Half Marathon... almost 3 weeks ago

Yes, I realize I haven't blogged in FOREVER. Honestly, I'm drawing a blank when it comes to blogging. 

Almost 3 weeks ago we drove to Whidbey Island for what has become our annual Whidbey Island Half Marathon race. It's a fun one to start the year with because it's a nice course and my my Mom has been able to make it make the drive for the second year. She brought her running partner from Montana and I brought mine from Portland. 

It was, unfortunately, our slowest time ever for a half marathon (at least for Trisha and me), but it was a fun way to start the running year. We really hadn't trained very well so knew it wouldn't be our best.

And of course we always have a great time with Mark's parents! It's always fun and relaxing to go up there. 

Mark and me before the race. He's my wonderful support system and was the one to get up early and drop us all off at the start line. He always thinks about stuff I'll need, like snacks, water, extra clothes. He's super wonderful!

From L to R: Krista (Mom's running partner), Mom, me, Trisha (my running partner). Before the race. It was a chilly morning, but got beautifully sunny during the morning.

Mom and Krista running past Mark's parent's driveway (I don't have a good one of Trisha and I). It's cool because the route takes us right past their place, twice, because it was an out and back. Mark had water for us and even some cut up bite-sized homemade energy bars his mom had for us. 
Finished!! It's always great to get the first race of the year done. Being half marathon trained (even if it's not very well) by March is nice. 

After the race we went back to Jack and Jean's and had homemade scones and fruit. It was a YUMMY way to end the race!! Because Montana was having snow storms that day mom and Krista had a slow drive back and did some shopping and stayed the night in Spokane while Mark, Peter, Trisha, and I headed back later that afternoon.

Update

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted! I have a lot going on these days. 

During the time of the last concert I worked (and last blog post), Mark's brother, sister-in-law and 2 kids were down visiting from Seattle for the weekend. It was SUPER fun to have them as our guests. I get a little intimidated about trying to feed people who come visit (no pressure from them, it's all self-inflicted), but it all went great and it was fun to host company!

Yesterday I hung out with my good friend Stacey, who gave me tips on how to do things quicker and easier for my quilt (I'm making a quilt of my running shirts). You have to understand that I've never quilted before nor am I using any kind of guide, just winging it, because that's how I roll. So I made a quick trip to Joann Fabrics yesterday and was excited that what I needed was on sale. So I stayed up late playing and finished the ENTIRE top of my quilt and got the back put together. So the next step is assembling and then hand quilting. Which I'm pretty excited about!! It's a long project, not a "get it done quick" type project. Not sure why I felt anyone would be interested in this, it's just fresh on my mind.

I coordinate my first wedding next Saturday. I'm a little anxious about it, but probably just because I haven't done one yet (but the bride doesn't know that ;) I am currently scheduled for about 7 between now and October. Will be cool to get a couple under my belt. The "homework" leading up to the weddings can be a lot. So will be nice when I get the hang of putting all my notes together. I have another wedding in mid-April and then in mid-May, June, 3 in July, etc.

We are driving to Whidbey Island in 2 weeks for a half marathon, our first for the year. We have been trying to train good but definitely struggling more than previous years. We aren't sure if it's because we just aren't doing what we should be or because we're getting older ;) But the fact that my mom is doing it and pushing through means we can't use "getting older" as an excuse. But we (Trisha, my running partner and I) figure we can always walk what we can't run. We're not aiming for our fastest time ever, just to finish. And we're still struggling with motivation. We're heading into our 4th year of running so aren't sure if we want to put in the work, but we like the physical results, so it's a toss up. Mark and I are both excited to visit his parents and my mom and her running partner are driving up for it. This is the 3rd year we've done this race. Seems like a good annual run.

My class ends on Tuesday. Hard to believe I've made it through the term already! I squeezed in an extra credit assignment last week so hope that will keep my grade at an A level. We are otherwise only tested on 3 things during the entire class. The final test is on Tuesday and I haven't done too much studying yet. I like to wing school just like I wing other things, remember, that's how I roll. Hah! No, I plan to study today and Tuesday before the test. I work better under pressure ;) I've decided not to take any more classes until possibly the fall. Partly for time, I'd love to have that time for the many other things going on in my life, and also because of money. We could definitely use the money that would go to school to pay off debt and help sustain us during the economic time and all that. 

Last Saturday I worked the Chris Tomlin concert. With this show I helped a lot with catering because the promoter was doing it all instead of the church. Next weekend I'm working the Rockin' Worship show, which should be pretty fun!!

This is my backstage credentials. Which I "accidentally" forgot to return it ;) Hah! Actually I did accidentally forget to return it. I'm not sure if they need them back or plan to not get them back. The backstage pass is either a badge like this or sometimes a sticker that you wear. 

This is the pic I got of me and Chris Tomlin. He's to my left. I am about ready to give up on taking pictures with the artists because I'm not doing very well at getting them. Either my phone messes up, the lighting is bad or something. 

Saturday's concert

I got to work another concert on Saturday. This one was Esterlyn, Disciple, and Kutless. My day included things like helping with breakfast catering (I did the shopping on Friday), driving the lead singer of Disciple (pic below) for a bank run, picking up the manager from the downtown hotel, helping with tickets for the early VIP seating, helping with the post-show signing lines, and taking 4 crew for an 11:30pm run to Taco Bell (we placed a $50 order through the drive-thru! At Taco Bell, that's a lot of food!). It was another memorable day!!

This is me with Disciple's lead singer, Kevin Young, who I'd taken on the bank run earlier in the day. On the drive he mentioned that he wasn't much like how he is on stage, which was totally true! Overhearing him talk nicely to his wife on the phone and then screaming lyrics in his white tank on stage was a fun transition to experience. He was really nice though and I really enjoyed their performance! Even took advantage of the free ringtone they told people how to get at the show. It's a fun momento from the experience.

This is a pic of Disciple performing. I don't have zoom on my camera phone but you can see Kevin on the big screen. They had boxes on the stage that they'd stand on, they like to move and jump around. It was fun!

This is a pic of Kutless performing. I was off to the side in the back. I tried to get a picture of me with the band but my the camera on my phone was acting funky and it didn't take. Bummer! Although I didn't have much opportunity to interact with them and always feel like I'm "using" people when I get a picture just to prove I was near them when I never really talked to them. Most of the Kutless band is from Portland so they enjoyed a day out visiting with friends and family.

Giving it all

In a good way, I feel like I'm at the end of myself. I feel like I've done all I can. As I stood in church this morning singing great songs and letting the sound and feel of the music wash over my ears and the spiritual sound of the song wash over my heart I felt like God was affirming where I am. As if he was saying, "yes, this is where I want you, don't worry, I'll take care of things." 

Last night Mark and I drove home after going to see Twilight (finally!) at the cheap theater with some good friends and then hanging out for a bit at their place afterwards. As we drove, my imagination ran away and I imagined something in my life I truly desire (a good desire). I let myself think of what it would be like for our lives to have this new path and I dreamed of when...

We walked in the door and I went upstairs, pausing, and thinking what could be. And I cried. It was a good healthy cleansing cry. The type that you let yourself experience as you mourn the loss of what you had hoped would be or what should have been. Mark gave me a hug and kiss and wiped my tears away and I knew in my heart that I was at the end and was letting God take it from here. 

So this morning's worship was good for my soul. I have found more joy lately in where I am at... even though it's not where I thought I would be in life. But it's super fun! It's wonderful with my husband in our little house with our little routines. It's fun to drive my Mustang, work concerts, and anticipate coordinating weddings. It's interesting to attend a class again (got an A on my first test last week) and to try and do what I do well. 

But I want to remember this place. I want to enjoy my joyful days and allow myself the emotion of the rough days. And invite God into them all. 

Now we're off to Barb's to catch up on tv for the week and have dinner together.

My 4th job

I feel a bit like the Jamacians on the old show that Mark likes, In Living Color. In their skits they would talk about how many jobs they have. Compared to them, 4 is nothing!

Here they are:

1) Part-time Worship & Creative Arts admin at Sunset Pres. I work 25 hours a week between Mon-Thur. Love the church, love my team, love my job!

2) Sunset Wedding Coordinator - as of December I was "officially" hired as the churches wedding coordinator. Although there aren't any weddings until summer so I haven't felt like I actually do this job yet, but will start getting in contact with the couples next month so it will start up soon.

3) Gig-by-gig work for a local concert promoter - this is the job where I get hired to work the day of a show and do anything needed. Which may include everything from helping with load-in, running errands, helping with catering, driving the "talent", help with meet & greet, and just keeping an eye out to make sure things run well. If I had a title it might be Production Assistant.

4) My newest job is that I've recently been "hired" as a wedding coordatinor at the Old Laurelhurst Church. My cousin actually got married there several years ago so I'm loosely familiar with the place. A mutual acquantance of myself and the owners mentioned my name when they shared their need of a wedding coordinator. I met with the gal on Monday night and am VERY excited!! I think my first wedding will be on March 7th.

I feel like #4 is a direct answer to my prayers that God will help sustain us financially. I'm hoping for at least 1 to 4 extra jobs (any of #2-4) a month. Even 1 would help us tremendously!

I'm also taking 1 class this semester (but probably won't take one during the next semester or maybe again until the fall), leading Sunset's developing Peacemaking Team, on a once-a-month rotation serving at the evening service at church, a Demarle Representative, and training for a half marathon. Somehow even though I only really work 25 hours a week I don't have time for anything more!!

Speaking of which, off to class!

Question

Lord, how do I trust you with this? What does that look like for today and tomorrow and the moment when it strikes me and that's all I can think about?

Any ideas? Anyone?

I just realized I wrote 'he' instead of 'it' and Mark and I just had a good laugh about what that sounded like because there is no 'he' in my life that strikes me and what I was writing about had nothing to do with what that sounded like. Bottom line question is, how do we actively trust God with something that concerns us and we spend energy thinking and worrying about. So what does it look it like to trust God with something that I can't get out of my head?

I got nothin!

Ya, I have nothing to say. Well, I have lots of things to say but either this isn't the right context for saying them or I don't have time to say anything. So this is it for now. I'm alive, fairly well, and busy. 

Here was my schedule today:

7:30 wake up a little later then I should have, get the coffee started, shower, wake-up Mark, get ready, eat breakfast

9:00 leave the house and drop Mark off at the bus stop (dad is in town so borrowing the car, SO glad we have 2 cars!)

9:30 arrive at school and jet over to the library where I sit and read while drinking my coffee for an hour

10:30 move to a position closer to my class, use the bathroom and eat half my sandwich

11:00 class

12:50 leave campus and make a stop on my way to get Mark from work to drop me off at work so he can have the car

1:45 arrive at work and eat the other half of my sandwich while working

5:10 transition from admin work to Mission Connexion work (I have to keep clear lines between my paid/unpaid work)

6:55 head over to my Peacemaker Team meeting

8:35 Great meeting! Grab my stuff from my office and get a ride home with Barb

9:00 arrive home and visit with dad and Mark while I make myself dinner of scrambled eggs and English muffin

took a phone call, got updated on email, put a load of laundry in, iced my knee a couple times because it's still swollen from a fall I took running on Saturday.

10:45 going to post this and take Mark upstairs to bed. He's falling asleep on the couch right now.