We have some winners!!!

Enter a lower limit:
Enter an upper limit:
Random Number:

Congratulations to the 13th person to comment on the 9 Month Waitaversary post--- Tyann Marcink!  Tyann wins a free skinny wrap.  I am excited about this as Tyann has been a super supporter of our adoption as a sponsor for our race and auction.  Check out her amazing stuff at Marcink Designs and Little Elephant Company.  She is quite the entrepreneur! 

In other winning news, we had a great day at the Marathon Relay.  It is always fun to see the different shirts that the runners come up with.  One simple shirt said Finishing=Winning.  We finished, so we are all winners!  2 teams---(1 male and 1 female) ran together as couples.  It was so fun to run along with our spouse and to have a fun day with friends.  Chris and I ran the 4th leg (there are some good hills) and Chris' bad knees slowed us down a bit, BUT I am so proud of him for running and not whining. And grateful to the encouragment of our team mates.  The next race for me besides putting on our own Love 2 Run 4 Love 5K will be the Joplin Memorial Run on May 19th.  I will be running my second half marathon along with my little brother (who will smoke me---but that's not what matters right?).

(**Note:  I will post more relay pics when I get a chance and find all the pictures.)
In very fun news, guess who else ran the 4th leg today at the Marathon Relay?  Jen from Biggest Loser (season 11).  I was a fan of her and her dad---so it was so fun to run into her today.  Jay ran leg 1, her brother ran leg 2, a facebook contest winner won leg 3, and she ran leg 4. 

Jen & I posing for a pic before boarding the Metro to
 take us to our relay station.  We both ran the 4th leg!

I'm No Marathon Runner......or Am I?

Being that this is a family blog....I gave Chris permission to post posts if he so desired...he finally did so. (I love him & am proud to be his wife by the way!!!)

A marathon runner? No, not me. Running 26.2 miles (in a row) seems quite daunting. Although I have a few friends who have done this numerous times and enjoy it immensely, I’m not sure I will ever be up for the challenge of a run like a marathon…or am I actually running in about 4 of them as we speak?
I have struggled with being at healthy weight for years.(Insert "Fatter Than I Want To Be" by Shack) About 15 years ago, I was at a weight I wish I was at now. It has taken me 15 years to get to the unhealthy point I am right now. I have made some strides toward getting healthier in the last few years but sometimes it seems as if I’m going two steps forward and one step back. It is progress none the less, but not as fast as I would wish. Why should I be discouraged when the solution doesn’t happen over night? It took me 15 years to get here so it might take me some time to turn it around. It isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon run. I’m in it for the long haul, the long run.
I have been married to my wife for almost 12 years. She is beautiful, amazing, and my best friend. We currently have 3 kids, true blue blessings from God. I love my family. But there are times when Amber and I just aren’t connecting, the kids are running us a little ragged, and family life seems a bit crazy. We also just recently jumped in head first into the world of international adoption. Something we have prayed about for literally years. We are excited but know there are many hurdles to clear before we have a beautiful baby girl from Ethiopia in our arms. (Insert the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” here) Even with all the excitement, it sometimes seems overwhelming; the time, the money, the unknown. I have to remember, I’m in it for the long haul, the long run. It is not a sprint in time like a few bad days, weeks, months or even a few tough years. I want to glorify God in my marriage, be the best husband I can be, show Jesus to my kids and help bring them to a saving relationship with Him. My family life is a marathon run.
Being a part of ministry is a blessing. Being able to help people come to Jesus, care for people, and help lead them in worship is great! There are times when, believe it or not, discouragement sets in. Church attendance was down one week, offering seemed a bit low, no one showed up for the event we planned, and someone is calling to let me know my choice of songs wasn’t quite their cup of tea. The church is in it for the long haul, not the short sprint from week to week. I want to be a part of what God is doing in the life of those who are in my community. None of us is perfect; we are all growing and learning, and running a marathon in ministry.
The most important race I am in is a race to eternity. New life in Christ is a race. I have to set my life and my mind on the things that are eternal and stay focused. I can get tripped up with all kinds of worldly distractions, my own sin issues, feeling discouraged or tired, but I keep running. (Insert 33miles song, “Today” here) Paul said in Hebrews 12:1-3 “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (The Message) I got a feeling that if I am running THIS race focused, and on target, the other races will come along nicely.
A marathon runner? Hmmm….maybe I am. Maybe we would all do well to remember that life is a journey not a destination (insert NewFire song, “Journey” here). Let’s start and keep running!
(Sorry for all the song references, my life sometimes seems best played out in a musical)

Back in the saddle again......(finally)

Yesterday was a bad day. Yesterday I accomplished nothing. I have been sick for two days w/ yucky tummy stuff. Before this I have been sick w/ an ear infection, sinus infection, and so much fluid behind my ear that I can hardly hear in my right ear. The sinus infection symptoms began about Aug. 8th. So honestly I feel like I haven't accomplished much in the last month b/w my illnesses & my kids (all 3 have had the same big D word) My husband is so great though...yesterday after I apologized for doing absolutely nothing, he asked me "Did you have to deal w/ a bunch of clean-up/dirty diapers?" I said "Yeah" and he lovingly said, "Then you've done something and I wouldn't have wanted to do that, and your sick." I felt so relieved to hear him say that. I feel so guilty at times when I don't have the energy to get all I want accomplished, or even meet some of my goals. For instance, I haven't wanted to run for this entire month as well, with the clogged ear & the heat. Last time I ran was beginning of July and then before then it had been a couple of months.

Then to add to the yuckiness, we had our fuel pump go out on Chris' car yesterday as well. So after feeling pretty discouraged, stressed, depressed, etc. for several weeks, today was a refreshing change. Today I was productive. Even in the midst of figuring out car issues, friends (church community) reached out and loaned us their vehicle for a bit. Such a blessing!

Other things I accomplished today:
*I was able to enjoy encouraging conversation w/ two friends in depth.
*I read several books w/ Tobe while holding him (haven't got to read w/ him for a while).
*I decluttered 2 cabinets & 1 closet!!!
*I shined my sink. :)
*I treated my kids to half-price slushies at Sonic during happy hour.
*I had to drop off hubby at work/pick up daughter from school/pick up hubby from work due to the fact we have one car until tomorrow.
*I ran 2 miles after having about a 2 month hiatus!(hence the 'Back in the saddle'---I pray I can be consitent w/ my training for a 10K in the fall.)
*Enjoyed dinner at the dinner table w/ my family.
*Prayed w/ my children.

*I even updated facebook off and on throughout the day and currently am posting to my blog. :) And all of this before 10 pm. I am still going to be in bed at a decent hour (Side Note: First day of my temporary job cleaning the post office starts bright and early at 5:30 am. I am never up that early!) So I would say overall, I really enjoyed today. I usually might accomplish maybe two of the above bullets and more often than not they are facebook and talking to friends. It feels good to be productive. I absolutely LOVE this motto of the Flylady (I read the Flight Plan's daily, but don't always follow them) but this motto is so encourging to me:

You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?--Flylady www.flylady.net

Oh and the most encouraging Word is God's: Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”