Pseudo Doubles

Wow. I'm really not doing so hot with NaBloWriMo this year! I think because I don't want to just write silly boring "Today I did..." posts. And not much exciting has happened this week, except what I've already told you about!

Today was alright. I ran six miles this morning (go me!), the furthest yet. It was also my slowest average pace ever because I just wasn't feeling it. But I did it, so that's something. In the rain, no less. And my pace was just under what it needs to be for Disney, so now I know that even if I'm having a bad day like today, I won't be picked up by the loser train. (You have to maintain a 16:00 mile avg. Today's run was a 15:30. Cutting it super close.)

After lunch and a nap, I worked the 3-11 shift. It was a bit crazy, as we have some very sick people at the moment. I got report/count an hour late because day shift was so insane, and I didn't leave until midnight because I had to catch up on the paperwork I didn't touch during my shift (everything else was done at a decent time, though. Just non-stop moving.)

And now, after the busy shift and getting out late, I get to go back for 7am! Aren't I so lucky? And I'll be on the exact same unit/cart that I had tonight. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Pros: I know what's going on with everyone. I made my cheat sheet before I left. I can make sure everything is followed up in the AM.
Cons: It'll feel like I never left. It's crazy with all my little sickies and should-be-hospice-ers.

The biggest problem with these "Pseudo Doubles" as I like to call them, is the lack of quality sleep. Especially tonight, I didn't leave work til 12am. Then by the time I get home, get comfy, unwind a bit (especially needed after a night like tonight), maybe have a snack, it's at least 1am. That gives me 5 hours to sleep. Less if I plan to shower. Ugh. I like sleep. Guess I'll have to trade it for a breakfast Coke tomorrow.

When Did I Become a Grown-Up??

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Okay, so I know I'm technically a grown-up. I know I lead a ministry, pay taxes, own a car, and pay bills and things. I know when I go to work people's lives literally depend on me. But still. When did I become a real grown-up?

I mean, I'm just starting to accept the fact that people I went to school with are married with kids. That younger classmates now have multiple children. Meanwhile, I spent this past Sunday with my best friends buying and wearing wigs, playing with empty B.B. guns, and yelling at the TV while eating grilled cheese. (And it was AWESOME, by the way. I was the pirate Captain Calliope Blackwater)

[Photo Cred: Kathryn]

(Don't mind my gums...I have no idea what I was doing with my mouth...growling, maybe?)

Then today I go to a meeting and learn that someone I was in youth group with just wrote a book. His second book. He's also an assistant professor, has been in Forbes and Bloomberg's BusinessWeek, and speaks around the country (including "little" events like SXSW and TEDx).

Guys, I have a picture of this dude when his hair was Highlighter Yellow. Somewhere in my house is a beautiful poem he wrote...about the need to pee. I distinctly remember a youth group ride in the back of a camper, singing songs, then listening to him quote said pee poem before talking about some deep thing I didn't understand. And now he's a big fancy business man, inspiring others with his presentations on leadership and innovation.

I know he's a few years older than I am, but seriously? How am I old enough to have peers doing stuff like that? Anyways, congrats on your new book! Now I'm off to plan a big world-takeover of my own....from my blanket fort (NOT to be confused with a pillow fort. Don't be silly. A blanket fort is much more serious.)

Too Wonderful

This was an interesting morning! (And yes, I am aware I've already missed a day of NaBloWriMo. Too bad.) I wound up teaching the 1st-3rd grade class today, a little by surprise, so I went in early to prepare my lesson. The lesson was on prayer, using the story of Samson's parents as the example. Which was fun, because Sunday School curriculums usually start Samson's story after his birth, not before. So as I read read the text in Judges 13, two things jumped out at me.

 

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The first was when the couple asks the angel his name. He replies with, "Why do you ask my name?...It is too wonderful for you to understand." (Judges 13:17-18). Imagine that. The name of the angel is too wonderful for  a human to understand. Makes me want to know what it is! But it also got me thinking about names.

Names in the Bible always have significance, much more than we tend to place on names now. There's always a meaning, a purpose to a person's name. And we see in the Bible so many instances of God changing a person's name after they encounter Him. And we see prophets giving specific names to their children to make a point about the Lord. But what about us? Yes, we have names given to us by our parents, but I believe there is also a special, wonderful name that God calls us. Something unique to who we are, something too wonderful for us to understand. And maybe that's why, after encountering the Lord in a powerful and unusual way, we see so many Bible figures change their names.

Think about Simon. After meeting Jesus, his name is changed to Peter, meaning Rock, because he will play a role in establishing the Kingdom of  God on Earth. Prior to following Jesus, such a name change would be incomprehensible. The name would be too wonderful for Simon to understand, to marvelous a destiny to comprehend. But after knowing Jesus, and serving Him so closely, Simon Peter was sure he would never leave Jesus. He was able to understand the new name, even if he wasn't fully living up to it yet.

I believe God has the same for us. That He has a special name, a significant calling for each one of us waiting to be revealed when the time comes that we will be able to understand it. What a powerful thought that the God of the universe has a special name for me! A special message for the world, through me!

I know I said I had two things, but that took longer than I expected it to, and I'm tired! Plus, I have to be up early tomorrow for work. So that's all you get for tonight! Tune in tomorrow, and I'll try to remember to share the other part!

What do you think about this? Do you see names as simply identifiers, or do you see them as a calling and destiny?

Five Fire Trucks

It's the start of NaBloWriMo!! Woot woot! And boy, have I got a story for you.

I was supposed to work today at 7am. I only have a 3 minute commute, so I don't usually get up before 6 for work. So today, I roll out of bed at about ten past, and stumble upstairs to start my day (I should mention, I don't wake up well. It takes me a while, and my family knows that if they try to talk to me within 20 minutes of waking up, I probably won't respond.) So I open the door into the kitchen, and my mom immediately asks, "Do you smell that?" Umm....yes? What's burning. "I have no idea."

Okay....so we look around the house, can't find anything. No one has cooked anything yet, except to start the coffee. The rubbery, burning-mechanical stench kept getting stronger, and was the strongest next to the front door. Not in the kitchen. Not in the rest of the house, just super strong at the front door. So, we call the fire department who tells us to evacuate the house. So as I was walking out the door, I called work to say I wouldn't be in on time, if at all. Then this happened:

(Sorry for the poor quality. Phone. Dark. Early.)

We had five fire engines, the fire chief, and two police cars outside our house at 6:30am. While they searched our house with their noses and fancy infrared scanners, we stood outside and made Instagram videos. What else were we supposed to do outside in the dark in our pajamas?

After a little bit, they came out and said there's nothing. They figure there must've been something on the stove when we put the coffee on, but otherwise everything was fine. Except it reeked. By the end we could smell it in the driveway. So, since we couldn't stomach being in the house, we went for breakfast! Yummm.....Owl Diner :)

When we could finally get back in the house to get dressed and everything, I called work, but they didn't need me anymore. Someone who was supposed to be off showed up and I got a free day off. Which was really good because I was exhausted. After a nap, my sister and I went out shopping, just to keep us busy til bedtime. In the process, I found what I would like for Christmas, please:

Yup, that's a plush Eleventh Doctor. And he talks. And his screwdriver lights up and makes the vvvvrrrrrrrr noise. Plus his hair. His hair is what I imagine David Tennant's hair to be like. He's amazing.

So, there you have it. My crazy day. How was your day?

The Time I Got Rad

September's adventure was so great! 

We drove down to Seekonk, sat in traffic, and made it just in time for our corral to start at the Color Me Rad 2013 event! What a BLAST!

This is our Before Picture. Notice the very white shirts? Color Me Rad is a 5K run where along the course they throw colored powder (and occasionally liquid) at you, like this:

Now, I've mentioned before that my friend and I signed up for a half marathon. Because we're crazy. So this was a nice intro to organized racing (even though it wasn't a race. It wasn't even timed.) But, it was hotter than I usually run in. And I learned that eating breakfast at 6:30am, when you don't start running til 10am is a bad idea. At least for me. It was a very tough run in that sense since I was basically running on empty. But I made it! It was so exciting to see the finish line come into view:

We got a little separated from each other in the last color pit, so we didn't finish together, but we all finished!! And then we walked back to get a finish line shot. I love this picture. 

Once we finished (and doused each other with additional color), I don't think was there any white left on our shirts. My glasses were covered, there was color in my ears and nose, and I had nice little colorful sweat rainbows at my elbows...and I couldn't have been prouder! 

After the run, we rubbed off as much as we could and went to the mall in our finisher t-shirts. And somehow we must look like respectable grown-ups now, because even though we were sweaty and colorful, the man at Tiffany's still offered to let us try on the diamond rings! It's probably a good thing we didn't go in to the store like we did to the Color Me Rad Color Blast:

This was such an awesome event and I would highly reccommend it! It's designed to be a fun event, so anyone can do it! There were people in wheelchairs and moms with strollers. Definitely a really really fun time that you should do if you have the chance! This may be my favorite picture from the day, my first-ever completed organized run:

Sadly, Color Me Rad doesn't have medals, but they do send e-badges:

I am a finisher!! WOO HOOO!!!

Anyone ever do Color me Rad or something similar? How'd you like it?

"The Exodus Road"

It's Freedom Friday! 

And today's post is both a book review and a post about The Exodus Road. See, the founders just wrote a book! And it's currently on sale!

Amazing things can happen when ordinary people say yes to a powerful God. Such is the story of Laura and Matt Parker (is it weird that I've been reading about them online for so long I kinda feel like I know them in real life? Anyways.....) In this short book, Laura recounts their journey from average family to abolitionist heroes.

As missionaries in SE Asia, the Parker's come face-to-face with the evils of human trafficking and realize they can't sit silently while children and innocent people are being harmed.  But what can two average people do to fight such a dark, overwhelming crime? Through research and God's leading, the Parker's team up with other activists in the area and begin entering brothels, seeking out those who need rescue. Soon they form The Exodus Road coalition, "a road to leave slavery and bondage".

The book goes on to describe how The Exodus Road quickly grew from an idea to an organization active in several countries, with nearly 200 rescues to date. This group is on the front lines, facilitating rescue in the darkest, seediest places in the world, and this book is the story of how it all started. It's simple, honest, and a great insight into how sometimes the extraordinary is started with a very ordinary family.

I've been following Laura's blog since just before the Exodus Road was formed. I've watched this organization grow into something so powerful and I am impressed with not only the organization, but also with the Parkers. These people are real-life role heroes doing the dirty work of rescue. They are humble, and loving, and are doing things I haven't seen from other organizations. One of my favorite things is getting a text from them. They send texts whenever a raid is about to happen, or has just happened. Few things are more exciting than a text saying a brothel was raided and 89 women were set free. My only complaint about this book? I wanted it to be longer!

Want to get a copy of this book for yourself? Laura has the links in this blog post. More information on The Exodus Road and how to get involved can be found on their website.

Definitely check out this book, and find your way to get involved in the fight against human trafficking.
5/5 Stars

Makin' Ketchup With My Body

August's adventure was a bit smelly, a lot messy, and really fun! We did The Tomato Bash! While I don't think I'll do it again (did I mention smelly?), it was a blast and I'm so glad we did it! 

So what is the Tomato Bash? Well, hundreds of people decided to spend a very warm summer day in a field. There is beer, if that's your thing. Also chocolate milk. And nearly two thousand pounds of non-edible tomatoes (read: too ripe, rotten, or otherwise unfit for consumption).

 It stinks. There's some time before the action starts, but there's music and costumes and a tomato foam machine to help make you red before the ketchup making begins. Also, the Nesquik Bunny.

Then, finally, the fun begins. The field that was simply a patch of earth a few minutes before becomes a battlefield, and everyone runs onto the tarp to start smashin' tomatoes! The rules say you must squash it before you throw it, which resulted in this epic shot:

(This photo made me love my new waterproof, life proof camera. It survived the bash, and look at that detail! Those drops of tomato juice! EPIC!!)

Kathryn and I were abandoned left on our own to fight this battle after a few minutes. It was both terrifying and amazing. (Please note the tomatoes flying in the background.)

Before too long, the ground was covered with the blood of angry tomatoes

And we sauntered off the battlefield, victorious. Here is the photo commemorating our epic bravery at the great Battle of Tomato 2013:

This is the stuff of legends, my friends.