Jan 2008
Nike +
01/29/08 16:59
Jess and I have been
running again as we train for a half marathon in
April. And this year, we both have the Nike + chip
for our iPod's that allow us to record all of our
runs and track them online. It's an amazing little
invention that lets us know our time, distance, pace,
and calories burned as we run, while the online site
provides different challenges that help motivate us
as we train.
There are literally thousands of challenges that you can join; or, you can simply create your own. A few examples include "Fastest 10 Mile Run," "First one to 200 Miles," "Most Miles in a Year," and "Run a Marathon before Summer." I have created a few and joined a few more. Last week, I joined one called, "First one to Run 20 Miles," and, somehow, I won that challenge! Here's the results with a view at some of the other runners. My screen name is "Budtere," my Harakmbut name given to me when I lived in the jungle by one of the Amarakaeri chiefs.
There are literally thousands of challenges that you can join; or, you can simply create your own. A few examples include "Fastest 10 Mile Run," "First one to 200 Miles," "Most Miles in a Year," and "Run a Marathon before Summer." I have created a few and joined a few more. Last week, I joined one called, "First one to Run 20 Miles," and, somehow, I won that challenge! Here's the results with a view at some of the other runners. My screen name is "Budtere," my Harakmbut name given to me when I lived in the jungle by one of the Amarakaeri chiefs.
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Base Camp 3
01/20/08 13:07
You ever see those reality TV shows where they climb Mt. Everest? They gradually advance through 6 base camps on their way to the summit, each one increasingly colder. Well, Jess and I went camping this past weekend and, though it probably wasn't as cold as the TOP of Mt. Everest, it was at least comparable to Base Camp 3.
We had made a list of New Year's Resolutions at the first of this month. Two things on the list that we wanted to do from time to time this year were Camping and Spiritual Retreats. We decided to combine the two this weekend and seek out some times of solitude for reading and prayer in the midst of God's beautiful creation. No distractions. No schedules. Just us and the Father and, apparently, the coldest night of our lives.
Apart from burning our pigs in the blanket and having to leave a little early due to our lack of proper clothing for the freezing Base Camp 3 temperatures (we only suffered a little bit of frost bite before packing it up), it was a fun camping experience that allowed us the solitude and simplicity we desired as well as a fun place to hike around as Jess practiced her photography. When it warms up a bit, we'll head once again "Into the Wild."
What a Year!
01/01/08 15:04
As the old adages go: "Stop and Smell the Roses" and "Count Your Blessings." In keeping with the spirit of the wisdom of these sayings, Jess and I began this year this morning by praising God for the numerable blessings and answers to prayers that He gave us throughout 2007. To recap and celebrate it all one more time, I've put together a little time line of some of the highlights.
January 2007: Jess and I celebrated New Year's with Joey & Nicole and Clint & Missy at a ski resort in Colorado.
February 2007: Jess turned 27 on the 11th.
March 2007: I ran my first 5k and we hooked up with Brian & Brooke (and family & friends) for Ainsley's 1st Birthday Party (though her actual b-day wasn't until April).
April 2007: All of our old friends met in Lewisville to honor Clint & Missy at their wedding shower, We led a youth Disciple Now in Ft. Worth, and Jess and I ran the Seminary 5k--winning our age divisions.
May 2007: We went to the Ft. Worth Zoo, Jess' basketball team had their sports banquet, and my former pastor and I received a vision for a new church plant that I would shepherd.
June 2007: Jess' parents took us along with Joey & Nicole to the Bahamas for an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation, and Jess and I led the Trinity youth group with Jarryd and 2 other adults on a Mexico Mission Trip to Morelos with Fito and his church.
July 2007: Jess and I celebrated our 1-Year Anniversary with a nice Italian dinner, a musical at the Dallas Music Hall, and a night at a beautiful hotel; I cast our church-planting vision to our previous church; and Jess and I went to Six Flags.
August 2007: We enjoyed a road trip with my entire family to Nebraska for Clint & Missy's wedding, a Literary Agency offered representation for my novel (I got an agent this month!), and Jess and I went with our old youth group to a Ranger game and Mercy Me concert.
September 2007: We went to the incredible, amazing, Lion King musical production at the Dallas Music Hall
October 2007: I began my new job as church planter as we started our new church--Body Life, and we enjoyed a great reunion with former partners in the Gospel from the Xtreme Team (J & Susan, Chris, Kristin & Ryen, and Eric & Alison).
November 2007: We had a great Thanksgiving with Jess' family in Longview and then another one with my family (including all
of my grandmothers, aunts & uncles, and cousins) in Tennessee
December 2007: Joey and Nicole had our nephew, Jackson, and we celebrated Christmas in Longview and Lewisville with Jess' parents, Joey, Nicole & Jackson, my parents, Brian, Brooke & Ainsley, and several of our friends! (I will soon post more pictures from our Christmas break).
It was an exiting year worth remembering and certainly worth blogging about. We give God worship and praise for allowing us 2007 and we hope that we can give Him 2008!
