Running the Race!!!!

Okay...so my husband won't brag on himself so I will. This past Sunday he was in the 'Spring Fever' Triathalon and this was his first time trying this out. Now I must admit....I was a bit worried for him. He's been working a lot of hours lately and hasn't been able to train like he should but he was willing and determined to start and finish this.
So this was a 400 meter swim.....12 mile bike ride....and a 2 mile run.

He started off swimming which he finished in about 7 minutes. Pretty good!
Then he ran BAREFOOT quite a ways to to the transition area where they had to put their gear on for the bikes and get going on the bike ride. I think it took him somewhere around 30 minutes to ride 12 miles and then his 2 mile run took 12 minutes. I know I would have been exhausted.

He finished 98th overall out of 250. I think for his first time, and very little training...that's awesome! I'm so pround of my guy!

I like that he loves this. As a wife/supporter/spectator...it's a very boring sport. You don't really see them except for when they are in the swimming area...and then when they are transitioning from one area to another and you really can't talk to them so you just kinda sit around. You are really just there for moral support. I guess that's good. He was glad I was there and I was glad I was there for him. I was proud and now he is motivated to get ready for another one. I couldn't be happier

Feeling blessed!

My heart is overjoyed today by thinking of the friends I have. Yeah...you know who you are. And I feel so blessed that God has given me SO many to bless my life. Not everyone comes from the same walks of life. Everyone has their ups and downs. Everyone has their struggles. But in some way shape or form, we have all stayed connected. Either my friends far away....or my friends right here in my own back yard....there is such a connection that brings me closer and closer to them each day.

In my personal study today...I was reflecting on this thought and trying to figure out how God works in all these friendships I have. I haven't always made the best choices in choosing who I hang around with, but what I've noticed in the end, is that the friends that I fought for and were not willing to let go of....are still around. I think everyone has those childhood friendships that I'm talking about. What is it that makes them so special? Is it the fact that the person stuck with you the longest? That person knows most of your dirt? We pick up other GREAT friends along the way but what makes all your close friendships special?

I won't go into all of the details of the study I read today but here are the general points:

• Ruth 1-4 It has staying power and commitment.
• Proverbs 17:17; 18:24 It "Hangs in there"
• Proverbs 27:17-19 It Shapes your character and repuation - for the good
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 It shows you love one another
• James 5:13-20 It shows you are able to lean on each other

I can say that with all my friends, I feel that I try my best to utilize these 5 points. Maybe that's why I feel so good about them. Maybe that's why I feel so loved. Maybe that is why I love them so much. Because they treat me with the same love in retrun. I love the friendships that God has brought into my life and I'm excited for the ones that He will continue to bring. I have gained new friends over the past year and even made some older friendships even stronger becasuse of God working through us.

Ultimately one day, we will all be in Heaven together standing side by side enjoying each others company. Laughing, crying, dancing, and having a great time. I love the closeness I share with my friends here, and I truly can't stand the distance I have with my friends far away. Heaven can't come soon enough for me to where I will be dancing joyfully with my best friend above. For now....he has blessed me beyond belief and I truly mean beyond belief with some wonderful people here on earth. I would stand in the gap for you anyday! I love you all!

Back to the meds

Today I visited with my neurologist once again. It's been a while and today was a follow up after being on a certain medication for several months. He was a little disappointed in me that I told him over all this period of time I am still suffering with headaches at least twice a week. In a joking manner he said...."Maybe you are studying too hard" Ha! Yes...maybe that's the problem.

So his disappointement is that I was willing to live with the pain. Not only with the headaches, but also with the side effects of the meds he has me on. They're not too bad. I'm willing to live with the side effects to not have a head ache every day. But what does he do??? He piles more meds on top of the meds I'm taking to counteract with the meds I'm on. Hum....I'm sure in the scheme of things....it all makes sense somewhere. So I walked in for my checkup for my headaches, not particularally liking the meds I'm on, and walked away with 3 more perscriptions. Yes! 3!!! Yikes! Guess we'll see how this goes. I know that prayer is the most powerful perscription yet and I'm still relying on that one the most. It's the ultimate cure.

Why is life so rough?

When Chad and I made the decision for me to go back to school, we never really realized how hard it would be. Emotionally and Financially. This past year and a half has been something of a challenge in our home. With holidays, birthdays, and every other event, it seems like we are always a day late and a dollar short.
On the financial end we think of those things like..."Oh we could go get a loan and consolidate" but what good would that do? You just end up paying it off in the end anyway. It's not like we have huge debt, but when I left my job, it was a HUGE chunk our our income that we lost as well. The other thing we realized is that we didn't want to stop living the lifestyle that we had as a two income family. So what happened? Chad took on a second job. So then there's the emotional part of the process. I don't get to see him near as much as he is a workaholic.

So how do you continue to live, go to school, be happy, and having a thriving marriage and family? Well, it's called sacrifice!!! It's not something that I am very good at. But today I feel so much more at ease with that word. (maybe cause I haven't started yet)
It's not like we have the tax man beating down our door, or that anything is subject for cutoff...it's just that today I realized that we can't keep up this lifestyle any longer. We won't move or sell our house...but we'll downgrade the cable...or just do away with it totallly, we'll find a cheaper way to access the internet, we'll stay home more and invest in family time rather than going out to expensive places to entertain ourselves and our children. There are parks, there is hiking, there is nature to be loved here. I believe that God put this stuff here for our enjoyment and so many times, we are out spending our money on things that are not needed when we can enjoy the creation that he created for us right here.
I'll be the first to tell you, I'd much rather go and enjoy a great movie than sit outside hearing the kids scream, or working the soil in my yard, or taking care of my daily chores around the house. So what does that say about me?
So today is no longer about having an empty pocket book, it's about what we can do to manage our lives both financially and emotionally so that we can be happy, pay off debt, and please our God all at the same time. It won't be easy by a long shot....but we will have more benefits than I think I realize. God will bless us.

AMAZING!!!

Okay...so yes....I'll blog about today!
HOLY COW!!!

After this mornings service I was totally and unbelieveably blown away by the worship experience. But not just that....TERRY'S SERMON!!! Hello!!! Where has he been hiding that one? Today was just a totally INCREDIBLE day!

Now...of course...I'm a little partial to our guest but I totally want who God wants for us. I love how God worked through him this weekend. I loved how that it was nothing that anyone did...but what God did today. It wasn't about about Sean, or all about Terry, but God planeted perfectly exactly what needed to be sung and what needed to be said. I was so moved to tears today and I haven't worshiped like that in so long.

I am excited for our next few weeks and see what God has in store for us. He is really working on Memorial and working through each of us to make this truly a place for connection, comfort, family and always starting over. I love that about our church. I just love our church so much and look forward for the future of it.

Am I the only one that was excited about today?

Last night we went out and celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary. We had dinner at PF Changs followed by Starbuks and a nice evening stroll around Utica Square. The kids were all gone on over night visits so it was nice to not have to worry about rushing home. We had the BEST time laughing and remember 'back when' we first met. I still remember it like it was yesterday. There I was coming down the escelator at the food court of Eastland Mall...just wanting to get my drink refilled and low and behold....the most georgous guy I had ever seen was behind the counter at Subway. I almost couldn't ask for my refill. My heart was beating so fast and I'm surprised I got the words out. Last night, Chad asked me...."How long had you been coming for refills on your drinks before we actually talked?" I remember it only took me 2 times to see Chad and I spoke to the manager who happened to be his roommate and well....it was all downhill from there. The first night in meeting me....he gave me the most beautiful rose ever....to now...having a wonderful marriage and 3 beautiful children. It's all I ever wanted and God gave it all to me. We're so opposite that it's sometimes hilarious. It's a wonder how we ever managed to end up together. We've been through some pretty rough times over the past 12 years, but we've survivied. I can't begin to tell you what it's like living with the man of my dreams. He loves me enough to put up with me and all my stuff that I go through. He's a great father and a wonderful friend. He sees me when I'm ugly....and still says I'm beautiful. He knows all my faults and looks past them. When I am weak and fall short....he is always strong...and picks me up. He is my protector, my lover, my husband, my friend and I know we will spend eternity together. And still...that won't be long enough. I love and cherish him....now.....forever.....ALWAYS!