Christmas comes and goes...

My favorite holiday all year long is Christmas Eve. There's excitement in the atmosphere. The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has finally settled down. All the presents have been bought and it's time to spend time with your family. Snuggled around the fire place, or the very least the Christmas tree watching one last Christmas movie before they stop running on tv. It's my favorite because everything is calm and everyone remembers the true meaning of Christmas. We have a tradition at my mom's house where we get to open one Christmas present on Christmas Eve. Usually it's Christmas Pajamas, this year it was a calendar (which I love because it's a running calendar!!). Riley got a kitten - which we all adore very much.

And the next morning is euphoria for every little kid that ever dreamt of Santa. After a mass of presents and an adrenaline rush one that's almost as good from running - the calm hits again. This time though it's different. Disappointment fills the air. The fun has come and gone. There are tons of presents and lots of smiles to show for it - but there's a void and almost a depressing feeling that comes from this beautiful and forgotten holiday.

The beauty of it is, that among all of the disappointment, lies something greater that cannot be taken away. The birth of Christ which leads into our salvation - truly the greatest Christmas gift ever given. So even though Christmas comes and goes, we have the comfort of knowing that Christ lives in us and with us forever.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Ready to Go

I'll admit, last night was a little scary. The past few days have been fine. Ashley and Whitney left on Thursday so it's just been Me and Morgan hanging out and trying to stay safe. Thursday Audrey and Joanna came over and we had a slumber party so that was pretty distracting. Friday night everyone came into town for graduation, so there were a lot of cars and people which actually made me feel pretty safe. But then last night...Oh last night was sketch. I got back from Joanna's house around 10 or so and when I pulled on to the main road (Bradley Drive) by my apt, this car started to follow me. I had parked my car in front of the townhouse but I didn't get out. The went by really slowly and then circled around again. Chances are they were probably trying to find someone's apartment, but it was just so creepy. Especially since it was kind of deserted in HR last night.

Anyways, I got up at 5:30 this morning so I could have my quiet time and now I'm pretty much just waiting for a little more light outside before I can go on my run. I was going to run 7 miles today, but I still have to pack my car and shower before church at 9:30 so it looks like a 5 mile day. Hopefully over the break I'll up some more mileage. I might even try to get Tina to run with me. We'll see.

All in all, I survived last night, but I probably woke up about 6-8 times during the night because of little noises here or there. How long til I move out???

A typical night in the Ridge

All alone in the house,
girls lay in their beds,
scared out of their minds,
bad dreams in their heads

Car engines fire,
and some people chatter,
the cops pull up
and the scary ones scatter

The doors are all locked,
the windows sealed tight,
darkness fills the room,
no room for the light

Their tvs are on,
to mask all the noise,
of footsteps crunching,
from ghetto gangster boys

You gather your courage,
as you sit in the car,
from front seat to door,
it seems pretty far

Have your keys ready,
and make like a flash,
go as fast as you can,
like the 50 yard dash

A rustle breaks out,
and blue lights surround,
someone's been shot,
it's now going down

You'd think that a gun fight,
or even a quarrel,
would be far from the minds,
of grad student girls

But they live in the ghetto,
and it's not always safe,
carry a small knife,
or carry some mace

You never know,
what the breeze will say,
if you wanna see daylight,
better stop and pray

The end is near...

...or not.

Let's face. Every final week is stressful, full of projects, final exams, 20 page essays...why should this week be any different?? It's not, except for the fact that I'm starting to lose my sanity. Monday was exam #1 which did not go so well even though I felt generally prepared for it. Today was round 2 and 3. Yes, two exams, back to back. Grueling, grueling, grueling. Not only was our evidence based practice exam hard, but it contained so much information that wasn't even covered in class. Fun. My pediatric exam at least contained terms and principles of which I had heard before, despite that it was about 10 pages of short answer questions.

Lucky me, the fun continues tomorrow for my last and hardest exam of the semester. It's also worth 25%. And have I started studying for it yet?? Of course not. Poor planning? Maybe. But thus far in the semester I've done a great job of balancing school work, my spiritual life, and working out. All in all, I actually have a really awesome grade in the class I just hope one test that I may or may not do poorly on doesn't reflect the effort I've put into the class.

The sucky thing is, the exam is not until 5PM tomorrow night. While this is good for my studying efforts, not so good since I'll be tired and probably worn out. There is a special service at church tomorrow night which I am really looking forward to.

On another note, I've been running quite a bit this week which makes me feel awesome. Each day I run up this gigantic hill at the end of my run. Any and each time I do it, it's a struggle. But I'm learning to look for the positive in things. And there are some even in running

I have to look at every hill as an opportunity: an opportunity to pass the next person, an opportunity to challenge myself, an opportunity to become something better than what I am. Because if you never look for the good in things, you'll never find it.

Something that God's teaching me

One of the coolest things that God is teaching me is that you can find God anywhere you look for Him.

For example, call it far-fetched but there is a parallel between following Christ and running. Both require sacrifice and discipline. In running, I have to sacrifice my time (especially on long runs), my money, my sleep, and even my body (the lost toenails, the sore knees, and the tendinitis). I have to be disciplined and make myself run even on the days when I all I want to do is stay in bed and sleep. But it's my love for running and crossing the finish line that gets me passed the sacrifices and the discipline. Following Christ also requires sacrifice. I must sacrifice trying to be in control, doing things my own way, and living in worldly ways. It too, requires discipline. Having a personal relationship sounds easy, but sitting down each day, really looking at the Bible and what it has to offer, and then applying to my life, is difficult. I'm the only one who is control of disciplining myself to make sure it happens. It's a difficult skill to learn, even harder to teach.

Like running, following Christ means submitting yourself to something or someone else so that you can be better than what you are.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus... -Hebrews 12:1-2

A revelation: the difference between a good day and a great day

A good day used to be a day where I got enough sleep, worked out hard, lost a pound or two, enjoyed coffee, friends, class went relatively fast, went for a run, read a good book, was productive, etc. A great day looks relatively the same with one main difference. A great day is when I get to read my bible and spend time with Jesus. All of these other things may or may not happen, but spending time with Him is the key part of my day.

I've been devoted to spending some time each day learning about God's truth and it has made a huge difference in my life. I actually love spending time reading my bible, I find myself with a more positive and encouraging attitude, I make an effort to be more generous, I am willing to serve in ways that I hadn't been interested in before. I try to have my quiet time in the morning before class. And I can definitely tell a difference in my actions and words if I wait until the evening to do it.

Right now, I'm still learning about being content in God and letting Him fill in all the blanks. I'll admit that it's not always easy to sit patiently. But I know how worth it will be when I see His plans unfold for my life. The coolest thing for me is that I've never been as content and satisfied with my life as I am now. I know this comes only from the peace that God gives, but it truly is life changing. I know I don't have to look back on my life and regret where I've been, because I know that God has forgiven me. But it is really cool to look back and see the drastic difference of where I was and where God is leading me.

Sometimes all I want is a good cry

Lately I find that I have the ability to cry on demand. It just so happens, I'm not the one who's commanding it. In the past few weeks or so, I've cried at church during the service, during my quiet time, in class, at my fieldwork, at home, in my car...you get the picture. I wouldn't say that I'm an overly sensitive person because, like most girls do, I have the ability to decompress my feelings to the point of a breakdown. An occassional comment or sappy movie does catch me off my game. But lately, when I truly feel the need for a good cry, I haven't been able to have one.

I wonder if it's because I'm so exhausted or just emotionally blunt right now. I'm not sure. So here goes the quest for the perfect sappy movie. New to follow...

Faith - it's hard to talk about

First of all, I'd like to point out that while today is Cyber Monday, the only shopping I've done today was for groceries. I'd like to point this out since it sometimes seems that I have a bit of an obsessive shopping compulsion. However, I've really cut back and made a deal with myself about spending money. I've decided that it is okay to shop, but only if I'm willing to put the same amount of money into the offering plate. This doesn't apply to gas, groceries, or bills but to all other non-necessary purchases.

Secondly, I'm in the midst of procrastinating on some serious assignments. This week is just a little ridiculous with the amount of work that I have. I'm just trying to remember that God provides rest and peace to those who ask for it. "You have not, cause you ask not" is a common phrase my pastor repeats as church. Well, I am definitely asking for it this week.

Thirdly, just some food for thought. Last night at the college/career group, we discussed faith and why it's so difficult to talk about. As pointed out, how is that we can go on and on about our favorite athletes/sports, musicians, books, etc. but when it comes to faith, we get quiet?

Here's what I think:

1. For me, discussing my faith with Christians comes easily. I'm not proud of where I came from or some of the decisions I've made, but I know I don't have to look back. I'm proud of the decisions I'm making right now, despite how difficult this path is for me. This is not hard to talk about. Seriously, ask me anything and I'll be an open book. What is hard about it, is talking with people who don't believe in God. The fear of rejection is so great, that sometimes it feels overwhelming. This is hard for me because my whole identity is in Christ. Rejecting Christ, rejects who I am in my entirety. And that's a little bit scary.

2. We talked a little bit about how it's not an acceptable topic for society. We're so conscious not to step on anyone's toes and to be so politically correct, that we stray away from talking about the gospel. The problem is, our society needs us to step on someone's toes. This generation is so full of people who can't make up their minds about anything. Take for example, an invitation to a party, wedding, etc. We've gotten to the point where we don't want to say no because we may have an interest to go. But we can't say yes because then we're committed. Heaven forbid we actually take a side. But when it comes to salvation, we have to take a side. Comfortable or not, there are just some things that you can't be indifferent about. Jesus says "He is who is not with me, is against me...". Harsh? Maybe, but what's harsher? Having an uncomfortable conversation with someone now? Or watching judgement day unfold?

3. We've never really been taught how to approach the subject. While this may be true in some instances, I know from my own experiences that God provides us with opportunities to talk and share with others. To be honest, I feel inadequate and unworthy, not to mention uncomfortable, sharing the gospel (see reasons 1 & 2), but God has a perfect plan and no matter how bad I think I am explaining whatever it is that God lays on my heart, His point will get across.

Then again, this is all easy to say sitting behind the computer screen. :)

A little bit of vulnerability

Lord,
Help me be earnest with my words.
Help me understand what it means to seek You with everything I have.
I want my prayers and intentions to be pure and genuine.

But some days it's hard for me to feel You.
I know You're still there, and You still love me.
I know Your love for me is forever strong.
But I know You're not just an emotion.
You're an action.
Loving You and living for You doesn't always mean that every quiet time will result in a spiritual revelation.
There won't always be that feeling of closeness and awe.

But it's knowing that faith is greater than how I'm feeling or how I'm not feeling.
It's loving You despite my insecurities.
It's searching for You in a crowded room of loneliness.
It's choosing to live for You each and every day knowing that I'll still struggle.
Help me overcome my insecurities and know that it's just You and it's always only ever been You.

So much to be thankful for

Thanksgiving is an amazing holiday. People around the world take the time to sit with one another, friends and families, share good food, great company and talk about the blessings they receive throughout the year. The only downside to Thanksgiving is that we don't give thanks all year around. Shouldn't we rejoice in our blessings and triumph through our struggles all year long? Aside from that, it truly is one of the best holidays.

And I have a lot to be thankful for. This year, I am most thankful for the relationship that I have with Jesus. This has been the first year in a long time where I've really invested in my faith and actually desired to create a deeper relationship with my Savior. I'm so thankful for my salvation and the fact that Jesus loves me so much, even though I am so unworthy.

I am thankful for my family and friends. Their love and support is what keeps me going each week. The fellowship that I have in my life with other Christians is amazing and I am so grateful for the ability to grow.

Lastly, though it may seem silly, I am thankful for the ability to run. It's really become something I love to do. Not only am I blessed to run 3-4 times a week, but I also get to share it with people whom I love. My life is blessed and I am thankful for all that I have.

I know that I may never have all I want in life, but I know God will provide me with all I need. That in itself is a blessing and reminds me to live each day thankfully.

Why hello there!

So I know it's been quite a while since I've posted last and that's mostly because I've been quite busy. Once life starts rolling, it doesn't stop for any one person. A little over a week or so ago (I can't really remember) I ran my second half marathon which went remarkably well. I trained a lot better for this one though I still didn't train enough. The good thing is, for the past year I've made it a steady habit to exercise 6 days a week. If nothing else, it helps keep my endurance up and get me in better shape.

Well the half was great. I was a little sore for a few days but nothing compared to some other, less extensive runs that I've ran. I think I went out for a run on Wednesday or Thursday just to get back into things. I ran yesterday too - an easy four mile run - to prepare for my 5k. Its kind of funny actually to think about running a 5k after running much longer races, but I'm excited about it. Bailey, my mom, and I are planning on running the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. My motto is to prepare for the race that's coming up. So for me, I've been thinking about the 5k and trying not to get to far ahead of myself with the 10 miler in 10 days. I did just notice that there is a half marathon in fredericksburg which is kind of cheap. I might end up doing it.

I've been out on break since Friday afternoon. I took the weekend off to enjoy time with my sisters, but today and yesterday were mostly catch up days for schoolwork. I'll take it though because it's time that I don't have to spend in class.

Not to much else is going. I did pass out in the shower today. Not really sure what that was about, but I figure it had something to do with the 2 hour workout and then 1 hour bath I had taken. Note to self: not a good/safe combination. I woke up in the shower with the water still on and I had cut my leg because I fell on my razor. Maybe that's too much information, but just words of advice...

Right now I'm about to catch up on three episodes of Glee cause my life has seriously been missing them.

Oh my favorite verse right now is this: The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14. It's been cool because Riley and I have been reading our bibles everyday and praying together. Let me tell you, never underestimate the prayers/strength of a child. God can do great things with children through their vulnerability and absolute truth. It's been awesome so far.

Plus I have a new fav. Christmas song, but I'll leave that for after Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

The time I almost didn't go to church

Well, let's face it. There are, in reality, many times when I have no desire to go to church. Who wants to get up and go on your Sunday morning when you could be sleeping in? Not to mention when you go out of town, you have to plan to be back in time. My church (Valley Church) is awesome because they offer a 9:30, 11:30, and 6:00 service. It's nice because it makes it reasonable to still make it back in time for the services.

Now to back track a little bit I was completely and totally prepared to blog about the awesome half marathon weekend that I had. Just as I was totally prepared to skip the church service tonight. But as God often does, He planned something better. Instead of the usual sermon, we ended up worshiping instead. It was amazing and totally what my heart needed. I needed to be lost in His mercy and love. And the time I feel closest to God is when I'm worshiping Him.

These past few months have been hard on me. The more time I spend with God, the more I'm convicted of things in my life that aren't right. Each day is a new challenge to spend time in the word and coming humbly to Christ. But it is a challenge.

Right now I'm spiritually exhausted and humbly broken before Him. What I need is Christ. I need His love and mercy. And I need to be reminded of His goodness constantly. Not because I think I can get by without it, but because I know I can't.

And to think I almost didn't go to church today. Stay tuned for my marathon post later this week.

My life is pretty glamourous

Today is one of those days where I am pretty much loving life. I'm not sure if I'm still on my runner's high or maybe it's the caffeine that I've just ingested through my coffee cup, but seriously I am feeling like I am on top of the world.

I literally should not be blogging right now. I should probably be doing the tutorial homework that I forgot about until about - oh 15 minutes ago. Or I should be finishing my research matrix (yes it is as scary as it sounds) for my clinical application project on Friday. Not to mention the video reflection paper that I need to write for my group, the case study which I have yet to start, nor the numerous pages of readings that I stopped looking at months ago. Yet, I am filled with such a peace, a calmness, an overflowing love that just cannot break my spirit.

Despite all of that junk, each morning I wake up and get to spend time at the gym and with my Savior. I then get to go to class and play with kids, socialize with friends, and learn about my career. Afterwards, I have the ability to be productive and even do homework. And believe it or not, I always manage to make it to bed around 10 PM. My days are packed and long, but I seriously have the best life.

On top of all that, each week I get to have fellowship with other Christians where we can build each other up and pray for one another.

I'm also learning what it means to love like Jesus loved. It's not easy, but it's so worth it.

I'll leave you with this:

Real love is an action, not a feeling. It produces selfless, sacrificial giving. The greatest act of love is giving oneself for others.

Manic Monday Moment

"No body knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did"

Just a line from one of my favorite Casting Crowns songs. It's called Jesus, friend of sinners. If you haven't heard it yet, check it out because it's pretty awesome. I love this line in particular because it really makes me do a double take when it comes to Christianity. So often we tell people what's wrong or what not to do, and we forget to make it a point to show them what we're standing for. What if we did put all our differences aside and just learn to love like Jesus did? Wouldn't we be much better witnesses for Christ? Wouldn't our enemies have a much harder time persecuting someone who showers them with love?

Another good line from the song is "help us all remember we are all the least of thieves". I'm no better than the next person. God doesn't measure sin by the what sin you've committed rather, that you've committed sin. In His eyes, we are all the same - sinners. Except that He sent His son to take our place so that one day we can live in righteousness. Yea, how great is my God?

Another good suggestion from the "Come to the well" album is So Far to Find You. Maybe I'm a hopeless romantic who enjoys a good love story, but this song is fantastic. Just in case you didn't know, this life has a happy ending/love story too. It starts in Matthew....

Faith - what does it look like to you?

In all seriousness, what does faith look like to you? A question posed at bible study tonight, has me thinking. It was discussed that faith is often associated with emotions and feelings. When we see God move in our lives, we often feel loved and blessed. But even in the times where we don't see God moving, well, He's still loving us. And He's still there. That's what faith is all about. Having the ability to believe in a God who is full of greatness even though we can't see Him. We talk about walking by faith, but what does that even mean?

For me, walking by faith is believing that God's plans are better than my own. He has a purpose for me, one that I don't always see. For me, faith is giving Him all the power and control and living according to His will. It's acknowledging that it may not always work out the way that I want it to, but I have no doubt that my needs will be met. Faith is trusting that God has all things under control at all times. It's the being able to get up every day - even the rough days - and meet with Him in my quiet times; it's Him loving me all the time despite my failures. It's the ability to pray and face the unknown; the act of being persecuted and sharing in His trials; it's learning to love even the most difficult people. Faith is a combination of things, but to me it's walking in a personal relationship with Christ each and every day.

The power of speech

Today my pastor said, "Jesus loves you just the way you are. But He loves you too much to leave you where you're at." He then proceeded to give a sermon on James 3 and how the tongue reflects the whole body. I sat in the pew in both amazement and disbelief because this week alone I've read through the book of James and 1 Peter - both have amazing insight on ways to speak.

Coincidence? I think not. I don't really believe there are such things as coincidence when it comes to God. I believe He has the unlimited power and ability to make these things happen. Sitting in that pew, He spoke to me today. I'm not going to rephrase or repeat the whole sermon because frankly, you might not be interested in that. But he did give 3 points that really hit home when it comes to our speech.

1. My tongue directs where I go

2. My tongue can destroy what I have

3. My tongue displays who I am

There is a lot of power in the words that we speak. One negative comment can resonate with a person for a lifetime, taking years to overcome the critic. I don't want to be one of those people who tears people down, I want to be uplifting and encouraging. Gossiping, slandering, cursing, yelling, all of these things do not show the love the God has offered me.

It's definitely going to be a long journey and a difficult struggle. But with God on my side, I'm hoping He can change my heart to reflect Him and not the causalities of this world.

You can always count on me...

...and my friends to have a good time.

Seriously, it doesn't matter whether we're in Richmond, Harrisonburg, or Lynchburg we always find ways to entertain ourselves. This weekend's festivities included carving pumpkins, eating at the melting pot, taking lots of pictures, hitting up a Halloween party, running 8 miles, etc. Instead of boring you with all of the details, I'm just gonna give you my weekend in pictures. :)

Getting ready for the Halloween Party

My favs

Getting started

My Pumpkin

Melting Pot

Dinner

This pretty much sums up my weekend.

Struggle or Triumph? I'm still not sure.

When you think about knowing Christ, it can really be an overwhelming tendency. I find that each day I come to Him is a journey in itself. I read His word, come before Him in prayer, and seek His guidance/will for my life. Each day with Christ, is a new realization. To come closer to the King, I must die to myself; I must give up my worldly desires and gratifications. Each day is a struggle for me. I don't doubt my faith nor my beliefs, but I find myself insecure and without confidence. Why are these things such a constant battle? I know that only through Christ do I stand firm, am secure in His mercy and love. Each day I learn more about how much I am in love with my Savior, I also find out that there is more about me that must change. Don't get me wrong, I want to change my life; I want to be come fulfilled and satisfied in Him in a way that doesn't exist in anyone else. I am so overjoyed and relieved that I have God who loves me so much that He has saved me for a better world than this. I am blessed to see the Holy Spirit work so hard on my behalf! I couldn't ask for anything more in my life.

I just know that each day with Christ is another day of learning how unworthy and undeserving I truly am. And even though I will constantly fail to meet the standards or hold myself firm, I am forgiven and sent grace. And that's why I am thankful for each and every morning. A new day to spend with my Savior; a new day to do better.

A Fall Adventure

I've had quite the adventure these past two days. Friday after class Sarah D. and I went hiking. not an ordinary hike, but an intense all afternoon at least 4 hour hike. It's about 8 hours and is really deceiving. For instance, the trail starts out going up hill as any normal trail does. Shortly into it, rocks and tree roots are scattered throughout the walkway - not to mention all of the leaves the are slippery. Hiking up was great. We had made great time, despite some of my hesitation. If you've never been, the trail turn into using your whole body to scale rocks. Fun in theory, scary in reality. Especially when there's a gap you jump over where you literally could fall far. The rock scramble is by far the hardest part - you're literally pulling your body up and round this rock. There's really no way to scale it alone. You almost have to have someone there to help pull you up. And definitely make sure you wear the most stable shoes you own.

The way down - well that was another story. We had an hour of daylight as we started the decent down the mountain. We still had an hour left and were left in the dark. There were some creepy people behind us while hiking in the dark therefore we decided we needed to be as quick as possible. Not to mention the deer/coyotes that ran past us which is when we decided to run. Running down a mountain is hard, not to mention in the dark. Sarah and I probably both sprained/rolled our ankles repeatedly but once that adrenaline gets pumping you just can't stop.

There were actually some other scary encounters that evening but to make a long story short, we both had never been so scared in our lives. We also had never been so relieved to see the car as we were Friday night.

Then today, I cleaned and got a lot of homework down. I went on a small hike with Ashley and Megan at Sunset, followed by a Chinese Buffet with Jo. The best part about this weekend is that we have Monday off and I finally feel like I'm getting a break.

Two days of hiking, amazing company, deep conversations, fun friends, and good food? Well, my life is truly blessed. :)

Skyline

Old Rag

Crazy couple of weeks

I'm not gonna lie, this week has been absolutely crazy. For the past 3 weeks, I have had a ridiculous number of group assignments and midterms. While group work is okay occasionally, this year our professors decided to put us in permanent groups. For example, I'm in a group with Sam and Lauren. I got really fortunate because there are some groups who really aren't compatible out there. For the most part, the three of us get along really well. The only thing is, we are not allowed to change groups or have in any say in our groups at all and we are with them all semester. While my group does get along, it can be frustrating to juggle so many schedules. So coordinating 1000 + assignments with your group can be extremely exhausting.

Not too mention those three midterms. They were spread out over 3 weeks which is convenient - if you plan on studying. However, my technique is reviewing only a few days before since a lot of tests are ones that no matter how much you study, you'll never be prepared. So yea, it was like 3 weeks of doom and gloom.

So finally tonight, I had a chance to relax. After getting out of class at 12, Whitney, Joanna, and I headed over to Woodgrill to stuff ourselves. I ran errands, met a great friend for coffee, and then came home to a home cooked meal by Whitney (which was yummy!). We watched the Walking Dead (which is quite possibly one of the best shows on television) and discovered that we get a lot of the on-demand channels which totally brightens my weekend. We're finishing up Monte Carlo and my laundry and then I'm heading to bed so I can be all rested for my fabulous hike tomorrow. There's plenty of school work to be thrown in, but you it's all about the give and take.

The one with all the sacrifices

Lately, I feel like I've been running on empty. It's probably due to the mass amount of commitments I make each week, including school, research, study groups, bible study, church, sleeping, running, prayer meetings, etc. And while each of them are important to me, I have to admit, this semester I really looked deep, figured out what I wanted to be committed to, and then made sacrifices for it.

I mean, obviously these sacrifices are nothing compared to the greatest sacrifice ever made (See Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), but for me, they do seem pretty significant. For instance, I've made a pretty big commitment to running this year. And while adding on one more hobby doesn't seem like a lot, it is a huge time commitment. For instance, on Saturday alone I ran 9.6 miles which takes me at least an hour and a half. It can be rather difficult to commit to such a task especially when most days I run I'm out the door between 6-7 AM just so I can get back in time to get ready for class.

Thus, the sacrifice of sleep. I'm usually asleep by 10:30 and get up around 6 or so to run, hit the gym, read my bible, finish any school work, etc. that I may have before the day really gets going. On top of that, Bible Study just started up (which I absolutely love) but it's at Sunday nights starting at 7:30. Add that into an already jammed pack week and I'm feeling a little strained.

I'm sure my professors would also tell you that my grades/schoolwork have also been sacrificed. I've had to take a little bit of time away from them just to maintain good sleep/study/social practices. Not to mention the social life that I no longer have - mostly because I don't have the time, but also because I have no non-OT friends at JMU anymore.

The biggest sacrifice I've made this semester is my me-time. I used to take a little me-time and relax by watching tv, reading a book, or doing something relatively fun that was nowhere school related. Instead, I've really been reading my Bible and journaling about all of the incredible things that God is doing in my life. Worthwhile? Absolutely! But instead of making it about me, it's all about Him. This has also caused me to re-evaluate some other aspects of my life as well. For example, being so busy, I have no time to watch tv or hang out with friends. The great thing about it is, I honestly have no desire to catch up on any tv shows.

I have had to switch my morning routines up a bit so that I can get everything in. On a day when I don't have class until 12:15 (like today) I get up at 7 and start my day. I make it a point to get ready and read my bible before class because it only gets that much harder throughout the day. Between the group meetings, class, quick lunches, and constant prayer, I'm exhausted when I get home. And then it just repeats itself.

It's a crazy, beautiful life.

A little perspective

Last year during my mental health semester in the OT program, my professor told us to watch this video called "If I should have a daughter..." by Sarah Kay. Our professor has given us A TON of videos to watch (and most of them turn out to be irrelevant). However, this one is really amazing. I'm not sure what it is that always leads me back to this poem, but here I am yet again during another stressful week of midterms watching it. I think it has something to do with the familiarity we all face during hard time, good times, stressful times... Anyways, it's great. And here's the link.

http://www.thebrazenraisin.com/2011/04/if-i-should-have-daughter-by-sarah-kay.html

My favorite line is: " this life will hit you hard in the face, wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. "

Seems like I need to be reminded just how good that air tastes.

My thoughts on life today

Christianity isn't an instant solution to all your problems. It's a constant reminder that we ARE the problem and need Jesus daily.

Just a thought I had during my quiet time today.

More about this later...

Oh the Irony

Just a brief note based on my quiet time today. For those of you who don't know, I've been reading through parts of the New Testament on a regular basis. It has been both rewarding and convicting in my life. In addition to my Bible journey, I have also been reading a book called Lady in Waiting. Now, this may sound a little corny, and maybe it is, but this book focuses on becoming a woman after God's heart. Instead of putting all your hopes, dreams, and desires into this world, it focuses on the growth needed to enhance your relationship with your Savior. This is, of course, much harder than it seems.

I have to admit, reading the book has been a slow process. Not because it's a hard read, but for one thing I'm in grad school reading 50 bajillion books a day and for another thing, I'm really trying to reflect on my life and determining what areas I need to change.

So far, one of the coolest thing that I've learned (and there are sooo many amazing things that I've learned about myself) is the irony of God. For instance, I used to think being single was so sad. I mean, so many people look down upon that and there always seems to be pressure on finding the special someone and living happily ever after. And I used to think that once I found that perfect man, that I would find contentment in my life.

Wrong.

I don't know why it's taken me so long or how it even happened, but being single is literally the best time of my life. Just think about all the endless opportunities out there! Not only do I have the ultimate capacity to serve God in whatever direction He calls me to, but I have endless amounts of time to spend with Him each and everyday. The best thing is, if God calls me to Mexico, I have no limitations, no commitments stopping me. And if God calls me to Harrisonburg, again, no commitments to consider. I can just get up and go. How cool is that?

I guess the ironic part is, I thought my life would really take off when I settled down. But in reality, I've never been happier in my life than I am right now, being single and serving my God.

Jeggings, the almost skunk, and a groundhog scare

Yes, folks my life has become quite the interesting story within the last few days. I know you're just jumping up and down with excitement.

First things first, jeggings. What are jeggings you may ask? If you don't know, consider yourselves one of the lucky few who don't have to witness the "legging" epidemic seen here currently at JMU. You know what I'm talking about right? Some girls, no names, (but mostly sorostitutes) have decided that wearing a shirt with no pants is acceptable attire for class. Instead or wearing pants, they wear leggings. Somewhere, I missed the memo that jeans and khakis were being replaced.

Most of the outfits look like this:

However, when you wear leggings, you are supposed to wear them 2 sizes too small to get the full effect.

Anyways, on to the jeggings. Jeggings, therefore are Jean-leggings. Yes. Well, Tuesday before fieldwork I purchased a pair of skinny jeans that show off my fossil boots. I cam home and tried them on for my roommates to get their opinions. Everything was fine until I took off the jeans and noticed on the tag they were "Jeggings". The horror! The good news is that they are not tight and are actually made of jean, so where the jeggings came from, I'm not sure. But believe it or not, I am the proud owner of this new fad. Where can someone purchase an item of such caliber? Your best bet is H&M or American Apparel. Just remember do subtract two regular sizes from your jean size so they fit in all the wrong places.

As for the skunk, well, on an early morning adventure (and I use that term loosely) to the gym, Whitney happened to come across the furry creature blocking our path. One minute we're just walking, the next minute, we're frozen in fear. Who was more scared? It's a toss up. The skunk scurried away in mere seconds while Whitney and I took the long way to the gym. Crisis Averted.

Last, but not least - the ground hog scare. There is nothing scarier than taking out the trash and coming within mere inches of a wild animal (see skunk story above). Well - maybe seeing Ghetto Gangster boys at the dumpster - anyways, at the last second I saw him and he saw me. He came towards me (this is the ground hog mind you) and then scurried into the hole. Nothing drastic or incredibly excited, but what is it with these wild animal encounters? I'm thinking I'll skip hiking this weekend just so I don't take any chances with a bear.

Until next time, no news is good news.

I'm 23 years old!!!

While I had at one point dreaded turning 23, my life perspective has recently changed. Not only did I turn 23 (about 40 minutes ago!), but I have never felt more satisfied and fulfilled within my life and the goals that I have. I mean, I ran a 1/2 marathon, a 10 miler race, traveled all over the U.S. during the summer, volunteered my time at Burn Camp, spent too many hours in the library studying, and last but not least continuing grad school. Not too mention all of the other cool things I've done.

But what really makes this birthday amazing, is the path God's will has taken me to. For instance, the friends and family that he's placed in my life, are amazing, incredible people and I don't know what I did deserve such amazing love! Receiving messages and phone call all day was incredible, but it also just showed me how important and purposeful each and every person is to my life. Not to be sappy or anything, but I am just continuously blessed with each person that has in some way, made an impact on my life. Reflecting upon that and spending time not only with friends, but with Jesus - well that just made for an incredible birthday.

God Bless!

The difference between a good day and a great day

Compare and Contrast:

Monday:

1. lots of class
2. elliptical at the gym
3. read my bible and journaled
4. did absolutely no homework
5. watched the Redskins and Braves both lose
6. homemade coffee

Tuesday

1. went to fieldwork (which I love)
2. elliptical at the gym and a 3.5 mile run (which I also love)
3. read my bible, journaled, read parts of 2 other books, and spent time listening to God
4. did SBP, EBP, Tutorial, and AT homework
5. watched Glee, watching the New Girl, and I'll attempt to watch Parenthood @ 10 (though that is past my bed time)
6. homemade coffee + starbucks coffee

I mean these are just a few examples to express how much better Tuesday was than Monday. Maybe it's because Monday is the beginning of the week and therefore doomed to be miserable, or maybe it's just all in my perspective. Who knows. But today was fabulous.

God Bless.

When all else fails, pray.

Today was a really great day. There wasn't much school work to be done (though I got ahead on some projects), I read my bible, journaled, and even managed to ready a couple chapters in Lady in Waiting and the Five Love Languages (both are awesome and I highly recommend them - but beware, they are intense and cause an in-depth re-evaluation of the way you live your life). I took a brief nap, watched a couple episodes of Friends and went to the 6 o'clock service.

And ever since church, I just can't stop crying. The message was really inspiring and redeeming. It was all about shame and how the past is in the past. If God has let it go, why can't we? It was all about love too and how we can't deny the love that God provides to another person. So why do we? Both messages spoke wonders into my heart. And I guess have made me kind of emotional. I'm not sure why. And I'm not even sure what it means. But what I do know, is that when all else fails, pray. So that's what I'm doing. Pray for me this week please. I need it. I'm not sure what's going on, but I feel like something big is happening. Pray that whatever it is, I seek God and my faith is strengthened.

When all else fails, run.

I love running. It relieves my stress, reduces my anxiety, and pushes the limits. Just today, I competed in the VA 10 Miler in Lynchburg, VA. It was fabulous in the way that only running hills up and down can be. But it was. You don't understand until you do it.

There is no feeling that compares to pushing yourself to the finish line and accomplishing the feat. The best part after the race is not the being done part, it's when your body aches and is sore all over because you just did something not a lot of people can do. The physical and mental exhaustion are just a glimpse into the victory. It's more than a competition, or contest. It's about the wanting to run and the will to succeed. There is nothing better than pushing your body to limits you never knew you had.

Welcome to the Smoosh Room

Or in this case, the smushin' cushion. Yes that's right. All you Jersey Shore-fans be jealous. Because in my apartment we don't have a smush room - we have a smushin' cushion. Nope, it's not my, nor Morgan's mattress, it's a real live cushion sitting in our living room. I have to admit, I was hesitant at first, letting random people sleep (and other things) in our living room just sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. But as the week presses on, it's growing on me. I mean, there's nothing better than waking up to random strangers getting it on in 1458. In fact, it's pretty awesome because the smushin' cushion travels! You can take it anywhere. You can take it on the stairs or in the kitchen or even another bedroom if your *ahem* heart so desires.

The best part about the smushin' cushion is that if you're not using it, it folds up. So please dear friends, come visit me and fantastic smushin' cushion. Just make sure to wear your shoes at all times. Who knows what's on the carpet.

Sarcasm.

The joys of running

I have to admit, now that I've become a runner (and I do consider myself a runner - if you disagree see quotes below), there are a lot of joys in running. Like the ability to push myself mentally and physically. After 13.1 miles of straight running, I consider myself mentally and physically prepared to run. There's also the sheer will to run. Once I start running, I cannot allow myself to stop until I've crossed the finish line or at least my destination. More times than not, I am able to go even farther than planned. I don't even mind the running alone part - in fact I both embrace and enjoy it. It gives me a chance to clear my mind and figure my out my emotions.

There are however, some things that any runner, new or old, "forget" to mention about the quality of the sport. For instance, the chaffing. It never stops even with the anti-chaffing sticks and spandex shorts, it's just something you have to get used to. The blisters. They're the worst. Blisters don't care how far you run or what shoes you wear, they just appear all over your feet. And I mean all over. For instance, I recently got a blister near the toe nail on my second toe. After draining it, but leaving the skin on, I figured it would heal up as most blisters do (sometimes you just have to run through the pain and discomfort). Well, this paticular bliter is causing my said toe nail to fall off. It's literally hanging on by th cuticle. Then there's the soreness. No matter the distance, muscles become sore. Again, just something you learn to deal with. Lastly, the sweat. While running long distances is my new passion, I do find it a bit irritating when the sweat drips down my forehead and floods into my eyes bring not only dirt but old makeup. My eyes tear up and then I run around for a few seconds with the inability to see. It's fabulous.

But in all reality, I do love running. There's just something about the pushing yourself until you've got nothing left that's both addicting and rewarding. You should try it.

Here are a few of my favorite running quotes:

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."
--John Bingham

"I often hear someone say I'm not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner."
-Bart Yasso

"I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought."
--Arthur Blank

"Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best."
--Michael Johnson

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
- Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham

And another week bites the dust.

Which of course means that another week is starting. This week coming up is so jammed pack with things to turn in and things to get done before my 10 mile race, that my head is starting to spin. Somehow though, everything always manages to get done even if it means staying up late and missing a few blog posts. :)

Last week, despite the ridiculous craziness that had ensued, was probably one of the best weeks I've had in a long time. Why, you ask? Well mostly because I spent so much time in the bible and in prayer. It's not something I do often enough and making it a priority has just given me a new energy and strength each day. In all honesty, I know that God's strength is what's driving me right now as I am in completely exhausted, yet somehow I'm still able to keep going.

Besides reading the book of Acts and learning incredible Truths about the Holy Spirit (which I highly recommend for anyone who's interested -and if you need help getting into it, definitely read Forgotten God by Francis Chan - he breaks apart the Holy Spirit in challenging and refreshing ways), I've been reading the book of Ruth.

Ruth has never really interested me. I don't know if it's because it's one of those stories you hear over and over again when you're little, or if it's more the Old Testament that's hard for to handle, but I've always had difficulty with it. Well, turns out I'm reading this book (Lady in Waiting) and while it may sound totally lame to most of you reading this, it's been really good for my heart. It's all about finding satisfaction and fulfillment in life in your personal relationship with Jesus. I know, I know. It sounds so typical-cookie-cutter Christian, but I picked up the book and have had a hard time putting it down. It's challenging my thoughts and my heart is definitely worth the read. Anyways back to my point, I've been reading Ruth. And learning a lot. It's neat to see the relationship between Ruth and Naomi and how their leap of faith was rewarded by God. If you haven't read it, check it out. I'm still in the process, but each day brings something new.

So from Ruth I'm learning what it means to have faith and what a woman of God looks like. And from Acts I'm learning about the Holy Spirit and the power that comes with faith with Him. And while this has been the best Spiritual week I've had in along time, it's actually been one of the toughest weeks I've had. Was I having a bad week and turned to the word or did I turn to the word and then have a bad week (sometimes the devil does that to you)? I'm not sure. But I do know it has only strengthened my need and desire to keep reading through. I'm genuinely excited to read more this week and see what amazing things God has in store for me.

Another note, I went to Heather and Paul's wedding which beautiful. Heather made the most gorgeous bride! The reception was a little cold but it was so fun to see their happiness and love for one another celebrated.

HR

Twas the night before peds,

and all through the ridge,

not a person was moving,

not even the fridge

The clothes were all hung

by the dryer with care

In hopes to get dry,

most likely by air

The rooms were all small,

the closets so tight,

shared bathrooms alone,

caused quite the fight

OT girls were nestled,

all in their beds,

with hope of the morning,

not far from their heads

When out in the lot,

there rose such a noise,

but who could it be?

ghetto gangster boys!

The doors were all locked,

the windows shut tight,

but no where to go,

they were scared in the night!

Call Kelsey, call Megan,

Call Shendy and Kara,

Call Amy, Call Jo-Bear

Call Erin, call Sara

Call someone who's close,

or ugly or hot

just call the cops

'fore someone gets shot

Watch out for those floors,

they're so strong and sturdy,

and look at our neighbors,

so classy and purdy

It's only a year

Can we make it? You ask

by the grace of God and

the power of my flask.

Just another rainy day

Just another way to procrastinate. I have a to-do list a mile long, but I feel like doing none of it. For instance, I'm going out of town tomorrow to go to dear friend's wedding which requires packing and outfit selection. I have to write everything out on a calendar (the one I had got ruined), create a "toy" out of things you would find at home where a child does not live, read 20 bajillion chapters for a quizzie that I could quite honestly care less about, write a letter, read my Bible, read my book, mapquest directions, make dinner, go to a group meeting, etc. I have no energy, better yet, no desire to do any of these things - except go out of town. So I figured, why not just pour out my soul on my blog where EVERYONE will read it. Hah. Wish I had some profound thoughts for you, but I've got nothing.

So enjoy the rainy day. It seems I can only procrastinate so long.

!Buenos dias!

Sorry for the lame title, but in all honesty, today was a good day. After a meeting and a class, we have an extensive 3+ hour break before our assistive tech class. Debating on the necessary caffeine intake required to make it, we headed on a quest: to the Starbucks across campus. After we made it and indulged in a little (okay a lot) of coffee, I made the spontaneous detour to see my favorite Spanish professor (who is kind of dreamy in that I'm-extremely-intelligent-and-have-an-accent-to-die-for kind of way). It's been two years since I had class with him, so I wasn't really expecting him to remember me. When I got off the elevator on the 4th floor of Keezel, I was pleasantly surprised to find, not only had his office moved, but he was in it! I kind of peered in and did a double take to make sure it was him (it was!). He looked at me for a minute (or maybe like 20 seconds) before he realized who I was! That alone was enough to make my Woeful Wednesday wonderful. Then we had a great little conversation (in Spanish of course) followed by my mass amounts of giggling and hair twirling. Okay I didn't really giggle or twirl my hair, but I have to say I was really nervous to see him. All in all, it was a great little reunion and who knows, I may stop by again some time (I mean he did invite back). Did I mention he was my favorite professor? Yea. That accent, those dark eyes, and that tan skin definitely reinforced my desire to marry a Spanish man. Look out Spain, here I come.

First day of fieldwork

Today was my first day of our pediatric fieldwork. And mine was AWESOME!!!! I really love my pediatric classes, so having the fieldwork in place really helps reinforce all of the concepts that I've learned in class. Not to mention my site is AMAZING.

I think mostly I like this population, because I'm just a kid myself and I have three sisters of various ages that I've babysat and played with and know how to relate to.

On another note, I'm thinking of changing my blog name. I haven't come up, with anything serious yet, but some laughable contenders are The Tantalizing Tales of Tristan and Bitches in Stitches. haha laughable yes.

Quick thought or two...

One thing that I absolutely long for, and I'm being completely open and vulnerable here, is to find a husband, get married, and be blessed with children. A dream far fetched? I don't think so. But, it's something that I constantly think about. For instance, if I'm not going to meet someone at JMU (and btw I am completely 100% sure that I will not find someone here, but I'm okay with that), where will I meet someone? As a grad student in a class of 22 girls, my options are slim.

There's always church/bible study which is ideal. Even the gym wouldn't be so bad. Quite possibly the "bank boy" would make a delightful boyfriend. :) However, I always feel that there's a time crunch. And I've finally figured out what my problem is. I'm so invested in this idea that society has for me (- go to college, get married, go to college, get married) that I'm not thinking about the idea that God has for me.

I recently heard this quote, "Don't pray that God will put someone in your life, pray that you're ready for them when they come." Nice words. Guess where it was from? Millionaire Matchmaker, yet another "realistic" view of when you should meet someone. Though the words do speak some truth.

My big realization hit me last night after bible study: I don't need to be focusing on what kind man I'm looking for or even what kind of wife I'll be someday. I need to be focusing on what kind of woman God wants me to be. He has this perfect plan for my life and while it would be tragic (at least in my eyes) to never get married, He should be enough for me throughout my life. So my goal this semester is to focus on being the type of woman that God wants me to be - not who I want to be or who I think anybody else wants me to be.

I'll leave you with this final thought that has really inspired this new thinking:

"A woman is not born a woman, nor does she become one when she marries a man, bears a child and does their dirty linen; not even when she joins a women's liberation movement. A woman becomes a woman when she becomes what God wants her to be."

Yea.

A Day To Remember

It's amazing how a tragedy links people together forever. It's disheartening and sad that every 11th of September will be a day that no American will ever forget. My heart goes out to every family and friend affected by the tragedy as my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I remember being in 8th grade English class. I didn't even know what the World Trade Center was. And now I know, I will never forget it. The rest of the day seems blurry. I remember people's parents picking them up early for school, all after school activities were canceled. I remember walking into my house. I remember seeing the images replayed over and over again on the television. I didn't really know what was going on. Terrorism seemed so distant, I didn't even understand what that was either.

I remember hearing incredible stories, both good and bad. I knew that this day would never be forgotten. And even as I remember it now, nothing will amount to the lives lost and the families changed. I know there's not much that I can do, except remember.

Thank you to all the firefighters, police officers, and military for serving your country then, now, and for every tomorrow. The only hope I have for this world, comes from the hope of another.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. " Romans 5:5

Race Day Photo

Enlarged just so you can see it better. I'm a little proud still. :) 2:15:13.

I placed 2064 for my gender and my overall place was 4874.

Va Beach Half Marathon

I did it! I ran consecutively for 13.1 miles with a time of 2:15:13 to finish the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. It was literally one of the hardest mental and physical challenges I have ever completed. I had to get up around 5:30AM to get ready, make it to the race by 6:30 and then my heat was on around 7:25. I was nervous and excited. And thank goodness for the adrenaline and energy! I ran steady and passed a lot of people until about mile 10. That was the hardest part for me. I knew there were only 3 miles left, but it was so difficult to keep going. I had to tell my self things like "You can't walk now because you could have walked 5 miles ago!" and "There's only 3 miles left, make it to Mile 11 and then decided". Once I hit the top of the bridge on the way back (around mile 12) I knew that I could finish the race.

But it also had me thinking, there was no way that I could run another 13 miles. I don't know how marathon runners do it. Afterwards, I was and still am incredibly sore. But the accomplishment of the feat is so much greater than the physical pain. :)

I'm getting ready to sign up for another 1/2 marathon and am running a 10 mile race in a couple of weeks. A new hobby?? I'm thinking yes. There is nothing more painfully satisfying.

And so it begins...

Three days into school and I'm already exhausted. And this week has been a joke. At least for grad school. Monday we had class from 1:00 - 4:00 which actually went by kind of fast. Tuesday we didn't have class since that's our clinical day. Wednesday we had a fieldwork meeting (which my placement is awesome btw) and then our night class from 4:45-7:45. It sucks. It literally drains all the energy out of my day.

Today and tomorrow we just have one class both from 9:30 - 12:00 which is nice. However, still long. I just hope today goes by fast so I can go to Old Navy and Victoria Secret to hit the sales. Did I mention we're finally getting cable in our rooms???

The Summer My Friends Grew Up

As I've been reflecting on my life and those who are in it, I've noticed a reoccurring theme throughout my friends: They've all grown up.

And while, yes, most 22, 23, etc. year old adults do grow up, it kind of puts me in a different life category than most of them. For instance, Amanda and Ben got married and moved to Pennsylvania. Megan has been married for almost a year (!!!) and is living in Louisiana. Emily has graduated with her masters and has a real, grown up job. Becky has graduated and is living out in Colorado.

Me?? Well, I'm just in my second year of grad school. So I am still in school, but I'm not an undergrad like Laura or Bud. Where does this leave me in my life?? I mean, I'm still very goal oriented and driven, and one day I'm sure I'll love having a "real" job. But I am seriously over the school thing too.

It doesn't change anything between me or any of my friends. But it is interesting to see what path each person takes. It also means putting in a little more effort to keep the friendship in tack. But a job well worth it.

Thw wonderful world of cheese

Yes, cheese. Have you ever been to Wisconsin?? Cheese is in the air. And so is cow manure, horse manure, chicken manure, etc. You can really get a sense of that fresh dairy smell. And that was with the car windows rolled up. I couldn't imagine being a farmer who smells like that all the time! (Disclaimer: this is not a diss to farmers as I truly appreciate the wonderful food their farms produce).

Aside from the wonderful Wisconsin smell, I visited family. Each year we have a "retreat" where all of the women on my mom's side of the family (and I do mean ALL) gather around from states near and far and celebrate. What do we celebrate, you may ask? Why, the invention of beer, the deliciousness of food, and most importantly our German heritage. Not really. We just get together do random things and drink until the heart's content. Literally. This year it was in WI at my grandmother's house.

One night we decided it would be fun to go see the movie Bridesmaids. So we did. Dressed as bridesmaids. I'm pretty sure those pictures will be locked up for all eternity.

But the cheese was awesome. We even brought some home.

Just a quick recap...

MAINE

Okay, so since I have a few extra minutes at work right now, I decided that this would be the perfect time to blog a little bit about the wonders of Maine (not to mention, my bosses just left for the day).

After driving back from South Carolina on Sunday night (the 24th of July) I departed from my mom and sisters and headed up to Harrisonburg. Monday morning Emily and I left extremely early, destined to arrive in one of my favorite places on earth: Bridgton, ME. 13 hours, 3 bathroom/gas/meal breaks, and 2 very tired people later we were there!!
And let me tell you, there is nothing quite like being in Maine. It's so relaxing and breathtaking. Every time I go there's no agenda, no detail planned out for every minute. It's just life passing by on the water and it is absolutely perfect.

Tuesday we spent some time on the water...I think. I know we went into town, probably got into some trouble but really just spent the day leisurely. The next few days are kind of a blur but we went sailing, running, kayaking, swimming, camp firing, a ruckus-raising, sleeping, reading, planking/owling, laughing the whole week.

Saturday Emily and I literally got up at the crack of dawn (not by choice I might add) and started the LOOOOOOONG journey home. Somewhere in Mass or Connecticut (I can't accurately recall at the moment) we agreed at stopping in NYC. Before I knew it, we add devised a plan to see Wicked (which we did) which was AMAZING!!! After driving home, I went to sleep and now am back in the subtle adult cycle of working out, working, and sleeping. All in all a trip well spent with my favorite people. :)

Pictures to follow (probably some time tomorrow)

The best kind of Monday

I have to say that I really do need to catch up on blogging about my trip to Maine/SC/etc especially since I am leaving Thursday to fly to Wisconsin where I will of course need to continue blogging.

However, yesterday was the best Monday ever at work. Here's why:

A little before 1:00 my dad decided that we were going to grab lunch. We get in the car and he says "where do you wanna go? we have 10 minutes" . The funny thing is typically a lunch break is 30 minutes, but okay I'll take it. We ended up in the drive thru at McDonald's. BTW the Southwest chicken salad is both healthy and delicious. And then we went and saw Captain America!!! Complete surprise! And best 2 hours of paid work ever. Not to mention the time I got to spend con mi padre.

It really pays to work for your parents. :)

Detox Day 1

So, I've decided in an effort to be a little healthier, to try a detox. I spent a couple of hours yesterday researching all of the different detoxes that are out there, all of the supplements and pills that are "recommended" for each detox, and of course any useful tips when trying to detox.

I finally narrowed it down to one: The Raw Diet Detox

This was one of the only detoxes that actually sounded reasonable and somewhat fulfilling. Basically, you eat things that are raw. It's a difficult concept isn't it? Basically, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and yes some people even recommended eggs, meat, and milk - all raw. While I'm staying away from the the raw meat, eggs, etc. eating fruits and vegetables doesn't seem all that extreme. I will say that your body does the need the protein and vitamins that are in meat, but for a couple of days I don't think it should be that bad.

Then again, this also means no coffee. How will I live? I'm not sure. But it's become pretty clear to me how much I depend on caffeine to get me through the day - more so when classes are in session. Part of the reason I wanted to detox was to become less dependent on on caffeine. The other part was to increase my consumption of fruits and vegetables and to increase the amount of energy I have during the day.

So as for Day 1 (well it's really only 10 AM but I'm feeling optimistic) I've already run 5 miles and had an apple for breakfast (to give me a little natural caffeine). So far so good. By the time lunch rolls around, I'll probably already be withdrawing. This should be an interesting experience....

The most wonderful time of the year

Believe it or not, the most wonderful time of the year is not the season that commercialism has taken over the world and forced us to spend the majority of our yearly bonuses and paychecks on presents. For me, it's actually the time of the year that I spend off from my busy classes. I used to refer to that brief, but precious time off as summer, but as number of years I've spent as a student increases, the number of days off from school I have has dramatically declined.

In fact, in grad school, they have this crazy idea that you barely need any breaks at all. My first year as an OT student we went to school straight for a whole year (we did however have Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks). After finishing a complete year of classes, we actually get a break off for the summer. And I am enjoying every bit of it. Hence, the most wonderful time of the year.

So far, I have actually completed a lot of the goals that I had in mind for myself, although starting a book has been more challenging than I envisioned. Maybe I'll start it tonight...
Regardless, I did make it to SC and audition for American Idol. I was not however one of the chosen ones. No worries though because it was an amazing experience. I also continued my journey along the east coast and roadtripped to Maine. I spent a week there with my favorite people doing all kinds of fun things. I don't have a lot to show for it besides a depleted bank account, some major bruises on my legs, and a $5 tshirt from a gas station. But you know, it's really about the memories that we create that make everything worthwhile.

On the way back, we even detoured through NYC and caught Wicked on Broadway - something I've wanted to see since sophomore year of college. It was a vacation well spent (well, it was money well spent) with lots of "ruckus" and exhaustion. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

South Carolina

Finally made it to South Carolina!!!! I'll make this short on account of Riley who's desperately waiting for McDonald's (right now we're in Starbucks). We left Fredericksburg late Wednesday night, about 8PM or so and made it to AI registration around 3:30 AM. There was no line and we were in and out in a matter of minutes. SO, since we had counted on the lines being really long and having to wait tremendous amounts of time, we didn't book a hotel last night. Thus, we slept in the car. And by slept, I mean maybe closed my eyes for 2 hours. So far, I'm not the grumpiest one but I've also just downed a Venti starbucks coffee and danish. Definitely gonna run later. The bad news is we can't check in to the hotel until 3PM. The good news is we're going to the beach/aquarium/shopping. Yay. On 2 hours of sleep? Well, we'll see how it goes. Did I mention I drove about 350 out of the 500 miles it takes to get here??? Anyways, here's a pic of me and Bai after registration.

The excitement has finally worn off...

Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride

Lately, it seems that the music that gets me, is country music. Not the "my dog died, my wife left, I'm dirt poor" kind, but the "if you listen to the words I'm singing, there'd be a good message" kind. So often, I sing the words to songs without truly even registering the meaning of the words. But when I stop to think about the words being sung, sometimes it just seems to apply.

It partly has to do with summer, but it partly has to do with growing up. There's really no guarantee for anything these days. Who knows how my life will turn out. I like to think I have some idea and control in the matter, but in reality it's very limited. I don't know which path I'll take or even where I'll end up, but I know that most of the time, the ride is the journey.

ENOUGH with all the melancholy.

In other news, I am having a fabulous summer break seeing as many friends and relatives as I can, while doing as much traveling as I can. Though I haven't started my book yet (more on this in a minute), I'm definitely traveling to Maine, South Carolina, and Wisconsin this summer. I'm even looking into making the trek to Alabama if Ashley's up for it.

As far as my book goes, I really need some suggestions or thoughts on where it should go. I have a lot of different idea, but none seem to make it on paper. I was kind of thinking a funny tell-all book full of 22 years of life experience, but I'm not really sure. I definitely want to incorporate different themes and chapters. For example, I want to write a chapter on my experience at Triple R and a chapter on this summer and so forth. So there's really no set theme or plot. If you have any good thoughts/ideas/stories that you know of that we've created or made fools of ourselves with, let me know.

So, until next time, Buenos Dias!

It's July already?

All of a sudden I feel the overwhelming burden of school lurking in the distance. I mean, obviously the whole summer the fact that I have another year and a half of school left never really left my mind but now I get that sensation that summer is just flying by.

I mean once you hit July 4th, the summer pretty much flies away from here. *Sigh*
Oh well. I had a great 4th now that I think about it. My sisters and I got all dressed up and took a ton of pictures. All of which I look really tan. :)

Of course, I'm making up for the day of work I lost on Monday, today which I would much rather be enjoying by the pool sipping lemonade and getting my tan on. I've pretty much been counting down to this weekend for at least a week or so now since Joanna and Audrey are coming to visit tomorrow! That just means today will go by slower than usual.

In other news, I'm running about 6.5 miles now. Only 6.6 to go!

Another day, another dollar

Sometimes I seriously feel like that's all life adds up to. If it's not about spending money, then it's about earning it. So far since being home I've spent most of my weeks working away at my dad's office. Don't get me wrong - I am not complaining. I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule and fun people to work with. But at times, I wonder, what was I thinking?

I mean, this is my last summer off before I get a real job, pay real taxes, have real bills...ugh. And while having the income is definitely a plus, it does become monotonous after a while. Pretty much, I am living for the weekends. But hey, what's new?

Friday I went and saw Monte Carlo which I had been dying to see ever since the first preview came out. So GOOD. Definitely a cop off of the Lizzie McGuire movie, but what girl (7 or 70) doesn't love the idea of a good love story with fancy dresses? Bailey also got a car this weekend. And that's a completely different story for another time. Since my dad got a new car, Bailey's is the hand-me-down which happens to be a 2007/2008 Mariner. Definitely nicer than deserved. Haha.

Anyways, hopefully she'll be diligent and learn some responsibility and be able to hang on to it for a while. Other than that, my life is pretty droll.