i get by with a little help from my friends

today is sheila's birthday.

everyone needs a friend like sheila.

when i told her i was going to train for a half marathon she didn't laugh or belittle me or say i couldn't do it. she asked for my training plan and ran with me.

that was over 4 yearsago.

last month we ran our 4th half marathon together, (i don't know how many races total we've run together and separate, it's a lot). when i wiped out at mile 13, she came to help me up and check on me to make sure i was okay.

three weeks later when i was at her house we were talking about it and she laughed. describing it. how i was so excited to be finishing. how it looked like slow motion. how i jumped up and kept running. she laughed so hard she couldn't talk.

yep, everyone needs a friend like this.

a friend all in for the crazy stuff, yet compassionate and caring when you're down and ABLE TO LAUGH HER BUTT OFF AT YOUR when it's all said and done.


happy birthday sheila!

whatsoever things are true

phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,

ahhh, the wonderful world of the internet. where we share more than we should. where we can pretend (or actually believe???) we are something we are not.

i wandered as i browsed the web - and i had 12 hours at the spine hospital yesterday with msnbc on and a bad library book to read - everything from facebook, twitter, blogs and pinterest, if we are really that disillusioned about ourselves.

i know many people that know me read this, and a few of them will (and have) called me out on past behaviors. i'm really glad they do. maybe not at the time, but eventually i am glad.

i think we all have areas of our lives where certain things are the norm. ways of dress, behavior, talk. do we compromise those? or do we live our lives as us. the unique wonderful way god made us?

one thing that i've learned that makes me different is that i like to wear dresses. at work, even in a professional office environment it's rare to see dresses. maybe i should be more specific, i like girly dresses. and i wear them grocery shopping, to whitney's volleyball games, to church, pretty much wherever i'm going.

and i stick out a lot of times. funny thing is, if you put me in khakis and a black tee shirt, i feel awkward. i do on occasion wear jeans, but even prefer them with pretty shirts and heels. (or sports tee shirts and tennis shoes, but if i'm going that way, i'm probably wearing sweat pants or yoga pants and actually working out.

this is a surface reality for me. but what is inside me? am i a hypocrite? do i talk about god and scripture and share positive uplifting spiritual truths on one pinterest board and call it "wisdom" and then call one "humor" or "things that make me laugh" share off color things, speak bad about men and even other women, calling them names and parts of the body and even plain out foul language? (i will share areas where i have seen hypocrisy in my life, later. can't take too much self flagellation in one day.).

think twice about what i say/type/post. one got away from me this week, i typed something i shouldn't have (even though i meant it and know it was true doesn't mean that i should've shared it) and scheduled it to post. when i proofread it (after it posted) i edited it and took the offensive sentence down.

i want my life to line up with god's word. with the life of a follower of jesus. but i want to be the kind of follower that is not afraid to get out of her boat and go to jesus.

Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

daily. follow. jesus.

taking up my cross doesn't sound fun. carrying a cross in biblical times was a pretty horrific experience. and it doesn't say you MAY have a cross to carry. it says to pick up your cross. defninitive. there is a cross. i wander, can we truly follow if we aren't carrying our cross? theologues? peggy? jenny? people smarter then me? any answers?

even if it means to walk the path less traveled.

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

i love this by Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

the adventures of wander woman

i ran my first 5k saturday. it was the glow run, started at 8:45 p.m. since it was in wichita, next to the bike path i run on frequently, started across the street from the minor league ball field nate has played a few games at, less than a mile from the public library and within running distance to my parents house (i run 20 miles, everywhere is running distance, lol) i was certain i would not get lost. i was more concerned about the number of people running. there were a lot.

i ran with a team, we were named "the real housewives of sedgwick county". we had tee shirts made, put nicknames on the back. here is the team, i only knew the two women on either side of me, signed up to run with carrie. we got separated about a mile in when she went left around some walkers and i got stuck behind them.

and the back of my shirt with my nickname


it was a bit of a rough run for me, 4 weeks out from the hawk marathon, and i have registered for it so i'm committed now. i had a long training run saturday, so i ran 15 miles saturday morning and then back out for my last 3.2 at the glow run. i was prepared for it to be a rough start, at least. but other than the callous on the bottom of my foot that's been bothering me, i was okay. once i stopped and took my socks off and ran without them it was much better. it was really a good time.


Official time 34:19 and i was thrilled with my day of running. Celebrated with a braum's strawberry shortcake sundae.

lessons from the trail part 8 - sometimes you need a pacer

we went to the black hills of south dakota this weekend so steve could run the last 50 miles of the black hills 100 with a friend of his.  i thought a lot about the vacation time we were using and the money we spent going as a pacer, as steve wasn't racing.

steve has had pacers at some of his ultras and some he has run solo. 

i have seen many runners pace others over the relatively short time steve has been running ultras.  it's an unusal thing.  people who love to run and who love the runner volunteer to run portions of the race with them. i've shared about steve's phenomenal (boy I had a hard time spelling this word) pacers over time.  when I run an ultra i'm hoping for a pacer.  steve has volunteered to be my crew, but I may ask whitney and denae and madeline to come out and be my crew so steve can run with me, or they can take turns pacing. heeheeheehee. 

i love the solitude of running.  i have run two trail marathons all alone.  and enjoyed it. 

two weeks ago i ran a half marathon and steve stayed with me every step of the way, he was my pacer because i set the pace.  he pushed me to keep running, he only let  me walk up hills and walk through sheila's loop, he helped me finish better than i would've on my own.  and he knows how much i enjoy the scenery and stopping for pictures.

in the black hills, steve ended up pacing someone he didn't know.  in the dark through the forest.  and since one guy ran into two mountain lions, (not literally, they were 10 yards away from him) i can imagine that running in the night by yourself could've been scary.   i love that we can help and encourage those we love, but we can also come alongside someone we've just met and be an encouragement to them too.  just a good one time memory in a person's life.


i think sometimes it's okay to go it alone.  but sometimes you need help. 

this goes for life too.

i'm guilty of not wanting anyone to know i'm in a bad spot and that i need help.  i'm getting better about it.  i told a friend last week who said she'd been in a bit of a funk that i like to feel funky.  i do enjoy my funk.  which is sad, but i get down and i sometimes choose to stay there. 

but after a conversation with her about how low we were, we both ended up in a better mood that night.  i ran mine off and she scrubbed her house.  but it started with the conversation and with admitting we were down. 

sometimes you need someone to come along side you and help you get where you want/need to be. 

I thessalonians 5:11 "therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

how can I encourage you today?

what are you worth

Matthew 10:29-31 "what is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? but not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your father knowing it. and the very hairs on your head are all numbered. so don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."

i have times where i struggle with what i’m worth. sometimes it’s due to situations. sometimes it’s due to words.

as i come to grips with my feelings of self worth, what i think i’m worth, where i find my value and what i think it is i’ve been more aware of those around me. mostly women. i’m not judging them or trying to analyze them based on deep seated and hidden traits. i’m more noticing the very visible signs of insecurity.

trying on a skirt you really like but saying “it’s too full”. the skirt wasn’t too full, you didn’t like the way it looked on your body. we’ve all done it, it’s why i understand the language.

“i don’t have any reason to dress up, i wear casual clothes all the time”. said wistfully looking at a pretty, girly dress in a boutique. you want to dress pretty, dress pretty for you. i know it works for me (i’m wearing a pink cami with lace trim, a ruffly tan peasant skirt and pink sparkly sandals as i type this) and i feel pretty, oh so pretty…i feel pretty and witty and …

i can’t speak for men, never been one. but i have been a woman, a grown up one a long time now, and i know that life and society and family and sadly, even other women chip away at our self esteem.  and life, what it does to the external beauty – stretch marks and cellulite and gravity and wrinkles and gray hair. 

society/pop culture – size 0 models with perfect skin and perfect hair and perfect teeth and air brushed photos and women like jennifer aniston whose husband trades her in for an even more beautiful successful actress. kardashian women talking about their “real” bodies and “real” curves.

family – we lose our identities becoming wives and mothers and drivers and cooks and maids and laundresses and begin to see ourselves through our families eyes as just the food on the table, the clothes in the closet and someone that’s a real person only when you’ve had a bad day and need someone to build you up. once that’s done, i love you mom, see you later.

other women – is anything worse than a mean girl? yes, a mean woman. a mean girl who never outgrew it. a mean girl who strikes out with a vengeance intent to hurt. who sharpens her words to do the most damage. i feel sorry for these women because they speak from a heart of pain. they see themselves with even less value. they need to put other women down to feel better about themselves. they build themselves up because no one in their life is doing it for them. and i have to admit, i can throw some pretty sharp verbal barbs, i work very hard at reigning my tongue and don’t do as well as i would like.

when was the last time someone said you were beautiful or that you looked nice? that they thought you were amazing. not for running a marathon or climbing a mountain or surviving a snake bite or running bear crawl sprints. (i have to use my examples, it’s all i have).

amazing for surviving 18 years or 27 years or 44 years on this earth and still getting out of bed every day.

amazing for raising your children to hold down jobs and just be normal run of the mill law abiding citizens.

amazing for staying married through all the problems that are a natural part of that relationship.

amazing because you are a single woman supporting yourself, living your life on your terms because that’s the way you wanted it or the way it worked out. not settling just because you don’t want to be alone.  refusing to be less because you are not defined as wife and mother, but defined as woman.

amazing because you are you. you are fearfully and wonderfully made. in the image of the great god himself.

please know that i think you are amazing. each and every one of you.

yes, even you.

and if i could, i’d tell you to your face.


YOU.ARE.AMAZING.


YOU.ARE.VALUABLE.


YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN YOU KNOW.  MORE THAN YOU BELIEVE

this post is dedicated to my dear friend jenny cummins, inspired by her through an e-mail she sent me on a "down day".  i love you.

The good Christian woman

I'm not her. If I base my belief on good christianity on my upbringing and how I was raised, I'm an awful Christian.

I question God. I'm not going to sugar coat this and say it's prayerful even. I really do ask him why. I know he doesn't owe me an answer. I know he's always good. I know we live in a sinful broken world. And he knows this. And he knows I'm scared and confused and disappointed and not always happy. All the things good christians are supposed to be; brave, fearless, unwavering faith in God, happy; deliriously so, so the world will want what I have.

My life doesn't allow this. I believe that in my crying to God asking "why this happened" he understands the heart that's asking. In the fear, and acknowledging the fear and moving forward following him in the dark times regardless he understands the trepidation, yet gives the strength to move forward. In the times of asking for a way out, any way out, not having to deal with my problems. My thoughts, my hurts, he knows that I want out because I hurt. And he knows that at some point I will pick myself up and walk through the dark time to come out on the other side because I believe him. I believe I have to go through it to get to the end. I believe the valley, the dark times, are only beautiful once you are out of them.

I also believe if we don't have the freedom to talk to God honestly, because let's be real, he knows our hearts anyway, and let him know we are down and discouraged, disappointed and distraught, we will never get victory over them. You know the old saying, the first step is admitting you have a problem?

He's God in the good times, he's God in the bad times. And I don't pretend to have it all figured out. I don't pretend that everything is okay. I don't hold it in (anymore). I ask my friends that I trust for advice. For prayer. I tell them what I'm struggling with. I trust that when I can't make out the truth from God, that they will seek him for me.

But bottom line, I am not afraid to go to God with very real hurts, heartbreak, disappointments, fears, etc. Because if I don't recognize him in the hard times and know that he will walk with me, then when those hard times come and I'm afraid to be honest, where can I go? So I pour it out to the one who can take it. And let him pour back into me.

When Scripture says "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you", 1 Peter 5:7, it's our invitation to bring him our cares. We don't have to pretty them up or fix ourselves before we come to him. If we did, I'd never be able to come to him.

I have some cares that I desperately need to give up. I am working on it. And it's not flowery prayers or pretty words or all postive. But it doesn't have to be. I love him. I fear him. I know he is God, and I know he loves me.

I believe

My pink running jacket goes with everything. Running tights, workout clothes, jeans and my favorite black tee shirt, my white lace dress and cowboy boots…

Safety glasses don’t go with anything.

Random texts that make you laugh are priceless gifts. One from Whitney that said MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM

And this picture of a swimsuit from Carrie

Coffeemate White Chocolate Caramel coffee creamer (35 calories per serving) can make even a 25 cent cup of Folger’s coffee taste gourmet.

Muscle relaxers for a stress shoulder make marathon training much more enjoyable (they relax more muscles than just the shoulder).

That you should make time for people you love and doing things you enjoy. Combine them when possible. 17.04 mile training run completed. Sheila met me at Sedgwick County Park for 4.5 miles and Steve finished his errand and ran to find me and we met up a half f mile after I left Sheila and he ran the final 6 with me. Made my run so much more enjoyable and easier.

Blessing

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Last Saturday night Mark talked about "The Valley of Blessing". To summarize, my words, you are in a valley, you get to the end, and you get the win, but it's not the win with the medal around your neck holding up #1 fingers. It's the pitiful one you see of the marathon runner who falls down 100 feet from the finish line and gets up and stumbles only to fall down again a few feet later and eventually, crosses the finish line crawling. But it's still a win.

Then to drive the point even deeper, Melinda sang a song I've never heard before, and all I can remember is the words I've asked you to take away the pain. I'm not quite that eloquent, as I'm on my knees (or face) before God begging him to make it stop hurting.

I sat there in church between Steve and Whitney with our dear friends Jake and Carrie on the other side of Steve and knew that I've been blessed. I came out of the valley with a "W". I came out with my family intact, with friends that stuck with us and prayed and were too awesome for words. I sat there with tears running down my face and Steve's hand on me, worrying about me. (Whitney, however, was oblivious, which I love about her).

I had the thought this week that if God recently orchestrated a quick departure from the church we were attending so that I would be in this service at this church for this message, it was well worth it. I believe God does things like that. Couldn't say for sure he did but that message touched me deeply.

I beg God to take the pain, but he doesn't. He continues to say "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I ask him to make it stop hurting and he says "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30:5

I say I don't want to cry anymore but "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8"

Because...
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever. Psalm 23

Nachos and Margaritas

My Scripture today was great. Psalms 121. I have scribbles in my handwriting (and a few suspicious spots I'm guessing are tear stains), dated April 13, 2011 above this chapter that says "you made the Heavens and earth, you can change man. You can answer my prayer". (He did).

Psalm 121 is eight verses of awesome. The Lord guards his people. I was going to share it here, but I really think you should open the Bible and read it. I find my Bible so comforting, the leather cover, the thin paper, the words of Christ in red, so if you need encouragement today go to Psalm 121.

Carrie, I love her, last night had a picture of herself post-run (yes, I stole this idea from her) and the caption was "to the lady on the treadmill next to me, yes we WERE racing, and I WON!" Of course I giggled. Then underneath that she said, "Patsy, how's that for rainbows and unicorns". Pretty dang good since you asked.

In the spirit of rainbows and unicorns, sunshine and roses, I posted once about sunburn and thorns.

A comment was left on my blog last week "espresso and dark chocolate" and for a minute I thought they were nicknaming my little girls and I thought how politically incorrect that was, while still funny, then realized it was their version of rainbows and unicorns and then I knew who it was who commented anonymously, based on that. I wonder what your two things are that indicate life is good?

We already have:
Sunshine and roses (picture from yahoo images)

Rainbows and unicorns (picture from photobucket)

Espresso and dark chocolate (picture from yahoo images)

I would add:
Hugs and kisses

Nachos and margaritas (picture from Signal Mountain Lodge Nacho Night)

Rebecca and baseball (some of my best times were spent sitting in the sun drinking beer and watching baseball with this one)

Any others? What are yours?

Random Thoughts

Facebook and twitter and cell phones add new dimensions to parenting. I get to be so much more aware of my kids lives. Have to be more worried about the constant communication and the intimacy that comes with that. And I get to see way more than I want to know. But just like knowing your kids friends, their parents, what their houses are like, monitoring clothing choices, these have to be monitored also. I did threaten Whitney the other day with a punishment, getting her a flip phone. Not taking her phone away, but giving her a “dumb” flip phone. SMH! At myself.

We are back church shopping. Well not till after volleyball season, until then we will attend churches that have Saturday evening services. Apparently our new church didn’t love us as much as we loved them. Nuff said. I was willing after this last week to not go at all, which is sad because I love church. Steve won’t let us do that. (I didn’t really want to anyway). It’s in God’s hands, right? He has a plan for us, even if we continue to make our own way, off his path, he veers us back on at some point. For some reason I just pictured a herd of cattle trying to go its own way and a dog barking at them to corral them through the gate. I’m not saying I’m a cow or God’s a dog, just a weird thought that came to mind.

My training for the marathon had me concerned, but I couldn’t add mileage too fast without risking injury, so I added high impact cardio classes 4-5 times a week. NOTE TO SELF: You are not tough enough for 30 minutes of 8 MPH sprints followed by Shalen’s Zumba class. Also when you show up to zumba or turbokick after running you are already sweating. Which means you will sweat sooner and heavier than you usually do in these classes. Sweat on hardwood floors can be dangerous. REMEMBER THIS!

I wonder how many times I can cancel a before work run with Sheila before she gives up our friendship? It’s lasted 30+ years, is this the thing that might break it?

Of opossums and pills

I woke up late this morning. The effects of too much weekend, early wake ups on Saturday and Sunday, the 13 mile run, the zumba class…

Add to that my stress shoulder is stressed again. I was in pain and disgruntled about having to call the doctor and get a refill of my muscle relaxer or next step to the chiropractor when I found my prescription bottle. Still had two pills. And six refills left. So I took a pill and called the pharmacy. And was relieved that she gave me six refills for a year because it let me know this was something the doctor knew wouldn’t go away immediately. They don’t make me drowsy, but I sleep like I’m dead. And while it may not be dreamless, no dreams woke me or kept me awake, at least not that I remember.

But if I could figure out how to dream in full length novels I would have a writing career.

Back to my late morning. As I finish up with hair and make up I think to peek in Whitney’s room and she is still NOT OUT OF BED! I raise my voice (yell), tell her she has 15 minutes to be ready (she doesn’t make it) and head to the kitchen to pack lunches. I pack both hers and mine and throw some extra crap in hers so she can eat it for breakfast or between classes because I think she has late lunch today, not till 1:00. Then I go to take the trash out to the curb. Usually I do this on Sunday nights, but it was so windy that it blows the trash cart over. And my trash cart is full and heavy, but it was just that windy. The bungee cord that holds the lid down is broken so when the cart blows over the trash spills. The trash bags are all securely fastened, but we live really close to nature and the wild animals (skunks, opossums and raccoons) rip into the bags for our garbage. After Steve and Whitney watched the episode of “Infested” (I happened to be in the room) where the opossums took over the girls apartment and she ended up in the hospital with typhus I’m still a little freaked out, I hate opossums, so I waited till this morning to drag the trash out.

Twenty-five minutes after my fifteen minute deadline Whitney makes it to the car. I go back in to get her lunch and grab an extra pony tail holder while I’m in there because it takes two to hold her 15 pounds of hair.

And then...I get a notification on facebook (Shout out to Belinda for the encouraging words, much needed and appreciated) “Good morning, I don’t want you to have FACEBOOK envy. (a post for another time) You are going to have a special week because you are a daughter of the King. Keep pressing on to know Him. Love you."

What a great reminder.

Also got a reminder from Whit that I’m out of altoids and that dad saves the last one for her.

Just Blah

I've kind of been in a slump lately. Nothing new or bad happened, just been dragging. Not physically, I'm healthy, just blah.

Today reading of Proverbs gave me these few thoughts (and several more, Proverbs is great stuff), from Proverbs 18

1 A recluse is self-indulgent, snarling at every sound principle of conduct.

I really REALLY don't want to be reclusive, selfish, or ignoring wise counsel or even common sense.

14 The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear it if the spirit is crushed?

Very true...value those around you, don't crush their spirit, in fact, try and build them up.

24 There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Too bad you don't always know who your real friends are in time...

13 weeks

I'm thirteen weeks from my first 2012 marathon. I was very concerned Christmas that I wasn't going to have time to get ready. But there is a wait list, and I know a couple of people wanting in so I could get my money back.

I decided to give it the week between Christmas and New Year's and see what happened. What happened was everytime I put on my running shoes Steve headed out with me. Even if he had already ran that day. And I ran a couple of 4 milers, a 6 miler and a couple of 8 milers. This week back at work, my regular scheduled life, I was still able to stick to my schedule and get my runs (and my Yassos) in.

Today I met Sheila for five miles while Steve was at worship team practice and then headed home to run more on the trail. I ran the first mile and a half with Steve for his warm up, and then he went on ahead. At about 3 miles in I saw him coming back toward me on the trail. His camelback had a leak and his back was soaked. He couldn't go too far without water so he was going to call today a bust. Since I was at a little past 8 miles for the day and still had to get home I traded him camelbacks, dumped the water out of the leaky one and headed home with he empty and let him finish his long run.

I know every short cut (if there is one) to get home, so I climbed out of the trail, hopped the fence into the church frisbee golf course and headed home the shortest route. Ended up with a total of 11 miles and I feel pretty good about that. I feel confident about being ready for a marathon in 13 weeks. If I just add a mile a week to my long run I'm there. (The trick will be training and running it to be ready for the one I want to run two weeks after).

I'm so happy to have friends that share my running passion. I'm also very happy that Steve loves it too and that he runs with me and pushes me and causes me to be better. Now I'm going to go read my new Runner's World.

Thanksgiving

Remember when I posted here about what I'm not thankful for?

I started paying attention to what I am thankful for. Not the standards of Jesus, the Bible, my job, healthy kids, because I am thankful for all of these things. More than you know. But I started really looking at what I'm thankful for.

Dentists. I had a toothache last week.
Antibiotics. Got rid of my toothache.
Fur lined shoes. It's gotten cold.
Cameras/pictures.
The ability to run.
My bed. I laid down for a nap one afternoon and literally said to myself "I love my bed".
Home made biscuits and gravy. Quite possibly the best comfort food ever.
Vacation visits with my son.
Opportunities. There is always something new to attempt, try for, attain.
Music.
My cowboy boots. I got them resoled for $17.00. They are ten years old. I can't replace them.
My clothes dryer.
Second chances. Getting them, giving them.
Books. Actual books with front and back covers and pages. (I think Nooks, Kindles, IPAD's are all really cool, though.)
Watching Grimm with Denae while Whitney takes a nap on the floor.
The color of the trees in the fall.
Steve finishing two hundred mile races in four weeks time and staying healthy while he did so.
Toilet paper. SERIOUSLY!!!
Kind words from friends. Whether it's blog comments, texts, facebook or email, I'm thankful for all of them.
Time with Steve.
My YMCA membership.
Charitable organizations: World Vision, Big Brothers/Sisters, United Way, the Humane Society, I could go on and on.
The virtual world that lets me stay in touch with my friends and family and see pictures, etc.
Answered prayers for my children.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

I believe

There is something in high school sports, at least in Wichita, that I love. It’s a chant from the student section. And when you have a couple hundred teenagers jumping up and down and dancing and yelling at the top of their lungs “I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN” it is truly something fun to see.

At Whitney’s volleyball game last Tuesday night we played a school that is undefeated in city league. It’s a privileged school, private catholic school. Heights has a lot of disadvantaged kids. Not so much on the volleyball team, although there are a few. Our tallest player is about the same height as Kapaun’s shortest player. We look like underdogs. We lost our first game of the match 8-25. Big ouch, but we had lost to Kapaun already this year and we weren’t expected to win. And then the unexpected happened in game two. We beat them. 25-21, I think. And to game three, the tie breaker. We were down. By more than 5. But our scrappy little team kept playing. In a gym that had about 100 Kapaun students in their student section, making a lot of noise, and 3 Heights students in our student section making a lot of noise. (And one extremely brave 6 grade sibling of one of the volleyball players, she ran with a poster board that said “heights point” in front of their student section. It was awesome.) And we started coming back. And we ate at their lead. And heard their voices screaming “I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.” Right up to the point we tied it at 24-24. And then beat them 26-24 to win the match. But until that last ball hit the floor, they believed that they would win.

AND…Whitney told us on the way home that when we caught up to them she knew we would win.

I wondered when the last time I had that much confidence in myself or my team was. I wondered how it would look for me to stand up and jump up and down and yell at the top of my lungs “I BELIEVE THAT I WILL WIN”. Why not? Everything in life that is important to me is Jesus, my husband, my children, my friends, people in general. I will fight for what I believe in, but I try to make sure I’m on the side of what’s right. (And I prefer to avoid conflict. I don’t much like it, I can easily walk away.)

This verse came to mind Romans 8:31 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us”?

Makes me want to be sure God is for me. Keep my actions honoring him. Keep my words pleasing to him. Keep my heart tender to him. And then, I can say it.

I BELIEVE THAT I WILL WIN!

I believe

I believe in gatorade, roctane, injinji toe socks and camelback.

I believe in yellow princess running skirts, blue sports bras and cold weather running tights.

I believe in sweating till it runs down your arms and drips off your elbows.

I believe in meeting people you love at 5:00 a.m. for six miles.

I believe in 9:00 p.m. runs, if it's the only time you can find.

I believe in trail runs, pavement runs and treadmill runs.

I believe in running harder, running faster, running further, and then running just a little bit more.

I believe in speedwork.

I believe in long, slow, easy runs.

I believe in running in solitude.

I believe in running in quiet.

I believe in running with your loudest booty shakin' playlist.

I believe in diet coke as a recovery drink.

I believe in snowy runs, rainy runs, cold runs, and hot runs.

I believe in 10K's, 10 milers, half marathons, marathons and ultra-marathons.

I believe in running just for running's sake.

I believe running is good for the body, mind and soul.

I believe I look really good after a ten mile run.

I believe you can make new friends based on one shared interest.

I believe nothing feels like crossing the finish line, we just all forget how it feels after we outgrow elementary school.

I believe. I run. BECAUSE I WANT TO.

***This post was inspired by a facebook comment from Julie Price to Carrie Arnett, it said "Sorry I made you wake up at 5:45 on your birthday. But glad to share a bday run. Jake should totally take kids somewhere so you can nap later."

No sleeping in for the birthday girl, and it made me think of all the things I love about running. And without permission, I'm posting this picture of Carrie and Julie after they did the Warrior Dash. It's a 5K with obstacles. Mud, creeks, flaming hay bales (I think). I call them wonder mud women.

Snack Time

Friday night Whitney asked me to take her to Claire's house to spend the night. Which I was happy to do. Claire comes from a great family. You have seen pictures of her on here if you've been reading for the last 6 months or so.

As we left the house, Whitney was carrying a snack. (Again, please don't judge my parenting. She's the fifth child, I'm tired.)



As I pulled away from Claire's house I laughed. I have been dropping off and picking up Nate at this house for four years. Even two weeks ago, I picked Nate up there because he rode over there with Eric, who then left to go to his girlfriend Hilary's house and Nate stayed with Hannah. He needed a ride home, so I went after him. Claire is Hannah's little sister. Nate left for college yesterday, and last night I was still driving to his girlfriends house. Which is okay, because the Tristschler's are a good family. Three more years of running back and forth down 45th street.

Tales from the herd

Carrie's marathon training update. I was so inspired when I read this that I wanted to run, so even though I didn't have a run scheduled today after yesterdays five miler, I ran three this evening anyway. I remember my first 20 miler, and I'm looking forward to the next one. Way to go Carrie. This is a major accomplishment in itself while on the way to a marathon.

Training - Week 18 (20 Miles)

You read that right! I DID IT!! I reached 20 miles! I feel AMAZING!!! I even had to do it on a treadmill. I will take you through the run step-by-step (figure of speech).


I got to the gym after 9:00 am. I was giving myself approximately 4.5 hours to complete this task. I knew that the treadmills at the YMCA stop at 60 minutes. So I decided I would run 4 legs of 5 minutes each. In between each leg, I would walk to the drinking fountain and refill my water bottle. Then get back on the treadmill for the next leg.

LEG 1:
These first 5 miles just sort-of tacked along. I didn't run at my max, but I wanted to make sure I would have enough "gas" to get me through the full 20 miles. I finished the leg and took my picture.



I walked over to the water fountain and filled my water bottle up. I ate a few pretzels and walked around for a few minutes. That's when I looked up and saw her. MY SISTER! She had come to join me. I got back on my friend, TREAD, and Jen got on the one next to me. I started my leg number 2 and she started walking.

LEG 2:
These next 5 miles flew by. Jen was chatting with me periodically and I was getting encouraging texts from both my husband and Julie. Talk about feeling the love! Next thing I know, I finished my leg and took my picture.



I walked over to the drinking fountain and refilled my water, ate some pretzels, a few gummy bears. I was feeling wonderful, got back on the treadmill and started my next leg.

LEG 3:These next 5 miles had a series of milestones for me. (Those of you who know me, know I'm a cheerleader to those around me. Well, while I was running this section, I started hearing the "cheerleader" in my head.)
1.I had reached my previous longest distance on the treadmill.
2.I ran 13.1 miles 10 minutes faster than the last time I ran it.
3.I was keeping a rather constant speed the entire time, so far.
I finished the leg and took my picture.



Still feeling pretty good, I walked over to the drinking fountain and stretched a little. My left knee was feeling a little tight. I also thought I might be getting a blister on my left big toe. I was way ahead of my 4.5 hour projected time, so I "got back on the horse" and finished this bad boy.

LEG 4:
This was a little harder to motivate myself to do this one. I started running and realized I only had to run 2 miles to reach my longest run EVER! Right around that same mark, Jen finished walking for 2 solid HOURS! I was so proud of her. She completed over 5 miles. It was her day of from work, and she chose to spend a big chunk of it with me... SWEATY! I finished the leg strong. I felt AMAZING! I turned to her and through my arms in the air. I didn't care WHO saw me. I DID IT! 20 miles, basically staying in one place. So I took my last few pics.




I walked over to the water fountain and filled up one last time. Met Jen at the stretching area and worked out some stiff joints. She had walked so much, that her shoe's sole split on the bottom. This was my FIRST 20 miler. I'm sure it won't be my last, but I will never forget it.


Thanks to my support team. Jen, Jake, Owen, Allison, Julie, Patsy, Angela, Amy, Megan and anyone else who knew I was doing this and had faith that I COULD do this.

My anniversary

This is one of my favorite anniversaries. This is the third anniversary of the first day of my first half marathon training. On that day, I wouldn’t have called myself a runner. Today I know different.

I’ve been running for two weeks regularly after healing from a double sprain and double stress fracture in April. Sheila thinks that it was God’s way of telling me to quit running from my problems and running to get out of the house and just stay home. Sheila is very wise, I would not disagree with her, pretty sure she is one of two friends of mine that God speaks directly through to me. And I've discovered in the last two weeks that I do that. So I'm guessing...

I want to share some of my favorite running things/moments.

My 2011 Grasslands Marathon long sleeve maroon tech shirt. Most awesome race shirt ever.

The Steve 50

Watching the Boston Marathon (run Jed, run!)

New friends I’ve made because I run. I would not know any of these individuals if I (okay, if Steve) hadn’t taken up running. Jake, Carrie, Jed, Jenny, Paul, Joni, Patrick, Kimberly, Robert

All the extra time I’ve spent with Sheila because we get to run together.

I have also set goals for the next year. This is what I’m looking forward too, (but I’m always very flexible with what I schedule).

I want to run the 15K Tiger Trot at Tanganika Zoo in September

I want to see Steve finish the Ozark Trail 100. Knee surgeon told him his meniscus has been bad for a while, since before last November even, so we think that may be the swelling and pain problem he had with his knee last year.

I want to run the 10 Mile Turkey Trot in November for the 4th consecutive year.

I want to run the Psycho Wyco Run Toto Run in February, any distance, just because I loved every cold snowy vertigo inducing step last year.

I want to run my third marathon in 2012. Haven’t picked a marathon or even time of year, but I know I’m going to run one (or two if I stay healthy & un-stress fractured). I’m thinking about the one at Clinton Lake in April, it’s a trail marathon, and Clinton Lake is located in Lawrence, Kansas where a certain special young man is moving this August…not that I need an excuse to visit him, but if I can combine two loves I will. And I have yet to run the Wichita Marathon (Prairie Fire, whatever you call it) so maybe number 4 in October of 2012.

Steve is talking more ultra’s next year, so I am also excited to be his crew.

Father's Day

Father's Day, being Sunday, we went to church. Gonna talk mostly about that, but Steve got to pick where we were eating, he chose Freddy's. YAY!!! Unhealthy food, chocolate shake for dessert. Then three of his four daughters were over for the afternoon and one granddaughter. He finished the day with a 12 mile recovery long run. And lots of carbs for supper. Father's Day is for the dads, but Steve said something to me that is forever going to make this one of my favorite holidays.

And now, I want to tell you about Father's Day service at church. It was hot, and it was outside. But, we started a sermon series in Daniel titled "Tough".

It started with a bike rally in the church parking lot. There were booths selling biker stuff (sorry, don't know the correct term) spray on tattoos, and free ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs, water, tea, and 4 different classes of bikes to vote on in the bike show. I would guess well over 100 bikes. It was really cool.

Lots of leather and facial hair. The service ended with a version of On Christ the Solid Rock with real rappers and people break dancing in front of the stage. It might seem odd to see break dancing and rappers at the same party with bikers getting along, but when I saw the biker break dancing I just had to laugh.

The sermon was good, how can the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not be good? "The bunny, the bunny, oh I love the bunny, I don't love my mom or my dad just the bunny". (If you don't get this, you need to watch Veggie Tales.)
The pastor ended with the plan of salvation and made the comment "your past and your present don't matter, you need to take care of your future."

This comes after I've spent a couple of months thinking about our present. We all love a good healing and restoration story. We all love the "God changed my life" story. I have found out that some friends love being your friend and saying they are your friend and being okay with your past. But when your present gets ugly they bail on you. I'm fortunate to have friends that will "get dirty" in my present with me. I've even had one that thanked me for trusting her enough to confide in her during my ugly times. That's rare.

I want to be the friend that says I don't care about your past. I don't care about your present. I'm concerned for your future. Let's forgive your past, work through your present and live for the future. Grace is for our past sins, our current sins and our future sins. It's not a one time use coupon. And if God's grace and forgiveness covers all my "stuff", then I want to be one that can love you through your "stuff." There is nothing that is so devastating as hitting rock bottom and then having people you thought would lift you up ignore you. I won't be that person.