Bear Fruit

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8:16 AM on Monday, June 4, 2018

Morning Ride Runoops/Bear Fruit

I was a little off from the get-go today. At the first mile spot, I wondered why I hadn't heard my watch beep. Then I remembered that I biked the night before and didn't change my "sport" before I hit "start" this morning. Oh well, that can be fixed later! Not that I really pay attention on vacation, but it was a Monday! To make it better (sarcasm), it was super hot and windy. But when I got down to the beach, the wind had decreased to basically nothing. That makes it better for reading and things not blowing away, but it makes it so rough for sitting in the heat and humidity with no air flow! Since there are no hills at the beach, I get some extra work fighting the wind then taking a run up the stairs after I finish. It is a great view out the elevator window!

This was the first day I started my new breakfast scramble (that I have now carried home and done almost every day). Eggs, peppers and onions, avocado, with some seasoning salt (can't do avo without something yikes). Plus, being a runner, especially in the hot and humid, NEED SALT.

For my extra reading thing for today, I took down a new (actually old) magazine feature that Mom had printed off for me for one of my "wish list" gifts from Christmas. It is a feature story on Ryan Hall that was in an issue in 2008. It's all about how his faith impacts his running. You can still find it online by searching Ryan Hall The Power and The Glory! As Christians are called to be "imitators of Christ" (Ephesians 5:1-2), Ryan makes that his goal in all walks (or runs, haha) of his life. While sports can sometimes take us away from church, it doesn't have to take us away from worship. Church is simply a place to gather as believers; worship is a way of life. The church the Hall family attends is totally supportive of his faith and sport, and he puts as much into his church as he can. While there were many ups and downs throughout Ryan's career, he was confident that the Lord had a plan. He didn't always have such a close relationship with the Lord, but through some trials and wake up calls along the way, his faith grew so strong. As I have also learned, I am not a runner who happens to be a Christian; I am a Christian who happens to be a runner. I am who God made me, and He lets me run as a way to bring Him glory. Whatever we do, we are to give it our best because it is something that God has given us to use. If I am strong and have endurance and running ability, I should make it my goal to develop my talent to get to the best opportunities (big and small, near and far) to use it for Him. Not necessarily winning or beating people, but thriving and reaching people. Just like we have to train to finish races, we have to be ready in strength of faith for the goal of heaven. Every day matters.

Lunch was the most proud of a project for the summer that I have been yet. I have a list of random things that I want to get done this summer, and this was one of them. I have to stop putting things off and just do them when I get a chance! I am a procrastinator, believe it or not. This pineapple bowl literally made my day. It was so much easier than I thought, and it turned out prettier than expected! I added a little bit of the fruit from it as well as some frozen berries, mixed in some Cheetah Chomps cereal, and sprinkled on some coconut flakes to eat on the beach. If this isn't quintessential summer, I don't know what is.

My Bible study from the NOW book today fit right in: John 15:1-11, "...This is to My Father's glory that you bear much fruit...I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and your joy made complete."

What good is a plant that has no roots? It can't grow. It quickly dies. It can't produce fruit. Then no one else can receive the benefits of it. Same goes with us. When we are disconnected from our source, Christ, we don't last long. We dry up and drift away, losing our own energy and keeping others from experiencing it, too. I want to do so much with my life, but the main thing I want is to make the moments matter. I have to remind myself along the way that to make my life matter, I can't be reserved and selfish. Yes, I first have to fill myself with God's Word, but that will then power me to share with others. I always have to have balance. I need to take care of myself, but I don't like to do things if others aren't a part of it. BUT I have to remember that I have to feed myself the fruit of the Lord in order to share the good fruits with others! (It's also been on my list for over 3 years now to have a potluck Bible study brunch with fruits, using fruit scriptures like this as the theme. If my life goes the way I wish--as we know God doesn't usually work that way!--things like this would be my job. (PS let me know if you want to have a Bible study with me sometime!)

Drink of the day was also fruity: new Ocean Spray Pact! Ocean Spray with a side of some real ocean spray...is it heaven?

Dinner is one of my beach favorites, not that I can't get it basically everywhere else, but it simply seems better here. The Salsarita's we go to has a great patio we eat on complete with nice picnic tables and umbrellas, music, and flowers. I love my burrito bowls. And that Salsarita's has all the flavors of Chohula sauce for customer use.

For the night's shopping, we went to TJMaxx! They always have good swim suits, but at the beach, it's even better. I spent so long trying them on...well over 10. The main issue is that with team training, we do swim workouts, and I really want a sporty one-piece! But those things are hard to find the right fit, and being small doesn't help. Full price at a sports/athletic clothing store, those things are outrageous expensive, too, and I am not about to pay minimum $60 for one, nope. We were there way longer than expected, but it's the beach, and I am doing all I can. Next we went to Broadway at the Beach since it is open later than most places so we could go a few places that Dad wouldn't want to go. The semi-annual sale at Victoria's Secret and Pink had just started, and I got some of the best deals! This is another place that I love but will not pay full price for. These deals were GREAT! I could've bought so many more things, but I am trying to restrain my spending to things I actually need more of.

(These pictures weren’t things I bought on the trip, but this was one of my projects of the day—some of my favorite beach-theme products!)

Last stop of the night was a new dessert place that I've seen local to Myrtle and wanted to go over the past few years. There are now two shops down Ocean Blvd. Kirk's Ice CreamParlor is a long-lived, local favorite, and I can see why! They have over 30 flavors, and they are all delicious! It is one of those places that has more than the generic. Not bad price either. Two of my favorite things. Needless to say, I told Mom we had to go back. She was not opposed because I got a nutty coconut flavor and let her try. She was amazed and wanted her own later in the week.

Sleep[LESS] [SUN]day

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More sun, less sleep is how the entire vacation ended up going, but this was just the beginning. To have gotten the least sleep in a long time after a fun and late night out shopping, I surprisingly felt good on this run! We went out and back for the whole thing, a little farther toward downtown than we ever have. It was fun for me to get to see more and different hotels and shops! I didn't know that there were two places down Ocean Blvd so close to us that have a Starbucks and Ben & Jerry's right next to each other. I wanted to bike there one night, but that is still on my beach list for next year.

The little things make me so happy, including color coordination. I was so excited about this outfit, Mom knew she was going to have to take my picture before I even asked. Sometimes I feel dumb for asking her to take so many pictures, but it's a little thing that makes me happy. This bathing suit is pretty new; I've only worn it a couple times at the end of last summer, a new pair of sunglasses Mom got me for Easter (sporty, but cute with pink lenses), and a new Simply Southern visor! The bow on it even matches the color of my headband and a stripe of my suit. To complete the "head-to-toe," my toenails are pink! Oh, and the coffee cup has a pink lid and pink beach chair.

Oh shoot. I have been meaning to shorten these up, so I can catch up and do the ones for now...

 New cereal! Found on sale in the pharmacy section at Walgreens! Protein Apple Cinnamon. Tastes just like the Apple Cinnamon Cheerios but has a lot of protein added in! It's also National Egg Day, which I celebrate basically every day. My drink of the day was a new one that I saw in the cooler at Starbucks: Teavana meyer lemon with lime peel and lemongrass. I also got a super cute straw in there with pineapple pictures and candy on it! That made up for the unsweetened and added even more flavor (and coordination with my new drink hugger). Another picture today was inspired by Happiness Is.

Would ya look at these comics? They were right next to each other and convey total opposite meanings when you think about it. It was not intended and both were just for humor (I mean, it is the comics), but that's one thing I love about the funnies section. They do make me laugh, but they also make me think. One here is about family and enjoying a great breakfast, noting its importance to each day, while the other points out that not giving yourself enough to eat is frustrating and does not help you go faster! Like Coach Farmer always told me in high school, you can't run on an empty tank! This kind of stuff is seeping into every media outlet now, but it is good. Our culture has ruined us. Another reason that I hope in Jesus and that one day He will come and relieve us of all the pressure of the world. We can' t totally help the influences around us, but we can fix our eyes and hearts on His truth to help ease the struggles.

Building off of tying Jesus into this, today's Bible study was another thing I am finishing up before starting something new. (I have a bad habit of starting lots of things then not finishing them then getting overwhelmed by having too much going on.) This little devotion book is called NOW: Impacting Your World for Christ Right Now. It was pretty elementary, but it is good to get down to the basics sometimes. That's where we find our salvation and everything else in life to build off of.

I was a little over halfway through, so I picked up on a chapter about changes God brings to our lives. I'm not good with change, so it was fitting. The book began with discussing who we are in Christ and that He has a plan for us. It is important that we have a vision for what we see as God's will for us so that we can have a goal to focus on throughout our days. While our vision may be God-inspired, He may still change it. Personal example, my vision in life all through high school was to be a top runner in the state and region and use that platform to show the love and power and joy of Christ to all those who watch me. It happened! I had some great opportunities to share my faith in interviews online and in newspapers and magazines both small and large-scale; I met hundreds of fellow runners and their families. I impacted people who simply saw me and knew there was something different in me. However, as each season started so well, I fell off and never met the expectations that I set myself up for. That wasn't my plan. But through it all, God still had a plan. I could still share His goodness and strength in my shortcomings and weaknesses. Beyond high school, I had a new vision to go into college running and be a leader on my team and competitive in races, but that vision changed the moment I got on campus. But now, I look back and see that my vision was hindered because God knows everything behind the scenes and in others' hearts and minds that I cannot see. While I thought Lipscomb was the perfect place for me to grow in and share my faith and excel in life, God could see things going on there that were not right for me. Yes, my faith grew so much, but in a totally different way than I had pictured. But when I see it now, I really know God was caring for me every step of the way.

I love to make plans. That's one of the key qualities of me. I love to plan, organize, create, invite, share; I find joy in doing. I like to know what's going on. But do I ever really know what's going on? NO. Over the past two years, I have learned so much about letting go of control of my circumstances. It is a struggle because it is part of who I am, but I am much more at peace with uncertainty. The fast pace and sad state of the world leaves me disappointed and longing for something to trust, but that is where I turn to God. It is very freeing, actually. All I have to worry about is the things I know and can do, and I can trust that God is in control of everything, so it is all the way it is supposed to be. Good thing I'm not in control because I would mess it up! 
James 4:13-15 is an awesome passage on this topic. "...You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life...instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" 
Being too absorbed in my own plans keeps me from being open to the thins that God brings to me. 
While we cannot help most of the change that happens to us, we can control our response. And that is what matters.

Like a Baby Shower, and College is the Baby + Ethos Message

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After finally deciding that I was going to accept the offer to run in college at Lipscomb, I signed during the early period in the fall to make it official!

I also will use this post since it's all about Lipscomb, to go back to what I wanted to share from when I went to Ethos church on my visit!  It was the perfect message for me at the time, so I can't help but share.  

One of the greatest feelings in life is experiencing God at work.  It's one of those things that just blows your mind and leaves you in awe, yet longing for more.

After a tough race on Saturday and a long run the next day (an hour or so before church), I was feeling so tired, sore, weak, and just in pain from all the business life had thrown at me!  During the opening part of service, God brought the words of Matthew 26:41 to my mind, so I looked it up and wrote it down.  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  Not even five minutes later, the speaker started preaching on the exact same passage, just the version by Mark in chapter 14.  Now, if that wasn't God at work, I don't know what is.  That is no coincidence.  (Mark 14:38, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.")  Starting in verse 32, Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane.  The sermon was focused on the model Jesus set here of how to approach The Father. 

1) His Preface-Though His circumstances were overwhelming--He was about to be killed!--Jesus still had unwavering faith.

2) His petition-Because He knew it would be such a terrible death, He asked God to let it pass if at all possible.  Even more than that, He asked that God's will be done in any way.

3) His posture-totally submitted, humble, and trusting

This was really motivating for me because I could feel God comforting me in my stress and uncertainty.  I was encouraged remembering all that my Savior has done for me.  I can't waiver when God's will conflicts with my ways.  Jesus didn't die the death of a martyr; He died the death of a Messiah!  Because he died in agony, we can live and die in joy!

Another thing that really stood out to me was a picture frame over my host Clare's bed.  It said Embrace the Journey, which combines two of my favorite sayings:  Joy in the Journey and Embrace the Race!  (That also goes with something else in my life that is a secret until May, but just know that it correlates!) 

These small signs from God are everywhere.  Pray for you eyes and heart to be opened to them in your own life!

One of my friends Will signed to play baseball at UT at the beginning of early signing period, and they almost like a party with cake and pictures and people got out of class and off work to come!  I talked to his mom, and that gave me encouragement to celebrate, too!  A couple friends and I got to talking about it, and we described it like a baby shower, a small party to celebrate something that isn't quite here yet.  It's like college was the baby!  We're celebrating it, but I'm just not there yet.

 

After state we went to Lipscomb to buy some shirts to wear until I actually got to college and they give me all kinds of gear.  This is the sweatshirt I got, so it's kinda dressy,too.

I was so excited once we got things planned, and I invited lots of people from inside and outside of school.  Even though some people had to work, a lot got off to come!  Mom and Dad both did, of course, and all my coaches came.

I wanted to have little snacks too, since it was around lunchtime, so we decided on some that would match the Lipscomb colors!  We ordered some dark chocolate truffles with a couple different fillings--peanut butter, hazelnut, or espresso--from Yummy Cakes in downtown.  The grapes and pineapple were my color coordinating colors, too!

Thanks for the sweet snapchat, Emily.

It was really last minute, but they pulled it off just in time!

I think truffles are some of the prettiest little treats.

They were a hit, too!  I barely got any myself!  We didn't have any left to take home.

I've always been a daddy's girl.  Only now I have more hair.

Thanks to Matt Daniels who came to do pictures and a fantastic interview for the newspaper!

I really mean it when I say that I wouldn't be where I am without the people around me.  All the prayers, support, laughter, encouragement, and bits of grace that I've been given so often mean so much to me, especially looking back.  I love these people so much!  God has worked wonders in my life, and I've changed so much, but I'm so thankful for it.

 

Let the Traveling Begin!

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This is my last one before we get to summer!

 

Right off the bat, my summer was a busy one!  The last half day of school, I went home for a couple hours then headed back to get ready to leave for MTSU for the state track meet!

Here are all the kids who qualified this year.  A few of us didn't get the team shirt memo.

Mrs. Bowen's pretty fun, as you can see here on the left (she makes me laugh all the time!), but she didn't last long before she was out like a light.

After a little while, we all got tired of that bus ride.  It wasn't near as long as many of our cross country trips, but it's just not the same.

Team dinner's are usually one of two places, unless something goes wrong:  Cheddar's or Olive Garden.  At Cheddar's this time, I got red beans, broccoli, carrots, with shrimp and mango salsa tilapia!

This is us at our table inside.  I feel the need to clarify that becuase this was an interesting night.  We started out having to wait forever, but finally got seated outside.  Then it started raining.  Then pouring.  There were umbrellas, but they did not do much good.  When a table opened up inside, they rushed us in and we all crammed around 3 tiny tables.  It was also about 8:30, so that was a late dinner, too.

 

We had some fun back at the hotel!  The past two years, my room has been the one that people come to for the fun.

She's my favorite.  I mean, look at her.

Breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn was fantastic!  We did have to pay for it, but it was worth it in my opinion.  For $8.75 we got all we could eat fruit, cereal, made-to-order omelettes, oatmeal, breads, pastries, and all that good stuff!  The lobby and breakfast area were also really nice.  During the day and evenings, they even had free fruit drinks and white chocolate macadamia cranberry oat bars.

Since my race wasn't until late that night, I had a lot of time to myself up in the room, so I did some Bible study.  I had a nice view to go with it.
I focused on Ephesians 4:22-5:2, about putting off your old self and living in the new self, which is the way God intends.  The other passage I loved this day was Psalm 119.  It was just full of encouragement and things that spoke to me!  I went to this chapter first just because of verse 32, "I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free" because that had really become my focus.  I wasn't so much concerned about a state title as I was just getting back to enjoying this activity that used to make me so happy (which it still does now!).  Then I kept reading, and just took on the whole chapter! 
It's a really long chapter, but I'll share some of the ones that stood out to me.
"Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey Your word...it was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees."  (verses 67 and 71)  This is something in me that has changed the closer to Christ I get and the more mature in my faith I grow.  I appreciate the hardships.  Not saying that I "like" them, but I appreciate them.  Without God smacking me with wake up calls, I could not be where I am in my faith right now.  I am so thankful for the lessons that I've learned and the times that God has kept me humble.

"Trouble and distress have come upon me, but Your commands are my delight.  Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live."  (vs 133-144)  Things in life will always make us unhappy, but God's Word uplifts our souls.  There are so many things that I don't understand, and that really frustrates me.  I have to calm down and remember that I am not supposed to know everything; that's why I have God.

"Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble." (vs 165)  That's great to know because I need peace all the time!

"Let me live that I may praise You, and may Your laws sustain me."  (vs 175)  Yes, I want a fun, satisfying, happy, fulfilling life, but not for myself.  This life is for God, who gave me life.

Funny story.
This pineapple was in a pretty fruit display at breakfast at the hotel.  The people working there said that the fruit was free, so Jessica went and asked if she could take the pineapple.  The lady went and asked the manager.  They all thought it was strange, but we got to have it!

Subway was my lunch and it was a honkin sandwich.  I love the trimmings and condiments!

These pictures didn't turn out too good, but I have to include my 4x800 teammates!  They did awesome!  We went to watch them race at the begining of all the events.  Second in the state...not shabby at all!

The cold and wind was too much to stay out in, so we camped out in the parking lot.

At least I got a good start and led for a while.

So yes, the weather was quite unfavorable, especially for me.  I can run a pace in the cold, but it's hard to speed up.  We'll just say I did not have a good race at all.  I was very thankful though to have a friend from another school to cool down with me.  I love talking to other runners because we are truly the only people (besides God) who understand each other.  Thank you Nichole, if you ever see this!  You're awesome.

The last late night because-of-track dinner was at Red Robin.  None of my famliy had ever been there before, but it was really good!  I had a great big burger, but I was more fascinated with their side items.  Many of them are bottomless!  You can get as much as you want!  I love steamed broccoli, so I was all about that!  Dad got the fries.  Not only were they bottomless as in as-many-as-you-want, but literally--the containers had no bottoms!  It was a nice double entendre.  They also had several spicy sauces, which I love, too.  I even got to try something different as a trimming: grilled pineapple!  It may sound odd for a burger, but it was delish!

 

After the race, I changed hotels.  Mom and Dad were at a Holiday Inn Express nearby, and I was staying with them the second night.  All the other girls went home because of graduation and they finished early in the day, but we had a super late night and plans to go to Vanderbilt and shop the next day.
I honestly can't say which hotel I liked better!  Mom said this one knew I was coming because they had to-go boxes, bowls, and plates already there for me.

I had dessert while I watched NBA with Mom and Dad:  ice cream, whipped cream, fruffles, and a mint shake!

I just love continental breakfasts.  This one had turkey sausage, honey granola, boiled eggs, and Fruit Loops!  I was excited about eating those.  It had been so long, and I was ready to have some fun.  The coffee cups are great, too.  I rarely miss a day of coffee.

We stopped by the Vanderbilt Athletic Building to check it out and meet with the coach for a bit before we went into Nashville to shop.  I'm glad I got this opprtunity early, because I wasn't really prepared for any of this college stuff!  Now since the recruiting period has started, I've got a much better feel of things.

Bass Pro was where Dad wanted to go, and he always has to try on his outfits and show Mom and me.  The Opry Mills mall is HUGE!  And freezing cold.  If you go there, dress for Antarctica.  I seriously think we walked a few miles just going from store to store.

They had a Moe's!  This and Salsarita's are my favorites.  Some people like the fancy sit-down restaurants, but I like quick and customizable.  These pictures just describe me.  My food is art, and Moe's food is good enough for me, even though I am picky!

I also think it's awesome that at Moe's, all the salsas are on a bar where you can get any amount of any salsas you want!

 

 

So my summer started off with travel, but there is WAY more traveling to come!