So I went out for a run earlier this evening, dodging runners and walkers and battling it out with the gale forces. Rounded a corner and totally got attacked by one of these:



At the time, I was certain it was a cross between a black bear and Snuffleupagus (see the resemblance?), but I couldn't be sure.



All I know is, the thing veered into my path and was pretty solid upon impact. (No, I wasn't going to move out of the way for the beast; it was taking up the entire sidewalk!) Anyway, I totally could've taken it, but I figured since it was on a leash, the fight wouldn't be fair. So instead, I glared at its "handlers" and continued on my way...

What a day.

Here's to the next post being a bit more meaningful...

Hmm... what to write... something brilliant... something profound... something catchy... I got nothin'.

We did have an A/C pipe sorta explode in our bathroom yesterday. That was fun. Picture vomit all over everywhere, smell and all, and you get the idea. But, the beauty of living in an apartment is that I simply backed away, closed the door, and made a phone call. By the time I returned from running errands, everything was fixed and at least somewhat cleaned up.

In weekend news, the craft show was a complete bust. Complete. BUT, we certainly had a fun time and enjoyed setting up our little booth and experiencing all that is "the craft world". It's one of a kind! Let me know if you need Christmas presents. I have 3 huge tubs stacked up in my room with various options, not to mention things tucked under my dresser and bed!



14 days out from the relay! Woohoo! Shirts are in and look pretty cool, a few more fundraisers in the works, and all the last minute details falling into place. Gonna be fantastic!

Watching the Food Network while on the treadmill really isn't the best idea. I think my stomach is still reeling...

If I ever have the need to clean up after a dead body someday, I will certainly utilize the vacuum at the Shell station down the street. I went to clean my car out this afternoon, and darn, that think will suck the life out of you if you're not careful! (Perhaps I should not have watched Sunshine Cleaning this week... It was terrible anyway.) For $1.25, you too can wipe the evidence clean...

If I had a quarter for every time I thought about sitting down to update the 'ole blog, I'd have enough funds to operate the previously mentioned vacuum for the rest of my life...

Moving on, last night at Conversation Cafe, we discussed some really great stuff. Some really tough stuff. Like what it means to be radical in living out our faith. And how our generation has become too "safe" in our Christianity. I was convicted and challenged. And I think that's where it all begins. I'm grateful for times like that and for people who are willing to dig deeper...

Brown paint does not cover as well as black, and white covers even less. This I know, but it was once again impressed upon me as I have undertaken hours of painting this week in preparation for the big craft show extravaganza this weekend. Market in the Meadow. Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 11-5. We'll be in the center gym area; come by and say hello!

Scrambles eggs at downtown diners... yes, please...

A few nights ago we enjoyed having some people over to cook out and celebrate Kathleen's birthday. Three things stuck out to me from the evening. 1: $1.50 "single-serving" grills actually cook much better than I initially thought. 2: I want to be more intentional about having people over for dinner and conversation. I forget what a blessing that really is and was glad for the reminder the other night. 3: You can never go wrong with chocolate cake and sprinkles...

Went to the printer this week to pick up another round of wedding invitations I was working on for a friend. Also, our relay shirts are being printed right now. It's really a lot of fun to see design projects in those final stages and then (hopefully!) to have a good final product. Makes the work getting to that point so worthwhile...

Sleep is for the weak...

Three weeks from RIGHT NOW we'll be taking off for Houston on foot. S-c-a-r-y! I mean... E-X-C-I-T-I-N-G! Everything seems to be falling into place really well in preparation for our endeavor. I'm anxious to see how it all plays out. If you are still wanting to help support The Mercy Project, it's not too late! Please send any donations you'd like to contribute; a big thanks to those who have already done so...

Excited about a fun weekend with Mom and M. Pictures to come!

Fall is finally here! Temperatures are cooling and Honeycrisp apples are $1/lb. at the grocery store (eating one right now). Love. It.

It’s been yet another busy week here in Dallas. We moved apartments this last weekend and have been busy painting, cleaning, unpacking and rearranging. But most everything seems to be settled; we lack only to get pictures up on the walls. The neighbors are pretty low-key so far, aside from the incessant barking of one “trot-line bait” dog across the way. That’ll have to stop…

Anyway, filling my time over the next 10 days making all the last minute preparations for our craft show on the 10-11th. Can’t believe it’s actually right around the corner. Lots to accomplish between now and then, that’s for sure. Wrapping up a few other projects as well in the next few weeks and then will be ready to breathe again… and gear up for the relay at the end of the month!

Our Heritage crew enjoyed another fantastic Salt –n- Light activity on Sunday night. We took about 40 pizzas, drinks, and dessert down the road to an apartment complex to share with our neighbors there; about 60-70 people showed up for dinner and good conversation. I’m always reminded in doing things like this that as much as we hope to bless the lives of those around us, we tend to walk away equally (if not more so) blessed by them. Such was certainly the case on Sunday night. Looking forward to many more similar occasions in the future.

And now, some parting words of wisdom: "Even after all these years, running continues to amaze me. Mostly in its ability to clarify - to make things OK and bring you back down to earth, even when things are insane. Especially when things are insane." ~Mark Remy (Executive Editor of Runner's World)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this weather! I'm thinking about moving to Seattle. Ok, not really, but the 80 degree weather and rain are truly fantastic. I also really love the fact that, thank to my awesome Dad, my car door has been adjusted and no longer leaks water. (Abby, I promise it's safe to go through the car wash now!)

I just returned from an entire week in Canyon. Wyatt and I crashed at the 4N Ranch for the week and enjoyed our time with Pa and GT. It was a busy one, filled with pumpkin patch picking, wheelbarrow rides, cupcakes, and lots of craft show work. We also enjoyed celebrating Mom's birthday, Dad's induction as an Elder at University, and Pop's 75th birthday/50 years of pharmacy work. So proud of my family! Below are some shots from the week.

Now it's back to city life and time to buckle down even more. Moving apartments in a week and a half, craft show extravaganza in a little over three weeks, relay run closing in soon after that, and lots more to do in-between. And of course, I have a stack of 4-5 good books I'd like to be reading right now. Sigh... never enough time...

8 weeks from today, 8 runners will attempt the ‘unheard of’. We will teeter on the brink of insanity and jump in headfirst. We will go where no man/woman has dared to… Ok, just kidding… but maybe not about the insanity part!

On Halloween weekend (no correlation other than the dates), some buddies and I are embarking on Run For Their Lives: a relay to rescue African children in captivity. Starting on Thursday evening, we will leave Lake Ray Hubbard near Dallas and head towards Houston. (For all those concerned adults, the course will be on ‘back roads’ and minutely mapped out beforehand.) Continuously running 5-6 mile legs at a time, eight of us will each complete 30 miles of the 240 mile journey. Our plan is to run through the night on Thursday, all day Friday, through the night on Friday, and finish up mid-morning on Saturday. We will end up in the Lake Conroe area, intentionally symbolic of the children on Lake Volta in Ghana. Whew!

If you haven’t read my last few posts about Ghana, more background can be found there, but Run For Their Lives will support The Mercy Project. The goal of the Mercy Project is to raise $40,000 to build a new house at the orphanage where the freed children will live. When this house is completed, it will be able to host up to 25 rescued children. If you would like to support/help with this endeavor, we are seeking overall donors for the project as well as people who are willing to sponsor a relay runner per mile (30 total, not 240… unless you like the number 240 better, and that would be great!). Please let me know if you’d like to help out!

Below is the link to the latest video on The Mercy Project to “put some faces” to the entire thing. Blessings~

The Mercy Project