The Race

Did you catch that little statement about the 5K?  I ran one this weekend!  My best friend convinced me to sign up with her, and since it was a) on a Saturday and b) benefiting a Christian school that our friends helped start, I decided to do it.

The verdict?  It wasn't too bad, but I probably won't be signing up for one on my own.  I had a lot of fun because my friend was there, and we got to hang out before and after the race.  If she wanted to do another one, I'd sign up in a heartbeat. 

The day was perfect for a race--cool but sunny--and the route itself wasn't too bad ( a little sandy at the beginning, but a nice flat stretch for the second half).  Still, I had to run, and the race part didn't get me that much more excited than I usually am (not much).  My goal was to finish in under 30 minutes, which I totally did (by 30 seconds).  If I wanted to go much faster than that, I'd have to do some training, which I don't really want to do.  I'm still content to do my 30 minutes, three times a week.  :)

Yes, still waiting

It's National Day in China, which means a week of celebrating for the whole country.  It also means the Chinese adoption agency is closed for the week, so no possibility of files for at least a week. 

We are settling into our fall routine, but there is always that thought in the back of my head--could this be the day or the week?  We don't even know what our daughter looks like.  I'm sure once we do, it will be even harder to wait patiently. 

Still, the cool mornings herald the progression of seasons, and I'm sure we'll be raking leaves soon.  Christmas will come, and another year will be gone.  Each day we are given is a gift from God, and waiting or not, we will try to use it for His glory. 

Before I forget

I guess I left you hanging a little last weekend, since I had only gotten through one of our three events.  #2 was a ministry event for Wings (www.wingsministry.org).  We visit different prisons around NM and put on a party for the inmates and their families.  It's always the same schedule--opening games and singing, a Bible story (Anne's favorite is Noah and the Ark), craft time for the inmates and their children and discussion for the families, then food and more games. 

It's always amazing to see the families together.  Some of them haven't even seen each other or interacted in years, and even if they visit regularly, the parties are a much more relaxed atmosphere than regular visiting.  Now that I'm not nursing a child, David and I take turns helping out at the parties (no volunteer children allowed).  While it's not easy to spend one of our weekend days apart, it's always encouraging to help these families have a chance to spend a weekend day together. 

They are always looking for more volunteers and support, so if you're in the Albuquerque area and are interested in serving, let me know! 

The membership lunch at church was the last thing on our weekend plate, and it was pretty low-key.  We weren't in charge of anything, just helping, and it was fun to see the variety of food for the potluck.  So, we survived, and it's been nice to have not much planned this weekend.  Except for a 5K race!

I'm Back!

When I shared yesterday's post on Facebook, I wrote that I felt like Lucy coming out of the wardrobe, shouting "I'm back, I'm back!"  I told my parents that we didn't have internet because my mom has been working on a business card for me, but other than that, I don't think anyone knew I was 'gone.' 

Three days is not that long to be off the internet, but I did begin to feel a little worried about missing something important.  I began wondering if I'd remembered to pay the bills (which we do almost exclusively online), and of course, who knew what was being sent to my email!

No referral files, in case you're wondering.

There were less important things too, like not being able to check with weather before my run, the recipes I mentioned yesterday, and needing to look up a stretchy bind-off for my latest knitting project.  At least I got a lot of knitting done, although again, I couldn't watch Star Trek while I knit because, ah, no Amazon Instant Video. 

I'm supposed to do some kind of media fast in both of the Bible studies I'm doing this semester, so this has been a good dry run.  It's amazing how many times I found myself sitting down at the computer, only to find I couldn't do the things I normally do.  With a little more intentionality to this endeavor, I may find that limiting the internet would actually be an improvement to our lives.  

Disconnected

Our internet went out on Sunday.  To be exact, it was actually our DSL modem that went out, and when David tried four stores and couldn't find one, we were stuck waiting for a new one to come in the mail.

It was quite disconcerting to be so disconnected from everything.  I actually had a pending Etsy order, so I hauled my printer over to my sister's so I could print out the shipping label.  My cooking plans were sabotaged by my lack of access to the recipes I chose online (David said, at one point, "What did you use for recipes before you had the internet?").  Yes, I have cookbooks--I just hadn't planned on using them.  :) 

But life continued, and now we're back, fully connected with the world again!

One down, two to go

This weekend is busy for us.  Although I didn't necessarily plan on having all these things on one weekend, now that we're a third of the way through it, it doesn't seem too bad. 

Last night I provided desserts for a special event at our church.  Give Her Life is a relatively new ministry focused on the problems of gendercide--basically the devaluation, infanticide, and fetecide of girls.  The organizer showed a film about the problem in India and China, and while the film was very well made, it was pretty devastating.  I kept thinking how blessed I and my sisters and my daughter are to be in the US.  I probably wouldn't be here if our family was Chinese, and while I might have survived in India, there's no guarantee.

Right now Give Her Life is focused on research and awareness of the problems, but eventually they are hoping to provide business and educational opportunities for women.  If a woman is educated and able to earn money, there's a better chance she will be valued in her community.

Here is the website if you're interested in learning more:  www.giveherlife.org

I'm sorry I don't have a picture of the desserts.  :)  We served a little shot glass of Chocolate Truffle Mousse, a little cookie with white chocolate pastry cream, caramel drizzle, and toffee bits, and a pastry bite with lemon curd and a blueberry on top.  They were very well received. 

Now, I'm on my way to a Wings prison party, and then tomorrow we're helping out with the membership lunch.  One down, two to go!

Word-little Wednesday.

Wordless is a stretch for me...but I like the picture ideas for busy weeks.  :)  Especially when you have such great subjects!