playing catch up

I haven't been doing a very good job at updating my posts. I guess because I often wonder what in my life is worth posting?? I have a lot on my mind this week so I guess I will just write and try to complete my thoughts! It looks like I may be on the hunt for a new car... like this week. For as long as I've owned my car, I've had this excitement of driving her beyond 200,000 miles. Well that is just not looking to be the case any longer, she's at 199,000+ and the electrical system is acting up. The thing I'm learning about darned electrical problems is that (unlike almost any other mechanical issue) they have no way of hooking it up to a machine and that machine telling them, 'here is the problem, here's how you fix it, and here's how much it will cost.' It could take them hours and hours to find the problem and (worse case scenario) that isn't even the solution - hours and hours in the maintenance shop looks like $$$$$$$$$$$$$$... something I am not a big fan on spending.

 This past weekend, we took the UMA girls camping on the AT (Appalachian Trail). I had no idea what to expect leading up to this trip. Will girls even want to go? Will the ones who tell us they are coming, actually end up coming? Will they hate sleeping in tents, cooking food over the fire, setting up/packing up, going to the bathroom in the woods, survive without cell phones and computers for a night??? So many questions but I learned that giving those all up to God was absolutely the best. HE organized that trip and HE brought each of those girls along with a willing heart and attitude. They were amazing! I loved every moment of that trip and even though we were freezing cold at night and didn't love peeing in the woods, the trip wasn't ruined and there were no big complaints! As much as I hope that the trip was a great outdoor learning experience and a nice break from home life, I also hope and pray that there were some spiritual lessons learned. That the girls would remember that God is always there for them to speak to when they are afraid. I pray that the Spirit would continue working in each of their precious hearts to bring them to complete repentance of their sinful state and give their lives completely to Him.

 My sister texted me this week telling me that a friend of hers in her running class at Liberty suggested they run an ultramarathon and Annetta asked if I wanted to join them. I've never put the idea completely out of my crazy little head so I kind of jumped on the opportunity to be able to have someone crazy to train with. The race we are considering is a 50k+ and it takes place February 11th, 2012, not very far from today! I was just telling my friend that in my mind I can do this... but I wonder if when the first cold day hits, if I'll be running for my bed rather than eager to do that 15 mile run on my training plan! I think the thing that helps boost my confidence most of all is the fact that I will be cross training for my triathlon this whole winter (which has proven to be great for my running as well!).

 Work has been going very OKAY lately. It seems I have been having more and more days where I am eager to pursue something else. But what else will offer me the flexibility of this job (my favorite part, not sitting behind a desk all day)? Two of my close friends, who work at Liberty University, have suggested a program that LU offers, AA in Early Childhood Education. Without even mentioning it, I've had multiple people tell me they think I would be a great teacher and I love working with little kids so I think that getting a job as a preschool teacher would be right up my ally. I am still looking into it a little bit but I like it so far!

 My family is making the 12 hour drive down to Virginia from Michigan in 2 weeks! They are coming for Thanksgiving and I am so excited to see them! Something I am excited about is that I will be house sitting that week and the owners of the house offered for my family to stay there and for us to all eat Thanksgiving dinner there! It works out great because then my family will not need a hotel and we can all stay together! Not to mention, have two ovens, two dishwashers, lot's of room, and cable TV for the Lions game! I am a little bummed that I don't get to go to Michigan, but I will get to do that for Christmas which will be great!