I couldn't be more proud!

I have been very busy the last few days while attempting to tie up any loose strings for summer camp. I have a list of many things I needed to complete. I also had a specific schedule when I wanted to complete certain tasks. I have done a decent job at getting every item completed on time and how I wanted it done. I did however, forget to write down "enjoy the moment".

It's hard to truly enjoy an event when your mind is rolling a mile a minute about something else going on, another event you are planning/in charge of. I realized this today, but not until I had already missed the moment.

My daughter had her awards ceremony at school today. It was just the regular, end of year awards ceremony. There was nothing special about it, there were no frills about the "Ceremony". I did not think much about it as I arrived. I did remember the camera, but did not really take many photo's. They were just calling off names as the child stepped forward. The children were absolutely loving their moment in the spot light. Some had their arms crossed, while others tilted their heads down looking at their shoes. There were many giggling of embarrassment and other with pure shock as they won an award. The children were in the moment and enjoying what they were experiencing.

I, on the other hand, was thinking about how I had not yet made any copies of the papers to hand out this evening at Parent Orientation for Kamp Kermit. I was remembering that I had not yet gone in and separated all the counselors shirts nor picked a color for us to wear this evening. I was not sure if it was still OK if we used the new TV to play the DVD from last summer, if we had decided on snacks/no snacks, were we able to reach the principal to see if we could get into our room for this summer and show parents? Which door is going to be best for our parents to use when dropping children off? WHERE are we going to have sign in/sign out this summer? I have to show the parents because they need to know tonight! I was laughing and thinking back on old days at 9th & O with some friends, who also have a child in my daughters school. We were poking fun at some of the kids~come on, you know you do it too. Of course, none of the kids knew we were poking fun or what we were doing. I then began thinking about old times in high school and hilarious stuff we did as "kids". My thoughts were drifting from memories to current "OH MY GOSH, PARENT ORIENTATION IS TONIGHT!". I felt like I was prepared up until today! I was not truly listening to anything the PE teacher said as he took the mic. He must have asked a question because the audience was yelling out an answer. How could I really not hear anything? I always listen or at least know what some one has said. . .my mind was not focused on the task at hand.

Then he begins to call each class up one at a time. I think "really? cant we just be done, I have a million things to finish and now you're calling EVERY stinkin' class up here again?". Yes, this sounds terrible but all I could think was exactly how many minutes I had to finish up tasks before 6:30pm. My goal was 5pm, but I knew I had ultimately until close to 6pm. IF we leave at this time then I have this much time to finish. You see where my thoughts were at this point. I look up and realize they're only to the 3rd grade :-/ ugh!

The ceremony finally ends with one of my daughters friends praying as we leave. He is a super cute little boy and one of her dear friends. I did listen to this. He was straight to the point and right on. I was happy to pick up my child and head home. Then I hear " you must go to the office and sign your child out, we will be driving them back to school in the bus".Of course you will. I hurry to my car after saying goodbye to some friends and head up to school ASAP. There were a lot of parents and I didn't want to wait.

I am the second parent to arrive and sign my daughter out. I wait until they arrive on the bus and tell her to come on because I have things to do.

Thankfully, I completed all of my list prior to the parents orientation. I don't know that I said everything perfect or completed it all perfectly, but I completed it. The parents asked questions and I was so proud of myself for being prepared. I knew the answers to every question, I felt like we were prepared and the evening went well.

As we were about to leave my daughter keeps whispering in my ear (as other adults are talking) "mommy, tell them about my award I got today that the president signed AND the letter". I then announce to the other staff still there, that Elyssa had won this awesome award and I was so proud to tell them. You should have seen the smile on her face, she was shy to tell them but so proud when I shared the information. That got my mind going again. . .

How did I completely miss that program earlier today? I was so proud of her and had looked at her awards but I didn't let it sink in. I had been so preoccupied with what I needed to do that I didn't stop and share in her enjoyment. Those kids were SO excited when their PE teacher called them up on stage. He didn't do it to take more time, he did it because each child was excited to be called back up to stage. Each child, no matter how they showed it, enjoyed the recognition. I understand that~I have worked with kids for 15 years now. I have worked school, pre-school and camp settings, I get the idea of today. I just completely missed it!

I have allowed my wandering mind to take a rest as I enjoy my daughter's accomplishments. I am truly proud of her. I am so proud that I've taken the time to post the awards (after scanning them) to this blog and my FB account. I also e-mailed them to the organization that gives scholarships to her so she can attend private school. I want every one to see what a great job my daughter did and how her hard work paid off.

I just need to remember to stop and enjoy these moments, take a break from what I'm thinking and absorb what is going on around me.

 

Run with a purpose

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  Hebrews 12:1

I participated in my first marathon of any type last spring. I was working with a group of very convincing teachers who talked me into the school "walking group". Well, I had been a part of this in previous years, but somehow last year they talked me into the big race. My sister had also decided to run in the race and really didn't give me much choice. It was either do it or do it. 

 I entered my first official race on April 3, 2010 (my 29th birthday) and completed a 10 miles. It was hard, exciting, exhausting and I loved it! I enjoyed pushing myself farther than I had ever done in my life. What a way to start out another year of life. I was very proud of myself for accomplishing the race. Next up the big one. . .13.1 miles in a mini marathon. I was told that after completing only 3.3 miles in a park here in town that I would be ready for the mini marathon. The hills were the hard part and that is what we practiced on 3-4 times a week. The rest was just endurance.

Endurance?!?!?! Endurance is the hard part for me. I am the one who during basketball practice running would talk about what I was going to go eat after practice was over. We would converse while running about what we could eat due to the extensive running that day. Just make it one more lap, one more lap. . .endurance has never been my thing. Speed is not really my forte' either, but endurance was not for sure. I could make it through a game in basketball, I could make it through sprints in a softball game. I was not the cross country runner. That runner was my sister, I enjoyed watching her run but I never dared to do it. I hate running! I hate speed walking! WHAT AM I DOING?!?!?!? These were all things that went thru my head, but I still signed up and paid my dues for the 13.1 miles that now were awaiting me.

I absolutely loved training for the mini-marathon. I enjoyed brisk walks/jogs thru the park as spring came. I enjoyed talks with the other friends who trained with me. I enjoyed my cross training days of swimming laps in the pool. The serenity of the water, the feeling of accomplishment after each work out and the extra energy I now had. I truly loved training for the mini-marathon, but the thought of the 13.1 miles at one time petrified me! I was scared out of my mind. I just knew I wouldn't be able to do it. I wouldn't finish.

Race day arrived. My sister was ready and I don't know how much she really slept the night before. My dad had just gotten in from working 3rd shift. Elyssa and I stayed over at my parents that evening so I could leave early in the AM for the journey I was about to embark on.

So, my dad gets in from work and drops my sister and I both off about a block from the starting line. It was an overcast day with rain in the forecast. Actually, we had tornado's in the forecast :-/ Yes, bad weather was brewing and we were in for 13.1 miles. My dad left us to have a flat tire moments later. He was unable to reach any one being that we were in a race and my mom was at home with the kiddos (Landon and El), and he had no cell phone with him. Thankfully, by the time we reached the finish line he, my mom and the kids were there to get some post race photo's. BUT, back to the race.

As we began the race adrenaline set in. I cross the starting line at a good paced run. You have to run across the start/finish due to the photo's being taken. I was make aware of this during my first race, that papa john's 10 miler a few weeks prior. Always "pose" for the camera, haha. Well, with that adrenaline pumping I just kept running, running, running. Keep in mind that I prepared myself to walk around a 12 minute mile. That's where my time was at. . .I run and run with a fellow team-mate. She kept pushing me but said "we can walk any time you need to". I ran the first four miles of the race. Bathroom break for her. We ran a little more, but then slowed up and met up with some other team-mates who were walking. We made it into Churchill Downs and on down fourth street. I was thinking "they were right, I CAN do this. It's just endurance". About the 8th mile the sun comes out. For most the sun out in the spring is a good thing, when competing in a grueling race such as this~the sun is not something you want to see. The sun is OK if still in the shade of the trees, but now the temperature was starting to rise and the sun was beating down. We were now in the downtown portion of the race and no shade at all from the sun. Around mile 9-10 I begin to say to myself over and over "you can do this, you can do this, just finish, you can do this". I'm at a fast pace and have now lost a few of the team-mates but caught up to one of their daughters. I keep their faster pace, but by this point am just thinking I will collapse. "I HAVE to finish, I HAVE to finish!" is running thru my mind. I pass by a few first aide tents and think, I just need to sit down and rest. Then I rethink that option, IF I sit down I will never get back up. I get to mile 11 marker and I think "I've got this". There were a few bands, DJ's and fans to keep up going along the way. I hit mile marker 12 and I KNOW I have this. I can do this. . .then comes the hill. I think I am at the finish line and it's a hill that I've walked a million times when visiting the park downtown. It never seemed so steep in all my life! It was horrible, I couldn't finish. All hopes of finishing were leaving my mind as I pushed myself up that hill. I HAD to finish though. I see the team-mates daughter just ahead of me, I catch up. They decide they're running across the finish line, a sprint to the finish. I say "you go ahead I am doing good to finish. I cannot sprint over the end". Everything that was in me was depleted, my adrenaline had left me many miles back, the sun was taking a toll, my entire body was pushed harder than it ever had been pushed. I turn the corner and see the finish line. I'm just trying to keep my legs moving to get over that end. I cannot sprint, I try but my legs wont let me. I don't even know if I can make it over that finish line just about 2 blocks from me. It seems like it is moving as I'm moving. Just then I see my beautiful daughter come running at me from the side line. She had climbed thru the gates blocking the crowd out and run to my side. She grabbed my hand and literally brought me across the finish line. This little 5 year old gave me everything I needed to finish that race. I was holding back tears, because she had no idea that she was the reason I got across that line. She was so happy. She was skipping and trying not to smile. As I crossed that finish line, hand in hand with my daughter, I felt amazing! It's a feeling you cant understand until you cross that finish line, that goal set before you. It was the best feeling ever.

Now, I wont lie. . .just a few minutes later I felt like I was going to die from exhaustion BUT that moment was amazing! It was almost indescribable. I later found out my sister was behind Elyssa getting out to me, but I was so thankful. I had set before me a goal that I never thought I would accomplish and here I did it. I completed my first mini-marathon at 29.
Well, now that you know my history of "racing" I am embarking on yet a new adventure in the racing world. I have joined a relay team for the FULL marathon this year!!! It actually isn't going to be as many miles just for me but I will be running the entire way. I will be RUNNING!!! The one thing I hate, but I'm signed up again. The reasoning behind this relay team is a great cause. This is why I signed myself up. I also have begun to realize that I need to set these goals. Reaching that goal and completing the race set before you feels amazing. I've never fully understood that until now. I was an athlete from the age of 10, but never truly understood it until last spring. I also now understand the scriptures a lot more as well. Philipians 4:13 comes to mind as well as my favorite in high school (I used to write it on my shoes. We saw Brian Kiser from UL do it and it was then the "cool" thing to do) II Samuel 22:31-39. I have several more, but am having trouble actually finding them.

I have finished this entry up by adding the letter explaining the new adventure I have begun this year. It is not only just running, but we are "Running with a purpose". I hope you are able to read and keep us in your prayers as we run on April 30, 2011. Also, please remember to keep the Partin's in your prayers as they have this full time ministry overseas. I hope you have a blessed evening.

My sister Emily and I are participating in the Kentucky Derby Full marathon (26.2 miles) on April 30, 2011 in Louisville, KY and are running on a team called Run With Purpose.  All proceeds will fund the mission work of Will and Audrey Partin in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  Would you be willing to sponsor us for an amount per mile or give a one-time donation?

http://runwithpurpose-partin.blogspot.com/

Will and Audrey are full-time missionaries in the Dominican Republic.  They do a variety of different things that include heading up the Sports Outreach Team, hosting teams who come and serve, leading Bible studies and coordinating many of the logistics of G.O. Ministries.  They are also committed to helping fulfill God’s plan of restoration to His people and His creation by feeding kids in their Nutrition Centers and supporting the Nationals to minister and reach the lost in their own communities!

Since every missionary with G.O. Ministries raises his/her own support, would you be willing to pledge or donate today to help them pursue the vision that God has placed before them?


After the full marathon, Emily or I will be in contact with you to let you know of our completion of the race; and to collect your contributions.  Please make your checks payable to G.O. Ministries and write “Partin/running fundraiser” on the memo line.  We will collect checks and then send them all at once to G.O. Ministries. All contributions are tax-deductible and can be mailed to either of us. Please e-mail me at Mandee033@gmail.com for further information on the address to mail to.


Please let me know by simply e-mailing me back the amount you would like to pledge: Mandee033@gmail.com .   


If you would like to visit The Partin’s ministry Blog or receive more information about G.O. Ministries, please visit the links below (you can also donate via their blog).
http://www.go-ministries.org/
http://www.dominican-updates.blogspot.com/


Thank you so much for your donation!


Blessings,
Amanda Clark and Emily Clark Howell


G.O. Ministries
11501 Plantside Dr.
Suite 14

Louisville, KY  40299

We love redbox

http://redbox.tellapal.com/a/clk/yzQ1c
Yes, I am using my blog to help you get a free movie rental. Redbox is where we always get our movies because they are only a $1 a day and usually have good family/kids movies for special times. I hope you all get a chance to try it out and view a free movie on me :-)

Have a good day!!!

I will wait for you

After reading some dicouraging words from a few single "friends" I realized how grateful I am for enjoying who I am and what I have. I feel so many get caught up in this emotion of "being alone" or not have a significant other than it hinders what you really can do on your own.

Another one of my good friends had posted the video I have linked here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmas3xmqdm4

After listening to the words in Janette's poem it was even more clear that I'm not the only one in this position. AND if I truly dig deep in my faith and trust God, He is going to provide for me. For me to continue searching in all the wrong places will just put me right back where I began.

So, for today. . .this is what's on my mind. I will try to get back on later and update you more about what's going on with Elyssa and myself these days. Have a wonderful afternoon!

who are the plain jane's?

I decided it was finally time to start a blog for myself. I have been attempting this blog"thing" over the last summer. I posted regularly on the daily activities of the summer camp I direct. I cant guarantee this will be updated daily, but I hope to post some memories of myself and El along the way. I have been trying to figure out a name for our blog for more than two day. I still am unsure if I like this one, but for the time being it will suffice.


I had polled my friends and their children with catchy phrases to describe myself and El. I finally just decided upon this play on our middle names.
I was given a family name of Jane, which is actually found on both sides of the family. I always wanted to try and keep a family name in my children's names. When El was born there were several names flying around. I truly loved the name Nora Jayne for my little El. Nora is my great-grandmother on my father's side. Jayne, of course, is just a fancied up way to spell Jane. Nora ended up not being the name of my beauty due to the fact of a popular singer who came out during my pregnancy. Norah Jones was the artist. I was afraid people would make fun of her name thinking I was copying that name. I must say, IF God blesses me with anymore girls. . .Nora Jane is now going to be a name for sure. I still love it. I found the name Elyssa as a surname under Elizabeth. Elizabeth (which El gets called often and Melissa) is also a family name from both sides of our family. There are actually several Elizabeth's and for some reason I just wasn't sold on having ANOTHER Elizabeth (Liz, Dizzy, Libby, Beth, Lizbeth, etc) around. I was reading more into the names book and saw the name Elyssa underneath of  the name Elizabeth. Although, Alyssa/Alissa/Allissa was a very common name that year I decided Elyssa it was. Elyssa Jayne was not named until the day I was leaving the hospital. I had many other names picked out but was made known of any type of nickname that might come of those names (thanks to my sister and brother in law). I am actually very thankful for their input, because in the end, they were right.


And for all of you out there wondering how El's name came to be. . .As Paul Harvey would say, "And now you know the rest of the story." .