) could participate.  A terrifying prospect for this list-oriented, type-A personality.  It so impacted me, however, that I actually came home, showed the kids the box with their curriculum in it for next year, and simply said that they were free to either follow the assignments I have already programmed into their Google calendar, or they could wake up, journal with God about what He wanted them to accomplish, and send that off to me.  If I believe that what they have written is from God, they are free to do that, instead.  I showed them the box of curriculum that needs to be completed before they can graduate, and I’ve set them free.  (You should probably know that the kids and I have just completed a university-level course on this kind of journaling, and I’ve seen many examples of their journaling, and believe that God truly IS speaking to them already, so I’m not too worried).

How cool is that?  How wonderful to be able to teach my kids to be free to listen to God and follow His leading.  How wonderful to be practicing this myself.

Oh, don’t worry, we’ll all screw up regularly, but it’s a great path to be walking.  SO much freer than lists and obligations.

I’ll keep you posted…

Darlene

On Sunday I did my long walk with my best beloved.  He is my favourite person on the planet, but I realized that Sunday’s walk was not the best way to spend time together.

Understand me, here, I love to go walking with Tom – we don’t have to talk, I like just being with him.  Sunday’s walk was a real workout though – endurance, mostly, because it’s been ages since I’ve done a long, fast walk, and the first time takes a lot out of me.  We weren’t talking – which is fine on a meandering walk, but deadly for me on a training walk.  I just start to think of how tired I am, and how I want to be somewhere else.

So the new rule is: stroll with hubby, train with iPod.

Whew, I feel better getting that off my chest (don’t worry, I already told Tom, and he gets it – good man, that!)

Happy walking!

Darlene

I received the following in an e-mail .  It’s brilliant!

Recently, in a large city in Australia, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.  It said, “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?“

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster,
responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

“To Whom It May Concern,

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life,
get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia , the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?

They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them … where is IT? Therefore, they don’t have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me:
I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.

So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, “Good grief, look how smart I am!”

Happy Walking!
Darlene

Ok, so this is HILARIOUS!

I’m all about multitasking and combining projects.  I want my exercise/fitness routine to work seamlessly with my lifestyle, but this?

Oh my goodness!  I laughed out loud!  This is definitely worth the four minutes.

Go for a walk, instead! It’s safer!

Darlene

As many of you may know, I’m an advocate for Compassion Canada.  I have been working with them for a couple of years now, and sponsor four kids with them.  I have never been so impressed with the integrity of a Charity Organization in my life.  I’ve watched them from several sides now, and am honoured to be, in some small way, associated with them and the amazing work they do.  They have been instrumental in helping out in Haiti both before, during and after the earthquake.  In fact, the Pastor of my church, along with his wife and some others, landed in Haiti just before the earthquake to do a visioning tour with Compassion.  This was cut short by the earthquake and they were sent home a couple of days later.

With all that being said, one of my main jobs is to help them find sponsors for kids.  Currently I have two kids here that need sponsors:

James Brayen Hamonsina
Indonesia, Born January 20, 2006

James lives with his father and his mother.  At home, duties include running errands.  His father is sometimes employed and his mother is sometimes employed.  There are 2 children in the family.  James is not presently attending school.  Playing ball games is his favourite activity.  He also attends church activities regularly.

Irene Karie Keriako
Kenya, Born June 12, 2002

Irene lives with her father and her mother.  Her fathr is sometimes employed as a farmer, and her mother is sometimes employed asa farmer.  Irene works at home carrying water and caring for children.  There are 5 children in the family.  For fun, Irene enjoys jumping rope and running.  She attends church activities regularly and is in kindergarten where her performance is average.

If you’re interested in either or both of these lovely kids, please e-mail me at dhull at telusplanet.net

If you can help me by sponsoring one of these kids I’d be so grateful.  Sponsorship is $45/month, and we also request that  you write to your child regularly.  You can write online, or send a letter.  You will receive regular updates from  your child, and if you’re interested, Compassion will also arrange for you to meet your child.

Perhaps you’d be interested in a child from somewhere else, or in a child of a different age.  If so, check out the Child Page and see if you can find one who interests you!

Thanks for taking the time to check this out!  These kids and I really appreciate it.

Darlene

The time has arrived!  I need to now work towards a 21k in order to be in great shape for my Marathon this October.

I’ve already done a 5k and a 10k, so this is next on the agenda.  I was delighted to find that Theatre Calgary had put together The Big Run right in my back yard (practically) in a park I often train in – how cool is that?!

I’ve often worked as a volunteer for Theatre Calgary, and have really enjoyed their plays.  It’s a joy for me to be able to support them in this manner, while being able to achieve my own goals.

Why not get your shoes on, and join me?  They have a 5k and a 10k option if the 21k is too daunting, and there’s plenty of time to train for any of the three options if you start now.  C’mon out and cheer me/us on (get the map)!  It’s so inspiring to see cheerful, encouraging faces in the crowd – especially in the home stretch.

Whatever you decide, know that I’ll post the results and hopefully some pictures here on my blog when it’s all done!

Happy Walking!

Darlene

So I’m looking at my calendar.  I realize that if I’m going to do a great job on my 21k in May and the following marathon in June I have to get off my butt and take my training really seriously.

For the past couple of months I’ve only been training about 3x a week, and that, only for an hour.  It’s better than nothing, but it’s not good enough.

The last week was spent attacking my “messes” with a vengeance.  Part of what causes me to be too busy to train properly is a disastrous mess in several areas of my house.  I have now caught up with the worst of it, tamed it into tidy submission, and can relax somewhat on that front.  I still have my big project which is more difficult to train, but even that one is working itself out nicely, it seems.  School is now organized for the next couple of months for the kidlets, and the household chores are getting done in a timely fashion.

Still, 1.5 and 2hour workouts are hard to fit in 4 days a week, and the 3 hour one on Sundays is also a challenge.  I need to get the mileage under my belt though, in order to be fit enough to achieve my goals for these next two races.

My proposed compromise is to alternate weeks.  I’m going to try doing my “correct” training every second week instead of every week.  That way I’m still getting considerable mileage, but every second week will give me just a little more time to catch up on what’s NOT being done in the heavy training weeks.  I’m thinking this will work.  The long Sunday walk I hope to make a standard feature of every week.  It’s a good way to get “reset” and focused for the new week while wrapping up what’s gone on before.  I’m trying to create more contemplative Sundays, anyway, so I think this will go a long way towards that.

Having spent last week tidying, organizing, and setting things up, this will then be the week I do the “big train”.  We’ll see how it goes.

Happy Walking (even if it’s cold!)

Darlene

Well, walking has been sort of “off and on” as my days continue to be interrupted.  I’m working hard at not letting my “list” get in the way of “people” and this week has been extreme in that regard.  I usually get in 2-3 days of walking and then it all falls apart.

I’ve had major computer issues in addition to that this week, so today is being set aside (sans walking) to complete four thick file folders on my desk.  Gotta push through and get this done so I can spend the weekend getting my project up and running so it’s in place on Feb 1.  I know I promised it last month, but we’ve had very frustrating technical issues with this, so it hasn’t yet materialized.  Everything seems to be in place now, though, so I’m quite hopeful about this new deadline.  Keep watching for updates.

Although walking has been a bit sporadic, other “resolutions” are working well.  I’m up to Ephesians 1:11 in my memory work, I’ve kept up with the Bible reading according to the “Blended” plan, my house is still tidy (with huge appreciation sent towards my wonderful kids for their help in this regard) and I’m doing well with weight loss, so all is not lost.  Just gotta keep working with priorities, and hopefully by Monday we’ll be back on track with walking, too!

I wish you all a great day!  Don’t sweat the small stuff, and keep the first things first!

Darlene

Still WAY too cold (-11°C /12°F ) , but I went out anyway (she da man!) I’m having trouble getting my Garmin to read my heart rate. It’s given me an average heart rate today of 61bpm. I wish I was in that kind of shape! I think the strap is actually too loose – probably made for a man. I’m going to shorten it, and then try again.

It did “beep” me through my workout, though, and I did an interval workout to get some more of this fat blasted off.   Woohoo.  Toes are still thawing out, but otherwise I’m feeling pretty good.

I thought I’d share what I’m listening to.  Last year I started listening to the Bible while I walked, and this year I’ve decided I want to go much deeper into the scriptures.  Here’s how I’m attempting to do it:

My walk is about an hour each morning. Last year  I set up a listening program based on Prof. Horner’s Bible Reading System. I set up 10 playlists on iTunes based on his ten divisions, and I set up 7 playlists – one for each day of the week. I simply drag and drop a chapter from each of the 10 divisions into the day’s playlist. You get to explore the whole Bible each morning. Kinda cool. This takes about 30 minutes of listening time.  I use “The Word of Promise” dramatized version of the NKJV for the New Testament readings (interesting to listen to the drama – I like this!), and Max McLean’s NIV version for the Old Testament (tends to swing from dull to over-dramatized, but it works.  I don’t have the “Word of Promise” for the OT yet).

I also have a challenge this year to memorize the book of Ephesians using “An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture” by Dr. Andrew Davis.  Once the general Bible readings are over, I then listen to the whole book of Ephesians (I work on the actual memorizing before I go for my walk).  This takes about 15 minutes.

When that’s done I’m working through Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians for whatever verse I’m memorizing that day.  He’s kind of fun to listen to.  I don’t always agree with him, but it’s good to hear what he has to say.  This is anywhere from 5-10 minutes, and usually wraps up my walk.

When I get home, I work through one of  iTunesU’s university classes on Ephesians.  Currently I’m working through a course on Ephesians from Dallas Theological Seminary taught by Prof.  Ron Allen.  I want to get several theological perspectives on the book,so I’m listening to whatever I can find.

I’m also pulling out my Inductive Study Bible and I’m going to work through Ephesians with the Precept upon Precept study guide.

It will take me 7 months approx. to learn Ephesians at 6 verses a week, and I figure by the end of that time I’ll have a pretty solid working knowledge of the book.  I’ve never studied a single book to this extent, so it will be interesting to see how it works.

I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, go take a walk.  Your body will love you for it!

Darlene

I am a huge proponent of making changes through small steps rather than attempting huge life transformation all at once.  I get burned out easily, and so overwhelmed that failure is inevitable.

I was very encouraged this morning when I opened my e-mail and found this article from Prevention Magazine: Small Changes That Take Off Big Pounds

So, if you’re working on those resolutions for 2010, keep this in mind.  Set up a series of small, effective habits, and work your way into your new transformation slowly!

I’ve been working hard on something that will help you do just that.  We’ve had some technical glitches that are making this a little awkward, but I hope to give those of  you wanting weightloss/fitness/wellness for yourselves and your families this next year, some big news today.  Keep your eyes on this blog for further details.

Darlene