Love

Listening to the podcasts on marriage from Livingstones, it's been super encouraging to be reminded in a fresh way - what love in a relationship is meant to be.

What I love most is realizing that God has provided a best friend in James. And that together, we are called to glorify God in our marriage. I love that! Marriage is like a triangle. Each person is at the bottom corner on either side with God at the top. As we grow closer to Christ, and pursue Christ, and lean on Christ in our marriage and serve one another, the closer we get to each other and to Christ. LOVE THIS. So absolutely true.

Reflection & Study

For years I've heard of Beth Moore and her BBL studies. For years I avoided them because it was "trendy" and everyone was talking about it.

But my time has come and we're studying the book of James. Did you know it was one of the first books of the New Testament to be written? Did you know that many suspect the author to be the brother of Jesus. Or that the book was the last to be canonized because the way James writes is so unlike the rest of the New Testament authors? Different in what way, you might wonder. His writing is not unlike the tone of his brother, Christ Jesus in the gospels.

Did you know that James' brother actually denied or atleast mocked Jesus prior to this writing? It was James who said, "If you're the son of God then show yourself to the world." And yet James was also one of the first that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. That is powerful and holds a powerful place in my heart.

Talk about rocking my world. Being authentic in faith and life is the theme to the book of James and it runs so deep that it is rocking my little world in such a good way.

Over the past five years, I've justified some things in my life and allowed them to linger. But now, I find myself looking Jesus straight in the eye about those things with renewed vigor for him to release me. This book is steeped with Christo-centric themes and I'm lavishing in the "ouch" moments that are prodding me closer to Him.

Sustain me

Originally, I wrote this blog a week after I returned from living in Budapest, Hungary for almost three years. Looking back now, I see that not much has changed in my thinking along these lines. In addition, I'm so blessed that I met my husband who has a similar perspective so we can build this life together.

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"Recently more than anything during these changing times I've realized just how much I desire the simple life. In that pursuit, I've also realized that I don't want to be propped up by any material or external things for my substenance. I've also realized I want people who are like minded in simplicity to be around. I don't mean simple-minded in the sense of not thinking, but in the sense of not taking anything in life for granted, especially people. This is part of a support system that builds a simple life. Of course I need to eat, I need a car to get around in Nevada, and those sorts of things, but I want a simple life - simple community living, simple Christ following, one where God is center place.

I can't believe how incredibly easy it is to allow so many other things to take center stage in life -- things that fade with time. And yet I continue to pursue the one thing alone that can truly support and uphold me through all the changing seasons of life, and that is Christ.

In the Catholic tradition, today is Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter and the beginning of Lent, a day to consider in some sort of thoughtful way those areas in your life where you fall short of the standard of God's goodness and begin a season of reflective living. The ashes on the forehead signify that you are in a state of repentance, wanting to turn away from things in your life that lead you further away from your creator and your relationship with Him.

Although I'm not a practicing Catholic, I appreciate this reverence and reflection and recognize it's significance in my life. When I was in high school, I became a believer and a Christ follower right around Easter time, in the month of April. This time of year is always significant for me. I have absolutely no idea what my life would look like had my heart not been turned to consider the claims of Jesus Christ and realize he was either a liar, a crazy man, or specifically, uniquely, divinely - the Lord of life. Here's where my life got complicated. I lost a lot of friends and was misunderstood because I realized that if He is the Lord of life - King or "Kiraly" in Hungarian - then He also has a kingdom. Not only that, if I am his child, there is royalty in this blood and I should start walking and talking like one who has been set apart for noble purposes. That life is meant to be lived simply before God but with the essence of His noble character. Not being better than anyone else for that will never be the case, but realizing this life is a journey to be set apart. And that's when I started to shed off weight that kept me from this pursuit.

I haven't always lived up to this standard and I guess that's the point. Ash Wednesday could very well be any other Wednesday or any other day for that matter. But it's a reminder that I desperately need this King of Kings to show up in all His royalty and arrest me, deliver me from carnal thinking. Not only that, I desperately need Him to sustain me in life.

Here is what I think about often. Many people I have known and loved started out well on this road as a Christ-follower but for a ton of seen and unforseen reasons, their faith waned, their fervor died, their marriages fell apart, their kids are a wreck and now they're no where to be seen on the pulse chart of true living. It sucks. It's sad. I hate it.

It's one thing to start on the path but it's another thing to finish well.

And to be honest with you, the only foreseeable way that I can imagine myself finishing well is if HE himself sustains me.
And He has promised to do that.

I am asking Him and He will answer.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:10-12)

To sus⋅tain
To support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of, as a structure, to bear (a burden, charge, etc.), to undergo, experience, or suffer (injury, loss, etc.); endure without giving way or yielding, to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction, to keep up or keep going, as an action or process, to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life, to provide for (an institution or the like) by furnishing means or funds."

Your Mind - What's growing there?

Renew your mind.

Whatever seeds are allowed to fester in your mind and soul, those will be watered with more thoughts in that direction. Those watered thoughts are taking root, they are being cultivated and will finally grow into whatever it is you're thinking about.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" - Proverbs 23:7

Sing

Looking at this picture, I'm inspired.

Make music while you're climbing the stairs of life. Maybe you'll get to the top and the notes will follow you up.

Even when your heart breaks over random events in other people's lives, you can still sing and keep your eyes looking straight ahead.

Come Hell or High Water Coast to Coast Half 2011

Early morning Miami registration.
A race bib waiting.
A warm sunny day on the East Coast.
Friendly beach-type participants.
Friendly Floridians cheering Krystal on.
Just Krystal and the Miami Half people.
That's how this one rolled out - East Coast.

No registration table in sight.
No race bib to run with.
A sunny cold Nevada morning.
No other participants.
No water tables or friendly cheering faces.
Just me and the Nevada wind.
That's how this one rolled out - West Coast.

And I'm not complaining!

Getting to this place took a lot.
And that's why we aptly named it
"Come Hell or Highwater - Coast to Coast Half"

For a number of reasons, our
-Plans fouled out to get to Vegas for the Rock n Roll Half.
-Plans fouled out to get to the Bay Area for the Walnut Creek Half.
-Plans fouled out to run together here in Reno, and make our own race on Saturday, December 10th.

So long story short, due to unforseen circumstances, we didn't do this half together (same time and place) but we finished well West and East Coast respectively.

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Race Day Report

PRE-RACE
Using Google Maps, James and I looked at a route in Northwest Reno that was 13.1 out and back. Just before the race, I drove three miles in and hid a water bottle in the bushes....that would be an extra water stop if I needed it along the way, which I did end up picking up.

GEAR
Garmin watch was charged the night before to keep track of mileage.

CLOTHES
I was all decked out in "Patagucci" gear.
Capilene 1 silkweight pants -first layer
Speedwork tights- running pants with little pocket for key and Gu.

Zoot tank with runners pocket in the back for Gu and Iphone
Capilene 3 1/4 zip as a baselayer
Runshade Crew over that for SPF protection and the nice lil' pocket that fit one Power Bar Gu.

3 packs of Power Bar Gel - Vanilla, Strawberry, Caffe Latte
Platypus - filled with water

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I started out around 8:45 am. The air was crisp and it was a little chilly but I was ready. Slow and even pace, I kept my first two miles in the 10:30 range. Then the wind hit and I slowed to and 11 pace. As I hit some hills, I looked down at the watch atleast once to see a 12 minute pace. Grrh! Frustrated, i kept reminding myself to just go slow. I wanted to finish and finish strong. The rest of the miles until around mile 8 were fairly good - somewhere in the 10 minute mark, dipping into 11 here and there. But on the way back that 5 mph East wind was definitely felt and frustrating! Combating that for the final 5 miles was brutal, to be honest. Nevada wind sucks!

I did spend my time wisely, as that's one thing about long distance running that drives me crazy. It feels like a waste of time! But I did use the time to connect with my creator, enjoying the beautiful outdoors, including the Truckee River and to pray for people that I know right now are struggling - in their marriages, with their health, in life in general. That helped the time pass for sure.

That and MUSIC!!! Having the Soul Surfer soundtrack, Owl City, Matt Kearney and Brooke Frasier in the music mix to keep me going!

So glad to say I did accomplish the goal - A half marathon in 2011!

First call made to celebrate with my husband.
Second call made to celebrate with my partner in crime, Krystal in Miami who had finished her race.
Third call made to the most amazing place in the world, especially after a half - Thanks to Eclipse Pizza for making the very best meat calzone in the world!! :) The world!!!

Next year I plan to do it - but hopefully there will be a beach, warm weather, other participants, a race bib and after party! Nonetheless, my knees hurt tremendously but my ankles held up. I'm going to spend the next week just taking walks. No workouts through Christmas.

Hymn to a Good Woman

Inspired once again by this woman in Proverbs 31 - Yep. I'm going to learn to sew! ha!!
Oh, and what exactly is "hearth??"and "festoon"?? Anyone? Anyone?

"A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need reaches out to help the poor.

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. (or from Patagonia -ha!) She makes her own clothing and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well made and elegant and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

Whe she speaks she has something worthwhile to say and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise. Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all.

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear(honor) of God Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!"

-proverbs 31:10-31