torybee's Comments

Lindsey Nobles : Tears

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 02:54:20 +0000

I cried with a friend the other day..... over the break-up of a relationship she was in and a bunch of other stuffed heaped on top of that as she rethinks her life and wonder how she got here to this place of failure? Just broke my heart, and what makes it worse is I have no words of comfort except to just cry with her. My recent post Inconvenient

Spence Smith : What Does The Sidebar Of Your Life Say About You?

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 01:46:51 +0000

I haven't a clue.

Spence Smith : How To Start Your Own 'Campus'

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 16:29:46 +0000

I really hope that there is a lot of grace for me here on this blog. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just trying to figure it out, and I mean no disrespect. I am one that is envious of your "campus." I had concluded in my mind that there must be something special added in to make it work: the right people, the right location, etc. etc, because I have a difficult time envisioning it here where I live, in the Silicon Valley where we're all busy and rushed and have little time just to eat dinner as a family together, let alone meet with others. And yet, I crave that, and fear it at the same time. Really, I want to share life together. My city is so large that I seldom see anyone while I'm out. (or maybe I just need to get out more!) The times I do I don't feel like I can grab a seat at Starbucks and sit down with them. There has to be some magic ingredient to your campus. How do you get it to not be a clique? I look on FB and see friends regularly getting together and in some ways, it makes me sad I'm not included, and why I'm not included and all that. Is it just inevitable that some people will feel left out? Okay, so as I re-read this I realized I sound like I'm whining and the ironic thing is: I regularly go out after church for lunch with another couple and we invite others. Some join us, some don't. I don't feel we're exclusive. It just happens that way. I have a friend who is swimming and running with me (we've yet to bike) as we train for a sprint triathlon. But I still feel like we all lead very autonomous lives, mostly interacting with a quick hello as we enter or leave church service. Still, there is a part of me wanting and willing to try to deepen my community. Maybe inviting others to a cheap dinner like you mentioned weekly. (most of my friends have kids, as do I.... are kids in your campus community and how does that play out?) I'm so wary of it. I guess in a way, I'm afraid that if I try and it doesn't happen, what will that mean? It is easier to just blame it on the fast-paced lifestyle of where I live as the reason I feel so disconnected.

Lindsey Nobles : Cali-Cation

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:20:41 +0000

Lindsey, looks like you had an amazing vacation! With 3 kids, we hardly go out of state for our vacations, but we're fortunate to live in CA so even going 5 or 7 hours (or less) in any direction can be quite diverse! Happily we're about half an hour from the beach. My husband is on a 2 month sabbatical so we've been doing a lot of local little trips, plus he went backpacking for 5 days with our 10 year old son. (I stayed home with the 2 younger ones) I'll be praying for your friends and really enjoyed your photos. My recent post Just Fades Away

Spence Smith : Racing For A Reason

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:29:49 +0000

Thanks stephanielex! I really do hope you are right.... I think I'd love to someday be able to do an oly distance someday and I do think it'd be great to race for a reason!

Spence Smith : Alone But Not Alone

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:27:45 +0000

It is a strange concept; loneliness in the midst of not being alone. I don't usually consider myself lonely, but often feel a bit alone, like few people really know me or care to know me. (or would like me if they really knew me) But lately I've been realizing that perhaps I belong more than I think I do. And because of that "realization" I'm engaging more, taking more risks and enjoying my relationships a bit more. Simply because I have a sense of belonging. I think about stuff too much, so there are times when I wonder if I really do belong and it makes the difference, or the perception of belonging alone is changing me, perhaps I still don't quite belong but I'm living like I belong. Regardless, it is a better place to be and I'm enjoying life more because I feel I belong. I know that there are still folks and areas I don't belong but that once was an ultimate goal, to be liked and belonged by them, and now...... it doesn't (usually) matter. I have no idea what I'm saying except that I think that there are times when I felt alone but wasn't alone, just had to realize it. (I know I make no sense)

Spence Smith : Racing For A Reason

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:14:33 +0000

I love the idea of racing for a reason. My husband races for FCA-E but hasn't raised money, he just wears their triathlon jersey and then "works" in the tent raising awareness and support for their organization, as well as just being a Christian who races. He loves being a part of that, makes his races so much more meaningful. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this! I'd join your "team" but I'm in Cali and I don't think sprint triathlons count as an "endurance sport!" Still, I'd love to help support your causes.

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:30:34 +0000

Thanks! :-)

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:33:08 +0000

This will teach me to be impatient! Thanks for your encouragement; and I know you are right....that most people don't start out doing things well. Truly, that is a hard hurdle for me to get past, but I'm really very excited about this Sprint triathlon! I really do hope that I can do it and so far I'm really enjoying it. (except that I'm really sore) I hope you are right... that I really can do this! I'll keep you posted and I thank you for your comments, enthusiasm and support!

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:09:39 +0000

I really was kidding that I did not like your blog.... sorry if I offended you. (I noticed I'm the only one you skipped commenting on!) :-)

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:56:33 +0000

You bug me and I don't know why I read your blog. ;-) I pretty much do nothing, and the things I do I don't do well and I hate the fact that I can't do things well so if I can't do them well, then there is a reluctance to do them at all. Does this make sense? In most situations, it is hard to volunteer to do something because I want to be brilliant at it and I know that there are countless others that are better suited than I am, so perhaps it is best to leave it to the people that are truly accomplished. Or is that an excuse? Perhaps like another commenter it all comes back to fear. Is it really wrong to want to be successful, to be afraid of not doing well? Personally there are a lot of things that I need to get started on, and it just needs to get done, so you are right that the first thing is just committing to get started. Ironically I just committed to training for a Sprint triathlon with my friend. During Vineman we watched our husbands head out for the swim start and looked at each other and said it was time to get into shape. (well, she's in pretty good shape already!) Yesterday we started. Ran/walked for an hour, swam for half an hour. Can I say I'm amazingly sore this morning? It's been 20 years since I swam laps in a pool! I hate to admit it but if felt great. But I think it felt great because I actually started something I need to do and wanted to do: I had made a commitment with another person and know we'll meet our goal and how thankful I am to be doing this with a friend. So, perhaps these posts of yours won't bug me because I'm no longer content to sit on the sidelines of life because I'm convinced I have to be really good at something to even start. I'm hoping that this small step of taking a risk will spill out to other areas of my life.

Lindsey Nobles : Priceless Nuggets of Wisdom for Singles

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:24:14 +0000

I have no advice for my single friends, and they are all in different places. Some really desire to be married, others are relatively content and have used their singleness to their advantage, getting multiple degrees from prestigious schools, serving in various ways that would be a bit more challenging with a family. So I have no advice, but I enjoy your posts and admire you very much and you are a beautiful, funny, intelligent woman. I really appreciate you. My recent post Jesus Scars

Lindsey Nobles : Free Stuff, Take 2

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 22:33:46 +0000

Oh, that is such a tough one! There are always so many songs going through my head... and I'm a lyric oriented person; the words mean so much to me! I have really been enjoying John Mark McMillan's music. I saw him in early June in concert with Gungor (it was so awesome! I have photos on my blog) and was really impressed. Since then I've heard so much about him and his music. I saw his Death in His Grave video and instantly fell in love with those lyrics. Lately I've been singing Matt Maher's song "Christ is Risen From the Dead" "Christ is risen from the dead/trampling over death by death/come awake, come awake,/come and rise up from the grave...... the whole thing is really beautiful. Actually I loved his whole Alive Again album. My recent post The Tension

Lindsey Nobles : If You Asked Me...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:26:55 +0000

Thanks.

Lindsey Nobles : If You Asked Me...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:35:28 +0000

Yes. I want to be known too and yet I don't make it easy to know me for the same reasons you listed, thus most relationships are not very satisfying because I'm always thinking, in the back of my head, that if they really KNEW me they'd think differently about me.

Spence Smith : Follow Friday: Randy Elrod, Michael Hyatt, Steve Anderson & Ken Davis

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:02:09 +0000

Thanks Spence, I have to admit your comment kinda cheered me up and I'm already having a nice weekend. It is my husband's birthday tomorrow. I always enjoy your posts.... even when I say they bother me!

Spence Smith : Follow Friday: Randy Elrod, Michael Hyatt, Steve Anderson & Ken Davis

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:44:12 +0000

Argh, such a beautiful post and yet today I don't like this whole thing of "influencing" and being an "influencer." It is fine if you are a wonderful, creative, outgoing, fun person that engages people and makes one want to follow you, but what if you're not? Or what if you are more of a "middleman"? Introducing others to the "real" influencers but you yourself have no influence? Sorry; I have had a hard day. I suppose I'm more of a behind-the-scenes type and yet, there is a part of me that wants to be an influencer. As for people that influence me, I'd have to say my husband, some dear friends, some who have known me forever and others that are new to my life but bring me such joy and challenge me in my faith, and my pastor and others in my church. You are really so blessed to have people in your life that you interact with online and in real life. I'm still cultivating and figuring that all out in my life and I look to you and think: you have such good friends, such a neat life. Thanks so much for sharing it on your blog and in your tweets. BTW: I now follow all on your list.

Lindsey Nobles : As Much As He Ever Has, Justin Davis

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:59:26 +0000

I had the opportunity of seeing John Mark McMillan and Gungor in concert earlier this month, performing in a small church I'd never been in, surrounded by people I did not know, yet all singing and dancing and worshiping along to the words of this song. Truly powerful. I recently finished a book asking the question of why faith matters; why God matters. The parts that caused me the most tears were the ones about His grace; how he loves. I don't understand it, and actually really struggle to believe it, let alone experience it.

Spence Smith : An Email To Steve Jobs From My Mother

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:01:30 +0000

Wow..... so glad it seems they changed their policy. Hope you got your iPad! I'm so jealous. I'm hoping to get the next generation, so for now my Macbook Pro and iPhone will somehow suffice.

Spence Smith : I'm 40!!!!

Sun, 2 May 2010 15:58:08 +0000

Happy Birthday! I'm sure you are having a truly special birthday amid friends and family as they celebrate you!

torybee's Comments

Lindsey Nobles : Tears

Spence Smith : What Does The Sidebar Of Your Life Say About You?

Spence Smith : How To Start Your Own 'Campus'

Lindsey Nobles : Cali-Cation

Spence Smith : Racing For A Reason

Spence Smith : Alone But Not Alone

Spence Smith : Racing For A Reason

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Lindsey Nobles : Priceless Nuggets of Wisdom for Singles

Lindsey Nobles : Free Stuff, Take 2

Lindsey Nobles : If You Asked Me...

Lindsey Nobles : If You Asked Me...

Spence Smith : Follow Friday: Randy Elrod, Michael Hyatt, Steve Anderson & Ken Davis

Spence Smith : Follow Friday: Randy Elrod, Michael Hyatt, Steve Anderson & Ken Davis

Lindsey Nobles : As Much As He Ever Has, Justin Davis

Spence Smith : An Email To Steve Jobs From My Mother

Spence Smith : I'm 40!!!!

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?

Spence Smith : So Whatâs Holding You Back?