I seem to have established a Sunday morning routine over the last month or two. In general, I'm not really one for sleeping in. As Dad would say, "Wake up, you're burning daylight." I hate the feeling of getting up and realizing half the day's gone, and I missed it, even on Saturday. So on Sunday, I've been getting up around 7 and enjoying time to myself (the roomies like to sleep late). Coffee and muffins (or some sort of yummy breakfast) are a must, followed by writing out a new verse for the week, journaling, reading, and reflecting on the week or whatever is on my mind. 9:00 takes me out the door for a run, either listening to a sermon podcast or just continuing the quiet time – which breaks my norm of always listening to music while running. Then back for clean-up and off to church.

I don't say all that to tell you how good I am at spending time with God – quite the opposite actually. I am terrible at devoting time each day to reading, praying, or just being in the presence of God. I've always had a hard time making that a habit. But it's amazing how much more relaxed and peaceful my week is after this Sunday morning time. Being able to pray over the week ahead and to gain that 'fresh start' is just huge for me.

I would like to say I do this every morning, but that's not even close to true; however, it's something I do want to be working towards.

Anyone else have a cool 'ritual' that gets them charged up for the week? Would love to hear about it!

**************

New verse of the week, from Malachi 3:10:
"Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

This one is a favorite of mine, and one of those that's always applicable regardless of where I'm at in life. I love the idea of God pouring out so much blessing on his people that it's an unfathomable event, that we can't even comprehend how to take it all in. While I realize the context of this verse hinges on giving/tithing/offering, I know there are so many moments in life that we are called upon to trust God, to give our doubts and fears to Him, to rightfully test Him and see the floodgates thrown open on our behalf.

A few verses after this one reads, "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. 'On the day when I act,' says the Lord Almighty, 'they will be my treasured possession.'"

I love that. That sends much encouragement to my often anxious little mind. So I'll be praying Malachi 3:10 this week. That I would be a giver, even on days when I feel I have nothing worthy to give. And that as I lay things before God, He will listen and remember, and surprise my life – and the lives of those around me – with blessing upon blessing. Not because of my faithfulness, but because of His love and goodness.

Today is a day for adventure. Where shall we go in our Mickey Mouse shirts and safari hats? Let me show you how to color with this brown crayon before we go.

Happy Friday!

6 weeks from tomorrow, 32 Mercy Project supporters will begin playing football... and won't stop for 24 hours! This game will be an attempt at a Guinness World Record (we set one last April with 50 hours of kickball) for the longest flag football game in history. As usual, we are raising money to benefit the kids in slavery on Lake Volta in Ghana. I can't say that I'm too stellar at football. In fact, I've maybe played a legit game twice in my life. But, to be honest, I don't really care (I really won't care after 24 hours!); I'm excited about the group of people we have committed to play who are willing to give up their weekend to join us for the effort. Should be an exciting event; we'll be in the BCS area if you want to come out and cheer us on. Event shirts went on pre-order this week, and everything else is coming together. If you'd like a shirt or to donate to our pigskin weekend, let me know! Our goal is to raise $15,000 for MP through this event.

(click to enlarge image)

We also sent out the next edition of the Mercy Project Newsletter today. Lots going on this spring. If you'd like to be added to the mailing list, there's a 'join' button on the left-hand column.

*******************

82 degrees outside, and I'm off for a run!

One large cup of Hazelnut coffee, and the week has begun.

Beautiful weather this weekend, great for running and spending time outside. Kathleen and I enjoyed Sprinkles cupcakes at the park on Saturday. (Side note: According to the lady that checked us out, they start at 4 AM every morning and make over 1,000 cupcakes each day. Wow.) There was a small incident in which I unceremoniously dropped my cupcake on the ground. I blame it on the wooden fork. But don't you worry, I still ate it. (It was, after all, from Sprinkles.) Aside from that, really enjoyed hanging out and catching up on life with a dear friend. It's way too easy to convert our conversations to text and email, of which I am guilty of way too often. But I really want to make face-to-face convo a priority as much as possible. Makes a different in relationships and in sharing life together.


Verse of the week, if you happen to be tracking with that:

Whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is noble,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable –
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –
think about such things.

Phil. 4:8

Hunting started at an early age in the Nickson household. We had those BB-guns aimed and ready to shoot by the age of 3. Ok, not really, but we did get to go out with Dad chasing pheasant, quail, deer, elk, etc. growing up. I especially was fond of those occasions, since I got to hang out and do 'guy stuff' for the day. I remember being deeply upset the few years that I made the All-Region Band: the final concert was always the opening weekend of pheasant season. Weird, I know.

Can't say that I've done a lot of hunting lately. Not really a favorite hobby for Dallasonians. And honestly, I don't have a deep desire to go out and kill something right now, although there's plenty of game in my freezer. But I am grateful for those memories and lessons in safety and responsibility.


*************

Check back: Updates to come on Mercy Project and our Guinness World Record Fundraiser that will be going on just 7 weeks from now!

It's been a good time of catch-up for me this week. Lots of errands and quiet moments in the day, wrapping up some long-winded projects as well as launching into new ones. I finally got a second monitor hooked up, so I'm pretty pumped about that. Here's the workspace as of late...


...which works out nicely in freeing up space to spread out and plan on the drafting table.



I also trekked to the library and Half Price yesterday. The stack of books that has been lying in wait is actually being chipped away at. I forget how much I love picking up a good book when I get used to not having the time to do so. Currently re-reading White (Ted Dekker) and finishing Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers (Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove). On deck is Green (next in the Dekker series), The Hole in Our Gospel (Richard Stearns), and Ending Slavery (Kevin Bales) . Excited about all of those.

And I'm cooking more! Made Cheese Manicotti Tueday night: shout-out to my dear friend Stacey for sharing a fantastic recipe. I wouldn't say that I'm too good at stuffing the shells, but it still turned out great. Even better was being able to share a meal with good friends. Planning on trying out crock pot black beans next; 'cheap' and 'self-seasoning' cannot be beat.

Back to the running regimen for now and enjoying the 1-hour-a-day routine it offers.

I know the time of at-home work won't last forever, but I'm certainly embracing the moments!

**********

It would appears that I have neglected to post this week's verse, so here it is:

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zeph. 3:17

Check out Google's Art Project, an interactive gallery using Street View technology to explore art museums and artwork.

Brilliant.

Not that I get super stoked about the holiday or anything of the sort, but I guess it is that time of year...

Here we have our annual Valentine's Day family meal. We always took turns cooking: one year the boys would cook, the other year the girls would cook. Great times spent together around the dinner table.


And this shot is two years earlier as Dad and I were leaving for our church's Father-Daughter Banquet. Mom sent us off to the church building with her typical perfectly decorated cake, where we had dinner and took even more cheesy pictures. But sometimes cheesy can be ok.

What an odd week. Work was closed on Tuesday for ice, then short days Wednesday and Thursday, closed again on Friday – this time for 6" of snow. Whew! I'm not sure what day of the week it is anymore! We did get out in the snow yesterday and enjoyed taking Callie out for a run. She LOVED it... mostly the part where she found some carrots in one of the snowman we passed! Now it's just wet and all melting off, but I'm kinda ready for some sunshine.

Here's an oldie that seemed appropriate for the week, though I'm not sure where or when it was taken. Where, I ask, are our coats?!

Snow day in Dallas = hot chocolate, hooded sweatshirt, dripping faucets, and a day of wondering from one task to the next.


************************
New verse of the week:

"What great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1

Fifth marathon in the books. Woohoo! Sorta...

Let's just say, #5 did not go as planned. And we all know I'm a master planner (to a fault) when it comes to certain aspects of life, so imagine the mental fiasco when 4 months of training hardly yielded the expected outcome. I lined up at the start on Sunday with 22,000 runners healthy, confident, completely calm, and so excited. This was my year, I could feel it. Yet I once again found myself on the other side, with only the mastery of a racing skill that continues to plague me: disappointment. I will consent to taking into account the 96% humidity, 100% rain, and 55 degree starting temp, yet I will not surrender to excuses. Fact is, no later than mile 8 found me in a stomach-cramping, soaking-wet panic, whose only sustenance was the occasional inspirational Chuck Norris poster (i.e. "When Chuck Norris hits a wall, it falls down.") and 18.2 miles left to go. That was all she wrote. Quite depressing, really, but then, I figure there's equally humility and lessons to be learned, moments to be thankful for, and always, always, some good adventure.

Moving on... fun facts from the weekend:
47,880,000 = estimated number of calories that were burned during the race
250,000 = number of cheering spectators
8,537 = gallons of Gatorade consumed
1,575 = number of traffic cones used to mark the course
18,522 = number of bananas eaten at the post-race breakfast
2:07:04 = marathon time posted by the winner, Ethiopian Bekana Daba, who set a personal, course, and state record
2 = number of amazingly supportive (and armed) fans who tagged along, got no sleep, and showed up over and over in the rain to encourage a drowned rat :)

All I can say now... "Worst Parade Ever" (coined from the guy with the cardboard sign at mile 9)