Check it off!

After months of being on the "to do" list...I finally just purchaed my ticket home for Christmas.

Dec. 22 2009 - January 1 2010.

Get your party hats everyone!

Security Check

You know when you go through the security check at airports and they make sure you don't have certain things in order for everyone to be secure? I was thinking today that my in my life there are certain things I like to have in order to feel secure. When I have these things, I feel as if I'm doing OK in life, I've got it together...I'm safe. These things include (but are not limited to):

• a full pack of gum in my car, purse, and/or backpack
• clean jeans
• a full tank of gas
• a full ice bin at work...and lids all stocked...in general most everything stocked
• oatmeal in my cupboard for breakfast (dried cranberries always a bonus)
• the side door to the basement locked at night
• at least $5 cash in my wallet

These are what first came to my mind though I know there are others. Yet I realize that I will not always have these things, though I really like them. Yesterday while I was thinking about what makes me secure I had a brief panic moment of insecurity. I realized that the things on my list are temporary (and really pretty trivial), but I find a lot of security in them. Leaving the house this morning I carried with me in my mind the words "pure" and "steadfast" from Psalm 51. I knew that today I would need something with more substance than a full pack of gum. Though the words "pure" and "steadfast" may not seem to be secure words...they grounded and focused me.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (v.10)

The reminder to have a pure life (honorable intentions, love, thoughts etc.) kept me focused while the fact that the Lord provides ultimate steadfastness kept me grounded. Thank you, Lord! Though I'm sure the list of trivial things I find security in will continue to grow and change, I know that the security I find in God is unchanging. Thank you, Lord.

classy and fabulous

"Every girl should be two things: classy and fabulous"

-Coco Chanel

In no particular order of loveliness...

i just couldn't help but brag a bit.

i just love these ladies so much.

random things

i did not work today. yeah! the negative side is that i feel a tremendous amount of pressure to get things done on the days i don't work. So i...went for a run, took my car for my first ever emissions test (we passed, i was nervous), brought clothes to the salvation army/clothes horse (the've been sitting in my trunk since doug and danae moved), got birthday presents for a neice and nephew, christmas presents for a sister, returned $20 worth at Target, spent $30 at the Vitamin Shoppe (for protein, and trace minerals...i have to take care of this abused-by-running body. anyone have thoughts/info. on trace minerals?), mailed back my new cute TOMS shoes that were the wrong size, talked to Nae (always a joy!), participated in class, worshiped at church and then home for Josephine.

amidst all of that i felt kind of sick. you know those days where it is 2:00pm you feel as if you still haven't "woken up". it was one of those days. now it's the end. i'm going to bed.

happy birthday friend jeremy!

Morning Run

This morning I took a little run downtown along the lake front in the form of a half marathon (13.1miles). :) It was very fun. I am now sore and feel as if I'm sick because I want to go to Starbucks and hang out with my friend, when in reality I know I need to stay here and rest. The run was so good. It was hard, but I enjoyed the challenge. I finished in 2hrs 8 min....which I am so very pleased with! It was my time alone with God where I was able to worship Him with the help of the David Crowder Band and all the onlookers who watched. On the last mile the finish line was not clearly marked which made "pushing it" a bit difficult, because I wasn't sure how long I would have to run hard. Though it was a bit crazy, this morning run was very fun.

www.chicagohalfmarathon.com

come as you are

Today in the drive-through at starbucks I noticed a ladies hands as I handed her her drink. She had fake purple fingernails but some of the nails had fallen off. She lazily made eye contact, and I wondered if she felt self-conscious of her hands.

One of the beautiful thing about working at a coffee shop, is that people come in all shapes and sizes. Some come in the drive-through early in the morning with hair un-combed and make-up not yet applied. Then later they will walk in the store for their mid-afternoon caffiene fix with hair and make-up in place.

So, I had this thought as I was looking at this ladies hands today -the starbucks drive through is kinda like Jesus. People come as they are to the starbucks drive-through. Broken and beautiful. So i started humming a made up song thinking about how we should "come as you are" to Jesus.

I want people to be able to come to me as they are because they see Jesus' accepting, loving cup of coffee being extended to them.

slightly overwhelmed

this is a lot.

school. work. friends. running. i ache.

the name Noah means "to rest" (i learned that in class this week). i need the Lord to be my Noah.