God, are you talking to me?

 

Today, as I was checking Facebook, this saying from C.S. Lewis popped up in my news feed. I read the words, looked at the beautiful picture, but didn't really thinking much about the meaning of these two simple sentences. I continues to look around Facebook, reading a few running quotes, looking at some pictures, and then out of nowhere it popped up in my line of sight again. So, this time I re-read it, and really took the time to understood the meaning of those 16 little words.  "Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you others can see Him."

If you don't know me, I am a Christian, working everyday to have a closer relationship with my Creator. I want to know Him better than I know anyone else, I want a relationship with Him greater than any other relationship I could ever find here on earth, and I want to know his will for my life so I can fulfill it (I figure less heartache for me if I am with His plan, instead of against His plan!). I know these things are what will give me the contentment, peace, and love we all search for in this crazy messed up world. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 

 

So, when this quote by C.S. Lewis kept coming to my attention this morning and then weighing heavy on my heart throughout the day, I decided the Holy Spirit must be trying to tell me something.

I have to be honest, I am a work in progress when it comes to my Christianity, not always knowing when God is trying to speak to me, and most times too busy to even notice, but sometimes he knocks me over the head till I finally listen! Today, is one of those days. Now, I just have to figure out why he wants to bring this specific quote to my attention and what does he want me to learn from it.

 

My first thought was this blog. Why? I am not sure, but I think it is because deep down I wonder if sharing my goals, my accomplishments and my Disney fun is too self centered. Am I shinning so everyone will see me? I think there is enough of that in the world today, look at the people who are famous for absolutely nothing, like the Kardashian's, Pairs Hilton or the numerous reality stars. That is not why I originally started the blog, I honestly thought it would connect me with other like minded people, inspire me to be a better runner, and even maybe inspire someone else to get out and run.

 

So, where do I go from here? That is a good question. One thing I have learned throughout the years is to always seek His council first, so I plan to pray! I will pray to see if I can use this blog to show His righteousness instead of my own and if not, then it is time to move on. Life is to short to waste time on things that are not of His will! So, I ask for your patience while I figure it out. 

Until then, what are your thoughts?

 

 

Disney's Princess Half Marathon Registrations Opens

 

Today at noon, Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend registration officially opened to the general public. As always, there is a buzz in the running community. I have seen many post from fellow runners who have signed up for one, two, or all three of the races that will be held next February, 2014 (yes, that is seven months from now!) . I personally will not be running at Princess Weekend next year, mainly because I already signed up for the inaugural Walt Disney World 10k in January. So, I actually get to sit back and watch the madness of Disney registration from a whole new perspective. 

 

 

It is funny how high pressure Disney race registration has become in the last year. The days of thinking about signing up for a runDisney race, months after the registration has opened are long gone it seems. Now, you better know way before registration day if you want to run a race, and then you better get to the registration site within the first couple hours of registration or you may just miss out! As of this very moment (three hours since registration opened) the new Glass Sipper Challenge (19.3 miles ran in two days) is almost filled to capacity! I can almost guarantee it will be sold out by the end of today!

 

 

 

So why has it gotten so stressful and crazy to register for a runDisney race? I don't know if it is because they are offering new race distances, new medals, more opportunities to get additional medals in a race weekend or maybe it is just a tremendous boom in runners finding out how awesome runDisney races are. No matter what the reason is, just know if you want to be a part of the runDisney magic, be prepared! 

 

Did you sign up for a Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend race? If so, which race are you running? Do you think registration has gotten more stressful in the last year?

 

 

 

National Running Day 2013

Yesterday was National Running Day and even though Tropical Storm Andrea was moving onto the West Coast of Florida, I had to make time for a run on this special day. Of course, who better to run with than the awesome folks at Fit2Run Estero/Coconut Point!

 

 

 

It was very wet and humid, but what an awesome turn out of runners and afterwards we all celebrated National Running Day with a one-of-a-kind Fit2Run Party! There was food and drinks supplied by Hurricane Grill & Wings and some awesome giveaways (Gift Certificates, Nathan Arm Bands, Lace Lock Shoelaces & 2 GPS Timex Watches) from Trek Bicycle Store & Fit2Run!



Store Manager, Kimmi Van Der Veen drawling names for the giveaways!

 

Best of all, my sole sister, Jen Lombardi (Travel Girl On The Run), was there to celebrate too! She has been home bound recovering from emergency surgery she had three weeks ago, so it made the day even more special!

 

You wouldn't even know she had surgery from this picture!

 

How did you spend National Running Day? Did you get out and run?

 



Having a Grand Day at Walt Disney World

If you know anything about me, you know I have a love for all things Disney! It started when I was very young (my first visit to Walt Disney World was when I was one years old), but as I grew-up, got married, and had kids, my love for Disney grew too. I think Walt Disney was a genius creating a magical place where parents and children can just have fun together, and that is what I love most about it.

This past week I have had the great pleasure of visiting Walt Disney World again, probably for the hundredth time (I lost count long ago), but this time my stay with my family was extra special. You are probably asking yourself what could make a Disney trip more special, it's Disney, well this trip was a gift given by two very generous peoples, who wanted to share a little Disney magic. Their thoughtfulness and kindness enabled us to experience parts of  Disney we had never seen before, and I am extremely grateful to them. Isn't it amazing how God puts people in your life that help make your dreams come true?

Our accommodations for our stay were in two connecting rooms on Club Level at the beautiful Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. I have never experienced club level before and boy what a pleasure it was! As soon as we reached the door of the resort there was a nice cast member there to greet us, she walked us right up to our floor,  made a quick stop by the concierge desk to pick up our keys, and took us directly to our rooms. I never had that happen before! The rooms were very nice with each having two queen size beds, a desk, a lounge chair, a sleeper couch and the best part of all, a balcony facing the pool and space mountain. I got to watch the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom, from Epcot and the Electric Water Pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon every night in my pajamas right from my very own balcony! We were pampered beyond belief at the Grand, with food and drinks offered throughout the day, live music filling the halls daily, nightly turn down service, and our very own personal concierge, Bonnie.  She and her coworkers offered us everything from a friendly hello/goodbye every time we walked onto the floor, to park tickets, to dinner reservations, and even a cabinet filled with DVD's for the kids to take and watch in their room. It was so nice to be pampered of by such a wonderful staff.

On this trip we decided to enjoy one of Disney's great water parks, Typhoon Lagoon. Surprisingly, this was another first for our family. I had the pleasure of visiting Disney's first water park, River Country, when I was a kid but my family has never made it to Typhoon Lagoon since it opened in 1989 (it is kind of hard to do water parks when kids are ao small). We all really enjoyed our day there and tried every flume, slide, or tube ride they had to offer. I think my kids favorite part of the park was the huge wave pool and would of been happy spending their entire day just riding the waves. I personally enjoyed the lazy river and made a couple of trips around the park, in true lazy fashion. My husband, the adrenaline junkie liked the Humunga Kowabunga a "speed slide" that send riders downward five stories in seconds reaching speeds of 39 mph.

It was a magical stay that will hold a special place in my families hearts! Special thanks to Tom & Candice Wroe for making our magical stay possible.

Have you ever stayed at the Grand Floridian? What is your favorite part of the resort?