Ramon and Micayla Angel

                                                                                                                                                  ~Friday March 9th,2014~

Micayla’s family “The Cooks” have been like a second family to me. Micayla is the little sister I never had. We all met working at the Pismo Beach Athletic Club:) Having lived and worked alongside of Micayla and Ramon allowed me the experience of watching their friendship develop into a beautiful relationship, with God at the forefront and center:)

Their story is one of reconciliation, redemption, grace and most of all Christ’s love over the church. His love administered through them and over them shines so brightly.

Micayla and Ramon, a very special Thank You, with all my heart, for trusting me with your very special wedding day! I can't tell you enough just


what a pleasure it was to capture.... and then re-tell :) I love you both so much! Praying many blessings over you and your marriage :)

Another very special Thank you Tara Sanchez for helping me capture the wedding day,… and keeping me calm :) I love you. You are the best sis!

Here’s to many more video projects :)

"...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" ~ Joshua 24:15



Ramon and Micayla Angel from Tanya B. on Vimeo.


 

Happy Day of Birth to Me

                                                                                                                  ~Saturday March 8th, 2014~


I like to celebrate my living, breathing, beautiful life every day :) And Birthday’s are such a sweet intentional reminder. I love taking the week leading up to my Birthday as an opportunity to reflect. I go over my journal, and take in all I have had the chance to experience that past year. I consider all my challenges, how much I have learned and how much I have progressed in my mind, in my body and my spirit.

This past year has been such a big year for me. There were difficult lessons that left me breathless and desperate. There were mental and physical challenges where I had no idea how I would succeed. All of the above did one thing for certain and that was produce strength.

It never fails me to respond in total dependence on my creator… God of the universe, author and perfecter of my faith, lover of my soul :)

This year only revealed less of me and more of Him. For this I am eternally grateful.

My amazing adventures this year varied everything from a 21 days of prayer fast to my first Big Sur backpacking adventure. My first pull up, a 5k Color Run, and a Nike Half Marathon. Shooting, and editing my first video project, to getting certified to be an indoor cycle instructor :)

Each of these are my beautiful mountain tops. The many unique peaks to my valleys of challenges magnified.

Thank the Lord for ‘the climb’! (insert Miley Cyrus song here) ;) You must challenge yourself in order to get stronger :)

Happy Day of Birth to me!

“Because you are my help, I will sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

~Psalm 63:7-8

                                                                                                                                                     


"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning

Its shame, sand sat down at the right hand of throne of God.”

~Hebrews 12:2

                                          

Thank you

                                                                                                                                         ~Sunday October 20th, 2013~ 

Still dark outside, the mornings hello was still sopped in with fog. 5:30 a.m and the majority of San Francisco was awake. They joined all 30,000 of us at the starting line, and shouted from their windows and rooftops. The SF and Nike community, our friends and family lined the streets of our course. And it was all in a grand and beautiful effort to spur us on, entertain us, keep us hydrated and nourished, remind us how strong we are, forge us forward, pick us up... and make us laugh. All for one common goal. One thing is for certain, I have never felt so encouraged... and let me tell you, those SF hills for almost half of the course, were no joke, so I needed it. I'm pretty certain we all did.

At the starting line my friends and I were separated by pace times and sections of thousands of people, so I found myself somewhat alone... and a little scared. Yet the flood of adrenaline and being surrounded by thousands of women with that same one goal was exhilarating. I've never felt anything like it before.

I settled into my pace quickly and comfortably, found my breathing rhythm and stayed focused. 

By mile 2 I noticed a stranger by my side pacing with me. We didn't speak until mile 3.5. Breaking the awkward silence was a clever cardboard sign of a sideline supporter that read "Keep it up, Stay strong, you're running better than congress!" :) we both laughed, we made our introductions and shared a bit, then continued to run and conquer some hills together. She was quite the gift. And Melissa was her name. She shared about her recent couple of surgeries and just what a challenge to her body this run was. Yet she was determined to finish it. So, my focus shifted and I did my best to keep her her strong.

Mile 9 on a hill hit me pretty hard. And just when it began to discourage me, I was surprised by my dearest friends screaming my name and shouting words of encouragement... yes, I cried.... tears of joy and I didn't care; there was plenty of other women around me doing the same. As I passed my friends and forged forward. I was filled from head to toe. I felt so loved. And with a rush of strength, there it was, the reminder that the whole race painted into a vivid and brilliant metaphor. 'Melissa" my running partner was a total stranger, yet we had the same goal... my dearest friends that were there, we too found each others hearts on some serious 'hills of life' with a common goal. What a difference a challenge makes when you've got others along side of you. What a difference life in general is when you have others along side of you. 

From the flats to the hills that seemed to last the length of forever, I couldn't stop thinking about life .... and just how much sweeter it is when you have a supportive community, made up of friends, family... friends you consider family. "for two are certainly better than one" began to sing to my heart.

More than just a verse we hear a lot at weddings; It's a verse of choice, willingness, sacrifice and commitment... to each other, in love. 

Thank you with all my heart to my community. I am so grateful for God's precious gift of my family, and friends. They are the one's always willing to get up early with me and run along side of me, line the streets and shout out words of encouragement in the flats and hills of my life. You make it almost impossible not to keep running.... so I won't. See you at the finish ;)

"For two are better than one... " Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

XOXO, Ten

                                                             ~Monday October 14th,2013~



Tanya,
I just wanted you to know that I had such a blast meeting you and getting to hang out with you yesterday. You worked so hard and you're awesome! *(I added the awesome part ;))* 
Oh, um, by the way, I want to introduce you to a few good friends of mine. This is Glucosamine, Ginger and Ice Bath. Weird names right?! Anywhoo, they're popping by your place today and you are just going to love them... sooo much that I'm convinced you will want them right there with you at the finish line. 
Good Luck girl, You've Got This! 

P.S.
tell Twelve I said hello. 
( don't worry, you'll like her too. she's a bit 'long winded' to endure... and a little wild...but she's awesome and so worth getting to know. Especially because she's the only one that can introduce you to Thirteen PointOne, who is AWESOME) 
Have fun!

XOXO,
Ten


So Friends, I met Ten yesterday. Ten Miles that is. I'll be honest, I only hung out with her for only a little bit. And I'm still not sure if I like her or not.
At first she's super welcoming and friendly. But as you get into a deep conversation, she starts to get pretty arrogant which is super irritating. 
It makes hanging out with her too long really uncomfortable and discouraging :( Kind of puts you off ya know? However, I want you to know that I am trying really really hard not to be judgmental. I did only meet her once. I feel awful just for saying that. Boo on my part :(
And you know what, how well can you really get to know someone you've only hung out with for 11 minutes? :)
The bright side? I feel way better prepared to meet Twelve ;)

Sincerely, 
Tanya B.

"we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us" 
~ Thank you Meredith for the reminder and encouragement

Just Do It

                                                                                                                 ~ Tuesday August 13th, 2013 ~

When I started this blog recently, my intention was to begin to document my sweet memories and lessons. I did not intend to document such a difficult moment. But I do not want to be afraid to share my 'Climbs'. Because it has been in my most intense challenging climbs that I've learned the most, grown the most, flourished and been blessed the most.

Since this specific situation is very fresh and personal, I will not be sharing my situation but instead my process. I believe that how we choose to respond is as equally if not more important than the situation itself. 

So, for those of you who know me well, you definitely know how I choose to decompress. If I have a long day or a bad day... let's be real, even a great day ;) you will most likely find me hiking the ridge, running the Jones or paddling port and prayin it up through it. Rather than cry over a bowl of ice cream (which by the way in a blue moon will happen)
I would rather the tears to fall productively, and in an effort to regain some sort of balance. 

All and all, being outside and challenging my body gets me out of my head, reminds me of how great and big my God is, all that is possible, and it just feels progressive for me.

Today of all days I did not want to participate in my normal decompression routine. The bowl of ice cream or trip to Del Taco sounded better. ( yes, I do drive to Santa Maria every now and then to indulge in my one fast food craving ;) ) 

But, today, as I find myself in a 'climb' which just so happens to be in the middle of my Nike women's half marathon training... I am encouraged. So with my sister along for and added push... I'm just going to do it,
and I am going to encourage you to do the same.

Persevere! Press On and Just Do It

Now here's your 20 second pep talk, from yours truly... me ;)

I wish it was easy

I wish I could tell my future children, 

my children's children

that the road of life is like a flat seem-less easy road... 

but it's not. Life happens. And it's filled with road bumps, 

hills, steep inclines and mountains you must hike.

The challenge is your choice.

You can choose to fold, give up 

and hope to find a smaller hill to climb.

Or you can
Run it

Climb it

Hit it

Lift it
Swim it

Jump it

Ride it

Crush it... 

allowing it to produce something far greater 

with in you than

you can dare to dream or imagine.

Breakthrough by perseverance and Just Do It! :)

Project Perseverance from Tanya on Vimeo.

Nike, I dream that you read this some day. Not to glorify the brand in anyway. But I hope that you are blessed and inspired to know that for the 90 something percent of us out there that are not professional athletes or striving to be professional athletes, and support the efforts of your brand; When we have a difficult day... week... or season... this is how we 'Just Do It'. I know I am not alone.

Thank you for the encouragement! :)


* to my sis Tara, I know this wasn't the easy, thank you for helping me document this. I am so grateful for your encouragement and your incredible spirit of support, always! I love you~



"...because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance , character, and character, hope;
 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the holy spirit, whom he has given us." ~Paul , Romans 5:3-5

"...because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ~James, 1:3-4

Love is a Verb

                                                                                                                ~ Thursday August 8th, 2013 ~

:Verb : 

A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear,...

There is something about feeling cornered… backed into a place where your hands are tied. I am either unable to move forward because the timing is not right, or it is simply just not God’s best to proceed.

Then there are the corners that are very similar to what I would consider a holding cell to feel like. Let me just be clear and say now that I have nothing to confess, I have never been in a holding cell. But if being locked up, having your hands tied and waiting for the miracle of being rescued is by definition the mirror images of a cell like category, then this is my place.

I wouldn’t say it is as painful as it may sound. Finding myself in these semi unfortunate situations has a distinct joy and a very beautiful silver lining. I believe it gives me the heart to reach out to God. And it gives God the opportunity to move, and to show up. Allowing for the opportunity to see him revealed :)  It is indeed my version of priceless. It shifts my perspective from unfortunate and hopeless to very blessed and fortunate to have the God of the universe express his love for me. He is intentional, faithful, loud and clear, consistent, … And I will never be tired of experiencing His love for me over and over again. Love, the sweetest and strongest eternal verb

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace.” Ephesians 2:4-5

“For man this impossible, but all things are possible for God..” Matthew 19:26

John Mayer, JT, Jay Z and Charity

                                                                                                          ~ Sunday August 4th, 2013 ~


This has been 2 full weeks of goodness! 2 Amazing concerts that fed my insatiable thirst for an exceptional musical preformance. 1 incredible wedding for my dear sweet friend Charity Romano now Lewallen :)

First up John Mayer. Listen, I don't care what anyone says about his character. His musical talent is ridiculously amazing. I've seen him in concert several times and he never dissapoints. Besides, he helps calm me down after a long day and gets me through traffic on road trips :)
I still remember the first time I saw him over 9 years ago. He opened for an artist at the Santa Barbara bowl... the kicker, Mayer was so amazing, I can't remember who the headliner was that we paid to see at the time. Woops. So in a nutshell, the show was wonderful and I had a great time getting lost in his saweet melodies:)

Second.... the triple threat Mr. Timberlake with Jay Z! Okay, I've said this about a hundred times since the concert. But I had no idea I could love JT more today then I did before his performance.... but I do, and a whole lot more. The entertainment of the year award goes to??... seriously, come on, he's out of this world :) And yes, we danced until our shoes came off and sang until our lungs hurt ;) Quality time with JT, and my girls, run ins with dear friends, let's face it, it was a perfect weekend :)

                                        

Lastly, but certainly not least.... The Wedding of one of my sweetest and dearest friends Charity Romano. She means so much to me. So many prayer hikes and walks for this day to finally come and suddenly it's here... it was simply lovely. It was everything and more.  It was blessed!

And as if the wedding itself wasn't enough, our group of close friends car pooled up and stayed together for the weekend to celebrate together and help with the wedding. It was such a sweet time of playing and catch up together to an even sweeter moment of marring off our Charity.

Jason Lewallen, you are a very blessed man, Charity is a treasure :) Welcome to the family!
Happy Wedding you two!

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall one will lift up his companion... If two lie down together they will keep warm... Two can withstand.. A threefold cord is not easily broken. "

Ecclesiasties 4:9-12