31 Days of Letting Go (Day 1)

It has been quite some time since my last post. I've missed writing and have been longing to get back into my routine of blogging. While browsing Pinterest this afternoon, I found out about the 31 Days of Writing on one topic from Lisa-Jo's blog. This idea was originated by The Nester and it seems to be that jump start that my blog needs. The whole concept is that 700+ bloggers will write about one topic for the 31 days of October. I've decided to join in and I hope to stay committed to it.

31 Days of Letting Go is the topic I've chosen. I hope to write about my journey of letting go on so many levels. Letting go of control, letting go of fear, letting go of anxiety, letting go of unrealized dreams, letting go of disappointment, letting go of regret. By letting go I have found and continue to find God's peace and joy, it's been there all along I just wasn't willing to let go long enough to feel it. 

Since I've been gone for so long I should have plenty of material to keep me writing for 31 days. I hope that what I share will at least be thought provoking and encouraging. I'm letting go today of being too busy to do the thing I love so much, which is to simply write. I'm giving myself some me-time this week to put my thoughts into words. I look forward to all that I may learn from the month of October. 

Just visit The Nester if you'd like to join in on the fun!

A Christmas Story

About a month ago I was at the doctor with the hubs. As I was sitting in the waiting room I noticed a new mother and her baby. The baby was adorable, as all babies are, and the new mom was in awe with her little bundle. After a while we began chatting. You know, the normal "your baby is too cute" conversation. At some point, she shared with me that the baby had spent a couple of months in the NICU due to being diagnosed with meningitis soon after birth. Naturally, I told her about Footprints Ministry. After a few minutes into our conversation it was obvious she was in need, so as she and her mother (the baby's grandmother) were leaving I gave her my contact information and told her to please let me know if I could do anything to help her.

Fast forward a few weeks. I received a call from the young mom. She wanted to know if Footprints offered assistance for those who need help at Christmas. I told her we did and asked what she needed. Doing her best to hold back the tears, she told me she knew her child was just a baby, but she really wanted to have presents for her on Christmas. My heart was so heavy for her and I agreed to do what I could and within a few minutes of sending an email about the situation, we found a volunteer who was willing to help. The volunteer and her entire office stepped up to take care of this family.

Fast forward to yesterday. Arrangements were made for the family to pick up their Christmas items from the volunteer's office. When they arrived the mom and grandmother were shocked to see all of the wonderful items these angels had provided for them, from baby clothes and diapers galore, to a winter coat that was so desperately needed for the mom, this family felt the love of Christ through the generosity of others.

Before leaving the office, the mom shared with our volunteer that a week ago she and her mother had made the decision to follow Christ!

The more I learn about life, the more I realize it's about listening. It's about being a friend to a stranger. It's about sharing and realizing that we're all in this together. But most importantly it's about hearing what He's asking us to do and doing it.

I don't believe it was by coincidence she and I were in the same waiting room that night. I was tired, I was worried about my husband and wondering what I was going to cook for dinner. The last thing I wanted to do was engage in a conversation with a stranger. However, something told me to talk to her and to listen to what she had to say. So I did and I'm forever grateful. For their story has renewed my faith.

The angel on our tree

 Five years ago my heart was broken and I had no desire to celebrate Christmas. It didn't seem fair or right to have to celebrate without our Olivia. My Mom knew where my heart was, while she couldn't understand my heartache she knew I was hurting beyond words. My Mom, just like any Mom, couldn't handle the thought of us not celebrating Christmas. There wasn't much she could do to help me at the time, but she could do something to touch my heart in a way I'll never forget.

Ben and I drove up to our house after our visit to the Avery farm for Thanksgiving. There on our front porch sat a Christmas tree with one lone ornament on it. When I saw the tree I immediately knew who it was from, but it wasn't until I saw the ornament that my heart was changed. The ornament was a beautiful angel with "Olivia 2006" written on the front. However, this wasn't just any angel personalized for our little angel. This was my first Christmas ornament, you see on the back of the angel "Lurenda 1979" is written. My Mom knew just what I needed to lift my spirits and bring me back to the meaning of Christmas.

I am forever grateful to my Mom for being the best Mom I could ask for. I'm even more grateful that she listened to her heart and brought us Olivia's first ornament five years ago.

Black Friday - We just don't get it

Black Friday is madness, pure madness. I've never had the desire to get out in the middle of the night, wait in long lines in cold weather and bombard a store as the doors open simply to save 75 percent on a flat screen TV. As I heard reports of men being tasered over a Kindle and a grandfather being arrested for trying to protect his grandson from being trampled, I had to wonder what God thinks of all of this. How does He feel about how we, His children, have turned His Son's holiest birthday into a shopping bonanza?

I'm certain He doesn't like it. Just like we aren't too happy when our children do things like fight with their brothers or sisters over a toy, pitch a temper tantrum when you won't let them have a piece of chocolate before dinner or worse, tell their grandmother this wasn't the gift they wanted for Christmas. We get upset, frustrated and disappointed, but we still love them. Just as God still loves us when we fight over the latest Nintendo DS games in the middle of a crowded Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. He still loves us, even though sometimes we just don't get it. We don't get what Jesus' birthday truly means. We don't get that it meant God came down in the form of man to save us from our horrible sins. We don't get that it means everlasting love and joy for all who will simply love Him back. We don't get it because we're human and we're flawed. In God's eyes we often act like a 2-year-old who doesn't get her way.

However, we are all capable of getting it, at least as best as our human minds will allow. So as we prepare for the birthday of the One who has saved us from our crazy antics, my prayer is we will all take a moment to be still. A moment to realize the true miracle of Christ's birth. I challenge us to do something for others this holiday season, whether it's feeding the homeless, visiting a nursing home, or simply turning off the television and spending quality time with the family.

I mess up everyday. I do stupid things to make God wonder where He went wrong. So this holiday season my goal is to make Him quit shaking His giant head at my childish acts, and have Him be a proud parent of His child who is trying her best to get it.

13.1 trains me to be thankful

I did it!!! 13.1 miles in 2 hours 52 minutes! If someone had told me six months ago that I would be running a half-marathon in November, I would have laughed in their face. It’s amazing what we can do when we truly put our mind and body to it.

The training process was long, but all worthwhile and it wasn’t something I decided to do on my own. Back in early July my friend Helen approached me with the idea of training to run the half in honor of her sister-in-law, Lynn, who was recently diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. She wanted to raise money for the American Brain Tumor Association to show support for Lynn. This was the push I needed to make this dream a reality. I made my decision to run and never looked back.

A couple of months into our training I had the idea to add an honoree to my fundraising efforts. My boss’ daughter, MK, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the young age of 14 years old. It wasn’t until after a 9 hour surgery they were blessed with the news of MK’s tumor being benign. She has now grown-up to be an amazing young woman and is a freshman at Auburn University. While MK hasn’t battled cancer, she has dealt with the numerous side effects, which come from major brain surgery and she’s handled it all with inspiring courage.

Lynn and MK have both been my inspiration throughout my days, weeks and months of training. On a morning when I just didn’t feel like getting out of the bed, I would think of Lynn and how she has fought so hard every day to beat this cancer. When I just didn’t think I could run another step, I would think of MK and all of the physical therapy she has endured over the years.

There are so many Lynn’s and MK’s out there. We all have our own trials and troubles. We all have days when we just don’t want to get out of bed. When I have days like this I think of the blessing of my health and how I should NEVER take it for granted. The stories of Lynn and MK have opened my eyes. I thank God everyday for the little things like being able hold my children, hug my husband and run down the street. This 13.1 miles has taught me many things about myself, but most of all it’s taught me to be thankful to Him for each and every moment of LIFE.

(Oh, and yes, I’m now proudly sporting the 13.1 magnet on the back of my car!)

Training

This Sunday is a huge milestone for me. I've been preparing for four months to run my first half-marathon. 13.1 miles. Five months ago I could barely walk one mile!

Training for a run of this level brings a new realization about what you're actually capable of handling. Taking the risk of running 13.1 miles and making it happen has allowed me to realize I can succeed at anything I put my mind to. No matter how impossible it may seem.

Writing is my passion. I've missed writing this year and I never imagined training for a half-marathon would lead me back to it. This experience has made me want to focus on writing, wherever it may lead me.

I look forward to sharing my next post about the excitement of finishing the race and finally putting that 13.1 magnet on the back of my car.

"A" for Effort

It never fails, you finally make a decision to get back into shape. You wake up early to walk/run several days a week to be prepared for a 5K, and ultimately a half-marathon. You get super pumped about the 5K, even buying new running apparel for the big day. You load up the kids bright and early on that exciting morning and drive out to the race. You pull up to the race with that feeling of "I can do this.." and then you hear from the back seat....Blllluuuggghhh...and then "Eeeewwww Mommy, Chelsea threw up!"

Really?

Seriously?

Both of my kids are prone to car sickness? This isn't fair.

So, I put on my Mommy hat and went to work. I basically bathed my baby in a public bathroom. I'm not sure which was nastier, the puke or the bathroom. I eventually get her cleaned, myself together and everyone settled. My friend/running buddy Helen and her husband David were lifesavers by helping me with both kids. David agrees to watch J.K. and their son, while Helen and I planned to push Chel and their daughter in a double jogging stroller. As we are loading the girls into the stroller we realize that the race is starting...without us. We rush to get the girls piled in and take off, leaving David to hang with our boys. In the end, we finished in about 36 minutes, which wasn't too bad considering how our morning started.

As ridiculous as the morning was, the 5K was for a wonderful cause. It was the 3rd Annual Baby Steps 5K Memorial Run. The race supports The Amelia Center, a grief counseling center offering free services to those who have lost loved ones. The Center has been a wonderful source of hope for us over the years and I believe we are blessed to have a place like this in Birmingham. A big thank you to my friend Abby Nicholas for being one of the founders of this race. Everything she does is to remember her twin boys, Braden and Brody, and I'm so proud of her efforts and to have her as a friend. So regardless of how my morning started, it ended with lots of smiles and a few tears as we remembered those we love.