So a few mornings ago I biked 5 miles and tried out the Carson City Rec Department's swimming pool. Although it's nothing like the facility I got used to on Margaret Island in Budapest, I think it will be good to get one swim in there a week. I may check out the Moana pool too, but needless to say this is the time to get a move on practicing swim techniques and preparing for that portion of the Sprint Tri. As long as my knee heals, I don't think I'll have a problem with the running or the biking part of the race at the end of May. Last time the swim was the hardest for me. Well, when I get back to Reno, I plan to get a knee brace and figure out what I can do to see it heal quicker. I'm still moving forward though with workouts and hoping to get a few events on the books for 2009.
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I arrived in Raleigh-Durham at 1 am on Friday morning. Nicole picked me up from the airport and took me to her place in Cary. It's a darling neighborhood. I went walking this morning and found a bagel shop nearby and a grocery store to get dinner for the girls. Yum! The conference starts tonight. Seeing as I haven't been to a Campus Harvest for atleast four years, I'm curious to say the least. Nicole is going to help out with an "open mic" event tonight after the opener, so that should be fun to hang out with her and see some familiar faces. I'll also connect with Jeff and we'll set up a time to meet tomorrow and discuss the workshop for Saturday afternoon. I think I'm prepared as I whizzed through several chapters of "Waking the Giant" by Ryan Shaw while on the plane yesterday. The history of student missions in North America is awe-inspiring. I hope tomorrow we can inspire the students who come to the workshop about these truths, especially those considering more long-term missions among the least reach....which is (2-5 years or a life time call!).
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This morning I was reading the story of the women who loved Jesus. When he died, they went to his grave to find him but he wasn't there. An angel said, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" The resurrection is a central part of the Christian faith. The fact that, against death itself, Christ conquered that and promised that all who trust Him will also come up with him into more living -- well, that's just an incredible truth. What got me thinking is the metaphorical significance of this. What I mean is this.Today, I'm not facing that kind of death but there are things inside my heart, my life that have died. Some of those things, no doubt, needed to die. But there are other things I believe need to be resurrected. As I mull through my thoughts on this, I realize I've been looking for life among dead things. Today I decided I need to go to the source of life and find life. :)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
RICE
So everything I've read about knee care has to do with RICE. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. That's hard to do when you're always on the go. But, in between everything, I'm trying to do that!
Today I was inspired by a friend who started chocolatebaby.us, a specialty store out of Texas. Andrea and I were roommates in LA for a time and just to see her use her passion and gift for the finer things in life and market it to a specific audience has been inspirational. I think to myself, wow. Then, both my sister and another friend of mine are writing books. Talk about being inspired. I am. These are real people whom I know and love doing things that are in their heart to do.
Well, what can I do? Perhaps grow a garden? Maybe. I want to give it a shot.
Today I was inspired by a friend who started chocolatebaby.us, a specialty store out of Texas. Andrea and I were roommates in LA for a time and just to see her use her passion and gift for the finer things in life and market it to a specific audience has been inspirational. I think to myself, wow. Then, both my sister and another friend of mine are writing books. Talk about being inspired. I am. These are real people whom I know and love doing things that are in their heart to do.
Well, what can I do? Perhaps grow a garden? Maybe. I want to give it a shot.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A deficit of love, knee musings and Oregon
Have you ever found yourself grasping for the true, the real, the authentic in life? Have you ever looked within and wondered how in one moment you can have everything aligned, everything in order, everything centered and focused and aiming toward your goal and then in what seems like the eye's blink, all seems off, uncentered, unclear.
This morning I woke up with a strong impression to read 1 Corinthians 13 and find that center. Last night I was talking with a friend and we were musing that ultimately, when it comes down to it, how did you love? As I re-read this chapter on love, I was impressed by this.....
One day we will be complete in our knowledge of God. Right now even what we know and say about God is always incomplete. There will be a day when it will all be completed and when that happens, all our incomplete and fragmented parts will come together under the banner of Him. There's a place in the Bible that says God is love.
This being true, we are encouraged in verses 12 and 13 that until that completeness comes, there are three things we should concentrate to lead us to that place.
1. Trust steadily in God
2. Hope unswervingly
3. Love extravagantly
and the best of these is love, we are told. So, where I hold a very large deficit in this area of my life, God does not and I will focus on these things in my life.
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I have been working out but frustrated since returning to the states. There are two reasons for this. First, there are way too many food options here that taste quite delicious and are difficult to pass up consistently. I'm sure I've gained 5 pounds since I stepped off the plane. That doesn't bother me as much as the frustration I've had with my knee.
The morning I left Budapest, I tripped on a floor mat with some heavy luggage in hand and smacked it pretty hard on a marble floor. It hasnt been the same since. It bruised up at first and now it just hurts. I was reading up about knee injuries and found that often the ligaments surrounding the muscles and bones in the knee can be injured. If anyone knows of a quick way to heal knee injuries, please do tell!
---------------------------
This past weekend I went with my sister and her family and my mom to see a friend in Oregon. It was the first time seeing the coast in a long time! Fabulous, although windy, rainy and cold - I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
This morning I woke up with a strong impression to read 1 Corinthians 13 and find that center. Last night I was talking with a friend and we were musing that ultimately, when it comes down to it, how did you love? As I re-read this chapter on love, I was impressed by this.....
One day we will be complete in our knowledge of God. Right now even what we know and say about God is always incomplete. There will be a day when it will all be completed and when that happens, all our incomplete and fragmented parts will come together under the banner of Him. There's a place in the Bible that says God is love.
This being true, we are encouraged in verses 12 and 13 that until that completeness comes, there are three things we should concentrate to lead us to that place.
1. Trust steadily in God
2. Hope unswervingly
3. Love extravagantly
and the best of these is love, we are told. So, where I hold a very large deficit in this area of my life, God does not and I will focus on these things in my life.
---------------------------
I have been working out but frustrated since returning to the states. There are two reasons for this. First, there are way too many food options here that taste quite delicious and are difficult to pass up consistently. I'm sure I've gained 5 pounds since I stepped off the plane. That doesn't bother me as much as the frustration I've had with my knee.
The morning I left Budapest, I tripped on a floor mat with some heavy luggage in hand and smacked it pretty hard on a marble floor. It hasnt been the same since. It bruised up at first and now it just hurts. I was reading up about knee injuries and found that often the ligaments surrounding the muscles and bones in the knee can be injured. If anyone knows of a quick way to heal knee injuries, please do tell!
---------------------------
This past weekend I went with my sister and her family and my mom to see a friend in Oregon. It was the first time seeing the coast in a long time! Fabulous, although windy, rainy and cold - I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Seasons...
In some ways, I've been able to settle back into life in the US without any problems. In fact, I was honestly expecting quite a bit more of culture shock than I've actually experienced. While this is a delightful surprise, I find myself in an interesting place.
For those who don't know, this next season of my life is going to be just as exciting as the past. It's just going to look a lot different. Instead of living overseas, I have the opportunity to inspire, pray with, encourage and equip others to go. Back to short-term status, it doesn't look like I will be living overseas anytime soon "long-term".
This is a time when in between making phone calls, organizing events for college students regarding missions, traveling to said events, and that sort of thing, I have the added bonus of being close to home and hopefully jumping into life with my brothers and sisters and parents, aunts and uncles from time to time. It's actually been almost 7 years since I've lived in the area or stayed longer than a few months to see partners. So, this is where my biggest adjustment is taking place. In some ways, I will always feel as though I 'fit in' here. It's my family, it's my roots, it's the place I called home growing up. On the other hand, I don't 'fit' here at all. I can't describe it but I guess it's a lot like feeling you're a foreigner in your own home. Things - although familiar - also seem like a distant memory or like an outfit you've had in your closet since childhood that no longer fits in all the right places.
I'm sure it will be fine. I'm enjoying the journey and I'm trusting God to lead me through this time in my life. Part of the very reason I came back from Budapest was to be near family. This has it's benefits and drawbacks, mostly they are benefits and I'm thankful for a very strong family support system.
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I've been able to get into a workout schedule, which I'm excited about and have definitely set my sights on an event the end of May. I still hope to get a half marathon in sometime this year but as for now, I'm still working on miles.
I finally got a new pair of running shoes and I can't tell you how incredible that feels! I felt I was flying on my run a few days ago. I'm actually about to go for another one right now.
Hope your Sunday is terrific!
Jen
For those who don't know, this next season of my life is going to be just as exciting as the past. It's just going to look a lot different. Instead of living overseas, I have the opportunity to inspire, pray with, encourage and equip others to go. Back to short-term status, it doesn't look like I will be living overseas anytime soon "long-term".
This is a time when in between making phone calls, organizing events for college students regarding missions, traveling to said events, and that sort of thing, I have the added bonus of being close to home and hopefully jumping into life with my brothers and sisters and parents, aunts and uncles from time to time. It's actually been almost 7 years since I've lived in the area or stayed longer than a few months to see partners. So, this is where my biggest adjustment is taking place. In some ways, I will always feel as though I 'fit in' here. It's my family, it's my roots, it's the place I called home growing up. On the other hand, I don't 'fit' here at all. I can't describe it but I guess it's a lot like feeling you're a foreigner in your own home. Things - although familiar - also seem like a distant memory or like an outfit you've had in your closet since childhood that no longer fits in all the right places.
I'm sure it will be fine. I'm enjoying the journey and I'm trusting God to lead me through this time in my life. Part of the very reason I came back from Budapest was to be near family. This has it's benefits and drawbacks, mostly they are benefits and I'm thankful for a very strong family support system.
------------
I've been able to get into a workout schedule, which I'm excited about and have definitely set my sights on an event the end of May. I still hope to get a half marathon in sometime this year but as for now, I'm still working on miles.
I finally got a new pair of running shoes and I can't tell you how incredible that feels! I felt I was flying on my run a few days ago. I'm actually about to go for another one right now.
Hope your Sunday is terrific!
Jen
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