Ice Breaker – Vacation

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  What are your vacation plans for this summer?

My Answer:  I’m leaving later today for a week of vacation in Hilton Head, SC.  While I’m there our family will be celebrating my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.  I’m looking forward to a restful week.

(FYI, I may or may not post while I am away.  No promises other than I plan to relax.)

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Boys On The Curb

After we left Zully’s house, we passed these boys sitting on the curb just hanging out together.  There were no adults around at the time.

This is a common sight in Xenacoj where children roam the streets during the day and early evening hours.  The community is watching them, and they are safe.

As we passed by, they greeted us.  I think they were just as curious and intrigued as we were at the time.

Pray these boys would grow up to become strong men, strong husbands, and strong fathers.

Guatemala Photo – The Gracious Welcome

Before we headed back to work after our siesta, we gathered the women for one more picture.

As they sit on the front porch of the house our team built three years ago, I am reminded of the gracious welcome our family has received whenever we visit Zully’s family and whenever we visit Xenacoj.

Our family most likely will not be going to Xenacoj in 2015, but we are planning a multi-week trip in 2016.  I look forward to visiting with Zully’s family and our other friends in Xenacoj.  I look forward to gathering on Zully’s front porch to hang out with members of our Guatemalan family.

Forced To Slow Down

Two weeks ago, I wrote about my basketball experience at the gym.  In the post, I asked “Are You Fully Committed To Your Goals?”

My basketball experience was inspiring at first.

However, things turned a different corner the next day when I developed a pain in my lower left leg.  I can’t be 100% sure, but I’m fairly certain this pain was caused by my efforts on the basketball court.  After years of running for distance, my legs were not used to the running required on the basketball court.  On the court, you stop.  You jump.  You sprint.  You run backwards.  And you cut around other players on the court.  For some reason, my leg didn’t like this experience.

I tried to work through it for a few days by walking and biking, but the pain in my leg only became worse.

Instead of visiting the doctor, I did the thing that most guys would do.  I kept running, and I kept complaining about my leg pain.  This lasted until my daughter (who currently knows everything) looked up my symptoms online.

What did we ever do without the internet?

Within a few minutes, she determined that I might be dealing with some micro-tears in my lower calf muscles.  She prescribed rest and a few other tips based on her web findings.

To confirm her findings, I consulted a few friends who are part of the medical field.  Naturally, they recommended rest, ice, and some stretching.  They also suggested a gradual return to exercise along with some muscle-building exercises should I desire to return to the basketball court.

Up until this injury, I have been very consistent with my daily morning workouts.

The injury forced me to slow down.

Sometimes we need to take a break.  We need to give our minds and bodies the opportunity to recover, to rest, and to recharge.

Don’t wait until you face burnout or injury, decide today to build breaks into your schedule.  These breaks will help you become more effective when it comes to pursuing your passions and dreams.

My leg is finally starting to feel better.  Today, I will head back to the gym to restart my exercise routine.  I won’t be able to jump back in at full tilt.  I will have to slowly build back up to my pre-injury intensity.  I won’t get back on the basketball court today, but I’ll get back there sometime soon with proper training which will included opportunities to recover, rest, and recharge.

When were you forced to slow down?  How to you recover, rest, and recharge?  Tell me about it in the comments.

Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Zully’s Grandmother

Over the past three summers, we have had the opportunity to visit with Zully’s Grandma (La Abuela).  She and her husband live next door to Zully’s family in a hut made with cornstalk walls, a metal roof, and a dirt floor.  This is the life she is used to growing up in Xenacoj.

There is a contentment on her face.  I’m sure life hasn’t always been easy for Zully’s Grandma, but I get a real sense of peace when I look into her face.

She reminds me that contentment does not come from things – from gathering wealth.  True contentment is found in family and in faith.

Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Family

This is Zully’s aunt or cousin.  (I’m not quite sure.)

She has been part of our yearly visits to Guatemala, and she and her husband live in the metal structure in the background.

In Xenacoj, families tend to live close together.  Several immediate family units live on the same property, and they work together to keep the property clean.  They share jobs including gardening, laundry, and cooking.

We saw some broken families during our visits to Guatemala, but we also experienced intact families like Zully’s family where the parents and grandparents are still together.

Celebrating 19 Years Of Marriage

Today, I celebrate 19 years of marriage to the woman of my dreams.

19 years ago today after a round of golf and a breakfast brunch at Greensburg Eat N Park, I took a shower, put on my tuxedo, and headed over to Charter Oak United Methodist Church with my groomsmen.  With in an hour of arriving, I was standing at the front of the church as I watched my bride-to-be walk down the aisle with her Dad.

We both had little idea what we were getting ourselves into.  We were young, and we were probably a little dumb (or maybe that was just me).

19 years of marriage has been an adventure.  We’ve gone through a few very painful experiences, but they have been significantly overshadowed by the blessings in our life – our two kids, our extended families, our friendships, our church family, and our pursuits at home and abroad.

When Pastor Kraft  talked to us about being “stuck together” during our wedding sermon, he knew what he was talking about.  Stuck together may sound a bit negative, but it doesn’t have to be.  It’s part of staying with each other and growing together through good times and bad times.

Marriage is not always easy, but it is possible to have a marriage that goes the distance.

As I look back on the past 19 years of marriage, I smile.  I smile at the memories created.  And I smile at the prospect of adventure ahead.  And I smile at TODAY which provides an opportunity to pause, to reflect, and to celebrate our union.

Happy Anniversary, My Dear Leanne!

Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Princess Zully

The influence of Disney is widespread.  Even in Guatemala, you can see the impact of Disney.

Zully is wearing a shirt with the image of several Disney princesses.  I wonder how much she knows the story of these storybook characters.

Does she know the story of Sleeping Beauty?  Does she know the story of Belle?  Does she know the story of Snow White?

One of the reasons I try to post pictures from Guatemala on a daily basis is to help me remember my experiences in the country I have come to love.  The other reason is to help readers get a small glimpse into an unfamiliar world.

Today’s picture depicts a real life princess – Princess Zully.  During the summer of 2012 she captured our hearts as she played with teenagers from our church’s youth group while we built her new home.  In 2014, we had the opportunity to see how she is blossoming into a beautiful princess.  She is learning.  She is growing.

Pray for Zully and her family today.  Pray that God would meet their daily needs.  And pray that they would continue to seek after God with all they have.

Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Zully’s Mom

When we arrived at Zully’s house, we were met by her mother.  She was so happy to see us.  We were welcomed with open arms and a load of hospitality.  We didn’t use our siesta time to take a nap, but we were refreshed by the fellowship as we sat on the front porch.

This is the home I helped build the first year I went to Guatemala in 2012.

While I struggle to communicate verbally with Zully’s family (I really need to work on my Spanish), there was a clear connection we made which transcends the language barrier.

What a blessing to visit with this family we have come to love in the village of Xenacoj.

Guatemala Photo Of The Day – On The Way To Zully’s House

In the faces of my kids, I see a look of contentment.  They are happy to be in a place that doesn’t physically look like home.  At first glance, there seems to be so much less.  Upon a further look, there is so much more.

As I remember walking to Zully’s house this afternoon in Guatemala, I recall a sense of belonging and a peace in my present circumstances.  Despite the desire to get more work accomplished, I discovered a joy found only in by being in the moment.