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Showing posts from 2015

Sometimes Things Stay the Same

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#1 Some people fear change. #2 I think I'm addicted to it. Sometimes things stay the same. I started this blog when we first moved to Georgia. That was five years ago this January. Everything was changing then... We'd lost almost all of our belongings in a brown recluse infestation . IV was having to drop out of law school because we couldn't afford it.  He was working loss prevention at Wal-Mart, which by nature is a temporary job. We moved in with my parents and were searching without success for a place we could afford to rent. Plus, I was pregnant...again. IV's mom and dad offered us a house to rent in Georgia , so we packed our limited belongings and headed south.  It was not the best of times, but things were moving, and we were very happy when we finally landed here. Since then, our family has grown, IV has changed jobs a few times (including the year in Kuwait), and I've done a lot of running, teaching, and laundry...plus so much more. I

The North Face Endurance Challenge Utah 50k - a recap

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IV and I recently ran The North Face Endurance Challenge 50k in Park City, Utah. This was my first ultra marathon and the first race IV's done beyond a 10k.  I trained steadily for about 16 weeks and IV added in more running and some extra bleacher work to his normal workout schedule. We originally planned to stay together for the race but when IV started having issues with his calf/Achilles we changed the plan. He decided to just speed hike it instead. Here's how it went: Pre-race: A little nervous, and a lot excited. I was ready to get up in those mountains!  IV was like a kid...funny. Mile 1: Fell in behind a man who was trotting along at a nice steady pace:   I could still hear IV behind me when he would cough. The race basically started with an uphill climb that would continue on for what seemed like the next 26 miles.   Mile 6: I passed the first aid station feeling fine...my pacer took a potty brake so I found a new one: IV was ru

Top Ten Recipes OF ALL TIME!!!

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#1 My dear babysitter (turned friend) is getting married and moving away. #2 As a wedding gift I wanted to collect my "top ten" recipes...easy and delicious.  #3 These are our family favorites, meaning IV's and my favorites, which my kids will (mostly) eat. Top Ten Recipes Basics :   1. Tacos (This one will drive those of you who have to have exact measurements crazy....I just dash on the spices freely...by sight and by "feeling". :) ) 1 lb (or more) of ground beef (I usually do 3 lb and we'll have a tiny bit left over.) Put it in a skillet to brown on the stove, and then sprinkle one side evenly and generously with: Cumin Cilantro Salt Pepper Worcestershire Sauce Onion Powder Garlic Add a couple of pinches of cinnamon and cayenne pepper (approx 1/8 tsp) Brown and crumble meat and serve of tortilla shells with toppings of choice. (We like rice, cheese, corn, black beans, salsa, avocado, etc., etc., etc.)   2. Lasagna

My Battle Plan for "Beating" My Kids...(at the battle of the wills)

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#1 When a "random" piece of Scripture starts popping up every-which-way I turn, I begin to think, "There's something the Lord wants me to learn from this." #2 It's sometimes like a jigsaw puzzle, and when the picture comes together I see a new way the Lord is working in my life, and in this case, the life of my children. My Battle Plan The background : One day, our oldest son was riding next to me in the van.  I began teasing him by whispering his name, then turning and acting like I hadn't done it and that I thought he was crazy for thinking I had.  (Silly teasing...anything to try and break his new found stoicism. :) )  This brought to mind a story from the Bible that I hadn't heard or thought about in a good, long time.  Actually, I even needed the boys help to nail down that it was a story of Samuel when he was still living in the temple with the priest, Eli. Read it here: 1 Samuel 3 "Yeah, that's a cool story," I though

How Big is God?: notes to myself (part 4)

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How Big is God? notes to myself We obviously won't be able to answer this question. Job 11:7 " Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? "             Unsearchable  He's unsearchable and unfathomable. Romans 11:33  Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!   The Word  This includes His Son, Jesus (aka "the Word). John 1:1-3 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being .   I AM  He just IS. Exodus 3:14  God said to Moses, " I AM WHO I AM "; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"   Life  And His Son IS too. John 5:26 "For just as th

Centrifuge Youth Camp: A re-cap

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#1 The last time I went to youth camp was the year 2000...I was a counselor that year. #2 Going back as a youth leader this year was an eye-opening experience...different, to say the least. Centrifuge Camp 2015 Prep : All of us leaders were assigned a night to lead church group devotions, so I spent a little time preparing for this.  The lessons were based on the theme for the camp, which was "Alive and Free," and the scripture used was the book of James . Good materials to work with, so the planning was easy. IV and I usually teach the 10th and 11th grade life group at our church so I used the Sunday before camp to prepare the students who were coming to camp for the theme of the week.  I was suppose to teach from 1 John that day, and the Lord planned it just right because 1 John 1:3 says,  "...indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete ." This point, tha