so much has happened

Since the last time I posted I have graduated with my Master's, gotten my credential, Josh got a job with the Sheriff's, and I ran a half marathon.

Since beginnning to run I've gained three to four pounds and stayed, what seems to be the same size. Here are my stats from the OC 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles)

Overall results: 2893 out of 6249
Women: 1119 out of 3225
Females 19-24 yeras old: 138 out of 287
I finished in 2:22:04
overall pace: 10.51 min per mile

for the 10K (the first 6 miles approximately)
I finished in 1:08:39
pace: 11:03 minutes per mile

So, I actually got faster as I ran, not slower. Nice! Katie and I ran it together and it was so great to have the company and encouragement! She cheered throughout the whole thing, even the last few miles when it was really starting to hurt. I'm fairly sure that Katie beat me by a few seconds (hee hee! and she could have beat me by a lot more than that if she hadn't stuck by me the whole time!) We totally kicked it up and were running really fast the last 1/2 mile - which surprisingly felt really good! Josh and Dan were there too. They didn't run the 1/2 marathon, but rode their bikes around and cheered us and took pictures to whole time. That was something that really helped me go on - because when I would see Josh just around the corner I got really excited (and happy) and speed up to say "hi" to him and then knowing that I had the energy to speed up helped me to know that I had the energy to keep going. That was _so_ helpful!

Josh is starting to get really serious in his training for the Sheriff's Academy, which he starts on Jan. 22. I'm so proud to see him do this. I think that it will really help him become more disciplined (and therefore succeed more and therefore become more confident in his abilities)in many areas of his life. It will certainly be hard, but I am fully confident in his ability to succeed. I'm honestly really looking forward to helping him with this! It feels like in so many ways he has supported me and done the lion's share of the work in the first part of our marriage and now I get to (finally!) hlep him out in some way. I really enjoy feeling useful!

Well, I should go as I am (technically) teaching a class right now (they are reading and doing book work today). My love to you all and my thanks for your prayers!