Day 5 of 30- My daughters

Today I am thankful for:

My beautiful daughters!

These girls amaze me everyday...and make me want to be a better person. Both of them are excellent students, smart and hardworking. They are both talented in their own ways. They both love Jesus too! What more could a Mom ask for?

They also are insanely in love with animals...ALL animals! We volunteer at the local humane society (PAWS). I'm not sure that I ever see them work as hard as they do when we go there. They walk the dogs, clean out their cages, and bathe the dogs. We also get the cats and kittens out to "socialize" them. They would be happy if we spent hours there! Their sweet, loving hearts just warm my mommy heart!

Day 4 of 30- THIS Man

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" Ephesians 5:25
"Wives respect your husbands" Ephesians 5:33

Today I am thankful for:

My husband!

I am amazed at what a wonderful husband and father his is. His faith and trust in God is growing everyday. He is building a successful business. He also is so good at the little things...bringing me a cup of coffee every morning, keeping fresh flowers in the house for me, cooking my favorite meals (and he is an amazing cook!)...the list could go on! He may not be perfect...but he is perfect for me!!!

Day 3 of 30- Adventurous Family

Today I am thankful for:

my adventurous family!

Whether it is ziplining through the jungle of Costa Rica...

...or running a 5K, they really are a lot of fun! I love them so much!

Day 2 of 30- God Moments

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord" Jeremiah 24:7

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by people that hear God speak, experience His grace, and are willing to share these experiences with me. Today I am thankful for:

God Moments!
(This post has nothing to do with the lake but this picture just "felt" like God to me...peaceful and serene)

My husband has a hereditary eye disease called Retinoschisis. As he ages, his eyesight is deteriorating. Reading in the mornings is becoming more difficult for him...maybe because his mind/eye connection is not "awake" yet. That being said, he was feeling frustrated and sad this morning when he struggled to read something. Yesterday, he and I went for a 3 mile run. During this run, we met a blind gentlemen who was taking a morning walk. After we said "Good Morning" to him, his response was "Good Morning! It's nice to see you today"! Wowwwwww!!! Talk about perspective! My husband remembered that moment when he was struggling this morning. He felt that it was God speaking to him that things could be worse! This was his God moment that he shared with me!

I was then speaking with my best friend whose father is slowly dying. This friend is caring for her father and experiencing some wonderful moments with him right now. However, there is one subject that she needed to talk to him about and get affirmation and closure on. She has been hesitant to bring it up because it felt negative. Last night, they were sitting around talking about everything. He brought up a subject that opened the door for her to be able to state these feelings that she was having. They were able to talk about it in a gentle, kind, and loving way. He was so wonderful to affirm her and she now has closure on this matter. It was almost like God spoke to her father and said "She needs this conversation". That was her God moment that she shared with me!

Again, I feel so blessed to have these people in my life...to remind me to look for and experience God's love. There are times that we don't hear His voice...but His actions speak deeply to our hearts.

Day 1 of 30- Lazy Puppy Dogs

Going around Facebook is request for everyone to post one thing that they are thankful for everyday for the month of November. I think that my goal will be to blog about one thing that I am thankful for instead. This will kill 2 birds with one stone: I can conquer my goal of blogging more and I can participate in this wonderful idea!

So today I am thankful for:

Lazy puppy dogs!!!!

Be still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God"~~Psalms 46:10

A little over a year ago, I felt God speaking to me...asking me to be still! I felt that He had a specific plan for how this was to look. It didn't "sound" right to me. It didn't fit into "my plan".

However, here I am...at the place that He wanted me to be...with His plan complete. I am in awe of His power, His glory, His grace, and His mercy because I didn't make this easy. I was disobedient...argumentative...bargaining...and at times, down right bratty! I am exactly where he wants me!

What is different now than before is that I am not hearing what His plan is from here. I just keep hearing "Be Still". For a "Human Do-er" like me, it's hard just to be a "Human Be-ing". I don't listen well...I find something else to do...I run! So now I am nursing a foot injury...I have no choice...

...I don't do well sitting in quietness...in stillness!

I guess His plan is BE STILL...know that I am God...

...I am still curious to see how this plays out!!!

Thankful Thursday

Often I think about how much I have to be thankful for...it's hard to narrow it down to only a short list. Here are a few that are closest to my heart and mind today:
1) Cooler weather and sunshine!

2) A husband and friends that make me laugh and "get" me and my crazy sense of humor...in short, I am thankful for laughter!

3) Conviction...I love how God's gentle reminders help to keep me in line...and out of trouble!

4) Flowers...I am definitely not gardener but I planted these flowers last summer. I had no idea that they would come back up this spring...and then again at the end of summer! They're like the flowers that just keep on giving!!!

5) I just finished my last Half Marathon of the year! I love to run but I'm tired after 6 Half Marathons this year...

...even though I am already trying to figure out when and where the next one will be...I have my eye on a very special medal!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." 1Chronicles 16:34

Today, I am thankful for:
*Good friends that love me enough to be completely themselves and completely honest with me. I am so thankful for the gentleness of words that are so hard to say.
*A praying husband~ He prays for and with my children and I every morning. Although he is not perfect, he is perfect for me!
*A broken life~ Through life's hurts, trials, and tribulations, God has taught me such wonderful lessons. I love when He humbles me so that I can hear His word.
I am thankful for His mercy and grace that I did not earn and do not deserve.
*My dogs~ TRULY unconditional love, kindness, and gratitude
*My daughters~ Whether they know it or not, they teach me so much about myself everyday and make me want to be such a better version of me for them!
*A rainy day
*Fuzzy socks and pajama pants
*French press coffee (Thanks for teaching me the importance of this, Rachel and Tracey)
*Quietness....

What are you thankful for on this rainy Thursday?

Mindshift

My 2011 race schedule is coming to an end. I have enjoyed spending this year training and racing. All the hard work and excitement has been building up for THE race...the one race that I want that PR! The Middle Half!!! My goal (and hope) is to finish under 2:00...I don't care if it's 1:59:59!

HOWEVER...

I met with my coach today...

The conversation went something like this:
Him: How do you feel your running is coming along?
Me: Good
Him: How's your foot?
Me: It hurts...and now I am getting this little knee thing
Him: Hmmmm
Me: What are we going to do to get me ready for the Middle 1/2 with these things? I REALLY want that PR.
Him: Well, I want to encourage you to shift your mindset.
Me: Huh?
Him: When we run, we need to glorify Him! He is the reason that we are able to run. I want you to consider that this is not the race for that PR. I want you to consider that God has other plans for you with this particular race. When you run this race, I want you to listen to your body but also pray for his guidance. He may have something that He needs from you to glorify Him. It may be the PR that you want, or it may be something totally different. (Oh, and he said that he doesn't want me to run with anyone or with any music)
Me: Hmmmm

So, this has been on my mind and in my heart since this conversation. At first, I wanted to cry. My heart and mind were focused intently on THIS race and THAT PR. At first, I felt like I was giving up.

After spending some time thinking, replaying his words, and praying, I feel differently. I don't know what all of this means. I don't know what this looks like. What I do know is that I agree with my coach. If it were not for Him, I would have never had the ability to stop smoking. If it were not for Him, I would not have laced up my running shoes for that very first run. If it were not for Him, I would not be able to run...at all! If it were not for Him, I would not have this life that blesses me. If it were not for Him, I would not have these AMAZING people in my life to speak these tough truths to me.

If his plan is the PR, that would be gr-8! If not, then He has something better in mind. It may be something so subtle that I would have missed it if...

Not for this mindshift...

And THAT would be the true tragedy in this...

...To miss seeing HIM in action!!!

Hmmmm....

....to be continued!!!

My perfect life

My life is perfect! My kids are always perfectly dressed, love to eat green vegetables, and are never disrespectful. I have a "good hair day" everyday. My husband is also perfect and always thinks of my needs first. My house is so clean that you could eat off the floors!

Now, if you believe this, please quit reading now because I am about to burst your bubble.

My kids are not perfect (although I think that they are darn near it)! In order for them to eat green vegetables, I have to disguise them. My husband is definitely not perfect...but he's perfect for me (most days)! We have had our share of ups and downs. At one point, we were separated, and I didn't think that we would be together today. Thankful and blessed that God intervened and saved us from ourselves. You are more that welcome to eat off my floors, but you are probably going get dog hair in your mouth. Now, my hair...well, let's just not get started on that one!!!

No one's life is perfect. Although someone's life looks perfect on the outside, you never know what that person deals with on the inside. God only gives us what we can handle. Each person has their own cross to bear...one that another may not be able to handle.

It's very easy to judge others, whether good or bad, instead of taking the time to truly get to know someone. That person that you think is fat...or ugly...or lazy...or..."perfect" could really need a friend or a kind word. We often think that judging only goes one way...judging the negative in others. But...I have seen people judging when good things happen to someone. I think, in this day and time, that we need to build each other up, celebrate our successes, and encourage one another. After all, we are all imperfect people!