"Making memories is hard work!"

This was David's catch phrase this weekend, as we went on a 4-day camping adventure.  On Friday we packed up a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old, and as much stuff as we could fit into our good old Honda Van and headed to Spring Mill State Park to do some camping.  Now, let me say that we HAVE camped with the kids before, but last time we did, we borrowed David's brother's camper, which is probably a little bit nicer than our own house.  So tent-camping this time was a little bit more of a challenge.

But we had fun.

We got dirty.  We rode bikes.  We went on hikes. We visited a museum.  We swam.  We saw a Pioneer Village.  We ate s'mores.  We ate s'more s'mores.  We played on playgrounds.  We hung out with friends.  We laughed.  And we made memories.

And there may or may not have been a poop incident with a 4-year-old who will remain anonymous.  I don't want to embarass him, so I won't give any more details, but it was definitely memorable.

Now, here is where I would insert all of the pictures of the fun we had, but the camera we packed never even made it out of the case.  We were too busy having fun (and chasing the kids.  and swatting mosquitos).

Sometimes going on adventures like this is more work than anything else.  Sometimes I just want to stay home in the air-conditioning and read a book while the kids play on their own.  Sometimes I dream about hiring a sitter and heading to a hotel. 

And then I remember that we only get one shot with these kiddos.  We are going to turn around and they will be grown and gone.  I'm going to blink and Noel won't be begging me to play with him, he'll be begging me for a car.  So we try to make as many memories with them as we can. 

Even if it is hard work.

Thursday Thank-yous

I am thankful for. . .

211.  the end of half-marathon training.

212. fajitas.

213.  conversations with Noel about death and heaven.  "I bet Grandpa Ed and Johnny Appleseed will be friends in heaven."

214.  a good book that you can't put down.

215. encouragement from friends just when I need it.

216.  my nephew graduating.  So proud of him!!

217. four days camping with my family on the agenda.

218.  watching my kids do pilates with me.

219. time to play in puddles.

220.  shelter from the storms in life.

What are you thankful for?

The Results

Well, the half-marathon was this weekend.

Not sure if you can see the timer, but I finished it in 3:01.  My goal was to do it in under 3 hours, so I was pretty close.  Here are some things I learned from this whole experience:

*Running truly a mental exercise.  I was doing really well for a long time, and then I got discouraged, stopped, and never truly recovered.  I would have cried the last few miles as I was walking, but I wanted to conserve my water. 

*If you're going to run a half-marathon filled with hills, TRAIN ON HILLS!  The hills were what killed me.  I should have taken that into consideration.

*Hydration, hydration, hydration.  I think I got dehydrated at the end, and had a really rough last 2 miles.  There were water stops, but I should have carried some sort of gel pack or something to help keep me hydrated.

*My family is such a source of encouragement to me.  My mom got up early to send me off, and David and the kids drove by to cheer me on.  Then they were all waiting for me near the finish line.  Noel even ran the last little leg with me.  He wore my medal the rest of the day :)

*Never give up!  Keep moving!  Even if you have to walk, or even crawl, keep going!  This is true for everything, not just running!

In hindsight, I'm glad that I had this experience.  I think it was really good for me to push myself physically and do something just for me.  I hope my experience can be an inspiration to someone else that whatever you put your mind to, you can do.

Thursday Thank-yous

I am thankful for. . .

201.  food to eat for every meal.

202.  my upcoming race on Saturday.  Rain or shine, I'm doing it.  13.1, I'm coming for you!

203.  Ben & Jerry's new ice cream inspired by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  Chocolate covered potato chips in caramel swirl ice cream?  Yes, please!

204. baby birds in 2 different nests in the back yard.

205.  beautiful flowers growing in the front yard.

206. bike rides with 2 very excited children.

207. my big brother.

208.  a great year working with Bridges Outreach.  Tomorrow is the end of the year celebration. Here's to a good summer.

209.  being able to tag-team discipline with my husband.

210.  take out Chinese eggrolls.  mmmmmmm.

What are you thankful for?

The things of this world. . .

On Sunday, our associate pastor spoke about viewing the world differently because of our relationship with Jesus.  He touched on a few different points, but the one that really stuck with me was how we view what is important in this world.  He reminded me yet again that the things of this world, the stuff, the materials, can never fill the void that Jesus is meant to fill.

He told a story of watching House Hunters and seeing a couple with no children buy a $900,000 house with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, and how useless all of that is. And everyone (including me) was nodding in agreement.  "Amen!  Preach it, brother!"

But, do I really live with conviction like that in the real world?

I've never had the means (and I don't want the opportunity, to be honest) to choose to live in a house that big.  And I'm guessing most people in our congregation are in the same boat.  It's really easy to look at the huge, fancy house and say, "What a waste of their money!  They could be giving it to God."

And then I read the story of the Widow and her 2 coins, and I am humbled.

I may not have a million-dollar house, but how much am I wasting on the stuff of this world when it could be used to share a cold drink of water with someone in need?  How many shirts does one need? What would third world countries think if they saw how much we spent on decorations for our house when they don't have a roof to live under? 

I'm not writing this to give anyone a guilty complex.  But I do truly believe that over the past year God has really been speaking to me about how I deal with the things of this world.  Do I offer it to Him?  Do I use what He has given me to help others? 

Oh, God, let me see the world the way you see it.

Getting Old

Today is the anniversary of David proposing to me.  Now, before you think I am super sentimental and remember all kinds of dates, the only reason I remember the exact date, let me explain that the day we got engaged David and I ran a 5K in Noblesville.  We got coffee mugs from that race that have the date, so we always remember that May 15 was the day we got engaged. 

Anyways. . .

I wanted to share something that I share with David sometimes. 

I like it when stuff wears out at our house.

Does that sound weird?

Well, it is weird.

But let me explain.

About a year or so ago I was drying dishes and realized that our dish towels are getting a little ragged.  I realized that the dish towels were a wedding gift, and I smiled.

I smiled because we had been together so long that we have worn things out.  So, when we need new pillows or the kitchen knives are starting to get old, instead of thinking about the expense, I think about all we have gone through in the time it took to wear our "stuff" out.

And that makes my heart happy.

And, yes, a little weird.

See?  Getting old isn't always bad.

Thursday Thank-yous

I'm going to be honest (again) and say that these past few weeks have been a little discouraging.  The kids have been sick again, and David and I are in need of some quality alone time.  However, we can't hire a babysitter when our kids are sick.  Plus, David's work has been really hard on him.  I just feel like I am struggling to see the positive.  But these are the times when giving thanks is the most important.  When we give thanks even in the hard

I am thankful for. . .

191.  my wonderful husband. 

192.  getting a shout out on one of my favorite blogs.  If you haven't read this blog, it's a good one.
193.  successful surgery for David's dad.

194.  learning alongside my son as he asks questions I don't know the answers to.

195.  our front porch swing.

196.  getting to know our neighbors.  (which is another blog post, or 2)

197.  our neighbor's lilacs that hang over our fence and cover up the smell of our dog's poop!

198.  The show "Parks and Recreation".  Seriously makes me laugh, especially after a hard week.

199.  baby birds in the nests around our house.

200.  the fact that every day is a new day.


What are you thankful for?

Welcome, Spring!

I feel like we have been waiting for months for the rain and cold to stop. (If I wanted to live like this, I would have moved to Seattle, right?)  But I think the weather is finally warming up, which means we can get ourselves outside and have some fun!!

So, yesterday I did my workout on the elliptical to save time in the evening for David to plant the garden.  But then it was so nice I had to take the kids for a bike ride.  Surely I can handle a bike ride, even after working out?

Yes, and no.

Yes, I could handle the bike ride, but no, I didn't realize that the tires were almost completely flat.  So I rode my bike PULLING THE 2 KIDS IN THEIR TRAILER to the nearest gas station to get some air in the tires.

I'm not kidding, I didn't think I could make it.  It was like riding a bike in wet cement.  I KNOW the people I rode past got a good laugh.  On a positive note, once the tires were filled the ride was easy as pie.

You know what's not easy? 

Sleeping after you've riden your bike in wet cement. 

I woke up about 1:00 sore all over! 

Note to self:  a)full tires = good b)ibuprofen before bed = excellent

What are you doing to get outside and enjoy the weather?

p.s.  I can't wait to take pictures of the garden, once everything gets planted and starts filling in.

p.s.s. (writing that takes me back to 7th grade) Have you seen my sweet bike?

The picture just doesn't do her justice.  Her name is Moon Dog:  it says so on the side.  It's an old-school, big-seat, wide-handle bar piece of beauty.  I love her.

5 Minute Friday

Today's post is linked up to this website.  The 5-minute Friday challenge is to write for 5 minutes straight without any editing or changing.  Today's topic is:

Motherhood should come with. . .

GO

Sometimes when people ask David and me if we want to have more children, our answer is "Yes.  If we can have them about 9 months old and already sleeping through the night!"  When we talk to new parents, the first thing we tell them is how hard those first few months are.  For me, when Noel was born, I had such a hard time transitioning to being a mom.  It was just plain hard.  And then as time went on, things seemed to get a little easier.  He smiled.  Then he laughed.  Then he became a little boy.  All in the blink of an eye, now it seems.

But when I think about those "hard" times (and the ones to come), that is when we grew the most as parents and as believers in a God who is our ultimate parent.  If we hadn't gone through those challenges, and there are many more to come, the successes don't mean as much.

So, what should motherhood come with?  A glimpse into the future.  So that you can see. . .

They WILL sleep through the night.
They WILL stop being 2-year-old tantrum throwers (we have one in the house right now.  Ouch!)
They WILL appreciate all you do, eventually.
They WILL grow up, and someday you'll be wishing they were teeny again.

The days are long, but the years are short.  Treasure each moment, even the hard ones.  Maybe especially the hard ones.

STOP

Thursday Thank-yous

I am thankful for. . .

181.  walks through the neighborhood pulling 2 kids in a wagon.  Adventure always ensues!

182.  my husband making me coffee every morning.

183.  laughter, even in the midst of hard times.

184.  brave women who inspire me.

185.  Amish variety stores (blog post to come explaining).

186.  children on the mend from sickness.

187.  the Holy Spirit's voice.

188.  my lifegroup students.

189.  open windows in the house.

190.  the great pre-school year Noel has had.

What are you thankful for?

Blocked

I have blogger's block.

There, I've said it.

I have the beginning of several posts all formed in my head, but no motivation or creativitiy to finish them. 

I have a lot on my mind right now.  Some series items (passing of a dear friend's father-in-law, friend having lumpectomy today) and some not-so-serious (Is Jimmy Fallon the best thing there ever was on tv?  How did I cook all of these years without the Pioneer Woman?)  But everything is all jumbled up in my head.

So, here, in no random order, are the things rolling around in my head:

*I've been reading "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan.  The first time I read it I couldn't get into it and quit.  This time I have really been moved by some of the points Mr. Chan makes.  Yesterday I read that we talk a lot about "carrying our cross" for cross, usually referring to the day-to-day life we live:  illness, money issues, job, friends, etc.  But, isn't that life for everyone, not just Christians?  So is that truly carrying our cross?  What if carrying my cross looks different?  What if it means giving up some things that I desire for the greater good of the kingdom?  What if it means moving?  Or changing ministries?  Or not?  Am I truly listening to the Spirit's call? 

I'll admit, it kept me up last night.  And I was glad it did.

*My kids are sick.  I don't deal well with sick kids.  I know God is teaching me to be compassionate and patient, but I just struggle with how to treat them, their whining, and those dreaded doctor's visits there they tell you you are crazy for bringing your kid in, and then he barfs a few hours later.  Yeah, nice.

*I haven't had a date night with David in far too long, and I am in need of some adult conversation.

*My niece Abby has inspired me to try eating more healthy.  Not healthy to diet, which is what I've done in the past, but healthy to get rid of foods that have chemicals, additives, etc. in them.  It's like learning to walk all over again.  But in a good way.

However, I still love me some hot dogs and mac 'n cheese.  Period.

*And then there's the upcoming half-marathon.  I started training about 9 weeks ago to run a half-marathon in Kokomo.  For the record, I'm not even sure there is anyone else but me signed up.  The website it still "under construction" and it's 2 1/2 weeks until the race.  Not a good sign.
The first several weeks were awesome.  I pushed myself more than I ever have physically.  I ran and ran and ran. 
And then I dropped a breadknife on my foot and had to get stitches on my toe.
And then I hyper-extended my foot walking down some stairs.
And then I broke my pinky toe.

All of the same foot.

Needless to say the running has slowed.  So I'm trying to get back into the running swing for the race, but once I lose motivation to do something it's hard.  Plus the foot is still injured.  I'm trying to see this as a life lesson.  (David keeps telling me the lesson is to not run this race!)

But I press on.

And you, dear reader, get to read every tedious scene.

Day #25

#25—Your Day

As a mom of young children, I can tell you that my day is filled with:

smiles
tears
laughter
screaming
questions
answers
stories
games
frustration
fulfillment
cleaning up
making a mess
praying
reading
challenges
successes
love
stress
joy
grace

I love my kids so much I posted this awful picture of myself!



Believe me, there are not always this innocent.  But when they are, oh my.

Melt. My. Heart.

Oh, yeah.  We also have dancing in our house.

Lots of dancing.

May your days be filled with dancing, too!