On Sabbatical

Woah. It's been a really long time since I have updated this! You may be surprised to find that a few things have changed since the last time I posted.

About two weeks ago I decided to not swim year-round anymore. It was a really tough decision for me...I've been swimming since age8! Nonetheless, I found that I wanted to use my talents elsewhere. I have no doubt that swimming with this new team would have set me on the right path to being really fast, but the fact of the matter is I just didn't like it anymore. I didn't think I should be putting in so many hours a week, wake up at 3 in the morning, etc. for something I didn't love. I don't really like the word "quit" even though technically I did. Around my family and friends I prefer to say "I'm on sabbatical" or "I have reevaluted."

You are probably wondering what I'm doing now as I'm not just one to sit around and be a bum. Well, after having done two small sprint triathlons in previous summers, I have decided to pursue triathlons more frequently. Currently, I am training for an olympic distance race.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get a bike soon (can't train that well when my bike happens to be a mountian bike and only has half a pedal on one side.

Wish me luck =)

Learning

I stopped the other day to think about the past year of my life. It really has been a whirlwind. There has been lots of smiles, lots of laughs, even lots of tears. It's been a year of many firsts-my first year at public school, my first serious relationship, my first big move. And guess who's been there through it all, guess who's stood by my side- He stood there when I was angry at Him for turning my whole life inside out, He stood there when I praised Him after I finally realized it was part of His plan, and He's still standing here, every day, for me. 

In service on Sunday, the message literally brought me to tears. There was a video afterwards that showed how Jesus can change lives.

go to: jdgreear.com and scroll down to the February 10 post.

Back from MI

Since the time of my last post, I've been a pretty busy bee! Let's see, we went to Michigan two days after Christmas and stayed for a week!! I had SO much fun!! Seeing all my friends again and of course my boyfriend was much needed. The only bummer is coming back...I kind of get into the rhythm of day to day life without them down here and it's not so hard. However when we go to visit then come back down here, I almost feel like I've had to do it all over again. No worries though, I'm getting back into the swing of things, but still missing everyone!
Other than the "big trip," everything at our house has been the same usual stuff. For me just school and swim, preparing for exams, etc. My dad is doing well, up and about on his cane.

Daddio Update

Since my dad has been home, its been a little crazy around our house. Of course, we're taking very good care of him, making sure he gets his cherry popsicles and such. The first couple nights he was home were pretty hard on him, and my mom too, as she had to stay up with him. I will confess, I've been feeling pretty selfish lately, hoping he will get well enough just so we can come back to Michigan. These past couple days or so he has gotten better at getting up out of bed and walking (with the "old man walker" of course) on his own, but my mom fears that he may fall if we are gone and he is home alone. I guess we'll see what the doc says on Monday...

Thanksgiving in Florida

 

These are a few of my favorite pics from our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. We had so much fun!!

Realizations

As most of you probably know I moved away from everything I had ever known in August of this year. Though it seemed impossibly difficult at first, I've come to realize that God really does know what He is doing, despite my thinking at one point that He didn't. When I first had to come down to here, I really wasn't sure what He had in store for me. But badabing, here I am 5 months later, praising His name that I'm here. He's given me so many new relationships: my youth pastor Jason and small group leader Sara, the girls on my swim team, and new friends at school. Not to say that the great relationships I had in Michigan aren't still there. In fact, now I can have twice the amount of awesome people in my life. The first month or so here was so, so hard for me. I felt myself just really angry a lot which if you know me is not general behavior. I could sure put on a "brave face" but inside was not so hot. At some point in the months following, I began to slowly realize what God had in store for me. You know that feeling when you work on a math problem for what seems like forever, and then suddenly you get it. That was what it felt like for me with God's plan. Suddenly I got it! To know that there was a purpose for me to be here was such an overwhelming joy! Though its definitely not easy to have left my friends in Michigan, I'm learning that being far away does not mean leaving those things behind. I'm so grateful for God's plan for my life (though I don't know everything yet).  

First post!

So here it is...Ellie's new blog!! I've been wanting to make one for a while, and finally got around to making one. So as a "first post" here are some happens in my life as of late...

1) On Wednesday, Dec. 10 my dad had his hip replaced at Duke Med. He finally came home today HOORAY!!! but is definitely still in tons of pain. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for him! Please continue to pray that his pain will ease and will be up and moving asap as he isn't one who likes just sitting around.

2) Gma and Gpa are here for the rest of December...so excited to have them! Grandma is such a sweet lady that happens to have a knack for decorating which means the new B's house is looking mighty fine. Gpa is a funny guy, who keeps the mood light which is so nice to have around each day.

3) As new sweet little Lydia Lan comes home (finally) to her loving, amazing family, I can only wish to be there to greet her. However, since I am stuck here until December 26, I will just have to wait to see her precious face in person.

So yay for my first blog post ever. Stay tuned! =)