Marathon Finisher!!!!

I am a marathon finisher! The 2011 Chicago Marathon, DONE in 7:22:44! Hallelujah! Not bad for a beginner given the unseasonal heat! As I told a friend I feel unexplainably different.

Where do I begin? There was so much going on! So many people out to cheer and encourage the runners. There were several bands playing music, line dancing cowboys, an Elvis impersonator, crazy signs, lots of yelling, and best of all the Kingdom Running Club and Elijah Running Club Spirit Teams! They were awesome! They had food, beverages, prayer, high fives, hugs, you name it! I’ve experienced what I thought was love, but during that race, the Lord showed his LOVE for me through those Spirit Teams and many other strangers. At the halfway point, I asked the Kingdom Running Club for prayer. They immediately all began to lay hands on me and pray. I pressed on, and found that miles 14-18 were rough. That prayer empowered me! At mile 18 one of the police officers said to me, “You only got single digits left!” That really encouraged me, I didn’t think of it that way. My second wind kicked in and I kept it moving.

One of my goals was to finish before the streets were reopened. They started taking down the mile marker signs and the water stations began breaking down, and by the time I got to mile 20 and after they were all down, but thank God the streets were still blocked and the police were still out there. I highly recommend training for and running a half or full marathon or cheering for or supporting runners. There is no experience like it

We were assigned to list our scriptures that we were standing on for the race and also 26 things that we were running for. I ran for many things including Haiti, focus, strength, health, and to honor my parents who both died in their early 40’s. The scripture Philippians 4:13, which is often quoted, was brought to life for me during the training and on race day – I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I KNOW it was not by my own strength.

Well, I’m hooked now. Not necessarily on full marathons, but I know that I will be running in one or more half marathons in 2012. I will also definitely be a part of the Spirit Team for the 2012 Chicago Marathon, unless of course…..I change my mind and decide to run again! :)

Wooooo Hooooo!

Kitten Heels

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women

On Hiatus

Dear Fans,

Thank you for following Pumps, Purses and Positivity for the last 18 months.

Our site will be on hiatus for the next 6 months, as we re-group.

Please check back in periodically to see what we have in store for the futre.

Pumps, Purses and Positivity

William C Harris....R.I.P.

On August 13, 2011 around 10:00 pm I received a call from my brother letting me know that my Dad had passed away around 10:30 pm est. He was sick and we were all expecting it to happen but when I actually heard those words, "your Dad passed tonight" it hit me like a ton of bricks!

My head was racing because once I again I didn't make it home to see a parent before it was too late. My Mom was in a comma by the time I got home fifteen years ago and the day after I made it she passed.

So time to make the plans and I just didn't want it to be like my Mom's because that was drama after drama after drama. Thankfully this did go much smoother but it was still stressful. The best news out of the entire situation was that my two older brothers who had not spoken to each other in well over fifteen years actually got along!! They laughed and joked and we spent a lot of time together going through my father's things and behaving like a real family. It was beautiful, a miracle in the mist of sadness!!

Funny how God works... as one life ends another always begins. I'm still in a bit of a shock and I'm sure it will hit me in the days to come but I'm thankful and grateful that my family is doing so much better. We are all we have now, both parents gone, so the huge hole that I had been feeling got a lot smaller with the passing of my Dad. Now I just have to figure out what's next for me......

Stiletto,
Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women

They really are human too

Happy Monday!!!

Today's thoughts are focused on celebrities. It amazes me on how they are idolized and admired by so many but few really have there mess together. What brought me to this topic today was because of the most recent news I came across regarding American Idol winner Fantasia. Now this women was thrusted from rags to riches so to speak but still has not gotten her self together. We talk some many times on how we would change our lives if we were touched by the Gods to obtain wealth to be comfortable and I have yet seen that happen in the celebrity world. She has just announced to the world that she is yet again pregnant and it is suspected to be by her last lover "the married man".

Now you would think that if you have been on the verge of losing everything because of this man you would just leave him alone. Really, she has been sued by the wife, gone into bankruptcy and most importantly almost lost her life because of this situation. Why continue to go back? Not just to pick on her we can even talk about Sandra Bullock's ex. Could he be any crazier. I say all this to say that as much as we sometimes envy celebrities their lives are so much more screwed up then our own except they have more money. So I guess having lots of money doesn't make you happy.

Much Love

Chanel

Real Life, Real Talk , Real Women

Happy Friday

Here is my thought for today: How long should a woman continue to try and love an unhappy man? When I say unhappy I mean a man that is going through some challenges but refuses to see the optimistic view on things. Lets face it life is in no way perfect but we have to be able to take the good with the bad. It is not easy to sustain a relationship with a partner when everytime you say the sky is blue he says that it should be dark blue. No one looks for the perfect relationship or least I hope not because there is no such thing but dang. How does so many people go around day to day looking at the negative that life offers us. It is so much more rewarding and exciting looking at the positive things that have been granted to us each day.

Should a relationship like this be held on to or do you think that if a women stays in something like this she will become bitter at the world around her? Let me kow your thoughts