The sun shines on the good and the bad

Having kind of a crazy week, and its only Tuesday. I woke up at 7:15 this morning - I usually leave for work at 7:05. Awesome times. I guess thats how you know you need more sleep.

Running has been good lately. 7 and 1/2 weeks to D-day (half marathon!!) I completed another item off the list last week. I ran in the Utica/Peoria neighborhoods. Thats been a dream of mine ever since I started running. Don't know why I've never done it before. It was pretty awesome - VERY hilly. But a great workout...and its 5 miles long. I was listening to the radio this morning and they were coincidentally talking about half marathons and the guy read these verses - heard it a thousand times before but this morning it was like I was hearing with new ears:

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I love that. I love the parallel between running and faith. I feel this all the time when I'm running - that the concepts are so much the same. Both very hard to stick to, both worth every moment of pain and sacrifice. I'm getting teary-eyed.....oh geez.

BIG cupcake happenings this weekend! Tonight, I'm starting on my ladybugs for Miss Brooke Weston's 1st Birthday! I am beyond excited to make her the best cupcakes EVER! Her mom showed me her outfit for her party and let me just say - CUTEST red and black tutu I have EVER seen. So, after much careful thought and preparation, here is the plan! (I did not make these cupcake - this is just the picture I got off of the internet):

Yeah, I love these. My ladybugs are gonna be a bit bigger, too. I am so excited though - these have the potential to be the cutest I have ever done. I will post picture of my actual cupcakes this weekend some time. Yay, for cupcakes!! I'm also making Brooke the cake that she gets to smash all over her face - a "smasher" cake. It will be one big lady bug. I am so pumped!

Have a great week, everybody!

Grace



Rolling in the deep...

I found this picture the other day, and I just adore it. It was taken exactly one week before we got married. Such sweet and exciting days.

I completed and delivered my first order of cupcakes this weekend. It was pretty awesome. I was happy with them. Posted the pictures on facebook and now I have about 7 orders! I'm pretty stoked about that, but I don't want to get burnt out. My next order is Ladybug cupcakes and a smasher cake for a 1 year birthday party! After that I have a wedding shower, and a little girl birthday party. She's doing pink and green OWL cupcakes!!! Is that not the cutest thing you've ever heard of?!?! I can not WAIT to start this stuff. I'm pretty stoked. Here are the cupcakes I did this past weekend:

I'm having such fun doing these. Had a really fun and helpful conversationg with the lady at "Sugar Art Supplies" today. Pretty excited about my new little business!

First day back to school today. I missed those kiddos! It was awesome to see everyone and get some solid work done. We're going to do a patriotic program at the end of school. Its pretty adorable. May 10th, "A Patriotic Tribute." Come check it. Haha.

Nathan and I have been watching Lost. It is so stinkin good. Over Spring Break we watched the entire first season. We're on the 2nd now. I seriously don't know how anyone could wait a whole week for the next episode. Luckily, we have Netflix. And its a good thing, because The Bachelor ended last week leaving a great void in my life. Haha. LOST has filled it.

Last thing...I am SO in love with Adele and her music. If I could sing like any artist, it would be her. She's just so smooth, and she looks and sounds effortless when she sings. Can't. Get. Enough.

Grace

Gladness of the heart...

I am currently doing an awesome study with the wonderful Women of FCC Stone Canyon. It is called Contagious Joy. This is an especially sweet morsel that I got from this powerful study today in my quiet time, and below is the entry that I posted on the Women of FCC Stone Canyon facebook wall (where we do most of our discussion, we only meet once a month):

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"Chapter 4, #5 (What does Solomon say that God does in our hearts in Ecclesiastes 5:20?) is really great. I happened to read a couple of verses before Ecclesiastes 5:20, specifically verses 18, 19, and 20, and they are just great:


18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

To me, this is the meaning of life - this is what the Lord says is good! To find satisfaction in our work, to enjoy the things that God gives to us, and realize that it is not those things that bring us joy, it is God who occupies us with "gladness of the heart." Very often I think I mistake gladness of the heart that is from the love of God, for gladness based on earthly things, like possesions and circumstances. It is good for my heart and for my outlook to be reminded that EVERY good thing comes from Him - and were it not for His love, even the things that bring me momentary pleasure wouldn't be as sweet. Ah, my cup runneth over!

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God is richly and powerfully alive in me, and is becoming even more alive through this study. I believe a large part of this is due to my involvement in FCC Stone Canyon, and especially sharing in ministry with these precious ladies. Pretty pumped for what the future holds for us as a group and for FCC Stone Canyon!

Grace

Cupcakey Cakes by Grace and Spring Break

I have always loved to watch shows about cupcakes. I have always loved to eat cupcakes. I have always loved to make cupcakes for people. I made some cupcakes for a get-together with some friends a couple of weeks ago and they went over famously. SO, I have decided to start making a little extra cash by making cupcakes for people. It is something I love, and something that other people love, and since Nathan and I are on a new budget, I could use a little spending money, and I love that. I'm excited, because there is nothing I don't love about making cupcakes! Here is one of my cupcakes;

Running is going famously. Last Saturday I ran 8.2 miles. Farthest distance I've ever run. Feels good. Awesome, even. Something that doesn't feel so awesome is my left index toe/toenail. It appears to be falling off. The toenail, that is. I have heard that this can happen to long-distance runners, I just hoped it would never happen to me. Its not the worst thing in the world, but there are more pleasant things. Its turning gray, and the toel around it is red and irritated. Its really hot, and has a heartbeat. The thing I most dread about the toenail-falling-off process is how disgusting/uncomfortable/unsettling it is. But hey, Toenails grow back. Tomorrow I'm using a giftcard I got for a pedicure. I guess I just won't have them paint that nail. Hmm.

Spring break is just dreamy. Nathan and I have started watching Lost from the very beginning. We had never seen any of it before. It is so stinkin good. I'm glad we started watching it on Spring Break because I don't know if I could pull myself away to go to work. Its just the right amount of scary/creepy. Yeah, great great show.

Nathan and I are starting plans for my summer music camp at St. Mary. I'm going to do a pitched percussion masterclass and he's going to do a guitar masterclass. The two of those in the afternoons, coupled with a general music session in the mornings will make for a nice little music camp for my students. I'm pretty excited. It will be part of my contribution to our finances for the summer. That, and my cupcakes.

I'm making some for a baby shower this weekend. Pretty stoked about that. Bought most of the supplies today, getting the rest tomorrow. Can't wait to start working on them Friday. I really don't want Spring Break to end. Bethany and I went to swing at Funtastic Island tonight. It was glorious, like old times. Makes me REALLY excited about summer. We talked about all the camping we're going to do. I can't wait. Summer is....71 days away for me. Lord give me strength.

The month of April won't be especially enjoyable for The Hearns (of the Nathan and Grace variety). Say a little prayer if you think of us. Nathan has a crazy rehearsal and performance schedule with all of the different ensembles he is in, plus his Junior recital. He'll hardly be home in the evenings. My schedule won't be as busy as his, but I'll have to fill my time while he's gone with something. Maybe working out, or making cupcakes, or reading. Our apartment will probably get pretty clean. I already miss him. We're making the most of our Spring Break, hoping all of this time together will be able to get us through the lonely times in the coming weeks. (sigh)

So there's a little update into our life. Hope you've enjoyed it. Until next time...

G

You are joy, You are joy, You're the reason that I sing...

I'm not sure if I've been this tired, or had to rely on caffeine to get me through the day this much since I was in college. I am MIS-ER-AB-LE from lack of sleep. This is because Sunday we went to the Blackmans and Joni and I talked until 1 AM. So that night I got to bed at about 1:30. Yesterday, something ridiculous happened with some people in our lives and Nathan and I stayed up til like 12:30 talking about it. So last night it was 1:00 AM when I got to bed. This morning I woke up so tired that my eyes were burning even before I put my contacts in. My eyes have continued to burn ever since. And I am supposed to run today when I get off work. I can't even imagine at this point.

I have 4th and 1st grades this afternoon and I had a super lively and active game/dance/song for both classes to do. I just don't see that happening. "Boys and girls, Mrs. Hearn is not feeling her best today. So we're watching The Sound of Music."That should work. They freaking love that movie. Seriously, one of the best movies ever made.

Oh yes, Happy Fat Tuesday! Didn't realize that was a Catholic thing. They love it though. They gave everyone Mardi Gras beads and baby Jesus cake (King's Cake). I'm glad I wore green today...I totally wouldn't have matched my beads otherwise.

So over the weekend, and yesterday, and this morning, I have been writing these "packets" for my middle schoolers. 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are now starting their Music History Units. Its not really much History, more like Music Social Studies units. 6th grade does "The Most Influential Composers in History." (Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Tchaikowsky, Handel) 7th grade does "Music of the World." (Australia, Middle East, United Kindgdom, Latin American, The Orient, United States). 8th grade does "Modern Music in America."(Rock and Roll, Rap/R&B, Country, Indie/Folk, Jazz, and Popular.)

Its the first time since college I have really done a lot of research and "paper-type" writing. I have MISSED that! Because I am an insane person who loves to write papers. All together its about 10 or 11 pages of information that I gathered and put together and I am SO excited to share it with my students. I'm presenting it in "packet" form and we're reading it as a class. At the end of each section I play awesome recordings for them with several examples of each kind of music. I have never been so sure that this is one of the things I was created to do. I LOVE MY JOB! Its just so awesome that to research music and find recordings and teach kids how to be musicians is my "work"!

Another thing. I can't wait til Spring Break. Nathan and I have the same one. I was worried that we wouldn't, needlessly. Can't decide what we're gonna do. We had plans to go camping but it is supposed to be pretty rainy the whole time, and that would just be no fun. So, we're thinking about a road trip. We'll see. Well, those 4th graders are gonna come knocking in 7 minutes. Peace out.

The abililty to overcome the intense urge to give up...

So as I type I'm sitting at school doing "Parent Teacher Conferences." Which, for me, means sitting around after school for 3 hours doing absolutely nothing, or recarranging my room and grading papers (which I have already done) - because I give fair grades that parents aren't really surprised about, and I teach music. If you've got serious problems in music - you've got bigger things to be worried about.

This has been an awesome running week for me so far. I asked God for motivation to get out there every day and do it, and he has really come through in a big way. I won King of the Road last week in Owasso! I have my big shiny "Piece of the Road" at our apartment right now. I don't want to give it up! So this week I'm trying my hardest to pull out a win again. We'll see. There are people in Kings training for marathons, which made my win last week even more satisfying.

This weekend I'm running in the "Run your winter off 5K" at Stone Canyon. I run 5Ks all the time, but this one is special because I'm going to try for a new PR (personal record) in the 5K - under 30 minutes! My fastest time to date is 30:58 and this weekend I'm hoping to shave AT LEAST a minute off of that time. It'd be really awesome if I got like 27 this time or something, but 29:59 will do the trick!

The weight log that I have been keeping shows that since I have started training for this half marathon I have lost 7 lbs. and who knows how many inches. Thats awesome! I'm really trying not to make losing weight any part of my focus right now. Its seems that any time I try to do that it has the opposite effect. Trying to lose weight, stresses me out, in turn, making me either gain it, or stay exactly the same. I have changed the way I eat moderately. I usually eat a very healthy breakfast and lunch - lots of fresh fruits and vegitables with some protein and some must-have "running" carbs. I've also been having either a breakfast quesadilla or english muffin, which egg white and salsa and cheese. Delish! At dinner I just try to control my portion sizes and eat nicely balanced meals. Rice, pasta, and chicken are some of my favorites right now. I do enjoy a good turkey and cheese croisant, or some ground turkey nachos. New obessions as far as food goes: carrots, and applesauce. Yuuuuuuummmmm.

For my next nutritional adventure, I am going to explore the wonderous world of SMOOTHIES. I'm not talking your normal, run-o-the-mill Jamba Juice...I'm talking, SPINACH, LENTILS, AVOCADO, MUSTARD GREENS, CARROT TOPS - a GREEN SMOOTHIE. Of course these things will all taste better with some peaches, strawberries, blue berries, grapes, apples, and cuties oranges thrown in. I'm excited. I'm investigating how I could get away with supplementing some of my meals with these smoothies. We shall see. I'll post pictures ASAP.

The greater part of my planning period this morning I spent searching for and watching inspirational running videos. I found some really cool ones...and I also got some awesome and encouraging quotes from them.

This one is called: Why do you run?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eXqAWjJ_dE

And this one is called: Marathon collapse at finish line - body shut down (that title intrigued me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUPadKgtYHw&feature=related

Yeah, it that last video, I especially liked the guy carrying his two kids across the finish line. Show off. The guy that the video is about actually collapsed and crawled across the finish line. Awesome times. What have I gotten myself into....

Here are some sweet quotes:

The grueling pain you share, and the abililty to overcome the intense urge to give up is the ultimate bonding experience.

When a runner finishes a race he either makes excuses for himself, questions whether or not he ran as hard as he could have, or lies at the finish, knowing that he gave everything he had.