Running My Race: December 2015

As a cancer survivor (I think "thrivor" is actually better), I was encouraged to make exercise part of my daily routine. My favorite form is walking. In fact, I often don't consider it exercise but a treat for myself in the midst of the daily grind.

When I was in treatment, many of you will remember, I set up a walking schedule for friends to accompany me, motivating me to get outside on even my roughest chemo days. I cherish the memories of the friends who put on their shoes and supported me in this way.

Now that I'm post treatment, I don't have the constant stream of friends coming to my door for a walk. I do have a weekly walk time with a friend while our kids are in a homeschool science class. During the summer, I was a lot better at scheduling walks with friends. In the busyness of the fall and winter, especially with the constant threat of darkness and rain looming, I take advantage of any free window I can to take a walk. These spontaneous outings do not allow much room for scheduling with friends.

It was a few years ago when I started listening to audio books checked out from the library on OverDrive on my Iphone. It was a painless way to get through the classics and other literature assigned to the homeschool literature class I helped teach. I remember chugging up the hill on Cathcart with the sound turned up as I listened to Jane Eyre. Another time I wore my long blue raincoat as I circled the parking lot at our homeschool co-op while listening to Jekyl and Hyde.

From the classics, I started listening to memoirs and essays, Bittersweet by Shauna Niequest became a favorite because it was read by the author. Shauna had no idea how many miles she churned out with me.

Just so you don't get a wrong impression of me, not all my books have such redeeming qualities. At Christmas last year, I found a Debbie Macomber Christmas story, Angels at the Table, absolutely full of all the sap and predictability you would expect. I've been known to listen to Karen Kingsbury and John Grisham and Nicolas Sparks as well.

Then a friend told me about Podcasts. She was my roommate at our church's women's retreat last spring. She showed me how she could listen to sermons she missed because of frequent business travel. Soon I was discovering favorite Christian authors like Shauna Niequest, Jennie Allen and Jen Hatmaker had recorded messages spoken at churches, conferences and retreats I could listen to while I walked. From there, I discovered the wide world of podcasts. Have you?

Here are my favorites to listen to when I lace up my sneakers. In fact, my listening goes beyond walking these days since I can now listen to podcasts over bluetooth audio in my car. Aren't you impressed?

My all-time favorite so far is The Happy Hour because it's like going on a walk with a new girlfriend every week. These women who chat with Jamie Ivey have pretty amazing lives, starting a business to help support women in developing countries, traveling along with international adopting parents to photograph the first interaction with their children, tons of authors and speakers and worship leaders and readers. So inspiring!

This is a long podcast for those extra long walks, sometimes annoying, other times laugh out loud fun. Several guys (not even sure who they all are) and guests (including Shauna Niequest on a regular basis) discuss relevant stuff on faith, music, culture and life. Interviews are thrown in for kicks. Pretty crazy stuff.

I heard about this podcast from The Happy Hour podcast, which seems to be the way I learn most of my new things these days. Every week Megan Tietz and various co-hosts share what is "sorta awesome" of the week. I've since joined the Sorta Awesome facebook page and its offspring, Sorta Literary, which has been a great resource for new books. I've heard about products and organizing techniques and ways to stay in the moment and lots of other things that don't quite stick around, but each episode is like opening up a present and discovering what's inside.

Other podcasts that I've enjoyed are the ever-popular Serial (yet I find it better to listen to on long car rides than on walks. Not sure if I'm going to like this new season, though, but if you haven't heard season 1, I highly recommend it); If: Gathering Podcast (love the guests and topics, but the episodes are recorded infrequently so it isn't my go-to podcast), and The Archibald Project where I'm introduced to families who are adopting or fostering orphans all over the world.

That's my initial list. I heard on my walk today about a new podcast I will try called Magic Lessons, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Everyone is talking about her new book,Big Magic and I think it might be fun to learn how to be more creative. Haven't heard it yet, so who knows if it'll stay in my playlist.

What are you favorite podcasts? I would love it if you would share with me in the comments. New podcasts help fuel me as I cover the miles through my neighborhood.

Update: Today on my walk, I listened to Magic Lessons and I have mixed feelings about it. I love Elizabeth Gilbert's use of language and imagery. Her discussions reach past the surface to some interesting, creative areas. However, as a Christian, I need to filter some of her insights through the truth of God. It's not the universe calling, but God's calling on my heart. It's not reaching inside myself to uncover my ability to create, but it's seeking out what God has created or will create through me. One truth I am walking away with, however, is that if I am called to create, then if I tap into that part of me, I will be a better mom, wife, friend and person. I fully claim that truth and hope to connect more into the gifts God has created in me this coming year. Will you join me?

For fun, I thought I'd take snapshots of my day.

On this Saturday in December, my day started with an early morning walk with my faithful companion.

On my return, I noticed the blooming flower on this plant which resides in my entryway. Years ago, when my mom died, friends gave me this in her honor. The plant has survived several moves and infrequent watering, yet each year it blooms. It is a special reminder of my mom as well as my dear friends.

My breakfast usually consists of this granola, almond milk, blueberries and either Greek yogurt or Kefir. My almost empty jar required a new batch of granola, so I threw together a bunch of oatmeal, nuts, pumpkin seeds to slowly bake while I ate breakfast.

Quiet reading of my bible with beautiful Christmas decor in the background filled up the rest of my morning.

Time for chores because there are always dishes to be loaded and unloaded.

The boys and Walt hung Christmas lights.

Saturday vacuuming

At 3, we were at our church. We host a huge Christmas party for hundreds of families, mostly young women who choose to give life to an unplanned baby. Step By Step is an organization that walks with these moms, not only during the pregnancy but for years later. These pictures are of the volunteers who serve these families either as hosts, waiters, food service, activity coordinators, parking attendants or countless other jobs.

Evening hosts receiving instructions

Fueling up on pizza before the guests arrive

It's a huge event, with our whole church participating, as well as several other partnering church.

Walt and I are in charge of coat check. All these chairs, and another room just like it, will house the coats, hats, and strollers of these families. The families also are able to choose a toy for each of their kids from hundreds of donated toys. We hold these gifts in bags for them to discreetly take home.

Clean Up