Colorado: You never know what you're gonna get

I love Colorado!
Though sometimes it can be annoying that you never know what the weather is going to be like, that keeps it interesting.
One day it's foggy/misty. The next day is snows, then rains.
The next day it's like summer and I get a sunburn while rock climbing and biking.

I'm also a big fan of house/pet-sitting. I don't actually sit on the pets, but they like to sit on my stuff. Zeke seems to have a liking for outdoor gear.

Well-needed Rest

Last night I became so frustrated I was in tears as I tried to write an article for my National Guard duty. After talking with a friend on the phone, I decide to give up for the evening and picked up the latest Brio magazine from my bag. I flipped through it, continuing to ponder why I haven’t been able to get a job there.

I don’t usually read the “In box” section, but a headline caught my eye: “Well-needed rest.” I thought, “That’s what I really need” right now.

I continued to read the letter to the editor:
“I just read the November article ‘Rest,’”

I realized she was mentioning the article I wrote, so I read on:

“and it was just what I needed! To be honest, I was feeling guilty about reading Brio instead of doing homework. This article reminded me that I can spend some quiet time on other things and that I don’t always have to go, Go, GO. It was so relevant o the moment, I almost cried.”
–Cassie from San Jose, Calif.

Reading her letter was so relevant I almost cried (again). I can’t say how much I needed that encouragement that writing can and has made a difference in people’s lives.

Writing that article should have made more of an impact on my life (I’d like to be able to take my own advice to really rest), so I’m glad it has helped others.

Reading someone’s comment about how the writing I did affected them is much more meaningful than seeing my name and article in print.

My encouragement to you—if you read something that makes a positive impact in your life, please tell that person. It may be the spark that keeps them going. And if you're a writer or a blogger, keep going--you're making a difference!

Encouragement brings new life

As pressure mounted and stress increased about a week ago I decided to take the day off work and go for a fun little biking adventure with KLerch.
A beautiful spring day, we hit a new trail with a map and plenty of energy and optimism. Little did we know (although we probably should have learned by now) how easy it is to get lost.
After taking a wrong turn, rather than go back we decided upon a "proposed" trail. This means no trail at all, but you can make your own.
However, it's very difficult, unless you have a chain saw, to make a trail through dry brush. At first we just thought we could walk our bikes up the hill. The trail where we were headed was visible--just up ahead! Or was it? "Well, if we can just get up to that ridge, we'll be able to see."
Soon, pushing bikes through brush became impossible, so we carried them--often above our heads.

I don't know about Katie, but I started to get exhausted and I wanted to just sit down and quit.
She however, climbed up a tree to be better able to see. That's what friends are for (at least partially), to give us perspective and encouragement, to help point us in the right direction.

We continued bush-wacking. (I rediscovered a fondness for mixing up my consonants: book washing). Intermingled with laughter at our unfortunate plight, her enthusiasm and vigor that we would eventually make it to the trail gave me hope.
And sure enough, though the journey getting there was difficult, we made it!
When our actual bike ride began, I was already pretty pooped out, but managed to get a second wind.
Seeing new spring flowers popping out of dry ground was like a loving greeting-card encouragement from God. They reminded me that beauty and hope can spring up in the midst of the parched landscape. When life seems difficult and I just want to go into hibernation, God gives me glimpses of spring time. And I want to keep going--to see what's up over the next ridge. The journey is an adventure, and the miserable parts help make it memorable!

Life is good?

I'm a big fan of the "Life is good" brand.
However, I've always thought it should be revised to: Life is hard, God is good.

My roommate recently e-mailed me the lyrics to this Martina McBride song, "Anyway." They go along great with the concept that life is hard, but God is good.

Check it out:

You can spend your whole life building something from nothing
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway
You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway
God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway
This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe that tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway
You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons, and in a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway
God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway
You can pour your soul out singing a song you believe in that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway, sing it anyway
I sing, I dream, I love, anyway...

May our lives be filled with this kind of courage.
And as we step out in faith, hope, and love, may our courage light up the lives of others, as, "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

GMA coming soon

This post really should go on my carrieAtune blog, since it's related to music, but I already have it here and don't know if it's possible to post to two blogs at once. Anyone have a clue? I'm debating whether to consolidate blogs, since perhaps that would be easier and I don't update the other as often. Thoughts?

Anyway, back to my post.

I've been busily scheduling interviews for my week in Nashville, April 21-25 for the Gospel Music Assoc. Week and Dove Awards.

So far, I'm most excited about talking with Mandisa, former American Idol contestant who made it to the final rounds in the fifth season. Mandisa will release her debut album (Sparrow/EMI CMG) in May and book, IdolEyes (Tyndale House) in June.
IdolEyes is co-authored with Angela Hunt and gives a view into Mandisa’s Idol journey, including how judge Simon Cowell’s derogatory remarks opened up opportunities to share with women about her food addiction and God’s loving acceptance.
Mandisa is no newcomer to music. She has also traveled across the nation with various worship conferences and women’s events and retreats (Integrity Music, Living Proof Live featuring Beth Moore, LifeWay Christian Women’s Conventions) as a worship leader. Check out her MySpace to listen to her powerful voice.

I'm also excited to catch up with Chris Rice.
Check out his Web site: http://www.chrisrice.com/, which has links to his blog (good thoughts--but lots of pictures of food lately, so only visit while not hungry) and music (my favorite song is "Lemonade.") Briefly about him: Nine years ago listeners were introduced to Chris Rice and his introspective lyrics with his first release Deep Enough to Dream. Since then, he has sold more than 1.5 million units and has had 11 No. 1 radio singles. His debut venture on INO/Eb+Flo Records (“Amusing”) was a hit with media and radio, including Mainstream AC radio with a Top 5 Hit (“When Did You Fall In Love”). Chris is really excited about going into the studio again with longtime friend, producer Monroe Jones. His next project is set to release this June.

While I'm at GMA, I try to interview lesser-known, up-and-coming bands, rather than the ones everyone loves, so more to come about the newbies!

Run for One, and then some

Children’s HopeChest (http://www.hopechest.org/) is an organization I’ve been hearing a lot about recently, and God has used them and other circumstances to put orphans on my heart.

The organization recently announced the formation and launch of the Run for One training team which will raise funds and awareness to support orphans in need living in Russia and Swaziland. This year, the team will complete the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA, on September 2, 2007.

Each athlete who signs up for this program will run to benefit one child who is currently participating in a Children’s HopeChest program for orphans. Children’s HopeChest will provide team members with encouragement, monthly training plans, and professional coaching by Lisa Rainsberger, winner of the 1985 Boston Marathon and world class running coach. Rainsberger and her daughter, Meghan, are also participating in the race and raising funds to “run for one.”

Anyone who knows me knows I love to run. In the past I’ve run for fun, mostly for one—myself. After I ran the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Phoenix, AZ last year I developed sciatica, which prohibited most running. Then a car accident in December 2006 smashed all plans of near-future races.

However, with good chiropractic care, massage therapy, and what I consider a miracle from God, I’m feeling almost at 100%. I’ve been swimming and biking, and even running with little pain. (It’s sitting that’s still a problem—but I can deal with that.)

So, now I’m presented with this opportunity—and it makes me so excited!

I’ve never raised $4,000 before, and that’s probably the most intimidating factor.

I would really appreciate prayer and guidance whether this is where I should focus my time and energy. We’re having a staff informational meeting next week, and CHC is looking for commitments close to that date. Another factor I’m weighing is the desire to go on my first mission trip this year. Can I do both? If I had to choose one opportunity (I don’t have a specific trip picked out, but was considering one with CHC), which should it be?

Your input is appreciated.

Here’s a bit more about Run for One and CHC:
Run for One is being organized in remembrance of Katya Toschakova, a 15-year-old orphan who took her life after entering the outside world without guidance or hope following her departure from a Russian orphanage.

Children’s HopeChest establishes programs for younger children living in orphanages and older children, like Katya, who are navigating the transition into adulthood. These are abandoned children who will never be adopted into families.

HopeChest programs give them ongoing guidance, support, skills, and hope. Without such intervention, these orphans fall into crime, prostitution, drug abuse, alcoholism, or, like Katya, suicide.

Quotes: Living in Hope

The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.
—Barbara Kingsolver

If, every day, I dare to remember that I am here on loan, that this house, this hillside, these minutes are all leased to me, not given, I will never despair.
—Erica Jong

How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us.
—Park Cousins

There is nothing like a dream to create the future.
—Victor Hugo

What I like to do on my lunch break

I'm thankful for 60-degree weather in March, a bike, the ability to ride it, a workplace with flexible hours, mud, showers in the workplace, a great biking buddy (who likes mud even more that me--see it in her teeth!) And what am I doing in this picture? Guess you had to be there.