Gardens for Breakfast

Green Smoothies - I've been cravinggg these every morning lately. Perfect for this morning especially after a lifting dayy. 
Rabbit food maybe, but my favorites as well. "Nature's Candy" as Mama Mac likes to call them making fun of me as i regularly snack on any fruit or vegetable out there.


That's exactly what they are though.

GREEN SPINACH PROTEIN SMOOTHIE


Ingredients:
1 Banana
1/2 cup OJ
6 frozen cherries
2 GIANT handfuls of Spinach
1 TBS ground flax seed
1 TBS wheat germ
1 Tsp vanilla
1/4 cup egg whites
1 serving Soy Protein 


Toppings: Shredded Coconut & Cinnamon 
DIrections: BLEND

it's delicious, I promise. 

Happy SUNNY Thursday! 
Day off for me tomorrow :) just gotta push through today.


peace n' love,
Kelly Anne

how sweet it is

"Your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is"

-Kara Goucher 

peace&love,

Kelly

nothing will be impossible

"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain; 'Move from there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you'".

Matthew 17:20

I was given this at work today by one of our most wonderful regular customers, Mr. B. He is a newer customer, just beginning to grace us with his presence only a few months ago, but he definitely brings some enjoyment and laughter to our long days. A coach for a new high school team across the boarder in New York, he is a much older graduate player from Hobart. His collection of older lacrosse twigs is quite impressive, and he now wishes to have James my co-in-charge put his ever beloved custom corner pockets in each and every one :)

Anyways, Mr. B frequently jokes that if only he could adopt me to be the daughter he never had. Quite the man Mr. B is, (unfortunately i continually must remind him that both my parents are still living and do still love me as their own.) However, his gentle heart and spirit are things I do appreciate greatly, he comes to give life guidance to James and I    whole heartily as if we really were his own. He is aware of my religious background, and that I do allow my faith to have an impact in my every day life so he felt that I would appreciate this. And i did. 

The charm is a symbol of Matthew 17:20. In the front there is a mustard seed, small and simple. On the back it states, "If ye have faith as a grain or mustard seed...nothing shall be impossible unto you". 

I love this. I am very familiar with this parable in scripture and what a way to be constantly reminded that nothing is impossible. 

Though moving to Danbury has been difficult at times away from my family and friends, and having no real support system close by, I am continually amazed to find reassurance in the God sightings from day to day just like this. That this past year I was meant to move here; and that it is not impossible for there to be a greater purpose for my presence here. I still have some time. 

For now, i will continue to appreciate the little things, and find joy in everyday. I mean it's Memorial day, the "unofficial start of summer" right?? Let the season of best of days begin.

Hope everyone had a wonderfully peaceful holiday weekend,

THANK YOU to all of you who serve and have served for peace and our country,

peace&love,

Kelly

creepy crawlies

There are bugs all over my computer screen right now. I don't mind at all. Its the only source of light in the room right now besides the TV. 


I'm writing this from the couch in the family room at my parents house in Farmington :) one of my dearest life friends came home from Boston for the weekend and came to visit me at work today and suggested I come home for the night. So that's just what i did. (thank you allison) :) some extra time with Baby Mac (the lil sis) and unexpectedly my nephew was exactly what I needed after the past few weeks. With all the unknowns of life running my mind lately, it was perfect to come home to the familiar things I love. 


There's no place like home.


I later decided to go for a late night run around the Highlands. Perfect. Finally my first outdoor run of the summer, under the stars, no street lamps in one of my favorite places in all of God's creation. It amazes me how something like this could bring me so much peace, comfort, reassurance and joy. But this how I know my faith is real. 


I am loving life at this very moment. I find peace and joy in the little things of life, there is not much needed to make me happy. Running under the stars tonight only makes me think though; if I can find so much beauty and greatness in the life out here, how much more beauty and greatness is really out there. I can't even fathom. Hopefully I will soon be able to add some under-the-star-midnight runs to the list in places besides Connecticut and Pennsylvania. As for now, I will continue to savor my last few runs in the Farmington Valley. 


But, I suppose i should try to go to bed. Must get up early to drive back to Danbury to open the store tomorrow morning...everyone else though, enjoy your day off :) and to my veterans and friends currently fighting for peace, thank you, and all the most wonderful blessings.


peace&love,
Kell

Holiday weekend?

And to continue the tradition for the past 6 years since I've been working with LU, i will be working open to close everyday for the entire thing. Splendid :) But hopefully some visits will be made by some of my favorite girls with coffee, to get me through each day.

Maybe I'll be searching for summer races. I ran too much yesterday, back to lifting this morning. If you're looking to help those arms o' steel of yours maybe this will be of some interest. 


Bi's & Tri's circuit:
Repeat Each Superset 3 times before going to the next


Superset 1
Dumbbell Bi Curls (15 lbs 12-15 reps)
Tri Extenstion w/ Dumbell (25lbs 12-15reps)


Superset 2
Hammer Curls (10lbs 15 reps)
Tri Dips on bench (10lbs 15 reps)


Superset 3
77's w/ bar + 5lbs 
Tri V-Bar push down (60lbs 12-15 reps)


with 15 reps Back extension (15lbs) between each superset to give the arms a break. Followed by 40 min cross training on the arc trainer & bike and 12 min ab workout.


doing workk. after a few days off from going down to VA i'm well rested with more than enough energy to use up. 


At least it's not all that nice out here in New England, it makes the fact ill be indoors all weekend a little easier to accept. And if anyone has race suggestions, please, let me know. Maybe a trail race? I'm ready to run another hike i think, why not. 


Happy Friday,
enjoy the next few days off for me :)


peace&lovin
-Kelly

have fun in the chaos

"Have fun in the chaos"

My dear friend Kourtney just shared this with me while talking to her about my feelings on life, and how there are so many worries, stresses and unknowns that may arise day to day at the age of growing 20's. Also how my indecisive nature never allows for clear answers on anything; she reminded me though that through all the chaos this  age of life brings we are to have fun and explore it to it's fullest. How true. 


It seems like I'm very different than most where I just want to stray from everything familiar and go out into the world and find more chaos and explore it. I mean God calls us to leave our surroundings, our family, our friends but how many of us really want to, are comfortable enough to, and ultimately really follow this calling? This has been screaming on my heart this past year. To just leave and follow the chaos.


There are so many directions in life I can take these next couple months. Complete chaos. Where to live, what to do, who to meet, how to love, and how and with who to invest my time and love. I struggle with knowing if I make the right decisions and if I have the right motives towards all my actions. 


Have fun though. 


I will be reminding myself of this daily these next few months. Take each chaotic thing as it comes, embrace it as part of God's plan and journey for me and have fun finding the joy that is always intended through everything. Have fun. 


Hopefully with the summer coming and my hours at work becoming more manageable I will be able to explore life to its fullest once again while I am still here in Connecticut. Take more notice to relax, have fun in each day and its events and in this finding some direction to the chaos of life and discovering where I am to let it lead me. So we will see. But for now in trying to puzzle out all the answers, I'm just having fun.


Happy Thursday, Have a good holiday weekend! 
(ill be workinggg)
peace&love,
Kelly

life moving forward

Hello from Reston, Virginia :)


I'm currently couch chillen with some coffee while my friend Lindsay is studying for the GRE's (get it girll) today is my last day here, until i am back to work tomorrow in Danbury, CT. But exciting things happening down here this past weekend. 


One of my best friends Elizabeth got engaged on Saturday. Yay! Lots of celebrating, with hugs and tears took place that night. Elizabeth was set up with our friend's older brother last summer and of course they hit it off - real well :) 


If you are reading this and not a current or past student of Messiah College you may think that me being 22 is a young age to be having friends tie the knot. For me yes, I would agree that I am not quite there yet, being there are too many places I still want to go, and things I would like to do. (Especially before becoming a stay at home mom as i'd like when the time comes) But yes getting married soon after college is a trend with many people I know. It's okay though :) Not having pre-marital sex is a strong value too, so i mean if you were dating someone seriously for a while, why not get married as soon as the time is right for both if you know you want to be together? ;)


Things like this do always make me think though about my future. Just the fact that there are so many unknowns as to where my life will take me, who i will meet, and what I will do. Yes it is scary at times, i will admit - especially when many of my best friends and also my twin sister have security of starting a new life with family. But for me this unknown and time of adventure is exciting none the less. I mean, I'm growing up, my lease is up in almost two months exactly, and as I am not planning on staying in Danbury, I have no idea what is next to come. Things like this always bring out my natural curiosity to it's fullest.


I read this this morning though, and am sharing because it is definitely important in how unanswered questions should be looked at. This is taken from a book by Lisa Beamer, who lost her husband in the crashes of 9/11 

"...or I can trust that God is working everything for my 

good. I have chosen to believe God, to believe he loves me and has a plan for 

now and for eternity… The road ahead is uncertain and even scary at times, 

but I believe that God will provide what’s best for me, just when I need it… I 

try to appreciate my blessings every day" 

Through sufferings, joys, new beginnings, endings, it is important to remember that God loves you and that unknowns are meant for him to show his glory and the love he has for you in carrying out his plan. The blessings are best when they come in the unexpected at the times of the unknowns. So trust, and no matter where you are in your life right now, there is a purpose and a time and place for everything.

peace&love,

Kelly