25 Never Felt So Good

I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!
blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!  I am blessed!.........................................................................

It could just be the endorphins that are pumping through my veins from my 9 mile run but I really believe that I am blessed.

You see, two days ago I turned a certain age (not to be disclosed), and I was spoiled rotten by friends and family, near and far.  A complete 180 degrees from last year's birthday.  My hypothesis for last year's shenanigans, or lack of shenanigans, is that our wedding was just 3 months prior to my birthday.  People were done thinking about the Haskins for a while.  They were run dry of $$ from bridal showers, couple showers, wedding gifts, honeymoon gifts, etc.  Therefore, I got the brunt of this "burnout."  But friends and family have had a year to recover and they decided to shower me with 'happy birthdays,' cards, gifts, texts, and phone calls.  It was an incredible day -- might even be one of the best!

[6:30 am] rise & shine!  30 minutes of pilates, followed by 30 minutes of yoga, followed by 20 minutes of ab workout.

[8:30 am] Craig made me coffee and pumpkin pancakes for breakfast!

 [9:45 am] coffee with my good friend Erin at Starbucks!  oh how i love and thrive off of fellowship over caffeine :]

[11:20 am] work at the Middle School.  Have been working there 2.5 weeks and three people knew who I was to say Happy Birthday!

[1:30 pm] lunch and presents at home with the hubby

[3:30 pm] my mysterious appointment Craig had planned for me was a pedicure at a cute little spa.  he remembered me mentioning that my feets needed attention due to all my running.

[5:00 pm] Craig and i stopped to look at a duplex.  but don't get too excited we were just humoring ourselves.

[5:30 pm] so, we had reservations at this restaurant called "The Swinging Doors" and we were very excited because we had never been there before AND if you come in on your birthday you get a free steak dinner.  we got all dressed up:

Boy were we misfits when we got there.  We walked in, took a look around, and then turned around and walked out like we had walked into the wrong place.  The atmosphere did not fit our attire.  Maybe if we had been wearing cut off tee-shirts, some jeans with holes in it, with a pool cue in hand we would have started to look like we belonged.  So, we had to regroup and go back to the drawing board.  Where to eat?!  We ended up eating at Savory, a nice restaurant on the South Hill.

[8:00 pm] When Craig asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday there was no hesitation when I said SKY HIGH.  You see, 2.5 years ago Craig and I went to SKY HIGH in Bellevue for our 6 month dating anniversary.  It was then that I completely screwed up my ankle.  Ambulance called.  Third degree sprain.  Crutches.  The works!  I was determined to go back and conquer - you know - show who's boss.  And that is exactly what I did!  It felt like I was 10 all over again.  Let's just say I was definitely in my element -- a true gymnast at heart!!  And we felt the affects the next morning; soreness in the extremities.

[9:00 pm] Craig and I were persuaded to meet up with some of my work friends, one of which shares the same birthday with me.  A little last minute celebration for the day and then it was back to our cozy beds where we sacked out until 9:15 am.  And that is sleeping in for us!!!  SKY HIGH did a number on our bodies!  But that surely didn't stop me from running my longest distance ever that day!

My Birthday Twin & ME!

To conclude, I am blessed.  It had been a rough two weeks since witnessing a suicide, losing an 8th grader at our school, and just plain 'ol being bummed out.  God gave me my birthday just in time!  Isn't HIS timing always perfect?!  I have such genuine friends who cherish me and love for me all I'm worth!  And same goes for my family.  As hard as times sometimes get I need to remember that I have the support and encouragement from Godly people.  That is sometimes hard for me to remember.  A BIG THANK YOU to all who contributed to my special day.  Know that I miss each and everyone of you and wish that the 9:45 am coffee date on my birthday could have been with YOU too!  :] 

Love to all who love me...

Love especially to the love of my life...!

Baking Extravaganza

Today I went from this...

to this...

and ended up with these...

pumpkin soup

and

pumpkin cupcakes

See Recipes

fall madness

the fall is off to a great start here in the eastern most part of the state!  the temperature is dropping and the leaves are falling -- in brilliant, beautiful colors!  this is by far my favorite season.  when Craig and I do get to see each other we tear up the town...we are unstoppable!  there has been so much madness already and it's only October!  our time together this semester is even fewer and farther apart than last year.  i did get a new job which i had planned to relieve me in the evenings, but i was wrong.  it has cluttered my evenings that much more.  but that is a-okay because i am really loving my position at the middle school.  each day i go and supervise the 7th and 8th grade lunch and then get to go do some work in the library, which i love!  it is such a peaceful place after being in the lunchroom :)  i'm in my second week and i am still getting funny looks and glares because i am a brand new face AND i am coming in a month into the school year.  but daily i pray on the way to work and on the way home that God will soften the student's hearts and keep my smiling!  i can foresee me really enjoying this job once i get to know the students.  this past tuesday i subbed all day for a para who works in the lower level math and english classes and this tuesday i will be subbing half day for a secretary in the front office!  and quite possibly, this wednesday (on my birthday!) i might be subbing in the DLC classroom...special needs...half day!  God is so good!  He brings things in and out of our lives and His perfect timing.

Mountaidside Middle School "Mountain Lions"

update:  two weeks ago now (shameful i know) molly and mom came to visit!!!  it was one of the best weekends ever.  we tore up the town like 3 "christian" bandits.

clearly, our adventures do not need words or descriptions.  just know that you should wish you were there.

as i am sitting here, sipping my morning coffee, watching the sunrise, i can't help but wonder what God has in store for us today.  probably one of the only things i have been able to take away from this fall's Bible study is that God's mercies are new every morning.  we need to do our part by waking up and going to God first thing.  just like the israelites...when they were in the dessert for 40 years they had to wake up early to go out and collect the manna that God was providing for them.  if they decided to sleep in they missed the opportunity to collect what God was faithfully providing.  the same goes for my everyday life.  if i don't start the day off by going to God, reading the word, or simply reciting a scripture, i am not collecting what God is willingly holding out in His hands for me to take.  it seems a bit crazy that i completely disregard that most days.  He provides, but if we don't collect, it's our loss, not His.  and He aches for our greetings each and every morning.  thank you beth moore for that insight!

Lamentations 3:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

 ²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.

update: i don't know if you have discovered my "running" page that i created about a month ago but here is an update on my progress.  last month, september, i ran 64.69 miles.  at a $0.50 rate, that is roughly $32.50 going to an organization or person of my choosing.  my mileage really picked up after i set this goal for myself.  in fact, i picked up mileage so quickly that i developed a bit of a pain in my right heel.  i did some research and discovered it is called plantar fasciitis, which is common in runners who instantly increase speed or mileage.  so, with that said, i had to slow down a bit AND now i need to spend some extra pennies on a different pair of running shoes.  but it hasn't stopped me from running yet.  this month i have ran 32.55 miles...a bit of a decrease from where i was last month.  but that is still $8 going to a person in need!  so it has been neat to run with a purpose.  and in seasons like this one, where i can't run as much, i can still rest in knowing that i am raising money for someone...instead of focusing on and dwelling on the fact that i can't run as much as i did last month!  yay!!!  

stay tuned...

Jeremiah 29:Megan

Life never goes as planned.  Sometimes I wish the Bible read,

"For YOU know the plans, I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future THAT YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF" -- Jeremiah chapter 29, verse Megan.

The only thing really certain in this lifetime is God' promise and the sacrifice that was made for us to spend eternity with Him.  Everything else is as dusty as dust.  My senior year of college I had the plan to enter straight into graduate school.  Wrong.  The real plan was to serve a year in AmeriCorps, a national service program.  Then my plan was to go straight into graduate school.  Wrong.  The REAL plan was to marry the love of my life and support him through his last two years of school.  Once in Spokane, my plan was to work in a school district until I went back to school.  Wrong.  The REAL plan was for me to run around like a crazy person working three jobs...two at a restaurant and one at an athletic club.  And now here we are, but as of recently God has given me a pinch of what MY PLAN was.  I had been applying to any and every classified position posted in the Spokane/greater Spokane area hoping to leave the restaurant to work in the schools, for that is where my true heart and passion lie.  I probably sent out 20 applications to eventually get three interviews - all in one week of each other!!!  The three were ranked from "position I really wanted and would be perfect" to the "position that really didn't make sense for me to take if offered to me."  Which one does God offer me?  That's right...the "position that really didn't make sense for me to take if offered to me."  God truly has a sense of humor...and I took the job!!!  I am really excited to begin 2 hours of work at Mountainside Middle School.

Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't even make plans or set visions for my life because I know that without a doubt God will come behind me to change them just to spite me, well, more so prove who He is and to remind me of the role He plays in my life.  Mr. Oswald Chambers couldn't have said it better himself,

"The life of Jesus Christ was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God’s. But what seemed to be failure from man’s standpoint was a triumph from God’s standpoint, because God’s purpose is never the same as man’s purpose." (Oswald Chambers; My Utmost For His Highest: August 5)

Stay strong.  Don't stop praying.  Don't end your search for God's will and stop looking towards your plans.

P.S. I've been having foot problems while running and need to invest in a pair of Asics.  If you would like to donate to this really expensive cause you can gift it for my birthday on Oct. 26th or give anytime before or after.

ten reasons i love FALL

well, i love the fall season for many reasons, but there are 10 more particular reasons i like the season.  we have had a late summer here in Spokane...just this past saturday we had a 90 degree day.  for all my western folks, please be jealous.  but don't worry it rained here all day monday and everyone thought they were melting...pansies!  but here are twn reasons why i LOVE fall...

10. pumpkin spice lattes/apple cidar
9. blankets are needed to be wrapped around me at all times
8. i don't have to think about what i'd look like in a two piece
7. the beautiful colors
6. football season, which for me means family, friends, and food
5. running in the crisp, cold, morning
4. children & adults can get away with dressing like medical staff with absolutely no education to back up their costume
3. sweaters and sweats and sweatshirts and slippers and bathrobes

2. this picture

1. MY BIRTHDAY!!!!  October 26

Thank you Steve Van Dyken :]

Where to hang this???

From Family to Friends

In a blink they are all gone, all of them.  The past week was surely a highlight of the summer.  Molly set up camp right in the middle of our living room and lived out of two duffel bags.  Our futon became her bed and a simple drying rack became her shelving unit, where she decided to nicely store her clothes.  It was great fun…until it ended Friday.  She pretty much hitchhiked her way to Spokane, with a short pit stop at the Gorge to watch the Zac Brown Band play.  She arrived Sunday with a smile on her face, some fudge in her hands, and a list of “Spokane to do’s.”  Unfortunately, I had to work most days she was in town, but once I clocked off I was ready to play! 

Monday 9.19.11

Bright and early = 6.2 mile run in the sun!  I had already committed to work until 4 that day but soon was able to go to Zola’s for happy hour!  Yum!  Hummus platters, blue cheese sweet potato fries, salmon swimmers, $1 beers, and a cheap tab!!!  We eventually drove over to give Molly a quick tour of Moody Bible Institute and then it was straight back to the apartment to put on our comfies to watch The Jones’ (sorry Dad we watched it without you).

Tuesday 9.20.11

Bright and early = a workout at the gym!  I had already committed to work until 9 pm so it was all fun and games for Molly trying to learn the Spokane bus system to get her busy little self around town!  She missed the first bus due to her lack of following directions but eventually she made it downtown to see Gonzaga friends!  Bedtime came real quick after I got off work.

Wednesday 9.21.11

Bright and early = no run = work at 7:30am.  I raced home around 11 to spend the rest of the day with Molly!  We re-energized with a pit stop at our local java hut and then hit up some apple picking and tractor riding at the local farm, Greenbluff.  I bought 18 apples.  I don’t know how many Molly picked.  But we definitely couldn’t dilly-dally around the farm because Craig was expecting Molly’s famous enchiladas when he got home from work.  YUM!  Check out my recipe page to see how easy it is…

The night didn’t end there!  We decided to indulge at the local frozen yogurt bar and then we were ready to turn in.

Thursday 9.22.11

Bright and early = I worked out at the gym all alone!  I had already committed to work until 4 but soon after met up with Molly and Marissa to run the Flying Irish!  What is the Flying Irish, you ask?  It is a 5k that is run by 300+ people every Thursday.  They leave from the local Irish Pub and run a different 5k route weekly.  If you run it 6 times you get a t-shirt and 50% off all pub fare after the races.  Race #1….complete!  To make up for the calories we had burned we stopped in at our favorite restaurant downtown, Steelhead.  Blue cheese fries, crab and artichoke dip, portabella mushroom burger, a regular burger, and two schooners covered the table.  Our calorie intake was met.  Success.

Friday 9.23.11

Bright and early = no run = work at 7:30am.  I raced home around 11 to spend the last few hours with Molly.  We ate some leftovers and then decided our time together needed to commemorate at Costco.  Well, I guess that is a white lie because we ended at Ultimate Bagel so that Molly could check off the last thing on her “To Do in Spokane” list…eat a bagel at Ultimate.  Check.  I then unwillingly drove her to Marissa’s so that she could hitchhike back to Federal Way.  Afterward, I sluggishly walked to the gym to run off my sorrows and sadness.

But our week/weekend didn’t end there…No way!

Saturday 9.24.11

After a 2 hour membership class at church, a hardcore workout, and a BBQ at Craig’s professor’s house, we met up with Steve & Shannon Van Dyken (Steve is Craig’s BFF and was his groomsman at the alter).  They stayed at my place of employment, The Spokane Club!  We visited briefly and then headed home to enjoy some time alone.

Sunday (TODAY!!!)

We attended both services at church today because Craig and I had the privilege of being introduced to the congregation.  Craig is the new High School Youth Group Intern at Northview Bible Church, so we were called up front to have people come lay hands on us and pray over us.  It was a very neat experience and a welcoming introduction to our year of service at Northview.  After twice the amount of holiness we went out to lunch with Steve & Shannon and then flipped on the Seahawks as we played a rousing 3.5 hour game of Phase 10.  Our time together concluded about an hour ago at the local frozen yogurt bar where we said our goodbyes and watched Craig cry over the loss of his BFF.  We are now sitting at the Whitworth University library.  I must say it looks like Craig is working on homework but I bet he is really thinking about me…ahhhh…true love.