I missed February!

Well...I guess it's been awhile since I've allowed myself some self-reflection...or at least time to write about the self-reflection.

The flu knocked me flat on my back the past 5 days and that allowed a little extra time for thinking, not a ton as I found myself sleeping and wishing myself healthy most of the time.
Now I can't stop thinking about all the work I have to catch up on at work...those kids don't teach themselves and you never are really sure what all went down with the sub! :)

Today, I forced myself out of bed to go to my nephew's dedication at Church and then to my brother's 30th birthday brunch. I can't believe Owen is real. Everytime I go to my brother and sister-in-law's house to visit, he surprises me, captivates me and it's like falling in love with him all over again...really...I mean he is only 9 months old, can't talk, and can't walk, so maybe my feelings will change...doubtful...but he is the center of the world when we are around him. It's fun to daydream about what he'll be like when he's older and then scary to think about how so much of who he becomes is out of our control. He already makes his own choices, but soon they will be choices of greater responsibility and consequence, defining who he is and the path he chooses to take in this life. It's so joyful now to watch him learn to do the most simple things...climb off his little 4-wheeler, scoot around the ottoman, clap his hands, wave bye-bye. It's hard to believe that soon he'll be walking, talking and I'm sure causing terror...not all the time though! I'm praying for him today as he was dedicated...really a dedication by his parents and family and friends to love him, pray for him, and share what it means to follow Jesus with him as he grows into the 6ft-5in good looking, collegiate basketball player he will be someday! :) But seriously, it was a reminder that I will influence him and I want to be a person that shares what it means to love unconditionally, give generously, live adventurously and give and receive forgiveness freely.

Really, we should be living boldly to share Christ with everyone in our lives, not just our favorite nephew of all time, who mean the world to us! xoxo, love you little guy!

january

I decided to get one more post in the month of January. Last year I was trying to take a picture everyday for a year. I think it lasted most of the month of January and then life happened and I started studying and working more. This year has already been busy and although I lack pictures to speak of my adventures I suppose I can share some thoughts.

I trained hard and reaped the benefits of finishing the Phoenix marathon in under 4hrs! It was fun...yes fun, but I think the friends I was with, the sun and the flat course had a lot to do with that atttitude :)

I've spent time with my nephew Owen who is now crawling and walking witht he assistance of a huggies diaper box. One of my favorite feelings in the whole wide world is having him fall asleep in my arms.

I learned how to ski at White Pass last weekend. My ski instructor told me I made his day...I think because I was a quick and teachable learner, but his comment in fact then turned around and made my day!

Now enough "I"

God is working on my patience and giving me peace during this waiting period, while I wait to hear from schools regarding interviews.

God is teaching me about what it means to love him and follow him through his Word, John Piper and my favorite Bible Study girls.

God is preparing my heart and mind to speak at secondary chapel next month as I talk about "persistence, not perfection" in relation to being a disciple of Christ.

come back in February and hopefully I'll have pictures

New Year...same goals

I was reading the blog of an acquaintance yesterday and he talked about finishing, rather than starting something new in the new year. He pointed out that we are bombarded in our society with the next best thing, that new fad, toy or lifestyle that will bring you happiness, organization or success. How true it is that we are constantly looking for the next best, while sometimes forgetting what we've started. I have a tendency to do this with my sewing projects. I start something, but then I receive inspiration to do something else...luckily I've used up most all of my fabric, so I really do need a new project...once I get my mermaid quilt finished. Training for my marathon in a couple of weeks is something I have to finish. If I decided to stop training a month or two in, I would literally die or hurt myself on race day. I think that training for endurance events has taught me a lot about discipline and follow through. I want to continue to translate those attitudes into all areas of life, especially my spiritual life. If I want to know God's will and grow in relationship with him, I must discipline myself to train with him...through prayer, reading and spending time in relationship with other Christians. I think ultimately every new year, it is the same goal, to follow and seek after God that much more. The goal takes your life to complete, not a new year.

Phil. 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing Io do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul goes on to say in vs. 16 "let us live up to what we have already attained." Christ has given us an example to live by and our reward is citizenship in heaven with him. I eagerly experience and await the continued transformation of my life to be more like his.