home again

I made it back to California after yet another epic road trip, this time from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This trip was longer in duration than my last trip even though I drove less miles overall. Back in 2007, my purpose was to watch as many baseball games as I could while driving across in 13 days (I made it to 8 different stadiums). This time my purpose was to visit friends I had not seen for a long time due to living in Virginia for 3 years. Along with spending time with friends, I ran 3 state marathons and attended two weddings. The marathons I ran were quite small (South Dakota and Running with the Devil in Nevada) and I got first in my age group for those two. I was going to run the 50 miler in the desert, but Lazarus broke down on the way to the starting line and I missed the start so I ran just the marathon instead.

All of the material stuff filling my car and having it brake down in the middle of the desert made me glad that I would be riding my bike in Arizona for the coming year. Everything fit into Lazarus, I didn't need a moving truck, trailer or large vehicle. I prefer to live simply because I really don't need that much stuff and it begins to create clutter. I suppose it could be related to baggage in our lives, the emotional turmoil going on under the surface. The masks and faces that hide what we are truly feeling from one another. Only One knows exactly how we're feeling even if we try to hide it. He created us and wants us to allow Him to help us and confide in one another.

I am excited for Arizona. It does seem like it's looming in the near future for me. Less than 40 days until I set out to begin another season of life. I am a little concerned about feeling "stuck" in one place. I tend to travel excessively, whenever I have the time and the money, I'm off exploring more of God's creation. I will be able to get some more state marathons done, Nathan and I will be doing the Mount Lemmon marathon (the toughest road marathon in the world, the only uphill marathon in the United States) in Tucson, AZ and I'll be doing the San Antonio Marathon (rock 'n roll) in Texas when we go for a retreat there. I think I'll be fine as long as I keep God as my focus and continue to do my best living for Him, striving to be more like Jesus.

Please pray for the people who are currently in Tucson, those who are YAVs this year and those with whom they are interacting. Pray for the upcoming group of 6 (including myself) who will be there during the 2010-2011 YAV year. Pray for the people we will come across and pray that God will be in our midst, touching the lives of those around us as well as ours. I am hopeful. I am confident that God will continue to be the foundation in my life and nothing can move the Rock, the Staple, my Redeemer. I pray that others will notice that my faith and confidence is in my Lord and Savior and that I will be able to convey what they need to hear and that God will open their hearts to Him.

Thanks for joining me on my upcoming journey into the desert.

- run for life