thanksgiving, into advent

Thanksgiving was amazing. We visited our families in Michigan - I marvel at how much we packed into those few days. My side of the family took a little higher priority in our time scheduling because of all the out-of-town family visiting, but we managed to enjoy dinner and fun times with both families and even some friends. Perhaps one of the best parts for me was watching Aaron with my little cousins. I loved watching them all interact and play and wrestle and laugh. So fun.

I ran the 5k! This picture is blurry because I was running so fast, obviously. Actually it wasn't that fast but I accomplished my goal, which was ...to finish the whole thing without walking.



And now that thanksgiving is over, I am so excited about christmas! Probably because I don't have any finals to interfere with the unfettered joy that should accompany this season celebrating the word made flesh and the perfect baby being born so man no more may die. Also, our tree is up and it looks amazing.

Catching Up

(I think this should count for a few posts I should have entered a loooong time ago!)
ATM IN PROCESS:
Several times a day I have to write the words "ATM in Process" for part of the paperwork of my job behind the front desk at a bank. Even though this job seems pretty monotonous most of the time, I am trying to remember that who I am and what God is doing through me right now is just an evidence of his grace in process through me.

THANKFUL:
I am very, very thankful for so much in life right now:
* family both here (just the two of us) and far (both sets of parents and siblings all in michigan)
* new church, new friends, new experiences, and new learning in a new place.
* the way I'm growing into my new "job" as wife and partner
* having the time to pick up a new hobby (running) and encouragement from Aaron when I feel not-so-cool about it
* snow


IOWA:
It is really windy here. I suppose this is to be expected when you have a state as flat as a pancake and very few trees. I was running outside yesterday morning instead of using the treadmill in our cushy apartment gym and as the wind blew at me on all sides, I just marveled at how far I could see into the distance. It blows me away. ha.
Here is the Iowa dog that ran with me that one time:
And here are pictures from our Operation Christmas Child shoebox stuffing party. I was afraid of having an empty party, but luckily people came. (Lucky for both my pride and the kids who will get our shoeboxes).

let us run with endurance...

...the race that is set out for us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-3, english standard version.

For the first (or maybe it's sort of the second) time in my life, I have started running. A little. Just a couple of miles really, and I usually have to stop and walk a little bit. I have tried this before and I generally drop out after 4 runs. I registered for a 5K on Thanksgiving morning thinking that it would help motivate me to keep training, even if I feel lame and out-of-shape for needing to "train" for a 3.1 mile turkey-trot fun-run. When I give myself a pep-talk to keep up the routine, I think of these verses. I'm also trying to consider the necessity of endurance in some other (non-running) races marked out for me right now. I'm trying to run with endurance the races for a christ-like attitude, marital sacrifice, discipline in my little home, encouraging a friend who is running a life-race far more treacherous than I can fathom, and seeking good friendships in a new place.

The other day I took my usual path outside our apartment and met a new running friend. I hope to see him again soon. It's so much more fun to run with a dog. (I have pictures and a video of the dog but I can't get them to load onto my new computer. I will try again soon.)

This is the basic gist of my current running playlist:
Man! I feel like a woman
Fergilicious
SexyBack
All I Want For Christmas Is You
Truly Madly Deeply
Celine Dion power ballads
Caedmon's Call
I can't lie - there is also some Backstreet Boys, Hanson and Aaron Carter.

green marriage

Beyond just being good for your body, soul and marriage, it's now clear that n.f.p. is good for the environment. And that makes it so, so trendy.

green leaf

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. (Proverbs 11:28)