30 days

About a month ago my mom invited me and my sister to participate in a 30 day challenge with her. She sent us this video, which inspired me to give it a whirl: Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days 

My goal was to run for 15 minutes every day for 30 days.  

I know that 15 minutes isn't a lot.  Most people probably would have done it for 20 or 30 minutes.  But I was starting from absolute scratch and for a total couch potato, 15 minutes is a lot. 

A view from my running path...

The first week was brutal.  My body let me know each and every day that it was mad at me.  I had to learn to jog while pushing a stroller, which was challenging.  I had to learn which socks would not fall down into my shoes.  I had to learn which sidewalks had the least cracks and were the least busy.  But most of all, I had to learn to run.  That first week, I'd run for just a minute or two and then stop and walk and try not to keel over dead.  I'm sure if anyone was watching me, they must have thought I was the biggest wimp ever.  Every single day that first week, I thought about quitting the stupid challenge.  I considered the challenges that my mom and sister were doing, and I would rationalize quitting by telling myself that their challenges were way easier than mine so I should get to switch to something easier.  Ray really encouraged me to keep going, though.  He kept telling me that the first week was going to be the hardest, and that it would eventually get easier.

On October 6 (my 6th day of running), I ran for 15 minutes straight.  I thought I might die, but I did it.  I was so excited, and so proud of myself.

Megan came running with me one day. 
She did a fabulous job and stayed right with me for the full 15 minutes!

After that, it got easier and easier.  I am the slowest runner EVER, but I didn't give up.  And yesterday, which was day 30 of the challenge, I ran for 33 minutes straight.

I wanted to share this on my blog for a few reasons.

I've talked to a lot of people lately who say that they don't have time to exercise.  They are wrong.  I have five kids to homeschool (including a nursing baby), a big house to keep, a laundry pile taller than my 8 year old, a Sunday School class to teach, and for five days of my challenge my husband was in Germany.

I still made it happen.

If you have 15 minutes to facebook, you have 15 minutes to exercise.  If you have 15 minutes to pinterest, you have 15 minutes to exercise.  

We make time for the things that are important to us. 

Another reason I wanted to share is to challenge YOU to try something new for 30 days.   It doesn't have to be anything fancy or big.  But doing something new for 30 days has made me feel so much better.  Not only physically (even though the benefits physically have been a bit mind-blowing for me), but also emotionally.  I feel so proud of myself for not giving up, and for accomplishing more than I set out to do.  I intend to start a new 30 day challenge tomorrow, and I invite you to do it with me!  Let me know in the comments if you want to try, and what you will do.  We can encourage each other!

Is it too soon to say this?

I know we've only been in our new home for a little over a month, and I know that life isn't perfect, and I know that just a few weeks ago I was crying every day because it was just SO HARD, and I know that I have days that I can't stand being across the world from my loved ones....  But....

I love Spain.

I love the people.  They are so friendly and helpful.  They smile at us and say the baby is beautiful and look at our family with wide eyes when they realize we have "cinco niños" and they tell me it must be "mucho trabajo!" and I nod in agreement.  They don't get frustrated when we use ridiculous made-up sign language to communicate, and they go out of their way to help us find what we need.

I love the ocean.  I love being a 10 minute walk from a beautiful beach.  I love feeling the sand between my toes and picking up smooth pieces of sea glass, and watching hermit crabs scoot along in the water.  I love the joy on the kids' faces as they pluck seashells from the ground and as they examine seaweed and rocks.  I love their tan lines and the freckles on AJ's nose.

I love our neighbors.  We left behind some amazing neighbors in Las Vegas, but God gave us the perfect neighbors here in Spain.  We have retired couples on both sides of us.  Both families are very quiet, and of course very friendly.  One neighbor has brought over home grown tomatoes and homemade tomato sauce.  She has let me borrow her can opener and has taught me how to buy from a door to door salesman.  Pretty soon I will be teaching her how to make a pie!  And no, she doesn't speak English!

I love the atmosphere.  I wish I could describe it.  The evening sounds of families laughing in their homes, and moms pushing their babies down the sidewalk, and scooters buzzing in the streets, and the bird next door singing his little heart out, and the breeze in the trees.  Everything is more relaxed here.  People aren't in such a big hurry all the time.  I love the slower pace. 

I love our home.  I love the green and white tile that reminds me of my dear friend whose favorite color is green.  I love our rooftop terrace, and feeling the breeze through my hair while I hang our laundry.  I love that my children have room to run and play and that we aren't right on top of each other all the time.  I love having a window above my kitchen sink so I can watch the kids play outside while I work.

Yes.  I love Spain.