Mind Games

As an expert in the field (I ran 1/5 of a mile yesterday), I've got to tell you running is all about mind games.

In my long and prolific "running" carrer, I've encountered at least 2 mind game scenarios.
(sidenote:  I feel compelled to use " " whenever using the word "running" in reference to me)

1) A mile is not a mile.
   My track is a sidewalk loop around a grassy playground area directly across the street.  I was sure it was the size of a 1/4 mile track.  My loving & supportive husband drove the car around the loop to verify mileage.  He assures me it's only a 1/5 mile track. 
My optimism of ever running the entire mile plummeted.  In my ignorant bliss, I had convinced myself I could eventually run four laps.  Now I would have to run five laps.
"But that one more lap is gonna kill me", I assured my husband upon receiving the devistating news. 
Sure it is the same distance.  Same mile - but different laps.  There is a huge difference between 4 and 5.

2) Distance is not measured in miles, or even laps -  but in mailboxes and sidewalk cracks
     After resigning myself to five laps, I got started yesterday.  Walked the first lap.  Then "ran" the second.  (The entire second lap, thank you very much). Walked third.  1/2 walked-1/2 ran fourth.  Walked fifth.
Let me describe that second lap for you.......
Started off strong:  "I can do this.  This isn't so bad.  I can make just one lap"
1/4 way through lap: "Ok, keep up the steady breathing..... Don't lose the steady breathing....."
1/2 way through lap: "Only 1/2 way???  This loop has got to be a 1/4 mile, Dan."
3/4 way through lap: "oxygen.... lungs burning..... breathe.... keep......going......gotta make.....1 ....lap"
3/4 and 4 steps:  "make it to......that mailbox.......breathe in....out.... next mailbox....Lungs on fire...."
Lat 20 yards:  "need air....breathe....next sidewalk crack.....next crack....next crack...my chest is exploding
   ......next crack.....almost there...."

Anyhoo - is there a point?  Other than pointing out how pathetically out of shape I am?
Yes.

* A 5 lap mile initially seemed soooo much longer than a 4 lap mile.  But it's the same distance.
* When I was "running" that last 1/2 of a 1/5 mile, I could not focus on the end goal.  I would have died. 
    I had to break it down into smaller (much-much smaller) goals.

Spiritual Applications?
1)  Am I gonna quit running the race simply because it all of a sudden seems soooo much harder/longer until the end?  (Satan whispering in my ear: 5 laps; not 4 - ha!) My racing length of days has already been predetermined by my Maker/Father in heaven. 
The number of laps around the sun I have left doesn't matter.  What matters is that I go the distance of my pre-ordained life.
Finish the race.  (or, in my case - the lap)  I didn't want to, but I was motivated to post I at least made it 1 lap!  Finish strong.
2) Set smaller increment goals.  Do I want Jesus to tell me someday, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?  You bet.  When I am an elderly woman, do I want to be known as a "pillar of the assembly"?  Of course.   But I'm not elderly yet, and fortunately (no thanks to those last 20 yards) am not dead.  In the meantime, I am a work in progress.  Perhaps I should set more attainable goals than "pillar of the assembly".  Maybe like regular Bible study attender, or  faithful prayer warrior, or gentle word sayer, or good works doer.

I'm sure God has lots to teach me using "running".  At least I hope so.  Because I'm not "running" for the sheer joy of it!  :)

Interactive:
Any runners out there?  Has God taught you anything through running?

Running Strong

Starting this morning, my husband, Dan, and I are back on the exercise wagon.
Neither one of us enjoys getting up early.  Far from it.
Neither one of us loves to exercise. 
(Yah, yah - Dan ran a marathon last year.  It was a temporary lapse in judgement)

However, you know what we both do enjoy?
Fitting into our clothes and being healthy.

So this morning we set our alarms for 6:00 ....... and we finally rolled out of bed by 6:40.  (pathetic, I know)

Our schedule is M,W,F Dan runs (2-4 miles) while Britt does Pilates video.  (Today I did one 10 minute session.  Perhaps next week I will challenge myself with two 10-minute sessions)
Tue-Thur Dan will do situps/pushups while Britt runs.


Wait.  What?!? 
Haven't I previously posted my detestment of running on this very blog?
Why yes.  Yes I have.

God has a sense of humor. 
More and more I realize that when I say  "I will never........"  God chuckles and says "Yes you will."
It is not about what "I" can't or won't do. 
It is all about what GOD wants and wills me to do.
I might think I don't have it in me to do/say/write something.  But that is just crazy talk.
The Spirit of the Living GOD is in me!  If God wills me to do/say/write something, I don't need power. 
HE has already given me His.

I'm sure I could still call myself a good Christian without ever running in my life.  But my life might last a bit longer if my heart and lungs are stronger.  Hence the running.

Here is to running strong.  Physically and spiritually.  

Clarification:  When I say that on Tue-Thur Britt runs,

I meant I'll be walk-running one mile.....at least at first :)

Friday Word Fun

Huh- I guess my theme the past couple days has been "words".
Perhaps a subconcious probing to get back on track with my writing.
Anyhoo - I digress.
Please read the following:

You have got to be freakin' kidding me!  That is awesome!  No way, dude.  That is just crazy!

Now I ask you; how do these words work their way into our everyday, common-speak?

There have been others, of course: "cool", "bees-knees", "foxy".  (please note that at least 2 of the afore mentioned examples were waaaay before my time :)

Really no insight from my end.  Just wondering out loud.
Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend!

Any other words or phrases you think have been overused in our pop-culture over the years?

Wednesday Words

Sticks and Stones may break my bones,
But words will never hurt me.

Remember that chant from childhood?
What a lie.

The Bible tells us in
Proverbs 12:18 - Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

I haven't done a "word" count or anything, but there are many references to words in the Bible.  God must care what comes out of our mouths.

Proverbs 17:27, 28a - A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.  Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent.
Proverbs 18:13 - He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame.
Proverbs 12:22 - The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful.
James 1:26 - If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.


And speaking of the Bible; the Bible is God's WORD.  In fact, the Word is God...

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and theWord was God.
Proverbs 30:5,6 - Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

Not sure what put me on a word kick this morning.  But after looking up these verses, I am reminded to use my words in a kind and loving manor. For encouragement, instruction, and ultimately God's Glory. 

I need to remember that harsh words words are worse than sticks and stones -
they pierce like a sword. 


I want to be a Proverbs 31  and Psalm 19 woman.  Especially as an example for my children.

Proverbs 31:26 - She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Psalm 19:14 - May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Pictures are worth a 1,000 excuses.... right?!?

Well,
I didn't make my M-W-F post goal last week.
I had 3 very good reasons.  I thought posting picures might strengthen my story.
So without further ado, here are my 3 excuses for not posting last Wednesday and Friday:

1) Dan was out of country on a business trip to India last week.
     Yes, his return flight (through Frankfurt) had to be re-routed due to the Iceland volcanic ash ordeal.  But, praise God, he was never stuck in an airport and made it home only 18 hours later than originally planned (He arrived home Sunday afternoon around 2:00).  Interesting side note:  Flying over to India, Dan crossed the Atlantic Ocean.  Coming back home he flew over the Pacific.  My husband flew around the world in 9 days!  :)

2)Neighborhood Garage Sales were this past Friday & Saturday.
      And I participated.  Not only did I participate, I helped my children plan a snack shack.  They did pretty well on Friday since no other kid stands were operating that day (advantage:  homeschool).  Prepping for a garge sale / delux snack shack in and of itself is more than doable with husband out of country.  But I, in over-zealous "I can do it" mode, planned another major project for the week..................

3) A surprise master bedroom make-over!

Dan had no idea I was planning this.  Actually, I had no idea until a week before he left.   I kinda blame the Shopko ads (white dressers on  > 50% off sale) and the garage sale (hey!  I can sell the old dresser - see above pic) 

Anyhoo, the deciding factor was that our 12th anniversary is next month and I figured it was time for a grown up, decorated master bedroom.

Ta-Da!

......  Dan loved it, by the way ;)

And I cannot post this without a HUGE Thank You to my good friend, Marci.

I could NOT have completed this project without your help!

Your stay-until-3-in-the-morning-painting-putting together 2 dressers-kind-of-help.

Monday Morning Catch-Up

Good Morning!
Sorry I didn't post on Friday.  We were rushing around getting ready for our Family Birthday Celebration Extravaganza  (Dad came home early on Friday to celebrate our son turning 8 and our oldest daughter turning 6).
I thought I would use today's post to catch you up on my life this past week.  It has been a fun one.
In the past 10 days we have......
Gone bowling (kids first time) at a friends' birthday party,
Played 2 soccer games (the girls are on the same team),
Celebrated Easter,
Soccer Team pictures,
Homeschool thrown in throughout, of course,
Cub Scout den meeting,
Soccer Practice - with a wonderful, unplanned get together with friends for supper,
Family Birthday Celebration Extravaganza
The above celebration extravaganza included:
Red Robin lunch, Played Mini-Golf (Kids first time - new strokes were invented), cake and presents, and pizza supper while watching a movie.
2 Soccer Games (Both girls had a break-down at one point)
After church IHOP lunch - friend over to play Mario Wii with Ethan.
Pancake breakfast this morning
Oh - AND I'm having a garage sale this Friday.
Oh-Oh - AND I'm secretly re-designing the master bedroom while Dan is gone.  Hope he likes it.
CRAZY!
(But all is very fun and very good................ but CRAZY!)
However,
NOT as crazy as my dear cousin, who just had baby # 4 ~ Congrats, Keely!  :)

Updated the Food Blog

I posted a few more recipies on the Real Good Food Blog.
If you are interested, click on the link at the top of this page.

Egg Hunt

Good Morning.  I trust everyone had a great Easter - celebrating Jesus Christ our risen Lord with family and friends.  We enjoyed our church's traditional pancake, ham, and fruit breakfast before service.  Then the egg hunt. At our church, eggs are laid out all over the huge open-grass lawn. My almost 6 year old daughter asked why they call it an egg-hunt, if the eggs aren't hidden. 
Good Point. 
This led me to think we should call it an egg-scramble.
Dan and I provided an actual backyard egg hunt for our 3 kids later in the afternoon.  It was so fun watching them run past an obvious egg because a bigger, brighter egg a few feet away caught their eye!  Or they would miss an egg because they didn't work hard enough (ie: lift up the orange soccer cone...).

Two things on Egg Hunts

1) I know they are a secular tradition.  Focusing on candy instead of on the cross of Christ.  But those little eggs are also a great reminder of the empty tomb!  In our toddlers Sunday School class, we have been learning that just like bird eggs and cacoons are empty after the chick and butterfly have new life - the tomb is empty because Jesus is Alive.  We have new life in Christ. 
Yesterday my kids were emptying their candy into their buckets, I asked my 4 year old, "What do all those empty eggs remind you of, Sweetheart?"  Her reply was great!  "The empty tomb.  Jesus is Alive"   :) 

2) Do I operate my life in the mode of egg-scramble or egg-hunt?  
For this illustration to work, let us assume that by "egg" I mean nuggets of Truth.
Do I simply run around and pick up all the obvious, big, and brightly colored eggs laid out in the open?  Or am I willing to hunt around a bit?  Slow down and see what is right in front of me?  How about put a little work into hunting for God's truth.  Am I willing to lift up soccer cones or get down on my belly to peer under the slide?  I'm not completely sure if this is a direct correlation of God's strategy.... but I know yesterday afternoon I hid the mega-candy-score eggs for my kids in the tougher places.
Hmmmm......  tough places = mega egg score.

Food  Eggs for thought :  James 1:1-12

Interactive:
How was your Easter?!?

Gold Nuggets

On Wednesday, I posted about pebbles.  I ended the post wondering when I got to become pure gold.
(Know that I understand I'll never be pure gold this side of heaven.  I'm simply saying that I'm tired of seeing all pebbles - no gold!)  :)

So I looked up gold refining in the Bible.  (You know that verse I was thinking of actually deals with silver?  Oh well - analogy wasn't completely in vain.  There are a couple verses on gold refining - read on.) 

Job 23:9-12 - (Job speaking; "he" refers to God) - When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.


I focused on the gold reference, but God pointed something else out to me in this passage. Job says that he will "come forth as gold". Come forth implies to me that he walked through something. And in that walking, Job "kept to (God's) way" and "treasured the words of (God's) mouth".

I thought it a good reminder that the way to come through tough times in my life and to keep my eye on the prize of becoming gold; is to read God's Word and steadfastly keep God's ways.

But so I don't get discouraged that life is all rock and no glitter and that there is no end in sight to all those pebbles God keeps unearthing in me - perhaps I should look at it another way.

Maybe, just maybe, as I read God's Word, walk in His ways, and bend my will to HIS, - HE is turning all those pebbles I toss over my shoulder into gold nuggets. Maybe each issue in my life God changes from rock to gold gives me a hint of glitter. Perhaps I shine a bit brighter for Him.

Just a thought.
Have a great day. May you allow God to reveal, remove, and refine your life pebbles into gold nuggets!