I never imagined that I would realize this so quickly. I have loved running ever since I started training for 10kms. It’s crazy to realize that what I spent years telling myself I couldn’t do is now exactly what I truly aspire to do??!!
I ran on the treadmill three times and outside twice. On my day off, Jesse and I went on a short hike.
All my treadmill runs were about 2.5-3 miles in length. Sunday’s long run outdoors was only supposed to be a 5K, but I felt so good that I decided to keep going and ended up running 4 miles without stopping at an average pace of 10 minutes 40 seconds. And it felt so good!
I downloaded the Strava app I loved this week! My hope for next week is to hit 5 miles on my long run. we will see!
I met with a nutritionist this week to talk about how to fuel my body enough for a run, and she recommended I eat a simple carbohydrate 30 minutes before my run next week. I’m scared that I’ll get sick or get a stomach ache, but I’m going to do it anyway. If you have any great suggestions for pre- or post-run snacks, please send them to us. Lately, I’ve developed a whole new appetite. I can’t even imagine the appetite you’ll have after running more than 7 miles.
I met with a nutritionist earlier this week to discuss how to optimally fuel my body for running. Especially since I’m going to start doing stretches of 5+ miles.
She gave me really good advice and encouragement and also said that I should start eating simple carbohydrates 30 minutes before my run. I’m so scared of eating before running (I’m scared of cramps and an upset stomach, but I also know that if I don’t properly fuel my body, there’s no way I’ll be able to successfully run long distances).
Are there any runners out there who have great suggestions for what they like to eat as a pre-run snack??
My nutritionist hung up and said, “Crystal! I can’t believe how far we’ve come since we started working together!!”
And it’s true! From the girl who was so afraid of eating enough calories and spent a lot of time worrying about the number on the scale, to the strong woman who loves running and weight training, giving her body enough energy and feeling great with at least 500-600+ calories a day.
I don’t say this lightly. My life has changed thanks to my dietitian. And I still can’t believe I paid $0.
Click here to read my story and see if your insurance also covers this program.
Kirsten, Micah, David, and I went to the library on Monday. It’s one of their favorite places. They discover a new bathtub containing free books. I hope you can see how excited they are. In fact, Kirsten didn’t want anyone to miss out, so she told other people in the library about it.
Parenting tip: Don’t stress over small things like how your child dresses. If you want to go to the library wearing pants that completely interfere with your pajama top, wear them. If they choose their clothes and it’s not inappropriate, go with it!
Also, don’t judge other mothers by the clothes their children wear.
shared this Instagram thought this might encourage some of you:
Spending time with friends who give you life is so important and so soul-satisfying. …but it rarely falls into your lap.
If you’re lonely or yearn for community, don’t wait for someone else to reach out to you first.
Ask yourself:
Who would you like to know a little better about? Next, A small courageous thing And extend your hand.
try:
• “I’d love to have coffee sometime!”
• “I’m going to the park tomorrow. Would you like to go with me?”
• “I made extra soup tonight. Do you have any plans for dinner?”
• “Would you like to walk with me one morning this week?”
If someone doesn’t respond or isn’t interested…don’t take it personally. Keep reaching out until you find your people, the ones who say yes.
And when will we share? listen. Ask good questions. Care about their lives.
Check in. Remember important dates. Please pray for them. Send an encouraging voice memo. It’s these little things that build true friendships.
Don’t wait for the community to magically fall into your lap. Please show up. Start. Be the kind of friend you want to find. 
Who can I contact this week?
The rhythm of Friday Sabbath was very good for us. In fact, not only have I extended my time with Jesse from 9am to 12pm, but I’ve started spending more time in the afternoons as well.
Our weekends are always full (and we have 6 kids!) and we work at least 5-6 hours most Saturdays, so having one day a week where we can focus on something fun, relaxing, and gives us purpose in life is so helpful. (Sundays are usually just about going to church and playing with family and friends, but with 6 kids and sometimes their friends here, it’s not really a “rest”! :))
Jesse and I went to Sam’s Club and compared prices on a bunch of items and took some photos for a future post about the best things to buy there. And finally, I discovered yeast!!
This was 2 pounds and less than $7! Just store it in the freezer.
The timing is perfect because I’ve got some wheat and I’m getting the mill out. I’m looking forward to getting back to grinding my own fresh flour!!
Seeing my man pour into David makes me fall in love with him all over again. 
David loves me, but he loves Jesse abnormally.
Seeing how much David loved his earthly dad and how safe and secure he felt with him is a great example of what our relationship with our Heavenly Father should be. No worries or stress. Just feel peace in God’s arms, knowing that I am loved, safe and secure.
We would like to share some exciting news! My 6th book is finished and will be released in September!!!
Want to know what it’s called?
This book is written by me for all women. It’s for college women, married women, single women, mothers with lots of kids, women without kids, empty nesters, and everything in between.
It’s part memoir (I’ve written a lot about my upbringing, how my parents and grandparents influenced me when it came to money, and a lot about my early marriage) and part practical handbook.
This book is packed with my best, proven advice on how to transform your financial future, written in a very down-to-earth, down-to-earth and encouraging style, one step at a time.
Whether you’re struggling and feeling stressed, or feel like you’re in a good place financially and just want to tweak things;7 habits of financially healthy womenIt’s for you.
Book this weekend and receive a special invitation!
We have lots of fun reservation perks, but we’ve prepared a special perk for those who book this weekend!
If you make a reservation this weekend, An exclusive invitation to a live Q&A call with me! We hang out and chat, so ask us anything. Additionally, my family will be participating a little bit to answer questions.
To pre-order and get your tickets for this special live call with me, Please go here and fill out this form. (When you sign up, you will have the opportunity to submit questions that you would like answered on a live call.)
Books I finished reading this week
I finished nightingale! And yes, I cried many times – especially the part where she says goodbye to the boy who has become like a son to her (if you’ve read it, you’ll understand!)
I was reliving many of the emotions I felt when I said goodbye to C. I sat him in his car seat, told him how much I loved him, and sobbed wondering if I would ever see him again. I knew it was best for him to be reunited with his mother, but I also didn’t know if I could handle the hole in my heart with him no longer at home. It was a beautiful and moving book that made my heart tighten, but there were also many parts that helped me.
what i see
I’m still watching When your heart calls. This week we wrapped up season 11 and started season 12. Are you finishing seasons 12 and 13 this week? Let’s take a look!
And Jesse and I want to start a new show that we watch together. I have some ideas, but let’s see how they end up. Please feel free to send us your suggestions.
what i hear
There’s lots of worship music playing while you run! I know some people like to listen to podcasts or audiobooks while running, but I just love worship music. The children were also listening intently. forever holy Lately when I’ve been driving, I’ve been repeating those words as I yell them out loud.
This week’s podcast episode: 5 exciting updates about our home
On this week’s episode of the podcast, Jesse and I share five exciting updates from the House of Payne, so be sure to listen. Some of our updates have been more practical, some have been very personal, and a few have honestly caught me completely off guard…and Jesse walks into conversations without knowing what I’m going to share, which makes it even more fun to find out what’s going on behind the scenes in our world.
I’ll start with something that may seem trivial, but honestly feels pretty important to me. After years of being told I had a problem with my teeth, my recent visit to the dentist went surprisingly well. After working with a functional medicine doctor and trying oil pulling (I was very skeptical), I had a very different experience at my last visit. This made me think more about the relationship between oral health and overall health, and whether the small habits I added were actually making a difference.
From there, I’ll be sharing updates about my son David as he prepares to start kindergarten this fall. If you’ve followed our story, you know how special that moment was for our family. David’s team has worked closely with us to create a plan that supports his unique needs. Hearing the goals set for David is both inspiring and emotional. While David continues to amaze everyone with his determination and personality, we’ll talk about some of the ways he’s already shown how capable he is.
Another unexpected development was that I agreed to run a 10K with my daughter. This decision introduced me to a whole new world of running, training, and learning far more about shoes and socks than I ever expected.
I’ll also share how an unexpected invitation took me to Guatemala this summer. This is something that has stayed with me ever since I adopted David. And finally, the biggest update: I finished writing my novel.next book! I reveal the title, share the story of its birth, and explain why I feel this project is especially meaningful to me.
Listen to this episode here.
In case you missed it – Links of the week
How to save money at Starbucks — If you love Starbucks but are worried about the price, check out this post to find out the best ways to save money today.
walgreens 101— Walgreens is one of those stores that can be a treasure trove of savings if you know what to look for. This detailed guide will help you come to Walgreens with a plan and leave confident you’ve earned the right rewards.
Spaghetti Pizza ($10 dinner idea) — You can’t go wrong with this recipe, as it combines two classic favorites into one dish. With spaghetti as the base and classic pizza toppings, your family is sure to love it.
My first purchase at Costco and what I bought for $67.— I finally went to Costco for the first time and came away with some great finds for less than $70 total. Read this post to see what I bought and what I thought. Also, don’t miss our comments section, full of helpful tips from our readers.
Spaghetti Pizza ($10 dinner idea) — You can’t go wrong with this recipe, as it combines two classic favorites into one dish. With spaghetti as the base and classic pizza toppings, your family is sure to love it.
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
