Running. Beauty. Lemon Cupcakes.

I miss running.  I feel like I haven't been on a run in forever.  The people in my life have got to see a difference - - I keep experiencing periods of time when I feel like I am stuck inside a bubble and I can't escape!  My Sciatic Nerve felt like it was pinched for a while but now I can finally walk without hurting.  So I jumped on the treadmill Friday and gave it a go.  I am sad to say this but I got to one mile...that's it.  I stopped before I felt excruciating pain.  Healing is taking place so I refuse to push it.  I want to get out there with my running group very soon.  My goal is to meetup with them on Saturday morning.  Before that, I will go on a test run midweek to see how I do.  Lord, be with me!  I have been burning enough calories on the stair-master.  Yes, I'm seeing improvements in certain areas but there is nothing like a brisk 6 mile run...nothing!

John got into town on Friday.  It's so great to have him home from Korea.  Friday night was a long one.  I have to say it is pretty entertaining being the sober one in the group.  Mom, Dad, John, and I just hung out and took a peek at some old pictures.  A lot of them where from my Navy days. Those made me sad.  I had no idea I looked so bad.  I was fat.  Plane and simple.  Saturday evening, John and I went out for dinner and he said the sweetest thing to me, "Sis, not many girls get hotter with age! So stop freaking out about what you USED to look like."  How awesome is that!!

Church this morning was great!  We are working through the book of James with the theme "Faith that SAVES you, CHANGES you."  James is a powerful book and the messages that my pastors deliver just hit you so hard.  They make me really take a deep look at how I am living my life.  I like to think I am living the way God has outlined for me but the world is cruel and full of temptations.  I have some people praying for me because I have certainly been a lot stronger lately. :)  Without God, without those prayers, without the accountability of my friends, I would end up traveling down the road I was taking about a year ago.  I want more for my life and I know only God is going to open those doors for me.  I think He was just waiting for me to straighten up. 

I haven't done a lot of cooking this weekend since John has been in town.  Last week was pretty hectic at school, too.  So, I will leave you with an awesome Lemon cupcake recipe that I found on vegweb.com.  It's so yummy!!!

Lemon Cupcakes 
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour 
    2 teaspoons arrowroot powder
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1 teaspoon cornstarch
    splash nondairy milk
    1/2 cup nondairy milk (I use soy)
    2 tablespoons applesauce
    1/2 to 1 teaspoon lemon zest
    5 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used sunflower)
    1 scant cup sugar (I used raw turbinado)
    1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a muffin pan by greasing or lining with muffin cups. Sift together flour, arrowroot, and baking soda.

2. In a measuring cup, mix the corn starch and a splash of milk, until smooth.  Add the 1/2 cup milk to measuring cup, along with the applesauce.  Add enough water to make 1 cup of liquid.  Sprinkle in the zest.

3. In another bowl, mix sugar and oil well. Gradually add your wet and dry ingredients to the sugar and oil mixture, mixing gently. 

4. Finally, add the lemon juice to the batter. Spoon into prepared cupcake tin.  Bake about 20-30 minutes, or until the cakes pass the clean-toothpick test.

Serves: 12, Preparation time: 10-15 minutes