If you know me, you'd probably think this post was about my crazy schedule...especially in December.  I'm not gonna lie, December is a crazy month, but that's not why I'm running.  I'm actually, literally and unbelievably running.

I started a program called Couch to 5K or C25K.   Just like it's name states, it's designed to get your butt from the couch to running a 5K in just nine weeks.  The program takes about 30 minutes three times a day and cycles you through walking and running.  The first day I walked 90 seconds and ran 60 seconds. In baby steps it builds my endurance so that eventually I can run for 30 minutes at a time.  

When I started this just over a month ago, I could barely run the 60 seconds.  Last night I ran week 2 day 2 and I ran 3 minutes, walked 90 seconds, ran 5 minutes walked 2 minutes and repeated.  I was H.A.R.D. but I did it. Every time I finish I get such a great feeling of accomplishment. Completely contrary to what I thought would happen to my body; I feel so much better.  My fibromyalgia feels better; I hardly have sore muscles in the morning. I think this has a lot to do with the baby step part of the program.  My whole body is ready for a little bit more every week.

I could never do this without music.  I use an iphone app to tell me when to walk and when to run and my ipod playlist runs in the background.  I only run to Christian music and I've found that when the running gets hard, when I don't know if I can get to the end of the 5 minutes, it's always a song that is pushing me through, reminding me that God is with me and I am OK.  It's quite amazing actually. I can't breathe, I'm running through a song and I still lift my hands in praise.  If you ask me how I do it, that's how. It's a time of prayer and praise for me and I've come to love this time with God so very much. I'm pushing myself, but not by myself.  It's awesome and amazing.

I'm so glad I tried this. I can't wait until I can run a 5k, just so I can prove that I can do it.  Once I can, I want to go back to Haiti.  The days of my physical body being a hindrance to what God is calling me to do are over.  

This is the time of the year when those of us who choose to "theme" our lives begin to listen for next year's theme.  We begin to strain our ears, hoping to hear God whisper our thought foundation; the under coating, if you will, for all we do the entire year. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's basically a singular thought or word or phrase that keeps us on a path throughout the year.  I heard mine two days ago.

2009 was my year to recover. I didn't blog much; I didn't do very much of anything actually.  Instead, I healed.  I healed from a hard 2008. I needed the year to put my life back into perspective.  Please don't get my wrong, 2009 was not a year of roses; anyone who knows me knows this. But I have a peacefulness I did not have this time last year; and I know more about who I am now.  I learned how to say no this year. I learned how to work on something God wanted me to do until I got it right.  I learned a lot about my marriage.  I've become firmer in my faith and in my relationships around me.  I spent the first half of the year preparing for Haiti and the second half processing it.  Haiti taught me so much more than I ever dreamed.  I learned what it means to want. I learned what hunger means, what poverty means. I've seen faith lived out.  I've been broken over and over and over and I've been home for months now.  The trip means something completely different to me now than it did when I was there.

And now for the unveiling (drum roll please). 2010 will be a year of being a blessing.  I took a year and focused on myself and I needed it. Now it's time to make the turn. There are things that I can do; crazy little things that I can actually feel a nudge saying, "that, there - do it." Obedience. Ultimately, isn't that's what it's all about? I'm just saying, yep, ok.  I got it.  I don't even know what it all really means yet. 

I think on some level, everyone can do something to bless someone else.  It doesn't take money or talent or any specific gift.  All it really takes is time. Don't say you don't have time, I don't have time.  Make time. I've learned that it's the small, insignificant moments when people reach out to others that matter the most - because those are the moments that someone did not have to reach out.  They did because they wanted to.

So, I got a tattoo today.  It's a symbol of a worshipper.  It's perfect for me because it really defines who I am. 

I've been thinking about this a lot recently.  When we make a life-long decision, like chosing Christ, I think a "mark" is appropriate.  Just as baptism is our first act of obedience, I think a mark, which in my case is a tattoo, is my way of saying, "this is for life."  In my mind, it's a no-turning back, I'm here to show all the world kind of statement.  Make no mistake, this is for me, not for anyone else.  But it's my outward expression of what's inside me....and that's a worshipper.