Charlie Rose

It's dark and raining, today. My heart is a little sad.

While planning goals that would serve as a map for my new year, I did not intend to start it with an emotional blog post.

My husband and I attended a funeral, this afternoon.

Charlie Rose: Lifelong farmer, deer hunter and fisherman. My down-the-road neighbor. His hayfield lays out across the country road from my century old farmhouse. He waved from his tractor or silver truck every time he spotted me outside. I bought sweet potatoes from him on my front porch. We alerted him when rascally kids went 4-wheeling through his field at night. A little socially awkward, he thrust his arm in front of me so I could touch where that prize winning pig had left a tooth! I imagine he would lend his help if ever we would've called. But, we did not. We would've been there for him, if he would've called. But, he did not.

Now, many in this farming countryside ask that all too often unanswered question, "Why?"

Hopeless despair is a dark prison isolating its captives while the key is in their pocket. 

Perhaps, the new mommy can't place a finger on why she's so blue. That big guy may be too embarrassed about his emotions. Maybe, it's a new season in one's life where he or she feels lost and no longer needed. There are people who suffer clinical imbalance, temporary or long-term, requiring the intervention of a qualified counselor. There's nothing wrong with that. With the grey, shorter days of winter settling in, many battle seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The despairing smile to our faces and wave from their tractors, but go home and close the door to their prison cell.

Do this one thing: Check on your neighbors. The dumb thing to say is "I don't know them," and do nothing. You -and I- may be a ray of hope piercing their darkness while there's still time.

The Dessert Menu: (suggested books and media)
God Will Make a Way by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Website: https://store.cloudtownsend.com/special-interests.html

#31DaysofSkirtSports Week 1

Why YES, I AM a Skirt Sports Ambassador Captain! Earlier, this year, I was selected to represent this company because I believe in their mission and their products! While Skirt Sports offers shorts and capris for the real women, it's the skirt that drew me in to "Convert to Skirt." I love the compression gear underneath the skirt, which keeps the jiggly from being all wiggly! And, at age 52, I require coverage -- 
cover-age! (I'll leave that one, right there)

Skirt Sports converts, everywhere, are getting in on July's #31DaysofSkirtSports. Let me take you through my first 7 days via my social media accounts...

Day 1. TGIF - Freshly laundered Skirt Sports because #realwomenmove in the Tennessee sunshine!

(Some of my Skirt Sports swag. The grey visor is a BOCO visor for Skirt Sports with a headband at the front to soak up sweat.)

I suggest drip drying your tech gear, but you can always toss it in the dryer on low.

Day 2. Nourish with GOOD FOOD, errday!

(Wearing Happy Girl skirt, colorful Tantrum print)

If you find something you're interested in on the SkirtSports.com website, be sure to enter COP20 at checkout for a 20% discount!

Day 3. A long weekend to run and watch Shark Week shows is like a mini VACATION!

(Skirts Sports Ambassador Trucker Cap - totally free when you become an ambassador! How cool is that?)

Day 4. Feelin' PATRIOTIC, but not skilled at cornhole on Fort Loudon Lake!

Fitness apparel is for any day, not just for fitness activities.

(Wearing Happy Girl, the monochromatic gray Gotham print)

Enter COP20 at checkout for a 20% discount! And, if it's not your thang, the friendly folks in customer service can help you return your purchase.

Day 5. A little TRAILHEAD at Cove Lake State Park of LaFollette, in the Cumberland Mountains of East Tennessee with our little Zuzu the Shihtzu!

Pictured is my wonderful and supportive hubby who says, "I've been chasing your skirt for years!" 

I'm ok with that!

Day 6. After a day of leading REFIT® fitness classes, foam rolling is tonight's hurt-so-good RECOVERY tool on tight calves and sore glutes. 

#stay dry #alldaylong because #realwomenmove 

(Wearing Happy Girl skirt, Tantrum print)

Day 7. Isolate other muscle groups for whole body fitness  = CrossTrain‬‪

Runners tend to focus on strengthening the legs when all over conditioning makes for a stronger runner. I targeted my core, this evening, doing mountain climbers, planks, sit ups, roll ups, crunches, and this modified version of mountain climber.
TIP: My wrists don't have a full range of motion, so I elevate using weights when holding a plank or doing mountain climbers.

(Wearing my Skirt Sports Ambassador swag a.k.a online as the "Don't Sweat It Long Sleeve" which is soft as buttaaaahh!)

Totally authorized to extend to you a 20% discount by entering COP20 at checkout, at least through December 2016!

Follow the Red Blaze

Before Easter weekend, winter's grip was released on a lovely sunny day. With just a few fluffy clouds on a backdrop of blue, I laced on my running shoes to nab a few miles and capture sunshine on my shoulders. "Siri" led me to the south of Murfreesboro (outside of Nashville), Tennessee. Off I-24 is a great little part-suburban park known as Barfield Crescent Park which seems to have two sections: Community ball and Frisbee parks and the hiking & picnic area. For the nature lover, there are roughly 7 miles of trails -some paved and unpaved- from the Volunteer Road parking lot.

At the Wilderness Station, I inquired of the 3 mile loop. A complimentary map was given with the instruction to "Follow the Red Blaze" marking my route. Easy enough. Off I went for my trail run over rocks and roots and foot bridges, up and down to the river, traversing my way along an old rock fence and past chattering families enjoying the trails. 

It did not occur to me until I saw the photos from my trek as to the spiritual symbolism of my instruction to "Follow the Red Blaze." C'mon, work with me...I can make most anything a teaching point for God!

Jesus willingly laid down His life and shed His life's blood on the cross as a blaze marking my way of redemption to God! He rose to life taking the keys of sickness and the grave and hell with Him. Death couldn't hold Him! He said that I could have a life free of bondage and have eternal life with God the Father when I ask Him to forgive my sins and choose to live my life loving and following His instructions...and you can, too! Just "Follow the Red Blaze."

For God so loved the World 

that He gave His only Son.

Whoever believes in Him will not die,

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart

that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God

and it is by openly declaring your faith

that you are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Romans 10:13

First Snow

Chasing the sunrise or the sunset or the Super Moon have been part of our travels and some our runs in 2014. This time, I chased the first snowfall of the season in Tennessee on October 31!


Living in the burbs of Nashville, I had not given it much thought when the weather gurus were predicting snow for the higher elevations of our state. However, with my work caught up, hubby in India and a free weekend, the thought tickled my fancy and I quickly posted an invitation on social media. Several friends were too busy, some considered it a joke and others thought it to be a crazy idea. 

"Where will you sleep?" 
"In the back of my fake SUV."
"When will you be back?" 
"Sunday."
"Are you going alone?" 
"No. I'll have my vicious Shih Tzu."

That evening Zuzu and I blazed a trail eastward down the interstate toward the Great Smoky Mountains and encountered the first flakes mixed with rain on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville! It was getting late. No time to stop.



Taking the national park bypass around Gatlinburg, the road climbs and is where the rain flipped and the flakes gathered! By the time we reached Elkmont Campground at midnight, there were 3 inches of the fluffy stuff on all surfaces! 

Throughout the night the river behind our campsite could be heard along with the wind howling through the trees and my puppy snoring under the wool blanket. We were comfortable... until a loud ruckus too close outside startled us awake. Black bear? Holding my breath I listened. Hearing nothing else other than the river and the wind, we drifted back to sleep.

November 1. The sounds of other snowchasers waking and making breakfast were too exciting for me to remain in the warmth of my sleeping bag, any longer! Only brightness was filtering through the windows. Quickly I jumped into my hikers, leashed Zuzu and opened the door. Oh my goodness! 



The winter storm had veered off the predicted North Carolina course and came right over our side of the mountains. Elkmont was blanketed in 9 inches of heavy snow and with the weight of it, a huge tree branch had fallen barely missing the front of the SUV! Park rangers clearing the fallen trees said Clingman's Dome (Tennessee's highest point) had received double-digit inches with hikers taking refuge at the primitive lodge at LeConte.


After my breakfast and a walk-around, fellow campers helped to remove the tree branch blocking my passage while others were gathering groups to go hiking to the abandoned homesteads. We had all come hoping to catch the first snowfall and did! Some had braved the night in tents!

Plans to stay one more night were halted when the park rangers announced the mandatory evacuation due to another storm approaching. I didn't mind, because I had chased and caught the first snow of the season in my mountains!

FITober 2014

I have known people who pine over their youth when turning 50. Not me! I decided before the half-century event to tackle...well, whatever needed tackling! It just happened that a couple of major fitness events happened in October, thus FITober!

In June, the hubby and I signed up for The Middle Half, the half marathon of Middle Tennessee, touted to be flat and fast for runners. We trained throughout the humid months of summer in the South when the air seemed as thick as lotion. When traveling, we even got in a few enjoyable runs in the dry, hot West.

Early on October 11th, my hubby and I joined over 3000 other runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes to claim 13.1 miles in support of local charities. The weather was cool with a heavy mist. Perfect for a slow shuffler-runner like me. I kicked-in to intervals after the first 5 miles.

My first goal was to finish before the time clock turned to 3 hours. My second goal? To stay ahead of the "sweeper" truck picking up the stragglers before the road opened to traffic. It was a great experience running with the pack that moved and talked and laughed, together.

Hubby finished at 2:34:41 and waited for me hollering as I crossed the finish line at 2:51:01! YES! Both goals tackled! It was the hardest thing I've ever done.

The group from Life Assembly
Church in Mt. Juliet, TN

Jani & hubby, Peter, met us at
finish line with balloons!

The following weekend I used some United Airlines miles to get myself up to Minneapolis to take part in the REFIT® Revolution Master Class and Instructor Training, "a positive movement inspired by faith and powered by community!"

Thanks to REFIT Founders,
Catherine & Angela!

REFIT® is a "revolu-tionary cardio dance program that engages the whole person -- body, mind and soul." During my (and hubby's) new, two year lifestyle of fitness and nutrition, I had been talking about having a fit body, a fit mind and a fit spirit, but had not known that was the strategic vision of REFIT®!  It was at the conclusion of the Master Class on Friday evening there was a difference in the atmosphere and I knew this to be a perfect fit for me!

What a great weekend with other fitness revolutionaries as we became the next batch of certified instructors!  I'm embarrassed to admit in my enthusiasm I proclaimed myself as the first Tennessee instructor. I, now, seriously doubt that claim. I'm a goof...but a fit goof!

I raise my goblet of green smoothie and toast to a great year to be 50...with silver strands in my hair... and a wonderful FITober, tackled!

Sam's Middle Half

Back in June a couple of weeks prior to my 50th birthday, my hubby and I joined the limited registrants for the Murfreesboro Half Marathon commonly referred to as "The Middle Half." It's a fast, flat course everyone says is great for newbie HMers and helps their PRs/PBs (personal record or personal best) sparkle.

Today marks 70 days until the gun starts the race on October 11. I'm feeling anxious. 

As of this writing, the farthest I've gone using intervals (running with walking intervals) is 8 miles. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. So far, my training has been casual, but it's time to focus. I've never done anything like this. And, already it's pushing me waaaay beyond my comfort zone. Did I mention I'm feeling anxious? I'm gonna be straight up with ya... I need help!

I have 2 requests:

1. Follow me on Twitter at @SamaleeAllen or on Instagram at @samaleerose.
2. Daily/Weekly/Sporadically send some motivation or a swift kick-in-the-pants my way using the hashtag, #SamsMiddleHalf.

That's it! I plan to live my training socially out loud to hold myself accountable which will serve, also, as a strong motivator. Your digital cheers will mean a great deal to me. Thanks, in advance for your support!

<inhale> Ok. Here we go! <exhale>

Blueberries and Rett Syndrome

Just over the Cumberland River Bridge into Trousdale County is Kelley's Berry Farm offering freshly picked strawberries, blackberries and blueberries while the season lasts. However, the real fun is to pick the berries, yourself or with friends!

A camera-shy Tabby

I got to hang out picking blueberries with a couple of Tennessee southern
sweethearts, today, for a little while before the heat sent us looking for relief. It was a berry happy birthday for my friend, Curry W., who was looking to do something different for her special week. When I suggested blueberry pickin', she decided to bring along her charge for the day, Tabby!

Tabby is an adult with Rett Syndrome. This disease is a rare genetic disorder occurring most exclusively in girls during childhood slowly taking
over their bodies. Because the onset is later, the girls experience the frustration of not being able to do the things they were previously capable of as they lose their voice and control of motor skills. Other characteristics of Rett are seizures, brain size being up to 30% smaller, swallowing difficulties,
scoliosis and lack of mobility.

Curry is amazing! She lifted Tabby out of the car and into her lightweight wheelchair and hauled all the gear to make Tabby comfortable. To be straight up, I was concerned Tabby's wheelchair was not going to be able to get her to the blueberry field due to the thin wheels burying up in the sandy, loose soil. But, Curry jiggled the chair, popped a wheelie --a very small wheelie-- and off we went!

Blueberry pickin' is fun and tasty and easy to have good conversation over the row of bushes laden with hundreds of berries. Curry mentioned she wishes for Tabby to have a running wheelchair like Team Hoyt, the father who pushes his adult son in a special wheelchair in marathons and triathlons.

We picked our fill and grazed our way back to shade and our cars! Not sure how, but I hope Curry's birthday wish for Tabby comes true!

Our Young SHEro

If ever the world was desperate for a super hero, today is ripe. And, I know one. A super SHEro named Haven! 

Even her name sounds like she'd fit into Marvel Comics' band of X-Men! When I tell you what feat this one accomplished, you'll agree Tennessee is home to our own heroine.

Christmas 2012, my hubby and I were asked to present Calcutta Mercy Ministries during a missions fair at Hope Assembly of God in Fayetteville, where Haven's parents, Ben and Tammy Johnson pastor. Ethnic foods were prepared and missionaries from around the globe were featured. Financial commitments were prayed about to support these missions. Such a great night for adults! 

me. Ben. Terry. & Tammy!

Quietly in the room, a young heart was moved by what was heard and seen on the video. Children of all ages in Calcutta, India, receiving a meal each day, 6 days a week, each month of each year. Hundreds of babies born, sometimes abandoned due to social and religious superstition, with cleft palates and cleft lips. Quietly in the room, the heart of a SHEro was beating in rhythm with the Father's heart.

But what can a young girl do?

Mariah had us celebrating
with dessert before dinner! (as it should be)

Haven decided to raise funds by asking people to match each basket she scored during eleven games with $1. One basket = One dollar or whatever a person could donate. She gathered sponsors and created a poster tracking her progress. By the end of the season, Haven had scored more than 100 points!

We met the Johnson Family for GiGi's Cupcakes and a celebration dinner (in that order)! Then, it was the check presentation time. Haven had raised $646! 

She raised enough money to pay for one child to have cleft palate/lip surgery and speech therapy rescuing and sheltering that child from a life of misery and alienation. Additionally, this preacher's kid had raised enough money providing approximately 1,800 meals! 

Haven Johnson is a SHEro to people she may never meet in Calcutta. Haven Johnson is my SHEro. 

Next time, you're overwhelmed with the desperate needs of the world, think of young Haven and her willingness to align her abilities with the mission of the Creator of the universe.

2-on-Tuesday: Candied Jalapeno Spread

WARNING: This is a slightly addictive and delicious detour from my mostly-plant-based nutrition. But, hey, it's football season!

This time last year, I was all about celebrating Saturdays with football fare which included meat! Ten months down the field of greens and veggies and seitan (sounds like "say-tan" not satan) AND down almost 100 points on my cholesterol, I find myself missing some of my old standards during this season. I'm determined to stay the course of my lifestyle change pursuing fitness and adhering to a mostly-plant-based nutrition with a spread from my favorite foodie gift store in Tennessee: Simonton's Cheese & Gourmet House!

Candied Jalapeno Spread

1 jar Candied Jalapenos (I used about 2/3 cup)
1 block Cream Cheese, softened

• Into my food processor, I spooned Simonton's Candied Jalapenos and the softened block of cream cheese and pulsed to chop and blend the two ingredients.
• Quick taste-check to see if more jalapenos were needed.
• Used a rubber spatula to get every creamy schmear of sweet-heat into another container and pop into the fridge to chill until ready to serve on crackers!
• Could not wait.
• Spread some on a couple of those crackers and smiled!

Jim & Sheila will be glad to send you some a jar and their award winning cheddar, too! Whenever my hubby and I can scoot down the interstate to Crossville, we drive southward on Highway 127 into the Historic Homesteads for several blocks of red rind and black rind cheeses, help ourselves to the samples and Sheila knows to include a square of Country Fresh Chocolate Cheesecake Fudge for the road!

Book Review: LIFE EQUITY by U. S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn

Life Equity
by Marsha Blackburn
Thomas Nelson, 2008

The life you've led

has prepared you for the life 

you dream of.

When I saw the title, I knew I'd love this book. We are born with innate strengths, talents, preferences. College may be a memory or a longing. As we weave our way through life, we begin to develop skill sets. Never before in time have we seen women move forward in fields of public leadership. Did they start out with that goal in mind?

With the foreword by Amy Grant, this book contains stories of young women starting out and women who worked in a specific field only to go back to school and redirect their lives when many would retire.

Strengths + Passions + Experience = Life Equity

• How do I make a difference?
• Do I have what it takes?
• When the children are out of the nest, what then?
• Do I have dreams, yet, unfulfilled? 
• Why do I undervalue myself?

This is one of those inspirational books which challenges you to take inventory and pursue your passions!

Rep. Marsha Blackburn is the U. S. Congressman for Seventh District of Tennessee. Most recently she was honored with co-chairing the Republican Party's Platform Committee and was our state's only elected speaking at the Republican National Convention in August.

"Calcutta Village Feeding" in Decaturville, TN!

In 1954, Mark & Huldah Buntain and one year old baby, Bonnie, steamshipped to India, thinking they would give one year of their lives until the real missionaries would show up allowing them to pursue a post in China. Soon after arriving in Calcutta, they discovered the deplorable conditions and severe poverty which forces millions of men, women and children to pick through dumps and slums for their next bite of food. Mark knew he must start a feeding ministry. 

Today, Calcutta Mercy Ministries feeds 25,000 people six days of every week! I have a feeling that number receiving one modest meal of rice and Dal is conservative. 

Last Wednesday, Scottie & Stephanie Adams - Youth Pastors of Trinity AG in Decaturville, Tennessee, hosted a simulated village feeding in their student ministry service! I prepared a huge pot of basic Dahl to be dished out to each student with special instructions to eat using only their right hand. Terry shared stories and videos of Calcutta. At the conclusion, Scottie challenged those 30 students to fast for 1 day while raising $1650 which will feed 25,000 people in Calcutta for 1 day.

For 24 hours starting Wednesday, November 14, at 7pm, the students, their youth pastor and leaders have chosen to refrain from eating and raise $3300 to cover 2 days of feeding 25,000+ adults and children in villages, schools, dumps and clinics! 

Scottie explains why he and the students will fast:

God's word tells us in Isaiah 58:6-7 that a fast that God accepts is one that loosens the yoke of wickedness and shares bread with the hungry. I read in a John Piper book that if you ate 1 meal today and own a car you are one of the richest people on the planet. We eat 3 meals and have 2 cars so we are already blessed beyond measure. God has dealt with my heart to show me that as an American there is not much reason for me to ever ask for more materially, but it is my goal to MAKE MORE GOSPEL in the world with what God has given me. If we love mercy then we will make more of it, and that is what this fast is about. In Calcutta, people are like the slave girl in Acts 16. Her future is lead by other evil people and she is tormented by demons. Our fast can break those bonds through prayer and giving of the money that we all have so much of already. My prayer in life is becoming more and more not that I will be leader of this or executive that (which is where my heart was a few years ago) but that when I die there will be more mercy in the world and less lost people. I get my students on board with this by reminding them of 3 things. 3 reasons why we fast: 1.) Jesus loves Calcutta, and His blood is for them. 2.) Jesus deserves worshippers all over the world. He emptied himself for us (Philippians 2) so the only proper response is that we do it back. The Moravians said as they sold themselves into slavery to reach people "Let the lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering". The very lifeblood of the Christian life Jesus! 3.) Jesus suffers to identify with and reach those who suffer. We are like Jesus when we sacrifice to bless others. On the cross, Jesus is in darkness in the middle of the day for 3 hours. This is a powerful way of showing that He enters our darkness, our isolation, our hopelessness to have us. We want the people of Calcutta to find Jesus in a dark place, because those are places where Jesus goes. We know it because of the cross. I don't drive them with condemnation (you spoiled brats!), I pray that they are compelled by grace (look at Jesus!). 

Terry and I believe in you and plan to join your fast!

If this sounds like something you'd like to be part of, please contact me for additional info. Your group could host a village feeding night, too!

~"Sam"

...And a Fun Time was had by All!

For the first time in 11 years, my honey and I were able to take a vacation in the summer!
What do we do? Schedule separate vacations!

"Thunder Calves" & "Shuffle"

The past 11 sets of summer months have been chocked full of student camps, kids camps, retreats and fine arts festivals. I didn't complain, because we knew what we were called to do and feel blessed beyond all imagination to have done it! So, when the opportunity for vacation presented itself, we opted for opposite destinations!

On Father's Day, Terry and Dane ("Thunder Calves" & "Shuffle") joined our pastor, his two older sons, another father-son dynamic duo and "Tumnus" Winfree with 30 lb packs on their backs to hike 35 miles in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

#ManHike2012

#ManHike was the Twitter hashtag as they hoofed several scenic, monster trails and part of the A.T. -- that's the Appalachian Trail to the rest of us.

My SugarBear @ Sunset

Some of their stories are still leaking out. I've seen a strengthening of the special connection between my two guys. I love they got this summer vacation, together!

My Guys in the Smokies

Traveling YaYas

Birthday Pearls & Popcorn Tops

That same weekend, I flew down I-40, nabbed my mom in Arkansas and continued chasing the sun westward until an Oklahoma State Trooper stopped to wish us a safe vacation. He was so kind to point out the highway construction zone and shiny, new, speed limit signs to us. The next morning my mom, my mom-in-law, sis-in-law and I took to the road bright and early bent on reaching Taos, New Mexico, before sundown. 

I got my SNOW!

Sis-in-Law got her Waterfalls!

Men were banned from this trip; therefore, we decided to eat picnics wherever and whenever AND potty breaks would not involve a tree line. We were on a Mother-Daughter whirlwind vacation!

Mom & I rafted the Rio Grande River!

While the #ManHike involved sleeping in bags and hammocks, ours involved sleeping with pretty quilts and fluffy pillows!  While the #ManHike traversed the mountains by foot, ours traversed the mountains by quadruped!
The guys earned their trail names, as well as, much needed showers! The girls earned our "Cram-In-as-Much-as-You-Can-in-a-Day" & "Might-as-Well-Ain't-Gettin'-Younger" badges!


...and a fun time was had by all!


P. S.  I did NOT get a ticket! And, I ate Rattlesnake & Rabbit Sausage for my birthday! That's NOT what the 2-on-Tuesday Recipe will be at 2pm, today.