good morning, beautiful day...

     at b.j.'s suggestion, i woke up early this morning and went for a run. he was talking to me yesterday about how nice it is to be out there and watch the sun rise, so i thought i'd give it a try. my alarm went off at 6:30, but by the time i actually got out of bed and started moving around and stretching a little, it was closer to 7 when i got out. it was nice, a little humid, but cool. the run was all right for being up so early: my muscles were still half asleep and my mind really wasn't quite sure what was going on yet, but i was still moving along. then about halfway out it started to rain. of course. and this wasn't just rain, it was pouring. about five minutes later it had stopped and about that much later the sky was blue, so by the time i got back home it looked like i had actually sweat that much. i got some interesting looks from students going to their cars. or maybe that was just because of the chubby boy running down the street. but anyway, it was still all right. took me about a half hour to run the three miles, but i also walked some. especially right after that huge hill on smiley lane. yes, that's what the street's actually called. you won't see me smilin' much on that one.

     why is it so easy for us to forget that there are people who love us? we were sorta talking about that yesterday morning in sunday school, but with a God twist to it (as it was appropriate and all). we were asking the question how God would touch them persistently, and yet some of them still forgot that He loved them. then i caught myself thinking this morning during breakfast about some of the things that have been going, about some of the strained relationships and such, how i often need affirmation after affirmation. at least God is patient enough and willing to do just that, but i'm being serious when i ask, how can our memories be so short? we never did come up with an answer in class. i don't know, really. i guess with people (and i guess we could include God here) things tend to happen for better and worse, so if one of those worse things comes along, it sort of takes the place of the better. as if we needed another roller coaster. i guess what i'm saying is that if you have any crazy friends like me that need such a thing as love, be good to them today.

     hy-vee today until five, then a softball game at six. i probably won't play, but i'll go to watch, if i can find the place. i also have a lot of writing to do tonight. homework and otherwise. almost finished with chapter three. some interesting developments. anyway, have a good one. later.