All American Marathon, 2015

I thought I'd share my experience of completing my 3rd marathon.

My training partner, Zina, and I started training together in January.  Since January, we have ran together almost every Sunday morning for our long training runs together.  We started with 8 miles and bumped up mileage each week.  The longest training run was 20 miles. 

As we lined up for the race, I looked around and noticed all sorts of kinds of people- young, old, every ethnicity, every body type.  I appreciated that moment because I had mostly trained by myself, aside from the long runs.  Running can be such a lonely sport, so most of us really enjoy the races, which are a time to join other like minded folks.  Within a few minutes of standing and waiting, just prior to the national anthem being sung, I met a woman that had an assistive dog with her.  We started to chat and I learned that she had metal in both of her legs after undergoing multiple surgeries after having been injured in the military.  She was a marathoner prior to being injured, and she was planning to walk the entire 26.2 miles!  Hearing her story made me want to cry and we hadn't even started the race. 

I love racing because of this reason.  There are countless stories of survival and

perseverance.  One of my favorite runners is named Ivan Castro.  He is a local marathoner that is completely blind.  He was almost killed in a blast, but survived.  His sight did not survive- but he still has completed multiple marathons and he continues to work as an active duty soldier- in recruitment.  Can you imagine trying to come up with an excuse of why not to join the military when you have a completely blind person- who runs marathons- right in front of you recruiting you? The government made a brilliant move by hiring him for that position.

 

Running in this marathon was tough.  I kept going, though, even when I was tired and sore and it was because of prayer and because I watched people pass me up.  I thought I should/could be just as "good" as them at running.  I was inspired by so many people that day. 

 

I also loved the fact that my family came to support me.  About every 5- or so- miles, my husband, father-in-law and son were there waiting to see me run by.  It was great- it meant so much to me.

 

Overall, this race was a wonderful experience.  It taught me that I must always keep pushing to meet my goals. It also taught me that there will always be others that have to work harder than I do, but still continue to persevere and succeed, despite the odds against them.  I have no excuse to not try hard and do my best. 

 

 

 

Pastor Dave

The depth of sadness I feel in this moment is almost unbearable.  I am going through the motions of life because I have to, but I am overwhelmed with grief at the same time over the loss of a dear friend who was like a father to me in so many ways. 

When the kids and I moved over here about 5 years ago, my husband couldn't come with us because he was still working in Oregon and looking for work over here.  My father in law was wonderful and came to stay with us for the first month, but after that, it was just the kids and I, and it was pretty stressful.  I had moved across county after living 30 years in Oregon, and without having any family or friends nearby. 

My heavenly father was looking out for me, though.  Our neighbors that lived right across the street- the Wedlock's- became like instant family to us.  Mr. Wedlock was here for us like a dad to me and grandpa to my kids and he looked out for us.  He would cut the grass and make sure that we were ok, while my husband was away.  After Mose moved back with us, Mr. Wedlock continued to look out for us- continued to help with the lawn- and he became "pastor Dave" to me and "papa" to my kids. I will never forget the moments when I would be out working in the yard in the heat and he would run over to give me some water.  I came to pastor Dave and Ms. Valerie for advice and let them know about the events going on in our lives, which they often were a part of.  I have baked many times for the Wedlock's because I love to bake and share what I have made.  He loved my cooking and that felt so good.  Pastor Dave also took many incredible pictures of my family for us and shared the prints with us often.  He was a man that touched many lives and he was constantly involved in service to others.  He was a true gift that was just taken away from us. 

I don't understand why we go through so much pain in this life sometimes. I don't understand why the best people have to leave this earth so early. 

I do know  that this life is just a speck of our true lives, since our real "lifetime" begins in the afterlife.  Pastor Dave is now living the life he worked so hard for on earth right now- in the actual presence of the Lord. 

The rest of us are hurting badly.  I can't wait to see my friend again someday and I will miss him terribly.  I'm thankful for getting the opportunity of knowing him and I hope to honor him by my actions through the rest of my life.  He would want that, I think.

Ridiculousness

It's a scary thing to open up your soul to the public.  You never know what people will think of you-- whether they know so much about you that they think you're being fake or dishonest--- or whether they know so little about you that they think you're being stuck up, ignorant or naive.

I've let my fear of this keep me from sharing my heart with you all, and I'm sorry for that.  I'm mostly sorry to my creator, since He is the one that asked me to write and share my story in the first place.

With that, I'd like to share something that has been on my heart lately...

I read way too much of the news.  I read it every day. There are incredibly sad, disappointing, ridiculous news stories that are posted every day; yet, I (like many Americans) continue to read them.  We do this, yet, we wonder why we have such a deep sense of hopelessnessin our culture.   We tell ourselves that times have changed- that the world we live in is so much worse for our children than it ever has been.  How can we think or feel this way and not have this transfer into our actions, the way we live each day and then not have that rub off onto our children? It's impossible.  If we truly believe that all hope is lost, that all hell has broken loose in this world, then our children will believe that too.  The vicious cycle of desperation will continue through the generations.

Instead, let's CHOOSE to see the beauty in this world! Let's not focus on all of these ridiculous news stories and this notion that the world is somehow much worse because people are suddenly more evil than ever before.  People have not really changed, but technology has changed.  We've always been messed up from the beginning of time.  Let's believe that there is always hope.  There is always hope, beauty, love, forgiveness-and salvation- available to those who choose it.  When we believe in such a way, it will transfer into how we live and our children will want- will choose- to live the same way.