It Hasn't Sunk In Yet

It hasn't quite sunk in yet that I am finished with school.  I spent a better part of last night laying on the couch, watching reruns of NCIS and painting my nails (Honeymoon Red - the same color I wore when I got married - if you're curious).  I wasn't able to completely relax, because in the back of my mind there were still books to be read and papers to be written.

Actually, that is partly true.  I am submitting my ordination papers on Monday so I will be spending my first graduate school - free weekend at my desk putting the finishing touches on a three-part paper chronicling the evolution of the Christian Church, United Church of Christ History and my own faith journey.

It's sort of like running a 5K the day after a marathon.

Speaking of running - I was out taking a walk the other day and I decided to see what would happen if I sped up my pace to a slow run. (If you remember from this post my right knee has next to no cartilage in it and at the end of college I was forced to hang up my running sneakers.) I have been reading a lot about rehabilitating knees and am starting to think that my running days may not be over forever.

I ran for about 3 1/2 minutes and slowed my pace back down to a walk.  My knee felt great, but I didn't want to push it.  A couple of days ago, I did the same but kept the running pace for 8 1/2 minutes before slowing down.  It felt AMAZING.  Afterwards I talked about it to my friend, Marissa.  Marissa has run three marathons in the last two years so I thought she would be a good person to talk to about how to start running again after a lot of time off.  She said to keep the 10 minutes intervals for a few weeks - just to get my body used to running again - before I go further.  I am very okay with that - it just feels so good to RUN again!

I'm pretty sure I am the only person that can connect writing my ordination papers to rehabbing my knees and running again.  What can I say?  It's a gift.

Anyway - Bruce and I went to the Candler Spring Banquet last Friday night and I am just now getting around to digging through my pictures.

The banquet was luau themed and I had so much fun dressing the part that it was led me to wonder why Hawaii is the only state in the United States where it is fashionably acceptable to wear a flower in your hair every day.

I hope you all have a great Thursday!