5K Madness!

Mom and I ran a 5K this weekend. It is definitely 5K season. There is one, sometimes 2 every Saturday from now through January! I doubt I will be participatin in all of those, but I hope to run in a few. The cooler weather makes running in the mornings AWESOME!

Mom and I ran the NO EXCUSES Anytime Fitness 5K. And I swear, just the name of the 5K hit me square between the eyes. But I promise, I always have an excuse for why I am not at the gym or out running. Always. And I would like to think they are pretty good excuses.

I saw the owner of the Anytime I used to work out at (pre-wedding), and it really makes me want to get back in there! He said he would give me a week, because I have an excuse (dog sitting). But after this week. It.is.on.

There is another 5K this weekend- the Pumpkin Run. Should be a good course and I hope to do well! We'll see if I can run the whole way again!   

What a day!

What a great day!

Mom and I ran a 5K thus morning. I ran the whole time and it was my best time ever- 29:51. Pretty proud. The gym I used to go to hosted it and I saw a lot of people from the gym. Makes me want to get back into workin out. I don't want to quit over the holidays. Let's face it, everyone feels better about themselves when they're in shape. I don't want to lose that.

Then LSU played Auburn and pretty much beat the snot out of them. Awesome. I CAN NOT WAIT until the Alabama game. It's going to be an amazing game.

Then Chris and I went to Pie Works and had some yummy pizza and now we are watching the Rangers game- which isn't going fabulously, but it's early.

My pjs are on, my teeth are brushed and I am snuggled on the couch. There is a good chance I will not see the end of this game. Ahhhhhh, goodnight world.

P.S. Chris fixed my car and we didn't even have to take it to the shop! Woo!

Geoffrey Canada

This week I had the honor and privilege to hear Geoffrey Canada speak. I have so much to say about the event I don't even know where to start!

Let me begin by saying it is incredible that Shreveport is even fortunate enough for him to come and visit. The Community Foundation of North Louisiana and a few other private foundations paid for his visit. Second, it is incredible that he spoke to a sold out crowd. This is a sign that people in our community really do care about each other and more importantly about the children in the community.

For those of you who do not know who Geoffrey Canada is please take a moment to learn more about him. He is the founder of the Harlem Children's Zone. He is an out-of-the-box thinker who has revitalized the inner-city schools in Harlem. While the concept of HCZ was around in the 80s, Canada really focused in on the idea in the early 90s. He took one single block in Harlem and focused all his time and energy on that one block. Making sure the children and adults alike were taken care of. "The idea was to address all the problems that poor families were facing: from crumbling apartments to failing schools, from violent crime to chronic health problems," (from the HCZ website). His team came up with a 10 year business plan and by 2007 the Harlem Children's Zone has grown to more than 100 blocks serving 10,000 children and 7,400 adults. Incredible.

The mission: "in doing 'whatever it takes' to ensure that our children graduate from college so they can be prepared for the high-skills job market." There are two keys to that statement. One- whatever it takes and two- graduate college. Whatever it takes means staying until 6 p.m. for teachers if that is necessary. It means working every Saturday. It means working one-on-one individually with students until they understand. It is doing whatever it takes, a selfless act to help the students. The second step, graduating college. Mr. Canada gave a hilarious and oh-so-true quote, " When is doubt, do what the rich people do." What he means, "rich people" don't let their children settle for a high school diploma, the are expected to go to college and graduate. And that is now what he expects of his students. E.V.E.R.Y. student in the Harlem Children's Zone attends and graduates college. EVERY student. How? Because HCZ does whatever it takes to ensure that.  They don't drop them off on the college campus the first day of freshman year and say, "Ok, good luck!" (Is that what the rich people would do?) No, they are followed through until the day they graduate college.

I could go on and on about Mr. Canada. He was incredible. Some of his ideas are controversial and can bring heated discussion. But if you listen to his ideas and believe that we, as a community and country, have the responsibility to take care of our children then you must at least consider what he says to have value.

I could continue about the film he was in Waiting for Superman. But that is another day, another blog.

Dancing with the Stars

No, I do not watch that show. But my mother does and I was at her house on Monday night. Nancy Grace came out with her tight dress, curled hair and I couldn't help but think she looked like someone I have seen before...

The resemblance is uncanny.

Bigger Picture

Generally, I plan my day with the given that my car is going to start that morning. That I am going to be able to zip off to work and go about my business. That plan only works...if my car starts. Can you see where this is going? Right, my car did not start this morning. Awesome.

Now if this was the first time this were to happen, I might handle it a little better. But this is the third time in a month and the second time in exactly two weeks this has happened. I also paid some one $50 to tell me nothing was wrong two weeks ago. So this morning when I went to the car and it did not even groan or attempt to start when I turned the key, I was a bit peeved.

I grumbled and whined and immediately begin to run through everything I was suppose to do today- if my car was working properly. How I need to get to work now and start the day, how I was supposed to go to the bank and deposit a check and pay a bill. How was supposed to... you get the point. As I grumbled, I stopped and thought, "Ok God, what are you trying to teach me here?" Patience, obviously.

But then I really began to think about it. Last night, Chris backed my car in. At the time it was so we could easily load and unload the car. In reality, it was so it would be easy to jump off in the morning when it was dead. At Target last night, I bought a bunch of lunch to-go soups. This was so I didn't have to buy lunch meat 2 days before I start housesitting and then it all go bad. In reality, it was so I would have a lunch to take to work today, since I would be without a car because it didn't start this morning. I had to call my Dad this morning, because of course Chris left to go to the rig at 4:30 a.m. and he took his truck keys with him. In reality, I called Dad because he could take me to work and was able to pick up the spare key to Chris's truck from Chris's mom who also works downtown.

You can't deny God has the bigger picture in mind. Sure, you could chalk it all up to coincidence. But not me. There's no way I could. I know my God is bigger.

Is my car still dead? Yes. But did God provide? YES!

Currently Listening to...

All My Fountains by Chris Tomlin

This video is from a Passion concert. I couldn't find the official Chris Tomlin video, but you get the point.

My favorite lyrics, apparently the bridge of the song:

Come on, and rain down on us
Rain down on us, Lord 

I love this both figuratively and literally. We really need rain. Please Lord, bring us rain.

And please Lord rain down on me. Rain down your love, mercy and grace.