an early gift to you. my friends.

first things first. by now, you should all know that i am an aunt to a precious baby girl named mia. whom i still haven't gotten to hold, but i will make up for all that time in a week and a half. so yay for jeff and mary's new little family. this kid was rather hesitant to enter this world, perhaps because she had caught wind of the fact that she'd be swaddled in a uniform and placed in a room full of her daddy's 2580-item cd collection. hard to say exactly why mary was in labor for a day and a half, but the point of the story is that mia's HERE!

it is a gorgeous saturday morning, i was awake at a completely unreasonable hour because the SUN woke me up, and all i have ahead of me today is a list of 4 or 5 things that i'm totally looking forward to. and beyond that, i'm one exam, one class and one half internship day away from being responsibility-free until 1/12/09. i love grad school. however, lest you think this is all unfair what with me not having to work, let me remind you of the thousands of dollars in debt with which i will merge these two years. that's called crossing that bridge when i come to it. if nothing else, do know what being in grad school has taught me? to wait actively. i'm i this holding period, with a new horizon in front of me, where i could truly do anything or go anywhere (though i really WANT to stay in indianapolis) and there are insane amounts of things--big things-- that i want to do now while i have the time, but i don't have the money. my life doesn't look overly exciting, and it is about as far as you can get from being glamorous, but i have done so much in the past few years that i never would have done if i had had my whole life figured out or if i had been "settled" at the ripe old age of 25. and most of these things are miniscule when compared to real world-changers. they're more about taking advantage of local things, spending some time in solitude, investing in those who are nearby and more often than not, new friends.

i have this overwhelming sense that 2010 is going to be a big year. and to be honest, it's not an overly optimistic feeling. most likely there will be hard times. as in, more hard times than good. NOW. i could be thinking in these terms because i know how hard it is to live in the space of almost and not yet...to be done with school yet jobless, broke yet hell-bent on seeing lots of the country and some of the world. kind of spontaneous and mostly responsible. so i look down my little 2010 viewfinder, and if all things go as they often do, it will be a tough year. i'm not the world's best adjuster to change, especially when there are things like debt hanging over my head (although, due to the tremendous graciousness of my parents, i've never owed anyone except them one single dime)...but my excitement (and fears) about this year go farther than just anticipation about my post-grad school plans. the reason is, that if i have learned one thing about God in 2009, it is just how big He is. i know. i should have grasped this a little earlier. i was talking to someone here who has become a friend, and whose depth of wisdom really amazes me, especially since she's not much older than me. anyway, i was telling her about this newfound inkling of God's greatness, and i ended a long schpiel with the statement

"yeah, so i don't know what all this means."

and she said "i wonder if God's giving you a sense of how big he is because He knows that pretty soon down the path, you're going to need it."

and i said, "Hm."

and i kind of think she's right. i won't even venture a guess as to WHAT i'll need it for, and i'm not trying to be one of those crazies who thinks she's a fortune teller. or who thinks her CATS are fortune tellers. but i'm just being honest (vague too, oh yes!) but my gut prediction about 2010 is that it will be big. trying. and very full.

and on THAT note, i have already been working on my resolutions for 2010. and let me tell you, they're good. i almost can't wait to tell you about them, but i have to have a long discussion with my mom about them first. she gets first peek because she's my resolutions accountability partner. we actually make resolutions every time we see each other and then go out for coffee the next time, and discuss our progress or lack thereof. rinse and repeat.

for 2010 i have none of the stuff you'd expect like "lose 10 lbs." not to say that it doesn't need to be done, but let's face it, that's been the primo resolution for about the past 8 years, and, well, you've seen me. and i ran a MARATHON this year for goodness' sake. if that doesn't do it, i don't know what will. (perhaps quitting my poptarts habit, but that won't happen. if this is what i'm gonna look like because i eat 2 brownsugar and cinnamon poptarts each day, then shoot. it's worth it.)

this year i'm making resolutions that, in order to accomplish i will either be stretching myself (emotionally or mentally), investing in others, or doing something for the very first time. plus, these are things that i will look forward to doing and they'll have lasting effects. aaaah, i like new years resolutions. (i would say "love" but i think it's overused.) so yes, i like them. like like like.

one more thing, before i go off to fun activity of thy day #1: did i tell you my other new favorite word? last time, it was monkey, because the word monkey is as fun as the actually animal monkey. my other new favorite word is pumpkin. it fills up you mouth when you say it. say it with me now: pumpkin.
see what i mean? pumpkin pumpkin pumpkin.


and in case i've not shared it with you, and maybe i have... the prayer below has been one of the most meaningful pieces i've read and meditated on all year. hope you like it too :)



Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

seasons greetings to you and yours

i thought i should wish you all a happy thanksgiving (belatedly) and a merry christmas (pre-emptively) all at once while i'm at it. i love love love this time of year and may very well be AWOL in the coming days. but i totally owe my brother a post on here, especially since he's given me some good new material. to be discussed later.

let me tell you what i'm doing right now...
i am sitting at home wrapped up in warm pajamas, watching love actually, drinking coffee and eating a peanut butter and chocolate english muffin. the furnace is on (which is something to say, given its track record the past few days). i just got home from a killer self-imposed workout, and i actually took a shower. and with my new haircut i don't even have to do anything to it. it dries and is instantaeously good to go. i washed my hair with adult formula shampoo and used cream rinse for that just-washed shine. i can't seem to find my toothbrush, so i'll pick one up when i go out today. other than that i'm in great shape.

ANYWAY.

i had a fantastic time at home for thanksgiving this weekend. but i must say, it is good to be back indeed. what were the highlights you ask? well.

1. pedicure with my mom. my toes look like nminiature christmas ornaments.
2. thanksgiving day run with my dad in downtown st. joe. such bittersweet memories to be back along the beach
3. caffe tosi's not once but twice. with two of my favorite people. mom yesterday, beth today. eggs espresso both times. heck. yes.
4. panera bread with another wonderful friend
5. playing boggle with my parents and grandpa, despite getting creamed by my mom twice. did you know that ricer is a real live word? oh yes. it is.
6. having absolutely no responsibilities. and listening to the oak ridge boys christmas cd. which reminds me of my childhood. (back when i had absolutely no responsibilities)
7. running into lots of old friends while shopping at the orchards mall.
8. listening to sweet music on the drive back to indianapolis


ok, those were the highlights. which don't really do justice to the nice relaxing time i had away at home.
i also got to talk to my brother tonight and he assured me that i will be getting an awesome present from him this christmas. apparently, it's made for tv. i can't wait. jeff and i exchange joke gifts every year. they are often irreverent, never classy. always rooted in junior high humor. so today on the phone with jeff, he said [AND I QUOTE] "if i had to buy a snuggie all over again, i'd just get an oversized robe somewhere like fashion bug plus"
and really the rest of the conversation is irrelevant, as that phrase alone is worthy of mention. it gives you insight into a few things about jeff.
a.) he bought a snuggie. and liked it. but,
b.) he apparently dedicates a noteworthy amount of mental energy to considering how he could improve upon his snuggie-buying experience.
c.) he knows of and refers to fashion bug plus. really? yes, really.

in other news, i graduate in approximately 5 months. holy. crap. seriously, how did time fly like this? and more importantly, will i have a job in a year?

lastly tonight, here's my PSA for the holiday season: i'll be having a lakeshore high school friends hang out time sometime over chirstmas break. most likely a day or 2 after christmas. so think about that as you make your returning-home plans.

yay.

kids are like little people, only smaller

wow. sunday night already. did this weekend go by way fast to anyone else?
i went home this weekend for our pre-thanksgiving thanksgiving famiyl gathering and mini baby shower for jeff and mary. i was not aware that the father-to-be did all the present-opening. is that the way it's supposed to be? jeff and i also rocked some christmas carols in piano-bass guitar duets. i do not live up to his high musical standards and refines taste, btu i tried, and by the end of our jam session, he said that i was getting better. so that's progress. apparently, the problem with my piano playing is that i play what's written on the page....

ooooh, jeff and i also engaged in a session of yoga with rodney yee. it was preeettty intense. i'm still sore but managed to drag my sorry self to the gym tonight regardless. jeff spared me from his spandex yoga pants.

i don't think any of my old students read this, mostly because they don't have access to the url. but i want to declare publicly to all 5 of you that grace christian girls are volleyball district champions. which is a big deal in its own right, but even more a big deal when you consider that gcs is by far the smallest school in the area. yay! i had the opportunity to go and cheer them on last night, and also i got to see lots of old students and parents. it is still really sad for me to go back. i have such wonderful memories...if i could transplant it all to indianapolis, and if they'd pay me about twice what i was making as a science teacher, i would. and then i think life would pretty much be perfect.

speaking of life being perfect, it is pretty darn good. i've said on here before that i don't know how i got so lucky as to have the life that i do. it's completely unfair that i get it so good (and if you're reading this, you are a part of what is good to me). i cannot imagine anything better. i have found myself completely blown away lately at how much i have. and what responsibility comes wiht those blessings. dont. mess. up.

but i do mess up! that's the other thing that is so crazy. i totally don't have it all together. i am a complete mess.
life is truly beautiful. and a total disaster. love love love.

so what's the news at the templeton house? glad you asked.
well. first. my dad is going back to grad school for his second master's degree. he has an mba already, but is now going to do a master's of ministry & theological studies. i think he's looking to a past-retirement kind of career, maybe doing something in ministry or even within the church. i am so proud of him for doing this.

i hung out with my mom most of friday daytime, and we drank lots of coffee, ate good food, and raised a general ruckus all over st. joe. we did not, however, get pedicures, so i wouldn't call it a "perfect" day. but...very good indeed.

i am now back in indy (one speeding ticket later....boo!) and gearing up for another week. i only have 5 or so weeks left of my internship, and i know i need to start preparing to leave there. it will be hard. some of these kids have become little bright spots in my week.

monkeybread and only the happiest tradition since 2001

it seems like lots of people have favorite words. or, if you're my roommate formerly known as abby bandstra, least-favorite words. my favorite word used to be "bubble." and now it's "monkey." monkeymonkeymonkey. the word itself is as cute and playful as the real thing. and monkeybread is quite possibly the most wonderful culinary creation known to mankind. my roommate made it tonight, and i was the happy recipient of leftovers. so i'm sitting here, quite sad that it's all gone. i'm listening to my "melancholy" playlist for the occasion. it's THAT bad, guys.

i've had a kind of crazy fall so far. it's been hard, but good. more on that sometime later on. i'll share the highlights so far...

a.)
ccn09=success. (if you have managed to know me this long, and not know what ccn is, consider your wrist slapped and listen carefully and makr your 2010 calendar for 10/25... ccn is christmas craft night,and it has happened every october 25 since 2001 during my freshman year at calvin college, sing we all to thee.)
even though my calvin friends did not coordinate satellite christmas craft night events, the MAIN event was a fun filled apron-making extravaganza. my roommate's birthday HAPPENS to fall on october 25. now, you may ask, "how could she possibly be so lucky as to have been born exactly two months before christmas, and exactly 22 years before the inaugural ccn?" and to that i answer, "I know, right?!" she is one of the chosen few. and secondarily, you may ask, "and how in the world did this perfect roommate match of ccn-birthday-girl and ccn-co-founder ever come to be?" and to THAT i say, "i have no idea, but it was surely meant to be," kim happens to be pretty awesome in other areas of her life as well, if you can believe that.

2.)
my new niece or nephew will be born in a matter of weeks. so that's kind of a big deal. jeff templeton, weird al fan club president hopeful, and writer of such hits as " don't let me drown," "briefs or boxas," and "yo, get on the dancefloor," is about to embark on the journey of fatherhood. and if you don't know this already, he's going to be PRETTY awesome at it.
you know, family has always been important to my brother.
exhibit A: "rusty," "flipper," and "flipper junior."

d.)
i have had a great time with friends, old and new over the past month: marathon, swing dancing, pumpkin carving, indianapolis art museum, running along the canal, day of healing conference (huge day of personal growth), walking along the canal, shopping, and tomorrow night, i'm going to the david crowder band concert here in indy.

life is good my friends, life is good. but now i must do laundry and work on a project for work. wahoo!

26.2

i've learned enough in my life to know that it doesn't really pay to plan out the rest of your life. that being said, there are a handful of things that i want to do before i die. and running 26.2 miles with 45,000 others was one of them. CHECK.
i've spent the past few months very much devoted to the training program. i didn't go overboard, but i did spend hours and hours a week running longish distances. it was definitely rewarding to even complete the training process, but nothing compared to the actual race, where i ran a whole 6.2 miles longer than i ever had in my life.
here are the facts:
more importantly, i went with 3 other girls, and we all finished! my stated goal was 5 hours, my REAL goal (that i didn't dare tell many others) was 4:45, and my "best case possible scenario" was anything under 4:40. i ran the race in 4:44, so i was under my goal and not too far from what i thought was physically possible for me in the best of circustances. and it wasn't exactly best circumstances: it was in the 30's all day, and at mile 18 or so my knee started to hurt unlike it ever has before. given all that, i was happy to finish under 4:45 and 22,150th place of 45,000. (BEing in the top 50% is always my goal in any race)
at any rate, i am glad to have it behind me, and have truly been overwhlemed at how encouraging my friends and family members have been. many have called or written to say good luck or congratulations and that means so much to me.


in other news, while in chicago i also visited (for the first time) the bean in millenium park. i've been to the city more times than i can count, and had never been. so, we'll check that one off the list as well. it was a preeeetty big deal.

before the coffee brews.

hi jeff. hey allison.

my coffee maker, the 8-dollar walmart version i received as a gift from two of my most precious gcs 8th graders, takes its sweet time in preparing my miracle morning beverage. thus, here you have me in semi-coma mode, intent on fulfilling my promise to my friend and my brother to stop this nonsense of having a blog that i never update. what can i say? i'm a trooper and a promisekeeper. (and a truthteller, but that's neither here nor there)

soooo. what is new in everyone's respective corners of the world? or midwest as the case may be? i am up especially early today. for no good reason except that lately i have been waking up before 6am, bright eyed, bushy-tailed, and totally ready for a new day. a new week. i'm actually excited it's monday. is that funny? life is just that good. seriously. the only thing that could make this morning better is nothing. except maybe a sunrise and an orange scone. but i'll take my quiet kitchen, homemade folgers, and peanut butter toast with cherry jam as a close second.

so i went back home this weekend for a tour de southwest michigan with my roommates. we did all my favorite local places--caffe tosi, silver beach pizza, two wineries, calderwood farms...it was the perfect way to spend the beginning of fall. whenever i go back, i miss living there, but i am also beyond satisfied with indianapolis. i don't think i could have chosen a better place to spend a piece of my life. people keep asking where i'll look for jobs next year. and for many many reasons, the answer is right here in indy. in fact, i would not be opposed to working for ips--the indianapolis public school system that happens to be in total disarray. you guys, i love it here.

i was teaching a piano lesson last week to a little boy named eivin and i was reading him the abbreviated and modified-for- gentleness-and-compassion riot act for not practicing. ever. as in, he doesn't open his piano books in the 167-odd hours between piano lessons and his parents have spent thousands on piano lesson for him and his brother in the past few months alone. so anyway, he stops me in the middle of my tirade and said, "you know, i'm just not sure i can fit piano practicing into my busy schedule...i'm in kindergarten now, i've got to practice my video games, and i'm learning how to read." this kid is in kindergarten. and apparently has quite the social calendar as well...he's just not sure he can find 40-60 minutes a week to practice such songs as "where did you get that hat?," "the zoo", and "tapdancing tadpoles." ah, kids.

in other news, my bro and s.i.l. jeff and mary and getting ever closer to being parents. and are being very closed-mouthed about baby names. i've already told them they are welcome to name their children after me. but i suspect the real reason they don't talk about the possibilities is that they know they'll get subverted and ill-hid opinions from family members about their choices. or at least telling facial expressions (content smile-nods or disapporving eyebrow raises). anyway, it's all very exciting, and regardless of what scandanavian name they choose, i'm sure this kidlin will be adorable and of course very much loved. and dressed like daddy in dark wash jeans and button-up white dress shirt (jeff has a self-imposed uniform.)

in just 2 short weeks, the chicago marathon will be over. the training is getting kind of old. it's not that i'm running any mroe days than normal, just that i have to go for hours at a time some days that i run. when all is said and done, i'm running or spending time in running-related activities (namely showering because i've stopped "air drying" as i did in my college days) for 10-12 hours a week. but in two weeks i will officially cross running a marathon off my "die a happy girl" list and move on to my next task: marrying into money and stopping the hunger in somalia without using violence (nod to john murphy).

and with that, it;s 7:01 and i have coffee to drink, journaling to do, the bible to read, and a whole new day ahead of me. yay. happy monday everyone :)

feels like home.

know how i get obsessive about a song and listen to it until i absolutely can't stand it anymore? [e.g. travelin soldier....which btw i've not heard in YEARS, if you can believe that]...well this summer i've had a whole playlist that i can't get enough of. i can't decide if this is progress or regression. and yet. i ask you, how did i make it this long without having discovered nickel creek? i don't know either.

my move from my apartment went stellar. a huge THANK YOU to kathy q for bringing her parents' truck down from lafayette and helping me move one HOT wednesday evening. we totally girl-powered it and should probably consider starting our own moving company if our careers in education are a bust. it's going to be called two girls, a truck, and an suv. i still have to vacuum out the old place and turn in the keys today. but i'm mostly settled in my new house and i LOVE it. love the neighborhood as well. i have already identified several houses that would be perfectly acceptable abodes once i graduate and begin making tons of money.

ok, that last part was a joke. i know that you THOUGHT i'd be really rich as a school counselor. but alas, probably not. unless i marry well. WHICH btw, is still part of the master plan. anyway, the moral of the story is that my new neighborhood is so cool. (i can't think of a better adjective right now, but know that "cool" doesn't do it justice)...lots of old homes, corner coffeeshops, sidewalks, ahhh. i feel like i've lived here much longer than the 2 weeks i really have. life is so good.

i started my internship at an indianapolis public elementary school last tuesday. i love it. i had no idea that i'd missed being a part of a school so badly. my first week alone was a huge blessing and confirmation of this as my career choice. i'm excited to go back tomorrow, and keep getting to know the kids and teachers. it will be a huge challenge, as the kids come from one of the worst sections of the city. 93% of their parents are unemployed. it is like another world sometimes, but they are sweet kids who ache to be loved.
...they are also germy kids who passed on some cold/flu bug that i got for the better part of last week/weekend. which shocked me, since i thought my immune system was fail-proof.

overall though, i feel like i have just had one good experience after another this summer. and looking back, some have been icky situations where, only after i've looked back on them, did i see their value. it's been a growing summer--a growing year, really.

i went to the indiana state fair a few nights ago, and DID NOT try the chocolate-covered bacon. but i was standing near the booth as some people were eating it, and actually heard one girl say, "actually, it's not very good,"
well now. isn't that a shock? chocolate covered bacon? not very good? GET OUT.

going to traverse city with john "the great american" murphy, girlkq, and joe "i've been to space" jewell. good times will be had by all. it will be jam packed with euchre, wine tasting, and northern michigan cabin-living. it will be an admittedly quick trip (partially my fault for needing to cut it a little short), but hopefully just the thing we all need to jump start the fall craziness that will quickly ensue. yay for quality friends from high school.