Restless Life Syndrome

I wouldn't dare call myself adventurous, and I still hate change and things that challenge me, but China has certainly put a restlessness in me. Maybe it's not China. But I find myself extremely uncomfortable with the idea of nothing to look forward to. For the last, well, forever, my life has been marked by one semester after another, one trip after another, always something to look ahead to and plan for. But now, I'm about to start a full-time job, one that I already know, and there's nothing new on the horizon!

I realized today that most normal people probably feel this right out of college, the next step for them: marriage. And when they grow restless in marriage, there's always kids to add to the mix. I guess China has made me a late bloomer.

Jehovah Jireh

Jehovah Jireh. That's what we named Brad's car when the Lord provided.

And they named the car Jehovah Jireh which means the Lord provides because that is where the Lord provided....

and it's what we constantly tell each other now. When your checkbook balance says $4.00 - Jehovah Jireh. When the gas station doesn't take cards and you remember cash in a birthday card - Jehovah Jireh. When you rarely buy food but eat like Kings - Jehovah Jireh. When you live in an awesome house with awesome friends, and you're all poor - Jehovah Jireh.

When I came back from China and couldn't find a job, Tammy needed me to work for her. And when Tammy planned to go on tour, and I didn't know how I was going to get paid, Caryn took me back at the Parent-Teacher Store, and when Tammy extended her tour, a third loan payment was added each month, and I hit my car, I got promoted to assistant manager at the store. Jehovah Jireh.

Sucks to be a big idiot

The Kia suffered some minor cosmetic damage today due to my own carelessness. :( I did cry a little, but only cause I felt embarrassed and stupid. I'd made it 10 years with no incidents! Thankful no one was hurt.

Big 26

I woke up Thursday morning to the biggest birthday card ever, a collage of 26 things my roommates love about me. I love them. Then I had a birthday haircut, and did my usual running around. We went out to eat, and then had zhende Chinese milk tea! We got to speak a little (bad) Chinese, then Brad and the waitress sang Happy Birthday to me in Chinese. Beth gave me a cutting board (to match the cleaver I got her for her birthday) and bug spray. Practical and thoughtful. :)

My "party" was Saturday. We gathered some of my favorite people and went to Arrington Vineyards. We had a wine tasting, including an amazing raspberry wine with truffles! We sat by the vineyards, sipping wine, eating good food, and enjoying fine company. In addition to my everyday awesome friends, Erin and Jason were visiting from Colorado and Russ, my old dance buddy, was there too! We did a little dancing, sweat to death, and then headed back. A classy birthday indeed.

26 feels easier than 25. Though I frowned a little when I realized I had already completed my 26th year and was already starting the 27th...

Happy Surprise!

Caley taught Zumba this morning! Now many of you have heard me talk about Caley. She's this cute little white chick that teaches Zumba at the Y and man can she move! Seriously, it's ridiculous. But hers is the most challenging class and feels the most like bustin' a move, so I enjoy it most and work the hardest in it. Sadly, she's had substitutes for the last two weeks, and her fill-ins were good, but not Caley. :) This morning she subbed for a different teacher! What a great surprise. Normally we do class in the gym cause lots of ladies love this class, but the speakers weren't working right. In the middle of the class we had to move down into the small studio. The studio was packed, and they even put another teacher out in the hall! With 10 minutes left in class, studio was so steamy that you couldn't see in the mirrors and the floor was slippery and squeaky! Anyway, it was a good, sweaty time.

I went to weigh myself after class not knowing what to expect. I haven't been writing down my food the past week or two, just eating sensibly...lots of veggies, not much meat. I stepped on and put it to where I was last week. The scale didn't balance. I kept moving it up, adding more weight to make it balance, but it still wouldn't. I was thinking, dang! I've blown all my progress! Then I realized that I was moving it the wrong way and I'd actually lost 1.5! :) So I met my birthday goal two days early and lost an extra .5! Woot!

Ray of Hope

Brad, Beth, and I went to Ray of Hope Community Church this morning. Our landlord is the pastor there, and it is just a one minute's walk from our house. I will say that there was only one other white guy besides us there. :) But I've never experienced such a warm and welcoming church. Toward the beginning of the service they stopped and had visitors stand up. Then the congregation went around giving holy hugs...I can't remember the last time that many people hugged me. It was an energetic, enthusiastic 2 1/2 hours of praise and "bringing of the Word." They seem to be very involved in our community and passionate about living out the Word. It was very encouraging, and of course, I've always wanted to rock out in a black church. Today was the day. :)

Progress

- 7 lbs!
- 6 in!

Beth and I tried an H2O cardio class last night at the Y. I will say we were the youngest and fittest of the group, but man my core is sore today! I've almost finished week 2 of Couch to 5k training. I think I've found my race... October 10th, Race for the Cure with Beth! Hopefully Brad and some others will be joining.

A day in the life of a housewife...

Since I'm just working part-time and two of my roommates are now full-time students, I feel more and more like a housewife or stay-at-home mom, not that I mind... I'm pretty good at it ;).

8:30: Wake up, breakfast, check email
9:00: Start laundry
9:30: "Rescue" less than perfect produce from the Farmer's Market.
11:00: Peel and cut a million rescued peaches and freeze them.
12:00: Make lunch - quesadillas!
12:30: Continue the chopping of rescued veggies - salsa! Cut up a ton of squash and freeze it.
1:00: Drop Brad off at the library
1:15: Workout
2:15: Finish laundry, clean kitchen, take shower
3:15: Make peach cobbler out of aforementioned million peaches
4:15: Make spaghetti sauce from scratch in preparation for a quick dinner
6:00: Pick up Brad at the library

And I usually end my night with something really crazy, like reading a book, or watching an episode of West Wing :)

Couch to 5k

I started my "couch to 5k" training last week. It's basically just a training schedule to get you from running nothing, to running 5k in 9 weeks. I'm giving myself ample time and setting my goal for a 5k in October. There are several this summer, but who wants to run in the heat?! So the first week you're supposed to run/walk at certain intervals no matter how easy or hard it seems. This week isn't too bad, but we'll see how I progress. A few weeks ago I was run/walking 1.77 miles/30 min. Now I'm up to 1.88 miles/30 min. Slow but steady...

My new toy

Happy early Birthday to me! I bought a used 1978 Ovation Balladeer last night. And I don't really know much about that, but it's pretty and plays well. I've been shopping around now for a few weeks and loved this guitar when I saw it and played it! A little over my self-given budget, but it's an investment, right? :)

Package!!

We always made a big deal and posted about getting packages in China, so I feel my first box from China should also be celebrated! Peach sent us a box of goodies! Milk tea, ri gambien (hot fried noodles), jasmine tea, and more! Now to just get Peach in a box...