Monday, March 3, 2014
Step Outside Your Box
Monday, February 24, 2014
God Honors Requests Coupled with Faith
Yesterday, I heard a church sermon that stopped me in my tracks. Our pastor began by telling the congregation that this wasn’t going to be one of those “feel good” sermons. My stomach always gets queasy when he says that. It is almost like God is saying, “Okay, JAS, this one is for you!” I certainly felt that way yesterday.
The premise of the sermon was faith in God vs. requesting things from God. Chris Osborne, pastor at Central Baptist Church- College Station, Texas, really honed in on this statement, “God doesn’t honor requests; He honors requests coupled with faith.” He preached from Mark 7:24 – 30. The passage begins with Jesus going to a house and trying not to be noticed. A woman who was a Pharisee and not a Jew came and fell at His feet. She begged Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. Jesus told her, “First let the children eat all they want for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27) Jesus was saying that He would not honor her request. The woman said, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Mark 7:28) This woman was telling Jesus that she believed he could cast the demon out of her daughter and that she did, indeed, have faith. He replied, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” (Mark 7:29). The woman went home to her daughter and found that the demon was gone.
This woman demonstrated intense faith in Jesus Christ. He honored her request because she had faith in Him. What a testament this is?! In my own life, I often struggle with patience and the ability to have faith in God’s timing and plan. I tend to think that my way is the only way. This has oozed into all aspects of my life and is a daily battle that I have to fight. At Christmas this year, I told myself that I was going to make a conscious effort in 2014 to live intentionally and seek God’s plan in all of my life. I would have to let go and have faith that God would honor my requests in life. I had to stop trying to control everything. To me this meant that I was going to be intentional about all decisions I made: the food I ate, the friendships I made and nurtured, the words I said, and more than anything, the dating relationships I entered into. My dating history has been pretty rough, that is no secret to anyone. I set up some “rules” and told myself I was going to take a “dating sabbatical” for 6 months. Now, I know this all sounds a little wacky, especially if you don’t know me very well. But, I am someone who needs parameters and structure. My friends would tell you that this was probably the best thing I ever did. It made me stop, think, and pray before I reacted to any and all things. I was able to step back and really give my personal life to Jesus.
As I am sure you have already noticed, it hasn’t been 6 months. It has barely been 8 weeks. But, these 8 weeks have dramatically impacted and changed my life. The details of the last 8 weeks are for another blog post, but I can tell you without hesitation that God has honored more than one request because those requests were coupled with faith. I finally decided and admitted that I could not do these things on my own-- I had to have Jesus by my side. Not only was I faithfully praying for these things, but many others had been and still are praying. I write this not to brag and say “life is grand,” but to encourage you just as I was encouraged. The sermon yesterday was exactly what I needed to hear to help me continue praying with faith that God’s will and plan are far better than my own.
Until next time...
JAS
The premise of the sermon was faith in God vs. requesting things from God. Chris Osborne, pastor at Central Baptist Church- College Station, Texas, really honed in on this statement, “God doesn’t honor requests; He honors requests coupled with faith.” He preached from Mark 7:24 – 30. The passage begins with Jesus going to a house and trying not to be noticed. A woman who was a Pharisee and not a Jew came and fell at His feet. She begged Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. Jesus told her, “First let the children eat all they want for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27) Jesus was saying that He would not honor her request. The woman said, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Mark 7:28) This woman was telling Jesus that she believed he could cast the demon out of her daughter and that she did, indeed, have faith. He replied, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” (Mark 7:29). The woman went home to her daughter and found that the demon was gone.
This woman demonstrated intense faith in Jesus Christ. He honored her request because she had faith in Him. What a testament this is?! In my own life, I often struggle with patience and the ability to have faith in God’s timing and plan. I tend to think that my way is the only way. This has oozed into all aspects of my life and is a daily battle that I have to fight. At Christmas this year, I told myself that I was going to make a conscious effort in 2014 to live intentionally and seek God’s plan in all of my life. I would have to let go and have faith that God would honor my requests in life. I had to stop trying to control everything. To me this meant that I was going to be intentional about all decisions I made: the food I ate, the friendships I made and nurtured, the words I said, and more than anything, the dating relationships I entered into. My dating history has been pretty rough, that is no secret to anyone. I set up some “rules” and told myself I was going to take a “dating sabbatical” for 6 months. Now, I know this all sounds a little wacky, especially if you don’t know me very well. But, I am someone who needs parameters and structure. My friends would tell you that this was probably the best thing I ever did. It made me stop, think, and pray before I reacted to any and all things. I was able to step back and really give my personal life to Jesus.
As I am sure you have already noticed, it hasn’t been 6 months. It has barely been 8 weeks. But, these 8 weeks have dramatically impacted and changed my life. The details of the last 8 weeks are for another blog post, but I can tell you without hesitation that God has honored more than one request because those requests were coupled with faith. I finally decided and admitted that I could not do these things on my own-- I had to have Jesus by my side. Not only was I faithfully praying for these things, but many others had been and still are praying. I write this not to brag and say “life is grand,” but to encourage you just as I was encouraged. The sermon yesterday was exactly what I needed to hear to help me continue praying with faith that God’s will and plan are far better than my own.
Until next time...
JAS
Monday, December 9, 2013
I RAN A HALF MARATHON!
Well…it is over. I did it. It is completed. I ran my first half marathon. I lived to tell about it AND I want to do another one! Guess you can say it was a success. I encountered lots of emotions as I prepared for and ran this race. Below is a recap of my journey!
Over two years ago I decided I wanted to one day run a half marathon (13.1 miles). I can vividly remember talking to a good girlfriend of mine about running a half marathon and I decided on that day that I would make it happen at some point in my life. Somewhere in that crazy thing called life, I forgot about that commitment until this summer. The last year or so of my life had been eventful to say the least -- graduated with my MS degree, lost 60 pounds, and broke off an engagement. I traveled on an emotional roller coaster for a while. After the craziness settled down, I decided I needed a hobby of some kind to help level me out and keep my mind occupied. Running seemed like a good fit. I could stay healthy- both physically and mentally. I’m a goal driven person and this seemed like a pretty good goal to strive to achieve. Even then, I never imagined what kind of impact running would have on me!
I decided to run the 2013 BCS Half Marathon in College Station on 12/08/13. A local race would be a good one to start out in. I could sleep in my own bed and be comfortable in my surroundings. When I started “training” in July I was running around 3 miles and it was SO hard. I could barely make it the entire 3 miles and I wanted to quit after it was over. I told myself I wouldn’t quit and that I would figure out how to make the half marathon happen. Interestingly enough, this is about the time I found Boomfit and started doing Crossfit. I soon learned that Boomfit would be posting a BCS Half Marathon training program on their blog for their athletes to follow. I was so excited to have a plan!!
Each week the owner of Boomfit (Charlie Lima) would post the half marathon training schedule. Each week I would patiently (or not so patiently) wait for the schedule to be posted so I could plan my week. I literally planned every meal, date, errand, and social activity around this schedule. I made a commitment that I would complete this schedule every week and I was going to see that happen no matter what. Each week the schedule would call for a certain amount of crossfit workouts and a certain amount of running workouts. Some of the running was sprints and some of it was longer runs. I hated the sprints but I know that is what made me a faster runner.
Surprisingly, I loved the longer runs. I enjoyed the challenge of having to go further and further each week. I looked forward to the few hours of solitude each week where I knew it would just be me, my ear buds, and my running shoes. I prayed a lot during these longer runs. When it got hard, I prayed harder. God was so good to me. He always made sure I felt safe and always provided the time and strength to complete my longer runs. He even provided places for me to run when I wasn’t in College Station. He protected me as I trained and I suffered minimal injury. When I was injured, he provided me with the guidance I needed to heal before the race. He helped me stay focused on the task at hand and pushed me to keep going. I am so thankful for His mercy and grace.
The week before the race I was so nervous. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish and worried I would not enjoy the race. I had met a friend at Boomfit named Rebecca who I was going to run alongside. I was excited about running with her, but very scared I would hold her back. She has run many half marathons and even a full marathon so she is seasoned! I know I was a bit irritable (my apologies) and hard to deal with as race day drew nearer, but I continued to pray that God would calm my spirits and allow me to rely on Him.
The day before the race was so exciting. The expo (where you pick up your bib) had tons of vendors and lots of great stuff! Rebecca and another one of my friends, Heather, and I went to the expo to check it out and pick up mine and Rebecca’s packets. I realized in those moments that this was becoming very real and that I would soon be running my first big race.
The night before my race was joyful. My parents, Bri, and Kade all came in and we went to supper together. We laughed and enjoyed ourselves. Afterwards, Mom made signs for everyone to hold up while I was running. Bri spent the night at my house and we stayed up laughing, talking and being girls. I was doing pretty well emotionally until I got the call about one of my dearest friends, Katie Beth. Katie Beth was planning to come watch the half marathon. Her mother-in-law and I both had signed up to run and she was coming to support us. Her mother-in-law called to tell me that Katie Beth had been in a serious car wreck on her way to College Station. She was injured and the depths of her injuries were not sure at this time. They were certain she would be fine and that everything with the baby she was carrying (she’s pregnant with baby #2) was okay. I was sick at my stomach. I immediately started praying for her and her precious family.
I had a hard time sleeping Saturday night; partially because of nerves and partially because of Katie Beth’s wreck. I did get a few hours of sleep and woke up feeling anxious and excited. I cooked breakfast and got my race day clothes on. I fixed my hair and put on make-up (Judge me. I knew there would be pictures taken and mascara can do wonders for a photograph). By 6 am, I was ready to go.
I drove to the race site and parked. Before the race I ran into my friend Julie and her sister-in-law. Julie works with me and was also running her first half marathon. We had shared many stories over the past few months about our running journey and it was fun to see her briefly before the race started. After I visited with her, I connected with my friend Rebecca who I was running with. She is a graduate student at Texas A&M University and we have bonded over running and Crossfit the last few months. We really made friend when we signed up for a Pre-Holiday Challenge at our Crossfit box. She has been a joy to get to know and I am so thankful she ran with me yesterday! I truly believe God knew I would need some encouragement on race day.
We took a few pre-race pictures and got situated in our corral. It seemed like the race started before I even had a chance to realize what was happening and I was so thankful for that. The race was amazing to say the least. Some of the things I saw were just incredible. The first few miles are always tough for me. I really don’t get into the groove until about mile 2 or 3. It was interesting to see the people running in all sorts of outfits and costumes. We saw everything from Gumby to two Veterans carrying a full size American Flag. These guys were running the full marathon and when I saw them it brought tears to my eyes. Rebecca is in the Army and that made it even more special. The course was beautiful. We ran through some really neat parts of BCS. I really enjoyed running through Northgate and Texas A&M University. Miles 2-10 seemed to fly by. We kept a decent pace and I enjoyed it, for the most part. Once we exited campus, it got hard for a few minutes. I really had to dig deep and pray for God to continue to carry me through. My legs were tired and my feet were starting to hurt. I was hungry, cold, and thirsty. I kept trying to drink water but the water was so cold. You see…we live in Texas and have trained in 40-100 degree weather. I ran this half marathon in 34 degree weather and it was FRIGID!!!! Once I got through mile 11 God really showed me mercy. I got emotional for the first time. I realized I was going to actually complete this thing! I started to feel reenergized and ready to conquer the last two miles. I remember looking over and Rebecca and saying, “OMG less than two miles!” That is truly how I ran this race—mile to mile. I kept thinking, “Okay, only 10 more miles…only 8 more miles….only 5 more miles.”
As we entered into the last mile, I saw our fan club standing at the Dairy Queen. They were holding up signs and yelling (I think they might have been eating ice cream, too…I’m not sure). Mom was trying to take pictures, but I wouldn’t smile. OOPS…kind of like when I show cattle. It is all business, Mama! I vividly remember my dad smiling so big. He apparently told mom that he was going to run in with us…luckily, he didn’t. Yo, daddio- you had back surgery this summer. Not sure that would’ve been a good idea! Anyways, his smile really impacted me in that moment. It reminded me that he was proud of me and that he believed in me. As Rebecca and I continued down the last mile, we sped up. I really had a lot left in me. I should have run harder earlier, but I was scared I wouldn’t have any energy. Oh well- I’ll know next time.
The last .1 miles was incredible. I was already pretty emotional as it was. As we turned the corner, the street was lined with pictures of African children. These children were trafficked into child slavery and all have been or will be rescued by Mercy Project who founded this race. This was phenomenal. I kept thinking, “How lucky am I to be able to complete this race?” Pretty soon after this is when I decided I was going to finish the race like it was the state championship 100m dash. Seriously. I sprinted toward the end and couldn’t stop. I can’t wait to see the finish line pictures. They are going to be hysterically funny. Most people try to cross the finish line smiling and looking happy. Not this girl. I’m afraid of what I looked like. Oh well- guess we will have to see. As I finished, I accidentally ran into one of the precious children who were handing us our finisher’s medals. I felt awful about running into her. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt and the adult standing beside her wasn’t upset. These children were so happy to see us finish. It was incredible!
Rebecca and I made our way to get our shirts and our grub on! We also picked up some shiny heat blankets. These things were awesome! They looked like HUGE aluminum foil. Mom loved them. She took mine home with her and is going to dress up as a baked potato next year for Halloween. The kids at church are going to LOVE her! Rebecca was excited about the pizza rolls and beer. I was excited about a breakfast burrito, but I couldn’t make myself eat it. It just looked disgusting. I needed more time to recover.
I looked down at my phone and saw the text messages from so many of my friends wishing me luck. One in particular struck me hard. Katie Beth who had just been in a wreck sent me the sweetest message. She sent me what the signs she had made said and provided me with special words of encouragement. I love that sweet girl so much. She truly has a servant’s heart and I am so thankful for her.
We still hadn’t seen our fan club. After waiting 20 minutes or so I called my dad to see where they were. He said, “Well, we were waiting on you to finish.” I quickly informed him that we had finished nearly half an hour ago! We reunited with my family and exchanged lots of hugs! My parents took us all out for a post-race meal at Cracker Barrel.
I learned so many things during this journey. First and foremost, I was reminded that I should always cling to the Cross. We serve an awesome God and He has blessed us so abundantly. He carried me through the tough parts of training and the race. I also learned that my body can accomplish much more than I thought it could. I have taken my healthy and strong body for granted over the years. Not everyone is as fortunate to have the ability to run, eat healthy food, and take care of themselves. I vowed to myself during yesterday’s race that as long as I was able, I would run. Running would always be a part of me until I physically couldn’t do it anymore. I have noticed that there aren’t many unhappy runners out there. Yes, we may look unhappy while we are running, but that is temporary. The feeling of satisfaction lasts long after the pain goes away. That is enough motivation for me! I learned that we cannot always control what is going on around us, but we can control how we react. This lesson rang true when I got the call about Katie Beth’s wreck. Part of me wanted to panic, but God calmed my heart. Running has allowed me to make friends with people I wouldn’t have made friends with. Both Julie and Rebecca will be lifelong friends of mine. No matter where life takes me, I can honestly say I think I will keep up with both of them in some capacity. That may not have been true without running. I am so thankful for both of their friendships! Finally, I also feel convicted to encourage others. There were so many people who encouraged me along this journey. There were so many people who helped shape this journey for me. I want to be an encouragement to those who want to embark on the same journey. The last 18 months has been the best 18 months of my life because of what I have learned and gained. I cannot wait to see what God has planned for me in the future!
Over two years ago I decided I wanted to one day run a half marathon (13.1 miles). I can vividly remember talking to a good girlfriend of mine about running a half marathon and I decided on that day that I would make it happen at some point in my life. Somewhere in that crazy thing called life, I forgot about that commitment until this summer. The last year or so of my life had been eventful to say the least -- graduated with my MS degree, lost 60 pounds, and broke off an engagement. I traveled on an emotional roller coaster for a while. After the craziness settled down, I decided I needed a hobby of some kind to help level me out and keep my mind occupied. Running seemed like a good fit. I could stay healthy- both physically and mentally. I’m a goal driven person and this seemed like a pretty good goal to strive to achieve. Even then, I never imagined what kind of impact running would have on me!
I decided to run the 2013 BCS Half Marathon in College Station on 12/08/13. A local race would be a good one to start out in. I could sleep in my own bed and be comfortable in my surroundings. When I started “training” in July I was running around 3 miles and it was SO hard. I could barely make it the entire 3 miles and I wanted to quit after it was over. I told myself I wouldn’t quit and that I would figure out how to make the half marathon happen. Interestingly enough, this is about the time I found Boomfit and started doing Crossfit. I soon learned that Boomfit would be posting a BCS Half Marathon training program on their blog for their athletes to follow. I was so excited to have a plan!!
Each week the owner of Boomfit (Charlie Lima) would post the half marathon training schedule. Each week I would patiently (or not so patiently) wait for the schedule to be posted so I could plan my week. I literally planned every meal, date, errand, and social activity around this schedule. I made a commitment that I would complete this schedule every week and I was going to see that happen no matter what. Each week the schedule would call for a certain amount of crossfit workouts and a certain amount of running workouts. Some of the running was sprints and some of it was longer runs. I hated the sprints but I know that is what made me a faster runner.
Surprisingly, I loved the longer runs. I enjoyed the challenge of having to go further and further each week. I looked forward to the few hours of solitude each week where I knew it would just be me, my ear buds, and my running shoes. I prayed a lot during these longer runs. When it got hard, I prayed harder. God was so good to me. He always made sure I felt safe and always provided the time and strength to complete my longer runs. He even provided places for me to run when I wasn’t in College Station. He protected me as I trained and I suffered minimal injury. When I was injured, he provided me with the guidance I needed to heal before the race. He helped me stay focused on the task at hand and pushed me to keep going. I am so thankful for His mercy and grace.
The week before the race I was so nervous. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish and worried I would not enjoy the race. I had met a friend at Boomfit named Rebecca who I was going to run alongside. I was excited about running with her, but very scared I would hold her back. She has run many half marathons and even a full marathon so she is seasoned! I know I was a bit irritable (my apologies) and hard to deal with as race day drew nearer, but I continued to pray that God would calm my spirits and allow me to rely on Him.
The day before the race was so exciting. The expo (where you pick up your bib) had tons of vendors and lots of great stuff! Rebecca and another one of my friends, Heather, and I went to the expo to check it out and pick up mine and Rebecca’s packets. I realized in those moments that this was becoming very real and that I would soon be running my first big race.
The night before my race was joyful. My parents, Bri, and Kade all came in and we went to supper together. We laughed and enjoyed ourselves. Afterwards, Mom made signs for everyone to hold up while I was running. Bri spent the night at my house and we stayed up laughing, talking and being girls. I was doing pretty well emotionally until I got the call about one of my dearest friends, Katie Beth. Katie Beth was planning to come watch the half marathon. Her mother-in-law and I both had signed up to run and she was coming to support us. Her mother-in-law called to tell me that Katie Beth had been in a serious car wreck on her way to College Station. She was injured and the depths of her injuries were not sure at this time. They were certain she would be fine and that everything with the baby she was carrying (she’s pregnant with baby #2) was okay. I was sick at my stomach. I immediately started praying for her and her precious family.
I had a hard time sleeping Saturday night; partially because of nerves and partially because of Katie Beth’s wreck. I did get a few hours of sleep and woke up feeling anxious and excited. I cooked breakfast and got my race day clothes on. I fixed my hair and put on make-up (Judge me. I knew there would be pictures taken and mascara can do wonders for a photograph). By 6 am, I was ready to go.
I drove to the race site and parked. Before the race I ran into my friend Julie and her sister-in-law. Julie works with me and was also running her first half marathon. We had shared many stories over the past few months about our running journey and it was fun to see her briefly before the race started. After I visited with her, I connected with my friend Rebecca who I was running with. She is a graduate student at Texas A&M University and we have bonded over running and Crossfit the last few months. We really made friend when we signed up for a Pre-Holiday Challenge at our Crossfit box. She has been a joy to get to know and I am so thankful she ran with me yesterday! I truly believe God knew I would need some encouragement on race day.
We took a few pre-race pictures and got situated in our corral. It seemed like the race started before I even had a chance to realize what was happening and I was so thankful for that. The race was amazing to say the least. Some of the things I saw were just incredible. The first few miles are always tough for me. I really don’t get into the groove until about mile 2 or 3. It was interesting to see the people running in all sorts of outfits and costumes. We saw everything from Gumby to two Veterans carrying a full size American Flag. These guys were running the full marathon and when I saw them it brought tears to my eyes. Rebecca is in the Army and that made it even more special. The course was beautiful. We ran through some really neat parts of BCS. I really enjoyed running through Northgate and Texas A&M University. Miles 2-10 seemed to fly by. We kept a decent pace and I enjoyed it, for the most part. Once we exited campus, it got hard for a few minutes. I really had to dig deep and pray for God to continue to carry me through. My legs were tired and my feet were starting to hurt. I was hungry, cold, and thirsty. I kept trying to drink water but the water was so cold. You see…we live in Texas and have trained in 40-100 degree weather. I ran this half marathon in 34 degree weather and it was FRIGID!!!! Once I got through mile 11 God really showed me mercy. I got emotional for the first time. I realized I was going to actually complete this thing! I started to feel reenergized and ready to conquer the last two miles. I remember looking over and Rebecca and saying, “OMG less than two miles!” That is truly how I ran this race—mile to mile. I kept thinking, “Okay, only 10 more miles…only 8 more miles….only 5 more miles.”
As we entered into the last mile, I saw our fan club standing at the Dairy Queen. They were holding up signs and yelling (I think they might have been eating ice cream, too…I’m not sure). Mom was trying to take pictures, but I wouldn’t smile. OOPS…kind of like when I show cattle. It is all business, Mama! I vividly remember my dad smiling so big. He apparently told mom that he was going to run in with us…luckily, he didn’t. Yo, daddio- you had back surgery this summer. Not sure that would’ve been a good idea! Anyways, his smile really impacted me in that moment. It reminded me that he was proud of me and that he believed in me. As Rebecca and I continued down the last mile, we sped up. I really had a lot left in me. I should have run harder earlier, but I was scared I wouldn’t have any energy. Oh well- I’ll know next time.
The last .1 miles was incredible. I was already pretty emotional as it was. As we turned the corner, the street was lined with pictures of African children. These children were trafficked into child slavery and all have been or will be rescued by Mercy Project who founded this race. This was phenomenal. I kept thinking, “How lucky am I to be able to complete this race?” Pretty soon after this is when I decided I was going to finish the race like it was the state championship 100m dash. Seriously. I sprinted toward the end and couldn’t stop. I can’t wait to see the finish line pictures. They are going to be hysterically funny. Most people try to cross the finish line smiling and looking happy. Not this girl. I’m afraid of what I looked like. Oh well- guess we will have to see. As I finished, I accidentally ran into one of the precious children who were handing us our finisher’s medals. I felt awful about running into her. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt and the adult standing beside her wasn’t upset. These children were so happy to see us finish. It was incredible!
Rebecca and I made our way to get our shirts and our grub on! We also picked up some shiny heat blankets. These things were awesome! They looked like HUGE aluminum foil. Mom loved them. She took mine home with her and is going to dress up as a baked potato next year for Halloween. The kids at church are going to LOVE her! Rebecca was excited about the pizza rolls and beer. I was excited about a breakfast burrito, but I couldn’t make myself eat it. It just looked disgusting. I needed more time to recover.
I looked down at my phone and saw the text messages from so many of my friends wishing me luck. One in particular struck me hard. Katie Beth who had just been in a wreck sent me the sweetest message. She sent me what the signs she had made said and provided me with special words of encouragement. I love that sweet girl so much. She truly has a servant’s heart and I am so thankful for her.
We still hadn’t seen our fan club. After waiting 20 minutes or so I called my dad to see where they were. He said, “Well, we were waiting on you to finish.” I quickly informed him that we had finished nearly half an hour ago! We reunited with my family and exchanged lots of hugs! My parents took us all out for a post-race meal at Cracker Barrel.
I learned so many things during this journey. First and foremost, I was reminded that I should always cling to the Cross. We serve an awesome God and He has blessed us so abundantly. He carried me through the tough parts of training and the race. I also learned that my body can accomplish much more than I thought it could. I have taken my healthy and strong body for granted over the years. Not everyone is as fortunate to have the ability to run, eat healthy food, and take care of themselves. I vowed to myself during yesterday’s race that as long as I was able, I would run. Running would always be a part of me until I physically couldn’t do it anymore. I have noticed that there aren’t many unhappy runners out there. Yes, we may look unhappy while we are running, but that is temporary. The feeling of satisfaction lasts long after the pain goes away. That is enough motivation for me! I learned that we cannot always control what is going on around us, but we can control how we react. This lesson rang true when I got the call about Katie Beth’s wreck. Part of me wanted to panic, but God calmed my heart. Running has allowed me to make friends with people I wouldn’t have made friends with. Both Julie and Rebecca will be lifelong friends of mine. No matter where life takes me, I can honestly say I think I will keep up with both of them in some capacity. That may not have been true without running. I am so thankful for both of their friendships! Finally, I also feel convicted to encourage others. There were so many people who encouraged me along this journey. There were so many people who helped shape this journey for me. I want to be an encouragement to those who want to embark on the same journey. The last 18 months has been the best 18 months of my life because of what I have learned and gained. I cannot wait to see what God has planned for me in the future!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Where I Thought I'd Be At (almost) 25 versus Where I Am At (almost) 25
Howdy, yall!
I’ve done a lot of thinking as I embark on turning 25. When I
was 15, I thought I knew exactly what I would be doing as I turned 25. I had it
all figured out. It is interesting to look back and see that many things are so
different than how I thought they would be. Things have changed, evolved, and
turned into a life I had never really imagined. This is another list of 25
things…so get ready!
1.
The obvious- I really thought I’d be married by
now. When you are 15, you think graduating college and marriage happen at the
same time. Luckily, that isn’t how it went down for JAS. Boy, am I thankful!
2.
When I was 15, I thought I was going to be an
embryologist or attorney. As you know, I am neither. I did graduate with my BS
and my MS and have plans to attain a PhD, but I am not on my way to having my
hand stuck up a cow’s rear or fighting divorce cases every day. I like people
and like helping others, but nursing or med school weren’t in my cards. Working
at TAMU allows me to combine agriculture and people- two of my biggest
passions.
3.
I thought I’d have at least 1 child by now. I
mean, come on, you get married at 21 or 22 and in 3 years you ought to have popped
out a couple of kids. Nope- not for JAS. I barely take care of myself. I had a
dog for a brief stint…but he now resides at BSJ. No kids for me until I am 30!
4.
I thought I’d be driving a sports car. I know
that is really random. Not sure where those kids I thought I was going to have
would fit, but I just knew I’d be driving a red sports car.
5.
I also thought I’d be living closer to my
parents. Wrong. Love B&J, but Aggieland is where my heart is for now.
6.
I never thought my group of best friends would grow and change…more
than once! I have one constant best friend from when I was 15. My inner circle continues
to grow and build based on folks I have met at stock shows, in college and
after.
7.
I thought I would hate stock shows by now. I
never thought I would keep going back to the same nasty barns every year. It is
the people that keep drawing me back. Can’t get enough of my stock show family.
8.
I never thought I’d be a runner. A swimmer- yes.
A golfer- maybe. A tennis player- possibly. A runner- heck no. That is one of
the positive differences!
9.
For those of you who knew me before- I never
thought I’d love broccoli. I always thought I’d be a meat and potatoes kind of
gal. Well- 60 lbs later- I had to find something besides potatoes to eat!
10.
In addition to broccoli, I never thought I’d
like to cook. I also never thought decorations and domestic things would make my heart beat fast! Hmm…how things change.
11.
I thought I would own a home by now. Yes, I was
a homeowner once when I lived in Oklahoma. I got over that real quick. There is
no handyman to call when you’re a single chick owning your own home and anyone who knows me knows I have problems with the easiest things...even smoke detectors. Apartment
life is where it is at until I have my own built in handyman!
12.
I never thought I would consider my parents
smart. Geez, was I wrong. Boy, were they right!
13.
I never thought I would appreciate my work
friends SO much. My mom didn’t work out of the home when I was younger, so I
never heard any fun work stories growing up. Boy, do I have some great stories
from 515 to share with my unborn children that I won’t have until I’m 30.
14.
I never thought simple things would make me so
dang happy. Hand written notes and cards, a kind word, a good belly laugh,
someone remembering my favorite food, or an afternoon looking at cows…those are
a few of my favorite things. They’re pretty simple and don’t cost a dime for
the most part.
15.
When I was 15, I thought I would surely get over
loving my birthday by the time I was 25. That, however, hasn’t changed. I love
my birthday and the birthdays of others!
16.
I never thought I’d still be living in a college
town. Aren’t you supposed to graduate and move away??
17.
I thought people would live forever. When you’re
15, you don’t think about people you love not being around 10 years later.
18.
I really thought I’d probably be making a lot
more money by now. For some reason when you are 15, you think a college degree =
a large paycheck. Well, that isn’t the case.
19. That being said, I never thought I would love my job as much as I
do. Even though I’m not an attorney or an embryologist, I love what I do!
Encouraging young people to pursue their dreams is more rewarding than any
paycheck!
20.
I never thought I’d be such a free spirit- going
where the wind blew. As a teenager, a change in plans made me cringe. I had a
teacher tell me one time that if I didn’t learn to chill out I would have a
stomach ulcer by the time I was 20.
21.
I also never thought I’d have the diverse group
of friends I have. I have friends of all kinds and without my interaction with them;
I would not be half the person I am. They help keep my eyes open and keep me
accountable.
22.
At 15, I thought life was a lot about winning
and not about the experience. Although I am highly competitive, I am learning
that winning doesn’t always mean a purple ribbon. Sometimes winning means you
learned something. Mama always asks me “Well, did ya learn anything?” when I
have a life changing experience.
23.
Speaking of mama, at 15 I never thought I would sound
so much like her or act like her. Sometimes I open my mouth and I swear she
comes out!
24.
At 15, I never thought people I met at a livestock
show would end up being my mentors or personal “board of directors.” I sure am
thankful for those black cows and show rings.
25.
Finally, at 15, I never would imagine life like
it is today. The journey has been fun and from what I can tell, it is just
getting started.
I am excited about turning 25 in a little over a week. I
love birthdays and although this one is going to be different than I originally
planned and I am not doing exactly what I thought I’d be doing at 25, I sure am
lucky to be living this little thing called life!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
25 Things I Wish I Knew From Ages 20 - 25
I have never been a blogger. I love reading them and find myself reading specific blogs in my spare time, but I've never kept one up. It is interesting to me that we love reading about someone else's life-- their stories, their troubles, their celebrations.
This first blog entry isn't really about me. It is about lessons I have learned the last 5 years. I am almost 25. When I was 20, I wish someone would've handed me this list. This list may not mean much, but I hope someone reads it and at least laughs. Some of them are pretty funny! Seriously, though...this stuff is #reallife.
1) Always have an umbrella….in your house, in your car, in your purse, and in your office. Yes- you will need 4 of them. I PROMISE you will be thankful you have them!
2) Learn how to cook…not for anyone else, just for your own benefit. You will feel better, save money, and being domestic really isn’t all that bad.
3) Go out with a guy when he asks you out…all of them. The cowboys, the hippies, the nerds, the know-it-alls, the not so smart ones, the blue collared ones, the white collared ones, the older ones, and the younger ones...it is good experience and surely will help you identify the right one someday!
4) Keep a journal. You will one day want to look back and remember the good times.
5) Don’t take life too serious—it’s short!
6) Learn to laugh at yourself. You will do stupid things from time to time. It is okay- everyone does it!
7) Learn from your mistakes. Yes- you will make the same one twice…but try not to make it a third time.
8) Spend lots and lots of time with your girlfriends. They are your soul sisters for life. Boys will come and go (believe me), but most of those girls are here to stay.
9) Quality of friends is much more important than quantity. If you have 5 girls you can call at any time for anything—you are certainly blessed! I love my fabulous 5!
10) Spend plenty of time with your family. Your mother does know everything…even if you don’t want to believe her. The sooner you start listening to her, the better. I promise.
11) Go out on a Saturday night and paint the town. Those late nights and early mornings are times you will never forget. 12) That being said…go to church on Sundays.
13) Listen to God when He speaks to you….and when He doesn’t. Seek His face in all that you do.
14) Write hand written notes to people. People love to get mail and they will remember when you send them a hand written note.
15) Find someone that you feel can be your mentor. Maybe find two or three of them. Confide in these people about your goals and ambitions and they can help you reach these goals.
16) Be someone else’s mentor. Watching someone else succeed and playing a role in their live is very rewarding.
17) All of your friends might get married (and have a baby or two) before you…that is okay. Our lives all move at various phases and various levels.
18) Take care of yourself—you mind, your spirit, and your body. It is the only YOU you get!
19) Splurge on a manicure and pedicure every now and then. This is the time for you to be selfish.
20) Listen to those around you. Everyone has their own dynamic viewpoint to offer. If you listen, you might learn something.
21) Surround yourself with people (both professionally and personally) who lift you up and believe in your goals. These people will be there to catch you when you fail…and yes, you will fail.
22) Find something to be passionate about. Do that something with all your heart.
23) Get a dog, a cat, a fish, a plant, or something you need to take care of. Knowing something else depends on you can change your life…even if it only depended on you for a short time.
24) Set goals for yourself. Goals that are attainable. Write them down and cross them off your list.
25) Do what makes you happy. In the end, you have to be happy with your life.
Until next time...
JAS
This first blog entry isn't really about me. It is about lessons I have learned the last 5 years. I am almost 25. When I was 20, I wish someone would've handed me this list. This list may not mean much, but I hope someone reads it and at least laughs. Some of them are pretty funny! Seriously, though...this stuff is #reallife.
1) Always have an umbrella….in your house, in your car, in your purse, and in your office. Yes- you will need 4 of them. I PROMISE you will be thankful you have them!
2) Learn how to cook…not for anyone else, just for your own benefit. You will feel better, save money, and being domestic really isn’t all that bad.
3) Go out with a guy when he asks you out…all of them. The cowboys, the hippies, the nerds, the know-it-alls, the not so smart ones, the blue collared ones, the white collared ones, the older ones, and the younger ones...it is good experience and surely will help you identify the right one someday!
4) Keep a journal. You will one day want to look back and remember the good times.
5) Don’t take life too serious—it’s short!
6) Learn to laugh at yourself. You will do stupid things from time to time. It is okay- everyone does it!
7) Learn from your mistakes. Yes- you will make the same one twice…but try not to make it a third time.
8) Spend lots and lots of time with your girlfriends. They are your soul sisters for life. Boys will come and go (believe me), but most of those girls are here to stay.
9) Quality of friends is much more important than quantity. If you have 5 girls you can call at any time for anything—you are certainly blessed! I love my fabulous 5!
10) Spend plenty of time with your family. Your mother does know everything…even if you don’t want to believe her. The sooner you start listening to her, the better. I promise.
11) Go out on a Saturday night and paint the town. Those late nights and early mornings are times you will never forget. 12) That being said…go to church on Sundays.
13) Listen to God when He speaks to you….and when He doesn’t. Seek His face in all that you do.
14) Write hand written notes to people. People love to get mail and they will remember when you send them a hand written note.
15) Find someone that you feel can be your mentor. Maybe find two or three of them. Confide in these people about your goals and ambitions and they can help you reach these goals.
16) Be someone else’s mentor. Watching someone else succeed and playing a role in their live is very rewarding.
17) All of your friends might get married (and have a baby or two) before you…that is okay. Our lives all move at various phases and various levels.
18) Take care of yourself—you mind, your spirit, and your body. It is the only YOU you get!
19) Splurge on a manicure and pedicure every now and then. This is the time for you to be selfish.
20) Listen to those around you. Everyone has their own dynamic viewpoint to offer. If you listen, you might learn something.
21) Surround yourself with people (both professionally and personally) who lift you up and believe in your goals. These people will be there to catch you when you fail…and yes, you will fail.
22) Find something to be passionate about. Do that something with all your heart.
23) Get a dog, a cat, a fish, a plant, or something you need to take care of. Knowing something else depends on you can change your life…even if it only depended on you for a short time.
24) Set goals for yourself. Goals that are attainable. Write them down and cross them off your list.
25) Do what makes you happy. In the end, you have to be happy with your life.
Until next time...
JAS
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