Duathlon

I am currently sitting in Florida right now and couldn't be happier :) I love it here, and I love spending time with my brothers. As I look ahead to this weekend, I am SO excited for the duathlon. Ben, Tim, and I all registered and are doing a duathlon together in St. Augustine on Sunday. It is a 5k run, 20k bike, 5k run.

I am honestly scared out of my mind for it. Tim and Ben are both in much better shape than me and more used to the weather down here. I had a terrible training run yesterday morning. I am taking today off to try and recover so I can come back strong tomorrow.

As I train for this duathlon (and for soccer this fall) I am constantly reminded how mental running can be. If I go into a run unsure of how I will perform or how it will turn out, I normally don't run as well. However, if I go in and have a positive attitude and keep telling myself, "nothing less than my best" I am generally much more satisfied with my results.

I love running and would love to continue to get into it more. I don't want to lose it this soccer season either. My goal is to get my 5k time to under 22 minutes. This will take a lot of motivation, determination, and commitment, but I believe it can happen.

This duathlon is my start to running more and I cannot wait for it. For the anticipation of the start. The nerves as I begin the first 5k. The speed I can go while being on a bike. The sweat I will feel through it all. The pain during the last 5k. And the joy when crossing the finish line.

I.Can't.Wait.

summertime :)

As I sit and think about the summer I have in front of me, I am very excited about what God has in store.

One of my main focuses this summer is to get in shape and prepare for this coming soccer season. Not only do I need to prepare physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. Ever since surgery on my right ankle, I have been pushing myself to my limits. I have never enjoyed the pain and joy that running brings as much as I do now.

I keep asking myself why? Why do I enjoy running SO much more now than I did before surgery? I think I have two answers. 1) my right ankle is not in any pain anymore, like it was before surgery 2) after having running taken away from me for 3 months, I have never been more thankful and appreciative of God giving me the ability to run - I don't want this gift he has given me to go to waste. Now, I know I am not a phenomenal runner by any means, but the ability to run in and of itself is a gift form God.

Move in day for Cornerstone is August 7 this year. This will quickly approach. My goal is to enter preseason more in shape than I ever have before. I am not sure why I have so much drive this year compared to the previous years (you would think I would have been scared enough my freshmen year to work my butt off, but I wasn't). I have the opportunity this fall to step up my game and I do not want this opportunity to pass by without me taking it.

Other than training for soccer, I am going to Florida for a week this summer to hang out with my brothers. We are all doing a duathlon together when I am down there which I am thrilled for (and a little nervous). I have multiple weddings to attend, a week of VBS of which I am leading games for, and a week of camping up at Young State Park with my WHOLE family (Ben and Anna, Daryl, Sara, Samuel, Hope, and Aliyah, Tim, my parents, and I). I. Cannot. Wait. It is rare that we get the whole family together and oh so much fun when it does happen.

I would like to be able to find time for friends and beach days and all that excitement, which I am sure I will. This summer will be fabulous :)

Rosemary's 12th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Rosemary Joann! I love you and miss you princess :)

As I sit and reflect on Rosemary's life, so many memories and emotions come flooding back. Rosemary has impacted my life in so many ways and I will never forget her life. It is hard to believe it has been 2 1/2 years since she passed away. In some ways it feels like it was just yesterday, and in other ways it feels like it has been longer than that.


This is the last birthday we were with you on...your 8th. On your 9th you were at Viskers for the weekend, and on your 10th you were celebrating in heaven.

Rosemary -
I just want to thank you for the great little sister you were to me. I always loved coming home and seeing you laying on the floor. I hate coming home to an empty house now. Before you passed away, there was ALWAYS someone home, generally you and mom, now, there is no need for someone to always be here.

You were always willing to listen to all my complaints and take the blame for everything I got in trouble for. You were my favorite little girl to babysit. You were always happy and went with the flow.

Rosemary Joann Stegink, I love you and thank God for your life. You impacted me in ways no other little sister could. You taught me what it meant to be responsible and to love and care for children with special needs. I love you SO much and not a day goes by when I don't miss you.

friendships

Over these past 5 months, I have learned a lot about myself and my friends. There have been some rough times when I did not know what to do.

Through all of this, I have become so thankful for those that God has placed in my life. I have some of the best friends a person could ask for. There were times over this semester where I felt very alone, and that no one cared. In these times, God kept tapping me on the shoulder saying, "I'm still here, I have not left you, and I never will." What an amazing realization and promise.

Many times I caught myself asking the question, "Why?" Why were things happening to me, why were people treating me as they were, and why was I continuing to be placed in such a terrible spot. Looking back on it all, it is easier to understand why, and I think it can all be summed up well in these verses:
James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

God has taught me so much about myself through these trials. And through these trials I have grown stronger in Him, which I am very thankful for.

Back to Work

I just wrote a long post and it all got deleted :(

I will try and sum up what I said in a much shorter post, because I need to get to bed.

These past 5 months of my life have been some of the most frustrating, stressful, and hard months I have gone through. Yet, these months have been some of the most rewarding months of my life. God has been so good and taught me so much through these tough times.

5 months ago, I had surgery on my right ankle. I have never been more broken, frustrated, and confused about my life. I felt like I lost my identity when I lost my ability to walk, run, and play soccer.

I have gone through rehab and healed quicker than anyone could have imagined. The lesson I have learned through these past 5 months is to never take anything for granted. I am thankful now, more than ever, for the ability to walk, run, and play soccer.

I run now more than ever because it allows me to spend time with God. Running also allows me time to admire the beauty of His creation. I am so thankful to God for giving me these special moments with Him.

There were many tears that were shed these past months and many days I just felt like giving up. I did not know where to turn with frustration since I couldn't go pound a soccer ball into a net, or go for a fast run and sweat off all my anger or stress. Through it all, I learned that I need to turn to God in these tough times. Soccer and running will not always be there for me, but the Lord will. He will never leave me or forsake me, and for that I am thankful.

I thank you Lord for these past 5 months I have gone through. As frustrating as they were, I have learned so much and can look back on the rehab and say that I am truly thankful to You for putting me through these trials. It is only through the fire and the pain that I am made a stronger daughter of the King.

Summer

I keep telling myself I will update this blog more than I do. It sure would be nice to stay on top of it, but obviously it doesn't happen.

I have been down to Florida twice this summer already (in May with Mindy and in June with my family). I am going again in July with Tim and then flying back. I love going down there to visit Ben and Anna and see all of their friends I have gotten to know a little bit.

I am also going to Minnesota this next weekend with Daryl, Sara, Samuel, and Hope for a COTP (Children of the Promise) reunion. I am very excited as I will know some of the kids there since I spent 10 weeks total down there over the time Daryl and Sara lived there. My main purpose in going is to help entertain Samuel and Hope on the 9 hour car ride there.

Other than going random places, I have been babysitting at least 4 days a week. Three days for an nine week old boy and one day for the six Solomon children :)

The rest of my life is filled up with working out for soccer. It is a wonderful life.

I also spend time with my family and friends (when I can fit it in). Samuel and Hope are growing and changing every day. It is fun to watch them both grow up and change.

I hope to keep this up a little more than I have been :)
Anna

Life goes on....

As always life is very very busy. During the week I stay busy with classes, weight lifting, training, and babysitting.

All my classes are going all right. My biggest struggle is Old Testament Literature and History. I also have a Social Problems class that can be very problematic and a struggle. Other than that all my classes are going well. Busy, but good.

Soccer has also been going good. It keeps me very very busy. I lift at least three days a week, and do ankle rehab at least three days a week. We also have a circuit training a day a week and then play two to three days a week. I love soccer and have never put this much time into it.

I also am babysitting two families in Grand Rapids. Every Wednesday night I babysit at the Stersics and then I babysit the Messings off and on. It has been very nice to have a little extra income while in Grand Rapids.

On the weekends I often come home. I frequently babysit the Solomons (my favorites) on the weekends. Other than that I do homework and try to hang out with some friends in my little spare times. Sundays are my favorite favorite days of the week. I LOVE LOVE my Church. I believe it is my favorite hour of the week. I also love the family time we spend on Sunday afternoons. We play lots and lots of games and just hang out with Daryl, Sara, Samuel, and Hope. And of course you can't forget Sunday nights :) Popcorn and milkshakes and games. The best night of the week as well.

This weekend and week my family is doing respite for a foster baby. His name is Jack. I have spent a lot of quality time with him this weekend. Last night I was up with him at 2:30 and 5. My mom was up with him twice as well. It was not a good night sleep with him. I also took him to Church with me this morning. It has been a very good baby fix for me.

I think that's all I have to say about what is happening in my life.