Okay, so you know that I'm on this running kick; and so far its going great. Yesterday I ran an entire mile without stopping! To some of you this is no big deal, but for me this is a huge accomplishment.
A week and a half ago I could barely get to 1/4th of a mile without stopping. I had to push myself to the limit to get to a quarter mile. 10 days later, I got to the mile. Now, I'm not exactly running at world record pace, but nonetheless, I am definitely improving.
My next goal: 1.5 miles without stopping. I have been working extremely hard over the last 10 days to get where I am. I have run every day (except for 2...cause everything I have read says that I need a day off a week for best results; I'm trying to do this the healthy way!), and I have been lifting weights on a regular schedule. I am tired and sore...and I feel GREAT!
Endurance is a VERY hard thing to achieve; especially for me. It does not come naturally to me at all. A week and a half ago, endurance meant getting past the quarter mile, now it means a full mile. Lord willing, in 2 more weeks it will be even farther. I will have to continue to work really hard at this to get there. Endurance is really hard.
But, it it also worth it. Now, when I get to a quarter mile I feel like I have been walking. I don't even start feeling tired until close to 3/4th of a mile. Thanks to the hard work, I am gaining endurance- and while 1 mile used to scare me, it doesn't anymore.
I am trying to develop endurance in my life as well. Again, it doesn't come easily for me. I feel like I am constantly fighting the urge to just stop. I have made it past 5 years here and while I feel fatigued, I see some things that have become my quarter mile.
I am enjoying my singleness like never before. I am enjoying my alone time like never before. While standing in front of Kids Club with a microphone in my hand used to terrify me, now I look forward to it. These are my quarter miles.
Its the accomplishment of that quarter mile...and onto the mile...that keeps me going because I have some 5K's ahead of me that seem impossible to accomplish. I am enjoying singleness at 27, but what will I feel like at 47? I enjoy Kids Club, but next week I am supposed to speak at Teen Club, and I'm scared. Finances seem to be my marathon, requiring MUCH endurance and constant struggle.
Training for a marathon is really intense. It takes a lot of work, a lot of perseverance and endurance. It takes focus, determination, and not everyone is made to do it. That's completely okay, I don't think there is anything wrong with stopping at a 5 or 10K.
In life plenty of people stop at a certain point and are comfortable with how far they have come. That is absolutely an individual choice and one I feel like I am faced with all the time. I am constantly tempted to stop running. I'm tired, I'm hurt, and I just want to rest. (I mean this both literally and figuratively- my legs are sore!)
I always have to ask myself how far I really want to go. It would be so much easier to stick with where I am and not push myself any farther. I really like being comfortable, and pushing myself is hard, not comfortable. I could even stay in Philly and not really push myself, refusing to go after challenging things and turning my back on things that might be too difficult. I'm constantly surprised by how comfortable my life really could be if I chose to stop pushing myself. So, I have to ask myself; how far do I want to push? I know I can go as far as I want, God makes it very clear that He will give me all the strength I need...but the farther I go, the more that will be required of me.
In my running endeavors, my current goal is a 5K, hopefully to go onto a 10K. After that, we'll see.
In life, I'm going for the marathon.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
So Tired...
Today was an exhausting day. I was up late last night helping celebrate one of the teen's 18th birthday (dinner and a movie) and got up early for staff prayer. From there I spent the early afternoon doing my AIM stuff. As soon as I was finished at 2, I did my daily run and then headed to the church to prepare for a special Kids' Day. That went from 3:30-5 and it was a BLAST!! I had no idea how many kids to expect, but I was hoping for at least 30. Thankfully, we had 42! That's really great when you consider that yesterday I passed out a ton of fliers; none of which had the date on them. Haha, whoops!
So, the Kids Day was really a play day. We sang songs until we were tired, at snack and played on the playground. Not a ton of planning, but very busy and active...and fun!!
I went straight from the Kids Day to Prayer Pals. It was a pretty full night and 2 of my favorite pals that had switched to Sunday night pals came tonight. I was SO excited when they came in and especially had fun hanging out with one of them...who is quickly becoming one of my favorite kids in the world. He is very smart and fun but also a little mischievous, which makes him so much fun!!
My mom's prayer pal came as well and after checking her box announced, "Your mother has not been writing me letters!" (She's 8 years old). It made me laugh so hard that I decided to call my mom and they talked on the phone for about 20 minutes. She made my mom laugh and the conversation seemed to appease the 8 year old...at least for now. :)
I didn't get home until after 8...which makes it an 11 hour day. I also spent different parts of the day fighting the state of Virginia over my 2004 taxes. I think I have it all figured out, I just have to get the paperwork to the right person. However, she doesn't have a direct line, so I have to call her and leave a message and then wait for her to call me back. But, if I can't answer the phone when she calls me, then she leaves me a message. And so on and so on. Its pretty frustrating, and I can't wait to have it all figured out. Bottom line, though, I did NOT live or work in VA in 2004, so I don't owe them a thing.
I'm also still trying to help Bonita and Linda's mom get a house. We found a house that she wants, and we have the rental agreement, but I can't help her fill it out because I don't know Spanish. Unfortunately, the girls' oldest sister, Dayonarra, who usually helps the mom with this stuff had a baby today and isn't really available. So, hopefully she can get everything filled out and turned in before someone else gets the house...and before they have to move out of their current house.
So, overall a good day...but now I am going to bed. :)
So, the Kids Day was really a play day. We sang songs until we were tired, at snack and played on the playground. Not a ton of planning, but very busy and active...and fun!!
I went straight from the Kids Day to Prayer Pals. It was a pretty full night and 2 of my favorite pals that had switched to Sunday night pals came tonight. I was SO excited when they came in and especially had fun hanging out with one of them...who is quickly becoming one of my favorite kids in the world. He is very smart and fun but also a little mischievous, which makes him so much fun!!
My mom's prayer pal came as well and after checking her box announced, "Your mother has not been writing me letters!" (She's 8 years old). It made me laugh so hard that I decided to call my mom and they talked on the phone for about 20 minutes. She made my mom laugh and the conversation seemed to appease the 8 year old...at least for now. :)
I didn't get home until after 8...which makes it an 11 hour day. I also spent different parts of the day fighting the state of Virginia over my 2004 taxes. I think I have it all figured out, I just have to get the paperwork to the right person. However, she doesn't have a direct line, so I have to call her and leave a message and then wait for her to call me back. But, if I can't answer the phone when she calls me, then she leaves me a message. And so on and so on. Its pretty frustrating, and I can't wait to have it all figured out. Bottom line, though, I did NOT live or work in VA in 2004, so I don't owe them a thing.
I'm also still trying to help Bonita and Linda's mom get a house. We found a house that she wants, and we have the rental agreement, but I can't help her fill it out because I don't know Spanish. Unfortunately, the girls' oldest sister, Dayonarra, who usually helps the mom with this stuff had a baby today and isn't really available. So, hopefully she can get everything filled out and turned in before someone else gets the house...and before they have to move out of their current house.
So, overall a good day...but now I am going to bed. :)
Monday, January 7, 2008
You've Got Nothing Better To Do...
Do you have any idea how many times I hear that statement? You would be surprised. As often as you probably think I hear it, you would be wrong. I hear it even more than that. Well, you might not be surprised, you might have actually said it to me. Or, at least thought it. Its okay, I'm used to it and it doesn't really make me mad. A little sad, but not mad.
What exactly would constitute something"better" to do? I really enjoy reading, and because I don't have a family I have time to read. But, apparently that isn't "better" than what married people with children have to do, so I get the statement. Making dinner for myself apparently doesn't constitute "better", but were I making dinner for a family, I could qualify under the "better" column.
Despite what many people apparently think, my day does not completely revolve around me. First, I work a part time time job as well as in full time ministry. I live on the mission field and I take care of all of my own finances as well as support raising. No one knows the number of hours I spend on the phone with teens and Gods' Girls. Nor do they know the trips I take with them, from dinner to the movies to Hershey Park. And, there is the time I spend chatting back and forth on MySpace and Facebook with various teens and preteens. No one knows because I am alone when I do those things. That fact apparently disqualifies them from being "better".
The fact that I am willing and able to drop things that I am doing to do something else also apparently means that what I do does not qualify as "better". It is very true, that I rarely have things that I HAVE to do, or at least I rarely have things that will keep me tied to one place. But does that automatically mean that I don't have something "better" to do? Or, could it possibly mean that God has allowed me, at this time in my life, to have plenty of "better" things to do, but also the freedom to choose which ones to do? The reality is, I am available to come and go. That doesn't mean that I don't have something "better" to do, it just means I'm more mobile.
If there is an immediate need for something to be done, say in the middle of the day, I will get the phone call before a woman who has children. It is very possible that at that moment she and I are actually doing the same thing (lets pretend her children are napping and her husband is out). However, I am able to leave and she isn't. What is the response I get though? "Well, its not like you had something better to do". Interesting...
The other interesting part of that statement, for me, is this: If the assumption is that I truly have nothing better to do, why do I only get phone calls in times of need? If you assume that I am just sitting in my house, wasting my time away, why don't you call me to hang out? Or...something? I mean, I have nothing better to do...oh, but I forgot...apparently, everyone else does have something "better" to do.
Okay, so the last paragraph did sound a bit angry, but I promise I'm not. A little annoyed probably.
I have caught myself doing this to married people with kids, and I have to admit that I have done plenty of repenting and apologizing. I have many friends who are married with children and don't work a full time job outside the home, and I have wondered "what do they do with their time?". I'm not proud of that thought, but I have had it. I still don't necessarily know what people do all day, but I do know that whatever it is, its important.
I guess I just want people to realize the same about me. No, not every minute of every day is spent busily doing things for other people. But, neither is it spent doing this and that because I have "nothing better to do".
The truth is, I do have the choice to make my day completely about me. I could go all day and do only what I want. But I don't. At least not all the time, and I refuse to feel guilty in the times that I do. I also refuse to believe that married people don't take time for themselves as well.
So, the moral of this story is two fold.
1) Just because I'm single, please don't assume that my day is chalk full of me piddling away at life waiting for something "better" to come along.
2) If you think I'm at home with nothing "better" to do, maybe try calling me and offering me that "better". Just try and balance out the favors with the fun. I absolutely don't mind doing favors for people, but I promise I do them because I actually want to, not because I don't have anything "better" to do.
Now I am off to drive Bonita and Linda's mom to go look at some houses. They have to move because of some pretty serious issues involving their neighbors (that aren't their fault). I have plenty of other things I could/should be doing right now...but at this moment I can honestly say that I can't think of anything "better" I could be doing.
What exactly would constitute something"better" to do? I really enjoy reading, and because I don't have a family I have time to read. But, apparently that isn't "better" than what married people with children have to do, so I get the statement. Making dinner for myself apparently doesn't constitute "better", but were I making dinner for a family, I could qualify under the "better" column.
Despite what many people apparently think, my day does not completely revolve around me. First, I work a part time time job as well as in full time ministry. I live on the mission field and I take care of all of my own finances as well as support raising. No one knows the number of hours I spend on the phone with teens and Gods' Girls. Nor do they know the trips I take with them, from dinner to the movies to Hershey Park. And, there is the time I spend chatting back and forth on MySpace and Facebook with various teens and preteens. No one knows because I am alone when I do those things. That fact apparently disqualifies them from being "better".
The fact that I am willing and able to drop things that I am doing to do something else also apparently means that what I do does not qualify as "better". It is very true, that I rarely have things that I HAVE to do, or at least I rarely have things that will keep me tied to one place. But does that automatically mean that I don't have something "better" to do? Or, could it possibly mean that God has allowed me, at this time in my life, to have plenty of "better" things to do, but also the freedom to choose which ones to do? The reality is, I am available to come and go. That doesn't mean that I don't have something "better" to do, it just means I'm more mobile.
If there is an immediate need for something to be done, say in the middle of the day, I will get the phone call before a woman who has children. It is very possible that at that moment she and I are actually doing the same thing (lets pretend her children are napping and her husband is out). However, I am able to leave and she isn't. What is the response I get though? "Well, its not like you had something better to do". Interesting...
The other interesting part of that statement, for me, is this: If the assumption is that I truly have nothing better to do, why do I only get phone calls in times of need? If you assume that I am just sitting in my house, wasting my time away, why don't you call me to hang out? Or...something? I mean, I have nothing better to do...oh, but I forgot...apparently, everyone else does have something "better" to do.
Okay, so the last paragraph did sound a bit angry, but I promise I'm not. A little annoyed probably.
I have caught myself doing this to married people with kids, and I have to admit that I have done plenty of repenting and apologizing. I have many friends who are married with children and don't work a full time job outside the home, and I have wondered "what do they do with their time?". I'm not proud of that thought, but I have had it. I still don't necessarily know what people do all day, but I do know that whatever it is, its important.
I guess I just want people to realize the same about me. No, not every minute of every day is spent busily doing things for other people. But, neither is it spent doing this and that because I have "nothing better to do".
The truth is, I do have the choice to make my day completely about me. I could go all day and do only what I want. But I don't. At least not all the time, and I refuse to feel guilty in the times that I do. I also refuse to believe that married people don't take time for themselves as well.
So, the moral of this story is two fold.
1) Just because I'm single, please don't assume that my day is chalk full of me piddling away at life waiting for something "better" to come along.
2) If you think I'm at home with nothing "better" to do, maybe try calling me and offering me that "better". Just try and balance out the favors with the fun. I absolutely don't mind doing favors for people, but I promise I do them because I actually want to, not because I don't have anything "better" to do.
Now I am off to drive Bonita and Linda's mom to go look at some houses. They have to move because of some pretty serious issues involving their neighbors (that aren't their fault). I have plenty of other things I could/should be doing right now...but at this moment I can honestly say that I can't think of anything "better" I could be doing.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Orange Bowl!!
Okay, so we lost the game, so I am not going to talk about that. (Or about some of the people that came to watch the game with me and actually asked me to turn it down so they could talk, haha). But, I am quite proud of my party, so I will share that with you. (Sorry I haven't posted sooner, we took these pictures on Joy's camera and I just got them from her).
Since the bowl was the ORANGE bowl, and one of Tech's colors is ORANGE, we had an ORANGE party. First, all the food was orange. Unfortunately, I don't have any orange plates. We served oranges, macaroni and cheese, crackers and cheese, orange chicken, orange peppers, carrots, veggie dip (dyed orange), Doritos and Cheetos. And we drank orange soda and orange juice. :)
We tried to die the rice orange, but it actually came out maroon and orange...which was even better!!!
Next, the guests had to wear orange:
And finally, Giz had an orange collar. :) (He actually wore it all night!)
Overall it was a pretty fun night, despite the final score. I'm already excited for next year. I have plans for any of the BCS bowl possibilities...including a Mexican theme for the Fiesta Bowl, a Red Theme for the Rose Bowl, a much bigger Orange theme if we go back to the Orange Bowl or a Sweets Theme for the Sugar Bowl. I hope we have a great year!!
Since the bowl was the ORANGE bowl, and one of Tech's colors is ORANGE, we had an ORANGE party. First, all the food was orange. Unfortunately, I don't have any orange plates. We served oranges, macaroni and cheese, crackers and cheese, orange chicken, orange peppers, carrots, veggie dip (dyed orange), Doritos and Cheetos. And we drank orange soda and orange juice. :)
We tried to die the rice orange, but it actually came out maroon and orange...which was even better!!!
Next, the guests had to wear orange:
And finally, Giz had an orange collar. :) (He actually wore it all night!)
Overall it was a pretty fun night, despite the final score. I'm already excited for next year. I have plans for any of the BCS bowl possibilities...including a Mexican theme for the Fiesta Bowl, a Red Theme for the Rose Bowl, a much bigger Orange theme if we go back to the Orange Bowl or a Sweets Theme for the Sugar Bowl. I hope we have a great year!!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
My Day...
I had a really fun day today! I started the morning getting my AIM stuff finished. Then I headed to Center City to try and track down my great grandfather's birth certificate (for my mom). After much searching through the records of all children born in Philadelphia in 1890, I came up empty. It was pretty disappointing, but still fun to search.
After that I headed to Jones Middle School for their first basketball game of the season. One of my favorite teens, T, is on the team so Joy and I went to cheer her on. The game was HORRIBLE in terms of basketball. I am pretty sure T was the only one on the court who actually knew how to play basketball. I am not joking when I saw that I have seen better games played by 9 year olds. It was actually extremely frustrating for me to watch. I may not be a basketball star, but I do know how to play...and this was NOT how you play. Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching T play; especially when she made the game winning basket with less than 30 seconds to go in the game. It was great!!!T's little sister is my mom's Prayer Pal and came to the game a little late; after her sister D picked her up from school. She immediately came and sat in my lap and spent the game telling me to stop yelling in her ear. I told her she could move if she wanted, but I was still going to cheer. She stayed. :)
When we got to the game we realized that 2 of the guy teens from the church are on the Jones Boys Basketball Team, so we decided to stay for their game. We had to leave after the 3rd quarter, but Jones was up 50-7 at that point, so I don't think we missed much. :)
From the game I headed to Prayer Pals and then out to dinner with another teen, M. We had a really good time together. She has a lot going on in her family and while I was not helpful in the advice department, I was able to listen to her, and I think that helped.
So, now I am at home and ready to go to sleep! I still have a million things to do before tomorrow night, but I think I will get some sleep and worry about that tomorrow. Usually I tend to stay up late to do stuff, but I think I will be more productive tomorrow if I sleep. And, hopefully sleep will help me be a better Christian college football fan. :)
After that I headed to Jones Middle School for their first basketball game of the season. One of my favorite teens, T, is on the team so Joy and I went to cheer her on. The game was HORRIBLE in terms of basketball. I am pretty sure T was the only one on the court who actually knew how to play basketball. I am not joking when I saw that I have seen better games played by 9 year olds. It was actually extremely frustrating for me to watch. I may not be a basketball star, but I do know how to play...and this was NOT how you play. Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching T play; especially when she made the game winning basket with less than 30 seconds to go in the game. It was great!!!T's little sister is my mom's Prayer Pal and came to the game a little late; after her sister D picked her up from school. She immediately came and sat in my lap and spent the game telling me to stop yelling in her ear. I told her she could move if she wanted, but I was still going to cheer. She stayed. :)
When we got to the game we realized that 2 of the guy teens from the church are on the Jones Boys Basketball Team, so we decided to stay for their game. We had to leave after the 3rd quarter, but Jones was up 50-7 at that point, so I don't think we missed much. :)From the game I headed to Prayer Pals and then out to dinner with another teen, M. We had a really good time together. She has a lot going on in her family and while I was not helpful in the advice department, I was able to listen to her, and I think that helped.
So, now I am at home and ready to go to sleep! I still have a million things to do before tomorrow night, but I think I will get some sleep and worry about that tomorrow. Usually I tend to stay up late to do stuff, but I think I will be more productive tomorrow if I sleep. And, hopefully sleep will help me be a better Christian college football fan. :)
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!!!
I am SO excited that it is 2008!! Honestly, I am not a fan of 2007, and I am really looking forward to a much better year. I had a pretty fun New Year's Eve yesterday. I worked in the morning and then got some things done around the house in the afternoon. Last night I went to Frank and Elizabeth's house to hang out with some friends. Then we all headed to the Delaware River to watch the midnight fireworks. Joy and I picked up 2 of the teens to go with us, since their families were going to celebrate in ways they didn't want to participate in. We all had so much fun!! This time last year I was in Kenya...its amazing where I year will take you.
As you can imagine, the Delaware River was pretty packed, so we had to park pretty far away and walk (this is my 3rd trip to the fireworks, and we always have to park far away). Unfortunately, we didn't leave ourselves enough time to walk from our car to the spot we wanted to get to so we all literally had to run half a mile (I measured the distance on our way home) before midnight hit. We got there with 1 minute to spare!!! That's actually much better than 2 years ago when we were running up to the river during the countdown. :) It took us a good hour to drive home, but that gave us some good time to talk in the car, so we didn't mind.
Today has been a great day for me; mostly because I did next to nothing! :) I didn't get til bed until almost 3, so I slept in pretty late. I even turned my phone off!! I almost never turn my phone off; I'm always afraid something will happen to one of the kids and they won't be able to get in touch with me. The idea of one of the kids being in the hospital and me not knowing it terrifies me, so I usually keep my phone on. Unfortunately, that also means that the random, "Hey Trish, I'm bored" phone call wakes me up all too often. Usually that doesn't bother me...but last night I decided to just sleep!!
So, I woke up and still stayed away from my phone for most of the day. I check occasionally for missed calls, but other than that I read, watched TV and yes...went for a run. :) Tomorrow things go pretty much back to normal, so I decided to soak up today. I have work, Prayer Pals and plenty of things to do to prepare for Kids Club starting up. And of course; errands, cleaning, laundry, etc. I have also gotten calls from several teens that need to get together to talk, so I need to make time for them. I'm excited though, I enjoy the one on one opportunities.
And of course, I have to get ready for Thursday. Why? Because Thursday is the Orange Bowl!!! Virginia Tech will be taking on Kansas in their last game of this year; and it should be a really great game!! I am planning on having a party; everyone must wear orange, the house will be decorated orange...and of course, I will serve oranges. I am SO excited about this game!!!! My house is nowhere near ready for company, nor is my work ready to give me a night off...but hopefully that will change tomorrow!!!
I can't think of a better way to start of 2008 than with a Hokie win!!! :)
As you can imagine, the Delaware River was pretty packed, so we had to park pretty far away and walk (this is my 3rd trip to the fireworks, and we always have to park far away). Unfortunately, we didn't leave ourselves enough time to walk from our car to the spot we wanted to get to so we all literally had to run half a mile (I measured the distance on our way home) before midnight hit. We got there with 1 minute to spare!!! That's actually much better than 2 years ago when we were running up to the river during the countdown. :) It took us a good hour to drive home, but that gave us some good time to talk in the car, so we didn't mind.
Today has been a great day for me; mostly because I did next to nothing! :) I didn't get til bed until almost 3, so I slept in pretty late. I even turned my phone off!! I almost never turn my phone off; I'm always afraid something will happen to one of the kids and they won't be able to get in touch with me. The idea of one of the kids being in the hospital and me not knowing it terrifies me, so I usually keep my phone on. Unfortunately, that also means that the random, "Hey Trish, I'm bored" phone call wakes me up all too often. Usually that doesn't bother me...but last night I decided to just sleep!!
So, I woke up and still stayed away from my phone for most of the day. I check occasionally for missed calls, but other than that I read, watched TV and yes...went for a run. :) Tomorrow things go pretty much back to normal, so I decided to soak up today. I have work, Prayer Pals and plenty of things to do to prepare for Kids Club starting up. And of course; errands, cleaning, laundry, etc. I have also gotten calls from several teens that need to get together to talk, so I need to make time for them. I'm excited though, I enjoy the one on one opportunities.
And of course, I have to get ready for Thursday. Why? Because Thursday is the Orange Bowl!!! Virginia Tech will be taking on Kansas in their last game of this year; and it should be a really great game!! I am planning on having a party; everyone must wear orange, the house will be decorated orange...and of course, I will serve oranges. I am SO excited about this game!!!! My house is nowhere near ready for company, nor is my work ready to give me a night off...but hopefully that will change tomorrow!!!
I can't think of a better way to start of 2008 than with a Hokie win!!! :)
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