Aloha!

The good news around here lately is that Autumn & I were able to find some reasonably priced plane tickets to Hawaii! We'll be leaving on April 20th to visit Cody & some other great friends in the sunny paradise of Oahu. The additional good news is that they are having price wars on the air fares between islands. Here's hoping we manage to hit Maui & Kauai. I can't wait to get all tan & relaxed. We'll get to be beach bums for a whole week...living on Hawaii time...I love it!

Training Update

This past Saturday morning was our 10 mile day. I am now officially a member of the 10 Mile High Club (I've even got the t-shirt to prove it!). However, it was probably the hardest run of our program so far. I had been having a niggly little problem with my right knee. I was trying to run through it because it wasn't swelling or anything and it honestly felt like a kink that needed to be worked out. By the time we had finished about mile 2 I was in some serious discomfort. My running partner, Autumn, was having some difficulty as well. So we decided to stretch and work in some walking breaks. Eventually the walking breaks got longer and longer and the running stopped. We were both a little frustrated and a bit concerned. The further I went the farther the pain in my leg traveled. It started just below the knee cap and then spread down to the ankle; eventually it traveled up my thigh to the hip. Fun! So at our 10 mile high party, in between slices of pizza, we talked with one of the coaches about our difficulties and he decided that we most likely had a problem with our ilio-tibidal bands. It's a tendon that runs from the hip to the ankle and it can get really tight (and I mean tight! I couldn't straighten my leg after the run was finally over... talk about a weird feeling). So it's been lots of RICE - rest, ice, compression, and elevation. I am happy to report that I went for a 4 miler tonight and I was easily able to run half with only the slightest twinge in my knee. I'd call that progress. Is anyone out there a runner? Ever had a similar problem? Any recovery/prevention advice?

Blessings & Difficulties

I have been quite the absent blogger lately. Days seem to slide by and I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up. Part of it has been sickness, part of it has been the busy schedule, and part of it has been an increase in our mileage (training for the Mini). But through it all the Lord has been so good to sustain me and He has been faithful to answer many prayers for my family.
The sickness part of recent difficulties involves my sister. She began to feel icky about two weeks ago. Her daughter was just getting over a little stomach virus so when Beth developed a low grade fever with fatigue she figured she was next. However, the next few days had the whole family on a roller coaster of anxiety and confusion. Her symptoms were very mysterious. She kept the low grade fever and developed pain, burning, and cramping in her legs. By the time she had been sick for about 24 hours she was having the same tingly pain in her arms and hands along with overall weakness. She had gotten to the point where the pain was nearly unbearable and she could hardly walk. Her husband and I took her to the emergency room and spent a night with her there but all the doctor could say was that she needed to see a neurologist. Frustration ensued...in a major way. Long story short, never get sick on the weekend. By Monday we were able to get her in to see our family doctor and he put all of our minds to rest by furnishing us with a diagnosis. It would seem that she has contracted a viral peripheral neuropathy which is basically a virus in the nerve fibers. Talk about pain. She has had a terrible time but at least she now has meds. They gave her a prescription for a drug that is specifically for pain in the nerves and told her it could take up to one month for her body to beat this little monster. Today was Day 13 and she is still running a low grade fever. But this situation has been a blessing in many ways because we have seen the Lord answer specific prayers for strength, wisdom, and openings for doctor's appointments. We have all come together as a family to care for their kids and get all the logistics of rides to school worked out. Beth has identified specific ways the Lord has comforted and blessed her heart and she is already looking for ways to minister to others who have been through painful illness.
Personally, I have discovered a theme in many of the circumstances that have been dancing through my life lately...trust the Lord. So simple, huh? But I have been convicted over and over recently about my lack of trust. So it's back to Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding." I don't know about you, but my own understanding is so easy to lean on! We sang 'Trusting Jesus' in the worship service Sunday morning and the words were such a blessing and conviction to my heart that I've decided to commit them to memory as well as include them here with this post.

Trusting Jesus

Simply trusting every day,

Trusting through a stormy way;

Even when my faith is small,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine

Into this poor heart of mine;

While He leads I cannot fall;

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Singing if my way is clear;

Praying if the path be drear;

If in danger, for Him call;

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting Him while life shall last,

Trusting Him till earth be past;

Till within the jasper wall;

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

CHORUS

Trusting as the moments fly,

Trusting as the days go by;

Trusting Him whate'er befall,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

I have come to realize that the hardest part of Beth's sickness was the days when we were unable to determine what the problem was. I think we were all a little afraid we would lose her to some dread, rare thing that no doctor would have thought possible. But the greatest comfort to me and one that I thank the Lord for often in prayer, is that He is our Creator God and He knows our bodies. He made them! They are no mystery to Him and He is well aware of how they work and how they dysfunction. That has been such a comfort to me & by His grace I'm going to learn how to trust Him better!

Tomorrow is March 1st!

I know it is a bad idea to wish your life away, but I am so excited that as of tomorrow February and all of it's wintery brutishness will be behind us and March will be here. I realize that March can be terrible in it's own right with snow and ice and all that yucky stuff, but March means that Spring is that much closer. And knowing that Spring is closer makes me so happy. I love Spring because of the way it smells (think damp, sunshiney scents), because of Easter, because I can usually run outside every day once again, because the days get longer, and because I'm not usually cold 24/7.
For anyone who reads this blog, what is your favorite season and why?

Inspirational Messages

Considering the times we live in, I understand that the news of the world can be really depressing and sometimes even frightening. As a result, I enjoy the little reminders to "Live well, laugh often, love much" kind of variety - you know, those little hand painted looking wooden signs that people hang up in their homes. For whatever reason it makes me think of simpler times, basic values, etc. Today as I was fixing my first cup of coffee I focused my blurry eyes on the Splenda packet. Lo and behold, what did I see but a little inspirational message from the little yellow packet people. It read, "Inside every packet is a world of happiness." Granted, a good cup of coffee does create it's own kind of joy, but I would hardly call it a world of happiness. Later in the day as I was eating lunch, I cracked open a little box of raisins. What do you think I found on the box flap? That's right - another little inspirational message. This time the advice was, "In every relationship there will be ups and downs." Thank you, Sunmaid Girl. I got to thinking about it and realized that these little quips are everywhere, from my Life Is Good shirt (which has a tag that reads, "Do what you like, like what you do") to my newest pair of khakis that have a tag on the inside of the zipper flap that reads, "You are the architect of your future." Hmmm...pants that try to get you to think about planning your future. Maybe I was shopping in the Junior's department?

Snowmobiling Sunday

I have to confess that I thought this past weekend was going to be a bust. I had to work late Friday night, on Saturday I had to run six miles and there was snow everywhere so it was treadmill time. Yuck-0. And I also had no plans for Sunday afternoon (and I am not the Sunday afternoon napper-type). So I was delighted to get a text from Andy shortly after the morning service saying, "Going snowmobiling after lunch. Do you want to go - yes or no". Oh yeah! A quick change of clothes later and I was on the road.
When I got to the Lehman's, Pastor was concerned that I would not be warm enough. Mrs. Lehman quickly found a hat, ear muffs and a neck warmer. Here's a pic of the hat - it's a beauty!





On the first ride Andy drove but then I decided to give it a try. He came along so that I wouldn't tip over on the turns. He put some excellent leans into the ride to keep us from having any tumpage. I think I topped out at 20 mph. I'm such a dare devil!Dave & Becky came along for a ride as well. It seems that they have a very peaceful marriage until it comes time to decide who will drive the snowmobile. It appears to me that Becky is in the driver's seat, but Dave had ideas about reaching around her to drive. A couple of screams and a few swats later, he was subdued and they were ready to go - with Becky firmly in control!

The only thing that makes me sad it that we had Carol with us, she took a ride too, and I have no pictures of her adventures. A big kudos goes out to her for supplying me with these pics. I had my camera too, but I left it at the house where it would be really useful! :-)

My Super Bowl Party Experience

I had the opportunity to spend Super Bowl Sunday with some great friends. We all went to the evening service and the party was a convenient walk across the yard to the parsonage. We had partiers of all ages - here is Nathaniel playing with his Uncle Andy as part of the pre-game festivities.

Here's a picture of me looking the part of a Big Time Colts Fan...thanks to Bob for the hat! I love it!

And here's a snap of the entire party. Those of you who attended Northland with me might remember Becky Allen. She was at NBBC from the fall of '95 until the spring of '97. That's her on the left with her husband Dave, then there's Dave's brother Andy, me and Autumn on the couch. The lady in the front is Carol (Dave and Andy's sister).

All in all, a good time was had by all, those who watched the game and those who didn't. I'm not sorry to say that I can't offer any opinions on plays or commercials because I didn't watch a bit of it. The Colts won and that's all I care about!