1 year!

I just realized that it has been 1 year and 3 days since I started blogging! I am pretty impressed with myself. It was patchy here and there, but I did complete a year! And what a year it has been!

• I have completed all but 4 classes of my Master's
• I started a new job at The Foundation
• I started dating my sweet boyfriend Chris
• Watched Nathan battle for a year! (and he's winning!)
• Recently, started running.
• Went to Mexico again.
• Continued updating my townhouse

I guess the list could go on and on. But it is interesting to look back and see everything I have written about. And then remember things I didn't write about. I am just beginning to grow up and learn about myself so I am sure there will be plenty more good blogging stories in the future!

Blessed...

I think I talk about this alot, which is still not enough, but: I am so blessed. I look around at this crazy world spinning out of control, and I just have to stop and think, "Man, I got it good!"

I don't have to stress about surgeries and sickness. I don't have to worry about where I am going to sleep tonight. Or if the A/C will be on when I get home. I know I am going to have a job tomorrow. I know my family is safe and provided for. And the greatest thing of all: I know that if there is a problem, God has everything under control and it is all in His will and it will all work out! What a joy and comfort to know!

Papaw (my Dad's dad) has been in ICU for the past 6 days. And while it was scary and upsetting, it was o.k. We prayed and we comforted each other. The family, (and I mean all the family, which says a lot for 4 kids and too many to count grandkids) cam together. I knew if something not so good happened that it was going to be ok. But I am happy to report something OH SO GOOD happened! Papaw is much better and should be out of ICU today! Yay! He was very weak, but I do believe he will be running out of there this evening ;)

While I do worry and have my hissy fit moments where I just don't understand "Whyyyyyy?!" When I finally calm down, it is nice to realize, I don't have to know "Whyyyyy" I just need to know it happened for a reason. Whether it is a consequence from previous actions, or it happened to prepare me for the future. Whatever the reason, I need not worry, because it did happen for a reason.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence." - Jeremiah 17:7

Friday Five

1. Running can make a girl tired! I am pooped. But I have followed my schedule everyday! I'm not sure if I am getting faster or slimmer but I think it's a work in progress.

2. Chris found out his exact date for mud school!! This is exciting news! But also just a wee bit sad because he will be gone for 10 weeks!! But it will all work out for the best!

3. Papaw is back in the hospital. He got another infection and had surgery again yesterday on the pacemaker. Mom called me early this morning saying they moved him to ICU because he was having trouble breathing.

4. I am having dinner with a loooong time friend tonight and I am super excited! I made a reservation because you never know how crowded places are going to get these days!

5. I signed my degree check out for my Master's degree this week!! WaaaHoooo! 4 classes left! I am super excited. I will finally be done with school!!! Forever!!!! Maybe......

New mantra...

I am NOT a quiter!

Friday Five

1. I just realized, I haven't given a report on Mexico. Oops. I will. I promise. Soon. Next week.

2. This weekend I have no plans. That's right- zero/zilch/nada plans. Woo Hoo! I hope to spend my time by the pool with my head in a book.

3. I am currently reading The Kite Runner. I bought it in the airport in Houston. I am only a couple of chapters in but it is good enough so far. I hear that it is an amazing book. And even so far I have learned a lot just about the Middle Eastern culture from the book.

4. Since we didn't take a "real vacation" this year, the family is going to take a long week to Galveston on Labor Day! I love the beach!

5. I can't really think of a number 5. Friday Four sounds good enough to me.

Running

Ok, I am putting it out there for everyone to read and keep me accountable. I am going to train for a half marathon. Chris and I have picked a 12 week running plan and we are going to do this! Lucky for us Monday is a rest day :)

But seriously, we want to get healthy. We want to lose weight. We want to run and do this together. I want to accomplish something. I feel like I need to accomplish something. Most people would say I already have with college, and a job, and working on my Master's but I just want something more. I want to have something else to be proud of, I guess.

I'm actually really nervous. Especially about putting it out there for everyone to see and know. If I don't do it I will feel really bad. But I know I can do this. It's baby steps. It's a schedule each day. It's a list I can check off each day! (I love a good list and organization!) The schedule I found is a 12 week one, as opposed to other 10 and 8 week ones I found. I think a longer schedule is good for me because I haven't run a lot of distance in a while. I don't want to rush this either. There is no specific deadline or goal yet. Just to finish mainly. There's is a race in New Orleans at the end of October. I think we are planning on repeating week 1 for two or three weeks to build a little stamina and muscle and then we will be on our way to completing this!

It is very exciting: the possibility of doing something like this. I know I can do this. I picked up running about a year ago when my friend Nathan found out he had leukemia. He had been training for triathlons and just completed his first one when he got sick. When I ran back then I would always think of Nathan. I thought if he can go though all of that (sickness, treatment, traveling to Dallas, rehab, surgery, etc...), then I CAN do this!

I was reading on-line today about running. Running shoes, running schedules, foods for runners, running tips, etc. One running tip was to have a running mantra. Sounds cheesy, but it has a good purpose. When you're down, whether with running or in life, you need to have that one phrase, that one pick-me-up-line you can say over and over to yourself that just gives you the boost you need.

Mantra 1: If Nathan can do that, I can do this!

And thinking of Nathan and his race made me think of Mantra #2:

"Do you see what this means-- all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running- and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed- that exhilarating finish in and with God- He could put up anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God."- Hebrews 12:1-2 (The Message)

Tomorrow is a 2 mile run. Here goes nothin...

Mexico Devotion

It is day 3 of my Mexico trip and it is my morning to give the devotion. Each morning someone leads for just a short time to give encouragement and prepare our hearts and minds for the day.

So Tuesday is my day. For the past 2 weeks, since I signed up for Tuesday morning as my day, I have been thinking about the Mexico trip in general and what I should talk about. I knew I didn’t have to worry too much about my topic because I knew the perfect subject would come along and I would know that is exactly what God wants me to talk about. So each more I woke up with that thought: keep my heart open to what I feel lead to talk about. While at work I was listening to KLove and this song came on: Dive- Steven Curtis Chapman. SUCH a great song! And SUCH a perfect song for Mexico!

We (the group on the trip) are taking a huge leap of faith and are diving right into the river (Mexico). Most of us are completely over our heads: different country, different language, different food, medical stuff, etc. We are over our heads! But it is so encouraging knowing we have a “supernatural power” in this river that “can bring the dead to life and can fill an empty soul!!” We don’t have to worry about things that may not go as WE have planned, because it is all in HIS PERFECT plan!!

Ephesians 3:16-19

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (The Message)

Everyone on this trip took a leap of faith. Our feet have left the ledge and we jumped. Now we are in this great river, sink or swim, “Come on lets go!”

In case you didn't follow my link and listen to the song here are the lyrics (but please give it a listen):

The long awaited rains

Have fallen hard upon the thirst ground

And carved their way to where

The wild and rushing river can be found

And like the rains

I have been carried here to where the river flows, yeah

My heart is racihng and my knee are weak

As I walk to the edge

I know there is not turning back

Once my feet have left the ledge

And in the rush I hear a voice

That’s telling me it’s time

to take the leap of faith

So here I go

I’m diving in, I’m going deep in over

my head, I want to be

Cought in the rush, lost in the flow,

in over my head, I want to go

The river’s deep, the river’s wide,

the river’s water is alive

So sink or swim, I’m diving in

There is a supernatural power

In this might river’s flow

It can bring the dead to life

And it can fill an empty soul

And give a heart the only thing

Worth living and worth dying for, yeah

But we will never know the awesome power

Of the grace of God

Until we let ourselves get swept away

Into this holy flood

So if you’ll take my hand

We’ll close our eyes and count to three

And take the leap of faith

Come on let’s go

Traveling 101

Saturday, I am leaving for Mexico. I am going with my church on our annual Mexico Medical Mission Trip. This will be my 4th year to go! I am so excited!!! And so blessed to be able to go with my entire family! We fly out of Shreveport, to Houston, then to Vera Cruz, and then a 2 hour bus ride to the place we are staying at. (Be sure to look at the pictures!) So needless to say, that is a lot of traveling! This being my 4th trip to Mexico and along with my other travels I have composed a list of travel do's, don'ts, and little things I always do. Some of this learned by my mistakes and learning the hard way, others learned by watching others learn the hard way...

1. Always have your contacts case AND glasses. Long flights make for super dry contacts.

2. When they say to pack a change of clothes in your carry on because your checked bag may be lost, they aren't joking...

3. Even if I wear shoes that don't require socks, I always bring a pair on the plane because my feet always get cold!

4. Bring a sweatshirt and/or blanket. Planes are cold. Airports are cold. And layovers are not fun when it is freezing cold.

5. Bring a book! Magazines are good too but they never last the whole trip.

I guess that is all I can think of for now. What are your traveling tips?