StraVicenza Marathon

I ran a race today! My first one ever!! I am not a really big runner...mainly because my mental ability to keep going is much lower than my actual physical ability, so it's just not fun. Even since I have been here I have only run outside one other time. One. I do the elliptical and treadmill at the gym because I would rather watch TV while I run than look at the street, but my friend Lindsey called and told me that she was going to run in the StraVicenza Marathon and asked if I wanted to join. First thought- absolutely not, I can't run a marathon, and do you REMEMBER the last time I ran with you? Luckily, I think Italians call ALL races marathons and she was only going to run the 4.5K part- which is right under 3 miles. I agreed- because why not? Plus, James has always said running a race is a lot different than running by yourself because you have so much adrenaline.

So I did it! We signed up this morning, and prepared to run. And let me tell you what- these Italians were all about it! They were decked out in some serious gear...and while some of them were doing the 10K, most of them were not, and it was hysterical. They were doing ridiculous stretches and warming up, and the whole ten yards.

Here are some pictures of the outfits- lots of spandex going on:

Here are some pictures of Vicenza:

Here are some pictures from the run:

My Obsession.

My Heels.

New uniforms for Senior night? Beautiful. Enough said.  

Another fav.

Love Languages.

My poor husband.  I just took the 5 love languages quiz for wives, and apparently I feel love...strongly feel love 4 out of the 5 ways. Physical touch ranked the highest, with words of affirmation, receiving gifts, and quality time all tied for second place, only a few points behind. Apparently, I don't care about acts of service. Now all that is racing through my head is that I must be a very demanding wife. Maybe I took the quiz wrong. I had to have. Seriously 4??

I could have told you from the beginning that physical touch was my number one way. I love holding hands and sitting right beside him on the couch. I'm sure I can be slightly suffocating, but I have tried to learn the signs of when I need to back off and he just needs to sit alone for a while. Luckily, he likes snuggling too...as long as he isn't in uniform or in public, in which case he will usually "escort" me by offering his arm. So my mind/heart is completely appeased with the escort and he doesn't feel like we are grossing out anyone with our "extreme" PDA. Perfect.

Over the past year I have learned several things about myself...one of them being that like getting gifts. Really, I think I purely enjoy opening packages...even the mail. I had to restrain myself from opening James' birthday mail while he was gone at Leader's Forge for 10 days. It was a serious struggle. I also LOVE buying gifts for people, but it is super important for the gift to actually mean something and not just be a random gift...I want it to be important to them. So it usually takes a while for me to find something that satisfies my gift giving desire.

I blame my college roommates and James for the development of receiving gifts as one of my love language. My roommates always left me little notes or flowers, and since James was so far away throughout college his letters and flowers for special days meant the world to me. So this love language is definitely a learned love language and I don't take responsibility for it.


I told James that I feel love 4 out of the 5 ways...He rolled his eyes, chuckled and then he called me a "brat". Believe me, it's endearing. He usually refers to my "bratty-ness"when I am being slightly high maintenance, which lets be honest all girls can be from time to time. So no harassing for the brat comment. So in response to his comment, I made him take the test. He wouldn't let me watch him though... and just as I figured he has ONE love language. Words of affirmation. The next two were acts of service and quality time. I would have figured that quality time would have come much closer to words of affirmation but clearly I was wrong. Now I am trying to figure out more ways that I can use my words to build him up, watch my words so I don't break him down, and find little things that I can do to make his day easier. It is kind of a fun game!

Really this quiz just reminded me that my words have a serious impact on James and people in general. I have been praying recently that I would watch my words and my tone and learn to always speak kindly to James and really all of my friends and acquaintances. So this quiz was a great reminder!

What is your love language?

A Little Lesson.

I love music. Not necessarily in the way that two of my best friends Maddie and Amy love it- always on the look out for the up and coming young artists and bands that I usually refer to as playing "sad songs," but in a way that certain music and really certain notes that are played in songs will strike my soul and can literally bring tears to my eyes. It is kind of weird. I admit. And it makes me feel old that I can basically cry if I listen to a random song in the car but it hits those perfect notes and leads me to tears. 

Some songs I love because I feel like they are prayers. I've never been the best at conveying my thoughts. Sometimes ideas and words get lost on the journey from my brain to my mouth. And I rarely think of myself as being articulate. Usually my emotions can get the better of me and I end up getting twisted up with words in an argument or discussion. So I love that songs are already written. I can convey emotions, especially, if I already have the words written for me. That is probably why I loved acting so much growing up, and another reason why I have yet to tell anyone about this blog... The words were there and it was my job to convey the words to everyone else so they could understand and feel the power behind them. Songs do that for me. Sometimes they are prayers to a God that my words could never be good enough for. Sometimes the music is more of a connection between the powerful Creator and His creation, me.

I heard this song and got chills- pretty typical. But then I thought about where it was being performed. Not at a church. But at place that is filled with non believers and believers. This is how God reaches those who don't know him. By music.