ex(PR)essed

Let me tell you…it has been a banner week in the public relations office! First “Newsweek” and now, today, I receive word from the College’s very own, very talented Richard Hughes that one of his speeches was reprinted in “Vital Speeches of the Day.” In case you’re wondering, and I’m sure you are, this is a journal that features “the best thoughts of the best minds on national issues.” Richard’s speech, “A Vision for Christian Leaders of the Future: Christianity Was Never Designed as a Tool for War,” certainly meets that qualification!

I am so thankful for colleagues that celebrate these PR successes with me. What a joy to share a round of high fives with people who care so much about Messiah College!

You’ve heard/read me say it before…I am a total PR nerd at times. I am thrilled when Messiah College gets positive publicity. I love seeing our name in print. (Seriously, seeing an op-ed by Richard Hughes in the “Philadelphia Inquirer” was a highlight of my professional career.)

Well, today has brought one of the most significant Messiah College placements during my tenure — Messiah made the December 3 issue of “Newsweek!” No less than three million people will be leisurely browsing through their issue of “Newsweek” when they come across a short article, “Know What’s in Your Genes,” that quotes our very own Raeann Hamon!

Getting ink in “Newsweek” was a team effort between the public relations office and our national media consultant, Dick Jones Communications. Many thanks to Raeann Hamon for taking a last minute interview with such poise — let the celebrating commence!

This morning I unsuspectingly turned the last page of the newspaper to be greeted by a picture of Charlie Brown and the news that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is on television tonight! Jeff and I will be sipping hot chocolate and watching dear little Linus try to convince the rest of the Peanuts gang of the true meaning of Christmas. This show brings back some wonderful memories for me. My parents had the audio of this television special on record when I was growing up. I would lay on the floor in the den and follow along in the illustrated book while my mom worked in the kitchen. Nothing helps get me in the Christmas spirit like the Peanuts gang.

Lucy (with Snoopy behind her, mimicking her): No, no, no! Listen, all of you! You’ve got to have discipline, you’ve got to have direction, you’ve got to have respect for your director! (sees Snoopy and turns around) I oughta slug you! (swings at him and gets slurped) Ugh! I’ve been kissed by a dog! Get some hot water! Get some disenfectant! Get some iodine!
Snoopy: Bleah!
(Who doesn’t love Peanuts? I mean really…)

The Christmas spirit is creeping up on me. I’m listening to Ella Fitzgerald sing “White Christmas” even as I type. Messiah will light its Christmas tree today — the whole campus is invited to gather around Eisenhower Circle for carols, cookies, and the tree lighting. Tonight, besides watching Charlie Brown, I hope to start gathering up my fall decorations to make room for all things Christmas!

Well, Thanksgiving day is a mere two sleeps away, and I am busy wrapping up last minute details at work before dashing off to South Carolina to spend the holiday with Jeff’s family. I’m looking forward to warmer weather and meeting my new nephew, Daniel. I’m hoping to sleep in, catch a movie, and hear good news about Messiah’s soccer teams. Did you know that both the men and women are headed to Florida to compete in the Final Four and championship games (yes, I’m that confident) this weekend? Go Falcons!

It’s been a rough few weeks for me. My schedule feels oversaturated. I have felt very unlike myself. Perhaps Thanksgiving is arriving at just the right time; a little less focus on me and an attitude of gratitude will probably do me a world of good.

So, here are a few things (in random order) that I’m thankful for. I hope you find plenty to be grateful for this week (and always).

1. Friends. I am blessed with the best group of friends a girl could ask for. Some are in the office just next door or down the hall and others are across the state. They bring such joy to my heart!

2. Sprinkles. Last night, Jeff brought me a bowl of Skinny Minty ice cream with enough sprinkles on it for every bite of ice cream. Heavenly.

3. My husband. Yep…gotta love a guy who brings you ice cream and knows, understands, and appreciates sprinkle quotas!

4. This place called Messiah College. I was never a student here, but I am grateful for the opportunity to work for an organization driven by a Christian mission.

5. The square. Mandi, Emily, and Squatch — my senior high small group — bring inexplicable happiness to my life. I love those girls and our “square of womanship,” as Emily coined us.

6. Squirrels. They’re so busy right now; I delight in seeing them scurry about preparing for the winter season.

7. Family. You certainly know by now that I am completely convinced that I have the best parents in the whole world.

He did it! In ten minutes less than his goal time, Jeff finished the Harrisburg Marathon on Sunday. It was a tremendous celebration of months and months of hard work.

The last three miles were a killer, he tells me. I would never have known; I had seen him 10 times on the course, and each time he seemed to be holding together pretty well. After more than four hours of pounding the pavement in and around Harrisburg, the promise of the finish line at City Island was becoming more and more real for Jeff. He was looking tired (as were all the other runners) after emerging from the hilly run around Wildwood at miles 17-19, but he still seemed focused and determined. I saw him again shortly afterwards on Second Street and around mile 21 — no smile, but still pounding the pavement with good form and focus.

Jamie, whose husband Brad successfully ran the Steamtown Marathon in early October, warned me that the marathon could be more emotional than I was anticipating. So I wasn’t terribly surprised when I felt the prick of tears at the start of the race. And, I wasn’t surprised at the overwhelming urge to cry upon seeing Jeff come running across the Walnut Street bridge, just minutes away from his first marathon finish and more than 10 minutes ahead of his goal time! It was an incredible moment!

He trotted across the finish line, received his medal, and a thermal blanket (the aluminum foil-like cape you see him sporting in the picture). I met him with hugs and smiles. He groaned with aches and pains. We took a few minutes to bask in his accomplishment before heading towards food and hydration.

It was a day of celebrating.

Random details:
Weather: It was in the mid-30s when the race started. Probably warmed up to about 50; a beautiful sunny day with little to no wind and not a cloud in the sky.

The other runners: About 800 runners participated in the marathon. I began to recognize some of the other runners — people like Steve (had his name taped on his jersey) who hammed it up with the crowd at every opportunity; the guy with the crazy floral shorts; and the man whose shirt advertised HIV prevention.

What Jeff ate post-race: He downed two bottles of water, a chocolate donut with sprinkles (that’s my boy!), half a bagel, my homemade Emeril’s soup and a glass of chocolate milk, a Detour bar, several glasses of water, a grande Toasted Marshmallow Mocha at Starbuck’s, a half rack of ribs at Memphis Blues, and a bowl of Skinny Minty ice cream.

Favorite marathon memory (for me): Spotting Jeff on the Walnut Street Bridge and knowing he was just minutes from the finish and faster than he had anticipated. I squealed. I jumped up and down. I cheered like a fool.

Uplifting moment of the day: After the race, watching a devoted wife help her husband take his socks off and then learning that he has run more than 100 marathons throughout his life. It was a real blessing to talk with this dear couple for a few minutes, and they were so genuinely happy for Jeff.

The question: Everybody wants to know — will he do another one? Well, he won’t answer yet, but my strong sense is that he will. He is the most determined, goal-oriented person that I know, and I can’t imagine that only a taste of marathon success will be enough to fully satisfy!

I’ve got marathons on my brain this week — and with good reason. On Monday morning, I was greeted with the good news that a former Messiah College student, Brian Sell, qualified for the 2008 Olympics by running an impressive 2:11:40 marathon at the Olympic Trials in New York City. Everyone knows the Olympics are a big deal; therefore, in this case, qualifying for Beijing in 2008 has become the focal point of celebration. I, however, as the wife of a good looking guy who is going to run the Harrisburg Marathon this weekend, would argue that the celebration is also the completion of such a grueling event and, in Sell’s case, his remarkable time. Imagine running 26 miles and 385 yards in a little over two hours. Can’t? Me either.

My husband has been training since spring for the Harrisburg Marathon. There wasn’t a single Saturday this summer when we got up at the same time and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together. Many times, Jeff got up at 4 a.m. and ran before going to work or church to avoid interrupting our day as best as possible. He ran in the rain, cold, and dark. He even took a trip to the hospital in June after running in intense heat. He has shown remarkable dedication, tremendous mental strength, and more than a smidge of change to his body. I am admittedly frustrated sometimes by the way such intense training can interfere with our lives, but I am never unimpressed by his commitment or unawed by his focus.

Sunday will be a big day for us. As Jeff’s runs his 26.2 miles around Harrisburg, I will be scurrying about on foot and in my car so I can cheer him on every few miles. I don’t yet know what I will yell — after all, what could I possibly say to further motivate him? He ran for hundreds of hours this summer without even a glimpse of me. I actually suspect that by the end I will be at a loss of words. So stinkin’ proud that it will be hard to speak.

When you’re headed to church Sunday morning, will you pray for us? Pray for strength for Jeff, both physically and mentally. Pray for safety for all the runners as they navigate the city. And pray for me as I strive to be the wife and fan that Jeff deserves.

Meet Rachel. If you work at Messiah or enjoy Messiah soccer, chances are good that you already know her. She’s known for her enthusiastic (maybe fanatic?) support of our soccer boys, her cape creations, her fondness for Messiah College, her cute bag that Cass in the bookstore gave her, her wicked funny sense of humor, her passion for “The Office,” and her lovely voice. Now she’s also known for working at WITF, home of Grover, Elmo, and the whole Sesame Street gang. Therein lies the problem.

Rachel left Messiah for a great opportunity at WITF about a month ago. It was good for her. Bad for me. This place just isn’t the same without her. I hate seeing her empty chair. (Even listening to Gnarls Barkley isn’t making it better today…)

That’s the thing about work — amongst all the responsibility and occassional craziness of your day-to-day stuff, you’re likely to find a few co-workers who quickly become good friends that you simply happen to see every day at your job. I’ve been blessed. At both places that I have worked since being out of college, God has provided terrific co-workers and some fantastic friends. The type of friends that even when your paychecks don’t come from the same place anymore, you still keep in touch.

Speaking of “friends”…remember all those great Thanksgiving episodes of “Friends?” Well, start watching them because turkey day is approaching. And, in honor of this day of thanks, I saw the most lovely creation in the grocery store — butter carved in the shape of a turkey. I’ve never wished that I was hosting Thanksgiving dinner so badly.