Trials

Well, this week has certainly been one of trials, both physically and mentally. I got off two days on my training schedule, so I ran my long run Monday morning and paid for it the rest of the week. The reason for the delay was that we moved our office from Assaria to Salina over the weekend. I usually think rest is over rated, but my tune is much different today, one week later. At work, we didn't have email access all week and that poses an interesting circumstance when your work is in 19 counties. We did survive.

Then last night, our church softball team played it's last 9:30 ballgame, which didn't start until 10:00 p.m. and that's my bedtime! Needless to say, I didn't get up this morning for my long run. I just made an attempt at 6 miles and made it about 3.5 in the 90 plus degree heat and 90 plus percent humidity. It's hot and muggy and I feel crazy for not having listened to my husband's advice of just waiting to go until tomorrow. Honey, I'm sorry!

I keep telling people it's not about the single miles, but the journey I'm on, so I'll chalk this one up to a bad choice.

On the road again

WOO HOO!! I'm on the road again heading toward my goal of a 13.1 mile race. The thought seems so crazy at this point, but I am unusually calm and so pumped up about the challenge. I am going through some kind of transformation right now. I feel God working in my life in so many ways, at work, physically, in our church. It is truly an awesome place to be right now. Everything seems in alignment, pardon my pun. This morning's run was so beautiful. It is a blessing to hear God's birds serenading me through the drumlike pounding of my feet and to witness the colors of the Creator's pallette painted across the sky. What beauty. Can't wait for tomorrow.

My daughter has her first baseball practice tonight and I can't wait to see how she does. Until later-

Feeling Contemplative

As I sit between the end of a job that has brought deep meaning and purpose to my professional life and the beginning of a job that I will mold into the functions notably necessary, I contemplate the last three and a half years of my life. It has been a time for maturing into a more compassionate life being. It has shown me how many people truly live day to day in surroundings that don't meet the standards acceptable for my life and substandard to society's superficial picture. It has made me thankful for the gifts I have been given by God, first and foremost, a loving family led by my parents whose example continues keeping me grounded in my Christian roots and on the relationships with my fellow humans which define my very being.

I'm thankful for the leadership and insight given me by the women I work with whose primary purpose is to further the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities without placing judgement or extending our personal values. As it has been with all of the jobs I've ever taken, I feel very called to serve in an administrative role that I hope can bring some more order to the chaos I call my life. As I see it now, I need a position that allows me to leave my work at the office and separate home time from work. The two have become intertwined lately and I don't feel my time's been appropriately allocated to my family. I so look forward to being able to complete a job without having document what it was I did to really be finished. The documentation has become the boon of the position.

While writing is a passion of mine, regurgitating scenarios from every minute of my days has become an overwhelming burden and one that I understand the value of the exercise. I'm reminded that while we're not solely in control of the wheel of life, we are definitely steering it and have the incredible blessing to make 180 degree turns when things become out of balance. That is what had happened for me. I pray that my driving leads me to more home time allowing our family to return to being the road I'm focused on for now.