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I’m Back…
I’m back! But maybe you didn’t even know I was missing.
I just returned from a week of vacation with my wonderful wife as we celebrated our 15th anniversary in Cape Cod. It was an incredible trip, and I hope to share some of the details in the days to come. I just wanted to send out a quick thank you to all four of my guest bloggers this week. I think they all did an excellent job sharing how they have felt “stretched” these days. If for some reason you missed it, here are the links to the four guest posts.
Monday: Norman Stolpe (my dad) – God in the Spaces
Tuesday: Beck Gambill – Faith Stretch
Thursday: Alex Humphrey – Savor The Flavor
Friday: Hannah Stolpe (my daughter) – Middle School Missions Trip Recap
Thank you!
When you go on vacation, do you prefer the mountains or the beaches (or maybe somewhere else)?
Transformation Reminders – Looking Back Brings Perspective
Leanne and I on our Fat Tire Bike Tour while in Paris in 2006
Yesterday morning, I enjoyed an eight mile bike ride on the Perkiomen Trail with my wonderful wife. We rode on a section of the trail that I haven’t been on for a while. I used to come here often. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this out and back section between Spring Mountain and Green Lane Park. I like it, because it’s shaded most of the way, it’s fairly flat, and it’s right alongside the Perkiomen Creek.
As I consider the possibility of ramping up training to run the upcoming Amish Country Bird In Hand Half Marathon on September 10, 2011, I realize that I’ll probably return to this area to log some of my longer runs. Several years ago, I logged a lot of miles on this section as I trained for full and half marathons.
On Sunday, I returned to New Jersey with our family to enjoy a picnic/party with some friends. It was a huge blessing to see these friends and their families again. I lived in this area for almost 17 years of my life. In many way, this is my home (although I don’t have family there any longer). I grew up here around these people. Sure it was somewhat embarrassing to be reminded of some of the crazier things of my youth, but it was also gratifying to hear how my generation of teenagers made an impact on our youth leaders.
Returning to a forgotten section of trail and returning to my hometown area – how do these relate? I think it can be healthy to get back to our roots – to go back to the past.
Sometimes, this can be painful as it reveals broken relationships and failures that we’d rather forget. I get that, and I know it can hurt. But I think looking back can also show us how far we’ve come. It also gives us a chance to renew our appreciation for where we’ve come from in life.
As I look back on the last four years of my blog and the last two months of my journal, I can see God’s faithfulness. I can see areas of challenge and growth in my life. And I can see how God is chipping away at this rockhead – how God is molding me like clay – to be continually transformed into a new creation. Going back reminds me of this fact.
When you look back at your past, how can you see that God is transforming you? Where do you go to be reminded of your past?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Detours
Today, I have the privilege of presenting my wife as my guest blogger. Leanne and I will be celebrating our 15th anniversary in less than two weeks. We’ve been through a lot together over the years, and I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead. Her thoughts below are extremely insightful while being very transparent. Leanne doesn’t blog at the moment, but your comments and feedback may help spur her on to share more of her life and story.
This week I took a day off and went to the beach. This is something I used to do a couple of times a year but recently haven’t done for quite some time. So, it was a big deal to me. I filled up my tank with gas. I packed a picnic lunch, and figured out my directions. I put my tunes in the cd player and started on my trip. I didn’t even get on the turnpike when there was a detour – right at the start of my trip!
It reminded me of how this past year seemed like a detour in many ways.
- I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being treated for a bipolar/postpartum psychosis diagnosis for 10 years. My doctor encouraged me to get a second opinion and when I did, the diagnosis was postpartum psychosis. So, I came off my medicine and gradually began having symptoms which led to a severe reaction. I have spent a lot of the year recovering but have found a greater understanding for people who deal with mental illness but also special needs in general, especially as they relate to children.
- I decided to resign as my position of our church preschool director because I missed the children. I found myself spending most of my working hours behind a desk instead of with the children I love. Through tutoring and subbing this year, I have rediscovered a passion to be with students in the public school.
- We had to put the trip of my dreams – Africa – on hold, but we have a greater resolve to make a difference in our local community as a family. We are excited for our service group to start-up again this fall. It was also a lesson of control. We quickly learned how much we are not in control of our lives.
In all these things, I am now able to look back and see God working for the good in all things. At the time, life seemed like a series of detours. A friend asked me the other day if life made sense and for the first time in a while I was able to say that yes, right now it actually did. That doesn’t mean that life is without problems and everything is perfect but there’s faith, recovery, hope, and the support of family and friends.
What detours have you experienced in your life? How have you seen God working good in your life through the ups and downs?
(I’m looking for guest bloggers to share their “stretch marks” here. If you’re interested in becoming one of my guest bloggers, please drop me a comment, so I can get in touch with you.)Top Posts for June 2011
Once again, it’s amazing all the statistics that are out there for tracking blog traffic. Below is a list of my top 5 blog posts receiving traffic in June:
1. Bringing Consistency To My Blog
2. Humorous Story of a Small Group Leader
3. Zach’s Adventure (This was my favorite by my son, Isaac.)
5. Raising Kids to Work Together
I absolutely have been loving the dialogue that happens through the comments. I’ve met some new people this month from all over the place. And I’ve truly had a blast. I’m looking forward to a new month in July. As I’ve stated to many before, my blog is a place for me to process some of the things that are stretching me. It’s nice to know that some of these thoughts may be helping others as well.
So here’s my question: Do you blog? What was your most followed blog post this month? What was your favorite post this month?
I’d love to hear from you!
Top Posts for May 2011
It’s amazing all the statistics that are out there for tracking blog traffic. Below is a list of my top 5 blog posts receiving traffic in May:
Created by Wordle.com
1. Friendship Comes In All Ways
2. Hoping to Avoid Journal Jinx
4. Supernanny Parenting Discussion Guide – Week 7 (Discipline – Methods)
5. Soul Surfer
I’m encouraged by the statistics, and I’m even more encouraged by the comments. As I’ve stated to many before, my blog is a place for me to process some of the things that are stretching me. It’s nice to know that some of these thoughts may be helping others as well.
So here’s my question: Do you blog? What was your most followed blog post this month?
I’d love to hear from you!
Stretched and Stretching – Looking Back and Looking Forward
One year ago today, I started this blog. So far it’s been quite a ride. Here’s how it started 184 posts ago…
Well, this is the start of it all… I’ve been contemplating doing the blog thing for some time. You might be wondering where the “Stretched” thing comes from. For starters, when I was in high school at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, I was short – 5’6″ to start my junior year. Since then, I’ve grown to almost 6’6″. Many of my friends started calling me Stretch. On a more recent basis, I often feel “stretched” by all the things going on around me – career, marriage, parenting, church, running, reading, friendships, extended family, relationship with God, etc. (in no particular order). My hope is that this blog will provide an opportunity to express some of my “stretch marks” and to possibly hear your thoughts as well. So here we go….
When I look back at all the posts and comments since the start, I believe the blog has served this purpose. Here are some of the highlights: vacation to DC, Supernanny parenting group, Kids Camp and Stretch 2008, the Perelman building, several movies, Elizabeth’s adoption, vacation to Dallas, blog spotlights, book reviews, vacation to Wisconsin, and personal wrestlings.
From my tallies, I’ve had nearly 3600 visits to the blog from 34 countries and from 47 states in the United States. It’s all pretty amazing.
So where do I go from here? Great question. I think it just continues. I’m quite confident that I will continue to be stretched in the coming year. So get ready, I’m sure I’ll have more stretch marks to share.
Until the next post, I’ll be stretching…