A Dream Come True

Nashville Rock and Roll Marathon

April 30, 2011

A Dream Come True

Racing with my biggest boy.

This mama's heart is so happy!!

In 2001, I entered the world of running and racing.  I have completed 4 marathons over the years, and with each marathon, trained diligently for 6 months to prepare my body to compete and to finish the 26.2 mile races.  After each race I distrinctly remember the moment, "WOW, I just ran 26 miles! That is unbelieveable."

In 2005 I had my third knee surgery, and the orthopedic uncerimoniously told me "You are no longer a runner, get a bike."  He of course was not a runner or competitor.  If he was, he would have been more sypathetic and understanding.  Now my general practioner is not only a runner, but a cyclist and a competitor also and she understands the feeling of not being able to run.

So I got a road bike.  Not the same.  I enjoy riding, have only participated in one road race. Haven't really gotten serious about cycling yet.

But I did take up power walking, which is almost running.  And, I decided to compete in a half marathon and test my legs.  I mentioned it to my oldest son and he jumped on board to run the half marathon and participate with me.  He was a cross country runner in high school.    He's graceful and athletic and determined.  He has great running form, and a great attitude.  I've always wanted to race with him, but the opportunity just never came about.  I've been blessed with being able to race with my younger boy.  During the time I was training with Team In Training preparing for the marathons, my youngest and I ran a few 5ks together.  That was always fun, he always kicked my tail.  Just being out there participating together was awesome.  So, having my big boy say he'd do it with me was in fact a dream come true.

We registered for the Nashville Rock and Roll Marathon.  The marathon was this past Saturday. We flew into Nashville on Friday afternoon and immediately headed over to the convention center to sign in and pick up our race packets. 

OH MY GOODNESS!  The amount of people there was incredible.  The energy was unreal.  IT ROCKED!

Saturday our day started at 330 a.m., we left the farm at 415 a.m. and got to LP Field,  the Tennessee Titans stadium, by 530 am.  This was the finish line for the marathon and half marathon.  We jumped on a shuttle and headed over to the start line.  Start time was 7 a.m.  We got in line for the port a potties.  We waited.  We waited. We waited.  There were so many runners there it took 40 minutes to reach the head of the line we were in. And there was something like 100 potties! By this time the race had already started. We headed out to find our corrals and wished each other well.  I am much slower than he is, and it took my starting corral 48 minutes to reach the start line after the race had already started!  It is a good thing for timing chips on our shoes, once we cross the start line our time officially starts.

The weather turned our to be perfect for race day.  It had stormed and flooded most of the week, but Saturday turned out to be incedible weather for a race.  The atmosphere and people along the course were so encouraging and friendly. The bands and cheerleaders made it all so much easier, especially once you got to those last couple of miles. 

But what I love most of all about competing is the sincrere friendliness of the other runners and spectators.  It doesn't matter how fast you are,  how slow you are, if you are an elite runner or a power walker.  Everyone is so nice, so friendly, and we're all out there for different reasons, some raise money for non profits, others are trying to qualify for other races, others are walking/running in memory of loved ones and the one reason we are all out there...because we love it.

My boy beat me by almost an hour.  But, I did better than I had planned by 4 minutes!  And, I even saw a girlfriend along the way at mile 10 and stopped and hugged her.  Sherri says I get to deduct a minute from my time for stopping and saying hello!

It was great having quality time with my big boy.  We toured the Winstead Hill, and the
Carter  and Lotz Houses in Franklin, TN and got a crash course on the Battle of Franklin.  Enjoyed Cracker Barrel, and fellowshipped together.

I love the man-child of mine.  Thank you Jesus for blessing me by lettimg me be his mama.

Rejoicing,
~s

ADOPTION QUILT GIVE AWAY

Isn't this an awesome quilt?  Do you see your adoption t-shirt in it?

Three families are working together on this give away.  They are raising needed adoption funds to bring 4 treasures home from Ethiopia.

http://journey2ethiopia.blogspot.com/p/easter-quilt-giveaway.html  [Young family]

http://toonefamilyjourney.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-adoption-fundraiser.html [Toone family]

http://justonemore4us.blogspot.com/2011/04/quilt-giveaway-only-1.html [Burlingham family]

I'm heading over to each of their blogs and make a small donation to each family.  All it takes is $1 to get in on the give away.  $1 for a chance to win the quilt and  help bring 4 little people home to their forever families.

The give away started Easter Sunday and will run for 3 weeks.  I plan to donate as many times as I can over the next three weeks.

There is also a side drawing going on.   Anyone who donates and gives a shout out on their blog will be entered into a drawing for a custom made Family Values canvas.

Let's be the hands and feet of Christ and help these families bring their treasures home to their forever families. 

Let's help make it one less broken heart - 4 times over!

Rejoicing because He has risen,

~s

HE HAS RISEN!

At The Foot Of The Cross

Where I Am Made Complete

You Have Given Me Life

Through The Death You Bore For Me

May your Easter be filled with love, peace, and joy

Thankful and grateful for a Savior who died for me,

~s

Anthony Shares His Heart

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/mindful-of-orphan.html

April 18, 2011



“mindful” of the orphan


Anthony shares his heart.....

What is it in the heart of God that cares so much for the orphan? I don’t mean to question the obvious. My plea is more of an exclamation out of sheer amazement and pure awe.


“What is man that you are mindful of him?” Psalm 8:4


And much less, what is a forgotten child that you are mindful of him? I have come to realize recently that an orphan child is not just abandoned by his family or even by her country. She is abandoned by the world. And at the risk of turning away any reader of this post, you and I are in the world.






Before I entered the world of adoption, for most of my life, I never once was “mindful” of the orphan. Any orphan. That’s what orphanages are for, right? Those kids are taken care of! They get three square meals a day, surely. They sleep on beds and not on the street. They get love and attention from the caregivers of these institutions. Surely!






But most orphans do NOT get three square meals a day. They may NOT have beds to sleep on, just mats on the floor. And if they do have beds, where are the mattresses? We’re talking wooden or metal slabs. And all too frequently, they get attention from caregivers alright. How’s this for attention—fondling, rape, beating, being thrown in cribs, neglect, being left to wade in their feces and urine all day long, being tied to wooden “toilet” chairs, being rented out for the day to beggars who need to invoke more sympathy, and even murder?






These are very real occurrences. I know. I have first-hand or second-hand experience on each of these happenings mentioned.






How many orphans worldwide experience this on a daily basis? Well, think about this: today there are 147,000 million orphans in the world. That’s five million more than the entire population of Russia! Now consider that most of these orphans live in countries that are not “mindful” of them. You can imagine.






But now imagine this, even if an orphan lived in a five-star orphanage (we are imagining, right?), is his or her life better off without a family? If you are a five-year-old child, would you rather live a lonely existence at the Ritz Carlton or in a loving, Christian family that lives just above their means?






Shame on me. I have not been mindful.

If only.


If only the world heard the stories.


If only I had time and money to travel the world to shoot video footage what we hear on a frequent basis but the world doesn’t. I WISH that me and my video camera were invisible so I could stand behind the caregiver at her desk when eight-year-old Vanya from Eastern Europe runs up every day to see if a family is coming for him yet.


Or when a friend of ours, who just arrived in a country for their second trip, gets ready to go back to her lodging after her first day back seeing their five-year-old. I want to shoot how he melts down in hysteria and tears, crying out, “Don’t let my mommy leave me! Don’t go, Mommy!”


Maybe then the world will realize why God’s heart breaks for the orphan.


Maybe then God’s people will get a fire under them to do something about it.


Maybe then the Christian who is in awe of other families who adopt many times over will kneel down at their bedside tonight and do one simple thing: ask God what HE wants THEM to do about it.


Maybe then we will finally see these millions of helpless, hopeless children find their forever families.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I am blessed to be able to call Anthony and Adeye friends.  They have such a heart for the orphans of this world.
 
Seeking a heart like HIS,
~s

URGENT - MOUNTAIN BE MOVED!!

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/so-so-urgent.html

April 15, 2011




SO URGENT!!!!!!


Dearest friends,





Oh my goodness....my heart is aching.






I come to you today begging for your help. Yes, I'm begging.






We desperately need a family for Vanya as soon as possible. Many people have inquired about adopting him. But things have changed and we URGENTLY need a family who is paperwork ready--one who has already done their home study and has USCIS approval. We need a family who can get to him quickly.



While I am not at liberty to give any details, I can tell you that Vanya's situation has turned into a critical need for prayer. He needs a paperwork-ready family to commit to him in the next few days...before it is too late.






Time is running out.

Do you know of a family who is already adopting a child from Ukr*ine? Do you know of someone who is traveling to adopt a child from there soon and may consider adding this precious boy to their adoption? Either a family who is already adopting, or a family who has all their paperwork ready and has been waiting on the Lord to show them the right child.


Friends, we urgently need your help....PLEASE spread Vanya's story on blogs, social networks, and adoption discussion groups. We absolutely have to find his family soon. The finances are not an issue--God has provided them. Now all we need is the right family--one who will say, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"



With all my heart I believe that Vanya's family is out there. Why? Because I believe that God has provided in a miraculous way for this boy to come home. I believe in miracles in 2011! I do.






Please stand with us in prayer over the next few days...trusting that Vanya's family will come forward. How desperately he needs them now.


Pray, body of Christ! Pray without ceasing. Pray until Vanya is rescued and safely in the arms of those who love him.



Thank you for helping us today. Thank you for praying and bringing this boy before the Father. Thank you for trusting with us. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.






"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17:20.



"MOUNTAIN BE MOVED!"



Any family who thinks they may be able to get to Vanya quickly, and would like more information, please contact Chris Malone at the Eli Project as soon as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vanya needs our prayers.

Join us in stroming the gates of heaven pleading with God to send Vanya's family before it is too late for this precious little guy.  Time is running out.

Join us in praying for the mighty hand of God to move and perform a miracle.

Praying for the miracle,

~s

The above post is directly from Adeye's blog.  The link is at the very top. 

Weeping - Resting in Jesus Arms Now

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/weeping.html

"He had whispered it to me while we were driving home from Jjina {2 hours away} yesterday.

I had heard Him at least four times.

"She's safe in my arms now."

 

I hadn't wanted to believe Him.

Each time He had whispered those words I had felt like vomiting.

***

So today, I couldn't get there fast enough.....

As I stood there hearing the news....

The uncontrollable sobs and weeping came....

"No. No. No."

If only.

If only I had been holding her,

my sweetest

 

Elianah Treasure

{No one had given her a middle name but she needs one.

Treasure seems most fitting.}

Beautiful baby girl.

Tiny little treasure.

7 months old"  [Pastor Linny]

One less orphan now, little Elianah is now home in Jesus arms.

~s

Who Will Be His Hands And Feet?

From Pastor Linny's blog, http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/one-tiny-treasure.html

One tiny treasure.

My thumb the same size as her arm.

My thoughts suddenly remember....

When we leave....

Who will nuzzle her against their body?

Who will tenderly give her her medicine when the spiteful worker comes in with her medicine cup?

Who will whisper into her ears just how much she is loved?

Just how much she is needed?

Who will whisper of God's great love for her?

Only HIS hands and feet will do all that...

His hands and feet that are dressed up as businessmen and workin' moms and stay-at-home moms and high school students and accountants and architects and pastors and sunday school teachers and lawyers and accountants and home schooling moms and nurses and doctors and shop owners and restaurant workers...




Seeking a heart like His,
~s