Good morning, friends. 
The past few days have been very bittersweet. Brandon and I have been busy making the necessary preparations for our move to Atlanta, but we’ve also been saying good-bye to a lot of special people.
I already told you about my good-bye party with my Bible study group.
Then on Thursday, one of my elementary schools surprised me with lunch and this very special cake.
How sweet is that??
Then on Friday, I went out to lunch with my fellow “psychos” (i.e., school psychologists) and other members of our special education team.
One of the psychs, Shelley, just had a baby. And she brought little Emma to see all of us!
The lead psych, Kevin, also brought in a very special treat on Friday.
People. If you are ever in Springfield, Ohio, you must go to Schuler’s Bakery and get a caramel cream-filled donut. It will change your life.
On Saturday evening, we met up with a bunch of Brandon’s work-friends and their wives for some Mexican food.
We are really going to miss these guys. Thank goodness we’re going to see most of them in Nashville when we run the half-marathon in a couple of months! 
So after four “good-byes,” a few extra pounds (thanks to all of those “celebrations”), and plenty of tears (me, not Brandon!) it’s now time to get serious about packing! The movers are coming in just a couple of days! Although they are doing the actual packing and moving for us, there’s still lots to do before they arrive!
———————-
In other news, I’ve had some people asking how the calf sleeves have been working for me.
Honestly, I’m not sure yet. Thursday’s run was horrible. My shins were killing me, and I just wanted to lay down and cry. But then on Saturday, I ran outside for the first time in months, and I felt great! I did 7.5 miles, and my pace was faster than it ever has been. 
So I’m confused. I don’t see any rhyme or reason for why I have good days and bad days. But I have been wearing the calf sleeves to bed a few times a week, and I’ve been doing various stretches for my calves, shins, and achilles tendon. I’ve also been trying to ice my shins on a more consistent basis. I’ll keep you guys updated as I continue with my training!
Question for ya …
What did you do this weekend?
Do you have a difficult time with good-byes?
If you’re training for a race, how has it been going? Any thoughts on my inconsistent shin pain?
You are certainly loved! What great celebrations. Best of luck with the packing – I hope it goes very, VERY quickly! I’m not claiming to be an expert (by any means) but I know that if I try and run on a treadmill my shins DIE! If I run outside, however, I don’t have that issue. That’s the reason I don’t EVER run when it’s below 55 (okay, who are we kidding, I meant when it’s below 60)! I’m not sure if you’re on a treadmill (that’s how I took your post though). At least it might explain some of the good day/bad day stuff!
Northern Girl_Southern Wife (Alissa) recently posted..Harris Teeter Super Doubles: The Final Counts
Thanks, Alissa!! I’ll be curious once I move to Atlanta and I’m running outside more if things get better! I sure hope so!
That cake is adorable, and so is the new baby! And I want to eat one of those donuts for breakfast today, please.
Hopefully once you move to atlanta it will be warm enough for you to run outside daily and that will help your shins.
Praying that all goes smoothly with the packing and moving!
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..Still no computer – I need your help!
Thanks so much, Natalie!! Hope you had a good weekend!
Hey! Been thinking of you! Brad and I wanted to go to El Azteca on Saturday so badly, but we had small group. I wish we could have been there. If you need anything this week, don’t hesitate to call! We will miss you, but plan on visitors:-)! -Lisa
Hey lady!! Thanks so much! Sorry we weren’t at church yesterday … we were both sick (still are!), so we watched a sermon online instead. But I will miss you lots … PLEASE keep in touch!! Text/call anytime!
haha i love the term fellow psychos
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..A Heart Healthy Dinner Party
Aw, I can’t believe your move is so soon! That’s great though that you guys were able to have nice goodbyes with people. And yay for getting lots of good food out of it
. It’s really strange that your shins are good one day and bad the next…I hope it all sorts itself out asap!
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Sometimes Healthy Living Means Letting Go
so sweet that so many people are doing nice things to send you off to atlanta – i know it must be hard to say goodbye to so many people, but it must make you feel great to know how loved + appreciated you both are! =)
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..homemade pitas
goodbyes are raelly hard, and Im sorry you have to go through them. The cake your students made you is amazing though and very sweet
All I can say is that you have to look forward to all the new people and new opportunities God is going to bless you with when you move!
Kat recently posted..Cake for breakfast?
we had an awesome party this weekend for my b-day.
I am soo looking forward to and dreading our move. Looking forward to exploring our new city but soo going to miss all of our amazing friends and family here!
My hips are giving me all sorts of trouble now, but my shins are doing peachy. I wonder what the heck is going on with your inconsistent pain. So weird!!!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..Let the birthday week begin! (and PB Protein balls)
Sorry about your hips.
One of my friends said that she has problems with her hips when she’s running, too! Maybe the fact that I have the body of a 10 year old boy (aka no hips) means that I don’t get hip pain??
awww I didn’t know you were going through this huge transition!! But I truly wish you guys the best, and the Lord will bless ya abundantly, for sure!
I loved seeing how you celebrated with all these wonderful ppl! And omgsh~I just started couponing for little things like craft stores, but I think I really wanna do it more hardcore! So long as I don’t become a cuckoo addicted coupon lady hehe. Have a great start of the week sista! <3
Ellie@Fit for the Soul recently posted..Spicy Kale Pasta Soup [Totally Healthy and Vegan]
Haha let me know if you find any good couponing tips!!!
Goodbyes are always so difficult, but being an Atlanta-native, I can say that there is SO MUCH fun stuff to do in Atlanta and I’m sure you’ll love it
Good luck!
Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) recently posted..My First Time Calling 911
Ay, I’m so sorry about your shins
I know how frustrating it can be and how helpless it can make you feel.
Boo. Have you been icing them?
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..Don’t Stop the Air Pop
Yep, I’ve been icing them before and after runs … and sometimes on other days, as well!
How exciting to be moving to a warm part of the country!! Did your house sell?
For running, I have good days and bad days all the time. (I have no pain in my shins, though. I just mean days I feel great or days I feel like an elephant.) Part of my inconsistencies lie in when I run. In the morning, if it is soon enough after I have coffee and breakfast, I feel great. But if I wait til right before lunch or dinner, I feel awful. I think it is blood sugar. If I run in the evenings, I feel great. So that is totally different than what you’re problem is now, but still possibly helpful for when you do heal up.
jennifer recently posted..Running. Time. Life.
Thanks for your thoughts, Jennifer!! And yes, we did accept an offer on our house! Such an incredible answer to prayer. But I was hesitant to write about it, until we actually CLOSE haha! Thanks for asking!!
I just recently began reading your blog, and this seemed like the perfect time to comment – moving away from those you love can be incredibly trying, but there’s a quote I read that put it all in perspective (after making me bawl my eyes out, of course!):
“You may never feel 100 percent at home again – but that’s the price you pay for loving so many people in so many different places”.
Best of luck with the upcoming move, and hang in there!
Thank you SO much, Faith! I love that quote! Thank you for sharing!
Saying goodbye can be so hard! I hope everything goes well with the move to Atlanta (I used to live there, too!) and that you make some great friends in ATL, too.
Shannon from Healthiful Balance recently posted..Anorexic to Fit Series {Part 2}
Aw, it looks like you definitely have a lot of friends that will miss you in Ohio! I’m not great with goodbyes, but sometimes I think it’s easier being the person that’s leaving. You get a fresh start and a new place, and everyone else has to miss you from their familiar home..that’s always hard!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..Wedding Planning: What I’ve Learned So Far
awww, moving is rough. I’ll be really sad when we end up leaving the town we live in when we finally invest in a house…but im sure you have lots of fun new adventures on the horizon!
i really hope the shin pain gets better..I get frustrated because sometimes it feels like I get over one injury and then something else starts to feel wonky
i’m just crossing my fingers that marathon training goes by semi-smoothly.
Theresa recently posted..Running Reflections and lots of ice cream
Best of luck with the marathon training!! I hope you stay injury-free!
I know how hard goodbyes can be..but I’m glad you both got to enjoy some time with your friends & co-workers before leaving. I love that one school made you a cake!
So sweet!! I know they are all going to miss you terribly!
Good luck with all of your packing!!
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Thanks, Holly!!
I’ve had more goodbyes in the last year than I care to ever have again – so here’s hoping! They’re tough. The parties are fun though!! I’d be interested in the calf sleeves too!
Corrie Anne recently posted..BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad + Double Tempos
Goodbyes are so tough…my husband and I moved 2 years ago across the state and we knew NO ONE…but we now have some new friendships!
Amy@ahealthyandhappyheart recently posted..The One with the Nerf Gun: Valentine’s Day
I hate saying goodbye! Its the worst, but at least you have a great group of people to come back and visit all the time!
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