Monday, November 17, 2008

Dean, The Marathon Runner!!






I'm so proud of my husband! He ran his first marathon yesterday. The picture to the left is him right past the 14 mile marker. The above pictures are him about to cross the finish line. Wow! I'm amazed by his acomplishment! 26.2 miles of running. I can't even drive in my car for that long without getting sleeping. HA! He was one of 30,000 participants in yesterday's Rock N Roll Marathon here in San Antonio. He finished in 5 hours and 10 minutes. Good job Dean! You are awesome.
Of course, we owe a big THANKS and PRAISE to our Lord, Jesus Christ! He was with Dean the whole way and I know Dean relied on Him. We've been wearing a bracelet for many weeks now reminding us of 2 Timothy 4:7. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
You did it Dean! You fought a good fight. You finished the race. You have kept the faith. Your family is truly proud of you!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

In all things!!!

Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.

I got an email from my friend Jennifer this morning that moved me to tears. Jennifer and her husband are adopting a precious girl from China, and in the process have met other families that are adopting from China. Jennifer's email to me this morning said that one of the families she has met is in China now, but was not able to pick up the little girl they had planned to adopt because she had much more physical/mental issues than what was disclosed to them. It broke their hearts to have to have to stop the adoption. I can't imagine their disappointment. The family going through this does love the Lord, and is trusting Him for their future.

Wow! Sometimes I wonder how things can work out for the good. As Dean and I have been experiencing a season of hardship, sometimes it's hard to see outside the flames when you are in the middle of the fire. I have to tell you, I've found myself more focused on the flames, than what is on the outside of the flames. You see, on the outside of the flames is healing, wisdom, love, friendship, and life. But in the flames are problems, disease, struggles, and even death. I realized this morning God doesn't want us to focus on the ugly flames, but yet to focus on His plan for us. His plan for those that love Him is good. Not maybe good, or hopefully good, but good. He is at work even when we can't see it or don't feel it.

If there is one thing I want to focus on in the months to come, it is to believe more of what the scriptures say instead of believing what Satan is trying to tell me. God does have great things planned for me. God does work IN ALL THINGS for the good of those that love Him. God will add all things that I need if I seek Him first. I'm confident in that, and I really need to speak it and claim it. His Word says it and I'm believing Him!!

That family in China is going through some big flames right about now. But God know more than even Paul Harvey knows. God indeed knows the rest of the story...and it is GOOD!!

To see more on the family I'm speaking about, go to their blog at www.lydiahope.blogspot.com

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Praising God for this family!

I've set up the blog, and I even have a follower....THANKS JENN! I spent a little time last night tweaking the appearance of the blog. Now I need to start blogging I guess. But not now. Now I have to make sure my little man gets his clothes on and is ready for school. And then there's my princess. She thinks she has brushed her hair and is ready, but she needs a little help on the hair part. Bless her. She typically forgets to brush the back of her hair. At 7 years old she isn't as concerned with her appearance as I think she should be. I'm sure there will be plenty of days in my future when she spends hours getting ready and then I will really complain. HA! The joys of parenting. But what a blessings! Thank you God for these precious kids, and a wonderful husband!

Oh, the husband!! He's doing a marathon on Sunday. Go Dean Go! This will be his first marathon. I'm excited for him. I think he's a little anxious. I'll be on my knees praying for him this week, and making sure he eats well. We'll have to do some carb loading on Friday and Saturday.

And so the blogging begins..

Monday, November 10, 2008

How to blog?!?!?!

Ok, let me say I'm trying to be hip and trendy and therefore I'm learning to blog. I have no clue about blogging, but my friend Jennifer does. She doesn't know it yet, but she's going to mentor me in blogging. She's a pro!