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about 12 weeks ago, my dear friend, kara, & i put feet to pavement in an effort to train for our first ever 5k. 

this decision was sparked by our participation in a get healthy experimental collective through our church (experimental collectives are kind of like “small groups” or “community groups” except we try to do stuff  in hopes of enriching our lives, the lives of others & our walk with jesus). we had been walking together each day for over a month when we decided to start running. 

the only hang-up? we weren’t runners. we were awkward, uncoordinated, crafty-types with not one athletic bone in our bodies. or at least that’s what we told ourselves. 

we both downloaded the couch to 5k app on our iphones & began the first day. we ran for 90 seconds & almost passed out, but we did it. & we kept doing it. my hands were high to the heavens when we ran our first five minutes straight. i took a gloriously sweaty picture of us when we ran our first twenty minutes. distance didn’t matter in the beginning. we didn’t care about minutes per mile. we only cared about finishing & finishing together.

the couch to 5k program has been a life-changer for me. i get all misty-eyed just thinking about how radically different i feel now than 12 weeks ago. i have lost some weight, a substantial amount of inches & that nagging back pain. i also feel lighter, happier & am better able to control my moods. i am that person who can say, “i got my life back.” 

the couch to 5k program inspires you to keep going. it creates goals that are achievable. when i tried to run before, i would get really bummed out if i couldn’t run a mile on my first try. that’s just ridiculous! the couch to 5k program allows you to let go of those self-made, unachievable goals & set your mind to something that is created by trainers who understand where you are & how you can get to that awesome 5k mark. 

after over two months of training, we crossed the finished line of our first 5k. those many weeks of training three days a week, on summer vacations, in the heat of the day, waking up early to meet each other at the corner, & running in the rain were absolutely worth it. we ran the entire time & it felt gloriously good.

one week ago today we bought our first home & hobby farm, proudly named freckled hen farm. 

i cannot describe the feelings we felt when this beautiful place finally became ours. signing all of the paperwork was honestly terrifying. this place won’t be paid in full until we are 54 years old. we were a bit worried if we were making the right decision to own a home in luke’s hometown at such a young age – are we settling for less? do we really love arkansas enough to stay? is living down the street from luke’s family a smart decision? i truly believe everyone asks those really hard life questions right before making such a big decision. when my parents were saying their goodbyes as they dropped me off at college for the very first time, i remember wanting to jump in the car & go straight home with them even though i was confident i was in the right place making the best decision i could.

going to college out-of-state & spreading my wings as an independent was the best decision i could have made. owning our own home & sharing in this home ownership adventure together feels similarly. it comes with some of the hard stuff, but ultimately it is worth it & it feels so good.

getting that first layer of paint on our walls instantly calmed my anxious spirits & allowed me to take a few steps back & really soak it all in. this is ours. we are home.