blessing comes in little boy form!

So I had a pretty boring day at work, but felt sick all day and couldn't wait to leave.

Then I had a terrible fight for 2 hours.

so i went out for my run. not expecting much better. ran my warm up and ended up at the track to run my 150s. There were a couple people at the track. the regular black guy i always see gave me a big smile and a wave and gladly moved to lane 2, the grandma power walking, and this overweight ghetto white lady with a little boy running around. I was not happy. Little kids at tracks just piss me off. they are always annoying and acting a fool when i'm trying to get my workout done. Well this little boy was no different. I started my running drills and he was right beside me asking me questions and pretending there was some electric shock thing [not exactly sure because i was in my own world at this time]. But this little boy was different. I didn't get instantly mad or annoyed. So i started my 150s and he tried to run after me but gave up shortly. Every time I would run by where he was playing in the grass he would look at me with wide eyes. On #7 he jumped out in front of my on the track. i yelled to watch out extremely loud and rather harsh just out of natural reaction. Well his mom let loose and started screaming at him and didn't stop the rest of my workout. I finished my 150s and started my cool down stretches and he stood about 20 feet away from me looking at me because if he took another step closer his mom would start screaming at him from across the track. So i made my way up to him and asked if that was his mommy and he replied yes. So i said: "how about you go tell her that i said it's ok if you come play with me and then run back over" So of course he sprinted across the field and sprinted even faster back with the look of indescribable joy on his face. Once his mom made it back around to us i apologized for screaming and tried to explain to her how it came out before i knew it and she proceeded to tell me how he deserved it and i had every right to scream at him. the look on the little boys face crushed me. she scolded him again and he just stared at her with hatred in his eyes.. he looked at me and i whispered yes ma'am and he reluctantly said it to his mom.

He played coach as i finished my stretches and did my lunges and push ups. I asked him questions about his young life and he opened up to me like he was waiting anxiously for someone to care. He told me how his dad had abused his mom and burned her with an iron and then instructed this 5 year old to go put more water in the iron so he could keep burning his mom and my eyes filled up with tears. he told me how they had to sneak away in the middle of the night and how he had to move schools and missed his friends. I just encouraged him about making new ones and that everything was going to be ok. He has gone through more in his young life than I have in 19 years. we continued to play coach/athlete and then he wanted to race like he has "seen on tv" so he knelt down at the line on his knees and stuck his hands out in front of him. I showed him where to put his thump and pointer finger on the line and how to put one knee down and one foot in front of him and how to stick his "booty" in the air when i said "sseeetttt". He loved every second of it and so did i. It started getting dark so we raced on last time, holding hands so he could "run faster" with me pulling him, back to his mom. my heart broke giving his little hand over to hers but when she looked me in the eyes, smiled and said thank you my time invested in that little boy meant more than anything i've experienced thus far.

I thank jesus so much for giving me this opportunity to make a small difference in a little boys life. That little boy made me see things in a whole new way!

T.G.I.TH. [yay for 3 day weekend!]

I had an awesome run this morning and it came at just the right time. I have been praying for inspiration and strength to keep training because it is SOOO easy so just not. lol Well my body
naturally woke up 10 minutes before my alarm and was ready to go so I was off on my run by 5:20 am. The air was cool and crisp and my legs felt great. Plus not one person honked or yelled at me! I am heading down to austin after work today for the weekend. Hopefully have a nice, relaxing weekend and probably run a 5k saturday morning. I am ready to just get away. This town and job can really get me down sometimes. Well I will most likely blog at the beginning of next week all about my weekend and will hopefully have tons of pics! happy 4th of july!

Just another Monday morning

Today starts the beginning of my last month of work for Dr. G. I must admit, I'm not too sad. It's been a long few months transitioning to the new building and dealing with everyone and everything that has gone on. I only have to make it 4 more weeks then off to georgia!

Training has been a little sluggish lately. I really need to get dedicated. I woke up this morning pumped to go out and run and it was pouring! figures! I'll just have to go this evening.

I had a great weekend down in carrollton with cyrus and adrian. We smoked a little hookah, watched a hilarious movie and walked around like 7 malls.

4th of july is rapidly approaching and I have no plans so far. Either out to a friends with cyrus or on the lake with tanner is what it looks like now.

This picture is one of my favorites and really puts me in a good mood. I wish the other people in my office were as cheery as me about life, but it just presents me with an opportunity to make a difference!

I wanna do something that matters say something different something that sets the whole world on it's ear

It's been a long week with work and with running, but I heard this new song by Lady Antebellum and it really has put things back into focus for me.

I wanna do something that matters
say something different
something that sets the whole world on it's ear

I want to be the person people look at and can't figure out what is so different about me. i want to catch people's attention and leave a great legacy behind me.

Father's Day Weekend

I had a wonderful weekend in Austin. I got off work early friday and drove down and spent the weekend hanging out with friends and just relaxing. Friday night Cy, Fred and myself all went to kasbah's and sat around for hours talking then saturday I helped the solar car team unload some stuff. [I did more sitting than actual helping] lol

Saturday evening cyrus surprised me with a beautiful dress [that i love] and i wore it out that night. we ate dinner at olive garden then went to mozart's for dessert. it was a great night looking out over the beautiful lake.

Sunday I drove down early in the morning and surprised dad at church for father's day. boy was he surprised to see me! I spent a few hours with him then headed home.

update on clayton state: i've officially been accepted [finally] and now i'm trying to register for classes without having to fly down there for a weekend for orientation. it's a lot to deal with and more than i expected, but it will all come together eventually.

i was throwing around the idea of going to ethiopia for the month of july with keith to assist him in his clef pallet surgeries, but it doesn't look possible this summer. too much stuff to get done in too little time. thankfully though, he takes trips quite often and this won't be my last opportunity to go on a trip with him. that is something i will definitely keep in the back of my mind and be praying about for the future.

I am ready for this summer to be over and be back in school. I know most students are saying the exact opposite but my job is very draining and honestly, i love learning and love being in school. not to mention I am chomping at the bit not running races all the time. i've been entering 5k's but they are not the same.

well back to work it is. :(

In the beginning..

I used to blog quite a bit and for some reason deleted it. stupid stupid stupid. Anyways, I'm back at it again!

The reason I chose "Ole" for my title is because of a paragraph that is my inpiration for running and for life. Here it is:

Centuries ago in the North African desert tribal dancers would perform into the late hours of the night. On a rare night a performer would seemingly transcend what was humanly possible and the crowd would chant “Ala Ala Ala” in response meaning “by God by God by God”, because they could see God in the performer’s dance. As the custom eventually took root in Spain the pronunciation changed from Ala to the more modernly known Ole; chanted in bull fighting and flamingo dancing to this day. I’m sure you all can think of times when someone performed outside themselves. Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France, Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympics, and the list goes on and on. I love to watch transcendent performances because like those in the North African desert; it gives me a glimpse of God. I’ve concluded that the only thing I love more about running than those moments when maybe I have given others, or hopefully will one day give others, a glimpse of God are those moments I feel God running in me. It’s hard to articulate, but when you experience it, you know it. Those moments that are typically effortful become effortless. The thoughts in your head melt away and all that’s left is joy, delight, and the satisfying sensation of performing outside of yourself.In the Bible is says, “not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord of hosts”. The bible is full of stories of man doing the impossible when the Spirit of God was upon them; a chained Samson pushing over the pillars of the house or Elijah out running the chariots. The signs and the wonders are everywhere. There is a verse in Proverbs that says, “the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests within the Lord”.My goal is to run in the spirit and perform in the same way the dancers performed in the deserts of Africa and maybe, just maybe, someone will see a glimpse of God out there as I race.

Life is pretty hectic/exciting right now. Should make for some interesting blogs.

Have a great day :)