10.28.2009

I feel deep need to whine coming on...

Work-Out Chronicles, Day 2:
I promise I won't keep writing about working out forever...but for now it gives me a senses of satisfaction to document that I did, in fact, brave the hour long test two days in a row!

I feel the burn, if you know what I mean.

Today has been really productive.  This week, thus far, has lived up to its potential.  A few surprises have even been thrown in....

the list:
- Dreams.
- Something to look forward to.
- Cheez-Its.
- Cardio kickboxing.
- the cafe.
- Nace and Jared.
- Sara.
- Megumi.
- poetry.
- good days!

Until.

10.27.2009

Taking care of the temple-part deux.

Work-Out Chronicles, Day 1.5:
Again I say, Pilates will be the death of me...

So, as of last week, a few friends and I decided to start walking/running on Monday nights at midnight - just after the 10-40 World Missions prayer group I recently discovered.  I attended for the first time tonight - love it! It a time to pray for the countries in the 10-40 window - the most unreached area of the world.  Anyways, moving on...

It's cold and rainy so we decided to call off the track for the night, but we weren't satisfied with just letting our bodies rest...oh no...we sought other forms of torture and what did we find you might ask...




Sara brought forth another Pilates DVD.  Though lacking some of the erm, riskier, moves from my DVD - it was just as brutal and had us all whiny by the end of the first set. After an hour, we all sat on the floor feeling like jelly and praying about the pain our poor legs, abs, arms and other body parts will surely be feeling tomorrow.

Two hours of Pilates in one day...
I need to slow this down a bit I think, but if you don't see a Day 2 update soon...someone come beat me with a Pilates mat.

Goodnight!

Taking care of the temple.

Work-Out Chronicles, Day 1:
Pilates is going to be the death of me.Sigh!

the list:
- the Storefront.
- sleeping in, one last time.
- my job.
- Monday night walks.
- 10:40 prayer window.
- Yasue and Erika.
- monjayaki.
- Grandpa Fosburg.
- Greg Tiffany.
- getting stuff done!

Until.

10.26.2009

It's time to take care of some things...




the list:
- Alone time.
- Good music.
- Confirmation.
- A challenge.
- Discipline.
- Tortilla soup.
- Little Wilson.
- Colder days.
- That I finally(FINALLY) finished that book.
- And again, promises.

Until.

10.21.2009

The List.

- Fall Break!
- Kohei
- Rob and Kenneth
- Kara
- My family
- Answered prayers
- Healing
- Your Word
- International House of Prayer
- Japan...

Until.

10.18.2009

My life...

...is so blessed...

More on that later, but just know that the Lord is good to us!

10.09.2009

Friends

...the truly great ones are few and far between. I'm realizing more and more that the keepers aren't neccessarily the people I clicked with instantly.  Some are, but most - probably not.  They aren't the ones I have the most in common with or the ones I can stay up all night talking to.

The really great ones have been there when they didn't have to be.  They have listened to me in my most selfish moments, held my hand and then told me the truth in love.  They've challenged me, even when I have been trying as a friend...and I admit, sometimes I can be trying as a friend.

Anywho - today has been rainy and cold.  I made the brilliant choice to wear heels. My first class ended early which is always nice and my second class is my favorite class this semester - Strategies for Teaching Communication. There is a lot of open discussion and self-disclosure, so we learn a lot about ourselves and each other as we learn about teaching methods. I had Group Dynamics with the same professor, the students in her classes always get pretty close and I've learned more in these two classes then the rest of college put together. Sad?  Perhaps...

I wish I would write something new, but I refuse to keep writing about the same old thing so the pen and paper will have to wait.

* * * * *

the list:
- sleeping in.
- relaxing days.
- umbrellas.
- chi alpha.
- true friends.
- the arts section of the Times.
- Daniel Basden.
- Angel Forrest.
- Your precious love.
- Tokyo.

Until...

10.08.2009

In one week's time...

I'll be at the airport picking up a friend from Tokyo!  I almost can't believe it...more later...I have to go to class...

* * * * *


the list:
- Journalism.
- Forgiveness.
- Health.
- Nanami and Sho.
- My job.
- Meal points.
- My glasses.
- Sunshine.
- Fall leaves.
- Anticipation!

Until...

10.05.2009

Speaking of living selflessly....

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

* * * * *

the list:
- answers.
- sketching lessons.
- the storefront.
- the complexity of cockroaches...
- sourpatch kids.
- cartoons.
- safety.
- compassion.
- Brandon and Christie.
- another week to praise You.

Until...


10.03.2009

Motive.

There comes a point in everyone's life when they realize that no matter what you do - how much effort you put forth, how much money you spend and no matter what words you say or how much you give of yourself - you can't make someone care about you the same way you care for them.  You can't make them appreciate you.

Bending over backwards to be there for someone may not merit a simple thank you or even kindness in return.  It won't prove your worth in their eyes if they are unwillingly to see it. When you get down to it, they may know the sacrifice you are making. They just may not care at all.

So, here comes the question: at what point do you stop being kind?  When does the level of concern or care in your heart become overshadowed by the need to feel, well, needed?

It is entirely human - this need to feel needed by another, especially by those we care about the most.  I think parents must go through this when kids leave the house when the separation paired with a severance of complete dependency hits them.  It happens when relationships are torn apart or the nature of a relationship changes.  It happens in one-sided friendships, when one friend perceives a level of intimacy that the other does not.

It happens.

I have a tendency to pull back when I feel that I've put myself in a situation where I feel I've given too much of my time, my resources or my heart to a person or an organization that no longer "needs" me.  Where one moment, I am nursing the problems of another or a situation - the next moment I am standing, arms folded and cold.  Even condescending. Something, and most definitely something not good, inside says to take action against before action is taken against you...or worse, before you merit no action at all.

While I don't believe its necessarily wise to stretch yourself thin for someone who doesn't care whether you are there or not, I don't think just tensing up and lashing out is the best method either and I think there's probably something to be said here about what it means to be truly selfless...

Which comes down to a question of motivation.
And maybe some of my motives need to be questioned.

* * * * *

the list:
- Randi's first aid training.
- No broken bones.
- No head injuries.
- No tickets.
- Or hospital visits.
- For friends who care.
- And even those who don't.
- Reminders.
- Directions.
- And again, for promises.

Until...

10.01.2009

So this is morning...

Wednesday.

Here's the deal: I am finally catching up with my life again.  I put my foot down yesterday and got some stuff done. Took care of business, if you will.  I'm determined to keep it in order and still live a life that is abundant and filled with the wonder and the joy that I know is available to me because of Christ.

I know there's more to life than just getting through it.

Sidenotes: I'm going on a roadtrip soon and need song suggestions for the mix cds that will accompany me on my journey to Kansas City...

* * * * *

the list:
- text marriage. don't ask.
- chai tea.
- old friends.
- babies.
- growing up, even when it hurts.
- anticipation.
- reminders. (You're too good to me, God)
- my momma.
- Your patience.
- promises, promises, promises.

until...