1st Degree L2 Black

I tested this testing cycle for my decided black belt in Tiger Rock Ho-Am TaeKwonDo.  I am pleased to say that I earned the belt and now am a decided black belt, 1st Degree L2. 

I started this journey in January 2008.  As a white belt, I only had hopes and dreams of making it to black belt.  Well, I'd say I had determination too.

I started the program in January and got in enough classes to make the January testing.  Looking back over my testing history, I tested 5 times in 2008.  I was on the move.  I tested 3 times in 2009, only once in 2010, and now twice in 2011.  It has been 8 months since my last testing. 

The reasons for my intervals in testing have been health-related: anemia, low white counts, kidney stones, severely twisted ankles, bilateral frozen shoulders.  My body has been letting me down some in middle age, even though I've learned to listen to it and attempt to take care of it. 

The bilateral frozen shoulders are healing.  Though they aren't 100% healed, they are to the point where I'm dismissed (kicked out) from the doc's office.  I continue to work on stretching and strengthening on my own. 

I no longer spar in TaeKwonDo, but do E-CAS (Elite Counter Agression Skills).  Sparring could still be dangerous to my shoulders and put me in a surgery situation.

This has been a long journey.  There have been many obstacles along the way.  Not only the physical.  My brain sometimes doesn't help me in learning the forms.  I even struggle with remembering which side of my body is to move when.  I almost used a sharpie for this last testing so I would spear hand with the correct hand at the end of my form. ☺

I am grateful for the excellent teaching I have received over these past four years.  I am also grateful for all the encouragement I've gotten from instructors and fellow participants!  This is a journey lived in community.  I'll be starting year number 5 this January.

I tested on Wednesday of testing week, early testing.  I'm glad that the time and day worked out because my husband and daughter were able to attend.  In addition, Master Rick Hall was there.  It was important to me that he see me test (even if he was focused more on the little kids).

Awards night was Thursday night of this week, last week.  My daughter and I went to get our belts and Certificates.  She also tested this cycle, for 2nd Degree L4 Black Belt.  She's been doing it longer than I have!

I was humbled when Master Rick Hall called out my name and there was applause.  Normally we all wait until after the presentation of the belt and the Certificate for that.  Maybe it was because he shared a little bit about how I had persevered to get to this point.   All I know is that it wasn't expected, I was humbled by it, and proud of my accomplishment at the same time.

My journey to black belt isn't over, it has only just begun!  I don't know how far I will get in this journey.  I'm no spring chicken anymore (as the saying goes).  But, I do plan to continue working out, giving it my all, learning new forms, getting better in my forms and E-CAS, and board-breaking skills. 

What is it on your journey that is taking longer than you expected?  Don't give up!  Persevere!  Go forth with determination!  Look to the community around you for support and encouragement! 

Blessings on your journey!

~Debra

October.... already?!?!

Today is October 1st.  I can't believe it's here already.  I realize that the season of Fall comes in September, but to me, Fall happens in October.  That's when the leaves will change, the cooler air will begin to blow, and it will be harvest time.

Fall Tree in my neighborhood.  Picture taken 10/13/10

But, I'm rushing the month a little too much by getting so quickly to harvest time.  Yet, I have to.  For me, October is in essence, a two-week month.  This is because I will be gone from home the last two weeks of the month.  Granted, I'll be gone for good reasons and I'll be learning and growing.  However, I have to make arrangements for those at home whom I leave behind, my work load needs to be dealt with, AND there is always homework, specifically Greek.  As you can see, the coming of October brings on some stress for me.  ☺

I am enjoying learning Greek.  However, my brain is having a difficult time keeping up with it.  There is SO much to learn.  So much more than a romance language.  Take nouns for example.  With Spanish and French, all you need to know is gender, whether the nouns are masculine or feminine.  There are some neuter nouns, but not many.  Is Greek that simples?  Unfortunately, no!  You need to determine the case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocatvive--if you go with the 5 list) and know the endings for the singular and plural.  Whew!  This is on top of learning the endings for the verb conjugations.  So, to every student I taught in the 24 years of teaching, I am on the other side of language learning once again.  Be justified!  All the hard work I put you through, I am going through it now!!  ☺

So, Greek takes lots of brain power.  And for some reason, my brain is just not keeping the brain power these last few weeks.  A friend at TaeKwonDo this morning suggested that my brain is on overload.  I would have to agree.

Between my two classes, my part-time job, being a mom and a stepmom (which has been slightly busy this past week or two with my stepson), trying to keep up with the house, exercise, and teaching a great group of folks in an online Lay Speaking Class, life has been busy! Did I miss anything?  Oh, yeah!  Self-care and soul-care!  Whew!  It's a little crazy. 

The TaeKwonDo is both exercise for self-care and soul-care!  I am preparing to test for my decided black belt next week.  This has been a long journey.  More on that in another post.

The weather these past several days has been incredible!  Nice cool breezes, sunshine.  Perfect for getting outdoors!  However, I've not been able to hit a hiking trail yet, but I will.  I do get outside for a little studying and reading though.  It helps clear my mind simply to be outside.

In preparation for the last week of October, I still have some reading to do (yes, I'm admitting that!).  The third week of October is a Mission Conference in Ohio.  I can read and study while there.  Greek quizzes and mid-terms span the month of October, so there is some pressure there.

Work-wise, there is a Mission Fair to finalize-- with a few booths for which I need to pull some things together--but others are in line to do their part.  I am also pulling together some things for a Communion ministry, and then there is a November/December class coming down the road quickly.  These are work and class related, primarily class related.

As I've jumped deeper into ministry this semester, I'm trying to keep the focus of self-care and keeping myself at a place where I am healthy (emotionally, physically, spiritually, and relationally) to serve.  However, even with help from others, I can see how quickly one can be drained.  And, I am a decent "boundary" person.  I can say "no".  I know my limits.  Yet, how do you not "do" when you need to study?

I'm at a place where I yearn to simply "Be still, and know that I am God."  Is this just a season, an ebb and flow of time where things are just hitting at once?  I hope so. 

I desire to set an example for others that isn't a wildly-driven servant of God, but one that acts upon the leadings of Christ, one that listens and obeys, one that can be still enough to listen. 

As I open us Jesus Calling to see what it says for today, the key verse for October is this:  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  ~Matthew 11:28

The first paragraph of the devotion for October 1 reads: "Worship Me only.  I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light.  I am taking care of you!  I am not only committed to caring for you, but I am also absolutely capable of doing so.  Rest in Me, My weary one, for this is a form of worship." (Sarah Young, p. 288)

It's amazing to me how right-on, how appropriate, how fitting, how timely these devotions can be. 

Taking these words to heart, I will rest.  I will worship by resting.  I will worship by studying Greek.  I will worship by getting outside to do both. 

Ah!  October!  The month of changing leaves and blowing breezes!

If you have found yourself to be overworked like me,  may the blowing breezes of the Holy Spirit blow through your life and fill your weary soul with rest!

Blessings on the journey!

~Debra

P.S.  I tried to post a video so you could experience the gentle (and not so gentle) breezes that we're having today.  But, it kept having problems loading, though it was short.  I pieced only 4 clips together for a total of 2:36 (2 minutes and 36 seconds).   You would see and hear the wind, see the cloud formations moving (one looks like a check mark) and you will see and hear my wind chimes).  There are extraneous nature (bird) and human sounds (car, motorcycle, me trying to click on the zoom, my husband in the kitchen).  I'm not much of a videographer, I'm better with still pictures.  But, a still picture doesn't express wind.   And, it is in experiencing the wind that we can understand.  dd