26.2 Miles?! 18 miles closer...

For those of you who do not get my emails...I thought I'd post my most recent "China Update"...though I"m not in China anymore.

Hello friends and family!

I wrote this letter over a month ago and I’m embarrassed to say I’m just now getting it out.  Regardless of the timing,  it is all still true.    

I realize some of you I have not talked with since I got back from China.  A lot has happened! Last summer I was jobless, homeless, and boyfriendless. 2012 has brought many wonderful things such as a job (preschool teacher at Lydia Home in Chicago), a home (living rent free in a beautiful home as part of my job), and a boyfriend (possibly my favorite part).

With all these changes one word has risen in this season: work
I have to work hard at my job learning new skills.
I have to work to keep my house clean. We end up hosting different friends coming through Chicago.
I have to work at this new relationship. I feel like I'm learning so many good and hard things about myself!

On top of all this I am working towards running a MARATHON. That's right. 26.2 miles of concrete and my feet for 4+ hours of work.

I'm really excited (and scared). As part of my training I've committed to raising money for two (yes, two) organizations. So many opportunities to give!

I am working to raise $500 for Lydia Home Association when I run a half marathon this coming Sunday Sept 9 and $1300 for World Vision when I run the marathon in October.  My page for donations for Lydia will be open until the Marathon on October 7th so feel free to give even after the half marathon.

As a recreational runner I've dreamt about and resisted the idea of a marathon. For me its about conquering fears, and lies in my life and supporting things I believe in.  This past week I ran 18 miles with some friends and afterwards cried with excitement and amazement at how much more I can do than I know!

I'm often tired in this season of work, but who isn't tired when working hard for what they want.

I've seen the Lords power and.strength in subtle and humbling ways. We serve such a.good God who desires such a good life for us. I rejoice in his strength!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great!  You are clothed with splendor and majesty...” Psalm 104:1

If you would like to give to either charity please follow the links below or email me with any further questions.  If you’ve already given...THANK YOU!!!

Lydia Home Association (This is who I work for!!!):
Website with more information about Lydia Home Association - www.lydiahome.org
Website to donate towards my $500 goal - http://www.fundeasy.com/m/893137/

World Vision:
Website with more information about World Vision - www.worldvision.org
Website to donate towards my $1300 goal - http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1241965&pg=personal&fr_id=1670

Or if you just want to send me some encouraging words and prayers...I’ll take that too!

I’m am so very excited to run this marathon and would love your support with me!

Blessings,

Bethany

7:00am

It's 7:00am the Tuesday after seeing my parents for the weekend.  The Tuesday before the 4th of  July.  The Tuesday before my 30th birthday.  :)

I'm at work - officially on the clock now that it is 7:00am.

So - I just really wanted to check in and say "hi" to the blogging world.  I'm still here.

Bullet point life highlights.

•  I've begun to fall in love with a handsome man.  
• I'm loving summer at Lydia. 
•  I'm still training for the marathon.  
• My birthday is Friday.

I need to get back to work because all I can think right now is "I need to be working.  I need to be working. I need to be working."

Mucho amor. 

1 step toward #12

#12 Run the Chicago Marathon

Thanks to the support and encouragement of my friend Susan, I registered for the Chicago Marathon last Sunday.

Two days later registration closed.

Registration opened and closed in a record number six days.

Last year registration closed in 31 days. 

45,000 people is the max registration.

Amazing.  

So, in honor of my long Saturday morning runs I walked over to my gym and peered at the treadmills.  Dread was pouring through my pores.  I had no desire to run six miles on the piece of machinery while it was sunny outside, even if it wasn't quite above zero degrees.

So, I walked out of the gym, back to my house and bundled up for a long, Chicago winter run.

One hour later I found myself still smiling and enjoying the run in the sun (aside from the slight pain in my right knee...)

And, as a perk a car honked their horn at me and gave me cheering arms while I was running.

Those Chicagoans, they encourage my crazy cold runs.

a highlight of 2012

I'm not much of a Superbowl fan, yet somehow this year I found myself in Indianapolis watching the game.  My roommate is from Indy and so we spontaneously decided to drive down to watch the game wherever we could find a TV.  We were able to park at her house and avoid the $100 parking prices being asked downtown.

Artsy photos on the drive to Indy...

...and then we found ourselves surrounded by all things Superbowl.

The roommates and I in the middle of the chaos

Yes, ice sculptures.  Ridiculous and amazing.

Odd thing was, someone forgot to tell the locals that the Colt's weren't playing.
There were more Colt's jerseys than anything else.
Though it did not take me long to learn that Colt's fan = Gian't's fan

A pic of someone on the zip line through Superbowl Village

The zip line loading dock.

We found some TV's  at a little place called The Ugly Monkey.
and here he is THE ugly monkey!

As one not much into football I spent my time taking pics...

End of the game pic before going home...

one of those days...

Today was one of those unexpectedly wonderful days.  

I love it when that happens.  

Last night I ended the day sharing with my mom how I was not looking forward to today.  There were many unknowns, it was a different schedule than my normal workday, different kids...different challenging dynamics between kids...ugh.

I left the classroom with my older kids at 9:30 this morning trying to decide how to kill half an hour.  A game of Chutes and Ladders later we walked back into the classroom to a Hawiian party in full swing!  Lei's were properly draped, blankets wrapped around as "grass skirts", and a dance contest happenin.  Everyone, including my older kids, were enjoying our time on the beach.  

My biggest moment of praise was being outside at the park and watching two of my kids who do NOT get along play "pretend" together.  They are both older, big and they regularly get in some mean fights.  Today they not only played "pretend" together but I also caught them having a regular ol' conversation while we walked down the hall.  Not a single fight between them all day!

I think I'm amazed because so often I think I know what the day will hold.  In my job now when I think I "know" I'm usually fearful of having a terrible day.  Yet today was one of those days when I had many "I LOVE my job" moments.  Amazing.

Just a little shout-out and thanks to God for being so much bigger than what I think I "know".  Walking by faith - it's for the faint of heart.  :)

My fellow Hawiian teachers 

  

Childlike Honesty

The other day I wore eyeliner to school, which is not totally out of the ordinary.

A very sweet 3 year old named 

Joanne asked: "Ms. Bethany, what's on your eyes?"

Me: "Makeup.  Why?"

Joanne: "It's ugly"

End of conversation.  

I did tell her mother, and we both laughed.  

12 Things...

As it is almost January 12th, I thought this in order.  

My Personal List of 12 Things to Do in 2012

1. Become a more confident city cyclist

2. Read a book by N.T. Wright

3. Buy a new computer

4. Go to Lincoln's Presidential Library in Springfield, MO

5. Start and finish a craft on pinterest

6. Visit Kelch's in Wooster, Ohio

7. Karaoke

8. Go to an opera

9. Join a running club

10. Go camping with friends

11. Turn 30

12. Run the Chicago Marathon

And four belated pictures of our grand New Years celebration.

You see, it all started because I have these two friends who had these beautiful dresses,

and this is how we celebrated.

Milano via Beatkitchen

This past weekend I went to a show.  It's been years since I attended a good ol' rock show.  Not much had changed, there was still an awe of the people on stage, too many people in one small hot room, not enough people dancing...I loved it.

There was something about being little me trying to see over the guys in front; watching the chubby Asian in the hipster glasses tap his toe to the music...I loved it.

Here is my miniature attempt at documenting the event.

My Little Marathon

This morning I went for a little run.

I listened to this little cd.

A man on the corner stopped his day to cheer me on.

I was (kinda) hit by a car.

(No major injuries to report; just a greater awareness cars coming out of alleys)

I ran through a major minor wind storm for a few blocks.

And I wound up home refreshed for the day.

Feeling one run closer to my desire to complete the Chicago Marathon in 2012

Chicago

Whenever I leave Montana I cry.  It's inevitable.  As I walk through the Bozeman airport I am filled with anger, sadness, and all things grumpy.  I make no eye contact with the pleasant security officers checking my carry on's.  I wipe my tears as the ticket agent takes my boarding pass on to the plane.

Once on the plane I'm not much more pleasant.  I don't want a drink.  I don't want to talk.  I just want to sulk.  So I bury my head in my sweatshirt and drift in and out of sleep.

This particular trip I had a layover in Salt Lake City.  Walking crankily through the airport I glanced outside and saw the mountains surrounding the airport.  To add to the beauty there was a pink sunrise pouring their color over the horizon.  I felt a little dumb for being so cranky, but I was not quite ready to let go of being sad.  

On the last leg of the journey I quickly put in my earphones and selfishly never even said a word to the lady sitting next to me (then again she did sleep most the trip).  I drifted in and out of sleep as I watched the clouds go by.

Once we were landed in Chicago, I gathered my luggage from the plane and walked into the airport.  It was in that moment - walking through O'Hare- that I thought, "Chicago's not so bad...I really do like it here..."  And from then on my spirit's were lifted.

The next morning as I was sitting at my little local Starbucks enjoying a soy misto and blueberry scone, I was reminded that I do like it here.  I actually love a lot about where I'm at.  The challenges, the familiarity, the friends...sometimes in the midst of pouting it's hard to see the light on the other end of the journey.  I'm glad the Lord gave me the grace to see the joy of what I have here, where He has called me.

Christmas via Bozeman

Some of my favorite pictures on my camera from the past week...

Christmas 2011 was a sweet and smashing success.

Candlelight Carols 2011

Firm Voice

Considering this is my first time as a professional teacher I feel as if I learn something new everyday about myself, teaching, my kids...it's a lot of learning.

Today I learned the power of my firm voice.

In my three short months as a pre-school teacher I have found with in me a voice I've only ever heard once or twice in my life.

It is this deep, firm, low, eye-contact accompanied voice that is very serious and tinted with anger.

Yes, anger.

I'm telling you, it's a whole new voice.

It is not a voice I ever used in my customer service years at Starbucks.

Nor did I this voice in my years as an administrative assistant.

...I did use it once or twice as a sister...

But never in the workplace, until now.

I talked to a friend at work about it.  There is a part of me that is not comfortable with being angry and using such a firm voice.  She encouraged me and said some of it is a strength rising up from inside that the Lord is loosening.

I like it.   It reminds me that I'm the one in charge.

It reminds me that I am the teacher.

Which reminds me that I'm the one to care for, love and teach these kids.  And sometimes that requires me doing things I'm not always "comfortable" doing, like using my firm voice.

There have been so many times the past three months I think "I DON"T WANT TO" in regards to some of my responsibilities.  It's in these moments humility and grace come hand in hand and teach me that it's not my job to make my life easier but to respect and honor God in the place He's put me.  Which right now is working with these awesome kids.

Sweet.

Power and the Glory

I realize I've been gone for awhile.

I had no idea how long I'd been gone until I logged on yesterday and began to read all my friends blogs.  I think it's been 29 days.  Which means yes, I've not been on all month.

With that aside, I've been thinking a lot this past week about the power and glory of God.

I've been working my way through Hebrews in the New Testament and was struck with the pictures it paints in chapter 12 about the power of God.

I thought "Man, I wish I could see the power and glory of God in my life"

And then this happened...

my handsome nephew was born on November 16th.  Over Thanksgiving I was able to hold him...

his beautiful big sister

and his handsome (even when pouty) big brother.

During the trip I was also able to see my other nephew born a mere 5 days later on November 21st after 35 hours of labor.  Not suprisingly, the little man had "transitional issues" and was kept in the hospital for another 5 days.

It was special to get to see him go from being in a hospital in cords to being in my arms at his house with no medical experts...just me, my sister and brother-in-law.

Baby safe at home with dad, mom & dog.

Now, I'm yet to be a full biblical research on the power and glory of God.

But in the past week of my life I've seen His power and glory in some very personal ways.

Happy Reformation Day

In honor of Reformation Day all the kids in my class dressed up in costumes, we walked the halls of our school and asked for candy and ending the day with a party in the gym.  

Isn't that what today is about?

:)  

Chicago Weekend

As one who claims to love living in the city my transition to living back in Chicago has not come with out bumps.  There are days I longer for the quiet and ease of the suburbs.  Target is more accessible in the suburbs, as is quiet streets for early morning runs.

This weekend I have felt like a Chicagoan, and enjoyed it.  I began with a Saturday morning run through neighborhoods filled with old houses.  After the run I picked up a coffee at a local (non Starbucks) place as well as a Chicago Arts paper (with dreams of maybe going to play...but in reality just loving feeling in the know).  With my hair wet from my shower, hot Thai coffee in hand and a paper tucked under my arm I walked into my Saturday morning CPR training ready to save lives.  :)

Saturday night consisted of an unofficial Roomie Date night.  I'd like to say we had a lovely evening.  We went to a local BBQ place for dinner.  Not knowing what we were getting into, we pub on our cute earrings and jeans and headed to eat.  

The experience ended up being very casual and delicious!  But since we were still dressed up we decided to end the evening with dessert at yet another Chicago landmark....

Margie's Candies.  I'd never heard of it, but the shop has been around FOREVER! OK, over 75 years.  It was such a trip.  They are known for their ice cream.  I tried my first cheesecake ice cream...delicious!

And this morning as I was walking home from church at the Abbey Pub, I felt like this weekend was complete and full of Chicago city moments.