Fitness Friday: Week 17

Had 3 workouts this week! On Tuesday morning, I ran for 30 minutes. On Wednesday night, I biked for 10 miles. On Thursday night, I biked 8 miles and swam 300 yards.

I can't wait for my triathlon! Happy fitness day. Pin It

Fitness Friday: Week 16

I had a great week of working out! I am proud of my progress. I've loved having the goal of the triathlon ahead of me, it is really pushing me to work towards something.

On Monday, I ran for 20 minutes and biked 8 miles. On Wednesday, I ran for 20 minutes and swam 200 yards. Today (Friday), I biked for 6 miles and swam 300 yards.

It's been a good week of working out and I can't wait for next week! I like the different pace with running, swimming, and biking and feeling like each work out is different.

Have a good weekend! Pin It

Life Lately

Just a little life update from the Luikens lately. We've been busy! After an incredible time with family in Texas over Christmas, Tony and I came back to a very snowy Alaska and snuggled back in for the winter :)

 In January, I applied for a job as a Junior High Volleyball Coach at Grace Christian School here in Anchorage. I got the job and enjoyed it so much! I got to incorporate scripture, encouragement, and Christ into coaching volleyball and I loved it. Of course, I loved getting to spend time with junior high kids as that is my ministry. I love junior high kids as I became a Christian when I was in 8th grade and needed someone during that time in my life. 

While coaching was such an incredible opportunity, it was also exhausting. I was working every night, getting home late, and working weekends. I worked January and February coaching and at the end of February, I was really being tested with patience and endurance. The extra coaching job on top of an already very exhausting job as a social worker was a lot to take in. In February, I thought very much about putting my resignation in for my job as a social worker. I was getting so exhausted and frustrated. I decided to take some time and pray and after a period of two weeks of praying and seeking God, I decided to stay in my job and am so happy that I did. I can see the Lord using me in big ways right now and all for His glory. I recently started a 4 day work week- working 8 AM to 6 PM and having Fridays off. This has been helping me tremendously to really be able to have rest and energy and pour my heart into my families and kids during the days I am working. 

Tony recently signed a contract with the Marines, to be a Marines Officer. We are both really excited about this opportunity. Tony will found out at the end of July. If Tony is accepted, he will start Officer Training School in Quantico, Virginia in October 2013. I am so excited for this opportunity for Tony and I am just waiting upon the Lord as to the direction he will take us and our family. I love the idea of getting to travel and do military life, ministering to military families and meeting new people and seeing new places. I trust the Lord and the plan He has for us. He hasn't let me down yet :)

Mostly, Tony and I are just in a place of waiting. We are both content at our jobs right now. We are doing junior high youth ministry every Wednesday which has been a huge blessing for us. We have been spending a lot of amazing time with our married couples small group from church. They have been a blessing to us and brought a lot of genuine, real community. A community of Christ followers that we can spend time with that are also married. We are thankful for that community!

Thought I'd put up some pictures from this Winter/ Spring 2013 to give you an idea of what we've been up to!

Valentines Home Decorating :)

Got the idea of the printable from Pinterest.

The sunsets are still GORGEOUS here in Anchorage.

My love got me some flowers for Valentines Day!

For my coaching job, I got to drive this bus full of junior high kids in the ice and snow. I am officially an Alaska woman :)

Congratulations to my sister, Emily and her husband Joe!! I am officially an Auntie and this is a picture of my little nephew, Brannon. Isn't he a cutie?! I can't wait to go see him from May 4 - 12 in Texas!

More Valentines fun.

After the exhausting 2 months of January and February, my loving husband took me for a fun weekend of rest at Captain Cook Hotel, one of the nice hotels here in Anchorage. Got to see beautiful views! Still snow here in Anchorage :)

Of course, I ordered King Crab. YUM. This is the before shot.

Annnddd... after. Dominated.

The views from our hotel room at Captain Cook! We were on the 18th floor.

We spent some time at the Anchorage "Fur Rondy", which stands for Anchorage Fur Rendezvous. This is the weekend before the Iditarod, the famous sled dog race here in Alaska.

People bring furs to sell. Tried some of these babies on!! They are pretty pricey. Maybe someday I'll pay $300 to have a fox on my head :) Welcome to Alaskan life!

Some of the furs hanging around at Fur Rondy.

Tony's new look :)

We also got to check out an AMAZING snow sculpture contest!! So cool. Check on Darth Vadar.

Can you believe that people can make this out of snow?! Better than any snowman I've ever made.

Iditarod 2013! Still one of my favorite things I've ever seen in Alaska. So lucky that I got to see it a second time!

Alaska Reindeer Sausage. That's right, we eat Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer up here. So good with mustard.

YUM! Come up to Alaska, visit me, and try one.

Just a little FaceTime with my nephew Brannon cakes.

Still snowy in March and April... it's true. 

Got to celebrate St. Patty's Day! It was a blast. Made some meat pasties, irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage.

Remembered my sweet Irish grandma, Catherine Eckert on St. Patty's Day.

Got the chance to go skiing!! There was so much powder it was amazing. Skiing is seriously one of my favorite things ever and a DEFINITE plus to living in Alaska.

Finally found a Mexican restaurant that meets up to my 23 years of Tex- Mex food standards. Texans take Mexican food very seriously.

Got to spend some time antiquing and I found this really cute redone chair. I love the idea of finding old furniture and painting it, sanding it, and making it more modern!

Loved this piece. Some inspiration for me when I am a future home owner. This cute shop in Wasilla, AK offered some wood painting classes. Definitely want to try it!

Had a wonderful Easter with the Luikens!! Made some cupcakes to celebrate Jesus :)

Loved getting to host a baby shower for our small group friends who are expecting, Ian and Cara Turner.

We can't wait for Baby Turner!

Baby Shower Fun.

Still snowy here! Trying to make it through these last snowy days and make it to beautiful summer here in Anchorage! Alaskans call this time "Break- Up" (the snow melts and it is all puddly here). I'm looking forward to my trip to Texas in May and to summer and having some visitors come up for the summer!

Happy Spring from Alaska and the Luikens! :)

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Fitness Friday: Week 15

This week I worked out twice and trained for my upcoming triathlon! On Wednesday, I saw 400 yards and then biked 8 miles. Today (Friday), I ran for 15 minutes (about 1.5 miles) and then swam for 200 yards (which is 4 lengths).

I am so happy to be training for this triathlon as it gives me something to propel me forward and motivate me to keep working out. Even though I only worked out twice, I am really motivated to keep training for our sprint triathlon. It will be on June 15! Yay.

My training schedule for this week is:
Saturday- Run for 20 min
Sunday- Bike for 8 miles
Monday- Rest
Tuesday- Swim 200 yards, Run 20 minutes
Wednesday- Run 6 miles
Thursday- Swim 300 yards, Run 30 minutes
Friday- Off

Here's to a new training week!

Just an update on how bible study is going: I have been doing my best to keep up with my readings. I just finished reading the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I definitely feel like my time in the gospels showed me a closer look at Jesus. It gave me a perspective of Jesus from so many different aspects. My prayer life has grown through bible study as well. My goal is to really make it a point to read every day.

Wishing you luck as you continue to reach for New Year's Resolutions or other goals! Pin It

Fitness Friday: Weeks 13 and 14

It's been a couple weeks since I have checked in! These last couple weeks I have worked out 4 times total. Last week, I ran on the treadmill and then I took a spinning class.

This week, I ran on the treadmill and went swimming.

In good news, I am so excited because Tony and I signed up for a triathlon (a spring triathlon) that will happen on June 15, 2013. It will be basically running 3 miles, biking 9 miles, and then swimming 8 lengths of the pool. The swimming part will be hard for me, but I am excited for the challenge.

I think having this goal to work towards will really motivate me to work out and be prepared for triathlon.

I'm excited and will keep you updated! Pin It