Tragedy in iPhone Form

Well, you guys! How was your weekend? I’m on Spring Break this week! Unfortunately this is synonymous with Write Your Thesis Proposal, Seriously Denise, You Have To Get This Done Week.

How are you all feeling about the Final Four? Kentucky is looking so good; I’m feeling like they might win it all. I’m going to cheer for Ohio State, though.

So I decided to be an exerciser this weekend. On Saturday I went for a walk/run/walk/a lot of walking/running is so very miserable. It was so awful. I hadn’t run in awhile, and I was immediately reminded of how much I hate it. I wish I could love it. But after two half marathons and numerous other races, I still hate running more than anything else. Luckily it was a beautiful day and I had some “Jesus Freak” playing on my iPhone, so I managed.

Then on Sunday some people from my small group had a picnic and went on a hike. I whined a lot because of all the nature and uphill climbing. Also, I was wearing some wussy Nikes that were more designed for fashion than athleticism, and I forgot my socks in the car. So clearly, a lot of whining. It was lovely to spend time with good friends, though, and the view was beautiful.

After the hike, we drove home and as I was getting out of my car, tragedy befell me. Because this happened.

Tragedy. So now I’m going to need to get the screen replaced on my brand new phone. Also, what is the point of having a case for your phone when it does absolutely nothing to protect your phone? Finally, this means no Draw Something for awhile, you guys. I would play, but I risk shards of plexiglass in my hand every time I turn my phone on. Sobs. Luckily it’s only $1 million to get your screen replaced, so that’s lovely.

Anyhoos. If you’d like to hang out, you can find me in the library not making any progress on my thesis proposal. Also, please want to hang out with me. I don’t want to do any work.

Loves!

Some Stuff That I Did

Hi!

It is spring outside today, so why am I in this crappy library?! Seminary is for suckers.

I did not have time to go for a run on the trail yesterday, but I did go to the gym. I ran 1 mile on the treadmill. It did not go well. Somehow it gave me a sore throat and made me lose my voice this morning. I’m not even kidding. It was bad for my health. It was also bad for my self-esteem, because I picked the treadmill at the far end of the gym, which was right next to a giant mirror, and so I kept feeling sorry for that fat girl with the sore throat and the loud huffing and puffing who was running next to me.

After that awful mile, I did about four more on the elliptical. My friend Diana and I usually do go to the gym at least once a week so that we can watch Survivor while elliptical-ing. I don’t know that we get a very good workout, but we are up on all of Jeff Probst’s latest haps.

So last week was spring break, and I took some of my new friends on a tour of Colorado Springs. It was actually really fun because I lived there for so long that I had kind of forgotten that there’s actually a lot of fun stuff you can do there. We went to Garden of the Gods and hung out with the hippies in Manitou Springs.

We drove Gold Camp Road, and if you live in the Springs and haven’t ever driven it, do it now. It is so gorgeous, and it’s still in the city. Love it. We also went to The Broadmoor which is one of my favorite places ever. I love pretending that I belong there with the fresh flowers, expensive restaurants, valeted cars, and beautiful scenery.

We also visited Focus on the Family and Compassion International. I had never actually been on the Compassion tour, and it was pretty cool. It is neat to see all that Compassion does for needy children around the world. And they have a super fun room filled with handmade toys and videos of Compassion kids playing at their projects.

So, I have pretty much picked my items for the fashion challenge, although I am kind of nervous. It is “spring” in Colorado, which means that there could be 4 feet of snow one day and stifling 80 degree weather the next. So, really, only a dummy would decide to do this challenge during springtime in Colorado. I am apparently that dummy.

OK, gotta go finish this paper. I hope your day is sunshiney and joyful! If you want to keep it that way, do not go running.

The Smoke Monster

Oh goodness. It’s Wednesday. Yep.

There are a lot of things going on in my little head lately. I feel like God is testing me and I’m failing. (Haha! An SNL quote just popped into my head when I wrote that. Probably another reason why I’m failing God’s test. Too much SNL.)

I’m realizing, again, that it is so easy to say I believe things, but so much harder to live them out. I say I trust God and that He’s dependable and good, but I spend gazillions of hours complaining and fretting. Then I realize I’m doing this and resolve to do better. But then something else happens and I just can’t help the worrying or being discontent. Vicious cycle, people.

I am in a Beth Moore Bible study right now, and we’re studying Daniel. One of our lessons is about Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (more commonly known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) being thrown into the furnace. They don’t burn up, but what’s even more amazing is that they come out completely unharmed—they don’t even smell like smoke!

How many of us walk through life’s “fires” and exit without the hint of a smoky smell on us? Not me. Lately I smell like I live in a campfire. Like I roll around in ashes. Like I’m a chain smoker…

OK, maybe the metaphor has gone too far. You get the picture. I’m whiny. I’ll work on it. I don’t like failing tests, you know.

Anyhoo, moving on to bigger and better things. Our peppers are finally victorious! We’ve had bazillions of tomato sprouts for awhile, but our peppers were in a sad state. But yesterday I found two baby pepper sprouts! I am so proud of them. Jaci is very excited to make homemade salsa this summer.

I am a very healthy eater this week in preparation for my race this weekend. Lots of water and Gatorade, lots of fruit , eggs, and pasta. I am trying to trick myself into thinking all of this will help me this weekend somewhere around mile 10. Let’s just keep pretending.

Race day is looking like it’s going to be rainy. So not fun. I did my 12 mile run on Sunday in the wind and rain, and it was fairly miserable. Some lady thought that my car had broken down and that I was running for help. I thanked her and then informed her that I was simply running because I’m stupid. If you think of it, you could pray that the race goes well for me and my three friends who will be somewhere near death at about 9 a.m. on Sunday!

Over in the Facebook world, I seem to have convinced everyone that one of my friends is moving to Spain. I didn’t even mean to, but it has turned out pretty awesome. I commented on her status and bam — hullabaloo ensued. Aww, remember Baloo the Bear from The Jungle Book? Me too.

Tonight is Lost night! I have Bible study, but I’ll catch it tomorrow online. It’s the 100th episode, so it should be pretty good. I thought the last episode was awesome with Hurley and Miles and all of their shenanigans. They crack me up. I also am really like who Sawyer has become. OK, I’ll quit now for those of you who don’t know or care about anything that has to do with Lost. We feel sorry for you, but recognize that it’s your own choice to miss out on all the sweet goodness that happens on the island.

I should probably be going now. I hope you have a lovely day, friends. Come over and visit and perhaps we’ll serve you some fresh salsa!

Long Time No See!

FRIENDSIES!!!

I have absolutely no excuse for not blogging for the last 600 years. I mean, I did start a new job, so there’s less time to sit around on the couch and write Judge Mathis updates. But still. This is completely unacceptable. I humbly ask for your forgiveness, which you should grant me. It’s probably what Jesus would want you to do. Just saying.

Anyway, I am three weeks into my new job. Still adjusting and such — I am quite the Sunday school curriculum editor. Remember all of the flannelgraphs from the good old Sunday school days? That’s what I’m working with every day, baby. Jealous?

What else is new? My park and rec softball team is 5 and 1. That’s like our best record ever. We’re attributing it to our new bat and our spiffy new t-shirts.

Also, our garden is slowly becoming victorious! It’s taken our tomato sprouts forever and ever, mainly because our house is so freezing. But we have like ten wittle bitty baby sprouts right now! They are so darling. This picture is before they all started coming up, but just imagine lots of little green lives in that soil. The peppers are a whole different story so far. They are not sprouting. They’re supposed to take longer than the tomatoes, though, so we’ll see.

Also, I am supposedly running a half marathon in two weeks. Please don’t make me! It is seriously killing me. I’ve done one once before and, don’t get me wrong, it was horrible. But this one is so much worse. Apparently my body is about 90 years old. I have to wear a knee brace, my back is constantly killing me, my ankles hurt. Also, I got slammed in the shin with a softball tonight (this could have been avoided if I had simply fielded the ball correctly, but that was too much to ask), so I now have a huge lump on my shin. And I have to run 11 miles tomorrow. Poor, poor, poor me.

I’ve had so many things I’ve wanted to tell you during the last few weeks, but now I’ve forgotten them all. It’s my own fault. Hey, I hosted a Passover Seder for the fourth year! I love it. My friend Micah blogged about it, so you should go read about it over there. Every single person should celebrate Passover. It’s way cool. Also celebrated Easter at our house and it was good times. Pastel polka dot plates, an Easter bunny, an egg hunt, and lots of food. Also, a snow storm.

OK, that has to be all for now because I’ve got to do some Bible study homework, ice my shin and commence dreading tomorrow’s run.

Leave me a comment to let me know how you’ve been!

I Got a Job — hey, hey, hey, hey.

It’s Tuesday and I am feeling good! I have finished my major freelance projects, and I have this week to relax a bit. And Katie, my friend from college, is coming out to visit me this weekend. Partay! (And by “partay” I mean that we will probably eat at a restaurant, shop at The Gap and be in bed by nine. That’s our idea of a good time.)

Also, here is something that has happened: I accepted a full-time job! I will be working at David C. Cook, a publisher here in Colorado Springs. They’ve published some great books, and they’re also a leading distributor of Sunday School curriculum. I’ll be helping edit some of their current curriculum and also some new projects they’re working on. And my roommate Jaci works there! I start in a couple weeks, and I’m thinking it will be good times to have insurance again!

I’m also still really enjoying the part-time work I’m doing with the online community over at PurposeDriven.com. You should check it out and consider participating in some of the conversations in their forum.

So, that’s that. Here is another update: I am a horrible runner. I kind of always knew this, but it was confirmed the other day when I actually timed myself on my long run. I am running 73-minute miles. Pretty close, anyway. I’m not sure how to speed myself up, either. Any suggestions? And don’t tell me to “push myself” or I’ll have to push you. Down a mountain. And hope you get hurt.

Who remembers sweet dreadlock-y Jason Castro from last year’s American Idol? I loved him so much with his little smile and shyness and beautiful eyes. Did you also know that he loves Jesus? He does! You should totally watch this video. He talks about his faith and how he thinks life is about “getting to know God and what He likes and what He doesn’t like.” Awesome.

It is simply lovely here in Colorado Springs. It’s like 70 degrees. I think the victory garden is itching to be planted, don’t you?

I’m not quite sure what I think of the new Facebook yet. I’m sure we’ll all get used to it and quit complaining about it soon enough. But I’m still kind of in the complaining mode. Change is bad!

So I wrote this freelance article about Mad Imports, a company that pays artisans in Madagascar a fair wage to make awesome purses. All the products are environmentally responsible and the founder is totally changing the lives of Africans by helping them escape poverty. So I thought I should probably buy one to help out the cause, right? So I got this sassy Isadora clutch and I can’t wait for it to arrive! You should get one — they have some really fun colors, perfect for summer.

OK, those are all of the major haps. Purses, slow running, Jason Castro and new jobs. I hope you all are having an awesome week. I’ve been reading through 1 and 2 Samuel, and I am constantly amazed at how forgiving and gracious God is. I see it in my own life every single day.

Also, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

40 Days of Water

What is up, my dawgs?

I am writing my little heart out today, so I don’t have much time to blog. I have procrastinated so long on writing these freelance articles, and I am down to the wire. It’s a bit ridiculous how much I put things off. I mean, yesterday I went running just to avoid writing these articles. Running! It is obvious that I have a problem.

The article I’m working on right now is about Blood:Water Mission, an organization dedicated to helping provide clean water in Africa. This is directly related to the HIV/AIDS crisis because so many people have weak immune systems and end up dying from diseases they get from the dirty water they’re drinking. You should definitely go check out their website and consider helping out. One U.S. dollar equals clean water for an African for an entire year. They’re also doing a cool program right now called 40 Days of Water. It’s already started, but I’m sure you could join on in. You can choose to only drink water through April 9th, and then donate the money you would’ve spent on Starbucks or Dr. Pepper or Gatorade to Blood:Water Mission. Pretty cool.

In other happenings, there is no new “Lost” on tonight, so I am feeling a bit depressed and aimless. To replace the time we would’ve spent on The Island, my roommates and I might make some cupcakes for Henry and Anthony as a plea for forgiveness. If the past is any indication, though, we’ll probaby forget to do it.

Also, we are going to start seeding a couple of our victory garden vegetables! A few of them need to be started indoors, and kept well-watered and at about 75 degrees. Unfortunately, we never keep our heat above 62 degrees, so this may be a problem for our poor tomatoes. We shall see.

OK, I have to get going. I’ve got more writing to do, and I’ll probably distract myself by working out for awhile too. Seriously, what is wrong with me? I need some help! Someone send cookies and Doritos, STAT!