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The UnCommon Good

pursuing good things with little in common....

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My Creativity Creed

Creativity. It used to seem so ambiguous to me. Reserved for the people that were born with the knack for brainstorming. Check out this Creed that has revolutionized the way I practice the art of creativity.

Joshua Tree National Park

30x30: 30 Things I Want to Be About In My 30's

I'd highly recommend putting together a list of the things you want to be about--an intentional living list. Keep the vision in front of you. Set daily goals to achieve the bigger picture. Re-adjust when necessary.

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My Family's Adoption Story

Adoption is living out what God's done for us. Come join my family. Sight unseen. Just as you are. I've chosen to love you forever and then some.

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Finding Your Purpose

What is my purpose? What should I do with my life? As I work with college students, I find myself in these conversations often. And as I get older, I realize it's being re-defined, re-shaped and sometimes re-rooted.

Showing posts with label An Active Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label An Active Life. Show all posts

2.02.2011

A Tribute to Snowmageddon

Oh, winter. If we were to play take it or leave it, I would leave it.  And not just today.  Greetings this morning, from Snowmageddon in the midwest.
Office Window After Blizzard
Pine trees heavy laden with snow are the only thing I like about winter. Until you get me moving (THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SHOVELING).  When the world of winter sports opens up, there are a few moments when I must admit to liking this season a tiny bit.
Snowboarding at SpringHill
I do think being sporty in the snow is pretty rad.  But let's be clear-- 1) it took me a long time to agree be coerced to go out in the cold and 2) I am a poor excuse for sporty.

But that Jay Taylor (one of the other SpringHill Day Camp Directors) is one heck of an instructor.  Please note the progression of action so well captured by his lovely wife, Liz.
 Snowboarding at SpringHill 
Liz said I smiled my nervous smile the whole time- but it's Jay that looks nervous. I think I was telling him, "you're thinking it's a bad idea to let go, and I want to affirm that."
Snowboarding at SpringHill
Finally, I went at it alone...but if you look closely you will see that my mittens and sweater are caked with snow. And, yes, the snow actually goes all the way up my back. Don't ask.
Snowboarding at SpringHill
After our evening of fun, Instructor Jay kindly recommended I keep practicing at SpringHill before hitting the big slopes.  But he was showing me some backwards moves like he thought those were in my future, so I'm thinking it's only a matter of time...

10.13.2010

Biking Boston in the Fall

When our team traveled out East, they put me in charge of the Boston entertainment. I wanted to look really cool and smart, and since I didn't know any Boston locals (now I do!), I went straight to my favorite source, Trip Advisor. The #2 rated thing to do in Boston is to take a bike tour with Urban Adventours. Brilliant. Every city should do this.

We spent a 3 hour ride with fun, witty and knowledge bikers that incidentally got paid to be tour guides. We really saw all of Boston- from South to North- including history and Fenway! And the thing about biking in groups is that you become a force on the streets and cars have to yield to you. A welcome change.I'm going try to bike every city that I visit. It really is the best way to get to know the landscape and see the sites!

Bicycling Magazine rated America's Best Bike Cities. They are:
1. Minneapolis..................6. San Francisco
2. Portland, OR................ 7. Madison, WI
3. Boulder, CO..................8. New York City
4. Seattle...........................9. Tuscon, AZ
5. Eugene, OR.................10. Chicago

And, coming in at #26: Boston.

For those of you that are Grand Rapids fans, we're #36 on the list. But did you know that we're going to build 100 more miles of bike lanes by 2013? Anyone want to start a bike tour company?

8.17.2009

Monthly Payments

When I came back to work for SpringHill, I knew I had to cut some monthly payments like a gym membership and cable out of my life. It's good to simplify, right?

There's been a lot on my plate this year and Ben and Jerry have become GOOD friends of mine. Somehow, when I hit 30, my dear friends seemed to affect me negatively. In a little at home math lesson, I realized that a pint of my favorite has 620 calories and 40g of fat. Yikes!

Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk


So, the gym membership has been added back into my budget. I'm so excited to have a gym to go to again! And it's almost as fancy as my Chicago gym...the only part missing is a double-decker hot tub with waterfall. It's a different crowd here in GR. :)



As for the cable, I do feel like I am SUFFERING without HGTV....

5.31.2008

Indy Mini Marathon

Classic Matt Casburn
I spent most of my time after the race in the fetal position. Emily was nice enough to still pose with me.

Dustin and Jan Fenton were especially sporty this year. Great run, friends!
Everyone needs ice cream after running 13.1 miles!

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