Hiking

I don't get in the mountains much anymore since moving to the mid-west, but I have begun hiking again. It isn't in nature or woods, but it is certainly a hike at least twice weekly. Where?
The University of Kansas campus. I climb from the bottom of the hill to the top. By the end my leg muscles are burning. I counted steps once, I stopped counting at one hundred and sixty-seven. I decided I just don't want to know...whatever it is it's enough to wear me out. One unintended benefit of returning to school - stronger calf muscles. Whoever says Kansas is flat hasn't walked in my shoes...

Homecoming?

I forgot to mention, when Kenyon and I were out celebrating my 30th birthday the funniest thing happened. We had some time between the art museum and our dinner reservations. We were walking around Crown Center and Union Station. You saw the picture, we were dressed up. A girl who looked high school aged asked if we were going to homecoming. That's right...at my 30th birthday celebration I was asked by a young person if I was going to my high school homecoming. I laughed out loud. It was flattering. May I have many more birthday's where I'm mistaken for a high schooler. Ha!

No longer twenty-something

This week I said good-bye to my twenties. I have officially crossed into the next decade...thirty-something. I had a great birthday. Thanks to all of you for the cards, e-cards, phone calls, and well wishes. I put aside the books for a few days and felt like a person again - if only for a little while. Friday night I joined some girlfriends for happy hour and fun at the annual Plaza art fair. Saturday Kenyon spoiled me, he planned activities for the entire day. It was like something out of a movie. Sunday we went to church, then hung out with some close family friends. Monday (my actual birthday) was back to reality. I woke up at 5am to being studying, spent most of the day reading, and attended two classes. Not as much fun as the weekend, but I guess that is the price of being an adult. Ugh!

World of Children Prayer Warriors

In mid-September I traveled to New Mexico to support my 9 year old cousin Kiana. She has started an organization called the "World of Children Prayer Warriors" - the purpose is to encourage children in the United States to pray for other children around the world. My mom and aunts participated in a fashion show at the event. We had a great time. The kids who attended listened attentively for over an hour - that's an accomplishment for grade school aged children! Also in the audience were many longtime family friends - one I have known most of my life. In high school she met with me early in the morning and taught me sign language. She attended my high school graduation. In college and beyond she would send encouraging postcards once per month. These postcards would often lift my spirits at difficult times. This woman has been a source of strength and encouragement in my life. It was nice to have her there, still supporting me all these years later.

It was also nice to spend time with family (again). I've seen them more this year than I ever have since moving to Kansas eight years ago. My birthday is coming up - I had the privilege of celebrating with my family in Santa Fe. We went to dinner, had ice cream cake, and enjoyed each others company. A start to a week long birthday celebration - I'm a lucky girl!

Laughing at myself...

I am sitting in an airport. I seem to do quite a bit of that these days...I've determined if you add up all the hours I've spent in an airport in my lifetime it would easily add up to a year or two of my life - that is a significant amount of time! And, I'm not nearly done adding to that number! That isn't what's so funny. I'll tell you what's funny...

I'm sitting in the airport, working on my laptop, listening to my iPod, updating my palm pilot, and being interrupted by text messages on my cell phone (if you don't know what some of those items are consider yourself lucky for living a simpler life). There was a moment when I had my computer precariously balanced on my lap, my iPod sitting next to me with the earphones in, a cell phone and palm pilot in each hand and had to laugh out loud. What would I do without my electronic gadgets? What has become of me? I am a product of the computer generation. Right now I have to get a little chuckle because I'm blogging about it...while still sitting in the airport.

Gotta go. I just received another text message...