To Round Rock and Back Again.

Round Rock Barbecue

"I love you to the Moon and Back again."

"I love you to Round Rock and Back again."

The first saying is from Grandma Salas.  When the kids were very little, they would frequently visit her house where she would read wonderful stories to the kids.  Her famous quote as they departed her home was, "I love you to the Moon and Back again."  

The second quote was from my husband David who told this to me Saturday as I made my 10 mile mark in Round Rock.  And yes, I did have to go back another 10 miles.

End of the trail

At that point I wanted to call him to pick me up.  I looked at the text he sent me which said, "You're Crazy!!" and "You can do it!" As I ended the trail, I came across some unfamiliar surroundings.  The most miles I've ran have been around 14 miles, almost ran 15 miles on my birthday in August. 20 miles was always my goal.  It sounded crazy because I have no intention on running a marathon, or in fact a half marathon.  So, maybe all those years of running prepared me for this. Or did it?  When I came across the rail road tracks near the Gumbos in Round Rock, I was reminded of an old friend.  My friend Yoli who died in a murder-suicide.  I miss her dearly.  I prayed and asked God to seek me the rest of the way through.  With every foot that pounded that pavement, I was reminded of all the struggles I've faced in my life. There were times in my life when I didn't want to continue the journey, where all I wanted to do was just lay in bed and forget about the world.  There were times when I wanted to give up on David and his treatments.  And all the times I just wanted to quit everything.  I listened to the enemy who told me lies about my self-image. They cut to the core of me, they questioned everything the Lord had given me.  In those times when the enemy whispered lies to me in one ear, in the other ear, God would tell me how he loved me and that he was proud of me.  That is when I realized that I can overcome anything with God by my side. 

So, off I went, to run 20 miles because I knew the Lord would seek me through.  It reminded me that in life we will have struggles, we will have disappointments and times when we think we can go no longer. 

We are stronger than we think.  

John 16:33
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

We can overcome the world too. 

End of the Trail path. 

Let this New Year bring you Many Blessings!!! Happy New Year to Yours from Mine. 

Until Next Time,

Eat Organic,

Eat Gluten-Free,

Run.

Jennifer

Tis the Season to be Jolly!!!

Our not so Perfect Christmas Picture

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Tis the season to be jolly, 

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Emily can just about hum every Christmas song that comes on Pandora.  For two whole months, beginning after Thanksgiving, we play a continous stream of Christmas music.  If you want to get in the Christmas mood, then come over to the Salas Family.  We sing, we dance, we are in the season of happiness.  But wait, aren't we suppose to be happy all the time?  Of course silly, happiness if a gift. It is to be cherished by the Giver.  He gives freely to those who ask of it.  What makes Christmas "extra" special is that we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.  The Salas Family loves Birthdays.  We especially love birthdays because of the gifts we receive.  My birthdays in particular involve me running some crazy miles. 

So, are you enjoying this season of Jesus' Birthday or are you grumpy, stressed or just plain tired of all this Christmas business?  This weekend indeed will be crazy.  It will involve lots of heartaches and grumpiness but just think about the real reason why we celebrate Christmas.   

Jesus

Our Church service this past Sunday left me with a peace that showed this heart of mine why we make such a big deal about Christmas.  And even more so, the events that happened this past week has lead me to believe that Jesus is the solution to the world's problems.  You see, Jesus was born to a virgin, Mary, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born in a manger and later on was crucified for the sin of mankind.   

Mary

She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger. Luke 2:7

December 25th is coming soon, don't let this day be the only day you celebrate the "Christmas" season.  Rejoice in Jesus, our Savior who was God's gift to mankind.  If your only reason for celebrating Christmas is to receive or give gifts, then now is the time to read the Bible to find out who this baby who was born to a virgin meant to the world.  The story can be found in all the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  

Until Next Time, Merry Christmas, May the Love of Jesus fill your hearts forever.  

Jesus is the reason for the season.  

Since David wasn't in our Christmas picture,

I thought I'd share with you a little of his craziness.

Dancing  Beard

Love, 

The Salas Family

All I want for Christmas

All I want for Christmas is a new mixer.  Seriously. Look at it. It's bright and shiny. It's new.  It smells of newness.

My Costco trip this week caused me to do some looking for Christmas.  The isles were filled with books, clothes, games and every neat gadget, computer you could ever want.

And yes, they make it so easy for you to just grab and go.  That's why I love shopping at Costco.  No waiting in long lines for something. Just go out to the open floor and grab what you need.
And there's nothing I need. Nothing I want.
I would love to have a new mixer, but my old Kitchen Aid mixer works fine. Problem is that it isn't new and it isn't shiny anymore.

Every year the kids write down long lists of things they want for Christmas.  This year I made it easy and printed a cute template where they could write all the things they wanted for Christmas.  This gives me an idea of what to buy them.

Here are a few below:

David's List:

Parts for Telescope

Red Fender Guitar Fixed

Stereo with surround sound to go 

with our projector

New turntable for albums

Zachary's List:

Wii U with Wii U Zombi

or Assassins Creed

Lego Halo

D.J's List

Long Board

TV

Good Headphones

Driving License

Dumbbells

Love (Family Togetherness)

Emily's List

Red Dead Redemption Game

(Year Edition)

I Pad

Dream Lights Pillow

Beanie Babies

Headphones

Drawing Pad and Pencils

Epic Mickey The Power of Two

Lego Gold Mine

Flute

Glow Book

Nerf Bow

Red or Blue Bike

My List:

Nike Tights for Cold Weather

New Workout Headphones

Books

Pens 

Candy 

Aprons for Cooking

Emily's list as you can see is the longest.  

D.J. added Love to his list, Family Togetherness as one of his gifts from Santa.  He's a teenager, so I have made it my goal to give him some EXTRA Love.   Oh, its so easy to get mad at teenagers.  Especially when they exceed their data plan on their I-Phone listening to Pandora radio or telling you that the $30.00 protein powder you were so determined was the right one, wasn't the right one.   So, you see, it takes a lot of guidance from the Lord to follow his command,"Love One Another as I have Loved you. "

I won't have to buy Love this Christmas.  I never have. I never will. It's free.  Just ask the Lord.  He gives out plenty of it.  He is the Giver of Love, not Santa. 

And when D.J. added it to his list, it made me even more determined to show the kid's more Love.  You see, all these gifts are things we want. Things we would like to have.  But, I can tell you that if I didn't receive the things I asked for I would be okay.  As long as I have Love from my family.  

Family Togetherness as D.J. wrote, then I wouldn't be disappointed. 

Christmas isn't about what we can receive. 

Christmas is about what we can give to others.  

And the best gifts in life are free, like Hugs, Smiles and most importantly, LOVE.   

Make it your goal to show some Extra Love this Holiday Season. 

Until Next Time, 

Eat Organic,

Eat Gluten-Free, 

Show more Love, 

Jennifer