10/10/10....Are you in?

http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1104489&pg=personal&fr_id=1180

That's right...I'm still crazy and some how thought it logical to run another marathon!

BUT THIS TIME I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

I'm running for World Vision. A great organization that provides clean drinking water to those in need in Africa:-)

Check out my World Vision homepage and please consider partnering with me in raising money!

I can't do this without you!

Silly girl antics:-)

So I have decided that I like being a silly girl...okay, I don't, but I am, so I'm embracing it!

Translation? Do you every get to that point in your life and think: "I've grown, I've matured, maybe I am finally learning to be wise?" ...then two seconds later you react like a 12 year old? No? Never? Guess I am alone then:-)

But maybe instead of freaking out and beating myself up I can take the opportunity to reflect...look at where God has changed my heart, take a breath, give Him back the burden I keep trying to steal, and trust Him.

Enough said.

So....in the end I am a silly girl. However, I have a great Father who is sovereign even when I am silly and loves throughout my silliness, transforming me along the way.

I embrace the crazy and I embrace my God. The end.

It's been awhile

Hello lovely friends,

It has been a while since I posted. Almost 6 months actually. There is no real reason for this besides laziness...though I am a current contributor to another blog: http://greenlightrevolution.blogspot.com/ Check it out some time.

But lately, I have been feeling apathetic and out of it. I want to rebuke that and get into the holiday spirit. Why? Because this is a time when we celebrate how the God of the Universe came on the ultimate cross-cultural mission trip and came as a baby to save us.

Christmas so often gets lost in the hype of presents and tradition that we forget to stop and think about the act of love and provision that all began with Christ being born.

So if you are like me, I challenge you to throw of skepticism, bad attitudes, hum-bug antics, and embrace the meaning of Christmas: give thanks and praise Jesus:-)

Merry Christmas!

Birthday, mayhem, and other shenanigans:-)

I love life.....never quite what you expect, but always an adventure and always surprising:-)

This is my first blog as a twenty-five year old and I have to say, not as scary as I first thought. I find myself full of anticipation and excitement for what the next year will bring! Again, I hope not necessarily what I expect, but to be surprised at every corner and enjoy the ride.

Birthday update: SERIOUSLY BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
-1st: surprised by amazing Hosier family with cake, dinner, and presents from the whole brood....made me want to cry I felt so loved
-2nd: Night at Duffy's with great friends, 80's rock...and crazy bike rides at 2 in the morning:-)(I love Jenna and Tim!!!!!!!)
-3rd: no picnic, but still fun times that I will always be thankful for

Thanks again for all the birthday love and memories...for those of you who weren't there, I still felt the b-day love, so thanks:-)

And on a marathon note...I have run THREE times this week! Mental block/Schmental block...I'm twenty-five, alive, and raring to go! Love you guys!!!!!!

Writing Exercise

Find a random sentence, take ten minutes and write a story including that sentence. Product below:

Drip, drip, drip…toes curled to the edge of the great abyss. Dampened towel, draped to a shivering body. Fear emanating out like water out of a flood gate. To the left and to the right hoards of rowdy patrons disturbed the once stillness of the surface skin. Cannonballs, swan dives, lappers, and hooligans pushed tidal waves over the hot cement. Determination and curiosity kept him there, but inexperience paralyzed him. However, a populated pool draws advanced counsel. Slightly older, slightly taller, just as scared, his brother boldly stepped towards the crisp aqua blue sloshing back and forth before him. With a turn and a smirk he hurled with uninhibited fiery. In the wake of crashing waves, the towel dropped, the toes released, and in newly found courage Little Tommy leaped towards the unknown.

Training Log: Week 2 - Mental Friggin Wall

I am realizing more and more my aptitude for complaining....I never thought I was a complainer...but if truth be told...I like to complain.

So this is it! My last rant and then I am going to suck it up and deal! There is only so much that can be put into fighting against your own body and mind before it is time to stop complaining and start doing....I think I was at that point two weeks ago...but like I said, I'm good at complaining and drawing out the self-pity for all long as possible...Last week I tried to run three times....no run lasted longer then a mile....I even got on my bike while my friend when for a run!....I have hit this wall and all of a sudden this little training glitch has turned into the Great Wall of China and every where I look I don't see solution...just more wall.

But again, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don't want to heap dung upon my funk but dig out of the hole one mile at a time and get back to where I used to be!.....but again...I just don't know how to break the self-indulgent cycle of self-deprecations and failure.

Today is a new day....today I try to run two miles....tomorrow...maybe three. Pray for me...I need it!....end of rant: new beginning!!!

Training Log: 12 Weeks to go...week 1 of training...again

Twelve Weeks to Marathon

Do or Die point

If you are going to run a marathon....you should give yourself AT LEAST twelve weeks to train.....it is time to step it up and start training...FOR REAL this time:-)

Update...training has been less then stellar, but like it states above, it is do or die time and I am choosing to DO!...I reconfigured my training schedule and I need to put away this silly mental block and hit the road. Pray for me! I need it! I want this season of training to teach me about perseverance, discipline, and striving towards a goal.....what I really need is someone to make sure I wake up at 6am to do my runs!!! (Anyone? Buller? Want to be my alarm clock???)

Other updates: Chicago summer...FANTASTIC! I love the lake, I love biking the city, I love the festivals, and I love hanging out with new friends! Such a blessing to see how my life has transformed in the past 12 months:-)

School update: I have applied fro grad school...I should find out in 4 weeks. Time to take advantage of the this season of life and get my masters.....I'm scared but excited and hope to grow a lot in my writing and maybe even get published!!!...we'll see

Last update: social...I'M GOING TO LONDON!!!!!! I found really cheap tickets for the first week in November and jumped all over them...you don't have to ask me twice:-)

.....not sure if anyone reads this blog....but for those of you who do, I appreciate it a lot....It makes me feel connected:-) I love you all, you are great!