Find joy in every day

escape

I can do the 5.9s I’ve been working on in my sleep now. These are routes I thought were impossible. It’s exhilarating. I learned how to move my body and use my legs to compensate for my lack of arm strength and body length. I’m looking forward to moving into the 5.10s at Baylor’s wall, which I have discovered are rated harder than both Austin’s indoor gym and outdoor routes. The tips of my fingers are peeling and my legs are never without ugly bruises. But it’s well worth the escape that I’ve found, more fun than running in circles or swimming laps (though I hope to get into those things again as well). At the end of a long hard day, I always have climbing to look forward to. Where my only task is to concentrate on the next move, and nothing else in the world exists. This is the type of small peace money cannot buy. I am thankful for so many things, but today I thank God for climbing. (And I suppose, Sung, for “showing me the ropes.”)

plans

Living in Waco makes it very easy for me not to shop. A recent venture into the mall reminded me of why I don’t go shopping here. Lately all that I have been buying is equipment for climbing. Sung and his boys are taking Gramy to Tahquitz for a 6 pitch climb over Thanksgiving weekend! I am beyond excited. Below is a picture of the route with a picture of the white house to scale.

Original source here.

Other than that I am looking forward to seeing my precious friends, eating all the amazing food I’ve been missing and spending time with my family! Time sure does crawl when something exciting is coming up. Is it Thanksgiving yet? 

I spent this weekend sitting in my apartment, listening to “This American Life” and dancing in front of the mirror. It is lame but I have enjoyed it.

Ten more days. Hurry.

ijm

I spent all day in a training session with IJM (the international justice mission). Chapters from schools all over Texas gathered to talk and learn. It was great. I began to dream of how I could fit into their organization one day. Just dreaming though, who knows what the future holds for me. They fed us two things I had been craving—chocolate frosted donuts and papa john’s pizza. 

It gets dark very early and it’s starting to get cold. Two things I dislike.

Everyone was all ooo-ing and ahhh-ing at the majesty of room 127. Sometimes I forget how nice the facilities are. It was refreshing to see the building through their eyes.

mommy wow, i'm a 5Q now!

“For the lawyer part of you, we’re going to learn about calculations, the mechanics. And for the human part of you, we’re going to talk about “why”. How it really affects us.”
-Prof. Int’l Trade Law

Wow, did he really just say that? He’s going to feed the humanity in me, too?

I’m almost done with my first week of school as a 5Q. As I walked to my car, the sky was pink and the sun had just set. I looked out and saw Baylor’s red brick buildings with white steeples, flags flying at half-staff. Hope in the midst of tragedy. New beginnings.

I thought about the week and the class I just had and was filled with gratitude. My outlook alone is already making this quarter very different from the last. I am happy to be in lawyer college again.