Wow, I guess I stay busy so time seems to fly by. It's already the end of July. I'm packing up my stuff for both the Japan trip with my family and brother-in-law as well as my YAV year in Arizona. 12 hours after I land back on U.S. soil, I'll turn around and head to Knoxville, Tennessee. There I'll meet Nathan's parents while we're camping at Roan Mountain and head to New York for orientation for the mission trip. I'm hoping to don't forget too much. I figured I could just buy my liquid toiletries when I get to Arizona (shampoo, body soap, toothpaste, mouth wash, etc.) since I can't carry them on the plane. I am trying to fit everything into my tiny suitcase and backpack. With my sleeping bag taking up a lot of space, I'm not sure how that's going to work. I want to bring my guitar but I need to go to the store and get a hard case for it, otherwise I don't think it's going to make it.
I have procrastinated on my thank you post cards and making my e-mail list for updates, but that will be done tonight after I finish packing! So, be on the look out for some mail coming soon!
Keep praying, I can always use more. It'll be here and gone before you know it! God's got some great things in store for us all this year.
- run for life
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
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
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
Thursday, June 10, 2010
closing in
August 23 is fast approaching. I'm currently taking my time as I drive across the country to stop and chill with friends, run marathons, go to friends weddings, and watch baseball games. I am both excited for the year in Arizona and a little hesitant. I've been away from the west coast for 3 years and was supposed to come back home this year. I know my friends will understand and of course still be there for me when I do finally move back to the great state of California.
I think this will be a nice break from my hectic lifestyle of working full time at the hospital, part time at the gym and doing my master's degree full time while still traveling like a mad woman. I'm surprised my grades were still as high as they were when I was off in another state every other weekend over the past two years.
I'm looking forward to getting back in shape and living a more simplistic lifestyle. I can't wait to ride my bike instead of drive everywhere (like I did while in college in San Luis Obispo), fighting off sleep and falling asleep at the wheel even on the short drives to and from work (40-45 minutes in Virginia). I love cooking and I'll have ample opportunities in Arizona to do so and since I'll be at the food bank and farmer's market as part of my job, I will be able to help guide others toward living a healthier lifestyle as well. I'm excited at the prospect of living out my faith and sharing it with those around me through my actions and having people alongside me doing the same thing.
Honestly, I'm a little concerned about keeping relationships strong and I am praying that even with distance, that God will keep us close. He has helped me over the past three years and my best friends who were over three thousand miles away are still my best friends even though we only got to hang out once or twice a year. True friends are hard to come by! I've learned that once I find them, I should hold on tight.
God please help me to be the woman that You created me to be. To continue to be a relational person and keep in close contact with those who are important to me. Please help me to do Your will and to share Your word and the joy that You have given me with those around me now and in the future. Thank You for everything that You have given me, especially for my friends and family. I know that everything will work for Your glory for those who love You and thus, my life will glorify You. I keep my eyes focused on You as I head into this new season of life.
-run for life
I think this will be a nice break from my hectic lifestyle of working full time at the hospital, part time at the gym and doing my master's degree full time while still traveling like a mad woman. I'm surprised my grades were still as high as they were when I was off in another state every other weekend over the past two years.
I'm looking forward to getting back in shape and living a more simplistic lifestyle. I can't wait to ride my bike instead of drive everywhere (like I did while in college in San Luis Obispo), fighting off sleep and falling asleep at the wheel even on the short drives to and from work (40-45 minutes in Virginia). I love cooking and I'll have ample opportunities in Arizona to do so and since I'll be at the food bank and farmer's market as part of my job, I will be able to help guide others toward living a healthier lifestyle as well. I'm excited at the prospect of living out my faith and sharing it with those around me through my actions and having people alongside me doing the same thing.
Honestly, I'm a little concerned about keeping relationships strong and I am praying that even with distance, that God will keep us close. He has helped me over the past three years and my best friends who were over three thousand miles away are still my best friends even though we only got to hang out once or twice a year. True friends are hard to come by! I've learned that once I find them, I should hold on tight.
God please help me to be the woman that You created me to be. To continue to be a relational person and keep in close contact with those who are important to me. Please help me to do Your will and to share Your word and the joy that You have given me with those around me now and in the future. Thank You for everything that You have given me, especially for my friends and family. I know that everything will work for Your glory for those who love You and thus, my life will glorify You. I keep my eyes focused on You as I head into this new season of life.
-run for life
Monday, April 19, 2010
Support Flyer
I finished my support flyer! I also wrote my letter and am collecting addresses. I like snail mail and although I could send out my letters via e-mail, I think I will most likely send out most of them via the good old United States Postal Service. I feel like it's a little more personal that way. More to do, but it's getting done! One step at a time.
- run for life
Saturday, April 17, 2010
raising support
I never liked "asking for money" or "raising support" when doing mission trips, but it is a necessity. I'm trying to view it more along the lines of allowing others to participate in my mission with me. I began to write my letter and put everything together today after work. There is a lot to get done just to send out these letters! I need to buy envelopes and get more stamps too. I forgot how much work there was before even going on the trip. I've been praying about who and where to send letters. I know God will provide and I will be taken care of. It's always interesting to see how God will answer our prayers though.
Well, I have to work tomorrow so I should get some sleep. I officially graduate next Saturday from Northeastern, but I'll be in Louisville, KY to run my 12th state (plus DC) marathon/ultra. Good night!
- run for life
Well, I have to work tomorrow so I should get some sleep. I officially graduate next Saturday from Northeastern, but I'll be in Louisville, KY to run my 12th state (plus DC) marathon/ultra. Good night!
- run for life
Friday, April 2, 2010
acceptance of appointment
Today was a big day. I feel at peace with where God is leading me. Not only was it my final day of winter quarter at Northeastern University, but this quarter is my final quarter of my Master of Science degree in Applied Nutrition with a concentration of Nutrition & Fitness. Relief washed over me when I turned in my final paper last night. It hasn't quite hit me that I'm not longer a student. I've been a student since I was 4 (preschool) and I'm 57 days from 27! (I'm only counting down the days till my birthday because that is the last day that I'll be working here at Southside in Virginia, after work I'll be heading out to Ohio to visit Jecca and Dan and begin my 2nd cross contry road trip back home.) I'm looking forward to Monday: my first week day as a non-student since I was 4! Some of the girls at work and I are going out to the Phoenician for dinner after work to celebrate.
Another reason today was a big day: I accepted the appointment with the Presbyterian Church USA with for the position of Young Adult Volunteer in Tucson, Arizona. I'm very excited. I'll write more later when I'm not so congested and tired. Allergies here are back with a vengeance after the snow and cold winter. I'll try to keep everyone updated and I need to start working on raising support!
- run for life
Another reason today was a big day: I accepted the appointment with the Presbyterian Church USA with for the position of Young Adult Volunteer in Tucson, Arizona. I'm very excited. I'll write more later when I'm not so congested and tired. Allergies here are back with a vengeance after the snow and cold winter. I'll try to keep everyone updated and I need to start working on raising support!
- run for life
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)