Jogging Stroller!!

On Sunday, Nathaniel and I started training for our Thanksgiving Day 5k! We both ran about 2 miles (I ran a block and walked a block, repeated--he ran the whole time). Yesterday and today I'm so sore!! I'm also so motivated! About a month ago, I sold our jogging stroller in hopes to purchase a double jogger next spring, thinking that I wouldn't be out jogging any time soon. But since we've signed up for this 5k race, I was on Craigslist today looking for double joggers and found this single for a great price! When I e-mailed and saw that it was still available, I jumped on it. This way, either of us will be able to take one of the kiddos should the need arise when we go out for our training runs. :-) Maybe we'll still get a double in the spring, but they're harder to find for a good price.

Choices

Each day is filled with so many choices! What to have for breakfast, what to wear, what to do in any given day, if I'm going to do what I planned to do, and how to think about each situation. An area that God has been challenging me in lately is that of the choice of my attitude.

It is such a moment by moment battle to stay in an attitude of thankfulness and graciousness. We are called to pray without ceasing and I don't doubt that this is one of the reasons why. I find that if I do the old count to ten bit, I am able to seek the Lord's strength to react in a godly way to each situation...whether its a spilled cup of milk or a permanent marker drawing on the dressers--or a side hug and "love!!" from Abraham. I have to make the choice to respond as God calls me to.

I want to be a godly woman. I want to react with graciousness, thankfulness and wisdom to everything I encounter. I pray every day that the Lord would build up these characteristics in me and that when I don't react as I should that I won't throw in the towel and just have a bad day on purpose. How each day "goes" is largely up to me and my faithfulness to my calling in my day.

I'm thankful that God is teaching me this. Its hard, but I feel it is valuable! It makes me think of the saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." We're finding that this is the case! :-) So, as the "attitudeinal rudder" of our family, I'm seeking the Lord's strength to be peaceful and patient, gracious and thankful. Praise God that his mercies are new every morning!

I love my husband!

This is one of my favorite wedding pictures! Isn't Nathaniel handsome!

Thanksgiving Day 5k!!

We're doing it! Anybody with us? Click here to sign up. The race is around Como Lake in St. Paul. Runners (or walkers...anybody wanna walk...?) are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the food shelf and have an "attitude of gratitude" throughout the year! Though I'm not much for costumes, they say festive costumes are welcome!! :-) Post a comment if you sign up and we'll see you there!

Adventure Girls Prayer Partner Night

Wednesday night I took a brief leave from our home to attend the Adventure Girls Prayer Partner night. This is the second year that I am being paired with a girl (different girl from last year though) and I'm so excited.

I really believe that the program is effective. I believe that God uses prayer partners like this is ways we can't even begin to know. Even though I may never get to see my girl from last year again, I still pray for her.

As a second year prayer partner, I know of things that I'm going to do differently. I'm going to plan better to reach out. I'm going to ask a lot more questions. I'm going to let the Lord lead me and not talk myself out of what I think would be good steps toward encouraging her and getting to know her.

*I pray, Lord, that you would use me in the life of my prayer partner to deepen my relationship with you and to encourage my girl to love you above anything else in the world. I pray that you would help me to be faithful in lifting her up to you in prayer and pursuing her. Thank you, Lord for the opportunity and for not letting me quit because I feel I didn't do well last year. I'm grateful that you've called me to do this and I pray I would honor you in it. Amen!*

Hebrews 3:12-14 is the verse that comes to mind when I think of praying as a prayer partner. Don't we all need this type of encouragement in our walk with the Lord. "See to it, brothers (sisters), that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."

What happened to George...

Well let's just say George wasn't the only one in the house who was curious...

About 2 weeks ago while Abraham was "napping" Georgie boy received a healthy dose of Desitin right where its supposed to go...on a human baby. :-) I am proud to say George looks nearly as good as new and it only took about 3 hours. Oh the things we do for our children (I think I did it for me too...George is so nice.)

Video won't load

So for the past few days I've been trying to load this sweet video clip from when Nathaniel and I were first married when we're on our way to the grocery store. But alas, it isn't accepting it.

How things have changed!! I was at the grocery store tonight with my second child! Can I just say that once again I'm amazed at how fast time goes!

And well...I guess...I'm probably going to keep going with my...drumroll please...NEW BLOG!! So stop on over and have a read.

I've tried not to blog about "that topic" too much on this blog because they have a tendency to be really negative...BUT I'm trying really hard to be upbeat and BEAT THIS!! (as stated in the new blogs title). I also wanted to separate them because not every one is super excited to hear about medical stuff...

So that's what's up. I'm pumped. I'm ready to go to bed. I'm tired. I'm thinking about running the turkey day 5k. Oh dear. Must go. :-) 'nite!