26.2

As anyone who has spoken to me in the last five months knows, I have been dedicating much of my life to training for a marathon. The wonderful news is that I finished the Chicago Marathon this past Sunday with a time of 4:37:40. Words cannot describe how surreal it was to see all of my hard work come to fruition and how lucky I felt to run the race alongside one of my best friends.

I had been training to run the marathon since May and throughout the journey of training I learned a lot. However, I also lost a lot. I lost five toe nails (one from the same toe on three separate occaisions). I lost several opportunities to go out with my roommates. I lost many hours of sleep and several of my days off were dedicated to long runs and recuperating. I lost several dollars to my post run slurpees, bandaids, and running gear. Making the commitment to run a marathon put me in a position of having to prioritize what was and was not worth it. Though I gave up a lot, I know I gained so much more.

Our Cheerleaders

If you asked me to sign up for a marathon a year ago, I would have laughed in your face. The farthest I had ever ran at that point was 7 miles and that run left me exhausted for the rest of the day. I never thought that I would be capable of that long of a run, but I admired those who could run it.

When I applied to work at Mercy Home, I found out that the agency has a team of runners run the marathon every year. At that point I had been training for a half marathon and decided to step out on a limb and sign up for the Chicago Marathon. After I signed up and paid to run, I immediately felt like vomiting, but I was committed.

Running by Mercy Home and still smiling

Five months later, I ran the race. Because I had trained well, the first 21 miles were a blast. It was such a phenomenal way to see the city and the energy was electrifying. I was greeted at mile 16 by my roommates, coworkers, and youth and at mile 18 by Paul. Because I was running the marathon for Mercy Home, I felt like I was running with such a purpose which pushed me along when things got challenging. By the time I crossed the finish line, I was exhausted, in pain, but so proud of myself. I was nearly brought to tears because I did something I thought I would never be able to do and that was amazing.

By running the marathon I lost a lot, but I gained so much more. I gained a sense of confidence that will carry me for days. I gained a new connection to the youth I work with at Mercy Home. I gained a new best friend in Anna because training alongside someone everyday lends itself to developing a true and real relationship. I gained a new connection to nature and am now humbled by its power. Mostly though, I gained an even strong love for running.

WE DID IT

Running has brought me closer to God and closer to a sense of self. It provides me with an opportunity to reflect and be vulnerable to the world. I wouldn't be me without running.

Hopefully someday I will run another marathon. It was challenging, but also so difficult and I am so grateful for having done it.

Leaning-In

Yet again a solid month has gone by without any sort of information regarding my life (sorry for my 2-3 readers that I potentially have). Last year when I kept a blog it was easy to update it regularly. On Tuesday mornings I would sip my coffee and type away while I had some free time. There is the secret - I had free time.

Best. Place. Ever.

Though I now work full time, I feel like I am constantly reaching for free time to simply be. With a 40ish hour work week, community obligations, marathon training, and spending time with people who make me joyful, not much time is left to sit with myself and let that be all that there is to my day.

Peace Walk with St. Sabina Catholic Church

All of this being said, I feel like updating this blog is something that should be a priority so here it is.

Emmett Till Death 60th Anniversary

Living in community is hard, but absolutely worth it. When I am trying to sleep and your 14 roommates decide to party because it is there day off. Or when we have to make a grocery budget stretch for the needs and wants of 15. Or when I have to admit to myself that my values do not need to be everyone else's values. Or when my roommate comes home after a tough day and just needs to cry and I don't feel like I have any insight and I have to just be. These are all hard things, but all things that have taught me more about who I am and what I need and value. Each of my roommates is unique and brilliant in their own way. Though I find that we argue from time to time and that sometimes they drive me crazy enough to leave our home, they are also beautiful, kind, compassionate individuals. I wouldn't change any of these people for a minute and I am lucky to call them mine.

Dawes Park

Working in residential with 17 to 20 year old boys is also incredibly challenging, but again worth it. The young men that I have the privilege to work with have challenged my notion of what it means to need to live in residential care. Hearing their stories and them allowing me insight into their lives has been such a gift. Yes, I often find myself overwhelmed by their needs and feel small in what I am able to offer up to them. Yes, this experience has humbled me. Yes, I often feel like I have absolutely no clue what I am doing (but that is the beauty of it). Last night at community night we were spoken to by Terry Nelson Johnson about intimacy and he told us that in order to fully live life, we have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and feel in front of other people. If working with the young men that I work with was not a challenge, I would be cheating myself out of life. These young men have taught me so so much already and I look forward to what more I can learn.

White Sox Baseball

Well. That is all for now. I have recently been thinking of all of what I am grateful for, and you reader, know that I am grateful for you.

Paz.

Ps. PLEASE donate :)
http://mercyhomehero.com/i/sarah-kelly#.Vfx_x_7bIdU

Snaps

Well. It has been about 5 weeks since  I moved into my new home in Chicago and so much has already happened (which is why this is the first that I am updating anybody...). Move-in was about as successful as a move-in could be. After myself and my 14 roommates moved into our new home, we had a welcome mass and got to know people connected to the MercyWorks program. I was overwhelmed, but excited for this new adventure. My dad was also able to join me for move-in and see what Mercy Home is all about which I appreciated because now he has an image of what this year has in store for me.

After the first weekend, we went on a retreat in rural Indiana. It was a week of getting to know each other, getting to know our program, and deciding what we want our year to look like. I was impressed with how willing all of my housemates are to sharing of themselves and being vulnerable. This retreat made it very clear that we are all 15 very different people with different backgrounds and interests, but at least we are able and willing to try to meet each other where we are. Sometimes we aren't as successful as we'd like to be, but it is in these moments that I think I am learning the most about myself.

After retreat, we returned to the city and began training and shadowing for our positions. We all will be working at the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, but each of us have different (yet similar) positions. I will be working in Sheil Home with 17-20 year old young men. The young men who live in Sheil are all very different and are coming from different walks of life, but each of them has immense potential. Some of the guys are harder to connect with than others, but its a learning process (as it should be), and all ten deserve the best that I can give them. This year will be challenging for me and them, but I am looking forward to working with the young men of Sheil so that they can become the best versions of themselves and so that I can too.

I am beginning to feel like a local, but I still cannot truly call Chicago home yet. My days are filled with long runs, shouts down the hallway, popcorn, coffee, and journaling which have made this place seem comfortable to me. However, there are things about Omaha that I miss that I did not expect. I miss silence and stars. I miss the smell of cut grass and long trails where it is just me, the noise of the bugs and the birds, and the wind. I miss talking to my grandma everyday and running to bars 20 minutes before closing time with Julianna. I really just miss what is normal and natural, but soon enough Chicago will become that place. Lake Michigan will eventually become as natural as lake Zorinski and the sounds of cars and sirens will be as welcomed as the birds. The strangeness will fade away and this place will feel like home.

Luckily, I have the support of my community, friends in the city, and friends far away. It is much needed and much appreciated.

Living with 14 people in a new city while trying to grow as a person and make my own way is much more challenging than I could have ever imagined. It isn't really something that I could have ever prepared enough for and I am learning the importance of patience, grace, and compassion. I have learned so much about myself in the past 5 weeks and am looking forward to the next 11 months.

P.S. PLEASE donate to my marathon page  :D http://mercyhomehero.com/i/sarah-kelly#.VdEsBf7bIdU

One Week

In just one short week, I will be embarking on my next big life adventure by moving to Chicago to be a post-graduate volunteer at the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. While this move is truly my next big adventure, I haven't spent the last month and a half sitting under a rock with netflix and endless bags of cookie dough (though that does sound enticing). I have instead been embracing my inner desire to travel and have been participating in my North American Victory Tour as my dad likes to call it.

After graduation, I honestly was in a huge funk. I had no clue what to do. I ran, worked, crafted, and then hit repeat. Thankfully this did not last for long because my grandmother graciously sent me to New York for a week to see my brother Dan. Though I am not sure that I could ever live in New York, the week I was able to spend there was much needed and helped me get out of my hating post-grad life funk. From storming the bars of Brooklyn, to watching the Yankees, to seeing a Broadway show, and embracing themed days like Fancy Day and Museum Day, I am so grateful I was able to explore an awesome city with one of my favorite human beings.

When I got back from New York, I was immediately thrown into the College World Series. While working at a bar in downtown Omaha has its perks, the CWS is its own ball game (see what I did there(; ). I worked 7 double shifts in a row. Most days were crazy busy and  a couple days were not, but that is okay. It was my last CWS as an employee of DJs Dugout and to be honest, I am going to miss it.

Immediately after the CWS was over, I went to Minnesota to see one of my best friends marry a phenomenal man and have my first reunion with #blueHearts. I didn't realize just how much I missed all of my friends until we were all able to be together again. These women make my heart happy and I legitimately do not know where I would be without them.

The beautiful bride!

Post Minnesota, I headed to Sparta, Wisconsin to see the Sosso clan. Sparta is a small, but beautiful town outside of Lacrosse. While I am here I take time to unwind. I run, bike, eat garden fresh food, listen to good music, and drink all of the good beer. I leave tomorrow to head back to Omaha for the last few days before I move and I am going to miss it here.

My only photo from the trip so far that I have uploaded...

As the week countdown begins, I am nervous, but very excited. To keep up on my adventures, just keep reading here. Also, if you want to support me in another one of my future adventures, running a marathon, be sure to donate here: http://mercyhomehero.com/i/sarah-kelly#.VWX--s9Viko