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Keegan Daniel

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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...
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Random Thoughts

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"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 ...
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A Call to Boldness

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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...
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The Greatest News

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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...
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Work in Progress

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This week, my husband and I registered for a local 5K that will take place in May. The race is a fundraising event for an organization that I am passionate about and yet I kept putting off the registration. The thought of the 5K actually scared me a bit which is crazy because there is no doubt I can do that distance. Instead, I asked my husband if he wanted to do the 1-mile walk. He said with a smirk "No, we can handle the 5k!" When I was telling my friend "J" about this interaction, she said "What?! Why would you consider doing the 1-mile walk?" I told her that I'm so afraid of coming in last at a race. I'm so afraid of people looking at me and saying either in disgust or sympathy, "Oh, look at that fat, slow girl."  "J" shook her head and said, "I don't even know what to say to you." We have been running partners for many years. The years turned into countless miles of conversation which has led to the growth of ...
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Talk or Work?

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Getting back to running after the cast came off my hand on February 18th has been hard. I went for a "trial run" on February 19th and my first buddy run with "J" on February 21st. I didn't assume running would return easily, but I also didn't anticipate exactly how heavy and hard it would feel. Initially, my breathing was heavy, but after I felt that had gotten better, my legs have felt very stiff and heavy as well. I'm still out there, putting in more miles than I have been averaging, but a lot of the miles are walking and even that isn't feeling great. I can't say, overall, that it has been enjoyable. It's been four weeks since that "trial run" and I have finally seen some small progress this past week, however, so I am encouraged by that. I know that consistency is key. I also know that strength training, mobility work, and switching up my runs will lead to improvement. Why do I push against doing all of those things? I'm sit...
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As We Wait

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In the words of Tom Petty, "The waiting is the hardest part." (from his song "The Waiting") Isn't that the truth? Whether you're waiting for something good or something bad, waiting is hard. Waiting can cause anxiety and frustration.  This may sound morbid, but I've been waiting for my cat to pass all week. We have three cats; a brother and sister pair named Sable and Marvin, and a younger crazy girl named Cinnamon. Sable could not be officially diagnosed, without testing, but we are pretty sure she has cancer. We found out January 23rd and she has been slowly declining ever since. My heart breaks for her and I just want her to have peace, but I'm not ready to make that final decision yet.    There is a situation with a family member and a conversation that will take place this weekend. Depending on this individual's decision, her life could be altered for the better or for the worse. We are waiting to see what she decides. Even if she makes the ...
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