Weekends Are for Long Runs

It's no secret that I love running. Morning runs are my time away from responsibilities and dusty old buildings. I love breathing in fresh air, even if I'm huffing and puffing toward the end of a run! I am thankful that I've been able to keep a regular running routine, even with the busyness of graduate school. Some days I have to opt out, and that's okay, too. Yesterday in studio performance class (I made it through my first performance of the semester!), Dr. L, my studio professor, told us all to get outdoors this weekend. She recommended time outside as the best thing for our pianistic development. I love that!

Of course it helps that Dallas is giving the best it has to offer right now. This Florida girl was a bit chilly running in fifty-degree weather! Time to start shopping for running leggings!

Fall is here!

The purpose of this post is to share four pieces of exciting news with you (I'm feeling very direct after writing an abstract of my research project and five bibliography annotations):

1. I found a running buddy!

Meet Mary Anna, a fellow SMU piano grad student. Somehow we realized we share a mutual enjoyment of running! I'm sure I was bragging on Brooklyn's mad skills, or something. MA is training for her first half marathon this month, so I've been organizing weekend long runs for us. She is going to rock her first race! Oh, and did I mention we live in the same neighborhood and run the same pace? That makes it easy to schedule runs. In case you didn't guess, MA is happy to have Brooklyn along, too!

2. Brooklyn set a new distance PR!

Actually, MA did, too! We parked about a mile from the lake, ran the nine miles around, and then ran back to our car. This was my first double-digit run in a while. It was 54 degrees when we finished our eleven-mile run. No wonder we were energized and speedy. Time: 1:32:28. That's an 8:24/mile average, folks! We'll take it!

3. I am officially signed up for a half marathon later this month.

I've been dying to register for a race ever since we moved. (Actually, ever since I didn't run my marathon.) I feel there's no better way to get to know your city than to explore on foot, and it's just more efficient if you're running. :) My wise husband knows me so well and so advised me not to commit to any races; he knows my tendency to overcommit and self-destruct. When MA and I began intentionally extending our long runs, I knew I'd easily be ready without any excessive training. Because of this, and the fact that I'll get to race alongside MA, Ty officially gave me the green light! I am stoked about the race course, which tours different districts of the city. Should be spectacular! October 25th, here we come!

4. Company Cafe is still my favorite place to dine!

After our long run today, MA and I felt hungry (duh) and deserving of delicious food. Since Brooklyn was with us, we sat outside on the patio. Neither of us thought through the fact that it was still only fifty-five degrees outside. That's a lot colder when you're sitting instead of running. Hot coffee and a hot meal helped, but it's worth noting that we were the only ones on the patio. Can you say Dee-Lish-Us? Bottomless coffee and gluten-free french toast bites cooked to perfection.

"So where's my hot meal?"

Now Brooklyn is taking it easy and enjoying her view of the neighborhood. Hopefully the neighborhood is enjoying its afternoon soundtrack...

Anyone else think she is looking HUGE these days?!

Pup + Piano = Perfection

Tyler Thursday: An Evening of Encouragement

Jessie and I have been thinking long and hard about where we are going to settle on the issue of church. This has been a focus of our relationship ever since marriage was in the picture (which has practically been forever). Even before we had decided on what schools to apply to, we were thinking about possible churches to attend.

I know from experience that moving across the country will have a large impact on your church life. So we started looking around online and researching places that line up with what we believe and what we want in a church; we found that Dallas does church big. We tried attending a church on a survey trip to Dallas, and we ended up being shuttled to an overflow room of a satellite campus. Crazy!

One thing that a mentor of mine told me is that a good church is worth moving your family for. I knew it had to be priority, and it had to be about the people. Even if the website said all the right things, we knew the community needed to line up, too. Otherwise, we would be better off staying home and reading the website every Sunday.

It's amazing to think that while I was praying, God already knew where he was going to put us. We showed up to King’s Parish our first Sunday in Dallas, and there were about four cars in the parking lot. We thought, “Are we in the right place?” It was small. Probably about five-or-six-families small. But there was simple music, (check), there was good sound teaching (check), and there was COMMUNITY (check)! We were welcomed from the moment we arrived, and a lady even offered to let us do our laundry at her house! We had only met minutes before, and she was already offering to do our laundry? That is good community. The whole church went out to lunch with us and bought us lunch. That is good community.

We continue to attend church at King's Parish, and we can't help but think that we have found a new church home. So as not to be stragglers, we are also considering membership. We mentioned to the pastor that we had questions about what it looks like to be a member at King’s Parish, and he offered to come to our home and talk that same week.

Well that brings us to tonight when Pastor Winburne came over and shared about the church's journey over the last three years during the planting process. The thing that has stuck with me the most so far is a good analogy that he used. He said something like, “Being a member of a church plant is like going to the kitchen and making a great meal for everyone, instead of going to a larger church and running through the buffet.”

We are excited to be part of what God is doing in Dallas and part of the kitchen serving committee. I’m working out a contract now since we are a fairly valuble couple as a piano pianist and drum/bassist/guitarist, but we will see what they offer J. Pray for us, that we can listen to what God would have us do and make good choices.

Currently listening to: Secret and Whisper, Woven War

Currently Working on: About four trucks, because parts department never has the parts I need. I diagnose about four or five and then all the parts get here at the same time. AHH!

Currently thinking about: What it means to be a godly leader.  

Monthly Musings: September

1. I am part of a team

Back when Tyler and I were considering making Dallas our home, we discussed the fact that we would stepping out on our own as a young family. For the first time together, we would be far from families and all things familiar. We failed to realize that we would not in fact be a totally independent family unit in our new home. Instead, we have joined new communities: at work, at school, in our neighborhood, and at church. Most surprising for me is the support I have found at school. Prior to enrolling, I observed classes and interviewed students; they all said the same thing: Meadows is a community, the professors desire student success, classmates support one another. True to my cynicism, I'd decided it was too good to be true and went into the start of the semester expecting some of those expectations to be deconstructed.

My experience over the last month of school, however, has proven me wrong. I am daily blown away by the patience, encouragement, advocacy, and approachability of my professors. While I do indeed have much to learn, they treat me as a contributor, partner, and teacher, not just an ignorant student in need of their educational salvation. My classmates are part of this team, too. They don't hide their weaknesses, questions, or feelings of uncertainly in hopes to portray themselves as model students; instead they speak openly of the challenges they face and encourage me in my weaknesses. I can't imagine a better school environment for me, especially as I am intentionally trying to remove myself from a strict performance-based, comparison mode of operation. Here I am taught not only to learn the right answers but also to own and learn from my mistakes - to thrive as a musician and teacher. Every day is a challenge in many regards, but these I face not on my own.

Master class in Caruth

Weekly group class

2. Homesickness flares up at odd times

Last week I was teaching a lesson and poof! The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Tijuana Flats burst into the room. Instantly I was filled with a longing, not only for tacos, but physical location of that little restaurant in our hometown. Silly, isn't it, that I would have a craving for tacos from home while living in Texas?

Over the weekend, these feelings intensified. My family had just returned from Anna Maria Island (my favorite beach!), and Ty's was partying it up at The Happiest Place on Earth. In some regard, I mourned the loss of not being with them. I missed what was, even though I know what is remains good and right. My sweet MIL pointed out that knowing we are exactly where we are supposed to be doesn't make moments like these any easier.

I mean, look how awesome they are!

One of my childhood friends lives overseas, and she recently blogged about coping with homesickness. My mom just happened to mention she'd seen this post. It reminded me that I have the freedom to feel homesick and mope around a bit. On Saturday, I did just that. I cleaned my house, did the dishes, bought a pumpkin at Walmart, baked pumpkin muffins, and set out the two pieces of fall/Halloween decor that I had brought from home. I felt incredibly better. And when my husband walked in the door and gave me a huge hug, I felt ever better.

Over lunch the following day, my friend, Hannah, reminded me that it's a good thing to feel the loss of daily interaction with our families. After all, they are people worth missing, and it doesn't mean we're discontent if we admit to that loss. Following Mary Elisabeth's advice, we also set out to find something new we enjoy about our city. Namely: dessert. A trip to a favorite local custard shop will cure just about anything.