Camino Preparation Post May 30

I went to grab the milk out of the fridge this morning and noticed how nasty the milk shelf was. I grabbed a paper towel to wipe it out and then saw how gross the fruit drawer had become. This progressed into a full on assault of the grime and filth that had accumulated on all of the shelves and drawers in my entire fridge. As I was cleaning, I wondered, “How did the fridge get this bad? Why hadn’t I noticed?”

I realized that, for me, life had slowed down a bit, therefore I had time to notice the mess and time to clean it up. I then started thinking about how this applies to life in general. We spend most of our days rushing from one thing to the next. As mothers, we determine what must happen and what can wait. But in the meantime, messes accumulate - messes that must be dealt with. And not all of these messes can be taken care of with a paper towel and 409.

In the busy-ness of life, other things can get messy too. We become impatient with our kids, our attendance at church drops, we find excuses not to exercise, our spouse gets neglected. And we are just too darn busy to notice the mess we are making. Until something makes us stop and see, really see.

We must take time to look for the messes and start cleaning them up. It doesn’t have to happen all at once – some messes take some real elbow grease, but if we see the grime and start scrubbing, that mess will start to disappear.

The greatest news of all is that we have someone who wants to help with the cleanup - someone who wants our lives to be sparkling clean. Christ came into this world so that He could wash our messes away for good. However, we are mess makers by nature, and we tend to find new ways to make messes every day. But when we become aware of the mess we are making, we can ask for help and then start the cleaning process.

Take some time today. Look for the messes. Then grab your gear and get cleaning!

(Actually written in 2013 but reread yesterday as part of Camino Preparation)

Camino Preparation Pack List

Yesterday MK and I worked on prepping our packs for the trip. It is suggested that your pack weigh 10% of your body weight, so you have to be choosy about what you actually bring. Here is my pack list for those who might consider taking this journey at some point in the future.

Backpack (Osprey Tempest 40)
Pack Raincover (Osprey)
Hiking Poles (Leki)
Large duffel to check pack and poles 
Hiking shoes (Keens)
Hiking socks 3-4 pairs (Smart wool, REI)
Sock Liners 3 pairs (Injinji)
Silver Scallop Shell (tied to pack)
Fanny Pack
String bag
2 Nalgene bottle
Smart Tube
Sleeping Bag Liner (Sea to Summit CoolMax)
Quickdry Underwear 3-4 pair (ExOfficio)
Convertible Pants 1 pair (zip to shorts, Columbia)
Shorts 2 pair (Magellan)
Skirt (Columbia) **
Maxi Dress (for plane)
Sanuk sandals
Fishing Shirts 2 (Columbia)
Dryfit Tank tops 2 (Walmart)
Dryfit Tees 2 **
Bras 2
Duct Tape - wrapped around poles
Light Jacket (Columbia)
Rock
Hat
Ear plugs
Rain Poncho
Scarf/ Bandana
Camera/ charger **
Sunglasses
Brierly guidebook
Travel pillow
Paracord
Pilgrim Credencial
Passport
VISA card
Cash
Insurance cards
Plug adapter
iPhone/ charging cord
Ziplocs (gallon, quart, sandwich)
Travel TP
Safety Pins
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Eye mask
Camp Towel (REI)
First Aid Kit - needle, thread, advil, powder, body glide, alcohol wipes, band-aids, benadryl, zyrtec, nail clippers, pepto bismol, vaseline
DOP kit - shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, tampons, pantiliners, razor, contacts, contact solution, contacts case, Q-tips, lip balm, lotion, brush, ponytail holders

Things I didn't bring but might regret:
Rain Pants
Gators

** Things I might ditch if pack is too heavy

Camino Preparation Post - May 16

Camino Preparation Post: As I was walking with MK this evening on a training hike, I started thinking - I haven't walked enough miles, I haven't lost enough weight, I haven't spent enough time organizing my gear. Have I done enough to make it through the journey?
This thinking spilled over into other aspects of my life - have I been a good enough teacher, friend, mother, wife?
While self introspection can be good, I do not think it is helpful to question our enough-ness. For we are God's handiwork, made in His image. And He promises to journey with us on this road. And THAT is enough.

Camino Preparation Post - March 26

 I'm out on a training walk today and am thinking about the spiritual preparation part of training in addition to the physical part. Why am I doing this?
For those of you who don't know me well, I am a hyper organized, task oriented, schedule driven kind of gal. This is a God given strength, but it can also be one of my greatest weaknesses. In working towards getting a task done, I often miss the joy of the doing. I can focus so heavily on the endpoint that the getting there is completely missed.
I want to be mindful of this on The Camino. I could get so lost in the logistics (the where to next, where will we stay, what will we eat, what will the weather be like today...) that I miss the journey. I need to keep the urge to control things in check and let God reveal himself and His daily plan for us along The Way. Pray for me to have the peace of mind to stop, to look, to listen, to breathe deep, and to find joy in the journey.

Camino 101 - What is it, and why am I doing it?

On Saturday, June 4th, I'm boarding a plane with my dad and my daughter to begin a pilgrimage called The Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. I chose to go on this journey in order to step away from the everyday for a time and seek a quietness and simplicity that cannot be found in the busy-ness of life. Most people are relatively unfamiliar with The Camino, so I wanted to give a little background information on its history, the various paths, and some of what we'll encounter along The Way.

History - The Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James, is a pilgrimage to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Saint James, an apostle of Jesus, was a missionary in this area, and, following his martyrdom, it is believed that his remains are preserved where the cathedral now stands. The Camino has existed as a Christian pilgrimage for over 1000 years and is recognized as one of the top three Christian pilgrimages in the world (with Jerusalem and Rome being the other two).
Routes - There are many routes of The Camino, but the most popular is the Camino Frances which traditionally begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and runs west across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. This route is approximately 500 miles. We are walking the Camino Frances, although we will start in Pamplona. We will spend about 25 days walking as pilgrims, or "peregrinos", so our journey will not be entirely on foot. At some points along the route, we may intermittently take a bus in order to keep schedule and reach Santiago at the end of our 25 days. For those choosing to walk the entire 500 mile route, it usually takes 35-40 days of walking 12-15 miles per day.
Compostela - Pilgrims who walk at least the final 100 kilometers (60 miles) can receive a Compostela, or certificate of completion, at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago. For us, this means that we must walk from Ponferrada to Santiago.
Scallop Shell Symbol - The scallop shell is one of the most recognizable symbols of The Camino. Medieval pilgrims would carry a shell as a means of drinking water from the fountains found in each village. Today, the shell symbol is found all along the route to help pilgrims find their way. 
Albergues - The villages, towns, and cities along the route have many amenities to support pilgrims as they walk. Cafes and restaurants have a "Menu del Peregrino" offering a standard three course meal, usually with wine. Pilgrim's hostels, called Albergues or Refugios, provide a bed, a shower, and sometimes a meal at the end of a day's journey. Locals, as well as fellow pilgrims, wish you a "Buen Camino" as you depart to continue on your trek.

The song "I Would Walk 500 Miles" by The Proclaimers has been my theme song for this journey. I like to think of God saying He will go along with me as I walk "500 miles" to fall down at His door.
When I wake up, well I know I'm gonna be,
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you.
When I go out, well I know I'm gonna be,
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you.
But I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more,
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles,
To fall down at your door.