Sunday, May 20, 2012    

Tattoo #4

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

This past Tuesday, after much searching and contemplation I took the plunge and got Tattoo #4. This one is a tribute tattoo to my brother Donny…who passed away 20 years ago…and to my sister-in-law Kim…who passed away 1.5 years ago. Being a double portrait, I wanted to be sure I go the right guy/gal to do the work. The patience paid off!

Here are the two pictures that Colin at Red Sky Tattoo was working from…and I asked him to add the phrase “With You Always” to the piece…

My Favorite Picture of Them Both

I got the recommendation to use Colin from the shop owner and I visited him a couple of weeks ago and set an appointment on the spot. When we showed up he took about an hour to do the stencil and once he showed it to me I was no longer concerned…it rocked! Here’s the stencil on the arm…

It's Big! Anita thinks too big, I think just right!

It took 2.5 hours of actual chair time to finish. I was in the shop a total of 5 hours, but that included the drawing time and breaks. Here it was after the first break…

Looking Good

There are three questions most people ask me about the tat the first time they see it. I’ve already answered two of them (where did you get it done and how long did it take). The first question is usually, “Did it hurt?” Answer: “YES!”

But the final result was SO worth it (added the photos so you can see the comparison “side by side”). It’s hard to get a good photo right now since it’s still healing, but you get the general idea…

Love It, Love It, Love It!!

The whole thing was a great experience and I absolutely L-O-V-E the tat. It was worth waiting to find the right person (and I highly recommend the entire crew at Red Sky Tattoo in Castle Rock). I miss both my brother and my sister-in-law very much, but they are always close to me now!

30.07.2011 Family, Hobbies, Misc Ramblings 1 Comment

Marathon Training Weeks 5 & 6

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

The last two weeks of training (now that week six is almost done) have been a  mixed bag. Below is my schedule over the past couple of weeks with commentary on how each run went. The 14 miler was BRUTAL, but I’m hoping that was just a wall that I’ll blow through (eventually).

My diet hasn’t gotten too much better so I’m not sure why expect anything to go any better than it has. This week has been a recovery week and I’m finishing it off with a 5K…the one year anniversary from my first race last year. We’ve come a long way baby!

Last week’s training plan (week 5):

  1. Monday: 2 miles @ 9:54 — Easy, Breezy
  2. Wednesday: 4 mile tempo run (2 @ 8:21) — the start of the bad…had to stop 4 times on this run (can’t remember the last time I had to do that on a run this short)
  3. Saturday: 14 miles @ 9:52 — U-G-L-Y…got dehydrated after running out of H2O at mile 12 and not properly preparing for this run in the heat. Must learn a lesson from this one!
  4. Total = 20 Miles

This week’s training plan (week 6):

  1. Monday: 4 miles @ 9:54 — Felt good, even though my muscles were sore.
  2. Wednesday: 6 miles@ 9:54 — Ran this morning and it felt good! Hoping this is a positive sign for things to come.
  3. Saturday: 5K race — TBD, but expecting to run a PR (in the 8:00 pace or better range)
  4. Total = 13.1 Miles

Still no cross-training…who has the time?!?!?

27.07.2011 Hobbies, Marathon Training, Running No Comments

Doing It “My Way”

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Paul is talking about the people of Israel, but I think the truth of his statement applies to most of us (myself most definitely included):

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. (Romans 10:1-4, NLT)

I hate to admit it, but what Paul says here strikes a cord with me today. I may have the right level of enthusiasm for God, but am I directing it in the right direction? Am I refusing to do things God’s way because I want to do them my way? Am I clinging to my own way of doing things…including getting right with Him and walking with Him…or am I truly trying to do things God’s way?

Sometimes His way is the hard way. He doesn’t do things the way I want them done. He doesn’t do things when I want them done. Sometimes it’s not even about me–SHOCKING!!

At the same time, His way is so much easier. After all, Christ has already done the hard work…the part I couldn’t do myself. He has made me right with God. All I have to do is truly believe in Him. I’m going to work harder at letting go of “My Way” and embracing “God’s Way”…with His help of course! ;o)

26.07.2011 Devotional, Discipleship, Jesus, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Take It Seriously

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

It’s cliche, but the last words someone speaks are important. All the fluff has been cut out…only the really important stuff remains. Such was the case with King David at the end of his reign on the throne of Israel. He’s now trying to prepare his son, Solomon, for what lies ahead. No small order being the King of Israel…God’s chosen nation!

What David says to Solomon rings as true and important for us as it did for his son…

“Learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. So take this seriously.” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10, NLT)

There is so much here for us to learn from:

  • Learn to know God intimately (not just surface knowledge or head knowledge)
  • Worship and serve Him with everything you’ve got (hold nothing back)
  • God sees and knows everything so don’t try and hide from Him (we try anyway)
  • Seek Him and you’ll find Him, run from Him and He’ll let you go (hard lesson to learn this free will thing)

But the most important thing I took away from David’s speech to His son? One little phrase…

Take this seriously!

Too often I take my relationship with God for granted. I do stupid things with no regard for eternity or how God feels about it. Too often I fail to take my relationship with God seriously. But it’s serious business. It’s the most important thing in the world…

19.07.2011 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Pointing Fingers

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

I think we’ve all been told at one time or another that we shouldn’t point fingers at others. Why? Because when you point your finger at someone, there are three more pointing right back at you.

I know it’s cliche and even a little lame. But it’s also got a seed of truth in there somewhere.

This morning I was reading in the second chapter of Romans. Heavy book…lots of deep theological teaching. Yesterday I finished the first chapter of Romans…a chapter far too many Christians use as a battering ram for some of the most controversial social topics in our day (you can read it for yourself to figure out which topic(s) I’m referring to).

The problem is that too many of these “well meaning” Christ-followers (myself included at times) don’t continue reading on into chapter two. Instead they start using Romans 1 as a sledgehammer on someone else. So what does Romans 2 say?

Just this…

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. (Romans 2:1, NLT)

Ouch…and oops! Consider me guilty as charged. I have no excuse. I’m in the same boat as everyone else…guilty of disobeying God and falling far short of His holiness. I mess up all the time. I think I’ve got life figured out and then I mess it all up. Thank goodness that Paul doesn’t stop with the lines above, but continues…

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that this kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4, NLT)

Thank goodness for God’s patience, kindness, and tolerance with me. I certainly need it. Maybe I’ll put down the sledgehammer and turn to Him a little more often.

14.07.2011 Devotional, God's Love, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings 2 Comments

Marathon Training Week 4

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Last week’s training wasn’t too bad…aside from that 10 mile run! It was brutal mainly because it’s been so long since I’ve run that distance. And this week certainly doesn’t get any easier with a 12 miler on the horizon. ;o)

I’ve noticed that my diet (which hasn’t been great lately) seriously affects my running..so I’ll be paying closer attention to that this week.

Here’s the training plan for this week:

  1. Monday: 3 miles @ 9:54
  2. Wednesday: 4 mile speed run (2 @ 7:51)
  3. Saturday: 12 miles @ 9:54
  4. Total = 19 Miles

Cross training has been absolutely zilch since I started my training…just finding it hard to fit anything more into the schedule. We’ll see how that goes moving forward.

Not even going to talk about weight loss right now (since it’s going in the wrong direction!!). Sigh…

13.07.2011 Hobbies, Marathon Training, Running, Sports No Comments

Don’t Forget to Ask

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

King David is doing what he thinks is the right thing to do. He’s moving the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. He asked all the right people and everyone has agreed. It’s time. There is a great ceremony and everyone’s excited about the move!

That is until the Ark starts to fall of the cart and Uzzah reached out his hand to stabilize the Ark and make sure it didn’t fall off the cart (that would be bad). But God is not happy that Uzzah has touched the Ark (he wasn’t supposed to for any reason)…and God strikes him dead on the spot! OUCH!

And King David is obviously disturbed by this course of events…so he leaves the Ark right were it is and steps back for awhile. He’s scared…and he should be. That is, until he realizes the mistake he made…

“We failed to ask God how to move [the Ark] properly.” (1 Chronicles 15:13, NLT)

Oh how often I make that same mistake! I simply fail to ask God for His direction, for His help, for His guidance, for His plan. I assume I know best. I’m often wrong. I pay the consequences (thankfully nothing so bad as Uzzah had to pay).

Why? Because I failed to do one simple thing…I forget to ask God. So simple…

13.07.2011 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Scout Camp 2011 Photos

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Here are the photos from Logan’s Scout Camp (Ben Delatour…which is near Red Feather Lakes in Northern Colorado). Just click on any photo to see them at full size (and press “ESC” to exit out of the gallery).

Enjoy…

04.07.2011 Boy Scouts, Family, Hobbies, Recreation No Comments

Marathon Training Weeks 2-3

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

The first two weeks of my marathon training have been rough. For the previous month I’ve been taking a little breather so it’s been hard ramping my mileage back up. I also learned a key lesson (one I already knew, but had to learn the hard way apparently): Do NOT run immediately after a big meal. I did it. I regretted it. Ugh!

Last week I had two runs that needed to be done during Scout Camp. The elevation at camp was over 7.000 feet and it was hilly. Got the runs in and they felt good. Over the past two weeks I also finished an 8 and 9 mile run (from the church to the house). That’s been the hardest part…getting the long runs back into my routine.

Here’s the training plan for this week:

  1. Monday: 3 miles @ 9:56
  2. Wednesday: 5 mile tempo run (3 @ 8:23)
  3. Saturday: 10 miles @ 9:56
  4. Total = 18 Miles

Aside from some serious hiking during summer camp, I haven’t done much cross training so I still need to get that into my routine. I’m also having a tough time mentally picturing finishing 26.2 miles…9 miles has been hard enough and that’s only about a third of the distance! Trusting the training and taking it little by little.

Weight Loss Goal: 20 lbs lost (185 target)
Weight Loss Update: Lost 2 pounds in the last two weeks…197 right now.

03.07.2011 Hobbies, Marathon Training, Recreation, Running No Comments