So, I finally ran the Run For Your Lives 5K. It was ridiculous. Here is a chronicle of everything from dawn until dusk that day.
Lindsey and I stayed with our friends Rusty and Janelle about an hour from the race site. We agreed to head out the door and arrive a solid hour before our wave (Rusty ran with me). Sure enough, the GPS tells us we're only an hour away from the parking lot and it's just one hour before we run. Except, traffic is stopped on this two-lane road in the countryside. Apparently the zombies drew quite the crowd (~10,000!).
Traffic doesn't move after a few minutes, and I'm starting to get nervous. If I can't run during my wave, all my fundraising goes out the door and this is a wasted trip. Rusty proposes we run to the parking lot and grab the shuttle. Oh, a run BEFORE the run. Lovely. We get out and leave the car with the wives, and hustle off. I've got my hair and chops done up like Logan from X-Men, and every other car is shouting comments at me. A few people like our idea so much they run too.
We get to the shuttle and see a line of dozens of people. Some people have been there so long they've missed their waves. My heart sinks. I get in line while Rusty asks the staff what we're to do. There's only thirty minutes to our run start and there's NO WAY we're going to make it. The staff explains that parking is a nightmare and all the runners are late. They are now letting runners run any wave they can make it to. That makes me feel better.
But now my left knee is hurting (a combination of not stretching and something I did to it while running that last mile). Rusty tells me he'll stretch me out and fix it when we get to the race site. We wait at least a half hour and finally get on a bus. Somewhere on the two-mile drive to the race site the bus stops for 20 minutes. An ambulance flies past us on this one-lane farm road and I'm wondering just what sort of race this is!
We finally arrive, check in, attach our bibs and timing chips, and survey the competition. I think I can take a solid percent of these people in a race! Except my knee is killing me to the point that I'm already limping. Of all the pains I had during my training, my knees rarely if ever hurt at all, and never did they feel like this. Every step felt like a dagger jabbed into my knee.
While checking in my bag, I see a man out of breath, covered in water and mud. He just finished the race. I ask him how it is. He grins and says it's hard but fun. He advises me to stick with other runners to increase my chances of survival. Lone runners, he says, are the zombies' favorites.
We happen upon two people from Rusty's training unit in the Navy. They are waiting to run. With the advice in mind, I propose we all run the together. While waiting at the gate to be released for the next wave, Rusty works on my knee. It's super painful, but he assures me it'll help. The wives call Rusty and say they're in the area finally, and we hop out to see them. I limp over to Lindsey and beg her for the ibuprofen she had. But, the girls left it at the car, so my heart sinks again.
I kiss Lindsey for perhaps the last time and get back in line for the run.
And then it starts...
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Mini Resolution Project
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
-Jonathan Edwards
Over the past few years I've felt a pull to know and emulate our Christian forefathers better. To be clear, I don't believe these men to be more worthy of praise or emulation than Jesus. But I see the value in examining the lives of men who finished the race after the first century A.D.
One such man is Jonathan Edwards. I don't know nearly enough about his life, but I'm trying to know it better. He was a man of strong faith and perseverance. Specifically, I'm in awe of his 70 resolutions created between 1722-23. Here's a great list of them at www.desiringgod.org.
Knowing I am weak, but desiring to be most effective in my walk of faith, I am starting weekly resolutions with the goal of working up to the self control of a Puritan. Man oh man, this is going to be rough! But totally worth it.
Three weeks ago I resolved to go an entire week without laying blame upon anyone. Notice that others didn't stop laying blame, only me. I found this week to be extremely peaceful nonetheless.
Two weeks ago I resolved to watch no television for an entire week (I watch a lot of TV, and I get a lot done without it). I was able to read more and get some more things done around the house.
Last week I was lazy, and made no resolution.
This week I resolve not to eat out at any restaurant between Sunday and Saturday (including vending machines, or my work cafeteria). The purpose of this is to force me to prepare my meals more. It will also encourage me to be more satisfied with the food I have instead of relying on my selfish appetite. Another benefit is the saving of money, of course.
If there's anyone out there who wants to participate in my mini resolutions, I'd welcome the companionship!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
...and we're back!
"Has no one ever told you about the law of Undulation? ... As long as he lives on earth periods of emotional and bodily richness and liveliness will alternate with periods of numbness and poverty..."
-Screwtape
The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
I have to admit I was supremely upset at my fundraising failures over the past few weeks. But, I know the Lord is good. And I have tangible evidence!
First, the cigar and Scotch fundraiser. Yeah, I had to cancel and will have to reschedule. There's some good stuff that came from that very weekend, however. Months before, my friend Adam K. invited me to his church's men's retreat. I was planning on going, but inadvertently scheduled the Scotch night for the same weekend, meaning both a) he and two other guys couldn't attend the fundraiser and b) I couldn't attend the retreat. I pressed on with my plans, only to have them fail. But [the other] Adam was faithful. He even prepaid for the retreat for me, knowing I wasn't planning on attending. So, when I canceled the event, I was able to attend Friday night.
And boy did I need it. My anguish over inability to succeed on two fundraising fronts melted away when I got to the retreat. I played some beach volleyball with some awesome guys, ate some great food, and had encouraging fellowship. Then, when it came time for their evening worship service, they asked me to play bass guitar. I was secretly hoping I'd get to jam later that night, but I didn't think I'd be put on the stage. I went up there with no practice, on a 5-string bass (I only play a 4-), and only knew one of the four songs. And to top it all off, I was following off the leader's notes, and he used a capo on two songs (meaning I had to transpose in my head on the fly...not my strength). Despite all of that, it was good. I struggled, but I really got to worship from behind that instrument that night. The speaking afterwards even added to a string of common thought I've been feeling from the Father lately. Bottom line: I needed to be there and despite my stubbornness, He saw me through.
I also lamented my company's HR department and their refusal to let me brew the JustLoveCoffee at work. This seemed like a ridiculous injustice to me. Instead of storming off mad, however, I felt compelled to work out a solution. I kept going back and finding ways to help them justify this. And, after a couple weeks, I received an email approving our new coffee pot. The only drawback was that I couldn't collect money and brew only coffee that benefited my adoption. We agreed to have all the coffee drinkers take turns bringing in their choice of coffee. I had already purchased a box of Ethiopian Sidamo beforehand, and it arrived the SAME DAY I received the approval email from HR. I brewed it up the other day and everyone seems to like it. And most of the people are going to be buying and bringing in coffee from our storefront when it's their turn. So, the coffee fundraising is off the ground! Including me, there are three other customers who've purchased from our site, and we've raised $30 towards the adoption in the last week.
So, I'm back into one of those aforementioned periods of emotional richness.
For those of you experiencing similar drawbacks, do not give up. Accept His guiding. Don't stop laboring to bring your adopted child home. Forces will push back against you, but you must remain faithful as He is faithful.
To quote Screwtape again, "[The demonic] cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
First, the cigar and Scotch fundraiser. Yeah, I had to cancel and will have to reschedule. There's some good stuff that came from that very weekend, however. Months before, my friend Adam K. invited me to his church's men's retreat. I was planning on going, but inadvertently scheduled the Scotch night for the same weekend, meaning both a) he and two other guys couldn't attend the fundraiser and b) I couldn't attend the retreat. I pressed on with my plans, only to have them fail. But [the other] Adam was faithful. He even prepaid for the retreat for me, knowing I wasn't planning on attending. So, when I canceled the event, I was able to attend Friday night.
And boy did I need it. My anguish over inability to succeed on two fundraising fronts melted away when I got to the retreat. I played some beach volleyball with some awesome guys, ate some great food, and had encouraging fellowship. Then, when it came time for their evening worship service, they asked me to play bass guitar. I was secretly hoping I'd get to jam later that night, but I didn't think I'd be put on the stage. I went up there with no practice, on a 5-string bass (I only play a 4-), and only knew one of the four songs. And to top it all off, I was following off the leader's notes, and he used a capo on two songs (meaning I had to transpose in my head on the fly...not my strength). Despite all of that, it was good. I struggled, but I really got to worship from behind that instrument that night. The speaking afterwards even added to a string of common thought I've been feeling from the Father lately. Bottom line: I needed to be there and despite my stubbornness, He saw me through.
I also lamented my company's HR department and their refusal to let me brew the JustLoveCoffee at work. This seemed like a ridiculous injustice to me. Instead of storming off mad, however, I felt compelled to work out a solution. I kept going back and finding ways to help them justify this. And, after a couple weeks, I received an email approving our new coffee pot. The only drawback was that I couldn't collect money and brew only coffee that benefited my adoption. We agreed to have all the coffee drinkers take turns bringing in their choice of coffee. I had already purchased a box of Ethiopian Sidamo beforehand, and it arrived the SAME DAY I received the approval email from HR. I brewed it up the other day and everyone seems to like it. And most of the people are going to be buying and bringing in coffee from our storefront when it's their turn. So, the coffee fundraising is off the ground! Including me, there are three other customers who've purchased from our site, and we've raised $30 towards the adoption in the last week.
So, I'm back into one of those aforementioned periods of emotional richness.
For those of you experiencing similar drawbacks, do not give up. Accept His guiding. Don't stop laboring to bring your adopted child home. Forces will push back against you, but you must remain faithful as He is faithful.
To quote Screwtape again, "[The demonic] cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Let's Run!
I've been trying to run all-terrain, since the race is all-terrain. So far the best I've done is two miles. But this race is a 5K (over three miles). And there are obstacles (and zombies!). So, I need to be able to run well over three miles no sweat. I found a cool tool online that helps log local running routes. It's on walkjogrun.net.
Here I go, 2.8 miles. I'm going for it. Hit you up when I'm done.
UPDATE: I ran 29:38 the first time.
Then I went back two days later and ran it in 27:52.
Here I go, 2.8 miles. I'm going for it. Hit you up when I'm done.
UPDATE: I ran 29:38 the first time.
Then I went back two days later and ran it in 27:52.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Argh! Fundraising Woes
I'm just going to wear my frustration on my sleeve for a bit. I'm finding some (what I thought to be) really slam dunk fundraisers coming up fruitless right now. It's bumming me out.
First, at work. There is a coffee pot in my department. It is run by a couple of the employees, with cups of Joe costing a meager $0.15; drinking coffee for a day will run you $1.00. Here's the deal: the coffee is BAD. Terrible. It's Maxwell house, which they buy in bulk, then pre-fill into filters which then sit for up to 48 hours in a drawer in the kitchen. And they make it so WEAK. Every day, entering the office means being hit by a wave of stale coffee aroma. If you ever had to go to work with a parents on a sick day, you know that smell I'm talking talking about. I mean, there are a solid dozen coworkers that HATE this coffee, and only drink it because it's the only game in town.
Why bring up the nasty coffee? Because Lindsey and I have a Just Love Coffee storefront and it donates to our adoption every time someone buys through the storefront here. Fair Trade Organic Ethiopian coffee. Real primo stuff. I mean, coffee BEGAN in Ethiopia, before it was anywhere else in the WORLD! Sadly, not a single bag of this coffee has been purchased, and I thought it would be cool to brew it and sell it at work. You know, like they ALREADY DO. I wanted to be above board, and I contacted HR. Bad idea.
HR said they couldn't allow it because it would be supporting my personal fundraiser and if they did that they'd open the door to a myriad of other fundraisers. Apparently they're not hip to the Girl Scout Cookies, Greg's daughter's band trip candy bar sale, and all the other rackets going on. Somehow putting a second coffee pot (so that I don't upset the people who like the bad coffee) just won't do. This all kinds of stinks.
Second, my cigar and Scotch night. I had the idea to do a guy-friendly fundraiser after seeing Lindsey do all these girly parties to raise adoption funds. I found a local cigar shop with a private lounge. They agreed to host. I had four bottles of Scotch donated by family. Men could come and pay a cover charge and get a cigar and some Scotch (included in the price). All the proceeds would go to the adoption.
At one point I had 15 confirmed attendees. Then, one-by-one, they dropped out. I even had a buddy coming all the way from Maryland. But sadly he had to drop out last-minute. The night before the event, several folks dropped out, too. I decided to cancel when I got down to three confirmed attendees. I couldn't see the benefit in cracking open $150 worth of Scotch for donations totaling less than that. Sigh...I'll reschedule and hopefully it'll go better.
I'm really trying to be ok with these failures. Surely the Lord is in control. In fact, we just received a donation which put us over our next funding hurdle. Praise Him for providence.
Phillippians 2:12 has been on my heart for a week now, and it hits me right now: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."
First, at work. There is a coffee pot in my department. It is run by a couple of the employees, with cups of Joe costing a meager $0.15; drinking coffee for a day will run you $1.00. Here's the deal: the coffee is BAD. Terrible. It's Maxwell house, which they buy in bulk, then pre-fill into filters which then sit for up to 48 hours in a drawer in the kitchen. And they make it so WEAK. Every day, entering the office means being hit by a wave of stale coffee aroma. If you ever had to go to work with a parents on a sick day, you know that smell I'm talking talking about. I mean, there are a solid dozen coworkers that HATE this coffee, and only drink it because it's the only game in town.
Why bring up the nasty coffee? Because Lindsey and I have a Just Love Coffee storefront and it donates to our adoption every time someone buys through the storefront here. Fair Trade Organic Ethiopian coffee. Real primo stuff. I mean, coffee BEGAN in Ethiopia, before it was anywhere else in the WORLD! Sadly, not a single bag of this coffee has been purchased, and I thought it would be cool to brew it and sell it at work. You know, like they ALREADY DO. I wanted to be above board, and I contacted HR. Bad idea.
HR said they couldn't allow it because it would be supporting my personal fundraiser and if they did that they'd open the door to a myriad of other fundraisers. Apparently they're not hip to the Girl Scout Cookies, Greg's daughter's band trip candy bar sale, and all the other rackets going on. Somehow putting a second coffee pot (so that I don't upset the people who like the bad coffee) just won't do. This all kinds of stinks.
Second, my cigar and Scotch night. I had the idea to do a guy-friendly fundraiser after seeing Lindsey do all these girly parties to raise adoption funds. I found a local cigar shop with a private lounge. They agreed to host. I had four bottles of Scotch donated by family. Men could come and pay a cover charge and get a cigar and some Scotch (included in the price). All the proceeds would go to the adoption.
At one point I had 15 confirmed attendees. Then, one-by-one, they dropped out. I even had a buddy coming all the way from Maryland. But sadly he had to drop out last-minute. The night before the event, several folks dropped out, too. I decided to cancel when I got down to three confirmed attendees. I couldn't see the benefit in cracking open $150 worth of Scotch for donations totaling less than that. Sigh...I'll reschedule and hopefully it'll go better.
I'm really trying to be ok with these failures. Surely the Lord is in control. In fact, we just received a donation which put us over our next funding hurdle. Praise Him for providence.
Phillippians 2:12 has been on my heart for a week now, and it hits me right now: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Inspiration via Common Song
Lindsey made us an adoption mixtape. Since it has some TobyMac on it, I felt it obligatory to title it Ill 'doptcha.
Anyway, it has this song by Aaron Ivey titled Amos Story (which I learned are the names of his two adopted children from Haiti). It's really been speaking to me lately, and the one line that I can't shake is, "I'll find a way to get you here." When I'm running, training for the race, and I'm losing motivation, I just remember that line. I'll find a way. Giving plasma, running races, holding fundraisers, selling video games...
I'll find a way.
Here's the awesome video, and the lyrics are below. Enjoy.
Anyway, it has this song by Aaron Ivey titled Amos Story (which I learned are the names of his two adopted children from Haiti). It's really been speaking to me lately, and the one line that I can't shake is, "I'll find a way to get you here." When I'm running, training for the race, and I'm losing motivation, I just remember that line. I'll find a way. Giving plasma, running races, holding fundraisers, selling video games...
I'll find a way.
Here's the awesome video, and the lyrics are below. Enjoy.
Another photograph to wrestle in my head
Another sleepless night on concrete featherbed
These thoughts of you like bullets to my soul
We’ve got to find a way to get you home
Another sleepless night on concrete featherbed
These thoughts of you like bullets to my soul
We’ve got to find a way to get you home
I’ll find a way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here
I will get you here
Throw the clocks away and run out to the street
We’ll fly to distant clouds where it’s just you and me
A day will come when all of this is gone
A day will come when all of this is gone
You’ve got to find a way to believe
I’ll find a way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here
I will get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here
I will get you here
Close your eyes and dream of a better day with me
As angels hold you tight, may you sleep in peace tonight
As angels hold you tight, may you sleep in peace tonight
So dream, dream, dream my child
Hear the whisperings of hope
Hear the whisperings of hope
It’s a song that you can sing, as you sleep in peace tonight
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Why Adopt? Part 2: A Matter of Timing
I wrote in this post the fundamental teachings and original feelings I had which led me to want to adopt. I'd like to share with those interested a deeper look at my heart on this journey.
Why now? Why, at 27, after having two biological kids with my wife, am I adopting?
A year ago I couldn't have told you what my purpose was. I wanted to know it. I yearned for it. And a year ago I was ashamed of that fact. But now that I know what I must do for His Kingdom while on this earth, I don't feel shame for not knowing his call on my life back then. Why? It has become increasingly apparent to me that you don't find your passion.
It finds you.
While groping about seeking gratification, the praises of man, the pinnacle of Maslow's hierarchy, or simply to serve God well, we spend much time just 'doing' stuff. Even with good intentions, until our passion finds us we sprint in random directions, certain that being busy (regardless of the cause) is better than nothing. Perhaps it is. But it doesn't compare with the long haul run of faith you begin when your purpose is revealed.
At my current job we do a lot with lasers. I buy a lot of custom optic elements for the company. Crystals are grown, harvested, machined, polished, and coated with meticulous detail. You can't rush this process. Doing so means a broken lens, a scratched prism, a cloudy coating. The optical elements exist to affect the light passing through the lenses in a very specific way (bend it, straighten it, reflect it, intensify it). The elements DEFINE the beam. For all its glory, a laser is useless (and sometimes even randomly destructive) without passing through the appropriate optical elements.
So it is with our purpose and passion. We dare not rush (but should rightly yearn for) the revelation of our defining goal. For it is worth it to to finally have the white hot beam of our everything focused into a coherent life for His glory and for the good of those in our lives.
I am convinced that the Lord formed Lindsey and I for this purpose; to love the oppressed and defend the defenseless. This begins with us snatching up a helpless babe with the odds against him/her and making him/her a permanent part of our lives. I'm excited to see where else it goes!
And here's the irony of it all. A year ago, we were in such a better financial position to adopt. Pragmatically, it would have been 'smarter' to do so then, right?
I'm well aware that a solid portion of family, friends, and strangers are suspect of our intentions since we are a fundraising family (i.e., we don't have $30K in cash to drop at once to bring this baby home). I understand these concerns. In their shoes, even six months ago, I'd pass the same judgment. That's largely why I don't get upset when they lob their comments. They are me, mere months before, and their passion is not mine.
Yes, I have a mortgage which sucks up money I could use to fund adopting. Yes, I made more at my last job. Yes, it would be much easier on those around me if I saved for several years and didn't ask for donations. But back when we had the money to drop on something like this, we weren't called to. And I refuse to let godless details postpone the start of my life's work (more than one adoption, I'm convinced. More in another post.)
Moses would have made more sense confronting Pharoah after some speech classes. David would have been a smarter choice for king after he grew up some more, had a few campaigns under his belt, and Saul nicely succumbed to fading health. Peter might have been a more wise choice in the people's eyes had he gone to seminary for four years before he started following Jesus. Paul could have saved a whole lot of backpedaling if God had simply called him before he went down the Pharisee path. But here's the rub. Our Lord confounds us.
And praise Him for it! How much more I lean on him, and how much more is He evident in this adoption now that the 'rational stuff' has been stripped away by His impeccable (and gloriously problematic) timing.
Why now? Why, at 27, after having two biological kids with my wife, am I adopting?
A year ago I couldn't have told you what my purpose was. I wanted to know it. I yearned for it. And a year ago I was ashamed of that fact. But now that I know what I must do for His Kingdom while on this earth, I don't feel shame for not knowing his call on my life back then. Why? It has become increasingly apparent to me that you don't find your passion.
It finds you.
While groping about seeking gratification, the praises of man, the pinnacle of Maslow's hierarchy, or simply to serve God well, we spend much time just 'doing' stuff. Even with good intentions, until our passion finds us we sprint in random directions, certain that being busy (regardless of the cause) is better than nothing. Perhaps it is. But it doesn't compare with the long haul run of faith you begin when your purpose is revealed.
At my current job we do a lot with lasers. I buy a lot of custom optic elements for the company. Crystals are grown, harvested, machined, polished, and coated with meticulous detail. You can't rush this process. Doing so means a broken lens, a scratched prism, a cloudy coating. The optical elements exist to affect the light passing through the lenses in a very specific way (bend it, straighten it, reflect it, intensify it). The elements DEFINE the beam. For all its glory, a laser is useless (and sometimes even randomly destructive) without passing through the appropriate optical elements.
So it is with our purpose and passion. We dare not rush (but should rightly yearn for) the revelation of our defining goal. For it is worth it to to finally have the white hot beam of our everything focused into a coherent life for His glory and for the good of those in our lives.
I am convinced that the Lord formed Lindsey and I for this purpose; to love the oppressed and defend the defenseless. This begins with us snatching up a helpless babe with the odds against him/her and making him/her a permanent part of our lives. I'm excited to see where else it goes!
And here's the irony of it all. A year ago, we were in such a better financial position to adopt. Pragmatically, it would have been 'smarter' to do so then, right?
I'm well aware that a solid portion of family, friends, and strangers are suspect of our intentions since we are a fundraising family (i.e., we don't have $30K in cash to drop at once to bring this baby home). I understand these concerns. In their shoes, even six months ago, I'd pass the same judgment. That's largely why I don't get upset when they lob their comments. They are me, mere months before, and their passion is not mine.
Yes, I have a mortgage which sucks up money I could use to fund adopting. Yes, I made more at my last job. Yes, it would be much easier on those around me if I saved for several years and didn't ask for donations. But back when we had the money to drop on something like this, we weren't called to. And I refuse to let godless details postpone the start of my life's work (more than one adoption, I'm convinced. More in another post.)
Moses would have made more sense confronting Pharoah after some speech classes. David would have been a smarter choice for king after he grew up some more, had a few campaigns under his belt, and Saul nicely succumbed to fading health. Peter might have been a more wise choice in the people's eyes had he gone to seminary for four years before he started following Jesus. Paul could have saved a whole lot of backpedaling if God had simply called him before he went down the Pharisee path. But here's the rub. Our Lord confounds us.
And praise Him for it! How much more I lean on him, and how much more is He evident in this adoption now that the 'rational stuff' has been stripped away by His impeccable (and gloriously problematic) timing.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Family Values
Lindsey has been hard at work doing crafty things around the house. It's pretty amazing, really. We are just two months into this new place and she's been making it look like a home. If it were just me here, it'd still be pretty bare. Thank the Lord she's here!
My fav so far is the weekly menu board. She repurposed an old frame, used some scrapbook materials, and uses a dry erase marker to tell me what hearty goodness is gonna hit my plate.
I then give a little feedback with some stars later that night. It keeps her on her toes.
Seriously, this menu thing is pretty bomb.
Lindsey has also refinished an awesome mirror frame (which Makayla is pretty sure is her magic mirror on the wall.)
But there's another thing she's working on that I'm pretty stoked about is a board of our family rules/values. There are a few families I have seen post theirs. I want to get this right (not the appearance, but the content.)
Any guys out there have any suggestions for the top ten?
 |
| Lemon Chicken...4 out of 5 stars...mmmmmmm |
I then give a little feedback with some stars later that night. It keeps her on her toes.
Seriously, this menu thing is pretty bomb.
Lindsey has also refinished an awesome mirror frame (which Makayla is pretty sure is her magic mirror on the wall.)
But there's another thing she's working on that I'm pretty stoked about is a board of our family rules/values. There are a few families I have seen post theirs. I want to get this right (not the appearance, but the content.)
Any guys out there have any suggestions for the top ten?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Seems Legit
Just got an email from Joe Fox. Subject: Awful Trip. To: undisclosed recipients.
"How you doing?i am so sorry about me not informing you about my trip to London,United Kingdom some days back, Unfortunately for me i was mugged at gun point last night and here i am totally freaked out! All cash, Credit cards and phone were stolen,i got messed up in another country, stranded in London,United Kingdom, fortunately my passport was in my hotel room. It was a Brutal experience and i was hurt a little bit on my right hand, but would be fine.
My return fight leaves in a few hours but i am having troubles sorting out the hotel bills, wondering if you could loan me some money to sort out the hotel bills and also take a cab to the airport i will refund it back as soon as i get back home. I have been to the police and embassy here, but they aren't helping issues,i have limited access to mails now,i have canceled my cards already and made a police report, I won’t get a new card number till I get back home! So I really need your help.would def refund it to you once i get back home...Hope to read from you soon
I await your reply soon.
Thanks In Advance."
Too bad all my money is currently tied up with a Nigerian prince...
"How you doing?i am so sorry about me not informing you about my trip to London,United Kingdom some days back, Unfortunately for me i was mugged at gun point last night and here i am totally freaked out! All cash, Credit cards and phone were stolen,i got messed up in another country, stranded in London,United Kingdom, fortunately my passport was in my hotel room. It was a Brutal experience and i was hurt a little bit on my right hand, but would be fine.
My return fight leaves in a few hours but i am having troubles sorting out the hotel bills, wondering if you could loan me some money to sort out the hotel bills and also take a cab to the airport i will refund it back as soon as i get back home. I have been to the police and embassy here, but they aren't helping issues,i have limited access to mails now,i have canceled my cards already and made a police report, I won’t get a new card number till I get back home! So I really need your help.would def refund it to you once i get back home...Hope to read from you soon
I await your reply soon.
Thanks In Advance."
Too bad all my money is currently tied up with a Nigerian prince...
Friday, August 26, 2011
Adoption Shirts For Sale
We are selling adoption shirts. $23 ($20 + $3 shipping) will get you this shirt that Lindsey masterfully designed. 100% of the proceeds fund our adoption journey. They are a great way to show your support for international adoption in general.
The shirts are made of high quality fabric, and produced by Action Sports Apparel. I've worn the heck out of mine so far and there's no sign of fading or decal chipping.
Just PayPal $23 to me here: adamcrock at mac dot com. Put 'adoption shirt' in the notes and don't forget your size! If you'd prefer to send the money a different way, email me at the aforementioned address and we can work it out.
To get the ball rolling on this, the first 10 people to buy a shirt from this site will be entered in a random drawing to get a shirt free. You can either get refunded for the shirt, or I'll send a second one your way gratis.
The shirts are made of high quality fabric, and produced by Action Sports Apparel. I've worn the heck out of mine so far and there's no sign of fading or decal chipping.
Just PayPal $23 to me here: adamcrock at mac dot com. Put 'adoption shirt' in the notes and don't forget your size! If you'd prefer to send the money a different way, email me at the aforementioned address and we can work it out.
To get the ball rolling on this, the first 10 people to buy a shirt from this site will be entered in a random drawing to get a shirt free. You can either get refunded for the shirt, or I'll send a second one your way gratis.
One Week Down...
Today marks one week since I picked up my first kettlebell and said, "To Mordor with flab!" That day I puked. And worked out pretty hard. But mostly I remember the puking.
I worked out 5 of the last 7 days. I've scaled back posting all of those workouts, and I'll probably do a weekly recap of my training endeavors. Here's the first of such recaps...
Friday: Helen, 2 rounds at 11:22. And the puke.
Saturday: Crying like a little girl.
Sunday: Sally, but I forgot to time it.
Monday: Bradley, 6 rounds at 20:24. I was proud until I realized I did girl pull ups and one of the regulars finished 10 rounds in the same time as me. ::Sigh::
Tuesday: At Brian's urging, I was to run one mile, rest four minutes, and run another mile. Caveat: the second mile had to be within one minute's time of the first. WHAT?! Well, I went for it. I found a route from my house that was a mile. On the way up, I wanted to quit. Running. Training. My job. Everything. I. HATE. RUNNING.* But I made my first mile in under nine minutes. The rest was the sweetest feeling. Like holding my newly born daughters in the hospital. Or eating carbs. It was glorious. Then, it was quickly over. I pressed on as quickly as possible, pushing to stick to nine minutes. I got home, and checked my stopwatch. NO. WAY! My second lap was a full minute faster than the first. Proof:
Thursday: Again with the little girl crying. I was supposed to run 10 x 100m sprints, but I took the day off.
Today is Friday again, and I plan to do my workout from yesterday before I hit up a free class at Crossfit Legacy tomorrow.
Lindsey and I have been on a kick to repurpose lots of things in the house, instead of just tossing them out. So, I decided to do that with one of the memories from one of my slow carb binge eating days. We went to the county fair a few weeks ago, on a cheat eating day, and I ate nearly an entire Bucket o' Fries. I felt like junk after that. So, that bucket is being repurposed. I had some concrete mix leftover from installing the mailbox. That mix has found its way into my bucket.
It is now my Lil' Bucket o' Pain. This little beauty is only five pounds or so, but it's now a reminder of what'll stop my goal (not fitness, ultimately, but bringing my baby home). The fries were a waste of money, calories, and did nothing to further my adoption quest. My thought now is to grab this girl whenever I want to eat bad, and just carry her around and do some running, lunges, and squats. Maybe I'll reinforce the handle and use her as a kettle bell. And maybe I'll make a bigger one soon!
That's all for now.
P.S. I now have seven personal sponsors for the run! A coworker, a neighbor, and five friends. Thank you all so much in advance for your support!
*"And I hate. I HATE. I HAAAATE PETER PAN!"
-Captain Hook
I worked out 5 of the last 7 days. I've scaled back posting all of those workouts, and I'll probably do a weekly recap of my training endeavors. Here's the first of such recaps...
Friday: Helen, 2 rounds at 11:22. And the puke.
Saturday: Crying like a little girl.
Sunday: Sally, but I forgot to time it.
Monday: Bradley, 6 rounds at 20:24. I was proud until I realized I did girl pull ups and one of the regulars finished 10 rounds in the same time as me. ::Sigh::
Tuesday: At Brian's urging, I was to run one mile, rest four minutes, and run another mile. Caveat: the second mile had to be within one minute's time of the first. WHAT?! Well, I went for it. I found a route from my house that was a mile. On the way up, I wanted to quit. Running. Training. My job. Everything. I. HATE. RUNNING.* But I made my first mile in under nine minutes. The rest was the sweetest feeling. Like holding my newly born daughters in the hospital. Or eating carbs. It was glorious. Then, it was quickly over. I pressed on as quickly as possible, pushing to stick to nine minutes. I got home, and checked my stopwatch. NO. WAY! My second lap was a full minute faster than the first. Proof:Wednesday: No name. Find your max back squat weight and knock out three reps. I killed 175. Not bad. Then 40 double unders (or 80 regular rope jumps), 25 box jumps, 15 kb swings. This was the first Crossfit workout I finished! 5 rounds in 14:01. And I kept my lunch down! Look out, zombies...
Thursday: Again with the little girl crying. I was supposed to run 10 x 100m sprints, but I took the day off.
Today is Friday again, and I plan to do my workout from yesterday before I hit up a free class at Crossfit Legacy tomorrow.
Lindsey and I have been on a kick to repurpose lots of things in the house, instead of just tossing them out. So, I decided to do that with one of the memories from one of my slow carb binge eating days. We went to the county fair a few weeks ago, on a cheat eating day, and I ate nearly an entire Bucket o' Fries. I felt like junk after that. So, that bucket is being repurposed. I had some concrete mix leftover from installing the mailbox. That mix has found its way into my bucket. That's all for now.
P.S. I now have seven personal sponsors for the run! A coworker, a neighbor, and five friends. Thank you all so much in advance for your support!
*"And I hate. I HATE. I HAAAATE PETER PAN!"
-Captain Hook
Monday, August 22, 2011
Solo Workout
Friday, Crossfit Legacy (CFL) kicked my butt with an inaugural Helen workout. That night, I slept like a baby.
Saturday, I walked around like a geriatric man, having to muster courage to sit and stand (due to the quad and hamstring pain). Also, I had the arms of a T-Rex. If you've ever worked out super hard after a period of lethargy, you know what I'm talking about. You can't stretch them out fully because it hurts, so they stay at a comfy 90-degree angle, up near your chest.
Sunday, I knew I had to workout. Brian from CFL hadn't yet sent me a workout to do on my own, so I took it upon myself to come up with something. I call her Sally.
We live on a cul de sac, and from our end of the street to the other is a solid 500 meters. My new 'Sally' workout involved running up and down that stretch twice each (4 x 500m). At intervals I planned to do 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, and 50 squats.
The weather was a cool 70 degrees, and I was feeling good. I ran down, cranked out 25 pushups and 25 sit ups, just like I planned. Coming back, I was only able to knock out 15 pushups. Uh oh. Then the sweet rains came, and I felt renewed vigor. I crushed the sit ups and squats.
Down again, pushups to failure, not quite enough. One image kept me going. A zombie at my back; a starving child before me. I picked up the pace. My next sit ups were cake. Back again, and I could only hit 75 pushups, 75 sit ups, and 35 squats. Bummer.
I checked my phone and saw an email from Brian. He said I should just run 4 x 400m today. Ha! I laugh in your workout's general direction! I wrote him back and he was pleased. He told me to time it next time to measure improvement. Copy that!
Lindsey made Chex Mix AND tossed a bunch of it in a choco-peanut butter concoction and dusted it with powdered sugar. So, diet's done.
Saturday, I walked around like a geriatric man, having to muster courage to sit and stand (due to the quad and hamstring pain). Also, I had the arms of a T-Rex. If you've ever worked out super hard after a period of lethargy, you know what I'm talking about. You can't stretch them out fully because it hurts, so they stay at a comfy 90-degree angle, up near your chest.
Sunday, I knew I had to workout. Brian from CFL hadn't yet sent me a workout to do on my own, so I took it upon myself to come up with something. I call her Sally.
We live on a cul de sac, and from our end of the street to the other is a solid 500 meters. My new 'Sally' workout involved running up and down that stretch twice each (4 x 500m). At intervals I planned to do 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, and 50 squats.
The weather was a cool 70 degrees, and I was feeling good. I ran down, cranked out 25 pushups and 25 sit ups, just like I planned. Coming back, I was only able to knock out 15 pushups. Uh oh. Then the sweet rains came, and I felt renewed vigor. I crushed the sit ups and squats.
Down again, pushups to failure, not quite enough. One image kept me going. A zombie at my back; a starving child before me. I picked up the pace. My next sit ups were cake. Back again, and I could only hit 75 pushups, 75 sit ups, and 35 squats. Bummer.
I checked my phone and saw an email from Brian. He said I should just run 4 x 400m today. Ha! I laugh in your workout's general direction! I wrote him back and he was pleased. He told me to time it next time to measure improvement. Copy that!
Lindsey made Chex Mix AND tossed a bunch of it in a choco-peanut butter concoction and dusted it with powdered sugar. So, diet's done.
Friday, August 19, 2011
...or the Faint of Stomach
Part 1 here.
But before starting the Helen, Brian had me warm up. This isn't your grandma's warming up. No afghan, no hot cocoa. I started with jumping rope, then leg swings, then contorting my arm across some PVC pipe in ways I was sure I couldn't. I did pushups, pull ups, squats, and kettle bell swings. My heart rate was up and my legs were burning. At one point I asked if we had started the Helen. He just grinned and shook his head 'no'. I died a little.
Then two things that followed which I can only describe as ominous. Brian said, "Oh no, I forgot to have you sign a waiver." Waivers are standard, I have accepted that. But the urgency with which he proceeded told me right there that I was in for some pain. Next, one of his regulars showed up early for his workout. Brian told him I was about to start the Helen. His sadistic grin was something I have only seen on the faces of cannibals and men hazing other men. And...I believe what they were doing well somewhere in the spectrum between the two.
Brian opens a big garage door to the 85 degree sun, and shows me the 400m course. Not bad, I think (until I realize I have to do this thrice). He gives me the 'go' and I pace myself.
This is about the time I feel I should tell you about my breakfast. Doing my slow carb diet, I start my day off with protein and vegetables. Today it was sausage (stupid!) and red peppers, and not nearly enough water. I knew I was having this Crossfit meeting, but I naively assumed it would be a gentle meet-and-greet with no workout. Lindsey told me I should be ready to work out. I didn't listen. Another point for my wife...
With every step I feel my long lost breakfast beckoning to me from far off. I'll get back to my breakfast--or vice versa--a little later.
More regulars have shown up early, and they watch me before their class. Run finished, I step inside and grab the kettle bell. I notice they've given me the light one. I feel like I'm using the pink bowling ball at the lanes. Kettle bell swings were a breeze. Now it's on to 12 pull ups. I haven't been able to do 12 pull ups in a solid year. But I'm not allowed to quit. Brian starts motivating me. Any doubt about him being the perfect trainer for me was dispelled when he quoted Zombieland to get me up that bar.
I struggle to get the 12, but I do them. I run to the office to get some water. All they have is Dixie cups. I think the women are making fun of me. I come back and Brian says he thought I was in the bathroom puking. Patience, Brian, I'm almost there. I get outside to run again. Humping that kettle bell does more to your lower body than you think, and I'm feeling like someone filled the running track with molasses three feet deep. Onward I trudge.
Inside, I see that kettle bell smugly sitting there, inert. I wish I were inert right now. I knock out the swings and groan as I approach the bar. 12 pull ups take FOREVER, even with Brian pulling everything out he can to make them easier for me (I'm pretty sure he almost lifted me up there at the end).
Two cycles down, just one more. The timer says 11:22, and Brian calls it off. He says if I can't finish in 12 minutes, he won't let me keep going.
So, I didn't even finish the Helen. Heck, I FEEL like Helen. I thank Brian for making me feel like a little girl, and I walk out to my car. I just sit there for a second, and think about napping. But I start driving. About a mile away from the gym, I have to pull over. I stand in one of those unmarked Ohio fields and yack up the sausage, and the peppers, and all the water. A headache ensues, and I get back in my car. Again, I sit, and daydream about napping. I don't remember getting home, but it must have happened.
If the workouts are at least this intense, I can't wait to smash some undead skull in October!!!
But before starting the Helen, Brian had me warm up. This isn't your grandma's warming up. No afghan, no hot cocoa. I started with jumping rope, then leg swings, then contorting my arm across some PVC pipe in ways I was sure I couldn't. I did pushups, pull ups, squats, and kettle bell swings. My heart rate was up and my legs were burning. At one point I asked if we had started the Helen. He just grinned and shook his head 'no'. I died a little.
Then two things that followed which I can only describe as ominous. Brian said, "Oh no, I forgot to have you sign a waiver." Waivers are standard, I have accepted that. But the urgency with which he proceeded told me right there that I was in for some pain. Next, one of his regulars showed up early for his workout. Brian told him I was about to start the Helen. His sadistic grin was something I have only seen on the faces of cannibals and men hazing other men. And...I believe what they were doing well somewhere in the spectrum between the two.
Brian opens a big garage door to the 85 degree sun, and shows me the 400m course. Not bad, I think (until I realize I have to do this thrice). He gives me the 'go' and I pace myself.
This is about the time I feel I should tell you about my breakfast. Doing my slow carb diet, I start my day off with protein and vegetables. Today it was sausage (stupid!) and red peppers, and not nearly enough water. I knew I was having this Crossfit meeting, but I naively assumed it would be a gentle meet-and-greet with no workout. Lindsey told me I should be ready to work out. I didn't listen. Another point for my wife...
With every step I feel my long lost breakfast beckoning to me from far off. I'll get back to my breakfast--or vice versa--a little later.
More regulars have shown up early, and they watch me before their class. Run finished, I step inside and grab the kettle bell. I notice they've given me the light one. I feel like I'm using the pink bowling ball at the lanes. Kettle bell swings were a breeze. Now it's on to 12 pull ups. I haven't been able to do 12 pull ups in a solid year. But I'm not allowed to quit. Brian starts motivating me. Any doubt about him being the perfect trainer for me was dispelled when he quoted Zombieland to get me up that bar.
I struggle to get the 12, but I do them. I run to the office to get some water. All they have is Dixie cups. I think the women are making fun of me. I come back and Brian says he thought I was in the bathroom puking. Patience, Brian, I'm almost there. I get outside to run again. Humping that kettle bell does more to your lower body than you think, and I'm feeling like someone filled the running track with molasses three feet deep. Onward I trudge.
Inside, I see that kettle bell smugly sitting there, inert. I wish I were inert right now. I knock out the swings and groan as I approach the bar. 12 pull ups take FOREVER, even with Brian pulling everything out he can to make them easier for me (I'm pretty sure he almost lifted me up there at the end).
Two cycles down, just one more. The timer says 11:22, and Brian calls it off. He says if I can't finish in 12 minutes, he won't let me keep going.
So, I didn't even finish the Helen. Heck, I FEEL like Helen. I thank Brian for making me feel like a little girl, and I walk out to my car. I just sit there for a second, and think about napping. But I start driving. About a mile away from the gym, I have to pull over. I stand in one of those unmarked Ohio fields and yack up the sausage, and the peppers, and all the water. A headache ensues, and I get back in my car. Again, I sit, and daydream about napping. I don't remember getting home, but it must have happened.
If the workouts are at least this intense, I can't wait to smash some undead skull in October!!!
Crossfit: Not for the Faint of Heart
So, I'm definitely doing the aforementioned Zombie 5K to raise money for my adoption.
I have only ever run in one 5K. I was in the military, near the peak of my personal fitness, and I did horrible. Running's never been my thing. So the moment I committed to this run, I knew I'd need to train. Hard.
But this isn't just a 5K. It's a 5K obstacle course with zombies trying to EAT you! Despite rule #1 of Zombieland, cardio alone won't cut it. I'm going to need upper body strength for climbing, endurance, agility (for whatever razor wire slalom I'm sure I'll have to maneuver), and even more.
Rusty and some other friends have done Crossfit, and it seemed perfect for the task. I promptly contacted the three closest Crossfit gyms to me. Brian Yoak of Crossfit Legacy promptly responded and seemed open to turning me into a beast. We met this morning. This is when it got real.
The gym is an unassuming building in Barberton. Walking in, I notice Brian's not a super tall guy, but he looks like he's made of oak. In his office I saw a MacBook and an iPhone on his desk. Already I knew we'd get along. He sits down and asks me the basic questions about my adoption (it's awesome he's interested). I notice he's taking notes with his left hand (I'm also a lefty). It's the little things.
Once he see's I'm legit and have had at least a meager fitness background, he agrees to sponsor and train me. w00t. He'll let me come into the gym 3x per week and participate in the strength workout of the day (WOD) for free. In addition, he's going to help me with Crossfit Endurance training, which is a lot of running. double w00t.
Additionally, he encouraged me to come to the Saturday classes, which are free to anyone. (hint hint)
Brian weighed me (191.8, with my clothes and shoes on...still losing weight!) and did body fat measurements with calipers (I don't have the results yet). Then he said he wanted me to do the 'Helen' as a baseline evaluation of my level of fitness. Helen is:
400m run
21 kettle bell swings
12 pull ups
Except that you do that THREE TIMES.
More in part 2...
I have only ever run in one 5K. I was in the military, near the peak of my personal fitness, and I did horrible. Running's never been my thing. So the moment I committed to this run, I knew I'd need to train. Hard.
But this isn't just a 5K. It's a 5K obstacle course with zombies trying to EAT you! Despite rule #1 of Zombieland, cardio alone won't cut it. I'm going to need upper body strength for climbing, endurance, agility (for whatever razor wire slalom I'm sure I'll have to maneuver), and even more.
Rusty and some other friends have done Crossfit, and it seemed perfect for the task. I promptly contacted the three closest Crossfit gyms to me. Brian Yoak of Crossfit Legacy promptly responded and seemed open to turning me into a beast. We met this morning. This is when it got real.
The gym is an unassuming building in Barberton. Walking in, I notice Brian's not a super tall guy, but he looks like he's made of oak. In his office I saw a MacBook and an iPhone on his desk. Already I knew we'd get along. He sits down and asks me the basic questions about my adoption (it's awesome he's interested). I notice he's taking notes with his left hand (I'm also a lefty). It's the little things.
Once he see's I'm legit and have had at least a meager fitness background, he agrees to sponsor and train me. w00t. He'll let me come into the gym 3x per week and participate in the strength workout of the day (WOD) for free. In addition, he's going to help me with Crossfit Endurance training, which is a lot of running. double w00t.
Additionally, he encouraged me to come to the Saturday classes, which are free to anyone. (hint hint)
Brian weighed me (191.8, with my clothes and shoes on...still losing weight!) and did body fat measurements with calipers (I don't have the results yet). Then he said he wanted me to do the 'Helen' as a baseline evaluation of my level of fitness. Helen is:
400m run
21 kettle bell swings
12 pull ups
Except that you do that THREE TIMES.
More in part 2...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Adoption 5K
My friend, Rusty Pang, invited me to Maryland to participate in this epic run in October 2011: Run for Your Lives! I'm all about it! I'm also all about adopting my baby from Ethiopia. So, let's put 'em together! What better way to raise the funds to bring my baby home?
Here's what sponsoring me entails:
If I finish the race, but get 'infected' you donate $1.
If I finish without infection, you donate $5.
If I finish in the top 50% of non-infected, you donate $10.
If I finish in the top 25% of non-infected, you donate $15.
If I finish in the top 10% of non-infected, you donate $20.
The more followers and sponsors I get, the more ridiculous costume I'll wear, too. More to come on that.
Like and follow the 5K prep on Facebook here.
What else should I do to raise awareness, anticipation, and funds?
Here's what sponsoring me entails:
If I finish the race, but get 'infected' you donate $1.
If I finish without infection, you donate $5.
If I finish in the top 50% of non-infected, you donate $10.
If I finish in the top 25% of non-infected, you donate $15.
If I finish in the top 10% of non-infected, you donate $20.
The more followers and sponsors I get, the more ridiculous costume I'll wear, too. More to come on that.
Like and follow the 5K prep on Facebook here.
What else should I do to raise awareness, anticipation, and funds?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Slow Carb Diet, Part 2
I recently started a cool diet (which I explain a bit here). I didn't get much into why I'm doing it, so I thought I'd expand on that.
Of course, the main point is to lose weight. Since leaving the force workout regimen of the Air Force (as weak as it sometimes was), I packed on pounds. This diet isn't about vanity for me, though. It's about reducing how much I eat and rely on food to satisfy myself. Eating too much is a vicious cycle, I've found, and it always leaves you wanting more than you need. After being moved to adopt from Ethiopia, I've been increasingly convicted about my selfish dietary habits. Only weeks ago I couldn't go more than a couple hours without needing to raid cabinets or hit the drive thru.
Also, I believe I mentioned the weight loss competition at my workplace. Everyone pitched in $10, and the winner gets the sum. I'm doing this for our adoption fund, as well.
Finally, I'm sick and tired of being lazy, sluggish, and lacking vitality I had only a couple years ago. This slow carb kick is all about maintaining a steady blood sugar level to mitigate those carb crashes that make you want to curl up and watch TV instead of play with your kids, finish strong during your workday, or pay attention to your wife. And lemme tell ya...it really does the trick.
So, I've had two weigh-ins since my last diet post.
End of Week 5: 196.8
End of Week 6: 194.7
Yeah, after six weeks I've lost 10 pounds! That's 4.8% bodyweight since the start of the competition (I'm SO in the lead). And the majority of that weight came off in the 15 days since I started the slow carb diet.
What does one typically eat for a slow carb meal? Well, this is a typical dinner for me: Fajita chicken with homemade guac.
Rugged, easy on prep and cleanup, and all from scratch (even the fajita seasoning!). The ultimate meal a guy can be proud of. Hit me up for the recipe.
This hardly feels like dieting, by the way...
Of course, the main point is to lose weight. Since leaving the force workout regimen of the Air Force (as weak as it sometimes was), I packed on pounds. This diet isn't about vanity for me, though. It's about reducing how much I eat and rely on food to satisfy myself. Eating too much is a vicious cycle, I've found, and it always leaves you wanting more than you need. After being moved to adopt from Ethiopia, I've been increasingly convicted about my selfish dietary habits. Only weeks ago I couldn't go more than a couple hours without needing to raid cabinets or hit the drive thru.
Also, I believe I mentioned the weight loss competition at my workplace. Everyone pitched in $10, and the winner gets the sum. I'm doing this for our adoption fund, as well.
Finally, I'm sick and tired of being lazy, sluggish, and lacking vitality I had only a couple years ago. This slow carb kick is all about maintaining a steady blood sugar level to mitigate those carb crashes that make you want to curl up and watch TV instead of play with your kids, finish strong during your workday, or pay attention to your wife. And lemme tell ya...it really does the trick.
So, I've had two weigh-ins since my last diet post.
End of Week 5: 196.8
End of Week 6: 194.7
Yeah, after six weeks I've lost 10 pounds! That's 4.8% bodyweight since the start of the competition (I'm SO in the lead). And the majority of that weight came off in the 15 days since I started the slow carb diet.
What does one typically eat for a slow carb meal? Well, this is a typical dinner for me: Fajita chicken with homemade guac.
Rugged, easy on prep and cleanup, and all from scratch (even the fajita seasoning!). The ultimate meal a guy can be proud of. Hit me up for the recipe.
This hardly feels like dieting, by the way...
Monday, August 1, 2011
Why Adopt? Part 1: The Basics
Lindsey (my wife) and I are adopting a wee one from Ethiopia (ET). Lots of folks are asking why, how, and all sorts of questions like that.
I'd like to answer the more common questions for folks.
Why Adopt?
We have two biological daughters, Makayla (3.5 years) and Addison (13 months). About six months ago, before we attended the adoption hearing of our friends, I felt compelled to share with Lindsey that I was open to adopting. Her face lit up as she shared that she had a burden for adoption for months. So, we started the process of discussing and praying about adopting.
A few verses that made it easy for me to want to adopt:
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Here I feel it's blatantly laid out that ministering love to the unlovely and weak is a Christian imperative. Does this mean that all are called to adopt? Certainly not. The LORD calls us to our own ministries. But for me, this Scripture hit me in my deepest parts, and I couldn't shake it once I viewed it as a potential adoptive father.
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Here Christ lays forth one of the most tender, sweetest images of the Father's love for us. His chosen are His adopted children.
Matthew 18:5 And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
I'd like to answer the more common questions for folks.
Why Adopt?
We have two biological daughters, Makayla (3.5 years) and Addison (13 months). About six months ago, before we attended the adoption hearing of our friends, I felt compelled to share with Lindsey that I was open to adopting. Her face lit up as she shared that she had a burden for adoption for months. So, we started the process of discussing and praying about adopting.
A few verses that made it easy for me to want to adopt:
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Here I feel it's blatantly laid out that ministering love to the unlovely and weak is a Christian imperative. Does this mean that all are called to adopt? Certainly not. The LORD calls us to our own ministries. But for me, this Scripture hit me in my deepest parts, and I couldn't shake it once I viewed it as a potential adoptive father.
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Here Christ lays forth one of the most tender, sweetest images of the Father's love for us. His chosen are His adopted children.
Matthew 18:5 And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
This is just one more example in the New Testament where Jesus sets forth the principle that ministering love to defenseless people is serving Him.
So, there's plenty of Scriptural justification for adopting.
Even more, I believe with all my heart that bringing someone into your home completely of your own accord and taking care of them as your own is an amazing sign of love. Short of laying your life down for them, I can't think of any more radical a display of love.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Radical Diet
So, my wife and I are adopting from Ethiopia. I'll get to that more later.
At work, we are having a biggest loser competition. Each member had to put $10 in to participate, and the winner gets the profits. I decided to try to win the competition and apply the proceeds to our adoption, which is quite costly.
Oh, but how to win? A friend of mine informed me of the slow carb phenomenon, and it seemed just right for me.
The concept I'm following is quite simple: Plenty of protein and veggies, low sodium, no fruits (except avocado or tomato) or juices, and the only carbs of note I can eat are black and pinto beans. Follow this six days a week, and eat whatever I want on the seventh day. How am I doing?
Day 1: 204.7lb, 38" waist
End of week 1: 201.7lb
End of week 2: 202lb
End of week 3: 200.5lb
Start Slow Carb
End of week 4 (after 2 days of slow carb): 198lb
Today was my first binge day. It was pretty crazy. I ate a whole Papa John's large pizza, a dozen powdered mini donuts, and three pulled pork sandwiches. And quite a bit more.
If readers like, I can post what I've been eating on my dieting days...
I've got a couple months left, but it's going well.
At work, we are having a biggest loser competition. Each member had to put $10 in to participate, and the winner gets the profits. I decided to try to win the competition and apply the proceeds to our adoption, which is quite costly.
Oh, but how to win? A friend of mine informed me of the slow carb phenomenon, and it seemed just right for me.
The concept I'm following is quite simple: Plenty of protein and veggies, low sodium, no fruits (except avocado or tomato) or juices, and the only carbs of note I can eat are black and pinto beans. Follow this six days a week, and eat whatever I want on the seventh day. How am I doing?
Day 1: 204.7lb, 38" waist
End of week 1: 201.7lb
End of week 2: 202lb
End of week 3: 200.5lb
Start Slow Carb
End of week 4 (after 2 days of slow carb): 198lb
Today was my first binge day. It was pretty crazy. I ate a whole Papa John's large pizza, a dozen powdered mini donuts, and three pulled pork sandwiches. And quite a bit more.
If readers like, I can post what I've been eating on my dieting days...
I've got a couple months left, but it's going well.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Is This Thing On?
I have blogged poorly here and here for a while, but I decided to start something more candid and serious.
This blog is about my successes and struggles as a friend, husband, dad, and man of faith.
I am an Air Force vet, as is my wife. We have two daughters under 4, and are adopting a wee one from Ethiopia.
We reside in Ohio after some time on the West Coast.
Join me?
This blog is about my successes and struggles as a friend, husband, dad, and man of faith.
I am an Air Force vet, as is my wife. We have two daughters under 4, and are adopting a wee one from Ethiopia.
We reside in Ohio after some time on the West Coast.
Join me?
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