Keeping Busy

I've been staying pretty busy the past few weeks. Any spare time I have has been used on packing and moving boxes. I have found a place to live for now and plan to move in May 1st. That means I have 5 more days to get the rest of my stuff out of my old place. That won't be a problem. I'm already super close to being done. Just a few large things left in the room and a few boxes in the garage. Of course, I've only moved all of my stuff to the the garage of the home I'm house and pet sitting for, but luckily the new place is about 5 minutes down the road. I will work on getting everything from this garage to the new place this weekend. Today, I was at the old place packing up a few boxes and loading them in the car when Clark came into my room and started talking to me. He was telling me about how he was going to move into my room and then began asking me questions about all that I was doing. I never mind his questions. I just continue working while answering his questions and explaining things to him. He then says, "Miss Cheryl, I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay here." Awww. Warmed and saddened my heart at the same time. I will miss him and his sister!
Moving on, I spent most of last week preparing to lead a day of prayer for college students with two others. I was leading two creative ways to pray through collage and mandalas. In order to cut down on time needed for collage, I spent a lot of time cutting out many images and words from magazines beforehand. This took a lot more time than I thought it would so it was basically what I spent several evenings doing. I had to delay packing for a few days in order to get things done for the day of prayer. Saturday was the day we led this day of prayer and I enjoyed it. I think the students who came also enjoyed it. I believe we had 10 to 12 people come throughout the day and they really seemed to enjoy and appreciate it. I was glad we got to do it and that it all went well.
I've been house and pet sitting for one friend for the past week and will continue for this week, too. I spent Friday night babysitting two fun little girls. I also was feeding the two cats at the home I will be moving to for four days. Wow, lots of different "sitting" jobs last weekend! Thank goodness they've all been easy jobs! I went to the Bengal Belles spring show to support my friend and assistant director of the team. As a bonus I got to see the two little girls I babysat the night before and some of my high school students I work with dance! Those were my favorite parts! Well, those and the Bengal Belle Dad/Daughter dance. That's always fun to watch.
Sunday was a super early morning. I got up at 4am to get ready for the Messina Hof 5K. We arrived around 5:45 or so and it was sooooooooo cold!!!! We were freezing and had to wait until 7:30 to run. It seemed like it just got colder as the sun came up! Finally, the 5K began and I ran well for a bit, probably about 2 miles. Then we hit the vines that we had to weave in and out of for the last bit. I must have gotten a little overheated and dehydrated because huge goosebumps came up all over my arms so I was forced to walk through the last two vine trails. As we came out of the vines I started running again and ran until we crossed the finished line. I finished in 39 minutes which I feel is quite an accomplishment since I didn't even try to prepare for running in any way beforehand! Jennifer and I enjoyed a little rest before heading back to the finish line to wait on our friend Shannon to finish the half marathon. I will never do that. Just over half way through 5ks I always start wondering why people do these for fun! After we finished up with brunch, wine, pictures, and mini massages/adjustments we headed out to Target and a late lunch. I got home and caught a super short nap before heading out to my home team meeting. As always, we had a great meeting, talked about some good stuff, and came up with some ideas. I have a wonderful team that is always trying to figure out new ways to help support me!
This brings me full circle. I will spend the rest of this week packing and moving my stuff to the new place after getting off work each evening. Next week will be spent trying to settle into the new place a bit before leaving on my last spiritual direction training retreat. It will for sure be a much needed break and time of rest. I look forward to this last weekend spent with my classmates before we graduate from the program in June.
And for your viewing pleasure, here are some pictures from my week, but mostly my 5K.

Dog sitting Charlotte

Hosanna in the highest!

Palm Sunday almost always ends up being somewhat emotional for me. I am reminded of how the people praised Jesus shouting Hosanna, Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Such a celebratory greeting and acceptance of Jesus! But I am also reminded of how not even a week later those shouts of praise turn into shouts of condemnation, shouts to crucify the very one they were praising at the beginning of the week. It breaks my heart to think of anyone facing that much hate, anger, and mistreatment by the very people who once "loved" them. I often think of how I would have reacted had I been alive at that time. Everyone always says that if we had been alive then we would have joined the mob and shouted the same hateful words right along with them. But I honestly don't know that my heart could do that. I hate to see anyone suffering. Whether I like them or not. It breaks my heart. I don't want to see anyone hurt that badly. And if I have connected with them on any emotional or spiritual level it would hurt all the more. My empathy doesn't allow me to have that much extreme hate. Some say even if you don't yell it right along with the mob, your silence or lack of action is the same thing. Maybe that is true in some ways, but I think my tear-stained face would speak for itself. And I would hope my broken heart would lead me to speak truth into those I may be with. It may not make a huge difference within the mass shouts of hate, but even to reach one person makes a huge difference in their life. Now, the challenge is carrying this message with me every day no matter what day it is. May I continue to press on loving and encouraging others, being compassionate, sharing Christ's love, and making a difference one life at a time.

In other news, many praises to God for His constant provision in my life. I spoke to a need for new temporary housing here until I leave for Thailand and I had several offers! Some of which were even free! I have chosen one of the options and am excited for this new placement. May I be an encouragement and blessing to the woman I will be living with and vice versa. God is in all things no matter how hard they seem at first.