One thing that many Youth Pastor’s are not so good at is looking after themselves. It might be the fundraiser cokes in the church fridge, it might be the lollies from all those zany youth games, whatever it is ‘keeping fit’ can easily find itself falling further and further down the priority list. This year I’ve decided to try and be a little better with this. I’ve overhauled what I eat and when I eat and have signed up to a gym. This post is about the latter!

I have just gotten home from the first of 3 initial personal training sessions. If this one is anything to go by then I will honestly say I am not looking forward to the next 2! I am semi-struggling to type this post due to my arm muscles being absolutely fried because the first session is all about testing, seeing just how far you can go.

One of the tests was to see how many push-ups I could do. I estimated 35 and managed to achieve it, just. This is supposedly a relatively good figure for someone who hasn’t been working out for a LONG time. I also managed to achieve a decent level for the other tests involved. Still, I am absolutely spent and almost did the power throw when i got home.

Overall my plan is to work out a system that works for me, keeps me in shape but doesn’t leave me not wanting to do anything else that day. The last 2 personal training sessions will be great but we’ll see if i continue with them. I absolutely see the benefit of them and I know I’d achieve great results quickly, but I honestly am unsure if ‘feeling absolutely spent’ is what i want from my ‘keeping fit’ regime. We’ll see.

So I am sitting here at Albany International Airport, waiting for my delayed flight. I just had to do one of the hardest things that I personally have had to do in my life, say farewell to Kelsey for 5 months! For the past 2 weeks we have been hanging out in Oneonta getting ready for this day but I don’t think anything could have really prepared us to say farewell. In the end the actual farewell was quite rushed and I almost don’t feel like I got to say farewell properly but there is not much I can do about it now!

Today marks our relationship entering a new stage, that of ‘long distance relationship’. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little apprehensive about it but ultimitely I know we have built a good foundation to keep us going strong. I haven’t had many relationships and honestly, going 5 months without being together is going to be tough, skype is going to be our new best friend! We spoke about this and both believe it will be good for us because it will force us to develop our communication skills. This can only be a good thing.

I continue to be amazed at how quickly our lives can take divertions. 4 months ago I had NO IDEA I’d meet someone who would become such a pivotal part of my life and now I’m left to contemplate continuing travel and returning to Australia without her. Yet at the same time I know the same God that bought us together is in control and will help us to remain strong. We truly serve an awesome God!

I haven’t really written much of note in this entry but it really is more about distracting me from the tears that are continually trying to force there way out. It really is a weird feeling I have at the moment, almost a numbness. But I have an awesome God and right now I am very, very glad that I can rest on him.