Pressing forward and submitting

The joy of pressing forward can only be possible with the drive to succumb & submit to authority. This is the sixth season to be a supporting cast to encourage XC runners to meet their personal best. It is . . . a sport like no other! And we love sports!!!
Invigorating, breath taking (as a runner and a supporter as a parent), the most exhilarating and rewarding sport I have EVER been a part of in any way. Why? One might ask that question and think it is crazy to run XC. But it is the closet thing to really apply the values of scripture in every way.

Every year, every season . . . every grueling mile . . . what an unstoppable motivation to peruse through the windows of our eyes and reflect deeper than the soul. These individuals train for weeks, months, years, seasons. With every conditioning is the ability to prepare the physical body to be in tuned, conditioning and building the stamina to press on when the body aches, & tells the mind to just give in -maybe even quit. STOP.

It thrills me to see the athletes all anticipating to get to the finish line and complete the course. 3.5 mile runs, on paths that are continually changing - flat, rolling hills, inclines, rocks, mud, grass, the pressure to take one more step . . . the desire to submit to the training and keep the focus to reach the finish line. This an event that EVERYONE is encouraged by other teammates, relatives and yes even those from other teams and their supporters. You'll never see fans only rooting for only "their team or runner" but everyone that is on the course! It is AMAZING!!!!

Not everybody chooses to be a team runner for XC because it is a "distance running sport". Therefore why choose that sport and just RUN?
That's CRAZY! ;-/

Out of all the sports our family has participated in and be a part of this sport is so different. I've never seen anything like it. Fall . . . is amazing in our home town area. Because we see runners from all over who have be conditioning and pressing forward for the reward of finishing, possibly even PRing (personal recording-doing their best TIME in a run). It is a Team sport that includes self dedication and perseverance when everything in your body is telling you to stop. Your muscles ache, your lungs feel like they may not get enough oxygen, your saliva gets thick and you need to PUSH through yourself to take one more step. There are teammates, coaches & fans all encouraging you to KEEP GOING. And when the finish line is in sight . . . the runner pushes with every last ounce to FINISH another run!!! AMAZING!!!!

There are many colors worn with pride but when it comes to the finish line . . . . every one is shouting "Your almost there - PUSH - you CAN DO It!!!!" And they DO!!!!!!!!

Almost there . . . Almost there . . .

we're proud of you!!! Keep it up!!!

YOU DID IT . . . YOU FINISHED

"The Truth is you can always run faster, but sometimes the Truth HURTS!!!" CHS track team 2007 (year of accident).

The sweetness of the day

Our home has been spinning at a very quick pace. I almost feel like our front door has become a revolving door. Tryouts, interviews, talks, nominations, ballets, driving, talking, researching, engagement phone call (from my nephew), medals, laughter, devotions, singing with acoustic . . . etc., etc., etc.

The girls have been in school already for three weeks and it is WHOOSH fast!
Almost like a WHOOSH of the swish from a B-Ball shot all net no rim!!!
To enjoy the girls for who the ARE and not what they do. Character.
Integrity. Real. Be. No superficiality-truth. Forgive/forgiven.

All the girls have been going, going, going.
Friends, application processes, notes, phone calls, discontinued phone line,
"Haddy" first fever ;-( and new teeth OUCH!

Can you just imagine it all? I am so very glad that there is sweetness in
all of it. Yes all of it. I don't have much more T - I - M - E with the seven of us
under our ruff and my hearts dream is for it to be remembered with the sweetness of each day. You know ENJOY the PRESENT that is a gift for my heart to store away for the joy
in my heart!

Yep . . the sweetness in today! I LOVE it.

Forgiveness . . . how sweet

All I've done to Thee
yet you still show mercy

All the steps you see
Forgiveness bestowed upon me

I forget so quickly
but how can that be?

Oh my head turns up
to see your arms stressed out
reaching , yes sweetly stretching
express I died for thee

For truly I've Forgiven
so that you could be liven'
Forever with ME.


He has Forgiven so that I to
through him can forgive deeply.

Colossians 3:13
Mark 11:25

"Out of my hands" . . . . I couldn't say it any better

"There you go changing my plans again
there you go shifting my sands again
For reasons I don't understand again
Lately I don't have a clue
Just when I start liking what I see
There you go changing my scenery
I never know where you're taking me
But I'm trying just to follow YOU,

Its out of my hands
It's out of my reach,
It's over my head
And it's out of my LEAGUE
There's too many things
that I don't understand
So it's into your WILL ~ LORD
And it's out of my hands

There you go healing these scars again
Showing me right where you are again
I'm helpless, and that's where I start again
I'm giving
I'm giving it all up to you

Move me, make me
Choose me, change me
Send me, shake me
Find me, remind me
the past IS behind me

Take it ALL AWAY
Take it all from me,
I PRAY" Matthew West - Happy

Praise You Abba - it IS all about you TODAY
as well as the REST of the days I have left !!!!

Moment of Awwww ;-)

This last week has been soooooo very full of memory times with our family! Hadassah has pulled up, she has eaten out of her hands, she has broken through her gums to reveal . . . . her first tooth (FINALLY - so Emily thinks ;-P ) and she is eating some FUN foods and she plays patty cake! Oh the Joy of our rose number 5!

We just love hearing her giggle and laugh as her eyes glisten with a sparkle so real as a diamond showing is brilliance to a jewelers inspection. :-)

Oh The joy for fulfilling our calling with the greatest mission in our lives . . . . raising Hadassah! ;-)

Awww . . . . Thank you Lord for one more precious gift!