The night is darkest just before the dawn

Geez it's 178 days until I am finished here and I sure hope, pray, beg that Dallas is better than here. I just got done biking, on the road, and almost got hit three or four times. I drive an hour, one way, to get to church on Sundays only to hang out with mostly college kids at a super conservative church. I'm trying so hard to stay positive and see the positive stuff here, but man it's tough. I guess I am lucky to not have traffic to fight, relatively low utilities (I think) and um...lots of trees. Plus I can go shoot for free down the road at a public range (it's an hour away). I am employed at a great company and a relatively good job.

I guess I just want to enjoy somewhere with more opportunities to do stuff. Anything from Habitat for Humanity builds to learning how to cook sushi on dates to watching the Rangers play baseball. I just would like more options instead of hunting or fishing or swimming in a brown river. I love my church family here; the college kids keep me young and give me a great chance to share advice from my college years.

I really have no room to complain; I am extremely blessed, even beyond what I could ever deserve. I have wonderful friends here and have done some cool stuff (Vicksburg, Disney World, White Sands, etc). In the end, I am blessed by God and I need to find ways to use my talents here in south Arkansas for just a little longer.

Like the preacher said today, "If you are ever out walking around thinking your life is bad, just visit the nursing home and see how it is to have machines keeping you alive."

Halfway there

My parents came into town this weekend and we built a porch. My mom and sister helped clean the up the yard and dad, Cory and I built the porch. I still have a few hours of work left but I should be able to finish up soon. I think I will take tomorrow off (after worship service) and go to the range and send some lead down the way. I enjoy going to Magnolia and seeing my college buds. They are still in college and have some learning to do, but they are open to advice and help keep me young. I enjoy their antics (nerf wars, bowling, etc) and think they are all very unique kiddos.

Life is going so fast right now. I am moving out in about 185 days, which means I am almost there. It is nice knowing when I will be moving/transferring/etc but at the same time, I am just dying to get away. This town never grew on me like I thought it would. I had hoped with all the forests and such there would be ample opportunity to get out and enjoy it. However, when it's nice, the mosquitos are alive and well and then when it isn't nice, I don't want to be out. I'm really surprised there aren't more big parks with trails and stuff. Oh well. I have met some great people and I am glad for that. I have had a chance to save up money and should come out pretty well ahead when I leave here. I hope Dallas doesn't break that up. We'll see though.

Have I told you about my new health goals? I run a couple days a week in the morning and then I am watching what I eat. Since I've started, I have dropped about 10 pounds. Just 15 or so left to go. Plus I do pushups every day and work my abs a little. The ab workout isn't official, but I have to do 50 pushups a day, which is really doing a good number on my arms. I like the results and hope I can keep it up. It is tough to pass up good food so often, but I am getting better at it.

Being single has shown me just how blessed I am in the area of female friends (and males to some extent). I have started talking to Libby Weiler again, which is always fun. She is at an interesting point in her life and I like to listen to her optimism. V is there for me, as always and I really can't find a way to show her just how awesome her encouragement is to me. Really, both of them have been a real pick me up on bad days and I am lucky to still have them around, even with my jerk actions sometimes. Jonnie P, as usual, is there to support me, even with his crazy problems in his own life. He is risking being without a job right now waiting on the perfect opportunity and I am proud of him for that. Plus he has a serious girl interest in his life and I enjoy helping him with advice. His constant advice is not always asked for, but always welcome. I have gone against his advice once and it turned out okay, but I still consider his every pointer he has for me. One of the good things God blessed me with by coming to Camden: I got to meet one of my best and most trusted friends.

Anywho, life is good, God is great and everything we experience happens for a reason. If you can't figure out why, don't worry about it, it will become apparent when the time is right. Sweet dreams.

Patience is a virtue

Wow these past couple of weeks have been a real challenge for me. Work has been super tough and my weekends have been super packed. Three weekends ago, I drove in from Dallas, then to Little Rock and biked a couple of hard miles. The weekend after that, I drove to Faytown (where I biked at least 30 miles) and then up into SW Missouri for a wedding. Last weekend, I went to Mobile and hit the beaches (not quite as challenging as other weekends).

Most challenging of all has been the challenge I've taken with my patience. The Dallas trip resulted in a job offer (which I accepted) and so now I have to wait until Jan to start working in Dallas. WOOHOO! Super pumped about that, but I have to finish up strong here in Camden. I'll survive, but it is tough.

The weekend in Faytown was tough because I had to let God show me patience with my relationships and let Him point me in the right direction. I am always so impatient, but I am going to let Him direct me. The same goes with last weekend in Mobile. I have lots of ideas about what God wants for me, signals that I get and such, but I am just so friggin impatient. I want answers NOW. However, I am praying and meditating and relaxing so that I can see the path in due time. It is tough, but I want to make sure I take the right plunges when I need to do so. I slipped up, in different ways, both weekends by trying to rush stuff (and I guess I sorta am doing that now) but I am dedicating my spirit to being patient. All things come to those that wait...or something.

The beach last weekend was excellent. I got a bad burn on Saturday, but I braved the sun on Sunday and did it all again. The burn is fading away now and I looking a little darker for it. I wish I could have just spent a few more days in the sand doing nothing but reading. I got to see an old friend of mine from the Arkansas Governor's School days, which is always fun. Anywho, that was that. I ate lots of good food and covered lots of long miles. The trip was worth it for the beach and rekindling of a friendship that will be in Dallas when I step into that foreign land in January.

Well I think that is all for me. I am going to get into serious overdrive at some point and remodel this house a little more. We will see how that goes.

I hope God blesses you today and if not, I hope you can see the blessings in disguise out there for you.