Not your usual walkingstick.

So this past Tuesday I received a awesome gift. My professor, Dr. Diamond brought me an interesting surprize in a old ice cream box. It was a Walkingstick! These insects are fascinating! The reason for this wonderful gift was for my collection of insects for my Entomology class which Dr. Diamond teaches. So thanks Dr. Diamond!

Now unfortunately I had to kill this insect and mount it but before I did I took it out and let in crawl around for a bit. It was absolutely fascinating watching this creature. This thing perfectly resembled a twig you would see on the ground. Such a neat experience to me since I'd never really seen one up close like this. Here is a picture I took of it:



Also here is a link to a video of it:

My collection now is one step closer to being finished. Out of everything I've caught, the most beautiful ones are the butterflies and moths. So I'll end with a picture of these wonderful insects.

Mud Run

So this past Saturday on of Troy University's sororities, Chi Omega, had a Mud Run as a fundraiser. I participated in it and it was a lot of fun! It was a two mile run which had some obstacles you went through. My Dad was awesome and he came down and cheered me on while taking some photos. Here are some of his pictures:

This is my friend Ryan and I warming up before the race.

Dakota, myself, and Ryan before the race.

Walking to the starting line.

Me hitting up the tire obstacle!

Myself running up the big hill.

Hitting up the mud! (Photo by Blair Pierce)

Here's me going down the slip-n-slide right before the finish line.

Victory at last! Notice the smile, I was really happy I did this.

This was Ryan hitting up the slip-n-slide.

Here's the three amigos after the race.

So before I left I had to jump in the mud pit one more time.

This was a great experience and its got me pumped for my next race: the half marathon. So yeah, bring it on Pensacola!

I must admit it, I've changed

I never ever thought I would see this day come but unfortunately I must admit I've started doing something I never thought I would. I'm afraid that I have become a coffee drinker (GASP!!!).



Yes, I've joined the ranks of the coffee consumers. In the past the taste of coffee repelled me greatly. However, one morning this semester I went to SAGA and wanted something hot to drink. Since the only option was coffee I decided to try it (with LOTS of sugar in it).

Now I can't stop drinking it. Every morning that I make it to breakfast I have a cup and sometimes I have a cup at dinner! WHat has happened to me!?!?!?!

So yes, out of the many ways college has changed me this is one of them. My life will never be the same again!

Running Hard

So yesterday I set a new personal record in my running. Jun Ho and I completed a 5-mile run without stopping! I was so happy when I finished, knowing that I had just run further then I've ever run before!

The setting was amazing! We started out around 6PM and the sun was on its downward path at that time. Now I found a route which took us all the way from the University out to the edge of town and then back around to the other side of campus. One of the most beautiful sights was when we were running along an empty stretch of road with a field to our right and the sky being full of several colors since the sun had just slipped below the horizon. The air temperature was somewhere in the 70's making it a perfect evening for a run! Praise God for blessing us with such great weather.



Now on a side note, I want to say that running has taught me a lot about my life in Christ. Hebrews 12:1 really makes sense to me when it says "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Just as this half-marathon is marked out for me, there is a life ahead of me which Christ is preparing me for and I must continue to grow in Christ.

Let me share a little story about how I learned this. There was a stretch in my training where I didn't run hardly at all for about 2 or 3 weeks. At first it was foot problems, which I needed to rest for, but then I had the hardest time getting back into it. I made excuses and put it off. However, I finally got back into the training, but realizing also that I had wasted time.

I do the same thing as a follower of Christ. I get lazy and don't progress in growing in "wisdom and stature" like I should (Luke 2:52). Thus just as my running is not an overnight thing, neither is my life as a Christ follower. I'm in it for the long-term and must persevere.

I know this sounds like a cheezy sunday-school lesson but it is important to remember and I'm so thankful God has used something as simple as going for a run to teach me.

So training is still going and I'm looking forward to this race.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

Midterm Madness

Helen Keller once said that "life is either a daring adventure or nothing." There is a vast difference between the two options she gives. I like this quote because it reminds how big a difference there is between just existing or actually living your life.

Yet as I write this post I look at my life and realize how my life resembles more of the "nothing" then it does an adventure. I'm not sure why but I seem to have gotten in a rut. My attitude has been down and depressing to be honest and unfortunately I've been a grouch to be around. I hate this because I'm sure I've missed out on dozens of opportunities that my bad attitude blinded me and kept me from seeing.

But how do you change an attitude? It seems hard to change a constant feeling of depression into optimism. How much of changing your perspective is God's work and how much is mine? I don't know the answers to these questions, but Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that "Nothing Great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" and I want to do something amazing! I want my life to be the coolest adventure I've heard of.

So I pray God will help me recapture the spirit of adventure and hope that I need.