Our Quest For Donut Perfection

A few weeks back the girls and I set out on a mission.  Our objective is to find the tastiest donut shop in the Joplin area. 

I mean c'mon. Doesn't one "NEED" to know the best place to go when one has a donut craving?! Plus it promised to be a tasty and fun adventure.
The rules of our search are as follows: 1. We purchase 3 types of donuts: cake, maple bar and a glazed. 2. We eat and "discuss" the donuts comparing them to the others we have previously tried. 3. We closely check out the shop for variety of both flavors and toppings as well as the atmosphere 4. We have FUN!
We started our quest at Sweet Spot.

If I am being brutally honest here, this place was a HUGE disappointment. It is Joplin's newest donut shop and I will be shocked if it is still there in 6 months. Variety was awful, freshness was questionable and the set up of the building was just plain weird.

But the girls loved it. That is the best part about doing this with the girls, they are easily pleased. I wasn't impressed but they sure were. Hopefully this process will "refine their palates a bit".
This weekend we went to our second stop, Heavenly Donuts.

The selection here was MUCH better. They had at least twice the amount of donuts to choose from, if not more. They even had these adorable little gingerbread man shaped donuts that made the girls giggle. The donuts tasted a lot fresher and were much better. We also liked the way the store was laid out. Only down fall here was they weren't the "friendliest" bunch of people, but the service wasn't really bad either. 

We definitely enjoyed Heavenly Donuts better. The girls

said "The donuts here are much yummier than the last place". I couldn't have agreed more. 

We still have a few more stops to make before we choose a winner and we couldn't be more excited about that. Stay tuned!
Do you have a go to donut shop?

We didn't expect that...

Happy Monday! 
I just got back from the most glorious run this morning. The weather was perfect, the birds were singing and it just felt like the best way I could have started my day. 
Especially after yesterday...
Sunday started out just as expected. Up early, loaded in the car and on the highway to spend the day at Silver Dollar City, our favorite family hangout. 
We got about halfway there and this happened

Yup, we didn't expect that.
We were on a bridge, on the highway, going 55 mph when it started. Our whole family was in the car and with 4 cars spread across 2 lanes and the shoulder in front of us we had no where to go.
BOOM

No, it wasn't our fault.
Yes, we are all okay.
Explaining what exactly happened is a bit complicated. Let's just say that one persons extremely poor judgement resulted in a 3, almost 5 car wreck. 

We sat there on the side of the highway for 1.5 hours waiting and waiting and waiting before we were finally released to go. The cop later called us back telling us how he was writing up the report. He faulted the car that had such poor judgement for the whole thing. That was a huge relief.



With the car still driving fine we decided to carry on with our day as planned. We both felt like heading back home but knew that would break the girls hearts. So we put on our smiles and forged on, just like we always have done.

I am reminded of a certain Forrest Gump quote and to keep this blog PG let's just say, "Stuff happens".
Reflecting back during the rest of our drive, tears filled my eyes. Thoughts of how bad it could have been. Everything could have been over in a second if God would have allowed it. I was reminded of His love and grace even when unexpected things happen. And how He will continue to take care of us during this process just like He always has. We never walk alone. He knows the situation, He is so much bigger and He will always be glorified in and through everything.

Once again another reminder of just how very blessed we are.

Five on Friday/ 50 Posts & Weekend Plans!

Well this has been what feels to be the longest and shortest week all at once. It has been our first full week on summer break. I must admit that it has been VERY nice. The unfortunate part is the summer weather seems to have left. So, instead of pool time and sunbathing we have been wearing hoodies and watching movies. A little disappointing but I know it won't last long. 
Here are this weeks 5!
1. 50 Posts!

Yesterday I wrote post #50! I have been consistently blogging for about 2.5 months and I am SLOWLY growing. Blogging is a lot of work but I have been loving it.
2. I am not super mom.
Truth

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in super mom mentality. Cooking, cleaning, trying to do everything just right, on my own. I forget that this is what it is really all about. And just how desperately I need Him!
3. Birthday Plans

Marissa's #6 is fast approaching. I am starting to gear up into party planning mode and presents. I have recently discovered that I was CRAZY not to realize that everyone was buying Frozen stuff right now. I probably should have bought those Anna and Elsa Barbie Dolls a few months ago. 

The good news is she isn't a picky girl and hasn't even asked for anything specific yet. And if she does go with my suspected Frozen birthday theme, I am sure that Pinterest is booming with ideas!
4. Summer Running Series
This summers running plans are focused on increasing speed particularly in the 10K distance. What better way to do that than to do some races!


Not only will this give me some running motivation and hopefully a faster 10K time. But, it will also get me 3 sweet t-shirts and a finisher medal at the last race for completing the series. 
5. Hanging Out With Friends.
This is how I plan to spend my Friday. Hanging out with friends, around a fire pit, on the patio.

Start of the weekend perfection!
What are your plans for the weekend?!

Basic Wheat Sandwich Bread {Recipe}

Yesterday was gloomy, rainy and a bit cold for a spring day. So I did the only thing that makes sense to do on such a day. I baked. Besides it being the perfect baking day we also happened to be just about out of bread. This is our basic go to toast/sandwich bread recipe. We have been making it for several months now and we love it. It is easy, doesn't require much and is a lot lighter than most sandwich bread recipes I tried before it.

Basic Wheat Sandwich Bread Makes 2 loafs

Ingredients:

1 Cup warm (not hot) water 2 tsp active dry yeast 1 Cup milk  (Usually I warm it up in the microwave a bit, do not get it hot!) 1/4 Cup honey 2 Tbs canola oil 1 Tbs salt 2 3/4 Unbleached all purpose flour 2 3/4 whole wheat flour
Directions: 1. Pour the water in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle yeast over the top. Add in milk honey and oil, stir.
2. Add in 2 cups of the all purpose flour and stir to combine ingredients. Add in the remaining flours and mix to form a shaggy, half mixed dough. Let dough rest for 20 minutes.
3. After the dough has rested let the mixer knead the dough for 8-9 minutes. The dough is kneaded when it feels smooth, slightly tacky, forms a ball without sagging and springs back when poked. 
4. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with saran wrap to rise until it has doubled in size. This can take anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on how warm your house is. Do not rush this step. 
5. Divide the dough into two even balls and grease your loaf pans. Shape each ball into a loaf by flattening it out and folding it in thirds, pinching the bottom and side seams closed. Place seam side down in the loaf pans and let the loaves rise until they start to dome over the top of the pans 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. 
6. Heat the oven to 425 degrees about halfway through the rising process. 
7. Gently slash the top of the loaf being careful not to deflate the loaf and put in the oven. Immediately turn the heat down to 375 degrees and bake for 30-35 minutes. Typically I tint the loaves with a large piece of foil about halfway through the baking process. 
8. Remove the loaves from the pans and allow to cool completely before slicing. 
Loaves will keep for several days. You can also wrap in foil and freeze once they are cool if you wish to do so. Just be sure to allow the bread to defrost completely BEFORE unwrapping it from the foil. 
Enjoy!

It's The Little Things/ Holding Hands

Last Friday Marissa and I had did a fun run together. One mile down the road and back as fast as she could go. When we do runs together the rule is always if she needs to walk, we walk. But this run was both surprising and special

Surprising, because she never once asked to walk. She ran and ran her little 5 year old heart out. Sometimes dragging me along.

Special, because we ran the whole thing up until the very end holding hands.

All I could think while running with this beautiful girl was how blessed I was to call her mine. She is such a smart, strong, beautiful girl that doesn't give up.

Then my mind wondered to a time not even a year ago that I couldn't have done this with her. I couldn't have ran a mile without having a near death experience, HA!  Sad, funny and true.

I am so thankful for the changes that have happened to get me to that place, having that moment with our girl. It was awesome!

Before we crossed the finish line, I turned her loose. And watched her go.

So proud of her and her 11:00 mile!

At the end she received a medal. "Mommy, a medal just like yours!" She was SO excited.

I sure do love this sweet girl!

Mothers Day #5!

Sunday was my 5th Mothers Day, so crazy thinking back over 5 years of Mothers Days.      I was a bit worried that after the previous days half marathon I may not be able to get out of bed but somehow I did.
I woke up to find cards and pictures drawn for me.  Marissa drew me running and getting a medal. Emily drew a flower.

Russ added this to the bottom of his card.   Have I ever said that I really like him?

Then I got my Mothers Day present.
It was the kind of present that wasn't exactly a surprise. That is just how things work in our house. I say "Honey I would love this for Mothers Day." And he says "Sure, get it." Sorry if that takes the romance out of some of it for you guys but in our home that is normally the way things work. We aren't big "surprise people". But we occasionally do have our moments.
I custom ordered this from Handful of Arrows a few weeks back and as promised it arrived just in time for my race and Mothers Day.


It is beautiful and PERFECT. Like a finishers medal that I can wear all the time. It looks great with anything I want to wear and people won't stare like they would if I wore my real medal.
Then we headed to church followed by going out for lunch. Which reminded me why we seldom go out to eat. HA! Picky eaters, tired kids and crowded restaurants didn't make for the most enjoyable meal but at least we were together. The rest of the day was spent at home.
I also forgot to have Russ snap a picture of me with the girls in the midst of the chaos.  Oh my, Mothers Day #FAIL.
But all in all it wasn't a terrible day and the hubby surprised me with my favorite ice cream once the kids had went to bed.  Now that is what I call romance ;). I told you we have our moments. 
How was your Mothers Day?

Thirteen Point Freaking One!

Thirteen point freaking one.... I did it!
I almost wouldn't be able to believe that I did it if my legs didn't still ache today. It feels like a really intense workout times 100 in the muscle soreness department. I LOVE it. I guess in some ways that may just make me a bit crazy. 
Guys I can hardly explain it, it was AMAZING. I conquered something that I never imagined I could do. And I don't think I put up that terrible of a time for a girl who has only done 2 5K's and hasn't even been running a year.
Lets get to the details.
I went to bed about 9:00, and had the most RIDICULOUS time falling asleep. I was also convinced that  I may end up getting sick to my stomach, due to my nerves being wound tightly . Thank God that didn't happen. Finally about 10:15 I must have drifted off. 
I Woke up at 4:15, got ready and left the house a little after 5:00. I met up with some of my favorite running gals and we snapped some pre-race pictures!

At 6:15 they started getting us corralled into our pace groups. Next was the opening ceremony which included a moment of silence and them releasing 161 balloons. 
One for each life lost on May 22nd


The race started about 6:30 and we were off!

The next 13.1 miles are by far the most memorable miles I have ever ran. I remember laughing, cowbells, planned and surprise cheerleaders. Drinking lots of water, funny signs, photo-ops and celebrating every mile. I soaked in every memory that I could and I never once thought that I couldn't finish.
I knew that I could, and I would.

The hubby surprised me with this sign he had made. Gosh, I like that guy!

At the end it mentally all came down to one turn. I knew once I got to a certain spot in the course I would start to see a crowd, hear the cheers and the excitement at the finish line. By the time I got to that point my legs felt like they were made of lead. And for the first time I really felt that I ran with my heart. I think if I wasn't so physically exhausted I would have been an emotional mess.

And with those last few turns around the spectator area the finish line was in sight and months of training for this moment were so worth it.
Finish time 2:18:24 Avg Pace 10:34

And just like that I can say I am a half marathoner.

This one amazing victory started with a bigger one. Me deciding I didn't want to sit on the sidelines anymore. Choosing to be proactive and take something on that I didn't think I could do. 
But by Gods grace I did.

The Joplin Memorial Run's logo is Run, REMEMBER, Rebuild.

And that is exactly what we did. 

I couldn't have picked a better race and I couldn't have had a better friend running beside me  through HOURS of training the past 7 months.

I will never forget this day. 

Now the question everyone has been asking...

Would you run another half?

And that is exactly what has happened. 
I already have my eyes set on another half marathon the beginning of November and I couldn't be more excited.