2012-2013 Transition

Just a month ago I was sitting in my little Honda as I took a little road trip to celebrate the New Year. Not having the finances to fly somewhere warm, I looked through my "Facebook" friends to see whom I could visit within driving distance, announced my plans, and plotted my adventure.

It was a fun journey, as I drove south a few hours and stayed the first evening with my aunt and uncle in Indiana. We told stories, talked "teaching, looked at photos, and laughed. Unexpectantingly, I was able to visit Sunday morning church with them the next day, which was an excellent way to start the rest of my trip.

A wonderful drive through the mountains (and a few other states) brought me to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where I met up with an amazing couple whom I had not seen since (my first!) college days in 2001. Their small town was incredible and one that I immediately decided I could move to and maybe should!
We laughed and talked and made plans for New Year 2014!

Our New Years and Pre-New Years' celebrations had us meeting up with some intriguing folks:

• Roberto Riviera, restauranteer turned philosopher and carpenter
• Bookstore Rob, who would have won an ugly sweater contest with Jonesy the Tibetan Shar Pei
• Ben "Belgium", writer, lawyer, preacher, bicyclist...
• Paul, who could be homeless, the French Revolutionist.
• Salvadore Graziano, Bohemian, Italian hammer dulcimer street musician
• Deviant Dale, limit two... usually
• ... and more!

On New Years Day I began my journey home and was delighted to be able to stop in Kentucky to visit my cousin, her husband and adorable child! Though a short visit, it was refreshing to see them again - and their son for the first time. 

Well, there was my few moments of reminiscing over the moments when I said farewell to 2012 and welcomed 2013 with smiles and delight! 

Back to School... again

Starting tomorrow the above classes will be taking up 17 credits of my life for the next four months. I admit it, I'm excited to start again!

It'll be a heavier load than before the holidays, but I've got my pencils sharpened, notebooks purchased, and book-lists in hand.

Bring on the new semester - I'm ready!!

Pour Féliciter

Some familiar faces from Prague sent me New Year greetings!

And now I forward them on to you...

Both of these friends bring many memories of fun, meaningful, and unique stories.

Thanks Ivan and Gabinka!

Here I am...

Between the exhilaration of Beginning
and the satisfaction of Concluding
is the Middle Time
   of enduring, changing, trying,
   despairing, continuing, becoming.
Jesus Christ was the man of God’s Middle Time
between Creation and . . . Accomplishment.
Through him God said of Creation,
“Without mistake.”
And of Accomplishment,
“Without doubt.”
And we, in our Middle Times
   of wondering, waiting, hurrying,
   hesitating, regretting, revising;
We who have begun many things—
and seen but few completed;
We who are becoming more—and less;
through the evidence of God’s Middle Time
have a stabilizing hint
   that we are not mistakes,
   that we are irreplaceable,
   that our Being is of interest
   and our Doing is of purpose,
   that our Being and our Doing
   are surrounded by AMEN.
Jesus Christ is the Completer
   of unfinished people
   with unfinished work
   in unfinished times.
May he keep us from sinking, ceasing,
wasting, solidifying—
that we may be for him
experimenters, enablers, encouragers,
and associates in Accomplishment.

Poem: Middle Time
Poet: Lona Fowler
Thanks to: Two dear missionaries for directing this poem my way many years ago.

Silence does not always equal inactivity

My studies:
     Remaining at Grand Valley State University, I am moving from a very part-time student to a very full-time    student. Beginning this autumn I will be taking a heavy load of courses with the intent to obtain a Graduate Teaching Certificate by Spring 2014.


My job:
     Tuesday, July 31 is my last day as full-time Administrative Assistant for the Academic Office (previously for the Vice President of Academic Affairs) at Calvin Theological Seminary.
     Monday, August 13 is my first official working day as part-time Director of Children and Family Ministries at Grandville United Methodist Church.


My church:
     See above.


My address:
     The 900 plus square foot apartment that I've called 'home' for the last two years is being vacated and I'm relocating back to the Canal Ave. address here in Grandville where I spent the majority of my growing up years.


My housemate(s):
     This Friday I am bidding a (hopefully not too tearful) farewell to my dear four-legged furry companion, as he moves in with a family that will have more time and space to love and care for him. In his place, I will become the housemate to very wonderful, loving and embracing parents - my own.


My relationship status:
     Oooh, this is much more complicated than I wish to explain, or can explain... even to myself.


Collectively the process of making these decisions and acting on these changes over the last few months have been extremely taxing - and still are. I have found myself crying quickly, becoming easily aggravated, and wishing things from people that they are not ready or able to give. 


I have learned how much I thrive on routine and from that routine I feel the freedom for creativity and spontaneity.  


I have learned that self-doubt and God-doubt are too easily embraced, accepted and used as an excuse for non-action and immaturity. 


I have learned to follow dreams and move forward into the unknown and recognize God's little (and big) affirmations along the way. 


And so I move on ~ confidently and optimistically in this new venture of my journey!

Weak Week

It's been a long week in this little Ramblewood apartment. Not one that I want to forget or need to do over, but just get through honorably. I've been sad and frustrated and hopeful and energized, all at separate times and sometimes all at once. And that, my dear Vagabond Vignette web-log readers, is tiring! 

I know that every experience, every decision, every relationship is an opportunity to learn from, mature through and even be excited about, but still... it's tiring.

Through it all, I aim to live a life that is true to myself by holding onto my integrity, that is true to others by relating to them sincerely, and that is true to my faith by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (ala Micah 6:8). These are my most earnest desires and though failing often, I press on. 

And by God's grace I live in genuine thanksgiving for yesterday and vibrant hope for tomorrow.  

For future reference, if anyone out there specializes cleaning dog feces from apartment carpets, I'm taking numbers...  Yeah, I told you it's been quite a week!

This just made me smile !!

The Countdown begins

Week 17 (16 left!) workout log:

•  4 runs totaling 25.92 miles
• 1 hour of spin class
• 2 hours of power yoga
• 12.07 miles bike ride along the hills of West Michigan.
• 1 hour gym workout including stationary bike, elliptical, planks, etc.

Whilst preparing for my half-marathon a few years ago (wow –it was that long!), I didn’t do much reading and research, just running. It worked for me and I loved it, most of it. Doubling that distance frightens me a lot! a bit, so I’m doing some blog snooping and magazine reading to compile what seems to be a running regime that would work for me and I would enjoy.

Three things that I take away from various marathoners is: 

Just Run.

Not every run needs to be long or timed, but they need to be. I will continue to run around Grandville so as to remind my body at every opportunity that it likes to run and it needs to eventually like 26.2 miles worth of running.

In light of this, I plan to start a few two-a-days, which simultaneously frightens and excites me! (A casualty of this will be running in pre-sweated running clothes… yuck)

Strengthen My Core.

Power yoga and a Spin class (free perks through my apartment complex!) have been slotted into my weekly workout calendar. Though I’ve been running fairly regularly, it was very obvious that certain muscles had been neglected by my myopic workouts, so bring on the planks and speed spinning! 

Don’t Give Up.

The last miles of the 26.2 is a battle of mind over matter, of mental endurance winning victory over physical exhaustion. This is what I’m told through my virtual running partners and gurus. Even now in the midst of my ‘long’ runs I contemplate cutting it short, because I have many months before the marathon, but I push myself. One more mile -  mind over matter. I know I can do it, as long as I keep moving.  And it feels so much better at the end knowing that I didn’t give up!

Every weekend I’ll log runs and workouts on this very exciting web-log, to keep an ongoing record of where I’ve been and where I need to go – which is still a loooong way.

I’m excited and nervous, but optimistic. Cautiously optimistic...