woah.

Last night, I ran (okay, more like a jogging pace), 4 miles!

I do not know how/why that happened, but I think I hit a runner's high and just kept going and going, and it was AMAZING!! I NEVER thought I'd ever say that nor will I probably say that again anytime soon... but it was freakin' SWEET!!

I'm just proud of myself and had to share. :)

Weekend of friends and food

I am SO thankful for friends who flew in to celebrate my birthday with me! Rebecca and I have known one another officially for 11 years now (oy) and Melanie and I have known one another for 15 years! It's amazing to have such close friends over several years that you know will always be with you. Thanks for flying in ladies!

Also, thankful for new friends in California who were able to celebrate with me as well. :)

Thanks to everyone for phone calls, cards, and birthday wishes celebrating with me in spirit!! I feel so blessed.

The weekend began with dinner at the Cliff House in San Francisco and expanded to movie watching, more food, and more food... :) Special shout out of thanks to my fabulous youth group who bought me an ipod nano for my birthday!!! They heard I had lost mine in an airplane, and they bought me a new one. SO NICE!!

Here's to another year of life!

I'm 29.

I am 29 years old today.

My first thought waking up this morning was a little bit of awe that I have made it to 29...awe and gratitude. My heart and mind actually turned to my mom and my dad--29 years ago, they brought me into their world and into this world, and I couldn't help but be super sentimental about that and the love they have poured out on my life and continue to pour out on my life.

A lot happened last year -- a LOT.

For some things I am filled with gratitude, for others, pain, for others, complete joy, and for others, just a lot of love. I guess I'm just thankful that I got to experience the whole range in my "golden" year and look forward to a new year of life and living.

It's my first birthday outside of Chicago in 5 years and I wasn't sure what I was going to do today. Friends I've made here are out of town or busy today and I have 2 fabulous friends flying in tomorrow to celebrate with me all weekend long! WOOHOO!

So, I thought being a loner on my birthday was going to be kind of sad... BUT... I woke up with a thankful heart and so far it's been a good "Irene" day. I woke up, went to an exercise class, showered, got dressed and decided it would be a "lookin' gooooood" type of day. :) I made myself breakfast and then ran some errands--went shopping--and then found a great Mexican bakery in San Jose (The Pink Elephant Bakery) and bought myself two pieces of tres leches cake (mocha & strawberry). For those of you who do not know, I ALWAYS have tres leches cake on my birthday. It's my special treat and the only thing I usually request on my birthday.

Now I'm at a coffee shop, reflecting and getting ready to write my sermon for Pentecost so I can play a little with friends this weekend...

And you know what?

I LOVE IT.

Today, being with myself on my 29th birthday makes me feel alive, independent, happy, and confirms that I am in a good place.

I couldn't ask for more.

Memorial Day weekend

Yay for a great weekend of movie watching, pedicures, GOOD FOOD, shopping, and short but sweet visits from out of town friends!!

(Hannah didn't buy that dress, despite my protests...)

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend as well!! Now to the upcoming birthday weekend!!

Brian Andreas quote for the day

They left me
with your shadow,
saying things like
Life is not fair

& I believed them
for a long time.

But today,
I remembered
the way you laughed
& the heat
of your hand
in mine

& I knew that
life is more fair
than we can
ever imagine
if
we are there to live it.

surprise visits

I had the joy of seeing near and dear friends close to my heart this past week very unexpectedly!

Lindsay and Tim were in town... I went to seminary with Lindsay and we had just about every class together our first year... and pretty much throughout seminary. They live in Troy, NY now, so it's a long way away. We only had a day, but it was still fabulous.

I also got to see the beautiful Valerie and her daughter Carly. Hurray!

It makes my heart glad to have such wonderful friends. Love you all!!

Psalm 19:2-5a

I'm currently on a pastor's retreat with the San Jose Presbytery in this beautiful place with plenty of hiking trails and beautiful gardens and scenery.

Anyway, we've been taking time to be present in creation and be in prayer. Tonight we did a meditation where we reflected on the words from Psalm 19:2-5a and then paid attention to what spoke to us in the passage and then took moments to pay attention to our surroundings outside. Then we were asked to allow the "book of creation" to interpret the "book of scripture"...both being from God... and see what we found.

There was a lot I discovered, but I found myself in that particular action re-writing the Psalm to what I observed, felt, saw, heard... etc. So, I thought I'd share what I wrote:

Psalm 19:2-5a (NAB)

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the sky proclaims its builder's craft.

One day to the next conveys that message;

One night to the next imparts that knowledge.

There is no word or sound;

no voice is heard.

Yet their report goes forth through all the earth,

their message, to the ends of the world.

***

The clouds declare the movement of God

the flowers display the Creator's artistry.

Even the dead foliage produces life;

And the old tree has stories to share.

There are bird songs and bug sounds;

The hills sing loudly.

They share the message of a living God,

Resurrection to all those who will listen.