My JourKNEE Back

I was married seven years before becoming a mother. I was young and content with our family of two.  Plus, I worked at a day care. I had a classroom full of children that I cared for and "they were enough," but one day the urge hit. When it did, I wanted to be a mom so badly. After giving birth to our daughter, I didn't want to leave her side. I used to wish she'd wake up at night just so I could see her. When our first son was stillborn, I felt like I failed him. As his mother, I was the one that was supposed to keep him safe.  Along came our second son and I appreciated the gift of a child even more. I could not express the deep love I had for these new, little humans.  As the years passed, there were tears and there was laughter. There have been situations that we weren't sure how to handle and we truly did "the best we could." I felt like the best thing I did in life, what I was most successful at, was being a mom. While I still believe that to be tr...

I made  a goal this week to drink more water. If you knew me well, you would know that means any water consumption at all. Before you judge me, know that I already judge myself. There is nothing you could say that I haven't already scolded myself about. Habits are hard to break or begin. Every day since Monday I have drank at least 100 oz of water each day which to some of you that may not seem like a big deal but, to me, it is a pretty big deal. My daily fluid intake is mostly comprised of diet soda, McDonald's Diet Coke to be more specific. I also enjoy milk or chocolate milk from time to time, especially after a run. I heard from a trusted source ("J", my running friend who knows all. Haha!) that you should drink half of your body weight in ounces of water and add extra if you sweat a lot either from working or a workout. With this in mind, I'm on track but could probably add another bottle or two, depending on my activity level for the day. I would like to rep...

If you are familiar with my story at all, you know that our second child, Daniel, was stillborn on March 16, 2005. What you probably don't know is that his due date was May 9th. I got pregnant with our third child and was due on that same date exactly one year later. I was anxious throughout most of the pregnancy, not knowing if it would end with a healthy birth. I was recently reading through a journal and here are some of the things I wrote concerning my third pregnancy, "The doctors have been checking you out very carefully making sure you are growing and everything is going well. It is.", "We are so anxious for your arrival.", "Life is such a precious miracle. I am just amazed at God through all of this." Unlike with my other two children, we did decide to find out the gender of this baby. We were having another son and toward the end of the pregnancy, we ended up scheduling a cesarean birth for May 3rd at 10 a.m., but God had different plans.  On...

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) I was out of topic ideas for this week, so here are nineteen random thoughts for April 19th: 1. I should probably incorporate some speed work into my runs.  2. Practically, how can we avoid getting distracted by things that don't matter when we are required (and called) to operate in the world around us? 3. Why are people attracted to traumatizing events? For example, slowing down to check out an accident scene.  4. Roses seem to be the most popular flower to send but yet, when cut, they don't seem to last for a full week.  5. Yellow is a great color for school busses. They really stand out! 6. Why do weeds grow so much easier than flowers? 7. If a church Pastor's role is, in the Bible, compared to "shepherding a flock," shouldn't the Pastor know his congregation like ...

I did something dumb. We booked an Airbnb for an extended weekend family getaway in May. No, that is not the dumb part. It is the same weekend as the 5K I registered my husband and I for that I wrote about two weeks ago (see "Work in Progress"). That is the dumb part! I didn't write the 5K event on my calendar so when we planned the vacation, the date didn't click in my head. Yesterday, as I ran with "J" and "K," I was talking about it. I was about to tell them that I wouldn't be able to meet up with them for two weekends in May. One, because we planned a family vacation and two, because of the race. That's when it hit me, in that moment. "Darn! I think they are on the same weekend." I feel so stupid! If you read "Work in Progress," you know that I hesitated to sign up for this 5K in the first place. I was afraid of coming in last place. "J" had given me a lecture on why that shouldn't matter. I was still a...

There is nothing greater I can say on this Resurrection Sunday, known by many as Easter, than what the bible has already recorded as fact. All scriptures are from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). I pray you focus on this as you go about your day. Be blessed! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5  "Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12  "Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  See, the virgin wil...