Mountains and Valleys

Prepare yourself...this is going to be a very random post but I can promise you that it all serves a purpose.

What can you always find on the top of a mountain? Snow. Last week, we were under a Winter Weather Advisory and a Blizzard Warning. Schools were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and enjoyed a late start on Thursday. My car was stuck in my Dad's garage for a couple days (I wasn't complaining) as businesses and schools closed early and opened late due to 40mph winds and a predicted 4-8'' of snow.  The craziest part of the storm? It effected over 30 states including Iowa. Here is a satellite picture of the US...

 

Missouri Valley Conference - UNI Panthers. While the majority of the Cedar Valley was on shutdown last Wednesday, the UNI men's basketball team was preparing to take on Illinois State at the McLeod Center. Luckily, my night class was canceled so I got to sit in the L&N Transportation suite and enjoy comfy seats, a great view, snacks and cold beverages.

The second half was more exciting than the first as senior forward Lucas O'Rear suffered a fractured ankle and is out for the season. The refs must have forgotten how to call fouls on any players other than UNI's which resulted in last-minute free throws. My favorite part, however, was experiencing the evolving, student-led "Interlude" dance. The dance was created in a dorm last year and the article can be viewed here. I wonder how long it will be until it's featured on SportsCenter...

The Green Bay Packers and QB Aaron Rodgers climbed a mountain. Brett Favre was traded prior to the 2008 season and Aaron Rodgers had a rough transition into the starting quarterback spot. When somebody as good as Favre, who managed an impressive 297 consecutive starts until mid-December 2010, leaves a team, the fans aren't exactly excited for a fresh start. I think after this season, it's safe to say that Packer fans are saying, "Brett who?" The Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV and brought the Lombardi trophy back to where it belongs. (No, I am not a Packer fan, but I did cheer for them on Sunday. After all, Bryan Bulaga played for the Hawks last year.)

Jordy Nelson (Packers) 40 yd catch that set up a Packers TD in the 4th quarter.

Cedar Valley. A surprise visit from a good friend. Last Friday, Lexi & I went to the Black Hawks game and then down to Smitty's for a couple drinks. Smitty's is this small, "hole-in-the-wall" bar in downtown Waterloo. The walls are covered in old and new hockey photos; the ceiling covered with tacked dollar bills, ranging from $1-$100. Smitty's is, hands down, my favorite bar in the Cedar Valley. You can dress up, you can wear your pajamas, you will always see somebody you know, and you can always count on having a great time. After a solid 15 minutes of yawning and trying to decide if we should suck it up or just go home (this was around 10:30)...our friend Lauren who recently moved up to the Twin Cities surprised us by showing up. :) Lexi and I made it to bar close.

So how exactly does all of this tie together? Well, it really doesn't. But it was a creative way to combine what's been going on the last couple weeks. Here's where the "mountains and valleys" idea sprung from.

At church two weeks ago, Pastor Dan continued the series of Psalm 23 and focused on the dark valley. Even in the darkest valley, on the darkest days, He never lets go. The word "valley" speaks of tough times that we all go through. Valleys are inevitable. Valleys are unexpected. Valleys are purposeful. The good news? Valleys are only temporary. They come and go as part of life. It's impossible to have a mountain without a valley. Nobody makes it through life without going through a valley. Dan stressed that for every mountain, there are two valleys. Unfortunately, in life, we are surrounded by bad days and bad moods. For every two bad events we experience, we have a positive one, or a mountain. This series has been my favorite so far, as I can find myself relating to the messages. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23

GOAL!

Goal (noun): 

1. a successful attempt at scoring

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks; goal.

2. the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it; "the ends justify the means"

With it being a new year, and (almost) a new chapter in my life, I've started a list of 2011 goals. 

A few goals that aren't pictured...

• Run a 5K. This is going to take some practice as I am not a runner. Last night, I went to the Young Arena with my friend Steph. I'm pretty sure I ran the most I have in the last 4 years. A whopping 14 minutes. Big deal, eh? Well...I figured that by the time spring/summer rolls around and I start really focusing on a 5K, I want to do it in less than 30 minutes. After we did 17 minutes of a walk/jog/run, we did 15 minutes of stairs. Yes, my legs do hate me today, but it was a great start and I can't wait to get back to the rink.
• Be happy.
• Graduate college. I'm a "Super Senior." In other words, I'm a fifth-year college student. I've changed my major more times than I have fingers and toes, but I will be done in May, and I am definitely ready for it.
• Be active.
• Take a vacation.
• Appreciate.
• Watch what I say, when I say it, and who I say it to. Believe it or not, my mouth gets me into trouble...a lot. I keep everything bottled up inside me and when I finally say how I feel or why I'm upset,it gets taken out of context and I'm suddenly the bad guy. Some things are better left unsaid. I like these lyrics from the song Deuces Remix by Drake, TI, Kanye, etc. - Finally got it through my head not to run my mouth/so when you talk bout "you know who" I don't know who you talkin' bout

Having goals help keep me grounded and focused on what's important in my life. At John Deere, we have what's called GPMS, or Global Performance Management System. Each employee is required to go in, list responsibilities and set goals, and then review them with their manager at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to track progress. By jotting down my goals last November, I can look and figure out what I need to focus on during my last 5 months.

In the real world, I don't have a manager to keep me on track with my goals and responsibilities. I have myself. I have God. And I have a handful of family members and friends to remind me what's important in life. To tell me "don't sweat the small stuff." I trust that God has a plan for me. After all, everything happens for a reason.

His Message

A year ago, my Sunday mornings were spent in bed, most likely punishing myself for the night before. Once I decided to get up, I'd make the 2-minute drive to McDonald's to get a large Coke and either a Quarter Pounder with cheese or chicken nuggets, depending on how hungover I was.

Now, I spend my Sunday mornings at church. It's the one thing I look forward to every week where nothing is expected from me. I don't have any homework to turn in or projects to be completed. I don't have to spend an absurd amount of money to get out of the house and enjoy Him. I just show up. Going to church has taught me a lot. It's helped me grow. It's brought me closer to God. And I'd like to think it has made me a better person. After church, we go to Newton's Paradise Cafe, a cute little diner in downtown Waterloo owned by one of my good friends, Blake Landau.

The last few weeks at church, Pastor Dan has given some pretty meaningful lessons. A couple weeks ago, he led a sermon that focused on how we're too busy with our lives to truly do what God wants us to. Relax. Have one day out of your week to enjoy life. To do what you love. To take a break from the e-mails, text messages, and everything else to take in what God wants us to enjoy. Don't think about work or school. Forget about how busy your week is going to be. Live life.

Today, Dan expressed that we need to ask Him for help, but also be patient and focus when we do ask for help. He used an example: do you go to the doctor, tell him you have a pain in your chest and you want to know what's wrong, then say "see ya later!" and walk out? No. You go, you wait, you get some tests done, you wait, and you talk about it. You wait. Wait for the doctor's response. So many times we send our prayers to God and expect an answer right away and we get frustrated because it doesn't usually happen that quick. So again, "turn off" life and when you take time to talk to God, take time to listen, too.

Preparation for the "Real World"

No, I'm not referring to MTV's Real World. I'm talking about the real world where, when you graduate from college, you're expected to have a full-time job and be able to manage whatever life throws at you from all angles. THAT real world. Am I ready for it? No. Not even close. 

My real world starts sometime around June 13th, 2011. Until then, I have just a few things to do (in no specific order).....

1. Write what seems an endless amount of papers

2. Complete my capstone

3. Pass my Insurance tests/get my insurance license

4. Take a much needed weekend-vacation to Minneapolis

5. GRADUATE!!!!!!!

6. Find a replacement for my current student position at John Deere

7. Go to a Chicago Blackhawks game

8. Plan and survive the 2-day CoreTech Conference

9. And my favorite...meet my nephew Taysen, due April 19, 2011

20 weeks!

My cousin (and roommate/best friend) Jami is 27 weeks pregnant with this little guy!! I love being able to see and feel him move, and I absolutely can't wait to turn him into a Hawkeye and Cubs fan! ;)