Zumba

My knees only allow me to run about four days a week most weeks before they start to revolt. We have come to an agreement that if I cross train on the other days and don't run they will behave (try to not swell up too much AND we can get some good runs in on the days we agree to). Now generally my knees are kind and follow by this agreement and so I try to reciprocate. I have gotten creative with my cross training - in the winter I did a ton of swimming and recently (as you have probably read about several times) I got a new bike.

I am loving biking and I do still enjoy a good swim however, last weekend at synod assembly a friend of mine introduced me to Zumba. I had tried it once or twice before but nothing really, I had tried it in a huge group of ladies who all knew one another and apparently were professional dancers, or so it felt like to me (the one who had no clue what she was doing and felt like she was just flailing around in the room and looked ridiculous). My friend brought his laptop and a Zumba DVD and one night as we were all hanging out he said he was off to do Zumba, between our snickers I was intrigued. I wanted to try it. I wanted to try it outside of a ridiculously large group of people who all knew the routines like the back of their hands.

So another friend and I joined him, we tried it. AND I LIKED IT, seriously when I wasn't under the pressure of all the other people in the room and I didn't feel like someone was criticizing my inability to dance  we had a great time, worked up a serious sweat, and laughed at ourselves during many of the moves.

My friend gave me a zumba DVD before we left as a gift! I was jazzed. I have already done the DVD a couple times at my house and LOVE it! What a fun and new cross-training option.


What types of workout DVDs do you enjoy? (I do love all of Jillian's workout DVDs)
Have you tried Zumba? At home or in a gym?
What do you think of it?

Synod Assembly

This past weekend I spent at my church's synod assembly. Essentially it is all the churches of my denomination who gather together once a year to evaluate, pray, discern and try to figure out what God is doing in our world around us as well as deal with some church politics type stuff. We gather in a centralish location and spend the weekend together.
It is great in the sense that I get to see a ton of my colleagues and friends and I get a weekend where I just get to attend worship without having to have any form of a leadership role. It is a welcomed break, although it is exhausting for this introvert. It is a mandatory event for all clergy and rostered leaders.

The painting that was made during worship.

While it was nice to not have to work in the traditional sense on Sunday it was hard to not be working because I know all of the things I am missing out on and the things I wish I had gotten done. It's a catch 22 - it is great to go away but it is also wonderful to come back home. I can't complain, not to mention I missed my sweet puppy like crazy and getting up early to get my runs in wasn't the same without her. Funny how you get accustom to running a certain way and then when things change it feels different.

One sweet thing that happened during worship was Pr. Paul Oman did a painting during worship (above you see the picture transforming) - it seriously was amazing. He began with a blank canvas and transformed it into this beautiful work of art as the service progressed - worship wasn't more than about an hour and fifteen minutes! IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.



It was a great weekend. It was wonderful to help out with the 5k run/2 mile walk - I was thankful for all the people who showed up to run and help to raise some money for our outdoor ministries in this area.

Race Director

My fellow race director and I

This past weekend I had my first stint as a race director - sort of fell in my lap in a crazy fashion - I learned a lot and have a whole new appreciation for race directors and race volunteers (remind me to volunteer more often at races - volunteers make or break it). Our race was held at our NEMN synod assembly (read a bunch of church folks who get together to talk about church stuff and what God's doing in the world and how we are called to participate in it). Last year there was a 2 mile walk to raise funds for malaria and a friend and I said wouldn't it be fun if we had a full 5k during the assembly to  promote wellness and raise funds for something. And we got put in charge - the money we raised went to our outdoor camps in the area.

Chalking sidewalks at 4:30am

My most favorite pre-race/registration email is as follows:
"I’ll plan to participate in the 5K run, under the giddily optimistic  assumption that I can move one foot in front of the other  that early in the morning with enough persistence to find my way back  to the finish line at Zion before the opening session Saturday am. Good idea, this walk/run venture. I’ll get the check and the registration form in the mail tomorrow ."

I seriously laughed aloud at this email as I read it. How funny is that?!

It was a smallish race - 90 people ran and I couldn't have been more excited and massively consider it a success. Money was raised for our camps and 90 people got in a little bit of exercise before sitting in meetings all day. I was doubtful when we began this endeavor and thought we wouldn't have more than about 30 people.

Prepping some volunteers

Lessons learned:

• people will register past the deadline
• always order way more shirts than you think you'll need - you will have plenty of people sign up the day off
• there are a TON of details that go into a race
• it is fun to watch races where people are running for the first time and to celebrate their victories 
• I desperately wanted to run it - when volunteering for a race run a ridiculously good run the day before so my legs are nice and tired and don't want to/can't fathom running
• keep a notebook of the things we want to change next year

Have you ever been a race director?

What is your favorite post race food?

April Photo Dump

As I make an April photo dumb I can hardly believe that this all happened in April, Easter seems like an eternity ago and I know it technically was in March but the last day so you get an Easter picture anyways. April has FLOWN by to say the least! I can't hardly believe May begins tomorrow. Tomorrow I can officially say I am getting married next month - crazy town!

Easter with my family
Love them all!

My colleague and I made a video for Synod Assembly -
we think we are funny & made a Batman parody

Seriously love, Love, LOVE getting mail - especially when
it means people are coming to visit me
RSVPs for our wedding coming back

While the snow is super pretty and if this was November I'd be loving it
however I am 100% over these April storms

At a bridal shower back home they made a "flat Marc"
and I think it is hilarious and so I had to have a picture of both of them
note the extreme height of flat Marc compared to real Marc

Dakota - because what's a photo dump without at least one picture of her

Sweet Linnea and Gustav - she is learning how to share the balls with the puppies

I think I am going to attempt to do a monthly photo dumb on the last day of every month. Crazy to realize this all happened in this last month.


What was your highlight of April?

Has spring finally come where you are at?