The ramblings of 22 year old Meg...for such a time is this.

Well, as I went to post on my 'running' blog, I realized that what I had to say was some running, but a lot of just life, so I decided to re-visit this blog.  

All I need is a Piano and a Bible and I'll be content...and some running shoes would be nice. 

Taylor Swift's '22' rings in my head.  "We're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time.  It's miserable and magical."  She understands what it is like to be a 'normal' girl who is in her mid-20's, no boy, not a clue what she is doing pretending to have it all together when really it's all a mess, and just living day to day.  Even as a celebrity.  That's epic. 

THANK YOU TAYLOR FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

Ok but really.  What the heck?  Coming into college I honestly had envisioned myself being engaged at this moment, graduating with a teaching degree, teach for a few years, do random cool stuff, and then have kiddos and be a mommy.  

Oops.

 I am super chill with where I am because I know it's oh so right.  But.  None the less.  Not much of my 'plan' is happening.  

I will graduate in May *FINALLY* with a music degree I really don't plan to use. (Or do I?...)  I kind-of want to take a year and just work at my dream job I AM at (Fleet Feet) and just...BE.  Work.  Train...Chill with no school.  But I also am interested in a higher education masters (that RD life), TESOL, and sports nutrition...yeah.  3 options..as if two isn't confusing enough.  I am convinced my mind changes everyday as to what my 'calling' in life is.  But I have to remember.  My calling is to LOVE, to SERVE, to BE, to GO, to DISCIPLE.  As long as I do that where ever I am.  I am fulfilling life.  Or so I like to think.  But in 21st day and age what does that look like for this Meg?  

Not.

A.

Clue.

Some days I plan my life out with a TESOL degree then the next day I see myself with a sports team and that very next moment I desire to be back at MC as an RD.  #thestruggle is the epitome of that.  

However I can't help but jump back to "Where ever you are.  Be all there." and I feel like this needs to apply to NOW.  For SUCH a time is this (thank you Esther) and THIS time is where I work at the coolest job, go to my favorite classes, and run for fun.  SERIOUSLY.

Until then...I'll live my life this upcoming year going to Chinese, Piano, working, and training for another marathon all the while cooking yummy stuff like this in our adult-y town home.

chicken enchilada casserole and healthy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies 

Also.  It's been a whole month since I've crossed the Augusta finish line.  The thing I had been gazing towards was this date with my roomie.  We went and got a mani/pedi and she even paid for my mani as a 'happy'.  Love her and am endlessly thankful we are roomies.  It's different for me for sure to have one, and I wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else.  Seriously.

We are too adorable.

The other exciting thing after I did was walk to Sonic with this beautiful kid.  I seriously don't remember this photo, or that day at all, but I do remember going to Mexican the day after and also Sonic the following day because I was too exhausted to cook.  I could write a book about this kid.  But.  In short.  We are in the SAME season of life.  Technically still in college, but living the adult life (barely surviving) and loving every moment but hating it simultaneously somehow.

We love to text each other those buzzfeed articles and have decided they spy on our life and write about it...

I was also crafty with some race gear and I want to show it off......this is a rarity!!!!

Ramblings happen.  Life happens.  People come in and out of your life.  And for that I am grateful for the newer additions to my life to keep me sane.  For such a time is this seems to be applying to me, and this time I am going to love every confused moment.

Short and not really sweet. Oh well.

Well. As I reflect on week two: I realize I am half way through. Two weeks down. Two weeks to go. I feel like I have already learned a book about teaching. I now lead activities in all my classes. And next week I start more teaching which is scary but cool. That. What I teach these students will be on their final. Whoa.
I was extremely sore for three days from the Colca trek but oh gosh was it ever worth it. Actually. Sore is an understatement. The only thing worse was after marathon #1. And. This was pretty close.
I don't really have any exceptional stories from the week. School. Babysat. School dinners. Loud friends. Yep. This weekend we will go to MACHU PICCHU and I am oh so thrilled. I don't know what to expect. So. The next blog will be pretty epic I suppose.
This week everyday I've had pretty epic food which is exillerating and delish.
Struggle: I am tired of ONLY running with no running friends in this crazy altitude.
Excitement: I love my beginner classes way more than I expected myself to. They are so fun and want to communicate with me in English (as if there's another option..) and love practicing which is fun for me too to watch them grow languagally.

Sorry I have no cool stuff to update. But it's life. It's home for a month. It's once in a lifetime. It's Peru.

Colca Canyon experiences, and what the heck I gained from it.

The attempt to write my experience of a weekend of a lifetime is such a struggle. So many things to try to remember that is now simply an avid memory engraved on my brain. Here we go!!

So Danny and I left at 3 am. Got in a van with an American, a French dude who now lives in America, 3 French girls, a girl and dude from Holland, and some travelers from England.
We rode for 4 hours. Had breakfast. And started the trek! That day it was intense downhill, an uphill, and then downhill. I've never hated downhills so much. We ate lunch in the middle of the canyon at some random house. Don't ask what it was Haha. Anyways, we continued and at the end of it our legs were freaking Jell-o. We were standing there and you could literally see all our legs shaking from the 6 hours of intense trekking. So, Danny and I befriended two Englanders: Rickie and Fiona. So, I roomed with Fiona-and Danny with Rickie. So we hung out at the bottom of the canyon, jumped in a pool for a 'shower', and socialized with people from all over the world and simply shared life. That was pretty amazing to be a part of. I'm glad I didn't nap. Ate dinner. Spaghetti!!! And. Went to sleep having no idea the crazy trek that awaited us at 5am that morning.

So. We woke up at 4:15, and knew that morning was going to be intense. But. No idea. First off breakfast was after the trek. And. It was pitch black so headlamps were vital. So. Worth. It. So it was like a 3 hour straight CRAZY uphill with stairs the whole time. Going up a few thousand feet in just a few hours. So. Fiona and I finished it together breathlessly but with such a feeling of accomplishment. A moment I'll never forget: seeing the top and everyone cheering you did it! So we walked to breakfast, continued walking to our bus, and began the rest of the morning riding and touring around Colca canyon. We even went to the highest point: almost 5000 meters. You could feel the difference with simply walking. Boy was that inhaler useful this weekend! At this point we also befriended an American and a French guy who is American: Frenchie and Mike. They were super cool and we all discussed our endeavors for life, and also running PR's. It was fun to share mine and be in the same league as everyone else. So. We rode back, departed our friends, and Danny and I simply smiled, high-fived, and stood in awe over our weekend adventure.

We got back and MEA practically tackled us and everyone was anxiously awaiting to hug our necks. Probably the best greeting I have ever experienced. Thanks guys for fulfilling my hearts desire. Ash was super glad to see that we were alive! So we attempted to share our stories while being exhausted, called the padre', took a shower, and went to McDonalds and SMASHED. I had a quarter pounder, fries, McBites, a huge piece of chocolate cake, and a chocolate McFlurry. Then went to bed. However, I woke up a few times because anytime I moved pain shot through my legs and lower back. The morning after is so intense. One for the trek; zero for my body. But. I would do it a thousand times over. Just. Not today.

The best part was the people. It was simply amazing to be a part of a group of people who already love each other because of a common love: adventuring. One couple quit their job for a year just to travel the world. Seriously. It made me think of the movie: Eat, Pray, Love. Although I don't agree with all of that movie biblically, I have such a deep appreciation of her love of people, travel, and the quest to find herself. Although I know myself, I feel like I always find more of me with every once of a lifetime experience. I also feel like I realize the lack of Christ in the world, and my lack of trust in Him, because of my lack of communication about Him. Something to ponder; something to work on. Who am I with Christ in America vs. who I am with Christ in another country. Also. What my hearts desires really are and what I find important are ultimately changing. The 20's: where every year you are a completely different person thus far. And. That is quite ok!

So. Colca canyon was a success and one of the highlights for sure.

My awful attempt to be interesting and my classes!!!!

Well. Blogging on an iPad isn't really fun so I don't enjoy it. So I am trying to remember everything to blog.

Day 4: some of us went to catholic mass and it was. You guessed it. In Spanish. Which was cool. I don't remember what else we did. Oops. That night the group went out while mea and I stayed with the two boys and watched them. It was fun after tanner stopped crying haha. The boys now love us two so that's super fun. I love playing with them.

Day 5: ran. We all had a chill morning. We went shopping for souvenirs for friends and walked all around the city. The fab 5 did which was grand. Then a bunch if us went tithe mummy museum which was so cool. They did a fab job of explaining Juanita for us. So when we finally SAW HER IN PERSON it was pretty spectacular and just a once in a lifetime experience. That might we went to 'the royal chicken' and was soooooo yummy and American haha

Day 6/7: we started class!!!! I combine them because it's the same basically. So I have 3 classes.
My first one is beginner college kids. Like. Super beginner. The teacher is wonderful and let's me contribute in class and asks my help on pronunciation.
My second class is intermediate. Like. Beginner intermediate. They are different ages. The teacher is not as much of a free spirit but is just as wonderful and wants mento help already. I grade stuff around the class and am already making stuff for class!!
My third class is a bunch of 15 year olds and is mid beginner. So all the girls love me and love my tattoos haha. The teacher is letting me start to do small portions of class already which is stellar! I can't wait.

So. Yeah. The routine is wake up. Run. Breakfast. Chill/lesson plan. Lunch. School for 5 hours. Come back and chill. Dinner. Chill/go out/or for the grandmas go to sleep.
I love it so much. I love my students and their interest in me and my mutual interest in them. I can't wait to see what our different relationships in my classes look like! I know we start meeting with our mentor teachers soon so that should be fun!

Today is day 8 and I teach a little for the first time and am a little nervous but excited for the experience!!

This weekend We are all going to cola canyon and Danny and I are embarking on a trekking adventure. As in. All the Peruvians are impressed that we are gonna attempt it. They keep telling us it's only for the fit and I classify myself as that. Hello. Two marathons. It's 7 hours intense hiking day one and 5 hours day two. We are pumped. And. I'm a little nervous since we speak no Spanish but the guide speaks English thankfully. So. Cheers to hoping we get back! (Joke......) #triouradventure this weekend has your name all over it!

Peru days 1-3 and my first lesson

We'll. I am on my iPad so this might be pretty short.

We flew here. We are the same time zone.
I can't post pics with the blog so I can't even make it fun. So. Think of this as a view of a synopsis into #laadventuradeperu and all it contains. It's the life we live here and I want to remember every day. Via. Blog. Score!! So. Welcome to my journal.

Day 1: We got here and went to lunch with the boss Sandro. Napped. We were exhausted from the lack of sleep on the plane. I went running while the group walked around the park. So. The elevation is a freaking mile and a half more than I am used to. Lord help me to run 6 miles by the end. I met a couple from Oregon. I just. Ran up next to them. It was super hilarious and fun spirited. We saw the square with Sandro and found a great restaurant with fabulous sandwiches that we deemed a go to.

Day 2: Danny and I went running. Brutal but fun. Had 'continental breakfast which is great bread and jam'. It will suffice and is free. We went on a bus tour of the city. We saw llamas, had a ball on the double decker bus, and even rode horses at the end!!! We found our fav restaurant that night that was A crepe place. Yum. This intern Cameron that is super cool came and is one of us now.

Day 3: I went solo running at the park. Let's just say those crepes might not be my favorite anymore. I stopped at a random hotel to potty. It. Happens. So then we went to the convent and it was so so beautiful. It was cool to see how the culture forms from that place. Then Had lunch at a sketch place. Seriously. Danny and I worked out and we chilled at the place. Then went and had Chinese food. In. Peru. Hahah win. Some peeps went out but. Let's be honest. I am a grandma. Oops.

AND. FOUND OUT I GET TO GO TO MACHU PICCHU.

I'm so thrilled and can hardly wait. Anyways. Me and this girl Britney decided we are BFF's here.  Can't wait to get to know her.

Warning: this is my heart you are getting into that I wasn't sure if I would post but it's my blog.

Just to be honest as you know I have lost 40 lbs. so the way I did it was ideal protein- which dramatically decreases the amount of calories you eat. So. That poured over into my daily life when I stopped the diet. Just to be honest with you. I always know how many calories I am taking in. And even when I worked out twice a day as preparation to begin to train to Augusta-  I still did. Which really isn't even needed. It's honestly been a constant struggle between obsessively counting and then eating everything in sight. Soooooo.
With that. Being here I have nooooo idea what I am putting in my body.
My biggest fear being here was that I would gain weight back and be slower. But. You know what. Not to be YOLO. Because- I'm not going to live on French fries. But. I will eat BOTH sides of the bread (if you know me in the states. I don't do that..) and it's ok. So. I love learning how to re-function as a normal person again. In Peru. I didn't expect this so it's cool and slightly really difficult but needed. I DO have the goal though to be able to fit into my jeans I could wear before the trip. Haha

So until next time....

CLINTON BOUND

Well, in case you never got the memo.  I 'have a heart' for China.  I have been there; fell in love; pledged my allegiance to it and to go back.

That was 3 years ago.

My team and some of our friends across the pond.  Great trip.

3 years later, here we are, a senior at MC, and doing everything 'right' to spend my life there.  I am taking the Chinese classes, doing the "TESOL" program, switched my whole major to embody it.  God has GOT to be laughing at it all by now.

Ya see, 3 years ago when I decided all this, I kinda had a chit-chat with Jesus and was all like...ok God if you EVER don't want me to go (which just seemed absurd), it BEST be clear, and every desire needs to be removed in order for me to get the picture...again..halfheartedly said all this. 

The past month my responses have been slowly changing and I didn't even realize it.  Anyways, so a week and a half ago I was driving back from home, and all of a sudden it hit me. 

I DON'T WANT TO GO TO CHINA.

For the record.  They DO have peanut butter ;)

I start obviously hysterically freaking out, crying, sobbing, and just in complete disarray.

So Jesus and I talk, ok more like I scream out of confusion, and He chills and waits. He waits for me.  Oh so patiently.  To stop.  And Breathe.  And He oh so clearly had every desire for me to go taken from my heart.  Which scares the LIVING HELL out of me.

Logically speaking, I should go.  I would graduate 'earlier'-cuz-that is all I have left-Chinese.  But no.  It's not right for me to go.  I don't know why.  I don't know what happened.  I seriously don't know ANYTHING.  What I do know is that my application is removed.  I don't know what to claim myself as anymore.  And-I have NO idea why my degree is useful. COOL.  I know next year holds something pretty epic if it so drastically was taken from me.  And I am so OK with being here-actually-I am SUPER thrilled!

Things I do know:

-I'll be back at MC next year taking my 1 Chinese class a semester.

-I'll graduate May 2015.

-I'll live in Clinton-hopefully.

-I'll have an EPIC full time job-hopefully. 

-I'll run a lot.

-Jesus is Sovereign.

So glad to be in America this next year with my adventure buds too! :) 

These MC walls are crumbling slowly but surely.

Well, the countdown for seniors is steadily decreasing as we anticipate graduation.  I am not quite there since I don't graduate til December, however I leave MC in May because my last semester will be spent in China. So I still relate to my friends graduating in 2 months. *throw up*
It all started March 5th when my dear friend Robby and I were talking, and he is going to Germany for a year, and he asked after August when the next time he would see me would be, and I didn't know the answer to that question. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW!  I don't know where I'll be after December.  There are a few options open for my life, and it scares the living hell out of me.  I could teach in China, I could come back to the U.S. and be an R.D, or I could go to grad school for higher ed.; all of these options are great ones and I would fully glorify Jesus doing.  So, I'm not exactly freaking out if I stay in the will of God blah blah, because I fully believe if you are a follower of  Him you ALREADY are in His will.  Duh.  Silly people stressing out if you fall in His will...sometimes you just gotta follow your heart-which is my problem.  I'm not sure where my heart is leading me.  The big kid world is steadily approaching, and my beautiful little MC walls are slowly falling down around me as I am waking up at 5 most mornings to swim, or run, and as I start to disconnect from people because it simply happens.
I am starting to have more nostalgic moments because I know our times of living in a building with 200 girls I am friends with is coming to an end.  I know that my last KT meeting are coming to an end.  And, although I am excited to graduate, the reality senior night is about MY PLEDGE CLASS is terrifying.  As I sit here with tears streaming down my face from pure emotion over it all, I have nothing else to say but thank you Jesus for letting my heart choose MC, for letting my heart choose KT, and for letting my heart be led to apply to be an RA.  Without KT and RA, my college experience would have never been the same.

The faithful few who made it to the end!