5.17.13-Let your words be anything but empty.

Puzzles fit together perfectly, made up of intricately and spectacularly designed pieces individualized by their own creation.  So, too, is life and life experiences?

The last 90 days have consisted of an incredible amount of school work, work, and training.  Training for my marathons has been ridiculous, running on average 15-20 miles/week.  My slow, easy run has turned from 1 mile to 3.5 miles.  My marathon mile pace has gone from a whopping 16min/mile to a still unimpressive 12:30/mile.  However, I have met my magic mile of 11:10min/mile.  (If you don't know what that is, google runDisney Training Plans.)  My longest run has gone from 3.1 miles to 8.5 miles.  I lost 30lbs. and two dress sizes, and only one pair of the pants I own fit.  It's been a little busy.  I find myself doing one of four things:  eating. sleeping. running. working.  repeat.  the longer I run; the more I eat and sleep and less I work.  Vice versus.

My Brothers and I are going to do a Sprint Triathlon in August.

Training for the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) & Goofy's Challenge (39.3 miles)

The Move for Life 5K where I set my personal record of my quickest 5K.  I improved my time by almost 4 minutes.

I started working PRN in the Cardiac Intervention Lab at work, which has been an awesome educational opportunity, and will help expand my Critical Care knowledge.  The opportunities at work have been flying at me from all directions.  Therefore,  I decided in April, over many months of discussion and prayer, that I was stepping down from the position of Director of Youth Ministry at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren.  After nine years of dedication and work with the Youth there, this was no easy decision.  Starting work there, almost as a youth myself, was such an easy decision, but it has become increasingly more difficult to provide them with the attention needed when my Professional Nursing Career is booming.  I found peace inside, almost immediately upon confirming my resignation.  A little whisp in the wind, a vibrant cardinal flying by, or whatever sign it was, continued to say during my months of prayerful discernment, "Something big is coming.  But it cannot be revealed to you until you let go."  Before leaving for Burma, I was sure God was testing me in obedience.  He kept saying, get up out of the boat and go.  Go where?  I kept asking.  Where I lead.  He kept saying.  So I kept doing what He said without questioning, which was such a easy concept on paper; a challenging and hard concept in person.  So when I kept hearing, "Something big is coming.  But it cannot be revealed to you until you let go." I knew I had to let go.  The only thing that didn't fit in with the opportunities opening for me was the position as Youth Director.  God reminded me that Being Obedient wasn't going to be easy or desirable, but I keep my promise that something big is coming.

The Entire Youth Group after Youth Sunday 2013.

A week after my official confirmation of resignation, I received an email asking for an interview for this opportunity to speak and attend a conference.  I had applied for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through the Department of Nursing at JMU that I thought for sure would be granted to someone else with more nursing experience.  I interviewed and thought, wow!  what a great opportunity to include on my resume.  Three to four days later I was called into my Academic Advisor's office.    I was a little afraid that she was asking me to come into her office to discuss the grade on my final.  When I arrived, very nervous, she said, "You're going to Japan!"  I have been asked to represent the United States and speak at and attend a global conference on Disaster Nursing in Hiroshima, Japan in August!  I'm still in shock at the honor this brings, but also that I am being called to fill these shoes.  Check out the action here.

I hope these past experiences that have shaped my path ahead are full of hope for someone reading this.  Not because it is self-indulgent to talk about the fortune in my life, because, believe me-it hasn't all been fortune.  What I hope to share is a spark of hope that reminds you that you are brave, you do have the strength within, and you too can power through any nasty situation.  Whether it is a nasty relationship where abuse keeps you trapped, a dead-end job that leaves you feeling empty each day, or that simple mile-run that seems like it goes on forever.  Trust me.  I have been at the beginning, middle, and end of each of those situations.  There is strength within, there is enough time and will power to be brave enough to speak-up and to power through.  Always let your words be anything but empty.  Find the strength and courage to show the world how big your brave is!