update

So I realized it isn't my blog makeover that is keeping me from blogging it is my home computer...bless it. This tiny little computer that Colin gave me is really good for Facebook, Twitter, and email. It takes around 20 minutes to do anything....and so me being the most patient person in the world....don't wait around for my blog to load to write a post.  I brought my work computer home tonight to do a few things for my Acorns (cutest 2 year old class for the 2012-2013 year)...and decided to update you on some happenings.

1.  I am still training....thank you for praying. I feel really good and some days (some) I look forward to running. I love that I get to spend time with Jes(s), and I love to listen to my music.

2.  I feel healthy...my knees and hips are all in line and I know my body is getting used to run/walking.

3.  I am almost 6 weeks in, which means halfway to race day! 

4.  Colin and I are blown away by the amount of financial support...GOD is providing through you!

5.  I was nervous about training and working full-time, but it is all about time management. I have had to run on my own a few times because it is hard to coordinate with running buddies....but I am getting the running in.

6.  Camden is LOVING his new class....He loves his teachers and his buddies. He told me today that all of his buddies were going to be Batman for Halloween....he is sooooo into Superheroes right now.

Shew...it is almost 8....and I am usually asleep by 8:30....cool girl in the house!

Prayers

First off I just want to tell you how incredibly loved both Colin and I feel from the outpouring of prayers of support.  You all are amazing...because of you we are almost halfway to our goal (if we exceed our goal we will help pay for another persons spot on the trip to Indonesia...wouldn't that be cool).  Thank you, thank you, thank you

I am thankful for people who text, call, or check in to see how I am feeling.  I am thankful for people who just want to run with me so I don't have to train alone.  I am thankful that my body is holding up. I am thankful for cooler temps.  I am thankful for good shoes that keep my feet from blistering. I am thankful for David Crowder and Matt Redman's new albums. I am thankful for water and protein bars. I am thankful for this trip that Colin is about to take and the reason it gives me to run.  I am thankful that I can run....and because I can run, I will run! I will finish.

Prayer:
1.  My run on Friday was HOT and my body felt so heavy. My feet felt like cement blocks and i wanted to turn around and go home. For some reason, I crossed the street and continued my four mile run....that was totally prayer.
2.  This is so mental....pray that I can focus on others during my runs. If I focus on me, my brain and body tell me "I can't do it"...this is a lie. Pray I can focus on the lyrics of the music I am listening to. Focus on the people of Indonesia. Focus on Colin and this trip. Pray that it isn't about me.

4, 5, no let's do 6

This past weekend we took an adventure to St. Louis, Missouri to visit my Uncle Rick, Aunt Clare and cousins Stephen and Flo. Stephen's birthday is coming up so we are gathered together for some amazing food and wine to celebrate his 29 years of life.  He and Flo are also coming up on their 1 year wedding anniversary....although she has been apart of our family for 10+ years....she's the best.  What you need to know about Flo is she is also a petite, beautiful, genuine work-out BEAST!  I had text her earlier this month and mentioned I would be running a HALF in October and wondered if she was up for a brisk run when I was in town.  She was all about it....so encouraging....so supportive....and really ran at my pace.  What was funny is, we woke up, drank coffee, ate a banana and then decided to go ahead and up our mileage from 4-5....seriously, what is one more mile?  We took off towards Forrest Park and ran through the trails there.  It was packed...bikers, runners, walkers, and I was really jealous of the people laying on their picnic blankets drinking their skinny vanilla lattes.  We decided to run to 2.5 and then turn around and head back to the house.  This was a great plant, until we got lost....oops.  WE ended up run/walkking SIX miles.....6, six, SiX, S6X.....did I mention six?  It was grueling, but I did it!!!! It felt good to get back to the house and say..."yeah, we got lost and ran/walked 6, you know, no big deal." 

The boys took off soon after our return (and constant chatting about 6 miles), and hit the golf course for a quick 9 while Flo and I decided to take Camden to the City Museum.....AMAZING! (Check it out if you are ever in St. Louis.

The large white tube you are looking at is a slide on the roof of the museum, and yes, Camden went down that.... 

 Another shot of the slide that Camden went down!!!

 All of us on the Ferris Wheel (I swore I would never ride one again....well, when you have a 3 year old, you put your game face on)

 Flo took Camden on the stepping stones.

We also climbed 10 flights of stairs (after I ran 6 miles, did I mention that) and went down the 10 story slide. Camden didn't enjoy that one as much as he did the white tube one above.  So thankful for such a cool cousin who took him around and climbed through all the fun tunnels with my boy. I held purses and water....too sore to climb anything because I ran....oh you know.

Later that night Stephen and his buddy Max grilled us an incredible feast! We enjoyed some wine and cheese then all sorts of cuts of yummy beef and veggies....so good.

 Camden got a new cool truck on his adventure to St Louis...spoiled rotten.

I just loved this picture of Camden and Grandaddy.

 Camden is an amazing travel buddy. He watched the Lorax not less then 6 times, and finally fell asleep for the first time (in the car) when we got to New Circle Road....returning home from our awesome weekend.  That is our little guy all tuckered out....maybe he ran 6 miles :)

Holy

I am pretty sure I could run 13.1 miles listening to this song over and over.  I LOVE it.

 I hope that you are touched by the lyrics as they are sung over you. (David Crowder Band)

Check of the YouTube video of this amazing song here.

After All (Holy)

I can't comprehend Your infinitely beautiful and perfect love
Oh I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars
But they're never bright enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I will sing a song for You my God with everything I have in me
But it's never loud enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

Heaven and earth are full, full of Your glory, glory
My soul it overflows full of Your glory, Your glory
Oh blessed is he who reigns, full of Your glory, Your glory
My cup, it can't contain all of Your glory, Your glory
Hosanna we are found after all You are

Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy
Oh Holy
Holy

I can't comprehend
You're infinitely beautiful

RSVP's

I was telling my team teacher, Flora how exciting it is to check the mail these days.  I compared it to sending out wedding invites and waiting for the RSVP's to start rolling in.  Each day I go to the mailbox and look for those beautiful handwritten envelopes and KNOW that there is some kind of encouragement enclosed!! I LOVE IT! I love it for Colin because he doesn't have to worry about raising the financial side of support. I love it for both of us, because we are being prayed over. I love it, because it isn't a bill...ha!  Thanks so much dear friends for your on going love and support.

Lifestyle Change

I have tried to embrace a healthier lifestyle since March 2012.  I was absolutely miserable and very upset about how I looked and more importantly how I felt. I was not motivated, I was not comfortable in my own skin, and I wasn't any good for my family.  I didnt' want to get out of my pajamas each day, and when I did it took me 2-3 changes of clothes to find something that I was comfortable in wearing.  It was bad.  I remember my breaking point was when I saw a picture of myself in the above said pj's at our Easter Egg Hunt.  I could see that I was unhappy, I looked like a bit of a slob, and had a heart to heart with Colin.  He was so encouraging and wanted to help me reach my full potential physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

In March, I started going to a doctor and nutritionist who helped me get on track physcially.  They gave me recipeds and tips on what to eat and what not to eat.  Just having that accountability and the ability helped so much.  I started to cook more at home, and am so fortunate to have a school that has an amazing and healthy spread each day for lunch. 

For March through June I didnt exercise, I focused on what I ate and lost 25 pounds.  When I lost the weight and could fit into my wardrobe I had in my closet I got excited.  (I didn't fit in anything comfortably, but my pj's, I was at the point of moving up a size).  In July, I decided to run/walk a 10K for a sweet girl that attends TLS.  She has recently been diagnosed with JRA (juvenile rumatoid arthritis).   I realized that I was not going to quit that race because I was running for a reason, I had a goal and a person in mind to finish for.  It felt so good to excercise again and I knew at that point I wanted to set another goal for myself. 

I have read a few books on running over the summer and decided that I wanted to run a mini marathon.  This time, for my hubs and his trip to Indonesia.  I have tried training and running a mini twice before and failed...quit.  I knew that this time I wanted to set myself up to win.  I began going to a chiropractor to make sure my body was aligned (the last two times I quit because of my hips and knees)....I wanted NO EXCUSES. 

So this is where I am....I have trained for two weeks and feel like this experience has been emotional, physical and now mental.  I know that this is mind over matter....I can and will finish the race, not for me, but for my husband and what I know he is going to do for the people of Indonesia.  I know that during this training, as I push myself, it is worth it. 

I am proud of myself....I am glad that I get to run for a reason. I am praying that by embracing this healthier lifestyle I will be around longer to watch Camden grow up, graduate, marry and start his own family.  God has given me "temple" and I want to be a better steward of what He has given me.

It is OFFICIAL....

We have received TWO checks and so now my hubs is officially on his way to paying for his trip to Indonesia, and I MUST run....so thankful for the support of my friends and family and know that you are much appreciated as I train and Colin prepares to go on this trip.  I wanted to introduce you to two people who have been blessed by these mission trips to Indonesia....


(these stories are from Craig Avery, the leader of the trip)

Linda-she already had a small sewing business but she had to send many items she created to others to finish such as creating button holes. With her loan, she bought equipment which allows her to do this, which saves time and money. She is a Muslim woman but her heart is being softened. She told someone last week, "I know you are praying for me because my business is going so well".

Jumri-He had a small restaurant business operating under a make-shift tent. He could seat about 12 people total. Jumri used the loan to get a better location and build a more permanent structure to keep his patron's dry. Since acquiring the loan, things have taken-off for his business. He is even getting ready to start a second restaurant location.

This is a long-term process. One of the folks with Food for the Hungry told us, it was 14 years once someone first invested time with him before he became a Believer. We (Southland) are in this for the long-haul, praying we making permanent life-change in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. 

 

Pray for Colin and his team to reach people like Jumri and Linda.  Pray that they feel loved and valued.  This is such an incredible opportunity to go and LOVE people....I am so proud of my hubs.