Reason for a Name Change

I've had this little old blog now for 7 years and I thought it was time for a name change. Hurley Love was just not well thought out. I didn't have a plan for where I wanted this blog to go. It was mostly just an online diary that help me keep track of wedding planning. But now that I have taken blogging more serious, I have found what I am interested in blogging about: family, fitness, and faith.

I settled on Mommyhood and Marathons, partially because I love alliterations. I loved the word mommyhood and feels like that describes the phase I'm in. Despite the want to be a mother, I would much rather be a mommy. That word has so much youth and innocence in it. I feel such a raw emotion when I hear the word 'mommy.' I was so thrilled when Lil first said mom, but I cannot wait for her to utter mommy. A word that is used for endearment, love, in moments of joy and pain. Maybe mother is too old fashioned for me, but there is a distinct difference between the word mother and mommy, at least for me. So I arrived on that as part of the title.

And despite the fact that I haven't completed an official marathon, I have 3 halfs under my belt and have finally come to a place where I wanted to try to train for a marathon. Maybe not this month, or the next, but sometime. My crazy obsession with fitness really began when I found a love for running. But after having Lil, I wanted my body to reflect my new phase of mommyhood. I wanted to be able to run and play with my kids. I wanted to be strong and a good role model of health.

So here there is how I arrived at the new name. I believe that it will bring great inspirations and allow me to better represent what this blog is about: family, faith, and fitness.

How did you arrive at your blog name? Did you think about it?

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13.1 QUICK MILES

Welp... another half under my belt.
The 9th annual Urban Cow Run.

It was so much fun. I was able to meet up with some ladies from the local chapter of Moms Run This Town. It was great. I started my first two miles with them and then headed off. The course was really nice. Beautiful and similar to the course I ran in March. It wound through neighborhoods, the mall, and by the river. Very nice. I'm not sure if it was my pace or the course but it went by quick. I remember looking at mile 3 and thinking "Am I gonna make it at this pace." With all the cheering and my hubby sending me encouraging texts, I knew I could.

1 hour and 48 minutes later I sprinted to end!! I BEAT MY TIME!!! Not a PR, but a PR for post baby and boy am I counting it!!

We also got super cute medals...they were cowbells.

It reminded me of not giving up. Throughout the course I was reminded of how strong we are. How physically demanding this was, but how rewarding it is. I learned to appreciate my strength and acknowledge my weaknesses (my knees). I find that I am still competitive, but am so eager to cheer others on throughout the course. I find that in life I am much the same. Impatient with others for their lack of drive, but wanting them desperately to succeed. Mad that they haven't sen their worth, but learning to let them find it and not be pushy.

Its a fine line.

Running has been such a blessing to me. And although most of the times I'm not enthused about it, I do it anyway because I know how I will feel at the end.

I sometimes wish we all had that drive. Or that I have it in moments of stress. Let it go and enjoy the ride. Be great-full for what I have been blessed with.



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What my daughter has taught me

You here it all the time "your kids will change you." "They'll teach you patience."

Sure sure, I understood that because being a teacher, I learned so much from my students.

But things are much more personal when the lessons come from your children.

But Lil has taught me how resilient children are. It was always a fear of mind that I would have to go back to work. That fear was crippling. When it was brought up, I refused to let it be an option. My thoughts were "I can't do that to her," "She'll never forgive me," "It will ruin her." It brought me to tears often. I felt that I would be choosing work over her. The love that I had for her has grown immensely and her adaptability with me going back to work has made me comforted and proud. Even though I am only working part-time, I miss her dearly during the days and often have to give myself a reality check that I am NOT ruining her.

Lil has taught me how learning is a process, not a destination. Being a teacher, I was destined to make sure my babies were the smartest. That they would be walking first, talking up storms and initiating friendships with others. I wanted to be able to brag about how 'advanced' she was. Thank you Lilly for not letting me be like that. Seriously, who likes to be around those people?!!! As others around her were crawling and getting into things, Lilly would sit and watch. She would entertain herself with a toy and was content with watching things around her. As her first birthday approached, I was eager to want to push her into walking. But I was reminded to as to what kind of parent I wanted to be: A Pusher or An Encourager. I chose the latter. And its been such a rewarding experience to see now all that she can do. Not because I pushed her, but because she developmentally can. I love to see her work problems out and be persistent. I love to see how cautious and calm she is. Its her personality after all. Despite the comments "Oh you just got an easy one," I truly believe that it is our approach to child rearing and finding the one that encourages and brings out the best in children. Even though it sometimes makes me sad that Lilly is in such an independent stage, I am SOOO PROUD that she has developed confidence in herself.

The life of a little one IS hard. Its so easy to say, "What's so hard, you're a baby. You've got it made." I know I am guilty of it. But seriously, imagine being in a place, you've never been and trying to communicate and navigate it all. When you ask someone in this new place a question. They mutter something to you. You continue to ask. That would be very difficult.They get more upset. You ask one more time, and they shout at you and point for you to leave. Do you get where I'm coming from (if not, I have a weird affinity for analogies, if it doesn't make sense, I apologize)And although Lilly gets, what I think, is frustrated easily, all of this really is new for her. And she hasn't yet developed the ability to make choices, rationalize, or understand the why. For goodness sakes, I still don't understand the why. I really feel like this lesson is the most important one I've learned. It's so easy to think that our stage of life is the most difficult, but I think we've got it easier than the little ones. They are learning trust, learning independence, learning about their environment.

What a blessing it is to be able to have a little one. To see them grow. Babies are such a reminder to love the simplicity in life and be challenged by the BIG world around us!

What lessons have you learned from others?

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Lent...My thoughts

Lent began this past Wednesday. I have participated in this tradition the past couple of years. I have given up several different things:

Sugar
Soda
Coffee
Facebook
TV
Talking on my phone while driving :) (glad this one has stuck)
Listening to the radio


There are so many distractions in this world that it can be so easy to just get caught up in STAYING BUSY!

That is definitely where I struggle.

Something ALWAYS has to be going on.

But this year I decided to give up something different.

I'm giving up my negative attitude.

Let me first say I have already messed up several times. And this is only the 8th day of Lent.

But I'm really trying to not be angry or snarky or sarcastic.

I want my words to be uplifting.

I want my time spent with others to be refreshing for them.


What I am, is a product of wanting to be the best. That is the firstborn girl in me. :)

I struggle with comparing myself to others.

To not being good enough.

To not deserving what I have, but also wanting what others have.

See its a tricky place to be.

And all this has created an inner hostility in me that causes stress.

I am that duck: trying to be cool, calm, and collected on the outside; and going mad under the water scrambling for perfection.

I have been reminded constantly in my time with God about how treasured and valued I am. Not just me but everyone.

So why don't I believe it?!

Years of building up walls, I'm afraid to let it come down.

Afraid I'll get buried and won't be able to see out.

Truth is I've already created that wall that prevents me from moving forward.

So here I am. Lent has just been over a week and although I've messed up, In committed to changing my attitude.

Did you give up anything for Lent? Share your thoughts below ;)

Healthier Choices

Since the new year has begun. So have resolutions to eat healthier and cleaner.

I know there are a slough of diets that can help you eat better.

Watching Dr. Oz doesn't help because by the end of watching his show for a week, you've realized that every type of food of bad and every type of food is good.

Welp...that's not helpful.

So whether you are doing a diet or not. Let me encourage you in this.

DON'T DIVE IN!! Well, set your intentions good, but don't be afraid to fail.

Sure you can have a piece of cake, does it have to be a big piece, no, but you can have some.

I'm realizing too how media has caused me to be raised looking at food as a negative.

It will make you gain weight if you eat too much. I want to be beautiful and that means being skinny.

I really need to work on THAT more than my diet.

We are now raising a girl and I want her to have positive thoughts on food. Many good choices.


Well here are a few ways I make healthier choices through my day;

Fage(Greek yogurt) for sour cream
Egg whites for egg yolks
Quinoa for rice
Fruit for starchy snack (Cheezits)
Chicken/turkey for beef (not always because I like beef too)
Add fruit to water to encourage more consumption

Here are some helpful ways to encourage more veggies in your routine:

Eat colorfully: try to have 3-4 different colors on your plate

Grate Mushrooms into food: my girlfriend taught me this. She does it for her little one who doesn't like them.

Oh Kale: My husbands least favorite. Incorporate it into spaghetti sauce. You'll never know.

How do you integrate veggies into your diet?

Happiness Project Inspiration

So far...this book is incredible. Gretchen Rubin outlines 12 virtues to practice thoroughout the year. Here are the ones she has chosen:

Vitality, Marriage, Work, Parenthood, Leisure, Friendship, Money, Eternity, Books, Midfulness,  Attitude and Happiness.

For each of these she outlines small resolutions to accompany them. 

She has also created 12 commandments to live by:

1. Be Gretchen

2. Let it go

3. Act the way I want to feel.

4. Do it now

5. Be polite and be fair. 

6. Enjoy the process

7. Spend out

8. Identify the problem

9. Lighten up

10. Do what ought to be done.

11. No calculation

12. There is only one love.

I have thought of a few things to focus on that have become distractions in my life and are always put on the back-burner. I feel regret when I don't accomplish these:

Each day:

Work on blog

Read my Bible

Exercise

Be still for five minutes

one minute rule (in Gretchen's book)

ten minute tidying (also in Gretchen's book)

talk/meet with someone

smile intentionally

write a sentence (or more) each day in my journal

take a picture

Long term:

Create community (moms, mentor, family group, church)

Write a book

Belong to a book club

Invest in getting more publicity on blog

I'm almost on chapter 4 of The Happiness Project so this is just a rough draft. 

I'm so excited about it!

Life: New Year Wishes

I sit here thinking about all the wonderful things that I have been blessed with.

I have been blessed with a wonderful pregnancy.

I have been given a wonderful job.

I have been blessed with an amazing, hardworking, supportive husband (he's pretty cute too).

I have been blessed with the energy and body to support my addictive running habits.

I have been blessed with sweet friends.

I have been blessed with wonderful family.

I have been blessed with many, many gadgets and toys to play with.


But sometimes, amongst all those blessings, my heart still aches.

I wish for a family group. (We belong, if I can say that, to a church that is growing and we have felt swallowed and unfulfilled. Of course, I know that seeking out a community group is our role, but unfortunately, maybe due to my hardened heart or aching wounds, I refuse to join a small group. I feel that they are usually impersonal, I can never relate with anyone, people are guarded and become judgmental toward me as I open my heart.)

I wish to read my Bible more (I know, my problem. Today for the first time in quite a while I craved God's word. I think I will open to Romans or maybe a good Old Testament story.)

I wish I was more clean and organized (these past couple of weeks I've been pretty good, but I really think that is because I'm not working and off for break. I really want to have a clean home and its something that has always been hard for me to keep up on. It frequently makes me feel less of a woman).

I wish for Tucker to find a good home (We recently put up posters for Tucker to find a new home. We are hoping to release him from our home soon. It will just be too much with two dogs and a new baby.)


I'm sure I have more, but I hope this inspires someone to be grateful for what they have. So quickly do I complain and whine about my misfortunes, when realistically I am rich beyond measure.