Mary Poppins Wasn't Perfect

I'm running a 5K tomorrow. That shouldn't be a big deal. I've been running much more than a mere 3 miles the past several weeks. But the fact that it's a race. With other people running with me....Other people watching. It just brings back a memory. One that I find quite funny now.... I played sports in high school. I played volleyball and softball. My senior year, I needed a spring sport since I'd stopped playing softball and had been talked into cross country. Yes, talked into it. Our 'neighbor' and friend, Coach Cole had talked me into it. She assured me I didn't have to be fast....just steady. And if I'm anything, I'm steady. Well. Practice with Coach Cole consisted of her driving us in a school van 9 miles away from the school, dropping us off, and saying "See ya back on campus!" 9 miles? Eh, I really don't even know if that's accurate. What I wanted to write was 23 miles, but knew that was an exaggeration. 9 migh...

I agree. 2.5 weeks is entirely too long to let this blog sit idle. But if you're curious, my journal has been left idle as well. It's not like all kinds of stuff is happening and I'm just forgetting to tell you. But a few things that ARE happening. April 19th I'm traveling to SC to sing at my friend's wedding. So excited for Katie! And excited that living in Florida has allowed me an easier opportunity to not only attend, but BE in her wedding. :-) And June. Oooooh June. I'll be running my first 1/2 marathon. In San Diego. Yup. I registered. I bought new shoes. I've been training. And I'm loving it! (MINUS the guy who said with a disbelieving expression on his face "Are you in SHAPE for that?!" Grrrr.) There's a REASON I'm TRAINING.  Anywho. Putting the soapbox away. I had a birthday. And it was a sweet day. I went to Tampa and had a glorious visit with my friend Helen. And the past 5 days, I've been immensely homesi...

As a 27 year old, I did the following: -wrapped up a season of 60 weddings within a year and a half. -Married off 2 roommates -Traveled to California for my first time ever -Watched as my sister was THE most beautiful bride there has ever been -Gained a Brother-In-Law! -Headed to Seattle to see the first of my cousins get married! -Learned one of the most valuable lessons thus far in my life -That valuable lesson was followed up with THIS post -Traveled to South Carolina for VACATION with family! -Went on my first 'girls vacation' BACK to South Carolina with some incredible girls! (I've done road trips, etc- with friends- but this was my first airplane vacation with friends!) -Started writing not one, but 2 books. Yes. 2 books. -Oh yeah, moved to Florida. :-) -Started new incredible job -Enjoyed my first WEEK of that new job in San Francisco! -Packed up and drove to Florida with Helen -Enjoyed Thanksgiving day with my dad at Cowboy Stadium! -Watched my b...

I turn 28 in one week. I'd ask for suggestions as to what to do this last week as a 27-year-old to make it a 'stand out' year- but I'd say packing up my life, moving across the country, starting a new job, helping plant a church, and beginning the process of writing not one- but two books is quite enough for this past year. I have to admit- my actual birthday last year was one of my least favorite. The day couldn't have started off worse, and it ended at church with me bawling my eyes out. Not just a 'few tears' kind of cry- but a ridiculous amount of crying. I'd asked God for some pretty big things specifically for the year 26. With the arrival of March 12 meant that those things I'd prayed for had not come to pass. Last year on my birthday- it felt as though the entire day was a reminder that my prayers had not been answered. That's not a way to celebrate. Looking back, today, I'm grateful He didn't answer those prayers. If he had...

You know the feeling. There are things we do that are easy for us. There are things that require no stretching. No challenge. No thought. We are all gifted in different areas. And most often- once we've been operating in our gifting for quite some time- it comes with ease. And then there are times we are yanked out of our comfort zone. I love to sing. Most of you know this about me. I've been singing for as long as I can remember- and probably even before that! I've sung in front of hundreds, even tens of thousands, of people before. Being a part of a worship team at church is something I've done since high school. I love it. When I'm leading a congregation in worship, I am at ease. Not because I can sing well, but because I'm comfortable singing in front of people. If I were not comfortable, I would have a hard time leading others in worship. It would be too easy for me to be focused on other issues to truly allow myself to enter in to worship. Ther...

I just tweeted the following statement: "In my opinion, a guy saying on his match.com profile that he wants a skinny girl is the equivalent of a girl saying she wants a guy that makes 6 figures." This may seem like a male-bashing post...And maybe I'm just in the mood to do just that....or maybe I've just come across a perfect way to express my feelings in regards to the whole subject. Guys. If you make 40K, 50K, or even 80K- would you prefer that we discount you? Would you prefer that we make the assumption that you are not working hard enough? That you are lazy? That you don't have self-discipline? Would you want us to disregard you and your efforts if you didn't measure up to the 100K salary line? In the same way, I know plenty of girls (myself included) who work out 4-6 times a week, eat healthy, make conscious efforts to he the healthiest that she can be but might not measure up to the standards the world/media has set. If she doesn't measure u...

I got away to the beach this past weekend and couldn't have had a more relaxing time. A beautiful 4 hour drive. Perfect weather. A gorgeous view. Dinner on Saturday with one of the sweetest couples on the face of the planet. A chance to be a 'daughter' for the weekend which was MUCH needed. Sweet breakfast and conversation with Michael and Judy for several hours on Sunday morning. And a nice drive home. Yes, I believe I will make weekend beach visits a regular thing while living here. Not necessarily that far away each time (thank you gas prices for being so outrageous), but lots of beach time is in my future for sure :-)