Thoughts, kids, biking

Arianna: Arianna took PALS tests today and read words on a 6th grade level-smarty pants. 

Personal biking record: Today I biked 15miles. Pretty soon I'll be able to do a biking vacation!

Culture: Last night I was doing homework and had to watch a video of an interview between one of my professors and a Japanese student. I was so struck by some of the things the student said that were different from our culture. He said that Japanese people are very reserved and more quiet. They do not speak much and when they do, they use few words. They think before they speak (imagine that) and are very concerned for how the other person or persons will take what they say-will they be offended, hurt, or even bothered? They think of themselves in more of a group identity as opposed to individualistic like we are here in the West. I was very convicted about his words especially since I think the Bible may have more to say in his defense than ours. (Slow to speak, slow to anger, quick to listen, think of others as better than yourselves are a few that come to mind).

Jonny wrote a great paper entitled "All about Me". In one part he wrote, "My favorite food is NOODLES! You can't go wrong with those! The rest of the paper was just as amusing. He really has a great sense of humor.

Races, times, school, kids, birthdays, LIFE

Races:

I did the Brian Tap Room 5k race on Sunday. It was bloody hot even at 0800 but I ran it in 28.42 minutes (I am usually in about the 50 percentile which is good for me). I still made it back to teach SS and sing in choir and have a women's retreat meeting! I met a lady there who was still running races into her 80's but now she walks them! I hope I am like her if I live that long. I met a couple of friends there my age which is fun-we encourage one another. 

I plan to do the Turkey Trot in Fredericksburg on Thanksgiving day and drag some friends and my kids too (5k for adults and 1 miler for kids).

Then Dec. 14th is a half-marathon or a 5k. I am toying with the half-marathon even if I walk but will at least do one of them.

So all kinds of goals for me.

Triathlon: Dave and I signed up for it as a team on October 12th. I am worried about my part especially the swimming. I get so out of breath! I will just do my best. At least I don't have to worry about transitions for my first one.

Saunas: I have been using the Sauna at the club because I heard it was good for me to ditch toxins (which is all I had to hear).  I only go in for 3-5minutes as recommended (176 degrees limits it). It will be fabulous in the winter!

School: Almost done with my paper on my cultural background. I learned a lot-like how I really am privileged as a white but that I can work on being more culturally cognizant. After this I will be half-way done.

Birthdays: Sunday, Sept 14th was Dave's B-day. We celebrated by going to Outback (delicious except they just stopped the sweet potato side dish unfortunately) and of course, Carl's for dessert! Dave got a chance to work on his dining room project which although a chore, I think her also enjoys it-a chance to be creative but he can refute this if I am wrong. Anyway, it is turning out beautifully.

David II: his birthday is Sept. 25th-he wants another Patriots' Jersey, this time travel one. He magnanimously gave his small older one to Jonny. He will be 15.

Jonny: birthday is October 11th-we are going to the field house to play dodge ball with his friends on the 18th. Should be fun. He will be 11.

Arianna: birthday is October 25th-we will just have tons of girls over and have games, prizes, food, cake, and lots of giggles.

Then in November-December, all of Dave's family (and I mean all) have birthdays, so this is our season for birthdays, in addition to holidays, school, activities,etc. BUSY for us.

My musings: I have been wondering if some of the good things that I practice have become too important. Let me explain. I am a stickler for keeping one's word which is all right and good except I notice that I get really angry at others when I perceive that they are not keeping their word which often comes out as forgetting, not having time,etc. The anger has set up a red flag for me. Perhaps I should just worry about keeping my own word and let others be convicted themselves? Any comments? Dave I am sure, would appreciate some reprieve from me.

Signing off for now-still have a weekly assignment to do for school

Nancy

Hanging clothes

For about a month now I have been hanging my clothes on the lines my husband had hung up for me under the decks. This brings me right back to childhood and of course, South Dakota where Dave's mom still hangs most everything out as long as possible. Unfortunately, we do not get as much wind as she does which is mostly good except for drying laundry. But, I am saving money and wear and tear on the clothes and they all smell soooo good-another good memory from childhood. I keep hanging them out a bit too late though and I ended up using the dryer for the towels in the long run. It is funny how I enjoy such domestic chores as laundry and dishes. (hate cleaning bathrooms and dusting though, cooking is not my favorite anymore either)

Funnies from son David

Jonny had a school assignment to learn more about our experience with 9-11. He asked Dave questions about his work because that is where Dave was at the time the Twin Towers were hit. Dave mentioned that he worked for the FBI like he does now but also with the DEA. Jonny asked what the DEA stood for and was told the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was then that David chimed in with, "Wait, before Dad worked for the FBI he did drugs?" We all laughed.

Getting a word in edgewise

This is Nancy and I have been wanting to blog but haven't been able to get a word in edgewise in blogvile with my talkative husband blogging away-he's doing so as I type.

School: I am halfway done with this class. I decided to do my cultural background paper on European Americans particularly Anglo and Italian descent. I am 3/4 Italian I found out but was raised Northern European American (English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh). I ended up interviewing my Aunt Marie (91 yrs old, means a lot to me, brought up some memories she had of me when my parents first adopted me "such a beautiful baby with a round face and chubby cheeks" and how "you always knew exactly what you wanted and got what you wanted" which she meant as a complement), Virginia (grandmother-biologically who praised our children and our parenting) and Ellen (biological mother who also praised our kids/parenting and still has regrets about having me out of wedlock and giving me up but knew it was for the best and I am glad she did). Anyway, it ended up being better than I thought and so now I am almost ready after reading for hours today, to actually write the paper.

Triathlon: so I will have help with the triathlon now but I am glad Dave is going to do it with me. Biking is something we can share. His bike is in the shop getting new tires and a tune-up.

Dave's Birthday is September 14th so all of you reading this-wish him well. He has about 2 gray hairs and doesn't have bifocals yet! Unlike me with the multitudes of gray and bifocals over a year ago! Must I get old first?

Arianna sick already and missed school today! It starts. I went right to the Natural Health place and told her to help me shorten and prevent illnesses this year so I am armed.

I taught chapters 1-20 of Genesis in SS this week to the youth and tried to help them apply some of it. For example, I bet Abraham and Sarah looked back and regretted having a child with Hagar and not waiting for God. I mentioned that wouldn't it be better to look back and be glad you trusted God, obeyed Him and waited for His timing? Sometimes I have done that and sometimes not. 

Pastor Bill taught on Matthew 17 and the transfiguration. Peter really puts His foot in his mouth and mentions building shrines for Moses, Elijah and Jesus. The mistake was that everyone pales in comparison to Jesus-certainly, no one is remotely on equal ground and therefore, no one or thing deserves to be worshipped but Him alone.

Tag Team - Call Me Crazy

On October 11, the tag team of Nancy and Dave will be competing in a mini-triathalon in Richmond. Nancy is doing the swimming and running while I do the 12 mile bike ride. The rest of the Fauth nation will be milling around cheering us on.

Keilan's Departure

After living with us for almost 15 months, Keilan finally left today for Richmond.   While we didn't always see him a lot, he left a major impact on our whole family.  Some cool things I remember are:

• Impromptu jam session in the family room
• Falling asleep while watching Florida/Auburn football game only to wake up at the end when Auburn won.  Keilan wasn't a happy camper.
• Wii tournaments and his Bob Marley Mii.
• Keilan and Jonny playing basketball.
• Listening to his first recordings and getting a copy of that.  He is some talent.

Keilan, keep chasing the Wild Goose.

Wild Goose Chase

Mark Batterson, author of Wild Goose Chase, is the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., and an avid blogger. His best selling book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day launched his speaking series about chasing lions—also known as huge, God-given opportunities.

“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” --from the introduction

I first heard Mark speak at the Whiteboard sessions earlier this year.  He spoke on how much larger and vast God is than us and how we often we don't dream God size dreams.  In his book, Wild Goose Chase, Mark challenges the reader to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, "the Wild Goose".  The reader is challenged to chase God-ordained passions like Nehemiah, to break out of the cage of routine, to break through our assumptions and let God do amazing things, and to challenge the cages of guilt, failure and fear.

With easy to read yet challenging chapters, this book caused me to think about so many ideas/thoughts/notions in my life.  

• "Don't make a living. Make a life." 
• Quit playing defense.
• Quit putting eight-foot ceilings on what God can do.
• Chase the Goose