Sunday, October 24, 2010

Goal Complete!

Today, Nicole Farley, Marie Palmquist, Laura Bunkowski, Aimee Sargent, and I completed our goal from the past 4+ months.

WE FINISHED A HALF-MARATHON!!!

And what a beautiful day it was to run.  Although at times, we may have felt as if we were going to die, we did it.  Nicole and I ended up running the last 6ish miles together and speaking encouragement to ourselves almost the entire time.  There were a few swear words that almost leaked out due to our body's condition and lack of strength.  But we finished.

Nicole and I finished in 2 hours and 16 minutes... not the best time, but we weren't going for that.  We just wanted to finish.  The other 3 finished ahead of us and did WONDERFUL!! 

Matt and Chris were there cheering us on and so encouraging.  Afterwards, we all went out to Carlos O'Kelly's to celebrate our wonderful victory.

Aimee and I will most likely never be running a half-marathon again, but the other three weren't quite as negative towards the idea. So... we'll see if there are any running events in the future at which cheerleaders will be needed.  :)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Sneak Peak... unedited...

Here is a sneak peak of a few of our engagement pictures.  They are unedited though.  The rest will be coming when everything gets done!

It was such a fun time.  One of our friends, Kate Cahill, took them and it was so fun to have her there!  We got a bit goofy sometimes...especially when her side kick, Laura McCasland, started playing songs like "Who let the Dogs Out".  ENJOY!







Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My two joys of tonight...

Tonight I just took some time and did some random things but I found great joy in the following two things!  ENJOY!!!

1. His Eye is On the Sparrow... Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blout

2. Isaiah 40:28-31


Do you not know?  Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
The Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary
and young men stumble and fall
but those who remain in the Lord
will renew their strength
They will soar on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Psalm 89

Isn't the Lord Beautiful?

Psalm 89 
1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;
       with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
       that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
 3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
       I have sworn to David my servant,
 4 'I will establish your line forever
       and make your throne firm through all generations.' "
       Selah
 5 The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
       your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ?
       Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
       he is more awesome than all who surround him.
 8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
       You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
 9 You rule over the surging sea;
       when its waves mount up, you still them.
 10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
       with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
 11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
       you founded the world and all that is in it.
 12 You created the north and the south;
       Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
 13 Your arm is endued with power;
       your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
       love and faithfulness go before you.
 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
       who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
 16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
       they exult in your righteousness.
 17 For you are their glory and strength,
       and by your favor you exalt our horn. [b]
 18 Indeed, our shield [c] belongs to the LORD,
       our king to the Holy One of Israel.
 19 Once you spoke in a vision,
       to your faithful people you said:
       "I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
       I have exalted a young man from among the people.
 20 I have found David my servant;
       with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
 21 My hand will sustain him;
       surely my arm will strengthen him.
 22 No enemy will subject him to tribute;
       no wicked man will oppress him.
 23 I will crush his foes before him
       and strike down his adversaries.
 24 My faithful love will be with him,
       and through my name his horn [d] will be exalted.
 25 I will set his hand over the sea,
       his right hand over the rivers.
 26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,
       my God, the Rock my Savior.'
 27 I will also appoint him my firstborn,
       the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
       28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
       and my covenant with him will never fail.
 29 I will establish his line forever,
       his throne as long as the heavens endure.
 30 "If his sons forsake my law
       and do not follow my statutes,
 31 if they violate my decrees
       and fail to keep my commands,
 32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
       their iniquity with flogging;
 33 but I will not take my love from him,
       nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
 34 I will not violate my covenant
       or alter what my lips have uttered.
 35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
       and I will not lie to David-
 36 that his line will continue forever
       and his throne endure before me like the sun;
 37 it will be established forever like the moon,
       the faithful witness in the sky."
       Selah
 38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
       you have been very angry with your anointed one.
 39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
       and have defiled his crown in the dust.
 40 You have broken through all his walls
       and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
 41 All who pass by have plundered him;
       he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
 42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
       you have made all his enemies rejoice.
 43 You have turned back the edge of his sword
       and have not supported him in battle.
 44 You have put an end to his splendor
       and cast his throne to the ground.
 45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
       you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
       Selah
 46 How long, O LORD ? Will you hide yourself forever?
       How long will your wrath burn like fire?
 47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
       For what futility you have created all men!
 48 What man can live and not see death,
       or save himself from the power of the grave [e] ?
       Selah
 49 O Lord, where is your former great love,
       which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
 50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has [f] been mocked,
       how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
 51 the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O LORD,
       with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.
 52 Praise be to the LORD forever!
       Amen and Amen.

Friday, October 8, 2010

What?!? AHHHHH!!!

On Sunday, March 20th, 2011...

This choir...

UNI Concert Chorale


will be looking at this...

Carnegie Hall in NYC

Yes, the UNI Concert Chorale has been invited to sing in Carnegie Hall on March 20th, 2011 to premiere a original choral/orchestra work by David Childs... AND THAT MEANS THAT I AM GOING TO SING IN CARNEGIE HALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fall...

What I love about fall!

 
 

This blog was just inspired by my cousin's blog...
  • Candy corn and peanut mix on the kitchen counter.
  • Walking outside and smelling the change in the weather.
  • Burning apple cider/pumpkin pie/whatever fall scent candles.
  • Running can sometimes be enjoyable
  • Pulling out all my sweaters again.
  • Decorating with pumpkins, gourds, leaves, etc.
  • The fact that you don't have to mow your lawn for too much longer.
  • Being able to wear my jackets again.
  • Watching the change in the trees...beautiful oranges, yellows, reds, browns...
  • Wearing Hats. Scarves. Mittens
  • Thanksgiving and family time. 
  • The changes in everything... life, emotions, fashion, nature, goals, etc.
  • Being able to eat as much as you want and your thick clothes don't even show it.
  • SCARVES!
  • Fresh apple pie.  (Which me and 2 of my friends just made yesterday)
  • Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
  • Studying???  well sometimes I try to like it!
  • Apple orchards.
  • Wearing sweat pants to bed... and maybe even a sweat shirt.
  • Apple cider.
  • How refreshing it feels after a humid summer.  
  • Lower electricity bills
  • How mosquitoes start disappearing.
  • Outside football games
  • The smell of my home because my mom always puts a cinnamon flavored decoration right inside the front door.
  • Carving pumpkins.
  • Bonfires.
  • Pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream and whip cream.
  • The bridge on Highway 20, halfway between Cedar Falls and Story City... a beautiful valley with MILLIONS of trees.
  • Being only 7 months away from my wedding.
  • How it is so vivid that God is still in control and blessing us at each moment.  
  • The fact that people are so joyous and love the weather most of the time.
  • The sound of leaves blowing across the sidewalks.
  • Pumpkin spiced lattes.
  • Corn mazes... even though I've never been to one!
  • How the boots can once again make their way out of the closet.  
  • Jumping in leaves.
  • Little trick-o-treaters in their princess and superhero costumes.
  • To see God's creativity at work.
What do you love about fall?