day 85

I'm staring my last week of P90X in the face.

I can't believe it's finally here! Sometimes 90 days seemed it would never arrive. FINALLY the end will come this Saturday.

I won't lie, I am so ready for it to be over! Here are some pros and cons for anyone who might be interested in tackling it themselves.

PROS:

- It was fun to do with Brian.

- It often makes us laugh.

- It was an exercise in self-discipline, which is always a good thing.

- I am now more flexible.

- I am now stronger.

- I can see a difference in definition in my arms (see picture below for what we basically look like now)

CONS:

- It takes A TON of time (1 hour minimum, 6 days a week) and then the time required for showering afterward

- I didn't lose ANY weight

- Even after 13 weeks, the workouts are still really hard

- I don't have six pack abs like the promo videos promised I would :(

Would I do it again? Hmmm... probably not. But I don't regret it. I'm glad we gave it a shot. If nothing else, it has conditioned us to more regular workouts and has convinced us of the importance of stretching.

Brian has missed a few days and he wants to get all 90 workouts in. He's planning to go a couple of weeks longer after I wave goodbye on Saturday.

Next Monday, my first Monday "off" since the end of May, you'll find me using a Groupon I've been sitting on for six months now, waiting for such a time as this. I'll be treating myself to a half-price hour-long celebratory massage at a local Aveda spa. And I can guarantee you that my over-worked muscles will be thanking me for every minute!

world cup, part 2

Here's the second half of Austin's trip to the World Cup (if you missed the first video, scroll down).

Enjoy!

world cup, vicariously

Five days before the World Cup began, my brother decided to pick up a couple of jobs that would take him over to South Africa for the games. One of the assignments was to video-document his adventure for Gadling (a travel blog).

Usually when Austin shoots a video, he's the one behind the camera. But in this rare instance, he's the guy in front of it! Enjoy watching a talented creative at work!

Wasn't that fun? I'm a little bit proud of him. :) This was Part 1 of 2 - I'll post the rest when he finishes it.

life worth celebrating

Well, we've officially stepped into the phase of life where babies are charging into the world left and right! Born to dear friends in the past two weeks alone were:

- Ella Jocelyn Smith

- Lily Kate Evans

- Micah David Bingel

- Olivia Hope Rolph (on the same day as Micah!)

And in the past six months:

- Porter Lea Bailes

- Merrick Brugh Netzer

- William Gray Kadane

- Beau Thomas Kirby

- Brooklyn Spann

- Ava Grace and John Carter Niswanger

(Please forgive me if I left anyone out, I'm trying to remember these off the top of my head!)

This pic was taken by one of my proud mommy friends of two of her little ones. Isn't it priceless?

Now more than ever, I'm struck with the blessing, the gift, that each of these precious new lives are.

I've recently started volunteering as a Counselor for Life Centers of Indy (formerly Pregnancy Crisis Center). There, life isn't always viewed as such a gift. To a teenager, or to a single mom trying to support four kids already, a baby can seem a far greater burden than a blessing.

After completing a 21-hour training course for the Life Centers in June, I started volunteering several hours per week at Indy's downtown center. Despite all of my training so far, I'm still shadowing a more experienced Counselor - I'm not quite ready to step out on my own. It's such a weighty matter, truly an issue of life or death. I struggle with finding a way to meet these girls where they are - some on the streets, some with literally NO support from their families or from the baby's father... I can't even begin to imagine the stress they are under.

Yet I fall back to the truth of Scripture, Psalm 139, where God tells us that from the moment of conception, He knits each human together. We are perfectly and wonderfully made, created in HIS image. Each life is truly a miracle from Him! Even if it is conceived in less-than-ideal circumstances.

One of the things I admire most about the Life Centers is their aim to share the gospel with every single person who comes through the doors. Their number one goal is not to save babies. It's to proclaim the life-changing truth of Jesus' love. I'm not very good at sharing my faith, especially with complete strangers. So I welcome, albeit a bit timidly, this stretching opportunity to lovingly profess the power of the gospel.

If you ever think about it, I'd appreciate your prayers as I fight for life, both earthly and eternal of these babies and their mothers!