Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Trial Run

Yesterday, I did a trial run (literally) for the marathon. I ran 23 miles, so that's close enough to the marathon distance without actually doing the 26.2 miles. I wore the clothes that I am going to wear. I ran some of the path that we will be running in the marathon. That way if there's a problem, I can correct it now.

The weather was perfect yesterday! It has been rainy all week. In fact, it's rainy again today, but not yesterday. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was also cold on Sunday, whereas, yesterday it was between 60 and 63 the whole time I ran (that's perfect for running.) It was so beautiful also. The colors of springtime are amazing!

I learned 3 things from my run yesterday. (1)These magic electrolyte pills are the way to go! They are actually jelly beans with electrolytes in them to keep you replenished. I couldn't keep all of the jelly beans in my small pocket, so Brock carried extra for me in his pocket. I felt like he was my drug dealer when I went to him to get a pill. They really give me a pick me up, and I have to have them while I'm running. I was losing electrolytes so badly that my body was caked in salt...salt from me! Anyway, one time I said, "I need the stuff!" Hahaha. That was extra funny at about mile 16. (2)Keep the music on my ipod going. Music makes such a difference. (3)I can do it!!!

The last one is the most important of all, of course. I was anxious about this run, because if I couldn't do it or got hurt, chances are, I wouldn't be able to run the marathon that I'd trained so hard to do. Don't get me wrong, I hurt all over, but the soreness will go away some day. Yesterday was the last long run I have before the actual marathon. Basically, I just need to maintain for the next few weeks. This means that my longest run will only be 7 miles. I'm on the home stretch!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Running and Resting

I didn't go with Brock to his last two shows. I had Lindsey and Jacob go with him instead. I needed some time off especially since I have to run 23 miles tomorrow for my marathon training. I couldn't do it if I went to the shows.

We decided that Brock can only run half of the marathon. We are simply too busy to be able to train like we need to. Plus, Brock uses more physical energy in the shows than I do. The last reason we decided to have him run the half instead of the whole marathon is that if we get hurt running the marathon, then, Brock wouldn't be able to do his shows that are coming up. Without me the show can still go on, but without him, it wouldn't happen. He is still doing the half which is nothing to sneeze at. He is also coming along to all of my runs and coaching me.

It was so good for me to rest. I was feeling rather rough when I got home from Canada. Now, it's time for Brock to rest.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Show in Moberly, MO



Pray for our show today in Hindman, KY.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Kansas City Pictures

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This was the place that we didn't like.

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Haley and Eva

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Eva liked her chocolate cream puff though!

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Brock's showing his disapproval of the frozen hot chocolate.

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When you stepped into Christopher Elbow's place, you felt like you were in San Francisco.

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I'm drinking my hot chocolate with the girls.

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Uncle Brock and Eva peruse the chocolate display.

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Overall, I think that Haley and Ryan would like this place the best. We liked Christopher Elbow the best, but this place had more of a variety and Elbow was only artisan chocolate which is what we love!

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The cinnamon truffle was the best!!!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Kansas City, MO


I didn't get a chance to tell you about when we went to Kansas City, MO after Alaska. We had a show in Moberly, MO on Wednesday night and the closest largest airport was Kansas City. Who happens to live in Kansas City? My sister-in-law and brother-in-law and my 2 year old niece. So, we hung out with my sister-in-law, Haley, and niece, Eva, all day Tuesday. They haven't been in Kansas City very long and wanted to know if there was any chocolate shops. There were! Five in fact! We went to all of them.

We had a good time trying truffles and such. We went to Panache Chocolatier and didn't like it at all. Eva liked the chocolate cream puff, though. Then, we went to Christopher Elbow Chocolates. It was wonderful! We tried some different truffles such as rosemary lavender and some unique hot chocolate. The flavor of hot chocolate we tried was Chinese Five Spice. It was great and our #1 pick for Kansas City. After that, we went to Andre's. They had all sorts of stuff. Not much of it peaked my interest except for the single origin truffles. They even had one from Bolivia. She said that the Bolivian cocoa beans were wild meaning they didn't grow on a plantation but just wild. They were the most unique. I'll have to tell my sister to look for wild cocoa trees!

The next day, Brock and I tried a couple more chocolate places, Annadore's Chocolate and the Sweet Guy. They were both good. The Sweet Guy had a cinnamon truffle that was one of my favorite on the planet!

Tuesday night, when we were back at Haley's house, Brock asked Eva if she wanted to go to Canada with us. She replied, "Yes, just let me get my shoes on." Then, she got out of her chair and went to get her shoes. Brock didn't have the heart to tell her that she wasn't coming with us, so he took her on a walk. They were gone for over a half hour. Brock got some good quality time in with Eva because of that comment.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Alaska Stories


I showed you pictures and videos from Alaska, but I didn't tell you some of the stories from there. Some of the funniest things happened on Sunday. We were at this big church in Anchorage. Sunday morning, it was televised. Brock was supposed to do a little trick and encourage people to come back that night. The church was very traditional and the music guy was anal and sort of a cut up all at the same time (you know people that way). The youth pastor dared Brock to put on one of the choir robes and go out with the choir. Brock didn't stop and think about it, he ran back to grab a robe.

I'm sitting up in the sound booth when the curtain goes up to reveal a big choir singing onstage and who is with them but Brock! He was standing on the woman's side singing in a robe. Brock said that the choir director noticed immediately and cracked up! At one point, the camera guys put the camera on him. Then, the preacher introduced Brock for his segment and he simply came from the choir loft and did his thing. He told everyone that he must have got in the wrong line because everyone around him was putting on these robes and going onstage.

Then, Sunday night during the show, Brock went out in the crowd and began messing with this older lady. He got right up in her face and asked her a question. She didn't respond and Brock was thrown completely off (even though nobody knew that he was thrown off). The reason he was thrown for a loop is because he realized that the lady was really a man in drag. Out of 1,000 people, he had to go up to the only drag queen and single him out! That was a first for sure!

Pray for our show tonight in Byron, GA.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Canada Pictures

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Logging was a big thing because they had these huge straight trees.
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Brock performing at one of the schools.

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They all wanted him to sign their shoes.

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The people that brought us in were extra nice. They took care of us with dinner for two every night after the show. They also gave us some chocolate!

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Brock caught a fish when the guys took him out on the boat.

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The plane ride was amazing! The next few pictures, I took from the plane window. The pictures don't due it justice, of course. They never do, but especially from a plane window.

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Videos from Canada



Some of the guys took Brock fishing while we were there. That's rocky!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Canada

The shows went really well here in Canada yesterday. The school shows were great! The students remind me of West Coast kids only milder. They are a little more difficult spiritually. It reminds me of Washington state here. You can tell the Christians from the non-Christians. There isn't a question as much like there is in the States. Canada is a post Christian country and you can tell. They aren't as receptive to the gospel of Jesus. However, many still responded. They weren't as hostile toward Christianity as some were in Washington.

They originally booked a show for tomorrow only. After it sold a couple of weeks prior to the show, they decided to book another show last night since we'd already be there for the school assemblies. We gave away 250 free tickets at the schools and many came. The place was packed out last night! It really was great.

Today, Brock is going fishing with a fisherman here and I'm going to run along the sea walk here. I'm excited about that! I like to run different places. Then, we have one more show tonight and we are flying back home all day Sunday. Pray that the show goes well tonight.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Campbell River, B.C.

We are in Campbell River, British Columbia in Canada. I haven't really seen much of it because we went straight to our hotel and to bed. I slept 12 hours last night. That's great! Since I only slept 3 1/2 hours the night before, I slept almost 8 hours both nights collectively. Maybe I can make it through the 3 shows we have today. Brock said that his body is weak right now. Pray for our shows today. Pray that they go well and that we have the strength to do them well.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Traveling Hazards

When you travel all day long on a plane especially, you don't adjust to the time zones very well. It takes a couple of days. This is what happened in Alaska. However, we didn't have a couple of days to adjust. We began working and continued until we left.

Last night, we did a show in Moberly, MO. Then, we drove 3 hours back to Kansas City and went to sleep. We had to fly out at 7am which means that we had to wake up at 4 something this morning. To make matters worse, we are flying to Canada today. Pray that we make it okay. Pray that we miraculously adjust and get some sleep. We have shows beginning tomorrow morning.

I've got to tell you that I'm struggling right now. My body is beyond it's limit. We had to leave the restaurant early the other day in Alaska because I kept almost passing out. Pray that I can make it until we get home late Sunday night. We have three shows tomorrow and one Saturday night. Then, we get to go home.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Videos from Alaska





Pray for our show tonight in Moberly, MO.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Pictures of Alaska

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Monday, March 16, 2009

Alaska Chocolate

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Our favorite place

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They had some very unique truffles

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Some of the best truffles we've ever had

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Me drinking their delicious hot chocolate

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We even came back and brought a big group with us

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Alaska Wild Berry...the most famous in Anchorage

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This is 500 pounds of chocolate

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This place assured me on the phone that they had lots of chocolate...

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and they did! They had a huge assortment of bars.