If you have tasted & you have seen...

Watch "Soulstice - Rise and Sing - Steve Fee" on YouTube

"Our God is risen and reigning and we're elevating
The glory of our God and King, everybody rise & sing!"

It's the day after the presidential election, and these results are permanent...
* God is my Provider
* Jesus is my Saviour
* The Holy Spirit is my Counselor

I am blessed to be a part of the greatest nation in this world. 
I have the freedom to worship, to marry, to education, and to vote. 
I have the freedom to follow the will of my Father for every step in my life and I have the freedom to share His grace and mercy with those who walk with and around me.

Josh 24:15
But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today who you will serve. 
Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? 
Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? 
But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."

Beautiful day

Exactly 10 days ago, I rolled my right foot stepping off a curb. It didn't swell as I expected it to and within a few days, it didn't hurt much at all. Four days later I went for a 2.5 mile run in my hood and it felt a little sore after that so I stayed off of it for the rest of the week.  One week later, on Saturday, it felt alright, so I decided to complete the shortest route of 5 miles that was open for our running group. Again, I finished feeling OK, not great, but OK. 

LQ & I spent a beautifully fine day with my oldest daughter in Austin and went hiking along one of the greenbelts. :)

We had a great day together - hiking, eating, swimming & even got to watch a movie at her apartment.  LQ and I got home pretty late but very blessed that we made the trip.  F was a spectacular hostess <3

*****

I woke up Sunday morning and my right foot was not doing the happy dance!  The greenbelt was a very rocky trail.  My foot hurt.  A.Lot!  I seriously need to rest it.  One week was not enough.  I've got a pretty busy marathon/half-marathon calendar for the Fall/Winter season and I would hate to miss any of it :(  First marathon is in 12 weeks...

Marathon/Half-Marathon Schedule

Oct 27 - Chosen Marathon

Nov 11 - San Antonio RnR Half-Marathon

Dec 31 & Jan 1 - New Years Double Marathons

Jan 13 - 3M Half-Marathon

Jan 27 - Miracle Match Marathon

Mar 24 - Alamo 13.1 Half-Marathon

So, for the next 2-4 weeks, I am going to rest my foot.  I will commit to a swim, bike and yoga schedule at the gym and resist the urge to put these asphalt-kickers on my feet...

Psa 16:8-10
"I have set the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay."

I must rest and trust that this desire to run marathons and half-marathons will not go unfulfilled.  This is not only a physical activity for me but an opportunity to show what He has physically done in me. 

I will rest...

Running...

I'm behind in my personal training schedule for the upcoming marathon season...  I've got 4 marathons, including a back-to-back over New Years, & 3 half-marathons...  Marathon #1 is 10/28...  I should be at 22 miles per week and I'm squeaking by at 12... Eke...

Tuesday I went out for what was supposed to be a 5 mile run but I left the house later than I wanted to and had it in my head that I would run at an EZ pace... but once I got through the first mile, it hit me...  It's HOT outside!

And... YES... I know it's going to get HOTTER!  At the 2 mile mark, I decided to head back home... I wasn't carrying any water, and I really wasn't paying attention to my pace... Honestly I wasn't prepared.

Yesterday I hit the road again and had a much better time...  Got out early... Had my music with me... The pace alert was set on my garmin so I wouldn't speed up (so easy to do, especially if you're having a good time)... Had my waterbelt on...  I was prepared to have a purposeful run of 5 miles at a 12 min/mil EZ pace.

And... I had a good run... I was hot but didn't run out of water... My run had purpose and a plan... I finished 5 miles at an EZ pace... It was good.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26, NIV
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."

Training is good... My heart and my legs become more efficient and learn to endure the distance... 

Training with my Father is good... A training plan purposely filled with praying, reading my bible, worshiping, & fellowship... My heart and my soul become more efficient and learn to endure the distance and guarantees me that I will win a crown that will last forever!

Now THAT'S good!

Birthday #8

It seems like only yesterday this little guy came into our life.

Instead - Yesterday - we celebrated this little guy's birthday #8...

This is what an 8 year old looks like... 

8 year olds have fangy teeth and they are always

making creepy faces...

Since we are having his party over the Memorial Day weekend...

We had a simple day celebrating...

We had cupcakes...

Big sister V & I took them to his class and the kids

sang "Happy Birthday"...

My son is a hoot...
I'm not quite sure who he takes after...


I asked him what he wanted for dinner...
His answer...
Egg tacos w/ketchup...

Like I said...

8 year olds make creepy faces...

We then went to basketball practice...

(sorry no picture)

Came home and ate strawberry shortcake for dessert...

I then asked him what are 8 things you have learned in your 8 years of life...

This is what he said...

"I learned how to walk."

"I learned how to stand."

"I learned how to put on a t-shirt."

"I learned how to go to the bathroom by myself."

"I learned how to take a shower by myself."

"There's nobody that can scare Dad."

"There's nobody that can tickle Dad."

"I know where my class is at school."

Awwe :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

December...

December is such a crazy month!  Haven't updated my blog because I've been doing this (shopping) & that (field trips) & everything else (exactly)!

And I only have 19 training days til Houston Chevron... and 54 training days til Austin Livestrong marathons!!!  That's #3 & #4 for this season.  Wish I hadn't come down with the flu 2 days before Christmas since now I have 'the cough' that takes forever to go away - so I haven't had a long run in almost 2 weeks now!  Plus - I've yet to write my Race Report for the Dallas White Rock Marathon...  I have pics put aside so I'll finish it this week.

********************

This Christmas has been an amazing testimony to God's love for my family.  I am so thankful for all the prayers.  Our Christmas Day was spent at home in pajamas with food, games, movies and lots of peace, warmth & love!  Praise God! 

I took some candid shots on Christmas Eve at my Mom's.  I didn't take any pics on Christmas Day - charged the camera and never used it!  Oh well...  this is all I got... Haha!

God Bless!

"Rise"

"Rise"

An acoustic version of a really good song.

Listen to it.

Sing it.

Pray it.

Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise

CHORUS

Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise

Sometimes my heart is on the ground
And hope is nowhere to be found
Love is a figment I once knew
And yet I hold on to what I know is true

CHORUS

Well I keep on coming to this place
That I don't know quite how to face
So I lay down my life in hopes to die
That somehow I might rise

CHORUS

O Christmas Tree

So glad that we put the tree up early this year... Normally it's not set up til 2 weeks before Christmas then it stays up until sometime in January... Ok, February... I admit it ;)

A Little Light

Heard this song for the first time today...
It made me cry...
It gave me hope...
I thought of those I've known for only a moment...
I thought of those I've known for a long time...
It made never want to stop letting people how much they matter...
Being a little light matters.

It was a Hard Rock Race...

Ran the Rock 'n Roll San Antonio Marathon this weekend...

Went to the Expo on Friday with Minnie...

Took a fun photo of an "elite finish time" ...

RACE MORNING - SUNDAY 11/13/11

Met up with members of my running group.

We all look good and we were ready to Rock this Race!

(Minnie, Me, Roger, Lori, Sara, Chris, Lindy)

The sky was overcasted and we had lots of fog.  I was crossing my fingers that the weather would stay like this to the end in spite of the forecast for warm weather.

Got to the 10k marker and the weather was still good, and I was feeling good.  Music was good.  Lots of runners on the route.

 

Got to mile 14 and saw my sister and my boy.  My garmin had me at 2:30.  At this rate/pace, I figured I'd finish close to, or less than, the time for last year's Rock 'n Roll. (5:20)  The sun was breaking thru the clouds.  I was still feeling good ... but then ...

At around mile 16, my hands started to tingle, so I walked.  I stopped at a cooling station for a couple of minutes, then got myself to the medical tent at mile 18.  As soon as I laid down, the tingling stopped and after the doc checked me out, he said I'd be OK - and honestly, I felt I would be too.  So I got up and kept going.  The heat and humidity got the best of me from then on.

The rest of the race was rough.  Miles 16 to 21 took me 1:40 to complete.  Each time I tried to run, I felt lightheaded.  My hands didn't tingle anymore but my energy was drained.  I was overwhelmed when I saw my sister and my son at mile 21 and I cried - my sister cried with me.  I was so happy to see them.   It meant so much.  (Sister & I talked this morning and she said had I said the word, she would have driven me to the finish line - now THAT'S what sisters are all about!  Love You Rosie!!!) 

I made it to the finish line but I walked to the end and I stopped 3 more times.  Once at a medical tent to get ice and twice on the side of the course to lay down.  I was tempted to quit because I didn't want to walk anymore but I also wanted to finish.  Marathoners understand where I'm coming from. 

I knew it was going to be challenging run.  I felt prepared - I had eaten well - I had rested - I had hydrated - I had trained.  I've trained thru Texas summers but this was brutal.

You never know how your body is going to react to environment, weather, events, etc.

My finish time was 6:23:00.

Not what I was expecting.  I got home and got in an ice bath.  My face and my arms were hot and I had a headache - I'm pretty sure that I was experiencing heat exhaustion.

My awesome husband took me to eat a post-race burger & fries at Red Robin's.  I love post-race burgers because I don't worry about calories - I just eat.

 

THE DAY AFTER

I am feeling much better today.  Not too sore, but I'm tired.  My headache has lessened but still lingering.  Hoping that ibuprofen will help.

So, "Why would anyone want to run 26.2 miles?"

My answer(s)...

I needed to lose weight, and I needed a goal since just going to the gym felt pointless.  After I lost weight, running became my "gotta-get-it-done" activity.  My mindset is that when the time comes for me to leave this world, it will be because it's my time to go and not because I am not taking care of myself.

Running brings me closer to my Father and the creator of the universe. We have had many intimate conversations during these times.

I train for and run marathons because it teaches me about commitment and perseverance.

I run with a group because I want them to experience more than just running.

I also like collecting medals.

Salad vs Sandwich

I like salads and I like sandwiches.  They both take about the same amount of time to make but clearly can have different caloric effects on my waistline.  I'm just saying.

James read-along

I like reading blogs.  Some are inspiring, some make me laugh, some make me cry, many make me think, and many call me to pray.  I was blog-hopping this morning and went from Joyce's blog to Marla's blog and read about a James Read-Along.

The book of James has shown up on many occassions
 this year.  It was at the Priscilla Shirer event I went to in February, it was a focus for Beth Moore's study this year - looking forward to her published study on this one - Jam 1:2-3 is one of my memory verses this year, and only yesterday James 1:12 was my daily verse from my daily devotion (which by the way, I started daily devotions again just yesterday after not doing them for the entire Summer).

Anyone else want to join me?

Running around...

To say "this was a busy summer" is an understatement.

My family has been on the run since school let out on June 2nd, handling things scheduled on the calendar and all the unexpected things that made their way to "priority status."

LQ started back to school this week and today I enjoyed a

"back to school" holiday and got a late start to my day.

The plan is to get caught up on my blog this week (and learning the new Blogspot interface) and fill in the holes for the past 3 months.

Schools out for Summer...

With school ending this week on Thursday, I spent last week getting LQ signed up for summer camps, VBS, and whatever else I could find that wouldn't cost a fortune.  I managed to fill up the entire month of June, the last week of July, and the first week of August.  As a family, we have an out of town trip planned for a wedding in July and then school starts back up Aug. 22.  We will have 2 weeks in July & 2 weeks in August of downtime.  WOW!  And just like that... summer will be over!

A couple of Fridays a month, I join a few of my dear sisters-in-christ to share our "journaling journeys," and food and cooking ideas and whatever we want to talk about.  It's time that I treasure and look forward to every time those days draw near.  In my journal, I write random thoughts of things that I want to blog about or short thoughts that I want to share when we get together. 

We met last Friday and the thought that hit me the hardest was the one I had after putting together LQ's summer "itinerary" and realizing that I had scheduled out almost the entire summer.  Our home is getting bigger.  F lives in College Station, goes to school & works and has been on her own for almost 2 years now.  By the end of this week, V will be graduating from HS and moving into her own apartment with her BFF. 

To say that I'm feeling "empty nest syndrome" is probably too severe as I still have a future 2nd grader in my midst, but I'm sure feeling the onset of emptiness when it comes to the "girl" dominance in this house.

For the first time, EVER, the men will be the majority around here! 

That means, lots of fart jokes, burping, food rolling off of dinner plates, splotches on the shirt sleeves because as long as you're wearing a shirt you can always wipe your face, and a lot of other things that involve body functions, dirt, jumping, wrestling, punching, and ... you get the picture.

A new chapter in my life and a whole new kind of journey!  As those of you ladies that have testosterone-ridden-lairs can attest too (and by all means, give me some pointers, high-fives, OMG-eye-rolls, or whatever else you thing I may need).

All of that said and I'll finish with... I am blessed!  For God to grant me stewardship to 3 unique souls - let me say - I am humbly amazed! 

Psa 127:3-5 Sons (and daughters) are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Amen.

Blessings...

A couple of days ago, I was visiting Natalie's blog, and she was blogging about complaining and about blessings.  It made me think of the "Blessings" song by Laura Story.  Since then, I've heard it quite a few times while in my car and today I really wanted to listen to the words.  I found it on YouTube along with this interview...



We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

******
Blog-hopping with the Company Girl Coffee group today.

Do Drink the Water...

Over the winter til almost a month ago, I could go out for a morning run at 10/10:30am and finish my run in a comfortable sweat.  When I go out for 30-40 min, I usually don't carry any water with me since I won't be gone long and like I said, I only get comfortably sweaty.  Monday's run was a different story.  I ran out of my house at 9:15 and there was a nice breeze and, yes, the sun was shining, but it felt tolerable.  I went out for my usual 30 min's and by the end of 10 min - IT HIT ME!  TEXAS SUMMER'S ARE HERE!  So, to all my Running BFF's - Carry & Drink Your Water!!!!!



John 4:14-15 (NIV) ...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

One of the things I enjoy about running is the time I have to think & pray.  As I was thinking to myself, "You dummy, why in the heck did you not bring any water?  You remember how hot it's been over the last few days?  Didn't it almost hit a 100 on Mother's Day?  You better carry water with you next time!" ... as these thoughts turned to my Saviour, I remembered that I don't want to wait for the heat to remind me that my spirit needs a steady stream of His living water.

Jesus, I am realizing that not only do I need you, but I need a steady streamed dose of you.  Like my body needs water to perform, my spirit and my soul need your living water to live!  "Give me this water so that I won't get thirsty again."  Amen.

American Idol

Last night's performances were all top notch - but, I thought this one by Haley was super! I've liked her style and voice since the beginning. The first song she did by Lady Gaga was really good too and when it finished, I was wanting to hear it again, so I didn't agree with the judges comments.

I'm gonna step out on a limb and rank them...
1- James. I agree with Tyler's comment that it's his to lose.
2- Haley. Wow. Super.
3- Lauren. She really stepped up last night.
4- Scotty. I'd see him & Sheryl Crow in Nashville.
5- Jacob. Time's up.

I'm thinking it could be James & Haley battling it out at the end - what do you think?

Love Rock

The hubster went to play disc golf this weekend without me.

(I was busy hemming a prom dress.)

He came home and told me he thought about me the whole time.

And he found this rock.

And he played his best game to date.

Awe :)

**********

Linking up with Joyce today
Click the button below and visit her blog and other hodgepodgers

1. What are your plans for Easter Day/weekend?

Friday, the kiddos are off from school for Good Friday.
I'm thinking we can have a picnic at the park and go hiking or something.
Saturday, LQ has a birthday party in the afternoon and we'll probably go play disc golf and watch movies.
Sunday Church, Easter Egg hunt, then to Mom's for BBQ & cascarone wars!!!


2. Besides Jesus, what one person from The Bible would you most like to meet and why?

Esther.  She was young & beautiful and although she didn't always understand why she was chosen to be queen to Xerxes and what her position was, she prayerfully and faithfully acted in obedience.
Esther 4:14, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but and your father's family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"


3. What is one modern day convenience you didn't have as a child that was easy to live without?

Cell phones.  I do use mine all the time, but the times I forget it, I don't miss it.


4. Are you more right brained or left brained?
I took this little quiz, here, and it concluded that I am more right-brained than left-brained (52% vs 48%).
..."I'm a creative thinker who uses feeling an intuition to gather information.  I retain this information throught the use of images and patterns and am able to visualize the 'whole' picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the 'whole' picture."...

Mmm... Maybe


5. What is something you intended to do today but didn't? Why?

Put a roast in the crock pot.  I wanted to do this yesterday but needed to get to the grocery store for some extra ingredients but never made it there.  I had to go to the county clerk's office to pay a traffic ticket.  Eke!


6. Cadbury Creme Eggs or Reeses peanut butter?

REESES PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!


7. Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?

Mickey Mouse


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am on a mission to lose 12 pounds.
Started back to the gym and have started running again.
Now all I need to do is get this eating thing under control!
I finished off a really good salad for lunch today and since it's Wednesday,
Q, V, & I eat an early dinner at Subway between our music lessons and bowling.
But I'm really looking forward to those Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs on Sunday!

Fiesta!

It's Fiesta week in San Antonio! 

"Fiesta really is one of America’s truly great festivals. It began as a way to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. That commemoration still takes place. But over the past century and more, Fiesta has grown into a celebration of San Antonio’s rich and diverse cultures. 2011 marks Fiesta’s 120th anniversary."

For most of my life I've done at least one thing Fiesta, but I might miss it this year!  For the past couple of years, I've run in the Fiesta Flambeau parade, then hung around for all the Fiesta family fun afterwards.  But I won't be able to this year cuz of my foot (which has gotten better, and I started running again this week - yippee!); PLUS, V has her high school prom this Saturday and we have a day of errands and prepping on Friday and LQ has a tball game on Sat morning.  Maybe, maybe, maybe, I can convince the hubster to take me to watch the parade on Saturday night.  It's more my thing than his, but I really do love a parade!

For now, I'm catching up with yesterday's Hodgepodge at Joyce's blog.

1. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time or have a significant conversation with two people?

Significant conversation with one or two people.  Good, in the sense that I get to know and understand someone on a deeper level.  Not so good, cuz I miss not getting to know everyone else.

2. What objects do you remember from your parent's living room?

Big floor Texas state flag pillow my Mom had made.  My Mom used to make all kinds of crafty things while she was at work.  She worked as an LVN at a day mental health clinic.

3. Do you hog the bed? Steal the covers? Snore?

I stay on my side of the bed.  I don't steal the covers, but I do hold on to them pretty tightly.  When the hubster rolls over he tends to pull them over with him.  As far as snoring, I don't think I snore loud or often, but I have woken myself up on very few occassions.  :)

4. Speaking of Easter dinner....what is your favorite way to cook/eat lamb? Or does just the thought of that make you squeamish? If you're not cooking lamb what will be your entree du jour on Easter Sunday?

I'm pretty sure that I've never eaten lamb for Easter.  Most of the time, it's a backyard barbecue with chicken, fajitas, sausage & sides include, spanish rice, borracho beans, potato salad & tortillas.

5. Let's throw some politics into this week's mix-oooohhh...Do you know the whereabouts of your birth certificate and when was the last time you had to produce it to prove you're you?
I have mine in a file cabinet in a big zip lock baggie.  Very secure.

6. As a child, how did people describe you?
Considering as I was the oldest child and grandchild, I was probably a little bossy.  Perhaps members of my family - dad, mom, sister, brother or cousins would like to comment (but be nice!).

7. What do you complain about the most?
These days, how fast this year is going!!!  If you are watching The Amazing Race and are over 40, maybe you're living this along side of me... "Once your over the hill you pick up speed."  Eke!!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm behind in my blogging!  LQ & I went on a road trip this past weekend to Dallas to go watch my nephew Patric play basketball.  We had a good time - so I hope to recap it for you very soon!

Mm..Hmm..Good Stuff

I really enjoyed Casey's live version of this song last week on American Idol...  Good Stuff :)

Lovely Friday :)

March is over!  WOW!  Where did it go?

Getting ready to head out for a fun and crazy day!  Having lunch with my Tia Terry, then going to go see Brandon Heath tonight with my cousin Alex.  I'll leave you with a song.