What's been going on?

I'm sitting on the couch with my man watching game 6 of the World Series. Our Texas Rangers are up 3 games to 2. They could win the series tonight. I, obviously, hope they do. The series has been super exciting. Monday night I had a hard time enjoying the Rangers getting a win in game 5 because I was sick. Johnny had a stomach bug over the weekend and I was super careful - washing my hands, washing everything he touched, spraying Lysol all over - and I still got sick. It was truly awful, that's for sure! And, between the 2 of us being sick, missing sleep and such, I have not been running for a week. Since the half-marathon is only about 5 weeks away now I can't afford to take a week off. I'll be back out there tomorrow and our plan is to run 8 on Saturday.

Today we went to the Embrace Equipping Conference. It was a mission conference. We are desperately praying about a new part of our mission strategy and went to get some info today. For me, it was confirmation to what I think God has already been saying to Johnny and me. I am so excited. It's something totally unlike our other mission endeavors and in a different part of the world.

Our first classes in the new computer lab, my big project for the Fall, are less than a week away. After all we've done over the last months it's finally almost time to actually get to work. My prayer is that we will absolutely provide some job skills but also, and mainly, that we will have a chance to share Jesus!

That's what's up with me. Nothing exciting at all. I didn't even get to go to a baseball game...

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Meditations on Running, entry #9

Run length - 2 1/2
Song that got me home - My Brightness, Charlie Hall
Verse of the morning - you have stayed long enough (in part) from Deuteronomy 1:6-7

It was already hot at 10:45 am in the middle of October. And, super windy. Going out was great but the wind was discouraging on the way back. I only ran a total of 6 miles last week so I'm off my training and have got to get back this week.

I'm pondering something Johnny talked about last night at church & thought about it out on my run today. His text was from Acts 12, the account of Peter rescued from jail by an angel. A couple of points that stuck with me were: 1) sometimes we pray and because God doesn't answer the way we have envisioned it we miss the answer; 2) if I pray and God gives me an answer that's not what I envisioned can I be ok with that? Sometimes I pray and pray about the same things but, really, in my heart, I already know the answer. What it comes down to is do I believe that He's good and faithful and just if my hopes, dreams, life don't turn out like I planned?

Yeah, I can type with absolute certainty that I believe He is. Not one doubt.

That's where I am today. Do I struggle to hang onto that on some days? Sure. He has proven Himself (not that He has to) over and over again in my life. With whatever breath He has yet to give me, with days and energy and resources, I hope I will live worthy of what He has entrusted to me. To His great glory alone.

Running with purpose &
  serving the King,

Jeanette

School Holiday

The college kids got an entire week off last week - Fall Break - but the high schooler got today off. He came home from a friend's house, where he spent the night, with 2 of his buddies sometime in the early afternoon. He asked me to take him to get a new drum head (which we did) and to have a Dallas Stars watching party tonight. The game started at 5:00 but they didn't start watching it until almost 7:00 pm because our Texas Rangers are playing in the ALCS. The game went into extra innings and was won by a walk-off grand slam by Nelson Cruz. It was so exciting. They are now 2 up in the series. The Stars are now in OT. (I actually already saw on twitter which team won the game but these guys are all excited about the shoot-out so there's no way I'm telling them that the Stars actually won the game!) Jacob had 6 friends over tonight and it is so great to have boys yelling and cheering! Some days it has been way too quiet around here. (The all just yelled "yes" in their manly voices so the game is finally over! It was also exciting.)

I didn't go running today. I needed to buy groceries so I decided to head over to the brand new Kroger that just opened near our house. It's a Kroger Marketplace so it has lots more stuff than just groceries. First of all, the parking lot was packed and I had a hard time finding a parking space. I nearly had a panic attack when I walked in the door because, first of all, there was a girl yelling about free samples of fresh-squeezed orange juice and pineapple. Secondly, the store is not in the same lay-out as my old Kroger. I like routine and sameness. I couldn't find anything. And THEN the checker made me give her my Kroger card before I finished unloading my cart. At the old Kroger they will let you give the card when you finish instead of making you stop. Then, there wasn't anyone sacking my groceries until almost the end. And, then (last one) the checker - instead of helping to finish putting the groceries into my reusable grocery sacks like they do at the old Kroger - started checking out the guy behind me. She let his groceries come down the conveyor right into my unsacked groceries. Look, I was stressed and trying to be kind but come on... I was so happy to be out of there. Unfortunately, the boys wanted to get something this afternoon and I ended up making a second trip to the new Kroger. Twice in one day. yikes - hope to not be back til next week!

I don't mean to complain about nonsensical things. I am truly happy and so thankful that I have the ability to drive down the street in my fun little car and that I have money to buy groceries. I am thankful for coupons and deals at the new store. (A fella even game me a coupon for a free bag of coffee!) I am thankful for healthy kids and friends and time to spend doing unimportant things like watching sporting events when such serious things are going on in the world. I am thankful (oh, get this one) that I have a wonderful tile floor in my kitchen and hot, running water in my house with which to clean it. Even if I did have to get down on my hands and knees today to clean parts of it, I'm glad to have it. I'm super thankful for my man - the one that I love to spend time with more than anyone else - and being able to share our lives together. I'm thankful for a day off school and a son who still asks me to do stuff for him - like cooking special hockey-watching food for him and his friends.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Meditations on Running, entry #8

Run length - 3 miles
Verse of the morning - You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith is perfected. James 2:22

I read an article on the internet this morning that started with this line: you can't do everything but you can do something. It was on a mission website. I'm just one person. What can I do?

I laced up my awesome running shoes this morning wondering if I should go out for a run. Johnny says I can't afford to take time off for an injury. He's right. Race day is 2 months and 1 day from today. I have a sore leg and can't quite figure out if I should just run through the soreness or decrease my runs until it's better. I won't stop, though. Here's why - in the first day of offering the iLive shirts for a donation to our iRun mission causes, we already raised over the amount it costs to dig a well in India. That was our first goal and we did it in the first day! (Thank you, my FBCM people, for your amazing generosity!) Everything else we raise will go to our other causes.

It's estimated that 6,000 children die in India everyday from issues related to unsafe drinking water. I can't provide clean water for everyone in India. However, in some remote village somewhere in India our partner organization, AIM, will dig a well and provide water for the thirsty. I run for clean water in India.

The drought in the Horn of Africa is causes food prices to soar and has weakened the livestock. As a result, there is increased malnutrition, hunger and famine. Millions and millions of people are at risk. I can't feed everyone who is starving in the Horn of Africa but I can feed some. I run for the food crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Almost 2 years after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, it is estimated that there are over 600,000 people still living in displacement camps. Now, there is a serious outbreak of cholera. I can't build a home for every person living in a tent in Haiti, but I can help someone. I run for the Haiti Rebuild Project.

And, finally, I read recently that there are 143 million fatherless and orphaned children in the world. They need a home and a family and love and security. I run so some little boy or some little girl can know what home is and what it means to say mommmy and daddy.

I'm just one person. I've joined a group of runners. Together, we are trying to make a difference. We are lacing up our running shoes and we are getting out there, putting one foot in front of the other to make a difference. That's what we're doing. How about you?

Serving the King
  and running with purpose,

Jeanette