It's too bad you can't post...

It's too bad you can't post a smell. Summer flower smells. I love summer flower smells. I love to walk, run, ride, or drive past them and get a whiff of this summertime delight.

Bubbles

This picture is from this super cute blog.

I have had the best week playing outside with a 2 year old, a 3 year old, and a bubble-loving yellow lab. I think life should include more bubbles. I might just have to put some in my car for some spontaneous fun.

First Birthdays

Today is Alexis' first birthday! My college roommate married another good friend of mine from college and today they celebrate their child's first birthday! It has been amazing to watch her grow this year. The first year is such an amazing time of growth. One year ago I was basically the same person as I am today. But little Alexis has gone from completely helpless to almost being able to walk by herself. She has developed a little personality and has come to know and love her family, pets, and home. Reflecting on how fast the year felt for me and how much she has grown, I am in awe of this life and growth.

Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.

Ok, I don't even like America's Got Talent, and this is the second posting I am doing from them in a week. The other video I got in an email link, and this one I happened to see flipping through channels. I love Landau's heart and he has an incredible voice. I love seeing people jump out of their ordinary lives and take a risk for the sake of a dream.

Toyota Prius

This is a Toyota Prius. This is my favorite car of the last few months. I don't have one yet, but if I had to buy a car today, I would buy this one. I love that they offer this car in my favorite color. I love that the car uses a lot of battery instead of gas in stop and go traffic, which is mostly what I drive in. And I love seeing these cars on the road more and more. I have always been a fan of alternative energies and I love love love the idea of moving away from petroleum dependency. As I drive, I always appreciate seeing a Prius out on the road with me. One day I hope to be a Prius owner, too!

Transforming Events

Today I worked at an event that was put together by a thirteen year old. Her parents had a lot to do with it, but it was this girl's heart and perseverance that got this event rolling. Thirteen years old. She now has the record for the youngest host of one of my events, with second place being a high school junior. I just love it when kids see something that is worth going after and decide to do it. They aren't held back by the enormity of it, aren't bombarded with thousands of reasons why they shouldn't do it or can't pull it off. They just see it or hear about it, decide it is what they want to do, and they get it done.

This event was a real blessing to me. This event was added to my schedule after a conflict cut half my June hours. I had begged to be put on a different event, a repeat from last year that I wanted to go back to. But God had other plans. I needed to be at this event in Decatur, IL, put on by a thirteen year old. I am so grateful I got to be a part of it.

Her dad said that it was truly a transforming day and event for her. She is usually shy, unable to talk to people and look in their eyes. This event required that she invite, register, welcome, and speak publicly to hundreds of people. She did it with the charm and collectedness of a pro. I was so proud of her. I saw a young girl take on a huge responsibility and become a young woman through it. I pray that this is just the start of something huge for her life. Hearing her dreams for her next project, I think that this is just the beginning of a truly beautiful vocation.

Stong Verbs

I relish strong verbs. Not typically one to use them, (see previous blog posts for proof), I appreciate when I hear vivid descriptions and accurate verbage.

Audrey Wood

http://www.audreywood.com/books-written-by-don,-bruce,-and-audrey-wood/all-books-written-and-illustrated-by-the-woods

I LOVE Audrey Wood books! One of my passions is working with children, and that includes reading a lot of books. I often have to read the same books two, three, four, or more times in one sitting. Because of that, I try to find books that I actually like, and I can count on Audrey Wood. I haven't read all of her books yet, but two of my favorites are The Napping House and Silly Sally. These have both become books my kids and I recite at the kitchen table, on the swings, or whenever we feel like it, without even opening the book anymore. I love that my little ones can flip through their books at nap time and recite the story. The rhymes are fun and catchy. To my chagrin, I recite them to myself even when I am not with the kiddos! Though these two stories don't have much of a point, they do work on rhyming (Silly Sally) and adjectives (The Napping House). I love looking at the pictures, especially in the books illustrated by Don Wood, Audrey's husband.

Plato

The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings.

"Look at how beautiful!"

I have never met this family, but I love to read their blogs and keep up with their happenings. They are more than just a fun/funny family, though. Tara, the main blog writer, continually challenges my thoughts on missions and showing God's love and the way that I think about serving God. This recent blog fits the theme of my blog really well, and is a good summary of the reason that I started this blog.
Be blessed by Tara's recent post.

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2011/06/look-up.html

Sung-Bong Choi

Wow. This young man has an incredibe story and an incredible gift. What a blessing to hear him sing.

TV Dads

There's something special about television dads. Some are awful or missing in action, of course, but what about those good dads who always manage to stick to their morals and end each 30-or 60-minute episode with a smile and a sweet song playing in the background? Here's my Top 10 Favorite TV Dads from when I was growing up. Can you name the actor and the show?



10.

9.

8.

7.

6.

5.

4. 3. 2.

1.
And a bonus father figure from a great movie:

Dear TV Dads: I know you aren't really the people that you play on tv. But nevertheless you'll always be the special tv dads that I grew up with! (I didn't grow up with the Elf dad, but he deserved a spot.)

Answers: 10. Alan Thicke, Growing Pains, 9.Reginald VelJohnson, Family Matters, 8. Tony Danza, Who's The Boss, 7. Tim Allen, Home Improvement, 6. Tom Bosley, Happy Days, 5.Michael Landon, Little House on the Prairie, 4. 3. 2. Bob Saget, John Stamos, Dave Coulier, Full House, 1. Bill Cosby, The Cosby Show, Bonus: Bob Newhart, Elf

Paul Prorok

I am reposting this picture without permission from this site.

Note to Paul Prorok: You need a website where you can post and sell your pictures!

Speaking of local summer festivals, my little town was having an art festival this weekend too!

I took my mom on a walk around the festival enjoying people's crafts. I saw a lot of fun stuff, some really beautiful paintings and jewelry and pottery. My favorite booth was the Paul Prorok Photography booth. Mr. Prorok does amazing photography, and his eye for what is picture-worthy is similar to mine. I can't take a good picture to save my life, but I wish that all of the bad pictures that I take would turn out like Mr. Prorok's beautiful pictures. He takes pictures of beautiful nature scenes, travel locales, and architecture around the world. I would love to hang his pictures around my house and just marvel at both the beauty of the place in the picture and the beauty of the photographer's skills as well.

Running Clothes

Local Festival means... SIDEWALK SALES!

I LOVE running clothes. I don't really own any clothes that were made specifically for running. I am too cheap and I find Goodwill clothes usually do the trick just fine. During my marathon I had time to look at people's running clothes and water/fuel belts, and I decided it would be really nice to have one set of running clothes at least for races. After all, I saw how frumpy I looked in the marathon pictures, and I can spend hours and hours running each week. I decided this splurge would be worth it and useful for a long time.

So I went to a running store on Tuesday to get some new shoes for my new orthotics for my newly healed (hopefully!) knees/feet to use in a few weeks. Luckily, they didn't have my size in the store so they were able to get it from another store by Friday.

Then my favorite employee there at my local running store tells me that if I pick up my shoes on Friday it will be great because they are having a sidewalk sale that day because of the town's summer festival!

Yippee!

After deciding a running outfit was a good purchase, it turns out I was given the gift of a new running outfit when I ran my marathon! So I decided it was time to cash in on this gift! So not only did I get new shoes, but I also got two short-sleeved running shirts and a long-sleeved running top. I know, I know, not an outfit, but I had found some great running shorts and capris at Goodwill, so I didn't need those anymore.

AND, as a bonus, I bought a water belt (aka fanny pack, aka something I NEVER wanted to be seen with because it was the sign that I had become an old lady runner, so watch out world for the newest OLD LADY runner on the block!)


...



...I sit with no words to type about the belt. I want desperately to defend it and tell how cool it really is. I mean, it holds a water bottle and my ipod plus some snacks for long runs, energy gel if I have it, a running route, my keys, etc... which means I don't have to search high and low for pants with pockets in them anymore because I will always have somewhere to put the little things I like to carry while running.

But it is still a fanny pack, so I think my desperate desire for it really just confirms the fact that yes, indeed, I have become an old lady runner.

And this old lady runner is going to LOVE running without sweating all over my ipod and having to carry water all the time!

Dante's Take on Beauty

Beauty awakens the soul to act.
Dante Alighieri

Eyes of a Child

The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
Albert Einstein

I think I learn most about beauty as I watch children explore the wonders of the world around them. When I am with small children, I start noticing the little things they notice, start appreciating the little things they appreciate. What a powerful gift that a child has in their fresh eye for beauty and wonder!

Today as I babysat we noticed the beauty of rhthymic phrases as we read story books. I will post more about my favorite kids book authors later...

Friendship

Today I had coffee with a friend I haven't seen in over a year. Then I talked to a dear friend on the phone. Then I got to skype with another friend. I have this other friend that I have been meaning to call, and she called me today instead! Another friend texted me that she hopes we'll get to talk soon. I got to sit by a friend in class, and I had a chance to talk to another friend before class.

What a day to appreciate not only the beauty of friendship, but also the unique qualities that each relationship offers.

What Will I Be Doing On That Day?

Today on the train I was reading Francis Chan's book Crazy Love. I have found it very intriguing, and I am struck by the fact that my life can be completely the same after reading it, or I can act on these Biblical insights and truths and convictions and be completely different. The same is true when I read the Bible. The choice is mine. I hope to see some major changes in my lukewarm Christian life. The following paragraphs really stuck out to me today, and I have been thinking about them all day.

"I once attended a play with my wife and some of her relatives, including Grandma Clara. During intermission, I leaned over and asked what she thought of the play. She said, 'Oh honey, I really don't want to be here right now.' When I asked why, she replied, 'I just don't know if this is where I want to be when Christ returns. I'd rather be helping someone or on my knees praying. I don't want Him to return and find me sitting in the theater.'

I was shocked by her answer. Yes, we are called to "keep watch" (Matt 24:42), but it's strange to see someone who takes that command, and so many others, seriously. In fact, it's more than strange - it's convicting."

I've read the passages about keeping watch, the parable about the virgins keeping oil in their lamps (Matthew 25), the verses about being ready because you never know when Jesus will return, but for some reason the profundity of these words has just never sunk in before.

What a beautiful priority.

Naps

Picture taken from here.

I woke up with a headache and I didn't do my usual trick- 2 Tylenol and icy hot on the back shoulder blades. Works like magic almost every time. Sometimes, though, it takes a nap to cure me. Today I had a chance to take a quick nap. I think it was about 7 minutes, but I'm not sure. I am just amazed (again) at the restorative power of the body. I love unplanned-but-not-disruptive naps.

My Brother

Today is my brother's birthday. Today I celebrate who my brother is now and I look back on the relationship we had as kids. He was such a typical little brother, and I was such a typical older sibling. I don't know how he turned out to be so wonderful, but I am pretty sure I had nothing to do with it.

Some childhood memories:
Playing games in the Ninja Turtles tent on Saturday mornings.
Swimming in the little pool on the back porch and using my wet hair to turn into a scary monster.
Riding bikes on the driveway.
He was ALWAYS singing.
Our hairstyles and jams (old school shorts with super ugly fluorescent designs) were just plain awful (and the same goes for our older brother)!
Tormenting him on long car trips...
Knocking him off the back of the riding lawn mower on accident.
Slamming his finger in the door on accident.
Going tubing on the river together.
If anyone ever lost anything, we could count on him to find it!

Unfortunately, I have a lot of memories of torture and tormenting, but there are definitely good memories as well.

Greg, I am so thankful for you. I am so thankful that our move to Illinois in high school helped to bring us together as friends. You are so funny and you inspire me to want to be the best person I can be. I'll love you forever!

Jackpot

I hit the jackpot today. When I saw it just sitting there in front of me, I couldn't believe my eyes. Then I saw more...and more...and more. It was all mine. I wasn't looking for it, and I noticed it only after I had been walking all around it for a little while.

Raspberries.

Raspberries in my own back yard.

Let me explain.

Last year I begged and begged for my mother to bring me raspberries from my grandfather's farm. She kept forgetting, but eventually she brought me four raspberry plants. We planted them, hoping they would grow even though it was too late to be planting them. They did grow, and one plant even gave us a handful of yummy raspberries. This year I have been hovering over them, waiting to see what happens, and we excitedly pointed out the tiny flower buds ready to bloom. Buds make flowers and flowers make berries!

Today I spent a long time behind our back fence pulling thistle plants (weeds). Thistles, in case you don't know, are very sharp and prickly and spread like wildfire. They are hard to get rid of because they spread so easily and they are too sharp to pull even with gloves on if they are big plants.

We had a lot of baby thistles (less than 2 feet tall, not yet having thick stems) because last year the flowers/seeds went uncontrolled. They are in our front yard, back yard, and all along the creek bank behind our fence. So I went to pull them. I found out that if you can get the bottom leaves off the sharp ones using your feet, a stick, or whatever, then you can still pull them. And these thistles pull much easier than dandelions do, so I was able to get the whole root out on most of them. I made huge piles of these thorny thistles, and was losing steam when I noticed something. I never would have recognized it if we hadn't gotten those four plants last year from the farm.

Yup. Raspberries. On the other side of our property, there are lots and lots of raspberries. These, too, have their buds which are ready to make flowers any day. I cleared the tall grass from around a plant only to discover another area of raspberries... and another...and another!

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot wait to go back there and pick these yummy berries. Just imagine the yummy goodness, and with so many, it will be so much fun to share them!

And to think we never would have discovered these unclaimed bushes if we hadn't just put up our compost bin and seen all the thistles that needed to be dealt with!

You Must Be What I Look Like

I had a consultation with a new doctor and the nurse who took my height and weight told me later that she is the same height and weight. She said she thought that I must look like what she looks like. Very interesting concept for both of us to think about. To me, she looks nothing like what I think I look like, and if she hadn't said anything, I never would have made that connection. However, it was definitely interesting to compare. I am pretty sure that I have no real concept of what I look like. Sure, I'd recognize myself in any picture or mirror, but if that woman was the same height and weight as me and I had absolutely no idea of that (even when she said it I was doubtful), I must be pretty unaware.

Can you spot someone with the same height and weight as you? Outside of a doctor's office, is there any pc way to approach that subject with anyone who's not a friend already?

Have you seen the Friends episode (season finale of Season 5, I just watched it a few days ago) where Joey finds his hand twin in Las Vegas (and perhaps more memorably, a drunk Rachel and Ross get married)?

Take a deep breath

Today I managed to work myself up into a frustrated tizzy. I let two things that have really been bothering me lately cycle around in my head and as they went round and round, they picked up speed and became vicious monsters. I had to deal directly with each of them today. I lost on both occasions. Searching for wisdom, for guidance, for peace, for resolution...I found none...so far. As I arrived home tonight I caught my parents enjoying the end of So You Think You Can Dance. I LOVE it that they are watching it without my influence!

I post about dance a lot. I also love art, and I would post about art more but I find it difficult to find good representations of it online. Pictures of paintings are nice. But it is the paintings themselves that really awe and inspire me.

OK, back to the dancing...Watching the top 20 dancers tonight helped me to wipe away some of today's frustration. It is so soothing to listen to music and watch the grace, precision, and beauty of dance. Since the clips aren't on YouTube yet, here is a different take on dance by one of my favorite dancers.

Swings

Picture taken from here.

It looks like I will be doing a lot of this over the summer. The kids I watch LOVE their swings, and we have already spent quite a lot of time on the swingset. I know a lot of people can get really sick of this, but I have a secret...

I kind of love it.
;-)

Strengthening the Core

When I was running half marathons in the early 2000s, I knew that my knees couldn't handle too much more. I always thought that I wouldn't be able to do a marathon if for my knees alone. (Although that certainly wasn't my only fear!) My knees definitely hurt through the training, and in weird ways. The right would hurt for a week, then after a long run it would stop hurting for a week. The left would hurt sometimes, then the right. Sometimes both, sometimes neither, always changing on Thursdays after my long runs. I tried to pinpoint the spot they hurt, and it seemed to be mostly on the outside, but sometimes on the inside...

Since the marathon (one month ago today), my knees have been ok. As I started to pick up mileage again, though, and geared up to start a new 18 week marathon training session, my left knee would have none of it. It got to the point where I needed to make some decisions, so I decided that since I do want to run another marathon, and I hope to get one in this coming fall, I need to start the training healthy instead of injured. I am self-diagnosing here, which is probably kind of stupid of me, but after looking at a lot of websites and videos by doctors, athletic trainers, and chiropractors, I am pretty sure that I at least have an idea of what the problem is.

So I decided I would take a break. It was a hard decision to make since my training was supposed to start the day I made this decision, but I decided that a month off will strengthen my running in the long-term, and I can use this as time to work on some other weaknesses, like my core (back and stomach), my arms, and my rear end. So far it has seemed like a good choice since my knee is still hurting. It is a hard thing to do mentally, as I feel myself being more stressed and frustratedwithout my normal running release. However, I feel like so far I am handling it in more of a mature way than I did when I was injured in college or when I broke my foot a few years back. It is only a month off (hopefully!) and I can still work out. I may not be able to do some of my favorite things (running and cycling), but I can enjoy working out inside with a fan on instead of trying to beat the heat outside. The paths outside are calling me again, and that can only be a good thing since I was admittedly a little sick of running the same routes all the time.

This is going to be a good thing. I keep telling myself that. I am already a few days into it, and my body needs this break. It's not really a break from everything, but a time to refocus. And that is my connection to the "beautiful" theme. There is a time to rest, and this is my time.

New Beginnings!

Today I started a new job! I still have my other job, but the hours of these jobs are such that I can do both and still even have time to do my homework! I am so blessed to have found this job, to enjoy the family I am babysitting for twice a week, and to already love the kids.

I know it's hard to tell how things will be from day 1, but I must say the vibe so far is good. The kids are at a fun age, and the parents seem to share many of my beliefs about parenting, discipline, and fun. I didn't realize how much I miss playing with kids in this setting. This is a summer job, so it will be a blink of an eye and then it will be time to student teach. With that in mind, I want to enjoy every day and not worry too much about the small stuff. Here's to a fun summer!

Thinking Biblically is like running a marathon...

Before I ran a marathon, I probably had some idea of what running a marathon was like. I knew it was really long, required a lot of endurance, and it was really hard.

Today I went to a Bible study about thinking Biblically. Interesting topic, something I struggle with personally, and the class is led by a really cool friend of mine, so I was excited to go. We got a short list of comparisons to start the study. Thinking Biblically is like... I never realized there were so many aspects, so many ways you could look at these two words and what they mean. One that stuck out to me was "Thinking Biblically is like running a marathon."

Before my marathon, I was searching for a Christian purpose in running. I know that running keeps me healthy, that it is good for my heart and my lungs. Running gets me outside soaking up Vitamin D from the sun. Running helps me sort through my thoughts, keeps me sane, motivates me to eat healthier and make healthier choices. These are all good things, but is there more that I could use running for from an eternal purpose? More than just listening to sermons occasionally as I run?

Running takes up a lot of my time and focus. Everyday I can spend a lot of time focusing on me, planning a run that will only benefit me, listening to music as I think about me, me, me, me, me.....Is there a way to turn my focus more outward? I was wondering this going into my marathon. I thought about it during my marathon. I compared my training to some of the disciplines of being a disciple, but wasn't really applying those to my real life. Just making mental comparisons.

I learned a lot about myself during my training. I learned more about myself during my marathon. But today I made another connection. Now I have a comparison relating the process of training for and running a marathon to what a Christian walk can be like. The first 12 miles were pretty easy. Much easier than I expected. I enjoyed the company, felt good as people cheered me on, went along for the ride while it was easy.

Then it got considerably harder. As a Christian, in the hard spiritual times I will often just stop praying, stop caring, stop serving, stop it all. It's hard? Ok, then I quit. I don't usually do this consciously. Nonetheless, I certainly don't keep putting one foot in front of another on a spiritual level. In the marathon, I recognized the choice. I kept going even though I don't want to. I kept going even though it was really hard. Thoughts: I do my best because I have trained for this challenge. I have been working toward this for months, and I knew that it would hurt, but I will continue. The reward will be worth it. There is an end to this suffering, the end will come at some point, and I will want to know that I did my best, that I didn't give up.

There is a good parallel now for me, as I think about what it means when someone says, "Thinking Biblically is like running a marathon." I understand that it is more than just something that is a very long process. There is pain, there is weakness, but there is the strength to keep going because of the Holy Spirit, because of grace, because of God's amazing forgiveness and powerful love.

After the list of similes, our study handout included a verse that applied in a similar way. "FIX your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. KEEP PUTTING into practice all that you have learned and received from me"...Philippians 4:8-9a. (emphasis mine)

You have to actually do something deliberate. FIX your thoughts. It isn't a passive act that just happens when you become a Christian. KEEP PUTTING these things into practice. The training isn't automatic. It doesn't just become a lifelong habit; this is something that you have to choose to keep doing.

I have a long spiritual training ahead of me. I've been a Christian for a long, long time, and I feel like I am starting at square one with some of this stuff. But then, I felt the same way with the marathon training. And the process and the results were both something that really blessed my life.

Everything is Amazing Right Now

While this guy is a little harsh, he has a very valid point and it is fun to look back and remember "the way things were". I definitely had one of those rotary phones he talks about! And it is really amazing that I am able to work at any location around the nation with travel always taking less than one day. I have so much to appreciate!

Running Buddies

It's Back!

So You Think You Can Dance! It's back! I love this show!

http://www.fox.com/dance/

Newborns

There is something so special about newborns. I don't have a picture of the one I got to hold today, but I met my friends' four week old tonight. He was so precious. And the newborn days are so few. As Kelly Ripa said this week about time when you have children , it is like the blink of an eye... I am sure in many moments it also feels like an eternity, but for today let's treasure the blink.