Lilacs and Acrylics

The most perfect evening yet in Seoul. Spent with 2 beautiful girls, a bench, 3 lyres, lilacs, 3 canvases, and a set of acrylics. Nothing can compare. I found the painted imagery quite unique. It's amazing how you can retrieve feelings from paintings.

Turkish Children's Day

A little bit of Turkish culture in Seoul, Korea. Today was children's day in Turkey. Being that RIS is a Turkish International School, we visited the Turkish Cultural Center. Here are just a few of the pictures taken. Take to notice the rainbow if you would, yet another sign of God's faithful guidance. :-D

~Sign-Rainbow~

Bibs and Seabass

5:00 am: 2 bananas, 1 large glass of OJ, track pants, sport socks, fresh trackies, pony (for the hair of course), sweat band, stop watch, and most importantly the 'ipod'. All the necessities of marathon training. Yes, I said it... what? are you hard of hearing? I said 'marathon training'. Hopefully I won't need knee wraps anytime soon.

Location: Where is this festivity taking place? Well it's going to be held at the Songdo Daewoo Motors Field, Inchon Bridge, at Yeongjong Island.

The Running Track

This will be my first marathon, aahh and it's only the beginning of many. I began training last week, many months in advance of course. Come on guys, you all know how prepared I am at tasks before doing them. I just love preparatory skills and administration. Should I be chuckling, because I am. These are my 2 worst skills. I began with a 10K schedule but I wanted more of a challenge, so 20K it is. I'm most def. up for the challenge, as all of you who truly know me, know very well that I can struggle with a 'no' to any challenge. Should I be saying this? We'll see if it has any future impact.

Vigorous Training Schedule: Need I say vigorous, so far it has been pretty do-able. During the weekdays I start off at sun-rise, hit'n the track just a few blocks from my shoe-box crib. There seems to only be a few humans meandering on the track. I seem to get some sort of publicity when it comes to the morning runs. Not necessarily bad, could be due to numerous circumstances.

1. being I'm the only megook on the path.
2. I'm probably one of the youngest in comparison to the agimas and ahjummas.
3. I listen to my music very loudly and sometimes hum when I run. :-)

Surprisingly, every one that I run by has been very friendly to me. I have received more smiles on the track the past week than I have in the past 2 years street meandering in Korea. I try to bless each beautiful smile I see. At one point during my first week of training (while running in consistant circles), I thought "this must what it feels like to be a gerbil." The required time during the first few weeks is 30-35 min of consistent running, no walking, stopping, peeing, or "are we there yets?". I have actually loved the runner's rush... or what they call the "runner's high." I will admit that I have not been following all the rules. I didn't feel like stopping at 30 min, so I probably ran more than what I should've. I made it for 50 min, straight running minutes yesterday morning. Yes and I bragged about it too... except with a slight differentation in story. The incident occurred at our "Famous RIS Lunch table" I stated that I ran straight for 1 hour. Hey, I wasn't lying... I was just counting the time it took me to get back to "the shoebox." I did cut down on my cardio in the gym and also on my taekwondo boxing/cardio classes. I'm not planning on cutting down any on my weight. On weekend runs, I upgrade to the Han river bicycle path. Don't worry I won't get ran over... hmm should I be wearing elbow and knee pads? During my off running days, I try to hit the gym for weight training. Soon, I will be partaking to the point of scheduling known as... speed training. I'm curious to see how I will do. speed walk, run, speed walk, run, speed walk, run, speed walk, run, speed walk... should I keep going? I'll keep you all updated on the advancement.


Dress Code: So, for the ballroom attire I can say that I am not planning on sport'n those short runing shorts... as most call 'spedos'. I'm pretty stoked to be wearing an official running bib with numbers... hmm... I wonder if I get to choose my number? And now for the grand finale... drum role please... dun-dun-dun... The Seabass Running Club shirts! Yes, it's official! After finishing a run with my awesome co-worker Lee and his wonderful wife Deanna, buying an official starbucks beverage for Deanna, and taking a picture that I'm so sad to say was not saved (darn motorolla phones), I am now a lifetime member of the Seabass Running Club and the shortest one too!

In the beginning...

Nicole's version of God creating man Random thought: "I wonder if there was music during creation?"

Don't mind the fuzzy-ness... it's for those with modest eyes. :-D

The strings of His Heart

I heard this song a few weeks ago and it has been playing in my soul since. The past few weeks I have felt so distant from His presence. Sometimes I just feel like the Lord is so far away, but in actuality I know that He is right next to me. It's really myself drawing away from Him at times. All so many times He is probably whispering to me "come closer to my heart child." I know that He never moves and that He always wants me to draw nearer to Him. I want to draw nearer to His heart. I want to know Him more and more. I want to play the strings of His heart. At times I will sit, sing, and play as if I am singing directly into His heart. When I feel so far from the Lord, Music always brings me into His presence. Why is this? When I heard this song, it brought to me a visual of how my words go directly into His heart. How He gives us the strings of His heart to play and how He plays the strings of ours, how our words of song float into His heart and how He sings into ours. Simple but complex, beautiful.

I want to play the strings of Your heart, God
Come play the strings of mine
I want to sing straight to Your heart, God
Come sing straight to mine Lord

You have my heart; Lord, You have my hope
Lord, You have my heart, and I am searching for Yours

Lord, You have my thoughts; Lord, You have my thoughts
Lord, You have my thoughts, and I am searching for Yours.

Lord, You have my song; Lord, You have my song
Lord, You have my song, and I am searching for Yours.

I'm so in love with You, I'm so in love with You,
I'm so in love with You, Jesus
Jesus, Jesus
Song by Misty Edwards

Friend of the poor

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:1-10