my hope.

memories.

I think quite often I take for granted the fact that I can sit down and think back to a wonderful experience I have had. Some people do not have that luxury. To me, a fond memory is something to be treasured, guarded, and frequented. Today, I sit and I remember one year ago. The excitement that welled within so many as the wedding approached. Two dear friends coming together to do life and show the world an excellent picture of the love of Christ and the love He has for His church. I am grateful for the joy that was expressed by so many as two became one. I am grateful for the continuing of that love, the growth, and the overflow; how it has been used as an instrument to touch so many this past year. I am grateful for the laughter and dancing that was so deeply enjoyed. I am grateful for the friends I have in Elizabeth and Paul Davis. I am grateful for the love they have for each other, for their Lord, and for His body. I am grateful for the memory of September 17, 2010. What an excellent day.

my bags are packed...

i heard this on the way home from work today and couldn't believe what i was hearing...

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow thee;
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shalt be:
Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought, and hoped, and known;
Yet how rich is my condition,
God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior too;
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou are not, like man, untrue:
And, while thou shalt smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate, and friends may shun me;
Show thy face, and all is bright.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In thy service, pain is pleasure;
With thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called thee, "Abba, Father;"
I have stayed my heart on thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,
All must work for good to me.

Man may trouble and distress me,
'Twill but drive me to they breast;
Life with trials hard may press me,
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
O 'tis not in grief to harm me,
While thy love is left to me;
O 'twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with thee.

Know, my soul, thy full salvation;
Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee;
What a Father's smile is thine;
What a Savior died to win thee:
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

Haste thee on from grace to glory;
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer;
Heaven's eternal day's before thee,
God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Henry F. Lyte

i love my grandparents...

I got a phone call tonight from "Nana," and she said she couldn't lift the zucchini out of my garden behind her garage. After I came to the rescue, we had a little photo shoot with some of the produce. Ray and Irene... i love my grandparents.

Running.

I took a hiatus from running for nearly two months... but for the past three weeks I have been back in action. It is incredible to me how long it takes your body to get back to where it was when you left it. Even if I stop for a week, I feel like I have not run ever before in my life. This is all changing though. I found few things get me motivated enough to stay on track. I just get sidetracked so easily by other things in life. But, I have found that paying money for a race that I have to run on a certain day helps me tremendously. On October 1st, I will be traveling back to the hometown, Morris... to the annual Grundy Co. Corn Fest. I am really pumped to run the 5k with my cousin's wife Sarah, who has become a really close friend over this past year being back with my parents. I am also proud to say that my big bro Mark gave us the idea in the first place. I am so happy that he and Erin will be running too...

Here's what I love about 5ks... everyone is excited when they gather together at the starting line... people are smiling and joking with each other, and as you run, you realize you are using your body to do something to benefit others. You look around at all the people next to you, behind you, and in front of you that are doing the same thing. It's a great feeling. No pressure because you have many miles ahead. It is an extremely attainable goal. Together, you are a part of something. You think to yourself, you could have slept in all those days, or sat on the couch, or checked your facebook, but instead you decided to get out and run... and because of that, you pin a little four digit number across your front and run. And as you cross the finish line, you see those who went before you, and those that will still come after you. A feeling of honest pride begins to fill you, for you have accomplished what you set out to do.

I guess this is what you do on a Saturday afternoon, when you really have nothing else to do... you blog about what you are looking forward to on a page that close to ten people read a month. Regardless of how many read, it doesn't lessen my excitement for the Cornfest 5k.... next stop half marathon (maybe).

the feeling of autumn.

this is the fourth day in a row that windows are comfortably wide, layered clothing is the only way to go, and temperatures never go past 75. i am excited to see my breath in the morning, to smell chili cooking on the stove, and to simmer mulling spices.

looking forward to monday...

it's almost here...