It's been almost two weeks since my last blog post. We bought a gym membership for me, I have been faithful so far! I'm using my half-marathon training as a fitness guide:

Weeks 1 and 2

Monday: Cross-train (elliptical, weight-lifting, etc.)
Tuesday: Short run ( 2.5 miles)
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Short run (2.5 miles)
Friday: Cross-train
Saturday: Long run (4 miles)
Sunday: Rest

So far I've been pretty good at obeying the schedule. I missed a cross-train day here and there, but I've been a stickler about running. Joe's been semi-faithful. He needs a little encouragement after work, but once he's done working out he feels good.

We both made goals. I'm not telling specifics, but I need to lose about fifteen pounds and Joe wants to gain about fifteen pounds. I got on the scale after two weeks of the above schedule and was horrified to see that I had GAINED 2 pounds. Why body, why?? Joe assures me it's muscle that I'm building up, and that muscle weighs more than fat, but still. It was sooo discouraging.

I have to admit, I am starting to see results. I've lost a little in the *ahem* chestal region and I can see a tiny difference in my belly. Or maybe I can just suck it in better because my muscles are getting stronger. Either way, I'll take it!

I finally have time to update, and something to update about! It took about five weeks, but my cough is finally gone! I still have some congestion, but that could just be allergies. I'm not worried about it.

You may be wondering, "Well Molly, if you're healed, why haven't you been exercising??" I'm glad you asked.

Joe with his Sorcerer Mickey hat and me with my Minnie ears.

Disneyworld!!!! My wonderful in-laws took us to Florida, along with his siblings and his extended family. One big noisy group of Mexicans traipsing around Orlando. It was glorious. The first two days were hot and humid (can you say FRIZZY), the third was just blazing hot, and the following two were beautiful.

The sad part: I got six mosquito bites.

The happy part: seeing the fireworks show in Disneyworld eating Dole whip ice cream surrounded by family.

We also went to Universal Studios which was AWESOME. I'm a roller-coaster wimp, but I mentally peer-pressured myself into biting the bullet. So much fun! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was probably my favorite part of Universal. So cool and bittersweet.

Back to exercising: We walked a TON while we were there. However, I forgot to bring a bathing suit so I went shopping at the SuperTarget there. A humbling experience, my friends. THEN, when we got back to good ole California, I weighed myself on my parents scale. SAY WHAT!? Oh my stars. Time to get to the gym.

Tonight Joe and I visited our local gym for the first time. I jogged 2.5 miles on the treadmill, and including warm-up and cool-down I was on there for about 45 minutes. Joe lifted weights and occasionally joined me on the treadmills. He's realizing how out of shape he is (even though he's thin) so I'm hoping our combined drive will help us keep each other accountable.

Sometimes life is a roller-coaster, and you just have to throw up your hands and go with it. The week that I ran faithfully I had developed a mild cough. Nothing serious, and nothing to hinder me from running. Last week, however, the mild cough turned into a hacking, doubled-over, make-my-abs-and-my-head-hurt cough. I also developed some lovely asthmatic wheezing to go along with it. My poor husband has had to live/sleep with this cough for over a week now. I can't seem to shake it!

I definitely didn't feel like I could safely run last week. My inhaler ran out of juice long ago, and I didn't want to provoke an asthma attack by running with this smoker's cough. I finally got another inhaler this weekend, but I'm not sure what I should do. Rest and get rid of this cough? Or tough it out and start running again before I'm 100%? We'll see. I have less work ours this week, so maybe I'll do some walking and see how that goes.

On Monday, September 17th I called my eye doctor begging for a same-day appointment. My contacts supply had been running dangerously low, but I hadn't had a day off of work in quite some time. I finally had Monday off, and they had an opening at 11:15am. I booked it to Fresno and went to my eye appointment. Lo and behold, my sister went into labor that same day (in Fresno) and had her baby that evening! Lindsay had wanted me to be in the room for her second childbirth experience. Since I got my job, we had both been stressing about what I would do when the baby came. If it happened during the day, would I be working? If it happened at night and I worked the next day, would I be able to find someone to cover my shift? Would I get to Fresno in time? How would I get there? (Mind you, Joe and I only had one car up until two weeks ago) What providence that the baby was born that day!

Unfortunately for me, labor went so quickly that Lindsay delivered the beautiful baby girl while my mom and I were checking in to the maternity ward for our back-stage passes. Even though I didn't make it into the room for the birth, I was able to see her and hold her when she was only a couple hours old. Both mom and baby were amazing and healthy!

God worked it out so perfectly. Joe and I bought a car. I was already in Fresno for an eye appointment. I didn't have work till later in the day on Tuesday. I still can't get over how everything worked out! He provides for our needs!

Emma Psalm Bogart

Success! This is the third morning in a row that I have run 2.2 miles. My thighs and lower back are sore, but it's the good kind of sore. The "hurts so good" kind. I found a new route with less dogs and more shade, so I'm pretty stoked about that. The only encounter I've had with a dog was with one on a leash. The owner (a 12 or 13-year-old boy) stopped, pulled in a tight rein, and made the dog sit while I passed by. Color me impressed, Junior!

I'll be honest, this morning I did NOT want to run at all. I was snuggled up on the couch scrolling through Pinterest, and finally sent my sweet babboo a text: "Ugh...I don't wanna!" His reply: "You'll feel better afterward!" After some playful banter, including some whiny quotes from Up, he convinced me to get out. Let me tell you, I do feel better. I'm not content with my body right now, and every step I take on the pavement is a step towards the size I'd like to be. Even though it's only been a week and a half of exercise, I feel encouraged and empowered.

Speaking of encouragement, I find myself praying a lot during my runs! Mostly "God help me get up this hill" but I also thank him for the level of physical fitness I do have. Some people simply can't exert themselves, either because of medical problems or psychological mill stones. I am able and willing right now, and that's something to be thankful for!

Work is going well, and I do believe I'm starting to make friends with my coworkers. I still need practice making drinks, so I pray that I have the opportunity during a slower shift. A few new people were hired and even though I'm still a newbie myself, I can tell the strain it puts on the veteran baristas! I'm sorry I was such a burden in the beginning, but the fact that I am still new also makes me more patient with the trainees.

Our home is slowly coming together. We still need furniture pieces for empty spaces in our house (right now we're using the box our microwave came in as a nightstand) but that will come with time and garage sale scouting. We will be home this weekend, so hopefully we can get some of that done.

Every now and then it hits me how blessed I am to have such a beautiful home and such a beautiful marriage. I love my husband, and I'm thankful God has given me contentment living here!

Well blog world, I lied to you. I'm sorry! I didn't go running the next day like I promised, but I did do a water aerobics class on Saturday so I consider as a make-up session. I did go running this morning. I couldn't believe how winded I was for how short of a distance I ran! So sad. But that is also motivation. I want to get back to being able to run four miles no problem. It was a beautiful morning for a run, overcast and cool. 

The only think that worries me about running around here is the fact that Tehachapians seem to think at least two dogs is a necessity. And that keeping them behind fences is not a necessity. A medium-size dog ran up to me barking when I ran by it's house, so I stopped and faced it sternly. I wasn't afraid because it wasn't a large dog, but medium-sized dogs have teeth too! One evening I saw an older lady walking with a big stick in her hand. Maybe I'll become that lady haha.

If you are wondering about that water aerobics class, it was a lot of fun! Not a very strenuous workout, but fun to be in the water. I took it at Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona, CA with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and aunt-in-law. It was kind of like an adult water park. So many pools and places to lay out! We went in the mineral baths, did water aerobics, took a mud bath (pics will be put up soon), and had a moisturizing treatment. My skin felt soft by the end of the day, but I felt so tired! It's ironic, going there to relax and leaving exhausted. It was a very interesting experience and I loved being with my in-laws, but I'm not sure how people can go all the time!

Speaking of exhausted...I work 31 hours this week. Now, I know most people work 40 hours a week, and there are people who work 40 hours at a much more labor-intensive job, but 31 hours seems like too much to me. When I signed up for a part-time job, I didn't expect to have a just-under-full-time job. I am grateful for the income that I can bring to our family, but I'm wondering if this is the new weekly schedule for me. After standing for seven hours, I feel so spent when I get home. I'm finding that the trick is to do housework before I go to work. Yesterday morning I scrubbed toilets and this morning I'm doing laundry. Now when I get home I can cook dinner and not worry about the house.'

Does anyone have any helpful work/home routines? I'd be curious to hear if there is a good system I can implement.

Good morning! As you can see, it's been a while since my last post. Maybe I've been avoiding you because I fell off the exercise bandwagon. And by maybe, I mean I've definitely been avoiding you. 

To be completely honest, I've lost motivation. In Fresno, I was working out for my wedding dress. In SLO, I would see literally dozens and dozens of other people running and exercising EVERY DAY. (It's hard not to feel motivated when you're in a beautiful city and being reminded every morning and evening during your commute that you should exercise.) Here in Tehachapi, it seems like almost no one works out and everyone goes to McDonalds. My own husband isn't much of a help. He is naturally thin and eats tons of junk. (Love you babe!)

So here I am...it's been almost a month without running. Last week Joe and I did go for after-dinner walks almost every night, so that was a little time of physical activity. I need to get going again. It's starting to cool down in the evenings and mornings here, so that will be nice. Okay! Commitment time: I'm going to run tomorrow morning (I have work in a bit today) and run three times next week. How far? Not sure. I'm just going to go. Break!

The Rams are completely moved out of the temporary apartment and moved in to our "permanent" home! It's such a relief to be unpacking. I used an actual glass (not a classy red Solo cup) for my iced coffee this morning, and a real fork and knife at lunch. It's nice to not have to worry about your knife snapping in half when cutting a particularly tough portion of food. Ah, the simple joys of life!

I completed week 2 of my new job.

Can you guess where I work?

I think my store is a little unique because it is such a small town. My training hasn't been what I expected, but I've been having so much fun! I get a little frazzled when I am taking orders from customers, but once I can memorize the buttons on the register I know I'll be okay. My coworkers have been very patient with me, and a few have warmed up to me rather quickly! I'm so thankful for something that gets me out of the house and interacting with the community a few days of the week.

The day Joe came home from Florida, I was at work. My coworker popped her head into the back room where I was training and said "Molly, your husband's here."

"Really???" I half-shrieked. My heart started pounding like it used to when we first started dating. A moment of doubt crossed my mind as I went to the front of the store. My coworker hardly knew me, let alone who my husband was. Maybe it was a mistake. Sure enough, there was my tousle-headed man candy ordering coffee for his office. Later my coworker told me, "You and your husband look so much in love." Oh my goodness, we sure are. 

All in all, God is showering us with blessings. We hit a rough patch coming to Tehachapi, but our lives are growing sweeter each day.