California Dreamin'

We made it safely to California on Wednesday. We spent the day today with family and tomorrow we're off to Santa Barbara for the Westmont reunion. We are staying with two of my favorite Californians, Deyl and Paige Kearin. After the reunion, it's a surprise Sunday evening (blog post to come). We're happy to be here safely and we'll keep the updates comin'.

The advantages of accuracy

so I purchased this Nike+ system back in in June after I read a couple of posts by Deyl and DJ about their Nike+ experiences. It was this same experience that got me blogging more regularly, so thanks guys!

Well, I've been running with Nike+ for a few months and have just been depressed at my performance. I was a runner in high school and college so running 9 and 10 minute miles was just a downer. then I thought, "hey you should probably calibrate this thing." what a difference. The distance was off about 10% so I was running farther and faster than it was reporting. Since then I put in 7:37 mile and a 24:45 5k. nothing stunning...my glory days pr's for those distances are 4:45 mile and 17:31 5K. still nothing to write home about, but when I thought I was having trouble running fast than a 9 minute mile I wanted to cry.

Anyway, that's all better now and I've been so encouraged with my last two runs now that everythings accurate.

The Servant Heart and the Selfish Nature

"Love has a hem to her garment. It reaches the very dust. I wipes the stains from the streets and lanes. And because it can, it must."

-Mother Teresa

One winter afternoon when I was in high school, I was washing my hands in the school bathroom. The girl at the sink next to me was washing blood off her forearm. She had carved the word "hate" into her flesh. I was deeply disturbed by this experience. I could feel the depth of the girls pain and I wanted help - I wanted to heal. I didn't know how. So, in my little teenage mind, I contrived a plan to be her unsolicited Secret Santa. I figured that even a small expression of kindness from a stranger might help. So, for weeks, I left little gifts for this girl with our PE teacher. I was eagerly awaiting the day I would reveal myself and hopefully offer this stranger some comfort.

My PE teacher and I had a mentoring relationship, and she was concerned about my feelings being hurt in the end of this experiment. One day, my teacher pulled me aside and said, "Erin, what you are doing is very sweet, and I am worried that it is not being appreciated. She does not look like she cares when I give her your little gifts. I don't think you should give them to her anymore." And, so I stopped. The feeling of regret that resulted has never left me.

I was not being kind for appreciation, recognition, or acknowledgement. But I was not confident enough in my convictions at the time to continue to do what I knew was right. My teacher meant no harm. She was protecting my heart.

As a social worker now, I am trained to help and heal. I feel it is my calling. And to this day, I am still astonished by the animosity a servant heart stirs in others. For some, it is merely something they cannot understand - doing something kind for someone without appreciation and the risk of being hurt. For others, it provokes an attack. A bludgeoning of "you don't need to do that" and "you're wasting time," and the underlying "you're making me look bad!" My back bone is strengthening as I learn that others do not think and live as I do, and I need to do what I know is right. Who would have thought that kindness would rock the boat. Here's to rocking the boat!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Saturday was my mom's 50th birthday. Erin and I were trying to think of what to get her and we decided that there isn't anything she would want more than to have all of her kids together for her birthday. So we drove 24 hours to spend about 8hrs with her. It was such a good time though.

Erin and I drove over on Friday and surprised her Friday night. I called her when we were a couple of blocks away from her house and started some small talk about what a "long day" I had and that I was "just now pulling up to the house" (her house). The small talk continued as I walked into the front door and she said something to the effect of "you've got to be kidding me" while still holding the phone to her ear. It was a good surprise.

We spent 3 or 4 hours at her house that night just catching up and having fun, then went to stay at my brothers house. We slept in the next morning, ate breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, Charlie Coram's Place (the home of heavenly hash). After breakfast we picked up my sister Valerie and headed to St. Andrew State Park for an afternoon at the beach. The beaches are just beautiful, so often I go to PC and don't go to the beach. I guess I've been away long enough that I miss it. We laid around on the beach for a little while, and finally coaxed Erin into the water.

We ran some errands the rest of the day and ended up at mom's house around 7pm. Supper was supposed to be at 8, ended up closer to 9 so we were real hungry by the time everything was ready. Supper was delicious we had steak, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was so nice having the family together just being a family. We didn't do that much growing up. It was nice. Happy Birthday Mom!

Team Building 101

One thing I like to do each year is to take the new group of interns from Rockin' C Ranch on a Team Building adventure trip. We have a great group this year: Jill, David, Nick, Ashley L., Ashley J., and Ethan (not in picture, he was in Southeast Asia). I am super excited about what the Lord is going to do through this group this year, as well as what He is going to do in them.

In years past we have gone spelunking at Longhorn Caverns and Inner Space Caverns. This year we went to Lake Mineral Wells State Park to do some rappelling and rock climbing. The formation at Penitentiary Hollow is stunning and makes for a great experience. The first day we rappelled and after lunch a few rappelled Australian style. The second day we climbed a few different runs. My body hurt so bad the next day.

We had a ton of fun and grew as a group. Part of the fun was a great game Erin and I picked up from some friends of ours Deyl and Paige. If you never played Settlers of Catan....you're missing out!

Celebrating 2 years!

July 29 was our two year anniversary. We attempted many an extravagant plan, but it was Sunday. The vineyard and the gourmet restaurant with a New Zealand chef were not open. So, it turned out to be a morning at church, a quiet afternoon at home, and then a late evening snack at On the Border. Guacamole live, sampler platter and some yummy margaritas.

We've decided to start an anniversary tradition. Each year we will reflect and journal the major events of the year, and set goals for the year to come. Ideally, there will be an anniversary picture included with each entry and a note about the gifts given. Which leads to this year's gift - the second anniversary being the cotton gift year - two sets of 600+ thread count sheets!!! Surprise gift from Jason, a gift we are both enjoying tremendously!

Looking forward to many more blessed years!

one more down...

So I started my MBA in March, and I'll be in school through April 2009. I just finished my final paper for the second course in the program...and I want to bang my head against a wall. This has been my life for the last two and half days. Well, this and Starbucks (it's my third place).

I'm glad it's done though. Next course starts Monday, it's a finanical analysis seminar, which I'm really excited about. Nerd, yeah, I know.

Deep down inside, I've alway been and probably always will be a runner. I'm just hiding it behind a few extra pounds right now. The thing I hate most about running is running alone. So, in an effort to bring out the true me, I purchased the Nike+ system. A guy I know out in Cali had this widget on his blog, and I thought it was the coolest thing. This kinda helps me feel like I've got some running buddies....that and like I have a new ipod.

Alright, it's been a long day, g'night.