Friday, August 23, 2013

The Only Real Way to Live

Drinking Costa Rican coffee out a mug from Hong Kong...... This can only mean a few things.... my heart longs to be traveling again and I live with Erin Zimmerman.  (She went to High School in Hong Kong so our house adorns lovely things from there)

I was speaking with Matt Hohler two days ago and he reminded me that we were just a few days away from our year anniversary of arriving in Honduras. What a sweet reminder that is.....

You may ask what I have been up too since it has been a long time (20 days since I last posted) well lets just say a lot. Here is a mini recap.....

 For the past three weekends I was up in the Mountains (a common phrase we use in Colorado to reference getting out of the city). I spent a weekend in Silverthorne near Lake Dillon on a staff retreat (I am on staff in the Athletic Department at Colorado Christian University) Gearing up for our new school year and preparing our athletic coaches for what is to come. Following that weekend I drove back up to spend the weekend in Vail with my friends. Leaving on Friday we rented a condo for the weekend, laid by the pool, grilled out, stayed up late playing games, rode the gondola at sunset, spotted moose and went out on the town for one of our last summer hurrahs. A short four days after that,  I left with the entire Athletic Staff and Athletes to spend the weekend in Buena Vista for our Annual Athletes Retreat. The weekend marks the beginning of a new school year and gives athletes the opportunity to get to know each other and bond before their seasons start. It was a beautiful weekend.....

So alas this weekend... and at this very moment I am sitting on my porch. Taking this Friday off and drinking my coffee, just as the sky turns blue at 6:31 am this morning. As I mentioned before my 20 things list is slowly getting checked off and one of them is reading the book, 1000 Gifts, with my mom. In light of reading this book I thought I would list a few things I am grateful for these days...... (mom and I are going to finish and discuss when I am back in Kentucky next week eekkk)

Grateful for.......
  • This front porch, with a creaky rod iron railing and two plastic chairs that are sat on more than any other piece of furniture in our house.
  • For four hour old babies, that look at the world with eyes of wonder
  • For a dear friend who was strong and brave and brought that sweet little girl, Story Rose,  into the world
  • For friends who decide to run half marathons with you and encourage you on long training runs.
  • For plane flights that are able to bring my best friend from 1st grade to Colorado in October for one whole week ....... oh and did I mention she is running the half marathon too (yay Christie Lee)
  • For babies in offices that crawl all over the floor and wont sit still on your lap while you try and get work done
  • For neighbors who move in next door, who you share life with, a glass of wine and a beer on a Thursday night
  • For chalky hands after an intense crossfit workout, that always amazes me I complete
  • For yoga communities that I will be joining 
  • For photos of new houses from my sister and parents
  • For short timelines (1 week till I am back in Kentucky)
  • For the promise that living where you are the best you can is the only way to really live at all
  • For celebrations of life commitments, Kylie my roommate from Honduras engaged to ShepGoggles (His instagram name I think is funny), Stephanie Riley best friend since middle school engaged to be wed in Guatemala...... So much to look forward to next year.
  • For crispy cool mornings 
  • Sunrises on runs over Washington park
  • Newly mopped hardwood floors 
  • Sharing stories about Honduras with others
  • Keeping stories to myself inside and reliving them
  • For water bottle holders that make it possible to bike with a bottle of wine in tow
  • Tears that fall at inappropriate times that take me straight back to that place down South called Honduras
  • For talented friends that create art with oil and paints to capture one of my favorite places in the world.

Buena Vista, Colorado Driving past Collegiate Peaks to get coffee in town
Painting of Lago De Yojoa done by the very talented Vinnie Harriety 
Biking to Washington Park with Wine for Jess's Birthday
Vail Racquet Club, Colorado with friends
Late Night training runs with Headlamps in the dark. 
Myself, Stephanie and her now Fiance (Last October when they came to visit in Honduras) 
Born August 15, 2013 at 10:31 Story Rose O'Rourke
Newly Engaged to be wed, Kylie (Rooms from Honduras) and her fiance Shep
My view yesterday morning running from my house....

Friday, August 2, 2013

"You sound, so American"

"You sound so American!" Faye said.... I quickly replied, "You sound so English." Yesterday morning I had the joy of skyping with my dear former roommate Faye. We played a quick game of catch up, decided we waited entirely way too long to speak and that we should speak more frequently. She is back home in England currently deciding between Mexico and the Dominican Republic for her next teaching job. While she is deciding her next adventure, I sipped my tea and in a few moments time got in my car to commute to my new job. All the while my heart longed too for such a grand adventure as she, living simply and loving on kids abroad again.......

But alas I started my new job. While most jobs during the first week would include long hours of training and boring introductory sessions, I can say mine was nothing of that. It was almost as though I walked right back into where things left off. I am on staff in the Athletic Department at Colorado Christian University, where I was formerly on student staff three years ago. It feels so good to be back in this office, back in the group of people I know quite well and in Colorado. My boss kindly told one of the baseball players who was giving me grief Tuesday, "Be nice to her, I waited four years to get her back." I smiled. I am so grateful for my job and for people that welcome me back with open arms.

As I have mentioned countless times before on my blog, I am in the process of completing my 20 things. I previously shared about my pie making but I can now partially check off #1 on my list. My mom and I have started reading the book, One Thousand Gifts. The book is an honest reflection on a "Dare to live Fully Right Where You Are." While I am driving to work my mom and I discuss the book. It has already proven to be a tremendous blessing. I am so glad I included this on my list of to dos.

One of my very favorite quotes from the book, I read just before I taught my first yoga class in Costa Rica....

"“Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing.... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.”  ― Ann VoskampOne Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

So while I am in no hurry for much of anything these days, I am soaking up every second of the day. Taking it as it comes and finding joy in even the most minute of things. I am grateful for a heart that remembers....... That smiles thinking about late nights dancing on the docks over the Caribbean ocean on the island of Utila during Semana Santa. (pictures below).

So Happy Friday to you today...... Here's to remembering and living through every moment..

As well my roommate made a video of our time in Honduras.... Click HERE TO WATCH.