It is official.

"What is official?" you ask. Well, I'm going to tell you!

But first ....

I think it is only appropriate to say this before I tell you the official (and challenging!) news:

Ready? Ok.

I want to say how MUCH every single word of encouragement I have received in the last few days, since starting my blog, has truely meant to me. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have such a supportive group of people behind me. (I'm sorry I didn't believe in you wonderful people!)

From my best friends since childhood, since high school, and college. From family, extended family, and basically family (Meg, I mean I'm pretty sure we have lived together since 9th grade!)From acquaintances and the ones who have never missed a day in the crazy life of Whitney from the start...

You know who you are, you know what you said, and I want to THANK YOU for being so supportive of me, my new life in Jesus Christ, this blog, in my ups and downs throughout the years, and for loving me and being here for me today!

Without this support, I am afraid I wouldn't have the strength to even share this blog, or this official news... for y'all are the icing on my cake of this new life through Jesus.

Without further a due(?) and being the most dramatic person in the world, which I'm sure I just took the medal, because it's not like this news is marriage/baby worthy excitement....

I am officially training to run the Country Music half marathon. 13.1 miles. In Nashville on April 30th. Alongside one of my best friends and a wonderful person (who is also included in the above group of supporters), Meghan Kyle, who asked ME to join HER! :)

Now, I've already talked about how I have never been a runner, and if you know me... you know that. So this half marathon to me IS a big deal. It IS marriage/baby worthy excitement in MY life... I mean, neither of those two things are coming ANY.TIME.SOON. PTL (Praise the Lord)... as I am certainly not ready for either...

Continuing... the significance of this half marathon to me is this: I feel that if I, indeed, run and complete this training program and race, I can do anything in this world I put my mind to. That may sound extreme... but I am just being honest with you. Hello, I am just being Whitney. Right? :)

As of today, I am on week 1, day 2. How this training program works (if you care/don't care/might be interested to start for yourself/or still reading because you just love me- thank you!)

The training is a 10 week program. You start at 3 miles a day, and run 4 days out of the 7 every week, so 3 days of rest. Every week you add 1 mile. So... after 10 weeks, 13 miles. If I follow this plan, I started Friday, November 5th, I should be running mile 13 on January 14.

The race isn't until April, so I may have a modified version, taking a little longer adding the miles, since I just ran 3 miles consistently for the FIRST.TIME.IN.MY.LIFE. on Friday. And for the second time TODAY.

Meaning, according to this training, I would already go to 4 miles on Wednesday. We shall see. I'm not saying it will or won't happen.

What I am saying in this: Please, if you don't mind, to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. That would mean so much. Because ya know what? Since I have just announced this to you, this means I definitely HAVE TO DO IT. Ahhh! :) No, I want to, and I know y'all will love me if I don't, but I like the accountability! Thank you! :)

Moving on to some random thoughts... CAN YOU BELIEVE IT IS ALREADY NOVEMBER?!

I can't. Or how cold it is. Which I don't know why I can't believe the latter... since I am a November baby and all... it always turns FREEZING cold RIGHT before MY birthday. I have friends/family who can attest to this... my 16TH, 18TH AND 21ST specifically.

What I also love more than November just being my birthday month, is obviously THANKSGIVING. Last year I cooked with my mother almost the entire Thanksgiving meal. We cooked from 5:30 AM until Noon, when people were arriving! It was an awesome experience, because I know one day I will be able to prepare Thanksgiving for my family, and actually know how!

This year I have decided to run the Gobble Jog 5K (3.1 mi) in Marietta on Thanksgiving morning! He doesn't know it yet, but I am going to convince my little bro bro to run it with me! Or try to convince anyways!

So I won't keep rambling on, and you decide never to read a blog of mine again... because like the Whitney you know, I am too long winded, even online, it seems... I will call it a night!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Stay warm! Know that Jesus loves you very much and that I do, too! And always remember:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Good night!