Oregoniversary: My youth ministry journey on this side of the country

We moved to Oregon from Michigan in August of 2006 (almost 15 years to the day I am writing this) and began serving at our current church--my husband as a senior pastor and I hoped to be involved in volunteer youth ministry in some capacity.  I had been a youth director for four years in Michigan and I was eager to get back into youth ministry again--this time as a volunteer. We settled in fairly easily.  What was there not to love about Oregon?  The picturesque mountains, miles of hiking trails, no humidity, marionberries to name a few. 

A few weeks after we moved here we were invited to a picnic for Sunday school teachers and youth volunteers at a church member's house.  As they discussed the plans for the fall, a well respected elder made this comment:

 "I think we should take out the bulletin announcement about a need for a middle school youth leader.  It is discouraging to people to see it appear week after week with no one interested," said a well respected elder in our new church.

Our high school youth group had four committed leaders, regular attendees, and a well decorated youth room.  I wanted to be a part of that team.  The middle school youth group did not have leaders nor were there volunteers willing to lead the group.  They had no designated space and I honestly was not sure who the middle schoolers were. Rob felt we should lead the middle school group because this is where the greatest need was.  I could not argue with that, but I was apprehensive leading a group that had little momentum.  

Rob and I started with a very small group.  We had middle schoolers meet in our family room once a month.  It was typically two to three kids at a time.  We engaged in conversation, had snacks, and did a short Bible Study.  It lacked the silly games and crazy activities I was accustomed to with middle school ministry, but we knew we had to start simply.  

I would love to say the next several years were times of growth and the program thrived, but it continued to struggle.  We tried combining with high school, meeting on different nights, weekend events, more games, better food. We had several leaders lead or co-lead the group and determine it was not where they were called.  

I had to take time off when I had our second and third child.  When I was ready to return, I could not find a co-leader who was willing or available to help restart the group.  I prayed fervently something would change with this ministry and we could have a consistent middle school youth group. The group had some potential, but I felt like we were "treading water."  Something had to change or I was going to burn out and walk away again.

God blessed me with a co-leader who served with me the next nine years, some active parents willing to help. He provided me with seasoned adult who allowed me to contact her anytime I felt discouraged. She always knew the right things to say. Although our numbers fluctuated year to year, we had a consistent number of kids we built strong relationships with.  We had space to call our own.  We studied the Bible together, went to camp, had our own camping trips, did team building activities, played silly games, had a lock-in, did fundraisers, and served our community.  

Even though there were challenging times the past nine years and some groups required more maintenance than others,  I never dreamed I would be doing middle school youth ministry in my mid 40's with my own kids in my youth group.  I am certainly not trendy or hip enough, but Rob always reminded me I don't need to act like a teenager. I noticed kids seemed to gravitate to Rob when we were in our 20's even though he told them his hobbies were reading, model airplanes, and talk radio.  He never had to try hard and the kids thanked him for it.

I remember when I was in college, a missionary was sharing about their long term ministry in the jungles of Indonesia to an unreached people group.  He started out by saying, "The first two years we did not really do anything."  I remember thinking, "What do you mean?  Wasn't there so much TO DO?"

Now I know exactly what he means.  It takes time, patience, empathy, listening to the Lord and others, trial and error, not taking everything so stinking personally, and oh so much prayer. Sometimes it moves very, very slow. Sometimes you do not see any result for a long time if you do at all.  I am fortunate by the grace of God to be a part of a middle school youth ministry that is stronger than it was nine years ago.  It is humbling to know God used me with all my shortcomings and baggage to reach out to many kids.

During these challenging times we're facing when ministry has proven to be harder and sometimes utterly exhausting, it can be refreshing to hang out with young people.  I have found some of them have better attitudes, are more hopeful, and appreciate the little things.  Sometimes God can use them to encourage us adults.

If God is calling you to continue and not give up in ministry, then humbly proceed with faith in your Lord Jesus Christ.  You might be surprised and blessed where this journey takes you.

Look Back On The School Year: Fire, Ice and COVID In Between

 Flexibility. Consistency. These are the words I think of when I reflect on the 2020 - 2021 school year. Two words that had a marriage of sorts for myself in 2020 and 2021.  

 This was one of the most atypical, strange, and at times exhausting school year of our lives.

Flexibility became my word in 2020 as did for many of us without much warning.  This carried into the rest of the 2021 school year.  In late summer, both kid's schools were figuring out how to reopen.  The CDC and Oregon Health Authority's guidelines were pretty strict and the public schools announced they were offering virtual education only.  The younger kid's school chose to offer in person learning, but their opening would be delayed by one week due to some building projects.

We were thinking the oldest (who is in high school) would have virtual learning only.  Which she was not thrilled about.  Everyone was burned out with zoom by the spring.  Her school managed to reopen but could only offer two hours of instruction a day.  We were scrambling trying to figure out how to bring her to school by 8 AM and pick her up at 10 AM.  The school would not allow students to arrive early and linger on campus after class.  They could only have small stable groups on campus. Did I mention flexibility?  Thankfully being the extrovert I am, I sought to make some new friends and I managed to secure carpools.  Rob and I both knew we would need to be flexible with our work schedules so we could bring her or pick her up on certain days.

I will never forget her first day of school which was the day after Labor Day. It was also supposed to be my first day back at work.  The gusty winds on Labor Day started in the afternoon while we were enjoying what would be our last trip to the pool in 2020.  Those winds continued to pick up speed into the night.  An emergency alarm from Rob's phone awoke us briefly in the early morning hours, but we had no idea what it was for.  When I got out of bed at 7 AM, I was confused why it was still dark.  The sky was an orangish glow the entire day and we learned the devastating news about the Santiam Canyon being ravaged by wildfires.  Beautiful trails we've hiked and little towns we've visited like Detroit and Gates were destroyed.  Some of our friends in nearby Stayton and Sublimity had to evacuate.

The "orange day" when wildfires were raging in the Santiam Canyon

The rest of the week the sky turned into a white and grayish smoke blocking out the sun and greatly reducing the air quality.  I was out of work that full week due to air quality issues and some coworkers being displaced by the fires.  It was during that time I felt the weight of depression.  I did not feel like doing anything I normally enjoy such as running, exercising, watching movies, reading, or connecting with friends.  I resorted to taking naps or wasting time on social media.  It was a very hard week.

The sun trying to poke through a smoky sky

Thankfully the fires subsided and the air quality returned to normal.  The younger two could start school and I was able to go back to work.  It did not feel like a normal fall at all with all the COVID-19 regulations, but we were grateful for in person school.  The youngest was able to take theatre classes and the oldest made the fall play through the same theatre company.  I continued running and started looking at marathons in 2021 hoping some would be in person.  It felt like we were moving in the right direction.

Until November came and the talk of rising COVID cases were all over the news.  There were constant rumors of my job going remote again.  There was talk of restaurants, bars, and gyms closing again.  I stopped at Riverfront Park one afternoon in early December and basked in the sunny weather we don't always see that time of year.  I watched the cranes sitting in the slough.  I prayed we would not go backwards again and have to deal with cancellations again and going remote.  Even though I did the best I could to enjoy the holidays, a part of me felt trapped in this cloud.  It was a gray negative filter that tainted everything.

Walk in Riverfront Park in December

I hated telling my youngest that her theatre classes would now be over zoom and there would be no final performance.  My oldest could continue in her play, but there were even more regulations.  I would be working remote after Christmas Break.  I was assigned in the fall to be classroom support in several different classrooms.  Now that all classrooms were going remote, I felt like I had no job description.  I had to figure things out mostly on my own...again flexibility.

Then we got COVID.  We don't know for sure, but we think my husband had it on Christmas Eve. The oldest was diagnosed the day before New Years Eve. I tested positive on January 6, the same day as the US Capital Riot. You would think this would be a darker time in this whole journey, but it actually began a time period when I felt better mentally and emotionally.  

I was able to ride Orange Mango on unseasonably warm sunny days in January when I had COVID

I enjoyed walking through this little park near Monmouth

We had the symptoms, but thankfully were not that sick.  I was able to continue marathon training but running at a slower pace.  I went for bike rides.  I read ten books.  I painted.  I watched 90's movies with my oldest. I practiced guitar. I went on some local hikes.  I traveled to both Michigan and Virginia to see family.

When it came to my job, I learned to think outside the box.  I formed some positive relationships with fellow teachers.  I had to be flexible while being consistent.  I had to hold myself to a routine or I knew I would fall right back into that gray cloud again.

We had a slight disruption in February when our community was once again affected by unusual weather...this time not fire but ice.  We had a rare ice storm that destroyed trees and many of us were without power for days.  The house was unbearably cold at times.  I was wearing layers and weird assortments of clothes...I felt like we were camping.  We even pulled out camping equipment so we could at least cook on a stove.  It was stressful and not something I want to relive, but I am grateful for how my little family pulled together and cared for one another.  Our friends from church also supported one another with meals, laundry use, and charging phones.

So many trees were weighed down down by ice.  We heard constant crackling sounds and witnessed limbs falling.

Trying to keep warm by our firepit and cooking breakfast on a camper stove.

Some streets were not easy to drive through due to tree damage.  It reminded me of Midwest tornadoes.

The past two months have been a mixed bag of positive experiences but also adjustments as we have pressed forward to reopening again.  I stopped working remote in early April.  There were once again even more changes at my work when I returned to the classrooms.  My job in the fall feels completely different from my job in the spring.  The oldest was thankfully able to run track but also dealt with some quarantine regulations and cancellations due to exposures. Track was cancelled at the younger kid's school.  They still managed to have a short basketball season.  It was a little heart breaking cancelling the middle school camp I help with for the second summer in a row.

Friday was the last day of school for the younger two. There was no end of the school year picnic we typically attend. Since parents have not been able to go inside the school this year nor has there been many family event, I feel a little removed from our school community. The oldest has another week.  I actually have another month as my work extended its school year.  Again, strange school year.  

I know my kids keeping asking, "When am I going to have a normal year?" I, too, as an adult asked this.  I don't know the answer, but I am hopeful about the fall.  I see hints of more normalcy each and every single day.  On Memorial Day Weekend we went to the pool three times, went out for strawberry shortcake, and visited the Saturday market.  It felt completely normal.  We hardly had to wear masks all weekend.

Enjoying hot weather over Memorial Day weekend

On May 23 I ran my sixth marathon here in Salem.  It was an in person race on the same trail where in early December I pleaded with God to not have us move backwards again.  This was my COVID marathon.  I honestly could not have trained for it had it not been for COVID.  My flexible this fall and winter and early spring made it possible.  While I was running, I was reminded that God is consistent.   He never left us during this whole pandemic journey and provided for us in ways I never imagined. We witnessed answered prayers, received tokens of wisdom, and learned how to ask for help, and we received a lot of encouragement from others. 

My sixth marathon!

So I cling to the words of Psalm 121:  I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

  

Sick

I got sick a lot in 2019 and early 2020.

  In August of 2019 I got a "summer cold" complete with fatigue and a low grade fever.  Worst time of year to be sick.  Rob caught it took while we were camping.

 I almost always get some sort of cough or cold once school begins.  It was no surprise that I had a nasty cough in September of 2019. 

 In November I got another dry cough. I was sitting in a very important educational meeting at work and my friend kept passing me cough drops. 

 A month later I was in the same meeting coughing and had a low grade fever.  Thankfully I had my own cough drops. 

 I was healthy all through January. 

 On Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 I woke up feeling a little weak and lightheaded.  I really wanted to run at the track that afternoon because the weather was supposed to be beautiful.  I knew if I skipped Sunday School and church because I was sick, then I was too sick to run at the track.  During Sunday School I started to feel faint and by the church service I had chills.  One of my youth group kids told me to go home.  I left immediately after the service, walked home and put on a big sweatshirt.  I crawled in bed where I stayed until the next morning. I did go to work the next day. I was thinking that might have been COVID-19, but now I am thinking it was not.

The pandemic hit full force in March.  For nine and a months I had nothing.  Not even a mild cold.  No cough.  No sniffles.  Until yesterday when my daughter got a positive COVID-19 test and the rest of us are assumed positives.  While my symptoms are pretty mild, my healthy streak is over.  I am greatly looking forward to this pandemic being over as well.

I miss...I dislike...I am thankful...and I learned

How have the last nine months shaped you?  What do you miss?  What do you dislike?  What are you thankful for?  What have you learned?

I miss...

•  running races with crowd support
•  festivals and concerts
•  church services with more families present
•   teaching preschool in my own classroom
• kids sport games
• travel
• school events
• large group gatherings with friends
• seeing extended family
• large community events
• going to restaurants and coffee shops and being able to sit inside.  

I dislike...

•  the nagging feeling of "when will this ever end?"
•  watching the news
•  the "mask" debates and other heated discussions related to COVID 19
•  disappointment over and over again about all the things being postponed or cancelled
•  virtual meetings
• seeing people mentally drained and depressed due to this pandemic
• seeing children being out of "in person school" this long
• how devastating this disease has been for some people...it hits you personally when you know someone who died from COVID-19.
• how there is a lot we still don't know about this virus.

I am thankful...

•  for a more flexible schedule that has allowed me to work a mix of home, office, and classroom
• being able to exercise in the afternoons and not have to rely on the crack of dawn (it's going to be hard if and when I have to go back to that!)
•  we can go hike, bike, go to the coast, run, and do many outdoor activities
•  we still have our jobs
•  that our family is pretty close-knit and cares for one another 
•  for extra time for hobbies
•  for our little friend community here 
  
• a chance to slow down...even though sometimes it feels like a little too much.
• encouragement notes, texts, and emails received
• a large middle middle school youth group with thoughtful and joyful kids 
• a chance to try new things like singing on praise team and editing videos for teachers
• there is a vaccine now

I have learned...

•  to be more "go with the flow" and not have everything planned out...I honestly don't think I worry about "time" and deadlines nearly as much as I used to.
• the importance of practicing self care
• to show more empathy to others
• to slow down
• to have a humble heart and listen to people
• the importance of calming down before helping others calm down
• to take joy in the little things
• I am sure there will be more things that will be revealed with time...sometimes we don't see what we learned until after its over

The Day The World Changed

 I don’t think I will ever forget the morning of Thursday, March 12th, 2020.  It began as a chaotic week and came to a screeching halt. I woke up that morning tired from the events of the week and longing for the weekend.  Rob was in the kitchen and had that familiar look of concern in his eyes when something intense is about to happen.

He said, “I think we need to come to the reality that our daughter's mission trip to Mexico is going to be cancelled.”  My heart sank and my first reaction was denial. I said to him “I cannot deal with this right now.”  Rob went on to say that schools were probably going to shut down and I would resort to working from home. I know he was thinking about what this would look like for our church.  I could not wrap my mind around it.  I had not paid much attention to the news that week as I had been very busy at work. I was unaware of the severity of this virus.

That is why it felt like a doomsday.  We started the day at work taking kid’s temperatures when they came into school.  They had to wash their hands immediately.  We had never done this before. Several children and staff were out sick. We might have been dealing with COVID-19 in our own workplace. 

We were all checking our phone and emails throughout the day.  We began to witness cancellations, closures, and warnings about how bad this was going to get.  In our minds, we thought this would be a couple weeks or maybe a month interruption.  We had no idea the prolonged months of this pandemic and the impact it would have on us.  

Our daughter's trip was cancelled. This was the event from that day that broke my heart the most. Now nine months later, I still feel pain in the pit of my stomach and get choked up when I think about this loss.  When I got home from work, I saw my three children sitting together on the couch.  We had a simple Mc Donalds dinner because nobody felt like cooking.  We were trying to process what had happened and how our lives were going to change. There was much at that point we did not know.

For myself, as for many the cancellations have been the most heart breaking.  Our daughter's mission trip.  My other daughter's literature competition and soccer season. We were grateful this fall she was able to take a theatre class that was supposed to have a video presentation. It felt normal again bringing her theatre class and seeing her face light up with this new opportunity. Then, that too got cancelled right before Thanksgiving with the new "pause" in place that cancelled gatherings. My son had hoped to run track and play basketball. It was difficult during the quarantine for him not to see his friends. Rob travels internationally at least twice a year training indigenous pastors. He had to cancel all his trips. There is uncertainty about when he will be able to go back to the Philippines or Ukraine and continue the work he was a part of previously.

    Secondly it has been navigating through new territory that has been trying...and frustrating at times. Leading a church through a pandemic is new territory. Many decisions have to be made almost weekly. There are always people on both sides of the decision and it is impossible to please everyone. There is always someone disappointed. Due to a wide spectrum of comfort levels, people needing to quarantine or worse dealing with COVID-19 themselves, the regular volunteer pool has shrunk. Some people including myself are doing double sometimes triple duty Sunday mornings.  

    Lastly I think there is unresolved grief at least for myself. Last year was my first year of teaching preschool and I feel like I never got to say good-bye to my preschoolers. We had a Zoom party and I was able to say good-bye to some in person. The school year felt unfinished. Every time I substitute teach in my former classroom, a part of me grieves. It is getting easier and it helps that the current teachers are wonderful. I am in a float position this year that did not even exist prior to COVID-19. It allows less people in the classroom and creates small stable groups. Somedays I feel like I went backwards to my previous assistant role.

  

            Routines, traditions, and holidays had to change and be downsized significantly. Easter Sunday was one of my darkest days during this pandemic and I felt in a state of grief the whole day. Normally this is a day of rejoicing, but I could not get there. Fourth of July felt almost normal despite no downtown fireworks and the parade. Halloween was actually enjoyable even with the trick or treating brief and short. The holidays already have a different feel to it, but in many ways we have gotten used to changes.

One of the catch phrases at the beginning of this pandemic is “We’re all in this together.”  Maybe it felt like this at the initial start of the pandemic. The funny COVID memes, the toilet paper jokes, and the mutual encouragement was welcomed. The further we move into this world changing event, many of us feel division.  Divisiveness about wearing a mask or not wearing one.  Reopening or remaining closed. In person or virtual school. The election made it worse. Racial tensions in many areas of the country did not help.  The suicide rate is up and I worry often about people's mental states. There are many people who don't feel a togetherness, but feel more lonely than ever.

     I continue to pray for an end to this pandemic and I will continue to do so. I am hopeful God hears our prayers and will deliver us from it in his time.

    For what is worth this is my own piece of advice...

    Don't be afraid to call or text someone God puts on your heart. If that person is on your mind, God might have a reason for that. Check in on him or her. Don't be afraid to express your feelings whatever they are to someone you can trust. We were never meant to carry all this alone. God made us for relationships.

     If you are walking in a dark place, please seek help. Tomorrow is a new day. I cannot promise it is going to be any better than today. I do know God's mercies are new every single morning. When you feel like you do not have the willpower to walk through another day of this (and I've been there), know that God goes before you. His strength will fill you. When we are weak, He is strong.

The gyms might be closing...but I'm still running

 Sometimes I sit and stare at this computer screen and I am completely overwhelmed.  My heart is full of a whole range of feelings.  That is what this fall brought upon us.  My children are blessed to be able to go to in person school which is not the norm in our corner of the country.  Most students are in virtual school.  The oldest is in high school two hours a day.  There are no sports or extracurricular activities right now and barely any school events.  It is the bare bones of school instruction with masks and face shields, social distancing and lots of sanitizing.  Don't get me wrong--I am thankful.  When school started in September, I would take whatever they offered.  But I am not going to pretend I am not grieving the extras.

I am grateful I have a full time job.  It is not anything like being a teacher last year in my own classroom.  So much has changed that I feel like I am navigating through new territory and figuring out a new normal every single day.  I am also grieving what I once had and may not have for awhile.

I never would have dreamed the challenges of leading a church during a pandemic and watching my husband navigate through each one.  At the end of the summer my daughter said she was sick of hearing the phrase, "We're all in this together" because she witnessed one too many divisions.  That has crept into the church as well.  

Sometimes we are functioning with a skeleton crew and it reminds me of the days of the mid 2000s when we moved here and there were many volunteer needs.  I am wearing the hats of middle school youth group leader, nursery team member, and singing on the praise team (which I have not done since 2004).  Yet I think God fills us with strength when we need it and calls us to opportunities in the short term or long term.  When I see the sixteen energetic and eager middle schoolers file into the fellowship hall, I remember that calling.  These are the times I don't feel weighed down by COVID 19.

One thing I keep doing through all this is I run.  In the last eight months I have run through anger, pain, frustration, and yet joy too.  I have cried while I am running.  I have given thanks to God.  I have expressed my anger.  Some of my runs are a way for me to work out my feelings.  

I am grateful I can run.  Because sometimes I do not know what else to do.  Something so simple as putting one foot in front of the other, basking in God's creation, and hoping for an end to this draining pandemic is what I can do.  I will keep doing it.  Even though my gym is probably going to close yet again...and more things sadly seem to be shutting down around me...I will still run.

Running Update: 145 Mile Challenge

I am still planning on doing a total of ten races in 2020 for 10 10 Ministries.  I have learned to appreciate and even be motivated by virtual races.  The last race I completed was the PDX Sprint 145 Mile Challenge.  I had thirty days to complete it and I did it in 26 days.  They encouraged competitors to incorporate all three triathlon activities (swim, bike, and run).  I also included some hiking and walking.   

The highlight of this race was hiking and walking in Arizona especially in Prescott where 10 10 Ministries is located.  I had the honor of spending part of Labor Day weekend at one of 10 10 Ministries' retreat suites.  The rest, relaxation, visiting with Joey and Robyn, and basking in the beautiful southwest was what I needed.  I had no idea that a little over twenty-four hours after I came home, my beautiful state of Oregon would get ravaged by wildfires.  This is why last few workouts were indoors except for one walk in the smoke wearing a mask.  I felt like my neighborhood was ghost town.

Below are all the workouts I completed.  I kept track of them mostly for the sake of entering them correctly on the Why Racing website.  I did 3 miles of swimming, 84.71 miles of biking, 41.97 miles of running, 9.4 miles of hiking, and 6 miles of walking.

I had not run in 19 days.  After being stagnant for that long, it is difficult to start up again.  It is amazing how quickly motivation goes out the window.  I managed to get a run in this morning.  My next race is a virtual 5k on October 3rd.

Tuesday, August 18: Day 1

0.5 miles swimming at the Battlecreek Courthouse

1.5 miles biking back and forth from Salem, Swim & Tennis Club

Total = 2 miles (143 to go!)

Wednesday, August 19:  Day 2

27 miles biking with Salem Bicycle Club

Total = 29 miles (116 miles to go!)

Thursday, August 20: Day 3

4 miles run outside in the neighborhood

Total = 34 miles (112 miles to go!)

Friday, August 21: Day 4

5.4 mile hike in the Mc Donald Dunn Research Forest

1.6 mile bike ride to and from the pool

Total = 41 miles (104 miles to go!)

Saturday, August 22: Day 5

6 miles ran in the neighborhood

Total = 47 miles (98 miles to go!)

Sunday, August 23: Day 6

3 mile intervals at Wendy Kroger Park

Total = 50 miles (95 miles to go!)

Monday, August 24: Day 7

Rest! (Still 95 miles to go)

Tuesday, August 25: Day 8

Ran 4 miles in the neighborhood before work (it was hard to get up!)

Total = 54 miles (91 miles to go)

Wednesday, August 26: Day 9

Biked 20 miles with Salem Bicycle Club

Total = 74 miles (71 miles to go) - Over halfway!

Thursday, August 27:  Day 10

Ran 9 miles in the neighborhood (planned on doing 8 but it turned into 9!)

Total = 83 miles (62 miles to go)

Friday, August 28: Day 11

Biked 4.11 miles to and from the Crossler Track.  Ran 3.47 miles doing sprints/intervals around the track

Total = 90.5 miles (54.5 miles to go!)

Saturday, August 29: Day 12

Swam 1 mile at the Battlecreek Courthouse (it was tough--felt slow!! Also did weights)

Total = 91.5 miles (53.5 miles to go)

Sunday, August 30: Day 13

Ran 2.5 miles at Bush Park with friends.  Heather's first run!! 

Total = 93 miles (52 miles to go!)

Monday, August 31: Day 14

Rest

Tuesday, September 1: Day 15

Rest

Wednesday, September 2: Day 16

Biked 20 miles

Total = 113 miles (32 miles to go!)

Thursday, September 3: Day 17

Ran 10 miles (about 2 miles with Heather...starting to get hot...really struggled on the Mildred hills)

Total = 123 miles (22 miles to go!)

Friday, September 4: Day 18

Travel day to Prescott.  Was hoping to get a hike or walk in but too much traffic in Phoenix.

Saturday, September 5: Day 19

Hike = 4 miles

Hiked in Sedona.  I climbed up near the base of Cathedral Rock and walked along a the Easy Breezy trail.  Also walked up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Total = 127 miles (only 18 miles to go!)

Sunday, September 6: Day 20

Walk = 4 miles through Prescott Lakes neighborhood

Total = 131 miles (14 miles to go)

Monday, September 7:  Day 21

Rest

I have to get 14 miles completed this week.  Should be doable but the air quality is terrible right now due to fires.  

Tuesday, September 8: Day 22

Swim = 1/2 mile

Total = 131.5  miles (13.5 more miles to go)

Wednesday, September 9: Day 23

Rest...a lot shut down due to the fires

Thursday, September 10: Day 24

Bike (stationary bike at the gym--air quality still bad) = 10.5 miles

Total = 142 miles (only 3 miles to go!)

Friday, September 11: Day 25

Walk two miles in the smoke with a mask on

Total = 144 miles...only one more mile!

Saturday, September 12: Day 26

Swim one mile!

Total = 145 miles.  Complete!