tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80416042281004571062023-11-16T06:17:11.767-08:00I Am Only Half CrazyYou may call me crazy, but I say: "I am not crazy, I am determined!" Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-40835048032665118122021-08-23T23:07:00.001-07:002021-08-23T23:11:14.923-07:00A Compassionate Stance<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0cnpLWFKPuUPOBcrOSBuuTXcJF-BvRVdBp1G95SGPdTm-nnBcJVNazqDDnKCwp1Oit_20nZNWvfNieMH4dNrZfSfKm0rT28y3kRUOvBPSL1xwFLt0HVZcwABAkHTZ-MoXFnTwXWpZD0/s1500/COMPASSION.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0cnpLWFKPuUPOBcrOSBuuTXcJF-BvRVdBp1G95SGPdTm-nnBcJVNazqDDnKCwp1Oit_20nZNWvfNieMH4dNrZfSfKm0rT28y3kRUOvBPSL1xwFLt0HVZcwABAkHTZ-MoXFnTwXWpZD0/s320/COMPASSION.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've been looking into the topic of being gay and being a Christian. Many people would say its impossible to be both. I personally have met people who I would consider a "gay Christian." But beyond that I have found a compelling book written by a self proclaimed gay Christian, called <u>Torn</u>. His name is Justin Lee. He was raised in a Christian home by two loving, non-abusive parents. He loved God and was a Christian from a young age. Yet as he entered puberty he discovered he had same sex attractions. He sought to fix this issue, even participating in what is called "ex-gay ministries," to no avail. The same sex attractions never left. He was called "God Boy" in school, which I find interesting because I was called "God Girl" in high school. My best friend told me about the nickname thinking I would be appalled, but I told her I took it as a compliment, because I am a Christian and love God. Anyways, in his book <u>Torn</u>, Lee talks about why he believes God would affirm same sex marriage. <p></p><p>As I have thought about the topic of same sex marriage, I have thought that offering a homosexual man or woman celibacy as their only option after receiving salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ, seems a very incompassionate stance to take. I understand that some may choose celibacy, or feel compelled to lead a celibate life, in service to God once saved. And I think that celibacy is a wonderful choice. But I think it should be a CHOICE not something forced on someone. </p><p>In Lee's book he points out that in the Bible Jesus often chose the compassionate option over the legalistic one. In one example Jesus healed a man's withered hand and he was told he by the Pharisees that he was breaking the law by working on the Sabbath. Here's Jesus' response: Mark 3:4 "Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?'" Jesus was taking the more compassionate stance, that healing was the more loving thing to do, rather than following the letter of the law. Jesus also said love is the fulfillment of the law. (Matthew 22:36-40) </p><p>In another example Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field, and they picked some kernels to eat. The Pharisees again asked Jesus why he was breaking the law of the Sabbath. Jesus brought up the example of David: Luke 6:2-4 "Jesus answered them, 'Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.'" David was violating God's law, yet Jesus approves of this, arguing that sometimes violating the law is necessary in order to do the right thing. David was running for his life, from King Saul, and the only food he was able to get was the "bread of the Presence," which is forbidden by God's law to eat. Yet Jesus is saying this action was okay!</p><p>In another instance, after Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees: Luke 14:5-6 "Then he asked them, 'If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?' And they had nothing to say." In Justin Lee's book, <u>Torn</u>, He says "Over and over, Jesus provides examples of the spirit of the law superseding the letter of the law." And he mentions that these are the types of arguments Christians get into about homosexuality. As Lee further states, "... debating to what extent certain passages apply to us today and whether they condemn a particular behavior in a particular situation or not." But the Bible is clear, we are no longer under the law. </p><blockquote><blockquote><p>Galations 3:23-25 says: </p><span class="reftext" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/galatians/3-23.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">23</a></span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. </span><a name="25" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"></a><span class="reftext" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/galatians/3-24.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">24</a></span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. </span><a name="26" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"></a><span class="reftext" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/galatians/3-25.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">25</a></span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.</span></blockquote></blockquote><p>Throughout Jesus ministry he emphasized the spirit of the law over the letter of the law. Even though Jesus also said in Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." We to this day follow laws in the Old Testament, like the Ten Commandments. Yet there are other laws, like not eating shell fish or not wearing clothes of mixed fibers, that we no longer follow. </p><p>So where do we draw the line? How do we decide to follow a certain law or not follow it? One answer could be "compassion." To look at the situation through the lens of compassion may dictate whether we follow the letter of the law exactly, or that we follow Jesus' lead of showing compassion in that situation. The Bible may say in the Old Testament (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) that a man shall not lay with another man as with a woman, and you may think... "That's so clear!" And in the New Testament (Romans 1:26-27) Paul says men and women exchanged the natural for the unnatural and men slept with men, and women slept with women. Again, you may say... "That's so clear!" However we could look at verses, like 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, where Paul basically says it is not good to burn with passion, and being single isn't for everyone. And then we can look at our fellow men and women of the LGBTQ community, who have same sex attractions, and realize that forcing celibacy on them (if they were to come to the Lord and be saved, and proclaim to be Christians) would be unkind and perhaps even too much to ask of many of them. Perhaps some would choose celibacy after salvation. Which is great! But I would venture to guess that not 100% would feel that calling (which I believe celibacy is a calling, and not a commandment).</p><p>We also could dive deeper into some of these "clobber verses" and seek out the context and cultural background of them. And perhaps learn some new information about those verses. Read my previous blog <a href="https://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2021/06/let-love-lead.html" target="_blank">"Let Love Lead"</a> to hear more on that. </p><p>This is just another way of looking at the topic of being gay and being a Christian (at the same time). If you are wondering if this is even possible, or thought 100% that it is not, then perhaps this blog will shed a new light on the topic and help you look at it through the lens of compassion. I highly recommend reading <u>Torn</u> by Justin Lee to learn more about his testimony as a gay Christian. It may just open your eyes to a new way of looking at things. </p><p>Also, in conclusion, Jesus said that LOVE is the fulfillment of the law. We are told to love God and love people. Are we showing love and compassion to the LGBTQ community? I think the church can do better. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-72085362238802123612021-06-10T14:51:00.008-07:002021-08-23T22:26:11.334-07:00Let Love Lead<p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFk-b_rjYrbeKpHag7MdHwkcNhF3IHEF5I_waT7a5sFN7ZmcZLhUOiyOKEazH5zEkv-eNN5uOlmoBy4CPMfGItXfzzSNa1vo1gAzkioG7rtX_TRkxZay1Sv7yFnleQrKhO75oM-bGLPE/s630/LGBTQ+Ally.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFk-b_rjYrbeKpHag7MdHwkcNhF3IHEF5I_waT7a5sFN7ZmcZLhUOiyOKEazH5zEkv-eNN5uOlmoBy4CPMfGItXfzzSNa1vo1gAzkioG7rtX_TRkxZay1Sv7yFnleQrKhO75oM-bGLPE/s320/LGBTQ+Ally.png" /></a></span></div><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /> In June 2015 I wrote this article <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-day-love-won.html" target="_blank">The Day Love Won</a> in which I concluded that homosexuality, and whether we accept it as okay or deny it as a sin, "isn't a marriage issue. It is a heart issue. It is a salvation issue." Because I wanted to answer the questions, "Is gay marriage something that would be blessed by God?" Its been 6 years since I wrote that blog, and I have some new insights. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span> </span>Here is some background on me. I was raised in a strong protestant evangelical Christian home. In fact my Dad was a pastor of a non-denominational community church. My Mom was raised in a Christian home and had a large impact on me as a person with deep faith and reliance on Jesus and the Bible as her helper and her guide in life. I also drew close to God in my teen years, as my parents ended up divorcing, and continued to pursue my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I love God. I love Jesus. And I have invited the Holy Spirit to reside in my heart. I believe in the Bible with all my heart and soul. </span></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span> </span>Growing up I was taught certain things, and believed them because I was taught to understand the Scripture in a certain way. There are two verses in the New Testament that mention the word "homosexual," for example, and those verses informed me on how I viewed the LGBTQ community.</span></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV</span> "<span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">And 1 Timothy 1:8-11 NIV</span> "<span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me." </span></span></p></blockquote><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span> </span>However, did you know that the word "homosexual" did not appear in any Bible until 1946 in English versions and until 1982 in German versions? This is according to this article: </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><a href="https://um-insight.net/perspectives/has-%E2%80%9Chomosexual%E2%80%9D-always-been-in-the-bible/" target="_blank">Has "Homosexual" Always Been in the Bible?</a></span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> According to this article, in older versions of the Bible the word "</span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">arsenokoitai</i><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">" in these verses were translated as "</span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">boy molesters.</i><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">" Boy molesters! Not homosexuals! I think we can all agree that a boy molester deserves the worst punishment of Hell! But I disagree that homosexuals should be lumped together in one general sweeping statement, and be regarded as abominations and deserving of Hell! Simply because they are a homosexual do they deserve eternal damnation? Another article I read explains further the meaning of the words used in Corinthians and Timothy: <a href="http://www.affirmingtheology.org/1corinthians-69-10-1timothy-19-10/" target="_blank">1corinthians-69-10-1timothy-19-10/</a> Boy molesters could also be interpreted as male prostitutes (malakoi) and the other word (arsenokoitai) are those that exploit them, sexual slave owners in other words. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>I have met and befriended several gay men, lesbian women, and bi-sexuals. Some of them are not saved, some are agnostic, others have had a Salvation experience and believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. One particular man I met (I firmly believe) is a Christian. I have grilled him, asked him questions, witnessed to him, sat down for heart to hearts and scoured the Scriptures together to seek the truth. He has an understanding of the Bible, and can explain Scriptures back to me in a Spirit filled manner. I am convinced that he is saved AND gay. I know I can't be the judge of that, only God knows if a person is going to Heaven or not. But from all I can tell, in my human-ness, he is a Christian. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>I know there are plenty of homosexuals that are not saved as well. And there are behaviors within the gay community that are not godly by any means. But you could also say that about behaviors in the straight community! Its not "being gay" that is the sin. I truly believe these men and women are born that way, and have not chosen to be gay as a lifestyle choice. Several have even struggled with it to the point of trying to pray it out of themselves, and would rather be straight if they could! Its a struggle that no one in their right mind would willingly put on themself, to be living a life as a homosexual man or woman. Its not an easy road to travel. Yet, there are so many that are still living as a homosexual. It makes you ask yourself some hard questions. "Is being gay a choice or are you born that way?" and "Is it possible to be both gay and a Christian?" "Would God ever bless same sex marriage?" And these questions have been on my mind for a long time now. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span> </span>I know there are verses in the Old Testament that say a man should not lay with a male as with a woman. There are arguments that say that the verse is actually saying a man should not lay with a BOY as with a woman. Again, referring to pederstry. However, even if it is referring to a man laying with a man, there could be another reason to believe this was a law given to the people of Israel for those people, in that time. That this law was meant to set them apart from other nations, a part of the "Holiness Code." And I believe it was also important to God to make sure they continued to populate as a nation, because any act that didn't allow for reproduction was forbidden. Also, this way the lines of man vs woman stayed very distinct. According to a Pastor of a church in Calgary Canada, called Commons Church, the old testament laws in Leviticus were most likely expressing a desire to preserve the active male role in sex, and not taking the passive role of a woman. These Levitical rules were about creating very clear lines and clear rules and not crossing boundaries. You can hear his take in this video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtCuLo-MGS4&t=314s" target="_blank">Has "Homosexual" always been in the Bible?</a> He challenges us to use Jesus' ethic of love to guide us in our understanding of the Bible and how to interact with the world around us. It was also pointed out to me that this verse could be about how in that culture women were property, and a man laying with another man was showing disrespect by treating another man as property. (Which stays in the same lines as preserving the "male" vs "Female" roles.) </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">They also</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">can be seen as a condemnation on incestuous acts, or even a married man committing adultery. All possibilities. And something to ponder. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;">In short these two verses, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">are not about a homosexual sex act specifically. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span>There is also the verses in Romans 1:26-27 that said this group of people "...abandoned them to their shameful desires" and that they "turned from their natural way..." as women slept with women and men slept with men. These were sexual acts done as part of worship to a god, an idolatrous religious practice. Its been said that the acts were part of a fertility cult worship. This is not addressing homosexuals. This would be more so condemning heterosexuals who were experimenting with homosexuality. And obviously any sexual act performed outside of marriage is condemned in the Bible. And Paul's language is condemning the acts in the context of idol worship.</span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>If these verses of the Bible have been mis-interpreted, or mis-represented, then we have done the LGBTQ community an injustice! I don't think we need to accept every behavior as "okay," but I do believe that same sex love between two adult men or two adult women should not be looked down on or rejected, but accepted. And I believe marriage should be legal for these men and women. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span> </span>I know I have said that marriage is a Biblical institution and that the Bible only shows us as being between one man and one woman. However, at the same time, marriage is a complex relationship composed of many complimentary purposes. #1 procreation (Gen. 1 :22) #2 Companionship (Gen. 2:8) #3 The model of Christ's love (Eph. 5:22) All of these are important, but not all necessary to be existent to be a marriage. For example, procreation. Not every heterosexual couple can pro-create, yet their marriage is just as valid as the next. And does it not say it is better to marry than to burn with passion, in 1 Corinthians 7:9? Companionship is important to most men and women, who don't have the gift of celibacy. The apostle Paul would argue its better to be single than to marry, but even he acknowledged that for some people that is not possible, and marriage is a better option than to keep lusting in the flesh. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Marriage is about self sacrificial love. Being truly committed to another person unconditionally. And these things can be had by the same-sex couple. If they want to commit to one person self sacrificially, why not allow it?</span></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>I believe in abstinence and celibacy as perfectly viable options for any man or woman. It is not, however, meant to be a permanent status for all people. Some people should get married, and all men and women should be able to marry the person they love. No matter if it is a person of the same sex! Adam was brought Eve, because God knew she was his suitable helpmate. She was for Adam. Adam was for Eve. But that is an individual situation. Is it not possible that some men's perfect companion to be another man? If they have same sex attractions, it seems logical. And same for women. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Jesus was asked about divorce by the Pharisees, and in Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus states back to them, "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Jesus is not defining marriage here, but rather answering a question regarding divorce. Jesus never addresses same-sex acts or sexual orientation ever. Jesus in fact said divorce and remarriage was the same as adultery. (Matthew 5:32) Yet here we are as evangelical Christians, allowing the divorced and remarried to sit in our pews and worship next to us. Adulterers?! And of course we are... We are in the business of ministering to people who are sinners. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, after all. Right? (Romans 3:23) So even if you believe homosexuality is a sin, shouldn't we at the very least allow all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, to be or become full members of the church? People with same sex attraction are loved by God, just as anyone else is. John 3:16 tells us this, "God so loved the WORLD..." and "He gave his only begotten son so that WHOSOEVER believe in him shall not perish and have eternal life." This is not a gospel only for the straight person, this is for the LGBTQ community just as much.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span>We are all created in God's image, Genesis 1:26 says as much, "Let us make man in our image..." Therefore we all deserve love and respect. Even if we do not approve of homosexual practices we should at the very least show sympathy and respect for homosexuals. I read a quote somewhere that says, "I will treat people as they are all welcome at the table and equal before the cross." Who are we to reject one group of people at the door of the sanctuary and accept another group, welcoming them through that same door, with sins that are blatantly taught against by Jesus himself?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span>Now, I believe we should treat those within committed relationships as positive, regardless of sexual orientation. Celibacy or marriage should be acceptable states of the LGBTQ community. Wouldn't it be nice if we could welcome everyone and then pray together and figure out where God wants to take us? Instead of passing judgment. Let the Spirit lead. Let LOVE lead!</span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;">What is the requirement for salvation? Romans 10:9-3 sums it up: </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Rom-10-9" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28198" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"></span></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Rom-10-9" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28198" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.</span><span class="text Rom-10-10" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28199" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.</span><span class="text Rom-10-11" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28200" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”</span><span class="text Rom-10-12" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28201" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-10-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28202" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”</span></span></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Rom-10-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-28202" style="color: black; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"></span></span></span><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">This goes for anyone. You will be saved if you do what this verse says. Romans 8:28 also tells us nothing can separate us from God's love! NOTHING! And Galatians 3:26 says, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith..." And verse 28 says "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Faith in Christ is the great equalizer. Not one type of person is better than another type or group of people. If you believe in Christ, that is what matters most. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"></p><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What it boils down to is our relationship with God and each other. Each person has to evaluate how they are living their life. There is a problem with coming up with a clear cut moral code that we can 100% live up to 100% of the time. No one can do that. People come to Christ as they are, and remain the same person, while righteousness is doing its work to perfect us. However, none of us are perfect, and none of us will be perfected until we see Jesus face to face. (1 John 3:2) None of us are on the "right side." Not one of us can claim perfection morally or claim we know everything God knows. Why don't we sit next to one another in church and see where God takes us? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As my brother told me there is an order to things. "Belong. Believe. Behave." We first need to welcome people in, and let them know they belong, before we expect them to believe. But right now we are turning them away before they even get to the door of the church! Don't turn people away from salvation! Behavior follows belief. And we should allow time and patience for a person's behaviors to align with Jesus. We don't make the time line. God does. For some of us it will take a life time! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, let us lead with love instead of hate. Do not point your fingers in judgement against a group of people in fear of what may happen if you let them sit next to you in church. You may find everything will be alright. Aren't we in the practice of accepting sinners? And are we not focused on preaching the gospel message? Then lets do that! Let LOVE lead!</span></div><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-42676704286947812032020-04-08T11:32:00.003-07:002020-04-08T11:32:33.045-07:00Journey to Find My Passion<br />
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I have been analyzing my life, where I am versus where I was, and decided I am on a journey. I have been on journeys before, one of which led me to running. Right now I am on a new journey and I am not sure if the end result will be a renewed passion for running again, but it might.<br />
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In 2011 I started my running career 45 pounds lighter than I am now. I was able to run half marathons at a 10 minute per mile pace at my fastest, and 10:30 min per mile on average. I could run for several hours on end and completed 4 full marathons in under 6 hours. I ran one of those full marathons in only 5 hours and 20 minutes, which for me was pretty good. I also could run one mile at a pace of 9 minutes, or even a little faster! I never claimed to be the fastest runner, but I was a "runner" nonetheless.<br />
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Compare that person to me now. I am 45 pounds heavier than that runner in 2011, and am finding running even one mile difficult. I have been walk/ running through a mile for a while now and have only been able to push myself to run a full mile without stopping a few times. And when I do run the entire time I complete it in 14 minutes, not 9 like I used to. I have hiked 4 or 5 miles in this new heavier body, but that doesn't include a lot of running and took several hours to complete. I am happy I am able to do THAT at least. Hiking can be beautiful with all of nature and the sky to look at.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7h0hFHT97S2B7bjT0Q4A98YGEhoG2O8wEShkaTTHlsHPRevk7tf9Z_mlJCDZjQgAeP6QG2nl2jJzkkdt9vcXUu-uGFTBHwal8oG8DnUYfpVwhyk4JZ9D_kNjDDbImJR_9vukRP_iaFc/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7h0hFHT97S2B7bjT0Q4A98YGEhoG2O8wEShkaTTHlsHPRevk7tf9Z_mlJCDZjQgAeP6QG2nl2jJzkkdt9vcXUu-uGFTBHwal8oG8DnUYfpVwhyk4JZ9D_kNjDDbImJR_9vukRP_iaFc/s320/IMG_0322.JPG" width="268" /></a>Lately though, I haven't been able to hike. We are currently in the midst of the COVID 19 virus scare of 2020. We aren't supposed to meet up in groups and we are to keep a distance of 6 feet between us and anyone in the outside world we may come across. I have friends that still will go outside for a run or hike alone, but I haven't been. My husband has read that the virus can hang in the air for several hours after someone sneezes or coughs, and he doesn't want me to inadvertently run through an area where the virus is hanging around and breath it in. And this is out of love, so I understand and respect his wishes. The treadmill has been my way to get a run in, and lately I have been doing workout videos for exercise.<br />
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At least I have been starting to workout again. I wasn't doing too much of that for a while. I have been working out at least 5 days a week lately, and have felt that spark of passion rise up in me that was there before.<br />
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Back in 2011 I was going to a boot camp and exercising 5 days a week and got to my ideal weight. Then I was challenged to run my first 5k, and then my first half marathon. Then the fire in my belly stirred and I wanted to keep running halfs and then full marathons. As I wrote in my previous blog, I slowed down my running quite a bit in 2018/ 2019. Some weeks I ran only once, others not at all. And all the while my weight was creeping up on me. But I didn't care too much, I was focused on getting rest more than anything else. I just couldn't get myself out of bed at 5am anymore for a gym workout or a run. I was depressed and mentally exhausted.<br />
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So, here I am. On a new journey to find my passion again. Working out again 5 days a week has helped me feel more "normal." Or more like myself again. And who knows, maybe it will lead me back to that 5k, and then running half marathons again? Right now I don't want to sign up for any races. Definitely not until a mile is no longer a chore for me to run. I hope to get on that treadmill and work my way up to running a 5k without stopping once again. No breaks. And not feeling slow and sluggish either. It may take me a while, but I hope to get there sooner than later. And I hope that passion in my belly returns in the process. If not, then I hope a new passion for some other adventure presents itself. After all, I have been on journeys of self discovery before, and not all roads led to a marathon. hah :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-12016263145729797702020-01-19T20:13:00.001-08:002020-01-19T20:16:15.600-08:00Where did she go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't blogged about running since the end of 2017. You may have wondered, "Where did she go?" I have been wondering that lately myself.<br />
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Today I ran the Carlsbad 5k in CA. Usually I would sign up for the half marathon, or perhaps even the full, but I haven't been running as much lately and I knew when I signed up for this race last year I may not be ready to run a half. I was right.<br />
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2018 I stopped blogging, I just didn't have anything to say anymore. And 2019 mentally I took a nose dive. 2020 I am trying to pull out of this downward spiral.<br />
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The lady in the photo is not the same runner she was 4 years ago, or even 3 years ago, when she was at her peak. No she is very different now.<br />
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What happened? Well, a few major life events in 2018. I was laid off at work, right in the midst of a move. We were putting up our house for sale and moving into my in-law's house, to combine households and help each other out more. We had just finished doing some remodeling projects in our old house, and now here we were moving and diving into more remodeling projects. I guess it was a blessing that I got laid off that day, in a strange sort of way. It was the last day of school for my kids, so I went to their school and watched them play games and say goodbye to their buddies for the Summer. By God's grace I found a new job within a week of being laid off, and started a couple weeks later. This gave me time to help do some major moving of our belongings from one house to the other. (The in-law's house was only two houses down, by the way. So we didn't have to go far.)<br />
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While this isn't a bad thing, any change is stressful on a person. Add to this major move some health problems that my Dad was going through, and you add another layer of stress. He was in and out of the hospital and had a lot of ER visits that Summer. Eventually things settled down, and he is okay. But my Dad has dementia, and that will never go away. The stress of caring for him still weighs heavily on my shoulders. He doesn't live with us (we are kind of packed with our two kids and the in-laws already). But even so, the care taking and major decision making sits on my shoulders. My only other living immediate family member is my brother, and he lives on the East Coast. About as far away from me as one can get. While his counsel is wise and much appreciated, he isn't here to physically take on any part of our Dad's care. I do have the help of my Dad's roommates. And I am thankful for all they do. But watching my Dad being changed by dementia, and losing his ability to care for himself... all of that causes me to be sad and depressed. I know I shouldn't let it, but it does.<br />
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Then you add on the layer of stress of losing a job, and starting a new one. All while living through a major remodel of the NEW house. While we already just lived through the remodel of our OLD house. It's not easy to live in a house while the kitchen is torn apart. Or to be displaced in different bedrooms while other bedrooms are being worked on. For almost a year my daughter and son shared a room. At first they thought it was fun and exciting. Eventually they just annoyed each other to death and couldn't wait for their own space again! My husband and I weren't even in our own soon to be Master Bedroom, with its newly remodeled Master Bathroom yet! Yes, these were blessings. And we signed up for all of this. But it put a lot of stress on my life.<br />
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I see it all as layers. Layer upon layer of stress. First the remodel layer, then the sale of our house, then getting laid off, then the layer of moving and looking for a new job, then learning a new job, and living through another remodel. Add to that the care taking layer, and the worry I carry regarding my Dad's dementia and his precarious future. Soon I wasn't working out as much and choosing a full night's sleep over getting up early to hit the pavement for a run, or going to the gym. I believe sleep is very important, but so is exercise. But I just didn't have the energy for it all. So I picked rest as my priority.<br />
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2019 came along and the remodeling was over. Thank goodness. I could breathe easier, you would think. But something was still lingering over me. I was consumed by another layer, grief. Anniversaries of family member's deaths, and the anniversary of a very dark moment in my life all pulled me down. I typically handle these months okay, but this year was not good. 2019 started in grief, and ended in grief.<br />
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And then I lost my job... again! In November 2019, right before Christmas. This time it took a month to find a new job. I am grateful it didn't take longer, don't get me wrong! But let's just say its not the time of year one wants to be out of a job. (I am very blessed by my new job. And some very good things have come out of it already. But learning new skills and change is always stressful, even if good... like I said.)<br />
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What I did start doing near the end of 2019 was seek out professional help. I joke with the title of this blog, "I am only half crazy," but there is some truth to that statement. My Mother was severely bi-polar, and it runs in my family. While I don't have the manic mood swings that she had, I do have the depressive episodes. And for several years running was enough to manage it. But, as I said, sleep was becoming my priority over getting up and running or working out. My mental health was compromised, and all these layers of stress upon stress, and then the final blows of the grief came over me, and I just couldn't hold myself together anymore. My doctor said I may have to stay on meds for the rest of my life this time (instead of getting off them due to my training for running marathons, and how that made me feel).<br />
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While it was nice to be able to say running saved my sanity, and to be off medication, I have to say I am okay with being on meds again. I always told people that if I had to go back on meds I would. And I always encouraged others to stay on their medication, as prescribed by their doctor. I witnessed first hand how medication helped my Mom stay sane and out of the mental hospital. I know its important.<br />
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So now here I am. Overweight and under exercised. Mentally fragile and ready for this season to be over with. This 5k was a struggle. It was a struggle for me to decide to go. It was a struggle to run it. It was a struggle to find the will to travel to Carlsbad and do the thing I signed up to do. Luckily I had a friend that had signed up to do the half and we decided to share a hotel room together before the race. If it wasn't for her I am sure I would have just let it go. Everything seems so difficult to do these days.<br />
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I am writing this hoping this will get me going again. Give me purpose. Give me a reason to run and blog again. I also hope this helps others seek out help too. Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs. If you need help, get it. There is no shame in needing help or needing medication. Just do it. You will feel better.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-69504860828346136332017-11-05T15:29:00.004-08:002017-11-05T18:59:12.302-08:00Journey to Hope Race 26.2 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just completed my 4th full marathon, on November 4, 2017! It was my 2nd slowest time, coming in at 5:53. The cut off time was 6 hours. But I made it!<br />
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My 1st marathon I ran the L.A. Marathon to raise money for melanoma research, in memory of my brother Paul and his wife Ruth. I finished in 5:59. That story is here: <a href="https://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2014/09/3914-262-done.html" target="_blank">3/9/14 26.2 done!</a><br />
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My 2nd marathon I ran the Richmond VA Marathon, and got my fastest time at 5:07. I ran for #megsmiles in support of a grieving family. That story is here: <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2015/11/" target="_blank">Meg Smiles in VA #megsmiles</a><br />
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My 3rd full was the same race as my first, the L.A. marathon. I ran it wearing my LIFE Runner shirt, to support pregnancy crisis centers and to promote pro-life, and pro-love. I ran with my SoCal Meg's Miles friend, Doris. We ran the whole way together, coming in at 5:25. It was my "redemption run," after struggling through the first time. Here is the story of that full: <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2016/02/last-minute-marathoner.html" target="_blank">Last Minute Marathoner</a><br />
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The 4th had a similarity to the 3rd one, I ran the whole way with a friend. This time it was with my MRTT friend Miranda. And she stuck it out with me the whole way, even though she could have easily ran ahead (she was feeling pretty amazing, and me... not so much.) But we agreed when we signed up to run the whole way together, no matter who was feeling good or who had to stop or what. Every step would be together. We figured it wasn't worth it to separate for a few minutes of time difference (we tend to be within minutes of each other at races we have run together before). And she had a full marathon to complete the next week that has a 5 hour cut off. She was willing to take it slower with me, if I needed to go slower. (And I did.)<br />
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This time I ran to support the grieving. Miranda lost her Mom earlier this year, and I lost my Mom in 2009. We both dedicated our run to our Moms, top left is my bib and bottom is her Journey to Hope bib.<br />
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<a href="https://journeytohoperace.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">Journey to Hope </a>is a walk event I put on earlier this year in April, to show love and support to people in their journey of grief, and to raise money for <a href="http://www.griefshare.org/" target="_blank">Grief Share.</a> I still had some walk/5k bibs from the virtual portion left, as well as some 5k medals, and I didn't want them to go to waste. So I decided to ask people to make a donation to Grief Share, and in exchange I would run a 5k for their loved one and give them the medal, or they could have me run for a friend who lost someone, and I would send them a medal as a gift. Below is a photo of the medals/bibs I had left:<br />
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While I was training for my 4th marathon I would write the name of a loved one, and the person's name that lost that loved one, on a bib and then I would run 3 plus miles for them. Sometimes running for multiple people if my run was longer. One day I ran in honor of 4 husbands and 1 son that had passed away during a 16 mile run, for example. After I ran out of dedications from and donations from other people, I started to run for friends that I saw struggling after a loss of a loved one. And then I gave them a medal as a reminder that they are not alone. The medal says, "You are Not Alone!" on them, the theme of my event.<br />
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Often we journey through grief alone. It is a process that is as unique as each individual and each relationship. However, I wanted to create a way for people to feel loved and supported in that journey. And that what this is all about. Showing love and support to people who are at their bottom emotionally. I have been there.<br />
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I lost my Mom in 2009 to a heart attack, I lost my brother Paul in 2011 to metastatic melanoma and his wife Ruth in 2012 also from melanoma! To say the grief and loss was thick, is an understatement. There were many times the waves of grief pulled me under, and I felt like I would never be able to come back up for air! Then I came across Grief Share, a program that has daily devotionals and a 12 week course you can attend at churches. It took me a while to get to the church meetings. So, the daily devotional you get in your email in-box is a great place to start. So often we just aren't ready to weep openly in front of a group of strangers. But I will attest to the fact, when I started attending the classes, it helped immensely. Even more so than just getting those daily emails... and those emails were a life saver!<br />
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I wrote about what I call going from "<a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2015/03/clouds-of-sorrow.html" target="_blank">clouds of sorrow</a> to clouds of hope" before. Its how God has spoken to me in my own journey through grief. And is why my event, Journey to Hope, has a cloud/ sky theme to it. God has really been there for me, comforting me. Drawing me near to Him. And as the scriptures say, <b>"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT </b><br />
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Here are photos of the Journey to Hope bibs that I wore on race day<br />
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I attached a bib in honor of my Mom to the front of my shirt. And put the other bibs on O-rings, and hung them off my water pack. They were at my back, and motivating me, pushing me along those 26.2 miles.<br />
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Mile 1 was dedicated to my Mom, plus the whole marathon. From the top of the mountain, to the bottom. This one's for you, Mom. Love you! #NeverForgotten #AlwaysLoved<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mile 2, dedicated to my #megsmiles friend Dee Renn, in honor of her Mom. Her Mom died from a heart attack, like my Mom. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">During my miles I prayed for each person and their loss. Asking the Lord to comfort them and bring them peace. </span><br />
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Mile 3, dedicated to my #megsmiles friend Kelly J. Anderson, in honor of her Mom. She has recently done the "Out of Darkness" walk to bring suicide awareness in her memory. There is also the <a href="https://projectsemicolon.com/" target="_blank">Project Semi Colon </a>that I am referencing with the ";" and #KeepGoing. Depression and suicide has affected my family, and me personally as well. It was a honor to run to honor her Mother's life and help raise some awareness myself along the way.<br />
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Mile 4 and 5, dedicated to my #megsmiles friend Mary Barney. She lost her Dad recently, and suddenly, to a heart attack. I had dedicated a 5k to her Mom, whom she calls "Marmee," during training. Her Mom fought a brave battle against cancer, and eventually lost that battle. And then after I ran that 5k, dedicated to her Mom, she told me about her father. Broke my heart. She has gone through so much. But I know God is able to bring her through this grief journey, as He has brought me through mine. #youarenotalone</div>
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Mile 6, dedicated to my friend, Betsy Nickless' Mom, Sue. We used to meet with a group called RunningFriends4Life. I prayed for her family as they cope with this loss of a dear loved one.<br />
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Mile 7, dedicated to a friend I met through my fitness boot camp, Toni Gavello, for her Mom Lynn. It's never easy losing a parent, no matter what circumstance or what age.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mile 8, dedicated to another dear #megsmiles friend, Gloria Sisneros, for her Dad. She still posts memories on his </span>birthday, and during Father's Day. I know that even after many years, those special days can be difficult. I also do the same with memories of my Mom and my oldest brother. I think of them literally every day.<br />
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Mile 9, dedicated to Michelle Laizure's Dad, and <span style="text-align: center;">Mile 10 Dale Laizure's brother. A wife and a husband, facing grief. Life can be rough. But they have handled their losses with faith, and with love towards her Mom, as her Mom navigates being a widow. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">As I was praying for them my left foot started to feel something rubbing on my big toe. And my legs were already feeling the fatigue of taking the brunt of the constant downhill slope. But I knew my struggles in this full can not compare to the loss of a loved one. So I pressed on.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mile 11, dedicated to another #megsmiles friend, Kristi Allen. For her step-Dad-Ray. Her posts about her loss of her loving step-dad on Facebook were very moving. I felt her sorrow, and felt compelled to reach out to her and run for Ray. I have never met her in person, but she is still a part of the running community that I love so dearly. And I feel its important to reach out to the hurting, and show encouragement when its in our ability to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mile 12 was dedicated the the victims and family of those in the Las Vegas shooting. I have friends in my MRTT (Mom's Run This Town) group that have personally been affected by this horrible event. And 50 plus more families are out there that are dealing with their grief. So I prayed during this mile for all of these people. That the hope we have in Christ, and the goodness of God is not overshadowed by the evil that exists in this world. I prayed that each family would draw closer to God, in their time of need for comfort and peace. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mile 13. I wore this bib on a training run on 6/6/17. Chelsea's husband, Gio, made a donation to Grief Share and asked me to run for his wife, in honor of her Dad, Frank. I gladly did so. And during my marathon I wanted to carry her in prayer once again. I know Chelsea and Gio from church.</span></div>
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At this point in the marathon my buddy and I stopped to help a fellow runner who was having foot/ shoe problems and hip pain. I love how fellow runners are willing to stop and help each other. My legs were also getting very stiff at this point, and the hills were just about to start. Still, no turning back at this point. Just as in life, you </div>
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have to keep going. Life doesn't stop and wait for us to grieve. All you can do sometimes is do the next thing. Get out of bed. Take a shower. Eat. Go to work. One step, one foot in front of the other. Just like I had to do to finish this marathon.</div>
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Mile 14, dedicated to a friend I met through church, Leslie Paulsen. This is also an original bib I wore in training. Leslie made a donation and requested I wear this bib for her and her siblings, as they still were dealing with the loss of their parents. </div>
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Mile 15, dedicated to a stranger. I saw a post by my friend Lashell on #megsmiles. And I had Rebekah and her kids on my prayer list. As I was dedicating miles I decided to run in honor of Rebekah's husband. He got into an accident while running, and later passed away. Our running community was praying for him to pull through. Once he passed, our prayers turned to Rebekah and her kids, that the Lord would comfort them during this time of loss and sorrow. </div>
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Mile 16, dedicated to another stranger, Becky. She lost her husband to an illness. He was on our prayer chain at church, posted by my dear friend Melissa Murphy. Melissa is her Sister-in-law. She has also undergone loss, her Father passed away. And many family emergencies have put this family through so much. But Melissa and Bob continue to show firm faith in Christ. I prayed for this family, for their comfort and peace. If anyone can help them through these trials, it is our loving Heavenly Father. </div>
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Mile 17, dedicated to a friend from my church. When I met her she had just lost her husband about 6 months earlier. And I met her precious boy Carson, and her daughter Lilian. Carson died a few months later in an accident. I won't post the details, they aren't needed. But I sang at Carson's funeral, and one year later I ran for him and his Dad during a training run on the anniversary of his passing from this life into Heaven. I have no doubt he is there, an angel looking down on his Momma. And he will forever be in her heart. </div>
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Mile 18. As I dedicated a mile to Jaime I thought of so many friends that have told me about the loss of a child, or a baby. And it is heart breaking, each and every story. I prayed for the Moms and Dads of these babies, lost in utero, after being born, or at a very young age. I can't imagine the depth of their loss. Except to say, I know grief is as deep as our love for the one we lost. And I know that the love for these children is deep, and they are missed every single day. #NeverForgotten #AlwaysLoved </div>
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Mile 19, dedicated to a friend through #megsmiles as well, Courtney. I dedicated a 5k during my training on Gray's birthday in Heaven. Gray was a baby, and her 3rd son. And she loves him and misses him every day. I love her heart, and her strength. She does so much to support programs that help children deal with grief, for her boys. And has done runs in Gray's name to help raise funds. And so many other things. Her love is big, her grief is big, and out of this grief God has done some beautiful things. That's how God works! <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a></div>
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During mile 19 I was REALLY feeling the pain in my legs, and I was struggling and fighting for each mile. </div>
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Mile 20 was dedicated to a gentleman at my church, for his adult son Caleb. I sang at Caleb's funeral, which was more a celebration of life and a way for Neil to share Caleb's faith in Christ. It was a beautiful ceremony. Very uplifting, if you can believe it. But Neil still misses his son deeply. As I struggled to reach the end of mile 20, I knew I couldn't give up. Just as Neil can't give up. There is hope! God will get him through!<br />
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Mile 21 approached, still struggling. I dedicated this mile to my friend from my Bible Study group, Run for God. We have walked and run together many times. And recently her son was taken by suicide. I attended his funeral, and was struck by the phrase, "Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary feelings." So true. And now here Steph and her family is, dealing with their pain of loss. </div>
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I may have been struggling with a race, but it paled in comparison to this loss. It kept me pushing on.<br />
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Mile 22 dedicated to the friends and family of those taken by suicide. Many people have suffered due to mental illness. And there is a project called, <a href="https://www.22toomany.com/" target="_blank">"22 too many"</a> that many of my running friends have started to run for. People run in honor of vets that have lost their battle to depression, because of PTS and other problems. </div>
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The families and friends left behind in these cases are hurting, and this project brings hope. They were in my prayers during this mile.</div>
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Mile 23, dedicated to my brother Paul and my sister-in-law Ruth. I have a <a href="http://virtualbirthdayrun.wixsite.com/melanomaresearch" target="_blank">virtual run that I do every year in July, on my birthday</a>, that raises money for melanoma research in their honor. I have run many miles for Paul and Ruth. But that doesn't mean I miss them any less. Every day I think about them. And most of all, Paul. I see him in my kids. I remember who he was and what he meant to me, as my big brother. I cherish the years I had with him, and I miss him. I wish my kids would have gotten the chance to know him. </div>
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Mile 24, my brother and Ruth died from Melanoma cancer. And there are so many people that I know that have suffered a loss because of cancer. So I wanted to make a dedication to them. </div>
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As I was coming to the end of the race, the hill ended and the road flattened out. I had been waddling/ running and walking off and on. As I thought about Paul and Ruth, and the people that have suffered loss from Cancer, I felt a burst of energy. (Or maybe it was the 1/4 piece of donut I got at the water station at mile 24... lol)</div>
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I thought about my #megsmiles friend, Jorge, as mile 25 approached. He lost his Dad to cancer. And I thought about Papa Coria, and how he was in Heaven with my brother Paul </div>
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Mile 25, For Jorge, in honor of his Papa. As I prayed for Jorge, thought of his Papa and thought of my brother Paul I felt energized again. I started running, not waddling anymore! (It may have been a slow run, but I felt good!) Then a song came on my iPod, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8xGaE4S2gk" target="_blank">"Feel It," </a>that even got me dancing! I was waving my hands in the air, and my buddy had a good song playing on her headphones, she was dancing and skipping along too! <br />
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There were cars on the side of the road stuck in traffic. I am sure they thought we were crazy! </div>
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We stopped briefly again at mile 25, and then we stepped it up again. Mile 26 came, and it was dedicated to a very special family, Pam and Wirt Cross, for their daughter Meg of #megsmiles. </div>
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As I reached mile 26 I looked down at my #megsmiles blue silicone bracelet, and I thought about all my running buddies cheering me on throughout the country, virtually.<br />
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I ran strong, to make them proud. To finish strong. #MegStrong And to make my Mom proud.</div>
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I ran for those we have loved and lost. All 26 PLUS point 2, for those in their journey of grief. </div>
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#JourneytoHope #YouareNotAlone #GriefShare</div>
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#NeverForgotten #AlwaysLoved</div>
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May you be led from clouds of sorrow, to clouds of hope! I pray this in Jesus name, Amen!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of clouds, the views were amazing on that mountain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For my Mom, Lois Humphrey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Revel Canyon City Marathon, Azusa CA. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nov 4, 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Journey to Hope Race</span></div>
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A special thank you to Miranda. As we crossed the finish line the announcer said both our names and said, <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-align: left;">"Friends that do things together. Have fun together. And smile together." Ain't that the truth! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHREsbosxUFh0V2TEc37_3LXCIZrAhyDvg7SxnWqCmYBuffVHGjxcSk2LKgwISz_EPlkb0z-8m9uSqp6U2V3jneQ-KR7g0q969-9J4kg1DBanwyvIJB23JnSc7JQXe0OMmErJRd3jrjQc/s1600/23172839_10155827536194715_2161846629660350404_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHREsbosxUFh0V2TEc37_3LXCIZrAhyDvg7SxnWqCmYBuffVHGjxcSk2LKgwISz_EPlkb0z-8m9uSqp6U2V3jneQ-KR7g0q969-9J4kg1DBanwyvIJB23JnSc7JQXe0OMmErJRd3jrjQc/s320/23172839_10155827536194715_2161846629660350404_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-57920003261199162842017-04-26T23:31:00.000-07:002017-11-05T17:19:45.667-08:00Counting My Blessings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdBrNme2xGavn0rP7cBNuCA8LrpVzmA7y8u2wVAu2iKw4nXG7ei1F7gdtspUOkcuT8U_te8GfdlSCzDVNgH7Yz53IVPekpt-zSRKuOdkZpzFzNUp6nicQTz5WkLE7m0Dtq1KZekXCc7I/s1600/18118626_1699862096707145_3447304042634113680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdBrNme2xGavn0rP7cBNuCA8LrpVzmA7y8u2wVAu2iKw4nXG7ei1F7gdtspUOkcuT8U_te8GfdlSCzDVNgH7Yz53IVPekpt-zSRKuOdkZpzFzNUp6nicQTz5WkLE7m0Dtq1KZekXCc7I/s320/18118626_1699862096707145_3447304042634113680_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<span data-offset-key="a5nms-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">On 4/22/17 I put on a walk for people going through grief. I called it the "Journey to Hope" walk. It was held at Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim, CA. And we walked around the paths that wound around the lakes there. It was just under 2 miles long.</span>
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The money raised from the walk, and a virtual 5k, will be used to support Grief Share programs. Either to supply books to churches that already have a program, or to start a new Grief Share class at a church that wants to purchase the program. (To find out how your church can receive these donations please email: journeytohoperace@gmail.com)</div>
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NOTE: I will have virtual 5k medals available until the end of 2017, or until I sell out... whichever comes first. This is the reg link: <a href="http://www.active.com/anaheim-ca/running/distance-running-races/journey-to-hope-virtual-5k-2017" target="_blank">Journey to Hope Virtual 5k</a></div>
<div a="" amazing="" be="" beginning.="" blessings.="" blog="" charge="" counting-my-blessings.html="" counting="" cover="" details="" div="" entry="" event="" first="" friends="" from="" god="" good="" he="" hope="" how="" http:="" i="" iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com="" in="" is="" it="" journey="" just="" knew="" made="" my="" of="" ourneytohope="" part="" plan.="" prayer.="" prayer="" riefshare="" so="" style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;" successful="" sure="" t="" that="" the="" this="" to="" unless="" walk="" warrior="" was="" wouldn="">
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This blog entry is to record all the amazing things God planned for this date, 4/22/17. Even though I made some of the plans, God had some of His own. And I was blown away by the outcome!</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Proverbs 16:9 "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."</span><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></blockquote>
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There were many decisions to make. Some of the hardest were the location, the date, and the time. I looked at several places and priced out the venues. I checked out one location, and it seemed perfect, until I found out it would cost $5000 to rent! Then I found another seemingly perfect location, it had a USATF certified 5k course all planned out, and I could do the 5k and the walk there! But that was $500. Better, yes. But also a bit farther from where I live. I was concerned that the people that I know, and would want to attend, may be turned off by the distance they had to travel to get there. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One day I was talking to a running buddy of mine during a run, and I told her about my trouble finding a course location. She puts on a lot of 5k fundraisers for charities, so I was also using her as my guru for all things event planning. She said very casually, "Why don't you just do it at Yorba Linda Regional?" And I was like, hmmmm.... maybe I should check it out. And then she said I should do it in Spring, around the time when Easter was just ending. Good thinking. </span></div>
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By this point I had dropped the timed 5k race idea, #1 because the cost of the timing company didn't make sense. And #2 the ideas I had for the signs along the course really didn't fit with a timed race. #3 I knew that I needed to focus on those that NEEDED this walk. Those in grief. And not the runners trying to run as fast as possible through it. So I made the 5k option "virtual" instead. Which means people could buy a bib and a medal and run wherever and whenever they wanted (and as fast as they wanted). Even if they lived in another state!</div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I looked up the cost of renting a shelter, and it was $200 for a 150 person shelter. They had a 300 person shelter, but it was already rented all the days in April. But Shelter #1 was available, a 150 person shelter. And I thought, "It's </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">doubtful</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I will have 300 people at my first event. But 150 seems reasonable." I went to the park to </span></span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">scope</span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the location of the shelter out, and walked around. It just felt right in my bones. It was peaceful and beautiful. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before renting the date for 4/22/17 I talked to a gal at work about my struggle to pick a date. She opened up the calendar and talked it out with me. We figured out when Spring breaks were, and when Easter was, and decided that the 22nd sounded good. And once we she said that date she said, "That's actually the anniversary of my Mom's passing." I got chills. And I said, "I think that should be the date then." </span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And $200 was doable! So I went ahead and rented the space. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another big decision was the time. I settled on an evening walk. I thought, "Sad people don't want to get up at 6am for a walk on a Saturday!" And then I thought, "A sunset ceremony at the end of the day would be pretty!" So I chose 4pm to sunset. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the location, date, and time were set it was time to get the registration page going and to get the word out. This was difficult. I work full time, and this was just a side gig for charity. I was alone in the planning, even though I had some great ears to bend when I had to think things through. But all the calls, the plans, and the decisions I had to make on my own. And by relying on God to direct my paths. (I prayed and asked for prayer over everything!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the date for the walk approached I had only 20 people signed up. So many things were happening that same day! Person after person told me about events, and school obligations, and sports obligations, and parties etc... I was getting frustrated! I had to cut some ideas out because of costs (like t-shirts for the walkers). And I had no idea how I would pay for the signs I wanted to post along the walk ways. And then there was food! And the closing ceremony! How was that going to be taken care of with only 20 people registered?! I freaked out. I was going to cancel altogether. And then one of my prayer warriors asked how many I had signed up. I said 20 and she said, "That's great!" I guess its all about perspective ;) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also talked to my boot camp instructor about getting people signed up for the virtual 5k. And NO ONE had signed up. I was frustrated. And he told me, "Every one signs up last minute. Don't give up." And then he said, "If only one person's life is changed by your event, then it was worth it." He was RIGHT! I was floored that this wisdom was being given by my BOOT CAMP instructor! I mean, he's great and all, but that was amazing that he saw the event as something that could change a life! And if he could see that, then I needed to act like that was the case as well. This was too important to give up on. This was God's plan, I was just following His calling. Two ladies I spoke to also had told me, "This is a meant to be kind of event. It will all work out." I just needed to keep the faith! They were right. Even if I broke even and didn't have any money left to donate to Grief Share, if I helped others, that is all that mattered. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next I had to come up with an idea for the signs, it cost around $13 to make a sign. I wanted 50, but didn't have any money to spend on them. Then I thought about putting a "Sponsored by" sign underneath and asking for sponsors to make a $15 donation per sign to get their logo/ business name on it. I told another gal at work about needing sponsors and she said she would sponsor a sign! I was like, "Interesting. I guess I could put the name of a loved one that has passed under the sign instead of a business name." And she loved the idea. And then another three gals at worked also loved the idea, and before I knew it I had 5 signs that day! I started to share this sign dedication idea on social media and at church, and people were hopping on that faster than any other idea I had! So amazing! I decided that no sign would be paid out of my pocket or the reg fees. Whatever the Lord provided, that's how many I would put up. And in the end I had 33! And 33 ended up being plenty. Here is an example of what the signs looked like. This one was for my Mom. </span></span></div>
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I also got a few sponsors that I would like to thank for their donations: <a href="http://www.blessedseasons.org/" target="_blank">Blessed Seasons Photography</a> (who also gave me images to use), as well as <a href="http://www.blessedseasons.org/" target="_blank">Ryan Luna Photography</a> (who provided images and sponsored signs), <a href="https://www.sharesucculents.com/" target="_blank">Succulents are for Sharing</a>, <a href="https://www.collegeworks.com/contact/" target="_blank">College Works Painting</a>, and <a href="http://www.goodnightanaheimhills.com/" target="_blank">John Luciano</a> (a non-professional photographer who donated images).</div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then for food I decided to drop the food truck plan ($1500 for a food truck was not in the budget). And I asked the head Deaconess at my church for help. She hopped right on it and got some pasta salad, fruit, and pizza handled, as well as offering $100 from the Deaconess fund. I decided I would have my husband Bar-b-cue some hot dogs, and get some waters and juice boxes, and that would be enough. We planned for 35 people. Done!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly I had to come up with a closing ceremony. I couldn't do candles, like I had wanted. That wasn't allowed at the park without additional insurance. So I wanted to do something else. Another gal at work brainstormed with me and came up with a flower ceremony. And I loved it! So I decided to ask my neighbor, who has a flower shop locally, <a href="http://www.theflowery.net/" target="_blank">The Flowery in Villa Park</a>, to donate 35 to 50 white carnations. She agreed. Done!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Location, date, time, signs, food, ceremony... it was enough to put the Journey to Hope walk on. Not fancy. But good enough! A few items purchased at the dollar store to cover the tables etc. And I was done. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the date approached my pilot husband started to wonder if he would have to work that weekend. To take the stress off him and myself I decided to skip the hot dogs. Actually, I was at work and we got a couple trays of tacos for the office to have lunch, delivered for a guest visiting from corporate. I looked at the spread and thought, "This could feed 35 people! I wonder how much this cost?" I asked the receptionist and it was all around $165. And due to having those other sides provided by the Deaconess at church I decided I didn't need the rice and beans on the side, just a pile of tacos would be great! So I placed the order and for $100 I had 48 tacos and delivery was $12! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So those were MY plans. And my worries over money, and location, food and number of participants. By the time the walk started I had about 35 people signed up. Including my family. What happened the day of the event is going to blow you away!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, let me share this. I was looking for a vase for the flowers I would be getting. And then decided to go pick them up, and figure it out later. When I picked up the flowers from the florist, she told me she had 70 in a vase for me! I was blessed that I no longer had to worry about a vase, and then I said, "I only have 35 people and not 50, so I guess everyone will just get 2. Thank you!" Little did I know...!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Then it was time to set up the shelter. See the photo below? I am in blue and a white baseball cap. The people I am with are the Byrd family. They were setting up at the shelter at 1pm when I pulled into the parking lot. I was with a lady from church, my friend Melissa, that came to help me set up the course and decorate the shelter. We walked up to them and told them I had rented the shelter for an event. They apologized and started to gather their belongings to move. I told them there wasn't a hurry, my event didn't start for a few hours. But at 4pm I would have people coming to participate. And they were very polite, "We will get out of your way. No problem." </b></span></span></div>
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<b>And as they were starting to pick up their lawn chairs and gather their things I asked one lady, "So what are you gathering for? To celebrate a birthday, or...?" And she said, "We are here because two Aunties died recently. And we just wanted to meet for a time of comforting and to be together." And I said, "Wait! That is why I am here!" I looked at my friend Melissa, and we both had goose bumps. My voice cracked as I explained the event, and that it was open to the public. I told her to stop her family from leaving, that I wanted them to stay. The woman said, "I don't want to intrude on your event. That is okay." And I insisted they must ALL stay. </b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soon people from her family were walking up one by one telling me they would be leaving soon, and I told them what I was doing and how they MUST STAY. I wanted them to. They were blown away, and accepted my invitation. We agreed this was a God ordained thing. A Divine appointment. I said they could just do what they were doing, it wasn't starting for a few hours. I was just arriving early to set up the course. </span></span></b><br />
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<b>Here is a crazy thing too, once they started carrying their stuff back to the shelter one gentleman asked, "Are you using the bar-b-cue?" And I smiled, "No, no I am not." They set up on the side of the shelter by the BBQ and the rest of the tables were left open. </b></div>
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<b>Also, there were about 35 of them, at least. And I thought to myself, "Now I know why I got 70 flowers today!" God knew this family would be there! April 22nd, at Yorba Regional Park, at 1pm. As they arrived, I arrived. A walk for grief, and a family grieving. God is AMAZING! </b></div>
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<b>Once the walk started about 15 or so of them came over and accepted a bib, no charge, and did the walk with us. I guided a few of them personally with the music playing from a Bluetooth speaker, playing songs I had selected for the walk. Here is the playlist link: <a href="https://play.spotify.com/user/22lq47mef3k6cczrqjoss26zq/playlist/43lbrFDK5k1LGUzpY7SkMQ" target="_blank">Journey to Hope 2017 Spotify Play list</a> And they followed along. </b></div>
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<b>Here are some of the signs along the paths that day, and the walk participants:</b></div>
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<b>One of the women told me they were her Aunties that passed. And we walked and talked along the paths. She was so sweet and we were so abundantly blessed to be there together. We both agreed God had ordained that day, that shelter, that time etc... for them to be there to meet me and to be a part of this walk for grief. The woman in Pink (center photo above) was the one that I was talking with, I think she said her name was Shirley, I am bad at remembering names, but I will never forget her. </b></div>
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<b>At the end of the walk I held the flower ceremony with music. Melissa sang <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow4OfW4DP9s" target="_blank">"I am not alone" by Kari Jobe</a>, accompanied by another friend from church, <a href="https://mygifttoyouministry.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Jodi Spangler</a>, on her guitar and with harmonies. I added a few vocal harmonies here and there. The family joined us for this part as well, and they took the flowers and we placed them in a vase to show how we are not alone. We are in this journey together. We have God, and we have the community of others that grieve. We understand each other. </b></div>
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<b>We who grieve need a space where we have the freedom to remember and honor our loved ones. And that is what the "Journey to Hope" walk provided. A calm and serene space in which to remember, to talk, and to grieve. But there was a feeling of joy and peace that day. Not one of gloom! People were smiling. We had joy in our hearts, and were comforted. </b><br />
<b>I was in awe by what God had done. After all my fretting over how many were coming, or not coming, or the cost of things etc. None of it mattered at this point. God had a plan! </b></div>
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<b>On that day alone, $200 was raised for the charity, Grief Share. <a href="http://www.griefshare.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.griefshare.org.</a> I am truly blessed by everyone's generosity. Such a beautiful day! And thus far total I have raised $350 to donate to local churches, to support Grief Share programs. I hope that through the <a href="http://www.active.com/anaheim-ca/running/distance-running-races/journey-to-hope-virtual-5k-2017" target="_blank">virtual 5k</a> we can raise another $500 to $600! </b></div>
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<span data-offset-key="a5nms-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I may have not raised thousands, but it was a good start. The most important part was accomplished. God used it for the purpose that He had intended it for. To encourage others and bring glory to Himself. I am glad I didn't give up, when so many times I was tempted to.</span><span data-offset-key="4klvp-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Many that attended said they want to do this again next year. And many that were not able to attend, due to other things going on that same weekend, also would like to attend the next one. I am going to move it over one week to see if that helps. I definitely plan to do this again! And I look forward to what God does with it, as the event grows over the years.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3fj18-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Many people told me they loved the peaceful setting at the park, and the non-rushed atmosphere. Unlike most 5k races, this was peaceful and quiet, not a lot of loud pumped up music, sponsors, vendors, and noise. W</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">e just had a wonderful time fellowshipping and remembering our loved ones together. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-7333330723784509882017-04-12T23:48:00.000-07:002017-04-12T23:48:25.271-07:00Biology 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are topics that I write on once in a while, that are non-running related. And I don't do it that often. But when I do, it's something that I passionately believe in. Something I feel needs to be said! Some times we have to speak up. Sometimes, it is required of us, as believers in Christ.<br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1492062623935_9516" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;"><em id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1492062623935_9515" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?”</em></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1492062623935_9517" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1492062623935_9518" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Matthew 10:32-33 The Message Bible</span></blockquote>
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I have been on a political posting fast on Facebook, and my blog, since February. And life has been peaceful. And if I do post something, I tend to regret it due to the little Facebook arguments that break out underneath my post. Often, the arguments are not worth my time. Nor do I want them happening on my wall or under my posts. So, I delete the post! Problem solved.<br />
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Well, this is a topic that I feel needs to be talked about. Californians need to let their voices be heard. We can't stand on the sidelines with our mouths agape, in shock at the scene unfolding before us. And then go ranting over it, after all is done and we have no more say about it. The time is NOW to act! The time is NOW to show our indignation.<br />
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There is a bill that is being voted on in California. I am a Californian. I do not support this bill. I wrote my Senator, and those heading the committee voting on this bill. I am not a political activist. This is not something I typically do. But I feel this bill is taking things too far. It's called SB179. The bill lets anyone change their gender on a driver's license or a birth certificate to male, female, or non-binary. No questions asked. No physical proof necessary. Check this article out: <a href="http://www.californiafamily.org/2017/cfc-testifies-against-gender-change-bill-but-more-opposition-needed/">cfc-testifies-against-gender-change-bill</a><br />
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This was the first article that told me about the bill being voted on: <a href="http://www.californiafamily.org/2017/bill-to-make-gender-a-personal-choice-in-hearing-tomorrow/">bill-to-make-gender-a-personal-choice-in-hearing-tomorrow</a> In this article they state, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #6b6e80; font-family: Raleway, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Under current California law, individuals can change their sex on their birth certificate, but they must make the request in person before a judge. Additionally, a doctor has to verify an individual is receiving gender transitioning medical treatment before making the change. SB 179 would remove both of these requirements. Choosing a new sex on a driver’s license will only require a person to check one of three boxes: male, female, or the new third gender option “non-binary” for those who do not want to identify as either sex."</span><br />
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Okay, so right now someone can change their sex on their birth certificate, but they have to talk to a judge first. I think this is a hair better than the new proposed law. At least someone is there to check your mental stability and rationalization behind the choice to do this. I suppose some people have gone through sex changes and appear like they are a woman, or a man, and would like their driver's license and birth certificate to reflect that. Now, I may not be "stoked" about this. But if someone really wants to do this, they already can. They just have to go see a judge, and make their case.<br />
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I would think the argument for changing the description on your driver's license makes the most sense. Because you now look like a man, or vice versa. But changing it on your birth certificate? Really? ...Why? For some sort of validation that how you feel is also reality? It's not reality. You want it to be your reality, you feel conflicted, and you don't want to feel that way anymore. And you think this will be the thing that sets things right in your life. Well, I will talk more on that later. But that is not the resolution to your conflicting feelings. (And yes, I do feel for you. I really do. I am not an insensitive person. But I am talking about laws here. Not feelings.)<br />
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This new law would let people choose what sex they want to be, based on how they feel. No questions asked. Sounds like a dream come true to a person going through "the change." Or transitioning. But to me it sounds ludicrous! Why? Because you can't change your biology!<br />
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A friend of mine even went to check out a biology book, just to see what kids are being taught in school these days. Perhaps times have changed! So she went to get the facts. She sent this image and said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: 'San Francisco', -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, '.SFNSText-Regular', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;">It's biology! Your chromosomes determine your sex." That is factual truth. The non-changing truth.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJi-rdwcbZdQmN753oteNDq5yZJ_DvrnlTxrYdewvbi03d33CXvvGmVmCvehKxLsFDv1DtczlB__34Ldyhmm_7AQjry3HhLFHW8ZLDJ8U_11tin95vlZz8uzE-8LnXGWKjwYYni7WRdk/s1600/17884205_10158477597265317_2033464148178923840_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJi-rdwcbZdQmN753oteNDq5yZJ_DvrnlTxrYdewvbi03d33CXvvGmVmCvehKxLsFDv1DtczlB__34Ldyhmm_7AQjry3HhLFHW8ZLDJ8U_11tin95vlZz8uzE-8LnXGWKjwYYni7WRdk/s640/17884205_10158477597265317_2033464148178923840_n.jpg" width="412" /></a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: San Francisco, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, .SFNSText-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;"></span></span><br />
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She posted this image and it's something we have all seen. It's Biology 101 stuff here. If your chromosomes are an "XX" you are a woman, and if they are an "XY" you are a man.<br />
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Now, I know some people do not feel they are in the correct body. And as I said, I do have sympathy. I really do! People that have this internal struggle about their gender identity have a struggle that no human being wants to have. No one WANTS to feel like a man in a woman's body, or a woman trapped inside a man's body. I am sure this is torturous to them! I am not doubting that it creates anxiety. And there may be plenty to testify how a sex change operation helped them to feel more at ease with themselves, taking away the anxiety. And I am sure there are others that this did little to help (I have read on the topic, and there are studies that have shown this,)<br />
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If you have a personal story to share, I am sure you have been convinced that this was the best solution for you or someone you love. Because they seem to feel better! Or you seem to feel better! But the fact is, no matter what you wear or what you do to your genitalia, your chromosomes will not change. You can't change your biology based on how you feel! And we can't make laws based on a person's FEELINGS.<br />
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The law is not here to validate your feelings. It's not. We have been using laws to do this, and to justify our actions for too long. When is this going to stop?<br />
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This is akin to allowing a white woman to say she is a black woman! Remember that lady? Her name is Rachel Dolezal. Do you think that is insanity? "Come on," you think. "That's just ridiculous," you say. Does this comparison make you upset? Well, she headed up the NAACP for a while so I guess some people took her seriously at one point! If you don't know what I am talking about here is one article about <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/26/rachel-dolezal-white-woman-who-identifies-as-black-now-jobless-may-soon-be-homeless.html"> Rachel Dolezal here</a>. There are plenty more you can find, if you Google her name. She is trying to claim that race is as fluid as some people claim gender is. And the transgender society doesn't like that at all. No? Really? Because her argument is very similar to yours! She is trying to say that her BIOLOGY does not match how she FEELS about who she is. This is the SAME argument as the transgender argument, or the argument of "gender fluidity."<br />
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Doesn't it sound so open minded and wonderful to say that we can love whom we want, and have sex with whomever we want, and that our sexuality is fluid? And that gender is fluid? Well... then everything else about our biology is FLUID! Right? Where does the argument stop? Where does the line get drawn? Where you FEEL it should be drawn? When your gut doesn't FEEL right about it anymore? Then it's no longer right? That kind of logic is absurd! How can we make laws based on our feelings? And what if I feel you are wrong? How does that make me wrong and you right, and not the other way around? I am simply sharing my FEELings, after all!<br />
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The voice of reason, from the article I posted:<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"While sympathetic to the difficulties of those experiencing gender dysphoria, California Family Council CEO Jonathan Keller has grave concerns about this bill’s impact."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“We believe government documents need to reflect biological facts for identification and medical purposes,” Keller said. “Secondly, the bill advances a falsehood; that being male or female, or no gender at all is a choice each person must make, not a fact to celebrate and accept. Laws like this will simply erase any meaningful gender definitions, if being male or female is completely divorced from biological facts.” - Keller</span></div>
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Well said, Johnathan Keller.<br />
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This blog post is a call to action. Come on, Californians! Come on Christians! We need to speak the truth! We need to call our Senators! We need to stand for what is true, and right, and holy! The ONLY person that spoke out against this is a man named Greg Burt, the Director of Capitol Engagement for the California Family Council. And I thank the Lord this man was there speaking. But we need to let the committee know if we agree with him! Otherwise our silence shows we approve of this new law.<br />
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My name is Greg Burt and I’m speaking on behalf of the California Family Council.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The bill before you today marks a profound change in the way human beings have defined themselves since the beginning of recorded history. Previously, human beings by their very nature have been thought of as binary, either physically male or physically female. This bill attempts to completely change this understanding. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Today you are being asked to make a momentous decision regarding how our government will define sex and gender</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">. There are only two real choices. Either one’s sexual identity or gender is a based on self identification or feelings, as the proponents of this bill believe, or it is based on biological facts. What is a male? What is a female? That is the question before you. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It is our contention that the words “male” and “female” describe biological reality and this reality should be listed on state identification documents. “Male and female, He created them,” as the Scriptures say. But to be male or female is not simply a religious belief, it is a description of the human race that has been integrated in to the very definitions of the words. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Look up the words “male” and “female” in the Dictionary and </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">ALL</b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> you will find are physical descriptions. Our state driver’s licenses have always recognized this truth. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pull out your driver’s license and you will see that all the identification characteristics listed are physical descriptions. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Eye color, hair color, height, weight, and Sex: These are all listed on a driver’s license because these physical characteristics can be independently verified by physical evidence, even if a person is unconscious. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you allow someone who is physically male to list themselves on a government document as a female, or vice a versa, then the government will be legalizing a lie. That’s assuming we are still using the dictionary to define what a male and a female is. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As state senators, I know you think you are powerful, but you do not have the authority to simply change the meaning of words just because you want to. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you are trying to resolve the identity document difficulties of those who identify as transsexual, you would be better off removing sex as part of a person’s physical description on a driver’s license or a birth certificate. Otherwise you are knowingly letting citizens put false information on these documents. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Senators, think about your own children. What did you tell them about their gender after they were born? Did you base what you told them on their physical characteristics or did you encourage your children to choose their gender based on how they felt? This is a rhetorical question, because</span><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"> I know </b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">what most, if not all of you, did. You exclaimed to the whole world with joy the moment your child was born, that you had a “boy” or a “girl.” And you did this completely and without hesitation based on the child’s physical characteristics. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In closing,</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">the California Family Council believes government documents need to reflect biological facts for identification and medical purposes. Secondly, we believe this bill advances a falsehood; that being male or female, or no gender at all is a choice each person must make, not a fact to celebrate and accept. Laws like this will simply erase any meaningful gender definitions, if being male or female is completely divorced from biological facts.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">We respectfully ask you vote no on SB 179. Thank you.</span></div>
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Perhaps you want to live in a genderless society. Perhaps when your child is born you will say, 'I have a non-binary human!" And will wait until they are old enough to talk, so they can tell you if they are a boy or a girl, and then you will treat them accordingly. But that is not the world I want to live in. Nor is it the world I want to pass onto my children.<br />
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I want my children to be raised to be compassionate. To not bully others that look different than them. To treat people with disabilities like people. Just people, differently abled then them. I want my daughter to be proud to be a woman, and to fight for her rights. And I want my son to be a leader in his home, but also a man that unapologetically loves his wife to his core, and would lay his life down for her. That is the world I want them to live in. A place filled with respectful, compassionate, kind individuals. But also a world that does not discard the truth, simply based on how one feels.<br />
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You know what you need? You know what we ALL need? A new identity in Christ Jesus! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come!" Yes, you can have a new identity! Jesus wants to give you that identity!<br />
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There is also an interesting verse that says, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, NOR IS THERE MALE AND FEMALE, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."<br />
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Wow. God gets it. Maybe we are all just longing for something that only HE has to offer us! But has also been there for the taking all along! A new identity. Neither male or female! If you are in Christ your identity is not found in your biology. It's not found in your race. It's not found in your status in society either. You are a child of God. Period. Once you decide to follow Jesus, and believe in him, that is where your identity is and where your freedom will be found! <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!</span></blockquote>
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- <span style="font-size: large;">John 8:36</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </blockquote>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-45841965549362127882017-02-05T23:14:00.002-08:002017-02-07T11:00:44.753-08:00I think I just PR'd a little!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QQpIKDyV1inH2cafo8PbIGQxoOKMAKGh7LfZL8GKW5XFp83G9lscyiwZ88jsylE70WqxC6oSjLXiXYc4aCaA9vxBKz1Z2TW48cyr3I1KCb82osUtRA6hIc0rhDVJHHUiziX5khmoX1k/s1600/16427472_10154975735789715_5926210629377430812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QQpIKDyV1inH2cafo8PbIGQxoOKMAKGh7LfZL8GKW5XFp83G9lscyiwZ88jsylE70WqxC6oSjLXiXYc4aCaA9vxBKz1Z2TW48cyr3I1KCb82osUtRA6hIc0rhDVJHHUiziX5khmoX1k/s320/16427472_10154975735789715_5926210629377430812_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have been chasing down a half marathon PR (personal record) of mine for the past couple years. In 2013 I ran a half in Long Beach and finished in 2:11:23 (2 hours, 11 min, 23 seconds). I was training at the time for my first full marathon, so that day the half felt effortless and the finish time came easily. Besides that race, my average half times were typically about 2:28 (2 hours, 28 min). But the past couple years I have slowly been increasing my speed and have averaged 2:15! The last two races before the Surf City half 2017, I got 2:13's! I was working hard, doing speed work, doing my longer runs at a faster pace... and I saw that 2:11 PR slip away those past two races.<br />
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I had one more half planned for 2017, then I had decided it was time for a break (this is because of the stress of the race weekend, like getting a sitter for the kids if I didn't have my husband home. My husband's work schedule being unpredictable, and the in-laws availability iffy on race days make the whole weekend a HUGE hassle. I am pretty much over it for now). My point being, I had one more shot to beat that PR, before my race break. And I really wanted to beat it! I just recently have been struggling once I hit that 9 mile mark to keep the pace up fast enough. It's one thing to run 4 or 5 miles at a 9:45 minute pace, or even 6 to 8 miles, but a whole other thing to do that for 13.1 miles!<br />
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I decided to focus on this race for that PR, and to dedicate it to LIFE Runners. Through this group I support my local pregnancy crisis center, and hope to raise awareness that the life of the unborn is as important as the mother's. I believe women need us in these crisis moments, to support and love them, to be there for them, so they can feel empowered to choose life for their unborn child. Often decisions are made to abort based on their emotions in that moment, and it only takes ONE person to tell them that they will be there for the for a woman to choose life. By being a LIFE Runner, I am saying I choose to be that ONE!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouvD1XpFnsNVnWNnXu1x6k2PlemBMFy-uk7x7mlieHZ9JP3q8g5Woa7RTkA3sMBGqydxCg_QHtY2b_X6ugLlROVVSj1JOHW2UrYdo_x2uckHxBV8xFHaQiFH-8XJgZux9dKNJ-_pp5kA/s1600/16388219_10154976775744715_8190829762838668261_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouvD1XpFnsNVnWNnXu1x6k2PlemBMFy-uk7x7mlieHZ9JP3q8g5Woa7RTkA3sMBGqydxCg_QHtY2b_X6ugLlROVVSj1JOHW2UrYdo_x2uckHxBV8xFHaQiFH-8XJgZux9dKNJ-_pp5kA/s320/16388219_10154976775744715_8190829762838668261_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of my Meg's Miles shirt, and the back of my LIFE Runner's shirt. </td></tr>
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When I woke up race day I wasn't feeling 100%. Earlier in the week I was fighting dehydration, and I still was feeling off. I wasn't sure I wanted to try for a PR anymore. But I got up, and went to the race anyways. One of the MRTT gals I car pooled with, Andrea, was going to be my pacer, and she had a migraine and threw up when we got to the race. Things were looking bleak. But she said she was going to stick it out and stay with me. We both felt pretty horrible, but sometimes once you start running you start to feel good. I can't really explain that one very well. Seems counter intuitive, but I have often felt better DURING a run than I felt before or once I sat back down after an invigorating run. Kinda weird. But the truth. So we both resolved to give this PR thing a shot. She felt I could do it, and I needed the mental push. So I accepted her offer of sticking it out with me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the MRTT Mommas that came out to race! </td></tr>
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During the race I felt pretty good. Mile 3 a hill came along, but I was able to keep up the sub 10 min pace that I wanted (sub 10 meaning, anything faster than 10 minute per mile pace, for you non-runners). Then we rounded the corner to the long out and back section along the Pacific Coast Highway, at Huntington Beach CA. This section can get monotonous. Even though you are running alongside this amazing ocean, you just feel like this section is never ending! There is a lot of mental work to be done at this point. However, one mental boost came from seeing a friend, Renee, on her bike rolling by... it was awesome! She came out to cheer the MRTT Mommas out there. Many of us were on the course that day. And each time I saw one they cheered me on to meet my goal! They all knew I was working hard to get that PR. So that was amazing too. Can't beat having an amazing group of supportive women around you!<br />
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Another mental boost came from this app called "Motigo." Friends can record cheers for you, these are played along the route as you run. So you get your own personal cheering section while you run! It's awesome! At mile 9 these cheers really became needed! My music app stopped playing, but the Motigo app was still working. So here I was, on this long stretch of highway, in silence, only the sound of people's feet around me hitting the ground and my mental chatter. I focused on my friend's shoes in front of me, and kept chasing them down. I would catch up, then fall back, then catch up. I was fighting to not give up! And she wasn't slowing down enough to let me lose the pace I asked her to help me keep (a mark of a good pacer). The first part of the race I had remembered to pray for many people. But at this point my prayers turned to God for His help! Mental chatter can be very negative when you run. But I had to keep it positive. Besides mantras like, "Fight for it," "Beat that 10 minute pace," I also prayed for God's strength to take over. My body was fading, and I needed His supernatural help.<br />
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As I slowed down, right past the mile 9 marker, first I saw Renee on her bike again, which was an awesome boost. Then a gentleman was running by me and he said he loved the back of my shirt. He said he supported that his whole life (he was referring to the words, "Remember the Unborn. Jer 1:5 Liferunners.org" on my back). I said thank you and God bless you. Then another guy came by and gave me kudos as well. These little affirmations came at just the right time. It was time to pick the pace up and fight for that PR! Then on my Motigo app a Meg's Miles friend Missy came on and said "Jeremiah 1:5! Get that PR!" YESSSS!!<br />
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Then she came back on and spoke the words back to me from a post I had put on my Facebook wall earlier in the week. "The God on the mountain is still the God in the valley."</div>
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That's all I needed to hear! Yes! Let's finish this race, for the unborn, for women in crisis, to show that God is still the same God in the valley, and he will get me through these final miles! I was struggling, but the fight was not over!<br />
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I kept struggling to catch up with Andrea. But I kept her close. Chasing down those shoes.... left, right, left, right... repeat. I kept focused on my PR goal. She turned her head back after mile 12 and said, "We hit 2 hours! You can do this!" I dug deep, prayed for more strength, and pushed through that final mile! Once I saw the finish line ahead, I stepped on the gas (what little was left in the tank). Right before we crossed that line I grabbed Andrea's hand for a strong victorious finish! We did it! According to her Garmin she said we got 2:11:04! I said that was a PR! But still had to wait to check on my chip time. But I knew, no matter that final time, I had PR'd. Maybe by the skin of my teeth, but I did it! Thank you, Lord!<br />
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As I walked over to grab my medal I almost felt like I was going to fall over. My legs were ready to just SIT down already! LOL I guess that is what happens when you lay it all out there. Nothing left to give! (Funny side story: I went to pick up my "beach cities challenge" medal, the HUGE starfish medal, and they asked me what my first name was. I blanked. My buddy, Andrea, had to tell them and spelled it out for them. LOL. Yup. I ran pretty hard that day!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This funny meme came to mind after I finished, so I put my finish time on it. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some more of my running peeps! (Andrea is in front taking the photo. Renee is on the far left.)</td></tr>
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With this race, my last half marathon of 2017, I completed the "Beach Cities Challenge." Interesting fact, I started my racing career with the same challenge in 2012/2013! After my first half I found out it was a part of this challenge, you do the OC half, the Long Beach half, and the Surf City half and get this HUGE medal to celebrate your accomplishment. 5 years later and I did it again. Back then I did those races in about 2:28, but this time I did it in 2:11! In the running community that is a big deal! Shaving off minutes, even seconds, is considered an accomplishment!<br />
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What I have learned from running these past 5 years, is that dedicating my runs to God always equals success. Through running I have been able to raise money and awareness for melanoma cancer, and a few various other charities, as well as run for the LIFE runners and the unborn (supporting my local pregnancy crisis center), and run for Meg's Miles (supporting a grieving family, and an amazing loving online community of runners). But most of all I have learned that God first, is always the best move to make in my life.<br />
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If you would like to help me support Living Well, my local pregnancy crisis center, go here to this link: <a href="https://www.razoo.com/us/story/Oc-Life-Runners-Fundraiser-For-Living-Well" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.razoo.com/us/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>story/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>Oc-Life-Runners-Fundraiser-<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>For-Living-Well</a><br />
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Thank you for reading my story! And thank you for your support!<br />
-the Annagizer<br />
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And remember... #ChooseJoy #ChooseLove #ChoosePeace<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-68274717559297427632017-01-29T16:23:00.003-08:002017-01-29T16:23:41.541-08:00I Choose Joy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a crazy week. 1/20/17 Trump was sworn in as President. That day, and the days that followed, caused more division among friends on Facebook then I had ever seen before! (Well, there was division long before this day, but it seems like it was at a whole new level!)<br />
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My husband made a post on Facebook that simply said he was home sick from work with our 9 year old daughter, who was also sick, and that they watched the inauguration together. He said it was great to witness history happening with her, and that he would be praying for our new President. And then a "friend" of his started attacking him. We still are scratching our heads as to why he was attacking. Nothing my husband said was particularly stating that he was either pro-Trump or anti-Trump. It was history. Period. And we were both happy that our daughter got to witness it live!<br />
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Not only did the attack on my husband start (including saying there was no way he was a man of God), but the "friend" also attacked our friends! One of which is a woman in her 70s, he said her Mother must have not raised her right. (Her Mother is dead, not really a classy thing to do.) Of course he had no idea who he was talking to. And usually that is the case when friends attack their friend's friends on Facebook. You don't know their background! You don't have a clue who you are attacking! And usually, you just sound plain foolish in the end.<br />
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After the inauguration there was a Woman's March all across the US. Women stated why they marched, others stated why they didn't. Then things got ugly on one of my own posts between some of my friends! It is such a horrifying thing to be the hostess of such an ugly conversation. I bemoaned how I wish I could state my views without being attacked, or in the midst of a debate. But then, yes, this is what happens on social media. Every post opens yourself up to an opposing opinion, as much garnering a "like." And I have to come to terms with that reality. Not everyone is going to just scroll by and ignore it if they don't like what they read. (And I don't mind a statement of opinion that is different than mine, it's about the delivery more than the fact that we believe differently that bothers me. And cussing at my friends isn't something that makes me very happy either. You can keep that language and behavior on your own wall, thank you.)<br />
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As Trump started sending out executive orders and making changes, the posts kept getting more and more heated. It became "unsafe" to make any political statement, or to post something that had anything to do with politics in any shape or form. Unsafe, meaning you couldn't make any statement without opening yourself up to criticism or debate.<br />
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This past week I had to log off of Facebook a couple times. I left, came back, left again. I was trying to figure out how to navigate all of this negativity and how to combat it. In the end I decided to choose joy.<br />
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This is how I choose joy:<br />
#1 Don't post politically charged posts. I chose to take a break from 1/28-2/28 in order to make my page focused on more positive topics.<br />
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#2 When I do start to post anything politically related again, after 2/28, be prepared for the negative comments and choose to not respond. Just let it go. Or opt to not post, if I am not in the mood for it.<br />
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FYI... The Bible gives us clear direction on this (bottom line, it's best not to engage):<br />
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Proverbs 9:7-8 "<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; r</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">ebuke the wise and they will love you."</span><br />
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Proverbs 18:2 "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">A fool does not delight in understanding, b</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">ut only in revealing his own mind."</span><br />
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Proverbs 29:9<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> "</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, t</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">he foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest."</span><br />
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1 Corinthians 3:19 <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."</span></div>
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#3 Focus on the joy I have in my faith in Jesus and share that with my friends! I like to encourage my friends. My faith brings me joy and hope! And I want that for you! </div>
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#4 Focus on family and the blessings I have.<br />
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#5 Instead of focusing on the things I can't control in life, focus on what I can. And that is my reaction to them.<br />
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In the Bible we are given guidelines to find joy, Philipians 4:4-9:<br />
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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be obvious to everyone. The Lord is near. </div>
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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. <span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span></div>
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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. Whatever you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, put these things into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.</div>
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I like how the Bible says to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, to pray, and provides a list of what to think about. And then the Bible promises peace in return!<br />
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And bottom line, let us remember this:</div>
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I choose joy! I choose peace! and I choose love!<br />
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God bless,<br />
AnnaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-40644476369453096912016-12-31T22:27:00.003-08:002016-12-31T23:40:18.013-08:002016 Running Overview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 2016 I completed 1 full, 4 half marathons, 1 virtual half marathon, 1 10k, 1 5k and a virtual 5k.<br />
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I also ran 830 miles for the year, and completed the "Run the Year" challenge to complete 2016 miles in 2016 with a couple gals from my Meg's Miles group. We called ourselves "Team ShellBowGizer." A mash up of all our names, Lashell Head from SC, Julie Bowman from VA, and my running nickname "Annagizer." I called them "Lashizzle-Shell" and "Run-bow." We covered many miles and covered each other in LOTS of prayer over the past year. The bond that was created by this challenge was a blessing and a half! It went beyond the miles, and permeated our lives spiritually. A bond, not only as sole-sisters, but as soul-sisters in Christ.<br />
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This is the break down of my accomplishments:<br />
<b>LA Marathon Feb 2016 finished in 5:25:45 </b><br />
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I wrote about this in my previous blog post <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2016/02/last-minute-marathoner.html" target="_blank">Last Minute Marathoner</a>. This photo below is now proudly displayed above my medal rack. My Meg's Miles buddy, Doris, and I conquered the LA marathon beast and crossed that finish line together, hand in hand! We both had previously taken almost 6 hours to complete the marathon. Together we beat our previous times and crossed at 5 hours and 25 minutes and some change! It was a beautiful journey alongside an amazing and kind hearted woman. She is a dear friend, and we met through Facebook! (See, Facebook isn't all bad!) And I dedicated my miles as a LIFE Runner, to support pregnancy crisis centers and support Pro-Life and honor the life of all women, even those women struggling with an unexpected pregnancy. We need to be there for these women, and be the voice and advocate for the unborn!<br />
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<b>Living Well 10k April 2016 finish time 1:15:42. </b></div>
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I helped the race director put on this inaugural event. I felt personally responsible for its success or failure. There were only about 6 or 7 people that ran the 10k. Many more chose to do the shorter 5k distance. I led the group through the trails to complete their 10k without having to do the 5k route twice (something runners would prefer not to do). I ran ahead and stopped to make sure each runner made the final turn and then found the turn around point successfully. I was the 2nd to last in. I ran as a "LIFE Runner" and did this as a way to support Living Well, my local pregnancy crisis center. Once we gathered for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medal ceremony they called the names of the people that had won the race and so on. Afterwards the gentleman who won found me and gave me his first place medal! He said if it wasn't for me no one would have been able to figure out the route and I was in front most of the time, until the end. (Because I hung back to make sure every runner had made it in.) I was floored, and very moved. I felt that God had chosen to reward me for the help I offered the race director and the support I showed Living Well. </div>
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<b>So Cal "Ragnar 4 Rett" Virtual 5k April 2016</b></div>
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I ran a virtual 5k for <a href="http://www.girlpower2cure.org/ragnar4rett" target="_blank">#TeamSparkle2016</a>, to help raise money and awareness for Rett Syndrome. The Team Sparkle Ragnar team put on this virtual event to support their fundraiser while they ran Ragnar. And what can I say, I am a sucker for a good cause. I had run So Cal Ragnar the previous year, but didn't have it in me to do that challenge again. (Plus it costs a bit of money). But I was happy to support a good cause during the event, and live a little bit vicariously through them.</div>
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<b>iCure Melanoma 5k May 2016 finish time 30:51 For "Team Paul and Ruth"</b></div>
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I put together a team in memory of my brother Paul and his wife Ruth (they both passed away from Melanoma only 17 months apart), for the 10th Anniversary of this local 5k for Melanoma! Friends showed up to support me from my Run for God group, my Meg's Miles group, and MRTT. It meant so much to me for them to be there, I don't think they even realize how special that was to me. My kids even came and saw a dove release in honor of those who had passed from Melanoma. It brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat as they flew over us. I know Paul and Ruth are looking down from Heaven, proud of me and my running accomplishments and all I have done in their memory to raise awareness of Melanoma and to help find a cure. </div>
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<b>OC 1/2 May 2016 finish time 2:14:20</b></div>
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I was trying to beat a previous half PR, "Personal Record," of 2:11:23. I ran almost the whole race with a gal from Meg's Miles, Juie Bravo. We tend to be at a similar pace for races. And we have run a few together last year. She was going at a strong and steady pace and I kept up with her until mile 9. I knew I couldn't keep up that pace for the entire 13.1 miles, so I let her continue without me. At mile 10 there is a ruthless incline, and then the last 3 miles you feel completely spent. All things considered, the finish time was great. And I am proud of my accomplishment that day. It was my best for that day, and my best time on that course. Not too shabby. This race I ran for <a href="https://www.girlsontherun.org/" target="_blank">"Girls on the Run"</a> a charity group that inspires young girls "to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running." Something that I would love my own daughter to become involved in one day!</div>
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<b>Rock n Roll San Diego June 2016 finish time 2:31:35. </b></div>
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This race I ran with my MRTT buddies (Mom's Run This Town) just for the sheer fun of it! One gal I ran with, Miranda, has a lot of nerve pain issues and is just plain INSPIRING! She released me at mile 12 to run ahead, but in the end we were only separated by about a minute. I should have just stayed with her. Despite all the pain in her body she chooses to keep running fulls and halves. I don't know how she does it. She makes me think of my brother Paul, because he dealt with a lot of chronic pain from a broken back. How anyone with chronic pain can keep a smile on their face and stay positive day to day is amazing to me. But Miranda seems to be able to accomplish this! God bless her. </div>
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<b>The Annual Annagizer Half and Virtual half marathon July 2016</b></div>
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The finish time for this race is not important. This was my virtual 13.1 race I put on for my birthday in July every year, called the <a href="http://virtualbirthdayrun.wixsite.com/melanomaresearch" target="_blank">"Virtual Birthday Run."</a> I run 13.1 miles on my birthday for melanoma research and donate funds, from sales of virtual medals, to the Melanoma Research Foundation. It's something I have been doing for the past 3 years. And it's always a very special event for me. This year many of my online buddies ran virtually for me and posted their dedicated miles to melanoma research, in memory of my brother Paul and his wife Ruth. It was very moving. Such a blessing to have so many running friends all over the USA and beyond. </div>
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<b>Long Beach 1/2 October 2016 finish time 2:25:35</b></div>
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I ran this race in my LIFE Runner jersey as well. To honor the life of the unborn and support/ bring awareness to pregnancy crisis centers. This is the race where I got my PR of 2:11:23 in 2013, I was training for my first full that year. So perhaps its unfair to expect myself to beat that time while just training for the half marathon distance. But I wanted to beat my time at this race really bad! I started this race with my buddy Julie Bravo again. This time she kept with me until mile 6. She said to go ahead as she made a quick stop. I was thinking she would catch up eventually, but she never did. The first 7 miles I was tracking for a PR. But this year the heat reared it's ugly head, and at mile 8 I was faced with a long stretch of beach where felt like I was running in the desert! No shade and no relief in site! By the time I came to the turn to the finish line , at mile 10, all the gas was out of the tank and I struggled to complete the last 3 miles without walking the whole way. I forced myself to keep picking up my feet and shuffling. The PR was gone. But the time of 2:25:35 was actually quite decent, considering my averages for the past few years have been around 2:28. So I accepted it for what it was. A great time, in light of the circumstances. Julie wasn't too far behind me and did a great job in that heat! </div>
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<b>Richmond VA 1/2 November 2016 finish time 2:13:20</b></div>
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During this race I got the closest to beating my previous PR. And it was my fastest half marathon time of 2016. My running buddy for this race was Kimberly Erin. She is from the Meg's Miles group I am in. And she was upset with me for not letting her know my PR goal, she said she would have helped me reach it. No doubt that was true. But honestly, I was feeling the pace as it was and didn't think I was going to be able to run the last few miles. Seemed that lately those final 3 miles were my nemesis. However, running with Kim I was able to push through and keep running. In fact, mile 12 was my fastest mile! </div>
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Kim and I are as OPPOSITE in our view points, including our political views, as two people can get. Yet, we are joined by our mutual love of running and our compassion for Meg's grieving family. In the photo below, the frame on the left is of Kimberly and I crossing the finish line hand in hand. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX2jHat5LII0ulpyVuZip1-gSPXazhj9kjPxeurYx66ekSKcTvjT3peYIQvkql3rse-1oukGkVW0Etqa0V-qSivW_QjOdWA9bZNH-ni5Sc81dR-jL7-ZkFVHfzy9-rcuxjwGtmvHzMdk/s1600/20161231_195820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX2jHat5LII0ulpyVuZip1-gSPXazhj9kjPxeurYx66ekSKcTvjT3peYIQvkql3rse-1oukGkVW0Etqa0V-qSivW_QjOdWA9bZNH-ni5Sc81dR-jL7-ZkFVHfzy9-rcuxjwGtmvHzMdk/s400/20161231_195820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If two people as different as we are can cross a finish line hand in hand, there is HOPE for this country! We can all live in harmony and respect for one another. It is possible! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154683156169715&set=a.467417004714.253048.789984714&type=3&theater&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&notif_id=1479107094901423" target="_blank">We ran together that day for Meg's Miles, and for peace!</a> She is my sole-sister for life! </div>
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I decided to run the half this year. Last year I went to this race in VA and <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2015/11/meg-smiles-in-va-megsmiles.html" target="_blank">ran the full</a>. The reason I really wanted to run the half this time was to be there to cheer in all the first time full marathoners. After I finished my half I ran back and hugged and high fived many of the Meg's Milers. One was my roommate, Gloria Sisneros, from NM. She and I ran the full last year. Then I ran further back and found our other roommate Nancy Cornect from Canada, she also ran the full the previous year with us. (This year she woke up sick and STILL finished the full!! Amazing!) I ran back just a little bit to find our 4th roomie and my dear friend Kimberly Kidd, who lives in VA. This was her FIRST full! I let her go before the final bit of the route to claim her glory at the finish line! She did an amazing job! Such an inspiration! </div>
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I was headed back into the marathon route once again when I saw Dee, the gal in the center of the photo on the right above, running with Missy (the gal to the right). I had just met Dee in person two days before. We met online on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/megsmiles/" target="_blank">Meg's Miles Supporters page on Facebook</a>. This day she was running the full. Missy had also run the half and was going back into the route to help other Meg's Milers run into the finish. I ran over to them and hugged Dee. She grabbed my hand and was very emotional. It was just too awesome to be a part of that moment. I can't even describe it! We ran into the finish stretch together, and then she and Missy took off and sprinted the last 100 feet while I raised my cowbell in hand, and whooped and hollered after them, "Go Dee!! Whooooo!! Go, Dee go!!" All the while a HUGE group of Meg's Milers hollered and cheered for her from the sidelines. Once we crossed the finish she was obviously moved that we had done that with her. She said, "I thought no one would come back for me!" Well, Dee. Welcome to Meg's Miles! That is what we do! We run as one! And no man or woman gets left behind! </div>
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In fact, the majority of us stayed until the very end to watch every single member of our group cross that finish line. Including our "reluctant marathoner," Keith Cartwright. He never thought he would run a full. And he did that day! We basically had a party at the end of the race, dancing and cheering the rest of the marathoners in. Even complete strangers were greeted by a mass of Meggers high fiving them! It. Was. Awesome. </div>
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And not to be forgotten, even Meg Cross Menzies' own mother, Pam Cross, finished her first full marathon that day! Talk about a special day.</div>
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<b>And that concludes my 2016 running career. </b></div>
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So, as we say goodbye to 2016, I want to say "Thank you" to all who have supported me along my running journey this past year. Thank you for all the donations. Thank you for the help with all the training miles run, most of which I ran with my MRTT ladies. And thank you for the online support and daily inspiration that has come from my Meg's Miler virtual friends! Especially Team Cross Connections #TCC4ever and #TeamShellBowGizer and my So-Cal Meg's Mile race buddy Julie Bravo who came from that amazing group! Thank you to my LIFE Runner teammates! Particularly my SBFF (Spiritual Best Friend Forever), and LR teammate Karen Patnaude! She is an ambassador for LIFE and for Jesus, and I love her so dearly! #AllinChristforProLife! And thank you to my Run for God group/ Walk and Witness group! Your walks and talks and spiritual support through this year has been invaluable! I love my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/559828304173236/" target="_blank">"Run.Walk.Witness"</a> group!</div>
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May God bless you and yours in 2017!</div>
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<b>"The Lord bless you and keep you;<br />the Lord make his face shine upon you<br />and be gracious to you;<br />the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." </b></blockquote>
<b>Numbers 6:24-26 </b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-85433562073604791322016-02-28T21:55:00.002-08:002016-03-15T19:34:48.261-07:00Last Minute Marathoner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got a "double medal" for running SoCal Ragnar and LA! </td></tr>
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Well folks, I may have just gone from "half crazy and fully determined" to just full on crazy! I decided to run the L.A. marathon on the Thursday before the race!<br />
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When I signed up to run the Richmond VA marathon with my Meg's Miles group in November 2015, and to raise money for the family that lost Meg due to the actions of a drunk driver, I also had been considering doing the L.A. marathon in February 2016. But then I found out I had a Severe A-typical mole on my thigh that had to be removed, and I would have to take time off from running while the spot healed. And at that time I thought I wouldn't be able to ramp my training back up to be able to run L.A.<br />
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As the L.A. race day approached I saw all my Mom's Run This Town ladies getting excited about running L.A. as their first race. L.A. was my first full as well, and I was excited for them: <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2014/09/3914-262-done.html" target="_blank">Click here for my 1st Full story</a> Then there were my Meg's Miles friends that were planning on running it again, I had cheered them on last year, along with the MRTT ladies who ran it last year. I was going to try and be there to cheer them on this year too, and was in the midst of making plans to do so when I started to wish I had signed up to run it.<br />
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I received an email from the L.A. marathon that said "Last chance to register before midnight tonight!" And then I REALLY started wishing I had the money to join in!! I posted on my FB page that I wanted to join my friends and run L.A. again, but didn't have the $200 plus dollars to do so, so I would just have to accept that I would be the cheerleader for them again. Well... a short while later one of my friends tagged me on a post in Facebook that said her charity she was running for was selling their left over/ un-taken bibs for a much lower price than the $200 last minute registration!! Lower than even the price I would have paid if I had signed up when registration first opened! I was stoked! I texted my husband, and after a little bit of back and forth and "sighs" from him LOL... he said I could take her offer.<br />
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Well, the story gets even BETTER! After I registered and posted on my Facebook page that I was now running L.A., one of my friends asked if I needed a sponsor. He was going to sponsor me when I initially thought about running L.A., and so he said he would love to help me out. I said, "Sure!" And took him up on his offer. I then decided the charity I would run for would be the LIFE Runners organization that I lead a chapter for. Here's my chapter's FB page to check it out: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Orange-CA-LIFE-Runners-907254859336468/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Orange CA LIFE Runners</a> LIFE Runners is currently doing an <a href="http://www.liferunners.org/across/" target="_blank">A-Cross America Relay for LIFE </a>and I decided to take on all the legs they had left for the day I was running the marathon, which added up to 24 miles. It all clicked together.<br />
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And to top things off I found out that I qualified for a "double medal" for doing the SoCal Ragnar relay in 2015 and the LA full in 2016. (That explains the two medals in the photo above) I was like, "Thank you for the confirmation that I am a crazy person." I try to keep convincing myself I am only half crazy, and then that happens. LOL But what is cool about that is, I signed up to be a LIFE Runner the week before I ran SoCal Ragnar. I received my LIFE Runner shirt the day I got home, or I would have worn it during. But I like that this medal is a connection between my starting point as a LIFE Runner and the L.A. marathon, where I would run 26.2 miles in my LR shirt. A very cool symbol of my journey thus far.<br />
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Once I was signed up I told one of my fellow Meg's Miler buddies, Doris, that I would run with her, and perhaps we could try to finish together! A lot of my friends were faster than I was, so I knew keeping up with them would be impossible. But she seemed to be at a similar pace to me, from what I saw of her running posts on Facebook. She was doubtful she could hang with me the whole way, but I had a feeling she could do it. Well, long story short... we ran the ENTIRE L.A. marathon, just about stride for stride, together!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Check out our tracker results!!</span></td></tr>
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This race was a PR for Doris, and I crushed my previous LA finish time, of 5:59:45! I did run faster at my VA race in November, but comparing that race to L.A. is like comparing Apples to Oranges. Similar, but not exactly the same. Courses are different, weather is different... it's just different. Same distance, but not the same. So I am very proud of what I was able to do in L.A. this year. And I have to say, I feel like a bit of redemption happened. The first time around L.A. wasn't my favorite experience, but this time around it was pretty amazing. Last time they ran out of Gatorade, this year they had PLENTY. I brought my own electrolytes and water bottles this time, but I took a few cups of Gatorade along the course, and then looked at Doris and said, "Because they owe me." And gulped it down. LOL I also notice the side line support was better this time around. Even the cheerleaders in "Cheer Alley" stuck around, while last time they were walking home by the time I got to mile 18. It was too hot that year for them, I guess. All the things that had gone wrong the first time went perfectly this time. I felt God had given me a gift. Redemption!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna and Doris at the finish line.</td></tr>
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I don't know why I thought I could run a full marathon last minute. Perhaps it was because my previous full was only a few months past, and I was still running and working out. But I wasn't doing the full training long runs. I had only done one long run of 11 miles about a month before. But for some reason God took my "crazy" desire (or maybe only half crazy desire) to run a full last minute and He decided to bless it. It cost me nothing, and I was able to run for my LIFE Runner's group. I did raise a little bit of money, although I could definitely use more donations: <a href="https://www.razoo.com/us/story/Oc-Life-Runners-Fundraiser-For-Living-Well" target="_blank">Click here to donate to Living Well - Pregnancy Crisis Center</a> But even if I don't raise any more money, I wore a shirt that hopefully raised awareness of this group and was a voice for the unborn, and the pregnant women in crisis who need our help. I ran for LIFE, and I ran to support a friend. I ran for God. He gave me redemption, and I hope to spread His love and redemptive message to others!<br />
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Psalm 37:4 "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." The Lord did this for me. He gave me a desire of my heart, and I think that is pretty cool. Thank you God! xoxo -Anna<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jaPH9t6jEPuO-zkxmlqtF29vP8TOmiPNNpZlm3eNHuJV8suc2OldOI-aETqDq0yPFGYflFc2ktPWfTpnapYwp-Y701mZlJZSsPE4jk7yyqAagQrePIOuA2kFjJavy2SExFdgojGSmPw/s1600/Anna+and+Doris+LA+2016b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jaPH9t6jEPuO-zkxmlqtF29vP8TOmiPNNpZlm3eNHuJV8suc2OldOI-aETqDq0yPFGYflFc2ktPWfTpnapYwp-Y701mZlJZSsPE4jk7yyqAagQrePIOuA2kFjJavy2SExFdgojGSmPw/s320/Anna+and+Doris+LA+2016b.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LA Marathon finishers!!<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-76068289353650944772016-02-06T20:33:00.000-08:002016-02-06T20:50:27.748-08:00Reality vs. Emotions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I would like to start off with a true story:<br />
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Recently I had a customer at work that disputed the balance due on one of her orders. She had two orders, one was for a slab, the other was for tile. Her contractor had picked it all up, but she had a balance due still. She didn't want to pay the balance due that the computer was showing. In fact she said we owed her! I said that wasn't true, and I would contact our accounting department and speak to my manager to get this figured out. Accounting did an audit on her account to show her payments, how they were applied, and how we got to the balance due showing on her order. Even after we submitted to her the facts and figures in black and white she STLL disputed the balance due! She wrote back with her own version of the order and the payments. As I looked over her version I saw she had changed the tax due on the slab order.<br />
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A little background, our slab driver was sick and her slab wasn't transferred down to Orange County from L.A. on the day it was supposed to. I tried calling the contractor (his voicemail was full and I couldn't leave a message) and I called her, as well as emailed when I couldn't reach her. I wasn't able to get a hold of them in time, and the contractor sent his driver over to pick up anyways. Then the driver told me he was going to L.A. to pick up the slab. I called her, letting her know there was a tax difference of about $15 and I needed her to pay that tax if he was picking up over there. She asked if I could remove the L.A. tax charge, because the slab should have been in the OC. I said I couldn't remove that tax, but I could reduce her tile order by $15. Basically giving her a percentage off her tile price to bring her total down by $15.<br />
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Well, when she sent "her version" of what was due she showed OC tax on the slab order. And then she showed the payment of $15 (charged to her credit card already) as a payment toward her tile order. And THEN she also entered another line as -$15, under the total amount on her tile order. I said I would adjust the amount off her order to offset that charge, and I had already! So, she in essence triple dipped! She lowered the tax due by $15 on the slab order, she applied the $15 charge to her tile order, and then she showed that we should be subtracting her tile order by another $15! At least she showed that she owed us some money, instead of insisting we owed her, but I was showing she owed $117 and she was wanting another $30 on top of the $15 I gave her.<br />
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When I pointed these discrepancies out she wrote back with an argument that her driver had to go to L.A., when her slab should have been in OC, and that he had to wait 2 hours for our guys to come back from lunch, and then another 2 hours for his truck to be loaded, and then had to sit in traffic at 3pm returning from L.A. to the OC. Well, this is not a dispute about charges at this point, this is a "feeling" of her's that she "shouldn't have to" pay the L.A. tax. Basically saying that the time it took, and the gas money, was worth more than the original discount I offered of $15, and therefore was not good enough.<br />
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At this point I finally understood her argument against the charges and I went to my manager to get the approval to reduce her order once again, by another $30, to get this taken care of. Which he gladly did. I mean, come on, it's only $117 due... and she is going back and forth with me over a measly $30. It was not worth any more of my time or energy to argue with her. She wasn't right, she did owe us $117, but for customer service sake we reduced her charges to make her happy. Once I offered to do that reduction she paid the revised balance. (Phew! Finally, that was over with!)<br />
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Why did I share this story? Because it made me realize something about truth, or reality, verses our emotions and the emotional arguments made by pro-choice people.<br />
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I am part of a group called <a href="http://www.liferunners.org/" target="_blank">LIFE Runners</a>. We support local pregnancy crisis centers all over the USA and in other countries. We wear shirts (as pictured above) when we run, walk, or go on errands around town, to raise awareness or spark up a conversation. We are pro-life. We help women in those tough moments, when they don't know what to do. Women caught in an unexpected pregnancy who need our help. And we support centers that offer counseling to post-abortive women who are dealing with feelings of remorse and regret. LIFE Runners offers a pro-life response that is compassionate. Yet when I post on Facebook about their or my pro-life activities, I often hear reasons why a person is pro-choice. Sometimes the reaction to my posts on FB are angry responses.<br />
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The responses and arguments made are like that woman's response to the facts I presented her about her order. Her argument was based on her emotions, not on fact. In the world of retail the "customer is always right." And businesses bend over backwards to smooth things over with upset clients. Even if they are wrong, it doesn't matter. We validate their feelings by giving them discounts, or freebies, or services they may not even truly deserve. But that is retail.<br />
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The issue here, regarding abortion, is that we aren't dealing with "a measly $30" or the authority of a manager in a store. We are dealing with the authority of God, and the life of a human being. And God doesn't not bend to our will and desires to make us feel better. He is our creator. He gives life, and He takes it away. That is His right, and His alone. Yes, sometimes abortion happens naturally. A miscarriage may happen, or a spontaneous abortion. Even still births, which are tragic and devastating, happen at times. Doctors may not even be able to tell the Mother why it happened! Women are left heart broken. Husband and wives weep and mourn. But God is ultimately in control, and we are left to decide if we are going to continue to trust Him, or be bitter about what He allowed to happen.<br />
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Why do I give God ultimate authority? See the verse below:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 1em; line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -36pt;"> For thus says the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 1em; line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -36pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 1em; line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -36pt;">,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who created the heavens,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who is God,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who formed the earth and made it,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who has established it,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who did not create it in vain,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who formed it to be inhabited:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>“I <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">am</span> the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span>, and <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">there is</span> no other."</b></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>- </i></span><i style="background-color: transparent;">Isaiah 45:18</i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -24px;">I can give you my sympathy. I can love you. I can cry with you. I can hurt with you. I can agree that life is unfair. But I can never agree that giving a woman an abortion is okay. Because its not my right, or your right, to make that choice. To decide the value of that baby's future, or to put the value of your life ahead of theirs, is not okay. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -24px;">The ending of one life, to make the life of another easier or simpler is not okay. Saying its a woman's right to choose, because it's her body being affected, is not okay. Saying the child has a deformity or has Down Syndrome does not mean that we can see the future of their quality of life, or that the value of their life is less than a fully developed baby or a baby without a disability. Those are not reasons to end their life before it even started. That is not okay. The age of the mother, the way in which she became pregnant, the financial circumstances, the difficulties that the child may face in life, the emotional pleas that you present, are not reasons for abortion. They do not justify choosing abortion. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Even the less emotional, narcissistic pro-choice/ feminist argument that this is HER body and HER choice whether or not to endure the "devastation to a woman's body" that happens due to pregnancy is not a justification. You don't want stretch marks? Use cocoa butter. Buy a cream after pregnancy that reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Get laser surgery. You don't want to feel the pains of labor? Get an epidural. You don't want your vagina to be "ruined" by a vaginal birth? Find a Doctor willing to perform a C-section. They exist. You will be able to find one. I have little compassion for this argument, if you can't tell. This is the ultimate selfish response to becoming pregnant. Why don't you stop having sex then until you are ready? How about that as a choice?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">There are many more scenarios that are emotional pulling, and would break my heart to hear. I am sure of that. But no matter how emotional or how devastating one thinks a situation is, I know my God is bigger than all of that. I know He loves you, me, and any woman that is facing an unexpected pregnancy. I know that any child born into difficult circumstances or facing disabilities is loved by God. I know their life has as much value as mine, or as any other child. You could search the internet for stories all night long for testimonies that say as much, by adults that were supposed to be aborted. Stories of children with disabilities that overcame their challenges. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">If a woman decides that raising her child isn't for her, then she can choose adoption. And she can even select her baby's future parents! Abortion is not the answer. And I will never be able to agree, in any circumstance, that it is. My God is bigger than that. And He is the ultimate authority. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">#AllinChristforProLife #LIFErunners #ProLifeisProLove </span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-40014666717134962032015-11-20T23:51:00.000-08:002015-11-21T00:14:15.074-08:00Meg Smiles in VA #megsmilesI have written before about Meg's Miles, so I won't repeat everything again. You can read back on my hope and dream to visit Meg Cross Menzies' memorial in VA here: <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-megs-miles-shoes.html" target="_blank">My Meg's Miles Shoes</a> and about my decision to run my 2nd full marathon in VA for Meg here: <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2015/03/im-not-crazy-im-determined.html" target="_blank">I'm Not Crazy I'm Determined</a><br />
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I accomplished my dream and ran my 2nd Full Marathon in VA for Meg this past weekend, 11/14/15. As my shirt says, "I run for Meg because she ran for Him." I run for God, and I run to support a grieving family who miss this dear Christian woman (Mother, Daughter, Wife) daily. I can relate to grief and loss. My Mom passed away in July 2009, in fact here is that story: <a href="http://ramblingpilotwife.blogspot.com/2009/07/out-of-blue.html" target="_blank">Out of the Blue</a> and I lost my oldest brother to Melanoma in July 2011, here is that story: <a href="http://ramblingpilotwife.blogspot.com/2011/08/july-29-2011.html" target="_blank">Paul's Passing</a><br />
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While I was in the trenches of my own grief I started running for Meg and to support her family. Meg's Miles is the group that got me to look outward at others. To share in their pain and their grief journey has helped me in my own. Since my first Meg's Mile run on 1/18/14 I have felt myself pulling out of my own grief spiral, and now I see the hope of Hebrews 12:1 "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30214A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30214A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> with perseverance</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30214B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30214B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> the race marked out for us." </span>The "cloud of witnesses" in this verse include my Mother, Paul, and Meg. Anyone who has faith in Jesus as their Lord and savior, and has gone before us from this life to the next, is included! As I look up at the clouds I now see them smiling down on me, as I run this race of life for God. They look on with approval, waiting to cheer me across that final finish line of Heaven. And that is a day I look forward to with hope and great anticipation!<br />
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Today I want to talk about my run in VA, not the race... but a run that happened the morning before. It was on the road by Meg's memorial location, Hickory Hill Rd.<br />
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On the way to the 2 mile pre-race run my van got lost! My dear friend, bless her heart, was being told to turn down a dead end road and we couldn't figure out how to get to our destination. We ended up with about 4 phones calling out 4 different directions to turn different ways, and then finally we found the street!! We were about 20 min late and 6 miles away. We were getting very discouraged, but kept pressing on. We were on the look out for a group of runners... and that is what we found! This gaggle of runners on the road running right toward us! Kimberly, our driver for the weekend, stopped and said, "Get out and go run!" So a bunch of us filed out of her van and joined the group.<br />
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It was so surreal! I am part of the Facebook page called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/megsmiles/" target="_blank">"Meg's Miles Supporters" </a> and I recognized all these faces as I was running down this road toward, in the middle of VA! Here I am all the way from CA and I am seeing people from states like, Texas, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Colorado etc. that I had only ever seen online through a computer screen! Crazy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSYuSbbGJ2oas4ND4NDPUdSyVJH6zBx0YVO3M3H2YSK2IowSVikrPJdxEM9ef2EPo2hCCXYBDgkJluen-U8gAvU4kTxZ0_khz_mayUSxnX83n9L3vctq_DmxyEo4WE7gmaQnqcEoMFm4/s1600/Hickory+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSYuSbbGJ2oas4ND4NDPUdSyVJH6zBx0YVO3M3H2YSK2IowSVikrPJdxEM9ef2EPo2hCCXYBDgkJluen-U8gAvU4kTxZ0_khz_mayUSxnX83n9L3vctq_DmxyEo4WE7gmaQnqcEoMFm4/s400/Hickory+Hill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As I kept running I saw the image of a woman I knew very well from the Meg's Miles page... Meg's own Mother, Pamela Cross! The moment her eyes locked with mine she smiled with joy, ear to ear, ran towards me and threw her arms around me. I had heard stories of this woman's amazing hugs, and I have to tell you they are all true! Her hugs are amazing!! Then she put her arm through my arm and started running with me back towards where they had started, Meg's memorial. She said to me, "My prayer warrior!" I couldn't believe it! She knew who I was and she knew I was praying for her. That is all I have ever wanted, for Meg's family to know I am praying for them every day and that I am here for them, for support and to offer some sort of comfort. As I looked into her bright blue eyes I saw her precious smile and I said, "You have Meg's smile." She looked right into my eyes and said, "So do you." Wow. The truth of that statement really struck me. All this time the hash tag #megsmiles has read "Meg's Miles" to me, and that is what the page is called. But that day "Meg Smiles" is what I started to think about.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8ZueIIofRmsfcCfmvKZ4qylXUR8-cEsCRWrDtye_VCHULcZZrDjri53QK8jrh6k0_vhjoXSzQ-MXAzUQRnhZt2-NJpnVmI99MeMwkUd3FICa7tXHohTsx6MolgDAyxhExlmAFFgQwpc/s1600/Pam+and+Anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8ZueIIofRmsfcCfmvKZ4qylXUR8-cEsCRWrDtye_VCHULcZZrDjri53QK8jrh6k0_vhjoXSzQ-MXAzUQRnhZt2-NJpnVmI99MeMwkUd3FICa7tXHohTsx6MolgDAyxhExlmAFFgQwpc/s400/Pam+and+Anna.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pamela Cross and Anna Dwinger running down Hickory Hill Rd in VA.</td></tr>
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All weekend Meg's Smile was on the face of every Meg's Miler supporter I saw. Whether they were running a race, or on the side lines cheering... there was Meg's Smiling face. Here are a few smiling selfies from that day just to prove my point...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBAqgaJs7WSNLdooNRS48jiZQf7OELGQ3WqW1_r7m4pnu_9vk_5Xgj7pytyybnP6SaGLn0oeo5wsVuK9PW-D6eLt0VXFglnu8PpggrJzvgxuqTFSiXHBZmDsx-OJPyQISnPTNd5G7dLU/s1600/Smiles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBAqgaJs7WSNLdooNRS48jiZQf7OELGQ3WqW1_r7m4pnu_9vk_5Xgj7pytyybnP6SaGLn0oeo5wsVuK9PW-D6eLt0VXFglnu8PpggrJzvgxuqTFSiXHBZmDsx-OJPyQISnPTNd5G7dLU/s400/Smiles2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS08FTLl_mnl05Mks0OmLfN2qGH8aYHNGiEJNDR8BO-3T1s2CA_lknTDLXxskjAFC0_0IqE5Hdr9P2zMHkxqNKdyZuut6VF2GGZazs8qNUrKRVJy_Ap68wsbwzWYRUgJfw95BgiDYoSp4/s1600/Smiles3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS08FTLl_mnl05Mks0OmLfN2qGH8aYHNGiEJNDR8BO-3T1s2CA_lknTDLXxskjAFC0_0IqE5Hdr9P2zMHkxqNKdyZuut6VF2GGZazs8qNUrKRVJy_Ap68wsbwzWYRUgJfw95BgiDYoSp4/s400/Smiles3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrHLa3z0wxUitmg2sfQerNL6WY4qtNASwcDS9YWByd8SPKO6_1G6-K-1JzenUHi3v-397bOeKnFf460ZMqKRrlrHpOJ5i4vJr0aUAZavTsPWuL7qe5sNgX96XaWnt-JQy0_5YF2tPuTI/s1600/Smiles5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrHLa3z0wxUitmg2sfQerNL6WY4qtNASwcDS9YWByd8SPKO6_1G6-K-1JzenUHi3v-397bOeKnFf460ZMqKRrlrHpOJ5i4vJr0aUAZavTsPWuL7qe5sNgX96XaWnt-JQy0_5YF2tPuTI/s400/Smiles5.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjo4tw3F6ctzBCGDaH6yRr7cKLfptDgM42yMTOSFl6ZmUMe8b_jOkEd6fVmVbvOEo7wpM3QEn5g81erd_2B4E4SuF4-rBgQZJMJn6sV-tLFpabzyx0jyJBb3cV0geZWwUPI3WgS4b70Go/s1600/Smiles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjo4tw3F6ctzBCGDaH6yRr7cKLfptDgM42yMTOSFl6ZmUMe8b_jOkEd6fVmVbvOEo7wpM3QEn5g81erd_2B4E4SuF4-rBgQZJMJn6sV-tLFpabzyx0jyJBb3cV0geZWwUPI3WgS4b70Go/s320/Smiles1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT71CxqSF_0oeg4tc2nov_Gth2-o_stlsmuTnhTeMxOjZY-zzfLMUcXg_5pj3SoZHAGN27jbWDMcimMjqg04AzdrttISvxp7b_4NdVtxXT7W0VQPX11sSITbQ28FnL0LKYdmrQsAGZiyI/s1600/Smiles4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT71CxqSF_0oeg4tc2nov_Gth2-o_stlsmuTnhTeMxOjZY-zzfLMUcXg_5pj3SoZHAGN27jbWDMcimMjqg04AzdrttISvxp7b_4NdVtxXT7W0VQPX11sSITbQ28FnL0LKYdmrQsAGZiyI/s400/Smiles4.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcPHHvc9uAqFPoD8YvDRqtkw9YYJhT0OuaiZwoJ44DeZ6SBtmrAeMlq95Ut6w0WNmNcJXGs-m6zkqmaaaP9r1qMZOSeNkprOwI-wxCK4cPWLpvrQ2lMHEfOEz99mKIWxzYWyqsEotVn0/s1600/Smiles6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcPHHvc9uAqFPoD8YvDRqtkw9YYJhT0OuaiZwoJ44DeZ6SBtmrAeMlq95Ut6w0WNmNcJXGs-m6zkqmaaaP9r1qMZOSeNkprOwI-wxCK4cPWLpvrQ2lMHEfOEz99mKIWxzYWyqsEotVn0/s400/Smiles6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Meg's widower, Scott. The most precious smile is to see his. God bless him. </td></tr>
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There are MANY more photos like that... but you see my point ;)<br />
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I could write about many more moments from this weekend, the Meg's Miler we will forever refer to as the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100223783068889&set=a.674732129399.2129108.15804087&type=3&theater" target="_blank">"accidental marathoner" </a> , or the time I spent with Pamela Cross and her husband Wirt at the memorial on Sunday. But each and every moment was more of the same, lots of smiles and memories shared of Meg. And I know that this weekend God was peeling back the clouds for Meg to peer down at all that was going on, and she was smiling on all she saw being done, said, accomplished, and honored in her memory. </div>
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I got to hang my first pair of marathon shoes on Meg's memorial in person. I came to VA for this reason, but I took away so much more. Our group has a motto, "We run as one" and you know what, this weekend has really shown me that we truly do! Collectively we are Meg's Smile.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho61ZKSE5mSq50JzDzre-m9R9tnX4bBdfGYBoH-HbdxweiVARO7tmNCRuzwyMkeehySJQzd227H8MsA0oioStR10PspPZ7neIFi-piqmsakX5r6BFtnsnjck5q7V7V4adrR6l_g3f0dVI/s1600/Annaat+MEgsmemorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho61ZKSE5mSq50JzDzre-m9R9tnX4bBdfGYBoH-HbdxweiVARO7tmNCRuzwyMkeehySJQzd227H8MsA0oioStR10PspPZ7neIFi-piqmsakX5r6BFtnsnjck5q7V7V4adrR6l_g3f0dVI/s640/Annaat+MEgsmemorial.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moving moment for me. To leave my footprint of love on this tree of runner's shoes. Runners who share their love through their miles and smiles, for Meg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsvt7Zlnhh_Q76Azni23tpgJKSGk99pLxfDdKIVYgGKDdtXh30JOdpBDnkfsIrLTFuHQpqxgTqaJeUk-lcgh8m_aIil1rSntpk1NVbV7tlvYV5kBmUuHgtPGJs3gxD60NueCcOcV7Zug/s1600/Pam+and+Tracey+Outlaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsvt7Zlnhh_Q76Azni23tpgJKSGk99pLxfDdKIVYgGKDdtXh30JOdpBDnkfsIrLTFuHQpqxgTqaJeUk-lcgh8m_aIil1rSntpk1NVbV7tlvYV5kBmUuHgtPGJs3gxD60NueCcOcV7Zug/s400/Pam+and+Tracey+Outlaw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meg's Mom Pamela Cross and Tracey Outlaw. #MegSmiles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0KRxlplQmDD3GZ2Fuv2UeVhJDUW6TweHrw_kifeTvT8NbSVHe-EQAn7yX3ahE750A4KRCa2pzH6VCI775qnaUro_M9x_Io6jSwPbSqOWKs3Xtq_xeyKmQyiPRRlS2CtR9ldE1agE43Q/s1600/11951147_10207021524569655_4690272115838904456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0KRxlplQmDD3GZ2Fuv2UeVhJDUW6TweHrw_kifeTvT8NbSVHe-EQAn7yX3ahE750A4KRCa2pzH6VCI775qnaUro_M9x_Io6jSwPbSqOWKs3Xtq_xeyKmQyiPRRlS2CtR9ldE1agE43Q/s400/11951147_10207021524569655_4690272115838904456_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meg Smiles</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>I met them on Hickory Hill Rd. Strangers who were my friends. Friends I had never embraced, but felt like I had known for a million years. We met on the road to Meg's Memorial. This journey was paved in sorrow. Pain that we would trade in a second to be strangers once again. But somehow this tradgedy has turned into something good. Through the power of a mighty God, evil has not won. Hope peaks its head through the clouds of sorrow, like a beam of sunshine piercing through the clouds. Filling our lives with His light. The light that shone through Meg's smile.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153757363434715&type=1&l=42111051c7" target="_blank">My RVA Weekend Photo Album</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-23296455480805864422015-08-10T22:42:00.000-07:002015-08-10T23:08:57.602-07:00LIFE Runner hits the road in San Francisco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYYbgWNNHrOHbGTKnoQkyp9EXrbRPtK9w4wb_cs2NOmmGyrKVr9VTFAfDouNd2mJ3_QtOgoQcBIzLQAqDcsf6PmZiMcqgyk9Is9B4PQfPBs8Jzb2lug4V1C0bRkFA03wNW5mBZUr0ENc/s1600/LR+half+in+SF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYYbgWNNHrOHbGTKnoQkyp9EXrbRPtK9w4wb_cs2NOmmGyrKVr9VTFAfDouNd2mJ3_QtOgoQcBIzLQAqDcsf6PmZiMcqgyk9Is9B4PQfPBs8Jzb2lug4V1C0bRkFA03wNW5mBZUr0ENc/s320/LR+half+in+SF.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
I turned 40 this July, and to celebrate what did I do? I went on a girls weekend in San Francisco... and ran a half marathon. Of course! My BFF from my college days was on board to tag along, although she doesn't run. She is one of my biggest supporters. She is also adventurous and spontaneous, things I love most about her! She hopped on board a plane with me, toured the city of SF with me, and then met me at the finish line. Even hung out with me and some running friends for lunch after, such a good sport. She is the bestest bestie!<br />
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While I was there I met up with some Meg Mile's friends. (People from an amazing group on Facebook called "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/megsmiles/" target="_blank">Megs Miles Supporters</a>") Two of which my BFF and I roomed with the night before the race. And the two gals ran the SF race with me. I actually stuck with one of them the whole way and crossed the finish line with her! We only got separated a couple times during the race, but always found each other. The other gal finished before us by just a few minutes!<br />
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This race was fun, and I did get my 2nd fastest time on a half marathon course. Which made me super happy, since my PR is on a very flat and easy course. But there was another reason I ran the San Francisco marathon (the 1st half). I just became a <a href="http://www.liferunners.org/" target="_blank">LIFE Runner</a> not too long ago. And I even started a local chapter where I live, in Orange California. And this was my first half marathon where I had my shirt! So I decided to go for it and dedicate this run to the unborn and the women who have to face a very tough decision and need our help!<br />
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While I toured the city of SF the day before the race I realized I had chosen to run with this LIFE Runner's jersey on in a very liberal city. Kind of a bold move... but I decided it was a good move. One God would bless. So I donned my new LIFE Runners shirt with pride and went out to spread the message. I didn't say much to anyone, but I figured the shirt was a living billboard on my back. And if anyone wanted to ask me about it, I was ready to share what LIFE Runners was about.<br />
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During the race no comments were made to me about it, except from one older man running by who tapped me on the shoulder. He said, "I love your shirt! God bless you!" And he ran ahead. The last time I wore this shirt I ran a 10k, and I had two people say something similar. I love that God sends encouragers our way when we need that little affirmation that we are doing the right thing. And maybe no one else had anything to say, or even noticed the shirt. But that is okay. I would like to think I planted a few seeds though and caused people to say, "Hmmmm."<br />
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LIFE Runners has become a new passion for me, because I can no longer stand the news in the media about abortion and Planned Parenthood. It enrages me. On the flip side when I hear stories of women losing their babies or having to go to an abortion clinic because the baby they had prayed and long for wasn't developing and they had to get a D&C to remove their precious child, it hurts my heart for those women. Sometimes things happen that are beyond a woman's control, and abortion becomes a necessity. And I want those women to know, I am not aiming any anger at you at all.<br />
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There is a difference to me regarding women who decide to take the life of an unborn and completely healthy child. Who think, it's a women's right issue. Who think it simply is "their choice and their body." That is what infuriates me, as well as the abortionists who coldly perform these abortions or assist them. The women that truly have to have an abortion due to health problems with the baby, and there are risk to themselves to carry that child... I place no judgement on them. In fact judgement on the former is not up to me either, but is in God's hands. And I know that the blood of the unborn will be paid for one day. He will make all things right in the end.<br />
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When I think of the brokenness of the women who don't know what other choice they have, that choose an abortion out of desperation and confusion, that just breaks my heart. So what am I to do? Besides fight against Planned Parenthood being funded by our tax dollars (which I am absolutely against) I am also fighting for Pregnancy Crisis Centers to be better funded and to be more well known as a choice. There IS another choice out there! I bet you have a local pregnancy crisis center in your neighborhood and didn't even know it! Get to know where they are. And be prepared to tell a woman in need about it, if you ever come across a scared woman who is pregnant and has no idea what to do with a baby or can't fathom being pregnant and continuing life the next 9 or so months that way. Send them there! Save the life of an unborn child, and help a woman get the support she needs to make the best decision for herself, her physical and mental well being, and for that baby.<br />
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These clinics are also there to help women who have undergone an abortion and are feeling remorse. They need our love and support as well. These clinics will offer help and encouragement to those women. So, remember that as well. Keep your ears and eyes open for the hurting, and help them find their way to those that can help them best.<br />
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If you live in Orange County CA, there is a center that my chapter is supporting. And if you would like more information follow this link: <a href="http://www.living-well.org/">http://www.living-well.org/</a> If you would like to support my chapter's fundraising efforts to help this local pregnancy crisis center go to our fundraiser page: <a href="http://www.razoo.com/team/Life-Runners-Oc-Chapter">www.razoo.com/team/Life-Runners-Oc-Chapter</a><br />
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One of the Meg's Miles groups mottos is, "Be the good." And this is one way I feel God is leading me to do just that. "Be the change you wish to see in the world!" -Gandhi<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-14167438736360288742015-06-30T22:54:00.003-07:002021-06-11T15:41:29.524-07:00The Day Love Won<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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June 26, 2015 Facebook was covered with the hash tag #LoveWins This was the day that the SCOTUS made a decision, ruling 5 to 4, to make <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0" target="_blank">same-sex marriage legal</a>. And all over Facebook profile pics turned rainbow color, for those that were in joy over this decision.<br />
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The picture to the side is the one I finally decided to post. Because, I do believe we should love all people, and I do have many gay friends that I want to show that I love them... I support them, but I don't support the ruling. So when I read this article, <a href="http://www.scissortailsilk.com/2015/06/28/the-day-that-love-won-a-response-to-the-supreme-courts-ruling/" target="_blank">The Day That Love Won</a>, I was inspired!<br />
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This may seem contrary, to say I love my gay friends and I want them to be happy (I even want them to have legal equality) but then to turn around and say I am not happy about marriage being defined as anything but "between one man and one woman." And I assure you I understand your point of view! I have been on both sides of the fence on this issue. Oh... yes! It's true. And that may surprise many people. I clearly see the equal rights side, and can understand it as part of the human rights movement. I also have studied Scripture thoroughly and have come to an understanding of this issue from a morality standpoint.<br />
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A little background, I grew up in a Christian home. My Dad was a Pastor of a non-denominational church and we were raised in a very conservative home. I accepted Jesus into my heart at a very young age. As a teenager my parents divorced, but that just made me cling to my faith more and to seek Jesus more in my life. I studied and memorized scripture with fervor. In fact I was angry with my Father for allowing the divorce to happen. After all Jesus adamantly preached against divorce, except if there was infidelity. He took the OT laws of the Bible and made the even MORE strict! Saying that any person who remarries after a divorce commits adultery! (Wow. Harsh.) And that was coming from Jesus!<br />
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Through the late 80's and early 90's homosexuals were seen as the bad guy, and the cause of the AIDS epidemic. They were vilified. I didn't know any better. I was young, and I believed everything I was told by the right wing conservatives. I was naive. At least as I grew up I always showed love and compassion towards people that were different than me, had different beliefs, or that were gay. I didn't think to hate them. I knew, as Christians, we were called to love all people, most of all our enemies! In fact this is the most well known teaching of Jesus, and most often quoted back to a Christian by others who feel judged by them.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Matthew 22:36-40</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">(NIV)</span></h1>
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<span class="text Matt-22-36" id="en-NIV-23909" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-22-37" face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" id="en-NIV-23910" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Jesus replied: </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“‘</span><span style="color: red;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’</span><span style="font-size: 10px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Matt-22-38" face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" id="en-NIV-23911" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">This is the first and greatest commandment.</span><span class="text Matt-22-38" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b> </b></span></span><span class="text Matt-22-39" id="en-NIV-23912" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="line-height: 24px;">And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span><span class="text Matt-22-40" face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" id="en-NIV-23913" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: red;">All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments</span>.”</span></div>
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Fast forward to about a year after I was married. I met a gay man at my work place. He was funny, I liked him a lot. We had a lot in common, actually. He knew I was a Christian so he kind of held back his jokes around me, I could tell. But over time we became friends and he learned he could "let it all hang out," so to speak. He was himself, and we got a long great! As we got to know each other I learned that he also seemed to have the same faith in Jesus as I did! It didn't shock me to meet a gay person (this wasn't my first "gay" friend). Nor did I have a problem being friends with anyone that believed differently than me (still don't). But when I realized he may be a "Gay-Christian" my mind was blown away. I didn't think that was even possible!<br />
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So we talked, and talked.... and talked. And I racked my mind trying to figure this out. I was thinking, "Could I be wrong? Is there something I am missing in the Scriptures? Are we mis-interpreting or missing something?" So I set out to find answers. I did this because he was hurting, and my beliefs were part of that pain. I felt compassion for his plight, and I wanted to know if I was wrong.<br />
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I searched for these answers for about 10 years! I found people on all sides of the subject. Pastors on both sides of the fence, even a South African Lesbian Pastor who was married (met her through Facebook) who shared with me some different interpretations of all the famous "clobber verses." Including the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), the Old Testament laws in Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13. And the most controversial verses in the New Testament, Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Timonthy 1:8-11.<br />
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I even went with my "Gay-Christian" friend to see a showing of a movie called, "For The Bible Tells Me So" that expands on those interpretations. (I even bought it, so I could study what they shared!) I also have a brother who became an Episcopalian priest who was also sharing with me these view points. I won't re-hash them all out here. At this point these views are pretty readily available if you search You Tube for "Matthew Vines" you will find it all pretty quick. He is trying his best to get the church to re-interpret scripture to accept the gay lifestyle and not call it a sin. ("Lifestyle," a word that would irk my gay friends. Because as the best they can put it, they "simply are." There is no choice in the matter. It is a state of being.) Vines argues, as long as they aren't sleeping with anyone outside of marriage, and are in a committed monogamous relationship, they should to be allowed to be married. This was also the sticking point to me. Because if we throw all the sexual sins in one big pile we can pretty much narrow it down to this: Sex outside of marriage is a sin. And if one could be married to the same-sex then this issue would all be resolved. And I wanted answers. Would God ever bless same-sex marriage? Is it possible?<div><br /></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">EDIT: June 2021- Before you read on please go to my post: <a href="https://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2021/06/let-love-lead.html" target="_blank">Let Love Lead</a> I have done some further research and come to conclusions that make the next part of this post not relevant to read. (You may read it. But then head over to "Let Love Lead" next to find out what happens.)</span><br />
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I am sure many of you would find the arguments fairly convincing, as I did. The only problem I found is this: we are changing some qualities about God that simply put, don't change. It also puts into question the infallibility of the Word of God.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yTkzOsowvSha0q_rBw9tcD8ePgYrXGPszv4dDw-U003kp82Cp4gCmdJI18M2jgDUTgxitjPZD5hpiGieJC0vs-aR3ZeSdKkwI8g9-EX5Cz6-6sSGv9bJP9pc-fKg-ZFPf6F8QkIgOTk/s1600/God+Does+Not+Change.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yTkzOsowvSha0q_rBw9tcD8ePgYrXGPszv4dDw-U003kp82Cp4gCmdJI18M2jgDUTgxitjPZD5hpiGieJC0vs-aR3ZeSdKkwI8g9-EX5Cz6-6sSGv9bJP9pc-fKg-ZFPf6F8QkIgOTk/s320/God+Does+Not+Change.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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God may not clearly spell out what a homosexual is, in the Bible. Nor does he ever really clearly distinguish between one who sleeps with someone of the same sex in lust and one who does so out of love. But God did do something very clearly in the Bible, define marriage. God so clearly defines marriage that even though the verses on homosexuality don't answer a lot of the questions that have arisen in today's society, you really can't question where He stands on marriage.<br />
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So, when it all came down to it I had a decision to make. And its a decision we all must make. Am I going to continue to believe that God is the author of the Bible? Well, if I believe these verses the answer is a clear and emphatic, "YES!"<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "<span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> </b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">so that the servant of God</span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."</span></blockquote>
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And from Jesus' own mouth:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Matthew 5:17-20<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #0092f2;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><b> </b></span></span><span class="red" face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: red; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.</span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span class="red" face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: red; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.</span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span class="red" face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: red; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.</span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span class="red" face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: red; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.</span></blockquote>
And then there is this piece of Scripture that really hits me:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2 Timothy 4:3-4 <span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. </span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. </span></blockquote>
I was seeking anyone that would tell me what my "itching ears" wanted to hear! I so desperately wanted to believe it. I so desperately want to believe that my friend can exist as both "gay" and "Christian" at the same time. And as I ponder that thought, in some ways that is possible and in some ways not.<br />
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Possible, in the sense that we are all a work in progress. 1 John 3:2 says, "<span face=""arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." </span>Not one of us has been perfected... Not YET, at least. One day we will stand before our Savior and it will all fall into place. Until that day we will live in a constant state of struggle with our flesh and the world tugging at us to return to our ways.<br />
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Not possible in the sense that I fear he has walked away from his faith to be in this relationship with a man who hates Christianity, for many reasons. (Many of which I can understand. I mean, after all, there is so much hate said and done in the name of Christ. Which is horrendous. And something to touch on in a separate blog).<br />
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I just keep pleading with him to not let go of his faith in God, and reminding him Jesus loves him and so do I. Because what I know for certain is that Christ died for ALL! And John 3:16 says so! I think his relationship could be a stumbling block. But also, that it doesn't have to be. (And I won't even make the assumption as to what God would ask of him and his partner to do if they were to both turn to him and seek after God together, offering their relationship to him. Fully and completely surrendering to God and his will for their life. I would love to see what the Holy Spirit does in their hearts! Where he could lead them! How much love could expand, and grow, and shatter our perceptions... If they sought God as their #1 together. Could be life changing for them and for those of us who watched their transformation in Christ. What amazing things God could do! I can't even fathom.)<br />
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You may be wondering why I seek these answers so fervently. Why? Because I love my friend, and I saw him hurting so deeply. He is in a relationship (a marriage) with a man that he loves very dearly. I can tell that they are each other's world. And the love I see there is akin to the love that exists in my own marriage. They are best friends. Been there for each other through the rough times and the good times. And I felt bad, to tell someone that they can't have what I have. And not understand the "Why not?!" part of it. How can I ask that of them. Why would God ask that of them? To stop being in that "state of being" ...in that definition of who they say they are. In order to be something else? Well, yes. In order to follow Christ and be in the center of his will.<br />
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And this is <u><b>why </b></u>I feel that it makes sense. First of all, they are called to a NEW state of being! We all are! 2 Corinthians 5:17 "<span face=""arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" </span>It fits with Scripture in so many other ways, as well. If you read what Jesus says about giving your life up for Him, and read about becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus, about laying it all at His feet in surrender, about the transformational power of God... then I am limiting God if I say this is impossible to enter into a new state of being!<br />
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Read Mark chapter 10, Jesus talks to his disciples about salvation. Mark 10:27 says...<br />
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<span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Jesus looked at them and said, </span><span class="red" face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: red; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”</span></blockquote>
Bottom line, this isn't a marriage issue. It is a heart issue. It is a salvation issue. 5 Supreme Court Justices may just have re-defined marriage in America, but God's word never changes. And we can not un-do what has been written or re-interpret scripture to make ourselves feel better or to approve of a life that God has not created us to live.<br />
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And as the picture I made for my Facebook pic states, #LoveAlreadyWon ... Over 2,000 years ago! The day Jesus died on the cross, the day he was buried, and then the 3rd day that he rose again... LOVE WON! Love won over our sins, and salvation became ours for the taking! All sins past, present and future... GONE! And all you have to do is accept it.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Romans 10: 9-13 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. </span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. </span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 10px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><i> </i></b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, </span><span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”</span></blockquote>
Call on Him today.<br />
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<br /></div></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-62219114129596244402015-04-27T23:58:00.001-07:002015-04-28T21:56:31.557-07:00The day I became a LIFE Runner<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I0wiG6vce5jaoNiwD90zgCBb5_8fiNzUHaWDj4gXMeSR8ZW-OfMPh1Hg81e0H7GK2NRc5FYIT54nLc0xKBHfvNqe0sOiqnxX0tOVxb4D3wOu01_TjMSmAfhpnSX-bKjgW5NhG1qCnz4/s1600/i-knew-you-before-i-formed-you-jeremiah-1_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I0wiG6vce5jaoNiwD90zgCBb5_8fiNzUHaWDj4gXMeSR8ZW-OfMPh1Hg81e0H7GK2NRc5FYIT54nLc0xKBHfvNqe0sOiqnxX0tOVxb4D3wOu01_TjMSmAfhpnSX-bKjgW5NhG1qCnz4/s1600/i-knew-you-before-i-formed-you-jeremiah-1_5.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
I run to raise money for <a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/paulandruth/annadwingersfundraisingpage" target="_blank">melanoma </a>and help raise awareness on how to prevent skin cancer and melanoma. I do this because my brother Paul and his wife Ruth both passed away from melanoma cancer, and it's my way of turning something bad into a positive. I lead a Bible study and 5k/ 10k training class called <a href="http://www.runforgod.com/run-for-god-store" target="_blank">"Run for God."</a> I am part of an online group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/megsmiles/" target="_blank">"Meg's Miles"</a> on Facebook, which is focused on "being the good" and to run for Him. Meg's story reminds me to never take a day with my kids and husband for granted, and to focus on being strong in every aspect of my life, from running to being a Christian, to simply being a good wife and mother. Which at times seems like it's not so simple. I also am part of a Mom's running club called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/momsrunthistown?fref=ts" target="_blank">"Mom's Run This Town"</a> where Moms and women come together to run when our husband's can watch the kids, or when we can find a sitter, or we take our kids out in their strollers, and we even do races together. We inspire each other to be our best, to improve ourselves, and to be an example of health to our kids. I also am part of a group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Runningfriends4life?fref=ts" target="_blank">"RunningFriends4Life"</a> which is a group that runs every Saturday morning and was started by a Christian marathoner from a local church as a way to reach out to the local community. Now that group simply runs on Saturdays for fun and fellowship and is very supportive group as I have trained for my first marathon, and as I raise money for melanoma research via my <a href="http://virtualbirthdayrun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">"Virtual Birthday Run"</a>. The roots of many of these clubs have one thing in common, God. I run for God and I do a lot of other things that fall under that umbrella. If it brings glory to God, I am in! If it supports, encourages, inspires, uplifts, and does good for the world, my family, and community... I am a part of it. Now I am adding to this list of groups I run with or for.<br />
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The day I became a LIFE Runner is the day I read a couple articles that made me burn with anger, and spurred me on to action. "NOW is the time to act!" I said to myself. Here is the first article: <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/26/no-murder-charges-in-death-of-baby-after-pregnant-woman-had-baby-cut-out-of-her-stomach/" target="_blank">No Murder Charges in Death of Baby After Pregnant Woman Had Baby Cut Out of Stomach</a> And here is the 2nd article: <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2015/03/25/new-york-house-passes-bill-allowing-shooting-babies-through-the-heart-with-poison-to-kill-them/" target="_blank">New York House Passes Bill Allowing Shooting Babies Through The Heart With Poison To Kill Them</a> Both of these articles are true! And both make me angry, make my stomach churn, and make me want to cry all at the same time. I defy you to read those and find the justice or the good in that!<br />
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<a href="http://www.liferunners.org/about/" target="_blank">LIFE Runners</a> is a Pro-Life Christ centered group that supports Pregnancy Crisis Centers. They are the voice of the unborn child. Their approach is loving, but firm. They are a group that I have watched for several years and feel comfortable getting behind and supporting, and can feel proud to be associating my name with. I am currently forming my own LIFE Runners Chapter in Orange CA. And I have already decided I want to support a local pregnancy center called <a href="http://www.living-well.org/" target="_blank">Living Well.</a> This center is EXACTLY the type of place LIFE Runners gets behind and supports. They are a perfect fit. I even set up my fundraising page already: <a href="http://www.razoo.com/team/Life-Runners-Oc-Chapter?utm_campaign=RazooAllEmail&utm_content=campaign_mailer_team_fundraising_page_created_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=RazooSystemEmail&utm_term=razoo" target="_blank">LIFE Runners OC Chapter Fundraising Page</a> I am all set!<br />
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The subject of abortion is a "hot button topic," which is something I don't shy away from. (As many of my friends know already.) I don't care if its not politically correct to be "Pro-Life." I am already a Christian, which is less and less popular or accepted by society. I am not going to stop talking about a subject just because its controversial. But what I wanted to explore today is the root of the decision of a person to be "Pro-Choice" or "Pro-Life." It is not that one group values life and one group doesn't. It's really about how an individual answers these questions that makes them fall one way or the other: WHEN does each group believe that life begins? When does life have VALUE? And when does that life have MORE value than the woman carrying that life?<br />
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First question: When does life begin? If you are a Christian you believe that life begins at conception. Actually, I would say we Christians believe life began even before that! Before the creation of the world, God knew you would exist. He knew your name, He already knew how long your life would be, and what would happen to you. "Really?" You say. "Why yes." I say. Check this out:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-139-13" id="en-ESV-16253" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Psalm 139 13-16</span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="text Ps-139-14" id="en-ESV-16254" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Wonderful are your works;</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">my soul knows it very well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-139-16" id="en-ESV-16256" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="text Ps-139-15" id="en-ESV-16255" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-139-15" id="en-ESV-16255" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">My frame was not hidden from you, </span><span class="text Ps-139-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">when I was being made in secret,</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">intricately woven in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16255T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16255T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the depths of the earth.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-139-16" id="en-ESV-16256" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Your eyes saw my unformed substance; </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">in your <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16256U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16256U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>book were written, every one of them,</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the days that were formed for me,</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">when as yet there was none of them.</span> </span></div>
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Notice the last line, "...the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." God has an account of your life... before you were even formed in your Mother's womb! Jeremiah 29:11 "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." </span>God knew you before you were born, and He has plans for you! These are promises Christians cling to. These promises give us hope!<br />
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Okay, so you're not a Christian. You are an atheist or an agnostic, or what have you. You think I am crazy. Well, I am here to show you where that "crazy" comes from. Why do we Christian Pro-Lifers value life as soon as conception? Because every person's life has value to God. And if it has value to God then it should have that same value to me! Which basically answers question two.<br />
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Question two: When does life have value? This can be answered in a million different ways by a million different people. And bottom line, the time when most people value the life of an unborn baby is when it looks like a baby, and can live outside the womb with fairly minimal help. If a premature baby is born and can be put in an incubator and continue to develop into a healthy child outside the womb, guess what... we are all upset if that same aged baby is aborted. Most likely everyone can agree that abortion in the 3rd trimester is abhorrent. Why? Because we all recognize that unborn fetus is a baby. The closer a fetus gets to the 9 month mark the more their life is valued by the population as a whole. However, a Christian values that life, as previously stated, at conception. We believe that there is no life that is an accident, or a mistake. Every human child is considered a gift. Perhaps you have read this in a baby shower card, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">;</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-127-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">they are a reward from him."</span></span><br />
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I know, you may not believe that. But I do. And because of this belief I find abortion at any point in a pregnancy to be an injustice. Human rights should start in the womb. They have the right to life! I do not believe any woman has the right to kill that life inside her, even if her pregnancy is only a couple weeks along and she just found out!<br />
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"How about the woman who was raped?" You may ask. Or "How about the teenage girl who got pregnant by her own father, or brother, or uncle... etc.?" "How about the woman who (fill in the blank)." I know you can think of an example where you can't imagine having that baby if you were in her shoes. You think, "How cruel to force her to have that baby!" But, that is what a crisis pregnancy center is for. Women who are in these horrifying positions need help. They don't need an abortion. I am sorry, but they don't need that on top of the emotional distress they are already facing. A crisis pregnancy center will talk about abortion, and not take that choice away from women. But they will tell them the truth and give them alternatives to abortion and encourage women to make a different choice. Living Well's site says, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">An unexpected pregnancy can be a frightening time that makes you overwhelmed and confused about your next steps. At LivingWell, you'll find practical solutions and compassionate support to sort through each of your challenges. You are not alone." </span>And there is a statistic that says, "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">82% of post-abortion mothers said JUST ONE supportive person would have changed her mind." </span>Wow!!! Right?! 82%!! One person offering their support, and 82% of the time that woman chooses life for her baby! That's what I call, being the good!<br />
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I have offered this type of support to friends in the past. One example, I brought my best friend from High School to a place called "The Elizabeth House" when she became pregnant. I was attending a Christian University. She was living with her boyfriend, who hadn't finalized his divorce yet and had a young son. And she decided she wanted to have his baby. He became abusive and threatened her life after she became pregnant. I told her to NEVER ever think of that baby as a mistake, even if she was conceived out of some poor decisions, she is NOT a mistake. And then I brought her to this home for pregnant and abused women. They helped her figure out how to be a single mom, how to provide for her baby, and she was able to keep her baby. Today she is married, her husband is a very godly man. And she had a son with him. Her baby was adopted by this man. They are a family, and they are blessed. God can take your circumstances, and turn it completely around. What seems like the impossible, is not impossible with God. Matthew 19:26 "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."</span><br />
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This leads us to the third question: When does that fetus' life have more value than the woman carrying that life? Many pro-choice women are a part of the women's liberation movement. I am all for a woman having the right to vote, to being paid as well as a man is for the same position in the work place, to be treated as a person and not as a sex object. I am good with all of that. But, I do not see how a baby has a place in the women's lib movement. I have heard the rhetoric, just check out this link to the <a href="http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/fetusperson.shtml" target="_blank">Pro Choice Action Network. </a> I quote: "<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: 10px;">Even if a fetus can be said to have a right to life, this does not include the right to use the body of another human being." </span>Ummmm, well then, uhhhh, errrr... how do we have babies? If they don't have the right to use a woman's body? Well that sounds like nonsense to me. They say,<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: 10px;"> "...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: 10px;">a pregnant woman is not required to save it by loaning out her body for nine months against her will." </span> I say, "Once pregnant there is no choice BUT to have your body loaned out for nine months." The child didn't ask to be conceived any more than the woman willed to have conceived a baby! There was no choice from the child to be in there in the first place. It simply is. Life has begun, and your body is housing that life. Whether you signed up for it or not... its happening. Baby didn't ask to be born, and you didn't ask to be pregnant.<br />
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I know, they are talking about rape or becoming pregnant when they didn't choose to become pregnant. And that they have the right to have sex and not get pregnant. Well, I don't really agree with that last statement completely either. There are a lot of things society says they have a right to, and its just not so. Sex isn't a right, it's a privilege. Its something that is supposed to be shared by a wife and a husband. Privilege and "it's my right" often get mixed up in society. But this might get me too far off topic, so I digress. As far as rape, or other unfortunate type of circumstances, I have a heart. I feel their pain, and I want to help. And the only way I can help is to support a place like Living Well. And when a woman crosses my path that is in one of those horrifying and life changing situations, that is where I will bring them. I will be the one, I will offer my support. I will show them where they can get even more support. And I will hurt with them. I will cry with them. I will love them unconditionally. Why? Because THAT is what they need. They don't need an abortion, they need LOVE and support. And I will pray they choose life for their baby. I will pray they are part of the 82%. And I will pray that one day abortion becomes the unthinkable. Even if it remains a legal choice.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Here are some more statistics to ponder: 33% of mothers have had an abortion, 64% felt coerced and 84% felt they had no choice. Planned Parenthood won’t show mothers ultrasound before abortion because mothers would see their baby and 64% would choose Life! </span></blockquote>
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Those are the facts. That is the truth. And now that I am a LIFE Runner I will be talking to anyone along my path about all of these things. Hopefully I will give people something new to think about. Perhaps present my point of view in a way that makes them at least understand the Christian Pro-Life's side. And offer people a tangible way to help. <a href="http://www.razoo.com/team/Life-Runners-Oc-Chapter?utm_campaign=RazooAllEmail&utm_content=campaign_mailer_team_fundraising_page_created_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=RazooSystemEmail&utm_term=razoo" target="_blank">Support places like Living Well</a>. Find out where your local Pregnancy Crisis center is. Steer women away from Planned Parenthood facilities. They don't help the women in crisis, they provide abortions. They don't offer alternatives. The don't offer the support these women truly need.<br />
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I am sure much more could be said and debated. This may just scratch the surface of this topic. But at least you all will know what it means when I call myself a LIFE Runner. And when you see a shirt like this, you will know what it stands for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1a4sSK4vC5oSEikeNRl4DLO1mI8SUvpDW0FILJQ5CNOPof8nMCRPclpLLbILztJabpe87Z-uSciMoMveI_zs6JxvwHvwKgIFaLulLXLG_1s4G7Iss1W8OURx2bJstZQZ7OD7CLyMSrM/s1600/11162209_10153282248814715_6527240186058428843_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1a4sSK4vC5oSEikeNRl4DLO1mI8SUvpDW0FILJQ5CNOPof8nMCRPclpLLbILztJabpe87Z-uSciMoMveI_zs6JxvwHvwKgIFaLulLXLG_1s4G7Iss1W8OURx2bJstZQZ7OD7CLyMSrM/s1600/11162209_10153282248814715_6527240186058428843_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jeremiah 1:5 "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart."</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-86440404694562447942015-03-18T18:01:00.001-07:002015-03-22T21:49:43.751-07:00Clouds of Sorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAceX-7x-W7X39e0FwAhjmY_Sut1hB9XLfcVlpQFjKi7EDfij-y5t48uEjQVOuOTpXfdHkKeo_7AChg1YwwsBqSEuHoObrBGmtq4P2XQYhFrAeYmQiyGKNMbSPz02VmiMVOgvQmOtVsGs/s1600/IMG_233123213163337.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAceX-7x-W7X39e0FwAhjmY_Sut1hB9XLfcVlpQFjKi7EDfij-y5t48uEjQVOuOTpXfdHkKeo_7AChg1YwwsBqSEuHoObrBGmtq4P2XQYhFrAeYmQiyGKNMbSPz02VmiMVOgvQmOtVsGs/s1600/IMG_233123213163337.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a rain storm happens I have been noticing how the sky is nice and clear, and the cloud patterns are gorgeous! One day, while driving to work, I was looking at the dark gray clouds contrasting against some white fluffy clouds in the distance, and the bright blue sky behind them. I thought to myself, "The clouds are like my sorrow." I looked at the cars driving through the intersection, the people running, people walking their dogs, and the kids walking to school. Life was bustling away. The gorgeous sky, and the clouds hanging in the background seemed hardly noticed. </div>
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The clouds hang there in the background, and the busy life happens in the foreground. But as I looked at that clear blue sky behind the clouds I thought, "The blue sky is God. He encompasses it all. He is expansive. He covers everything. And even though my sorrow hangs in the background, God is behind my sorrows." And as I studied the clouds more, through the weeks to follow, I thought about the sun that shines. The sun is God's Son, Jesus. His light cuts through the dark clouds. He shows forth God's love. His light reflects on the clouds of sorrow. Like the clouds, I reflect Christ. If I am living life like I should be. The more I reflect Christ the more beautiful I am, and the more Christ makes something beautiful out of my sorrow. </div>
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Clouds can be dark, filled with lightning and thunder, they can be light and fluffy, or wispy and barely there. Think about a sunset. Or a sunrise. Think about the pinks, purples, oranges... sometimes soft and pretty, and sometimes intense and bright! Takes your breath away, doesn't it? Sometimes it piles up like the pillars of billowy clouds in the sky, sometimes its barely noticeable like the clear blue and sunshine filled days. Is the sorrow ever gone? Well, just like the clouds... no. It just changes day to day, and moment to moment. My sorrow comes and goes like the clouds.</div>
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I heard this song on the radio, "Hope in Front of Me" by Danny Gokey. It fit so perfectly, I wanted to set some cloud photos to the song. I ended up using many pictures from the Meg's Miles support group on Facebook that I am in. We run to support a family in grief. The logo on our shirts says, "I run for Meg." And as I think about those words I realize Meg's Mom, Husband, and Mother in law "run for Meg" to feel her presence. To feel what she felt when she ran. To enjoy something that she enjoyed.<br />
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Doing something that a loved one used to do makes you feel close to them. After my brother Paul passed away from Melanoma cancer, instead of attending a memorial, his wife Ruth, myself, my other brother Nathan, and my Dad did things that Paul loved to do. We went to his favorite burger joint and had lunch. We went to the fair and went on all the rides that Ruth and he had gone on the year before when he was healthier. Then we did Bikram yoga together, something Ruth and Paul did as instructors, and something Paul started doing to manage terrible back pain from literally breaking his back in half from a 90 foot fall! All those activities made us feel close to him. And this past year, when the 3rd anniversary of Paul's passing came along and I was having a hard time facing it again, I went to a Bikram class almost every day for a week. It was cleansing. It made me feel close to him; it made me miss him, but it also reminded me of him in good ways. I am pretty sure running is something similar for Meg's family. The bitter and the sweet all combined into one. Like the "Clouds of Sorrow," as I've dubbed them.<br />
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Here is the video I made with the collection of cloud pictures from the Meg's Miles support group, some I took and some from a friend of mine. As I study clouds and think of the similarities to my sorrow, I see the beauty in the sorrow. If the clouds are my sorrow, and Christ is the sun, when I reflect more of Him the more beautiful I become. I become more full of grace and mercy, love and compassion. And that makes people full of sorrow beautiful people, if they seek after Christ and to be made like Him, and don't let bitterness overtake them. The Bible says, <span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4. That is a promise from God. Cling to that promise, and don't let the dark clouds get you down. The sun is coming, the sky will grow more and more beautiful... just wait and see!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">- </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">Elisabeth Kubler-Ross</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Revelation 21:4</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Galatians 6:2 (ESV) Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Ecclesiastes 3:1-14</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">1</sup> To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">2</sup> A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">3</sup> <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ecclesiastes-3-3/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="CLICK FOR MORE TRANSLATIONS of Ecclesiastes 3:3- A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;">A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">4</sup> <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ecclesiastes-3-4/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="CLICK FOR MORE TRANSLATIONS of Ecclesiastes 3:4- A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;">A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">5</sup> <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ecclesiastes-3-5/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="CLICK FOR MORE TRANSLATIONS of Ecclesiastes 3:5- A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;">A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">6</sup> <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ecclesiastes-3-6/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="CLICK FOR MORE TRANSLATIONS of Ecclesiastes 3:6- A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;">A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">7</sup> <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ecclesiastes-3-7/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="CLICK FOR MORE TRANSLATIONS of Ecclesiastes 3:7- A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;">A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup style="color: #666666;">8</sup> A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-18033818015065090542015-03-09T22:54:00.000-07:002015-11-21T00:18:29.926-08:00I'm not crazy, I'm determined!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9G0uYF5L7273RKUcxktiVRCJg2uCmergGclo3J-AYtdZeZojVzrWYACmbNsCY1FncxM1dKMBtFl_4L9YAIZz52FzRS9SEgEwuyDKGQiqCopoEIbITj2Dbn9J4500TnDnjreZmlQHESE/s1600/95965680b1b30e6472e59fe9232bebbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9G0uYF5L7273RKUcxktiVRCJg2uCmergGclo3J-AYtdZeZojVzrWYACmbNsCY1FncxM1dKMBtFl_4L9YAIZz52FzRS9SEgEwuyDKGQiqCopoEIbITj2Dbn9J4500TnDnjreZmlQHESE/s1600/95965680b1b30e6472e59fe9232bebbe.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3<br />
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Today I pushed that registration button and signed up for my 2nd FULL marathon. And I know, I said I usually just run half marathons, and I only ran one full... so I still consider myself only half crazy. BUT!!!!....... I say to that, "I am not crazy, I am determined!" (And I give credit to Brooke Roney, a fellow Meg's Miler, for those words. She ran the Walt Disney World Goofy challenge with a sprained ankle.) So there you go. ;-)<br />
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My last full marathon was March 9, 2014. My next full will be November 14, 2015. That's 20 months apart. I thought to myself the other day, "That's like the distance between the birth of two children!" And if you think about it from that point of view... it kind of makes sense that I am ready for another one!<br />
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The first one took a lot of mental planning. I wasn't sure I was ready, I didn't know if I EVER would be ready, but after my SIL Ruth passed away from Melanoma I thought... I have no more excuses. So, I took the plunge and went for it. And I decided to raise money for Melanoma research, in memory of my brother Paul and his wife Ruth... who BOTH passed away from that horrible type of cancer!</div>
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I made some poor training decisions and suffered a few minor injuries along the way. I had many early mornings and sleepless nights. (I woke my husband up with my alarm at 5am so many times he practically begged me to just sleep in for once!) I put my body through months of pain and struggle. Until finally. There it was, the birth of my first marathon. In all its glory and imperfect perfection. <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2014/09/3914-262-done.html" target="_blank">The L.A. Marathon</a> was completed, I got my finishers medal. I went home with my new shiny medal and a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had raised $1450 for the Melanoma Research Foundation, I am blessed to have so many supportive and loving friends and co-workers that helped me do that!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG9fP7eIIDnSSXCIeM76JVNcga5VnJPf_a0cd3Aj38IZFBDSlxd0yEZg3v6JbCt7jzsG6XI7-XGeEzqhM08LKBrA0LewLtC8j7duc5fEqU9huNX3dpPOfF-BE0x2yIJ6tm0oHmgIDxZk/s1600/IMG_20140309_201057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG9fP7eIIDnSSXCIeM76JVNcga5VnJPf_a0cd3Aj38IZFBDSlxd0yEZg3v6JbCt7jzsG6XI7-XGeEzqhM08LKBrA0LewLtC8j7duc5fEqU9huNX3dpPOfF-BE0x2yIJ6tm0oHmgIDxZk/s1600/IMG_20140309_201057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The months following the "runner's high" wore off, I was tired from all the rigorous training. I couldn't fathom ever going through all of that again, and neither could my husband. But then, almost a year passes and you realize, "I kinda want to do that again." You are shocked by your own thoughts... but yes, that is what you thought!! Just like having kids. Right when your first starts sleeping through the night, potty training starts and the end of diapers is in sight, there you go, wanting another baby. Fondly looking at other babies (and yes I look fondly at other marathoner's accomplishments). And then your dreams turn into reality. You're ready! "Let's do this!" You think. And there you have it... another child is born Or, in this case, another marathon is born.<br />
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And just like with the birth of your first child, you learn a few things. What to do, what not to do. You're more relaxed about it. Nervous... a bit. But you know that you CAN do it. So, if I am crazy for running a full marathon a 2nd time, then so are all the parents in the world with more than one child, that willingly chose to have more than one child!! Haha And perhaps some of you can understand the "craziness" with that analogy. Or maybe not, if you're not a parent... or never gave birth. But take it from me, I am not crazy. I am just full of determination! As my favorite mantra says, "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." And I am ready for some changes in my life!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite mantra!</td></tr>
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Another Meg's Miler, Scott Donaldson, posted this quote from a Runner's World magazine: "Think about how many people would love the option of running a marathon. You have that option. Do not take it for granted." And after reading that I said to myself, "Yeah! That's right! I am capable! So I am going to do this while I still can!" Because, you know what? There will come a day where I won't be able to run a marathon. There may come a day that I can't even barely walk anymore! But today is NOT that day! No more excuses. I am still capable. I CAN do this! </div>
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In fact, the marathon that I am going to do is in another state! I live in California... and I am going to run a full marathon in Virginia! I mentioned a couple Meg's Milers already, well, a whole bunch of them are going to be there running the Richmond Virginia Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8k. <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-megs-miles-shoes.html" target="_blank">Meggers</a> from all around the world! Even from Germany! We are going to gather together and do what we do, dedicate our miles to Meg. A woman of faith who left this earth way too early, but left us a legacy behind that is hard to live up to. But I will be doing my best to do just that. I want to be a woman of God, a loving wife and mother. I want to give back to my community, and give a warm smile and a word of encouragement to those around me. I want to spend time with my family, and I want to run with all my heart, and seek God in the journey. This marathon is about the attitude and meaning behind all I do. To show others, it is through Christ that I have the strength to accomplish this! And it is by His power that I will be able to do this once again! May He be glorified and honored by this journey I am about to embark on. Amen!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGbE4K6UJkxk_P-2-4vuyjBBUP1NaQ3NQJGxNPyijg7wB1C71KN2lhcahaCO4Ok1PyGeVDgutEgynvaDSLNT1rn2s36hQbHowzGwkm9JvXrGOVT4VjVA5XW7DvPl1u7WSOgBN-qb6fBo/s1600/9759e391840dba8aff1730acd5b82d69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGbE4K6UJkxk_P-2-4vuyjBBUP1NaQ3NQJGxNPyijg7wB1C71KN2lhcahaCO4Ok1PyGeVDgutEgynvaDSLNT1rn2s36hQbHowzGwkm9JvXrGOVT4VjVA5XW7DvPl1u7WSOgBN-qb6fBo/s1600/9759e391840dba8aff1730acd5b82d69.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>Just like the back of my "I run for Meg" shirt says,"... because Meg ran 4 HIM!"</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaXmtZgHagIIrgemxsq23CtqgnhbFaskjgzvoabDXWKt2lrP90MI4Hyl9xKC_bmFmE0dwl64BAC3cF7GtNAqc-HTcaLjnhqH6RvIx16KBCuP8UITiV54_-klJYL1HGPItZWN6p5HYe-I/s1600/IMG_146102862219850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaXmtZgHagIIrgemxsq23CtqgnhbFaskjgzvoabDXWKt2lrP90MI4Hyl9xKC_bmFmE0dwl64BAC3cF7GtNAqc-HTcaLjnhqH6RvIx16KBCuP8UITiV54_-klJYL1HGPItZWN6p5HYe-I/s1600/IMG_146102862219850.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The ANNAGIZER rises again! </b><b>RVA 2015 FULL, here I come!!!!!! </b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ7_GuNTrJVEPQ64IuAAo6lyv0BeCjLtW73xCVUhNO5qG3j8es1hyphenhyphen4HVi-3qnI1GGtMFLLK5fsmIcf3X0A1NpLrs7uRhVjGoiYH_2S52twgSoV0vsRbA1jyg8e_DEur4DedWtaLs8-rg/s1600/Anna+Dont+give+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ7_GuNTrJVEPQ64IuAAo6lyv0BeCjLtW73xCVUhNO5qG3j8es1hyphenhyphen4HVi-3qnI1GGtMFLLK5fsmIcf3X0A1NpLrs7uRhVjGoiYH_2S52twgSoV0vsRbA1jyg8e_DEur4DedWtaLs8-rg/s1600/Anna+Dont+give+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprinting towards the finish line!! LA Marathon 2014!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9lKphXw3XUupMGSJ-zwYcrR7rSOKd340DScBb9ztjj0QPMPRtqP_Xg6eTVcUaRu0GVhoGpbLge16oDc_k-2HI5IE5QCLWJfWDJ3PC8U-yS2-scyBeoZqz6fh4E-KBs721BiFk0l-qqM/s1600/LG+Anna+at+finish+line+LA+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9lKphXw3XUupMGSJ-zwYcrR7rSOKd340DScBb9ztjj0QPMPRtqP_Xg6eTVcUaRu0GVhoGpbLge16oDc_k-2HI5IE5QCLWJfWDJ3PC8U-yS2-scyBeoZqz6fh4E-KBs721BiFk0l-qqM/s1600/LG+Anna+at+finish+line+LA+2014.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding my finisher's medal after crossing the finish line, just 15 seconds under my max time goal of 6 hrs!</td></tr>
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I set up a "virtual piggy bank" <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/mdtd70" target="_blank">Anna: Running for Meg in VA</a> for people who want to help me with the cost of traveling out of state and running the full. Something my boss at work wanted to do for me, to help me reach my goal and to show support. Honestly, the only expenses I have are for this are 1. Registration 2. Shoes 3. Food. The hotel, flights, and transportation have been taken care of. But if I do collect more money than the cost of #1, 2, and 3 I will donate the funds to the Meg's Menzie's Memorial Fund (once that has been officially established) and perhaps even a couple other charities that I feel reflect the Meg's Miles motto of "Be the good." And I had to post this cute picture, I have a real piggy bank on my desk at work...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fYKc-cudFHWCYRUPNpeaPo8Li0TLWQbvt43e3x0FjNdaqL0GQS1VZQKkm8D100r9VLOCspzyAI_j1Tdw72fGVJ1OPWGXprkIQU6MXBjYMEqCst_2b0mzD1jd41slviU5pdyK65Dlnvw/s1600/little+piggy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fYKc-cudFHWCYRUPNpeaPo8Li0TLWQbvt43e3x0FjNdaqL0GQS1VZQKkm8D100r9VLOCspzyAI_j1Tdw72fGVJ1OPWGXprkIQU6MXBjYMEqCst_2b0mzD1jd41slviU5pdyK65Dlnvw/s1600/little+piggy2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VA or bust! Feed the piggy! Get the Annagizer to the Richmond Virginia Marathon!</td></tr>
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-28767315189074300752015-02-18T22:22:00.002-08:002015-02-19T13:33:24.078-08:00Dare to Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQLXq7YwxfP6Kh6_L7gT0_vIFegHt6SxmEqYpolAP6P2zM4jow4PtoC7BU4EK-jiAg49-7kd2r4dxmaSlLPh9lVd6Y6JYF8zRAmhk5oDxbzgrjHjpTYAbI2PGJj8DCVVFKLr2lL1JBW4/s1600/20150216_075215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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This is my audition number from my America's Got Talent audition this past Sunday, Feb 15, 2015. Yeah, I tried out for AGT. Let me tell you the story about how this all came to be.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQLXq7YwxfP6Kh6_L7gT0_vIFegHt6SxmEqYpolAP6P2zM4jow4PtoC7BU4EK-jiAg49-7kd2r4dxmaSlLPh9lVd6Y6JYF8zRAmhk5oDxbzgrjHjpTYAbI2PGJj8DCVVFKLr2lL1JBW4/s1600/20150216_075215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQLXq7YwxfP6Kh6_L7gT0_vIFegHt6SxmEqYpolAP6P2zM4jow4PtoC7BU4EK-jiAg49-7kd2r4dxmaSlLPh9lVd6Y6JYF8zRAmhk5oDxbzgrjHjpTYAbI2PGJj8DCVVFKLr2lL1JBW4/s1600/20150216_075215.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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The idea got into my head a few months ago to try out when my husband showed me a video. Actually he showed me several videos from people that auditioned for America's Got Talent. One in particular spurred me on to actually register myself! Her name is Anna, like me! Here is the video below. She has an anxiety and depression disorder and decided to try out. It was amazing to see her do this. Just being there, strong and brave, was inspiring. I don't even know if she went further on the show. But the video is very moving, and by the end I was crying.</div>
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My husband kept showing me other videos, all of them made me cry. I thought to myself, "I could do that! I could try out for that show!" I didn't think, "I could win!" I was just thinking how these people were brave and tried something, and even these video clips on YouTube are inspiring people... like me! In my home! Sitting on my couch! How awesome is that?! The decision to go on a show and try out, to show your heart, to bare your soul to the world. To do something that scares you, and is outside your comfort zone. That is some inspirational stuff! </div>
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Signing up to run a marathon is similar, in the sense that you are doing something that is outside your comfort zone. Even months of training and long hours at the gym never fully prepare you for the mental task of that race day, to run 26.2 miles. It's an amazing experience though! Both inspiring to watch others do, and to do yourself! And its something I am thinking of doing again! (I know, I KNOW, I am crazy!) Even crazier than signing up for a full marathon, though, was this idea to sign up to audition for America's Got Talent. </div>
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When I checked out the audition dates I saw they were holding them in L.A. either 2/14/15, Valentine's Day, or 2/15/15, a Sunday. I live about 35 miles from L.A. I chose V-day and registered. I thought, "Hey why not? And if my husband comes with me for moral support we will just hang out together on V-day." He agreed to join me on this crazy journey. He was like, "Sure. Why not?" We both had no idea what the outcome would be. I thought of the benefits to getting on the show to my family. What if someone liked my music and paid for me to make an album, and then I sold that album? Or even just ONE song sold! How great would that be for my family and my extended family, who all need financial help. And how awesome would it be to give back to our church, who helped us survive a year and half while we were both jobless, with two kids and a mortgage?! There were a lot of "What ifs" and "Wouldn't that be cool?" And "Why not try?" You never know what is even possible if you don't even TRY! </div>
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I didn't know if God would bless this decision. What I DO know, however, is that the gifts and talents we have been given belong to God to use for His glory and for His purposes. If I am only supposed to use my gifts and talents at my church, then that is what I will do. But giving God glory with your talents doesn't always just mean using them in a ministry setting. Doing what God created you to do brings Him glory. If He gave me a gift and I never used that gift, then I am not bringing Him glory. My act of worship is in the USE of that talent, or gift. I got confirmation of this theory through a devotional post by Rick Warren: <a href="http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english%2fuse-your-gifts-as-an-act-of-worship2?roi=echo7-15508001545-40411327-f97c3148337db8eece33cc65c70c3b11&" target="_blank">Use Your Gifts As an Act of Worship</a> In this devotion he says, "You don't have to always be doing something spiritual to bring God glory." I took this as affirmation and a green light to go ahead! And as I shared my plans with friends and my church family, I didn't get any flack about it. They were all supportive and knew that my heart was in the right place, because I really am not seeking fame and fortune. But a way to use my talents, bless others, and if financial blessings come to my family through this I would be ecstatic! AND I would use that money to bless others and help them, as we have been helped so much! I absolutely want GOD to get all the glory in this, and if He isn't going to be glorified in this, then I know my plans will never succeed anyways.</div>
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Well, not long after I made this decision my husband got a job offer! Yay! He was very stressed out at his current job, and we had been praying for a year for a better situation, as well as better pay. God answered our prayers and gave Jason a better paying job, and one where we didn't have to relocate (double blessing). BUT... for his new job he would be going out of town for three weeks, on 2/15/15! So, now the idea of sitting in Los Angeles for most of our day on 2/14/15 didn't seem like such a grand idea. He needed to pack, and we needed to be together as a family. So, I said that is okay. I actually had made an audition video to send as well, so I felt that was enough for God to do His will in this situation. So, I left it. Here is my video: <a href="https://www.wevideo.com/hub/#media/ci/313137835" target="_blank">Anna Dwinger's AGT Audition video</a> (Only correction to the video... I wrote "December Dreams" a month before I found out I was pregnant with my son, not a month before he was born! Ah well... lol)</div>
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Then Saturday 2/14/15 came along. I helped with worship at my church's women's breakfast event that morning. And several ladies asked if I was going to the AGT audition. I said no, and explained why. They were disappointed for me, and said they had a good feeling about it for me. Well, I said I would pray about it. I would need someone to watch my kids. I couldn't sit for several hours waiting to audition in a room full of strangers in downtown L.A. with them! They would go nuts... and so would I!! </div>
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Then on the way home I had an idea, I would call one of my bestest friends in the WHOLE wide world, and ask her what she thought I should do. I was feeling like it wasn't time to give up yet. Just like when I ran so many races before, and I felt sick the weeks before, or I had been injured and was just starting to feel better. The race may go well, or it may not. But I don't like to give up before I even reach the starting line. I would rather try and fail, than to not even try at all. So, I approached this with the same attitude. If there was ANY chance for me to go, I should at least try. If I fail to get there, then the video has been sent and that could be enough. My BFF said she didn't think I was crazy and that she also felt disappointed that I had decided not to go try out. Then she said she had the 15th off and she and her husband could watch my kids! They even live in L.A., so it was kinda perfect. And she offered to let us all sleep there overnight if my audition went late. PERFECT! Thank you Lord! And thank you BFF and BFF's hubby!! </div>
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So, my husband left Sunday morning. I went to church, sang in the choir, sang on the 2nd service worship team. All as planned. And then I got lunch for me and the kids, and headed out to LA. Feeling kinda crazy, and my attitude was, "Whatever happens, happens." I knew God was in control, and I couldn't do anything more than my best. Show up, play, leave, and leave it in God's hands from there. So that is what I did. </div>
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I waited around for few hours, and finally got my turn to audition. I played my song, "December Dreams," and I left. There was one producer there listening to me, and one camera man filming me. And two other people waiting their turn in the room. After I played the producer guy smiled pleasantly, said, "That was very nice. Thank you!" A positive response, but I have no idea if my audition will get me to the live audition recorded for TV. But after that, I was done. It was time to move on. I spent the night at my BFF's home and then spent the next day, a holiday, with my kids visiting friends and having a great time. I won't hear until "Spring" if I make the show. If I don't make it, then they won't call. So... no use even sitting by the phone. It's all in God's control. I am not even going to worry or stress over it. </div>
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Last night I was looking over some of the songs I have written and there is one that has words (not instrumental like the one in my audition video.) And they fit so well for this whole journey, and my life these past few years. It's called "Dare to Dream." Maybe I will get a chance to perform it on the show! I will leave you with these final words. </div>
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Some days I wake up and I wonder, </div>
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"Will the clouds keep rolling in?"</div>
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I'm so tired of hearing thunder, </div>
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when will my life's storm end?</div>
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I dreamt of singing a new song, </div>
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But was drowned out by the crowd.</div>
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Now here I am, it's been so long,</div>
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Since I dared to dream out loud. </div>
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If I dare to dream, what is there to lose?</div>
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If I dare to dream it could all come true!</div>
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If I dare to dream.</div>
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I can see storm clouds departing.</div>
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Gray skies no longer around.</div>
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I feel my life is just starting,</div>
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nothing to keep me down.</div>
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If I dare to dream, what is there to lose?</div>
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If I dare to dream it could all come true!</div>
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If I dare to dream the impossible dream it could all come true!</div>
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Don't let anyone say, "Dreams don't come true!" </div>
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The impossible dream, it could all come true.</div>
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If I dare to dream, it could all come true!</div>
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If I dare to dream.</div>
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- Anna Dwinger</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-66253838057023759642015-01-21T15:37:00.001-08:002015-01-21T15:44:05.091-08:00Justified FreelyI recently had to report for jury duty. It was the first time I had actually ever gone. Before I was always able to get out of it for various reasons: stay at home Mom FT while husband was out of town for 5 weeks at a time, pregnant, nursing, financial hardship etc.... So, I was actually kind of looking forward to seeing what all this was about. I was curious. Would I hate it like everyone else does? I actually didn't mind the idea of sitting around for a day reading a book, or playing around on the Internet etc. I could handle that. It's the unknown of whether you will be called onto a trial that is stressful. But I just embraced the wait and made the best of the situation. I also wasn't sure I would even hate serving on a trial!<br />
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While I was waiting at one courthouse they started calling people to go to another courthouse. They asked people from certain cities to go over. After a couple rounds of people they said they needed more, and then they called my city. I thought, "This isn't good. If they are short handed I may end up on a trial." But they said it was mandatory to go over, so I had no choice. After I arrived at the new courthouse it wasn't long until they called my name. 55 potential jurors were called in to be questioned to see who would be on the panel.<br />
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When we got into the room we were told by the judge that this was a DUI case. Immediately my heart started thumping, I was getting upset... I prayed for the Lord to calm me. I didn't know yet, after all, if I would have to serve on the trial. I still had a chance to get out of it. So, I waited my turn to be questioned. You see, this was not the day for a DUI trial. This was Monday 1/12/15 and one year prior, on a Monday 1/13/14 a woman (a fellow runner and mother of 3) was struck by a drunk driver and killed. I run for this woman and her grieving family. I spoke about this on my previous post: <a href="http://iamonlyhalfcrazy.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-megs-miles-shoes.html" target="_blank">My Meg's Miles Shoes</a> It was late in the day, and we had to come back the next morning. They barely had gotten through the first group of 18 people for questioning. This made it even worse. The following day was the one year anniversary date of Meg's passing. <br />
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The next day they were about two people away from getting their jury together for the trial when the judge told us there was a medical emergency she had to attend to. She was canceling the trial for now. We were free to go home. I hadn't even been questioned yet. I actually was half hoping that I would be in the hot seat for questioning! I wanted a chance to tell Meg's story. Every story that someone shared of why they didn't want to sit on a DUI trial, the defendant heard it. I was praying he was listening. I didn't know his circumstances, and thankfully he hadn't hurt anyone while driving, but if he was a drinker and he was driving drunk... he needed to hear these stories. But it was not in God's plans for me. But there is something I learned from this trial that I would like to share.<br />
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The Judge asked every potential juror if we could uphold the law, even if we didn't always agree with it. Could we follow the law as written, not add our own interpretations or feelings to it... just obey the law and serve a sentence to the individual on trial that is in accordance with that law?<br />
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An interesting hypothetical that was thrown out there by the prosecutor. If there was a Grandma sitting in the defendant's chair, and she was on trial for feeding the ducks with her grandkids on a Wednesday at a park, when the sign at the park said "No feeding ducks on a Wednesday," and Grandma got convinced to do it by her grandkids, because that was the last day the ducks would be there before they flew South for the Winter... could you say, "Grandma is guilty!" Without knowing the consequence the judge would give her?<br />
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Apply this to the Bible. It is God's law. Sometimes we may not agree with the law that He established. Sometimes we just flat out don't understand why or what purpose it serves. But do we have enough faith in God to follow it and obey it? Can we trust God to serve judgement in the most fair and just way to even "Grandma?" If someone chooses to disobey God's law, are we able to be like a jury and to tell others, "You are guilty of breaking the law"? Because, as Christians that is what we are to do. Thankfully the difference is, when we say that we also can say, "There is someone who will take the sentence for you. You don't have to face the penalty of your law breaking. He will take it for you. You are free to go." How amazing would that be for those sitting in a court of law?! To sit there, waiting for your sentence for breaking the law, hearing your sentence, and then to have someone say... "Your honor, I would like to take this individual's place and serve their sentence for them."<br />
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That is what Jesus did for us. He died on the cross, he took the death sentence upon himself, and he has told God, "I got this. They are with me. You can let them go." <br />
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Romans 3:23 "For <b><u>ALL</u></b> have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And all are <b><u>justified freely</u></b> by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ." (emphasis added)<br />
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You are guilty... and so am I. But the good news is John 3:16... Jesus died for YOU and me!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-55448987047087291862014-12-10T00:26:00.001-08:002015-01-23T09:41:53.893-08:00My Meg's Miles Shoes<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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I bought these shoes in January 2014 to run my first full marathon in. I only ran 17.75 miles in them before I ran 13.6 miles on January 18th, my first Meg's miles. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What is "Meg's Miles," you may be asking. January 13, 2014 a Mother of 3 young kids was running with her husband during training for the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"></st1:place></st1:city><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city> marathon. It was a Monday morning, and she was hit by a drunk driver. Soon a woman that knew Meg was reaching out to the Mom's Run This Town community and asking us to dedicate our miles on Saturday to Meg. We were to post our runs on Facebook with the hash tag #MegsMiles. I was on a break from running due to a small stress fracture starting below my knee. But that weekend I was planning on trying out my leg on a long run. I gladly ran that day for Meg. I was a Mom training for a marathon, just like Meg. And I felt that could have easily been me on an early morning run. <o:p></o:p></div>
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March 9, 2014 I ran the L.A. Marathon. I finished in 5:59:18. I was hoping for somewhere between 5 hours and 6hrs max. With that stress fracture still looming I had to take it easy, and I just barely made it under 6. But I finished. June 21st I ran my fastest 10k, 8:31 min/mi pace! Never ran that pace for any distance over 1 mile before or since! I also placed 3rd in my age group! I had NEVER placed in a race before! Not even any 5ks I had done! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Interesting thing... The same day I started running for Meg I started running for God. Coincidence, perhaps. Perhaps not. From that first 13.6miles, through the marathon, to that 10k... my miles were spent praying for Meg, for my friends and family. The hours of training and racing I spent giving my worries, my stress, my grief to God. Grief? You say. Yes... I lost my Mom when my daughter was almost 2 yrs old, July 2009. While I was pregnant with my son, my oldest brother was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized melanoma cancer. Paul passed away when my son was 11 months old, July 2011. I started running after Paul passed away. Did my first 5k in October 2011. May 2012 I ran my first half. A year and a half after Paul died his wife also passed away, diagnosed with melanoma in her brain. She didn't know she had melanoma while Paul was alive. Ruth died in just two short months after diagnosis, December 2012. It was after her death (and after finishing my 3rd half marathon) that I went from running half marathons to deciding to run a full. Something that terrified me. And something I thought was impossible. But there was a time I thought running 3 miles was crazy! I decided to raise money for Melanoma Research and make this one count for something! My runs became a time I spent not only praying, but listening to uplifting music and worshiping God. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As I realized God wanted me to use my runs as a way to connect with Him I couldn't justify to myself also running for Meg. I didn't see how the two fit together. Then I learned Meg was a Christian too! And I felt a nudge from the Lord saying, "It's okay. You can run for me and for Meg." The group on Facebook that grew daily to over 17,400+ members had become a place I looked forward to visiting. Every post was inspiring and so encouraging. And then I realized that I had a place like that for Paul... and I understood how it must feel for Scott, Meg's husband, and her Mom and her Mother-in-law to visit that page every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The website I go to is a like a living memorial to Paul. It lives and breathes, and his spirit is kept alive by his climbing buddies and the climbing community. Not everyone knew Paul personally, but they were all touched by his story, his battle, and his passing. They post pictures from their trips where they have taken his ashes with him on their climbs. We literally sold chalk balls with a pinch of Paul's ashes in them to people that were willing to take him with them on their climbs. It was Paul's idea actually, and in his sense of humor he dubbed the chalk balls, "Paul's Balls." Here is a link to the site on Super Topo: <a href="http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1569014/Pauls-Balls" target="_blank">Paul's Balls</a> There are no more ashes left. When Ruth passed away, the end of "Paul's Balls" came with it. And my Dad dispersed the rest of Paul's ashes among his many favorite climbing locations. But people still have those bags of chalk. And they still climb with him! One of the gals on the site said, <o:p></o:p><br />
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<i>...PAUL'S BALLS was the man's idea so it's also difficult to find anything but big fun in the idea and that Paul will be on many-a-crimp, deep in hand cracks, smeared on the sides of chimneys on crags, alpine, gyms........sheesh. Paul Is Everywhere!!! It's as hilarious as it is godly.....</i></div>
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Yup... he got it. Every time I go on that site I am moved to tears. Paul is everywhere! And he is where he loved to be. On the mountains, on the sides of cliffs, in the cracks of rocks. Meg's Miles is like that site. It's a place that we all carry the memory of Meg on. Her spirit is kept alive among us. She is where she loved to be. On that early morning run with the sunrise, with her running buddies chatting and having a good time, training for the hardest race of her life, and running some fun ones... And the spirit of Christ that was in Meg is in many of us. So now, I post my miles for Meg and for God. I post for her family. To encourage them and to inspire other runners. I can't climb like Paul climbed, so I run. And I continue to raise awareness for melanoma and raise money for research to cure melanoma cancer. But as I run it's nice to know I can also encourage a family that has lost their loved one. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 says,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."</i><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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So, it all makes sense in the end. I run for God and I run for Meg, because she ran for Him! I also run for Paul and Ruth, for melanoma cancer research and awareness... but who says that doesn't fit into all of this either? I think I like my little running group: me, God, Mom, Paul, Ruth, and Meg.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><u2:p></u2:p></div>
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<u2:p></u2:p>And soon those shoes, those very special shoes... will be here. On Meg's memorial.<br />
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I hope to reach 800 miles for Meg by 1/18/15. One year, 800 miles for Meg. And if I can place those shoes there with my own two hands, even better. We shall see. Only God knows. But I hope so. She has brought so much meaning to my running, so much deeper meaning than I ever thought possible. Thank you Meg! And God bless your children, your husband, your Mom, your Mother-in-law and all the other relatives and friends that miss your smile every day. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen<br />
(Phil 4:7) </div>
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#MegsMiles #RunforHim #RunforGod</div>
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1/18/15 NOTE: I was able to complete 753 running miles for Meg. I also completed 112.65 biked miles last year in training and for my sprint-triathlon. I dedicate fully these 865.65 miles to Meg and to God, whom she loved and served all her days on earth, and continues to serve in Heaven. Amen.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-49593887241742702792014-11-21T22:30:00.000-08:002014-12-10T22:34:18.086-08:00Conquering the Mountain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I ran my 6th half marathon November 15, 2014. My time was 2:24:04. It was a downhill half, and I was hoping to PR and break the 2:11 barrier, but alas... that didn't happen. But compared to my average time on previous half marathons, of 2:28, I was happy. Not every race can be a "Personal Record."<br />
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A few factors contributed to my inability to blow any previous times out of the water, despite the downhill edge. The week before the race my allergies were really bad, I eventually found allergy medicine that cured my symptoms, but it gave me that "medicine head" feeling. I felt like I was walking around with a hang over. But hey, at least my nose stopped dripping and my throat wasn't sore anymore! I missed my last Saturday taper run of 6 miles due to feeling horrible from the allergies and the medicine, so when Tuesday evening ran around I sucked it up and decided to keep the running date I had made with my two training buddies for the half marathon. I almost didn't go... I texted them my complaints of feeling miserable and they asked, "Does that mean you aren't going?" And I said, "No, just whining." I was hoping they would be like, "Yeah, I am too tired, I am going to pass too." But no. They were both ready to get 'er done! So I left work and headed to the trail by a local park.<br />
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During that run, after 3 miles, my running buddy asked if my Runkeeper app on my phone was tracking the run (not that it mattered, they both had theirs going and I had my Garmin on me). I like the app though, it gives a cool map and has immediate gratification of being able to upload your screenshot to social media. So, I checked it out, it was working, so I jammed it back into my belt and then........ BAM!! I tripped! It was ironic, because out of the three of us I was the only one wearing a headlamp. LOL I got up and assessed the damage. The brunt of the fall was taken by my left leg below my knee (on the side of my calf). And my left hand was throbbing and had a little road rash on it as well. I felt like the side of my thigh had been hit as well, and there was a smaller scrape below my knee. "Oh lovely.... and I have a race in 4 days," I thought. I continued on our run, we were almost to our turn around point. I assured my friends I was okay. My hand throbbed as I ran, but the leg pain hadn't hit me yet. 2 miles later we made it back to our cars and I was DONE. Forget 6 miles, I was good with 5. When I got into the car to drive home my left leg started burning with horrible pain. I was glad I only lived around the corner from the park, but I couldn't get home soon enough!<br />
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As if that wasn't bad enough I developed another problem that same night. It's not something I want to really elaborate on too much, but it was what we would delicately call a "female problem," and it was making me miserable. When I woke up I felt like a hot mess. Between the allergies, the fall, and this new development I was starting to think that the race coming up was not going to happen for me. I went to the Doctor right away, he checked out my injury and said I had done a good job cleaning it out. (That's at least SOME good news.) Then he prescribed a pill and some other medicines for my "female problem" and then he did me a solid and confirmed my allergies were just that, and not some horrible cold or developing flu. That's the last thing I needed! The Doctor said I should feel better by Saturday (which was the day of my race). So, that was promising. In the mean time I just had to take care of my leg and evaluate for myself if it was "race worthy." (You know... like "sea worthy" but for running. haha)<br />
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I believe it was 3am Thursday morning that I sent out a text to my two running buddies. I said I wasn't sure if I was going to run Saturday. They knew about my allergies and my road rash, but they didn't know yet about how miserable I was with the addition of my 3rd ailment. I could suck it up for allergies.... I could suck it up for some road rash on my leg, but I didn't know if I could suck it up for those two things AND the third all combined into one miserable mess. I was starting to think this was a sign from God NOT to run.<br />
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When I talked to my husband about it all he said to give it one more day before deciding to call it quits. Wise words. This support helped me to consider that this half marathon was actually still within the realm of possibility. Then I opened my email and saw this devotional from Rick Warren titled, <a href="http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/don-t-give-up!2?roi=echo7-14203259141-39099657-64fd3e278f4863ac3a0d9f19818ef74f&" target="_blank">"Don't Give up!"</a> I thought perhaps this is a sign from God. I didn't know for sure. But that particular devotion is ALWAYS on point for what I am going through on a particular day. So I thought it was interesting. Coincidence? Maybe... but maybe not. And as I went to work that day all my symptoms seemed to be better than the day before, and even better than that restless night. I had hope that in even just one or two more days my misery would be even more improved than in this past 24 hrs. As the day went on my text messages to my running friends went from whines to cries of, "I would rather try and fail than to not even try at all!" I decided I would prefer to start the race, discover my leg just wasn't going to be able to handle it, or that my body was rejecting the idea of running completely, and hop on a golf cart to the finish line than to never even make it to the start line.<br />
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My friends were excited, and I started to get excited again myself. There were so many reasons I wanted to do this race, after all.<br />
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#1 A bunch of Mom's Run This Town chapters were all meeting each other at this race. It would be the first time we all did this. We had interacted online quite a bit, but many of us never met in person before. And one of my running buddies was going to stay over night with me in a hotel, since it was a little further from home. And what Mom doesn't want a chance to spend the night in a hotel with no kids! Am I right?<br />
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#2 I am in a group on Facebook called "Meg's Miles Supporters" and I had purchased my first shirt from them and was going to run with it on during this race. And the significance to that was major. Not only was this the first time I owned a Meg's Miles shirt, but a whole other group of Meggers were running in Richmond Virginia their own half and full marathons. I kinda felt connected to them and their excitement by doing a race on the same day, in my shirt. I was very excited about the back of the shirt as well... "I run for Meg, because Meg ran 4 him." Goes perfectly with my Run for God mentality! I want to give glory to Him for every run I do! (Meg was a Mother, a runner training for the Boston marathon, and a Christian. She was hit by a drunk driver on a morning run January 13, 2014. The profits from this shirt go to the husband and family of Meg's. So, this meant a lot to me.) Here is my shirt, and my lovely road rash. <br />
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#3 It was my first half marathon on a Saturday (I have sworn off running on Sundays... see previous post), and it was downhill, and it was an inaugural run. The whole thing was so well planned by the REVEL Canyon City folks that I knew the experience would be amazing, an experience unlike any of the previous 4 halfs I have done or the one full. And truthfully, the bling was AMAZING (see top photo)! Even our race photos were free! And there was pie at the end! PIE! Anyways... needless to say, I was very excited just to experience this race. LOL<br />
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Friday came, I took the day off work. And after dinner, with the gal that was staying at the hotel with me, we headed out. At this point I had stopped the allergy meds to hopefully kick this "hangover" feeling, but I truly felt miserable still. Then by that evening my leg was swelling up and I was getting a bit worried. I took some Advil, wrapped my leg with two bags of ice and crawled into bed... praying that my leg would be in decent enough condition to run the next morning. After about 5 hours of sleep we headed to the race, I grabbed a fresh bag of ice for the bus ride to the start line. I was pleased so see my leg wasn't swollen, and it was feeling pretty good, and even my medicine-head feeling was markedly improved. Things were looking hopeful.<br />
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I met the MRTT ladies, we headed down the mountain, and I did feel the road rash on my leg a bit as my foot struck the ground. But it was bearable. I knew my speed was going to be slower due to this, but I was okay with that. I was there to have fun and enjoy the view of that beautiful course! I prayed for friends, I listened to worship music and praised God for the sound of the rushing river beside me. I even got a couple, "Nice shirt!" Comments as people passed me by. It has a verse on the back, Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar
on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be faint.<span class="p">" I felt that I was running with the torch for Christ in my hand. Carrying forward Meg's legacy. It was a sobering thought. </span><br />
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After I crossed at 2:24 I was proud I had stuck it out and finished what I had set out to do. I hobbled to our MRTT tent and stuck a whole bag of ice on my leg and smiled. I did it! I persevered! With the Lord's help, I conquered the mountain! I think I will do it again next year... but hopefully minus any scrapes or any other issues. hahaha<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-18710892142849529212014-11-01T16:52:00.005-07:002014-11-01T19:42:03.889-07:00No More Sunday Run Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #0066cc;"><span style="color: black;">I ran a 10 miler race this past Sunday, I met up with a few other gals, we wore mermaid running costumes, and we had a fun time. But I felt in my heart that God wants me to stop doing races on Sundays. So, I decided after this one I wouldn't race on Sunday anymore. I found a half marathon race in November that is on a Saturday, which is rare... but they exist. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0066cc;"><span style="color: black;">It's not about attending church, because there are plenty of services for me to attend that aren't on Sunday mornings, I actually did attend an evening service last week. But I sing in choir, and I also sing for special music numbers and I'm in one of the Praise and worship teams that rotates in once a month, and I occasionally am needed to fill in on the keyboard or to play the piano. Sometimes I am asked to fill in for those that are sick or on vacation. And this past Sunday wasn't a choir day, nor a praise team day for me, but my music director was a bit bummed because he was going to ask me to sing in a small group ensemble on Sunday. I was kinda bummed too. I really enjoy helping with the music ministry at my church. I know I don't have the BEST voice, nor am I the most talented pianist there ever was... but what little I have, I have given to God to use. And by doing these races on Sundays I am missing out on serving in this area of ministry, to which I have been called. And I am missing out on being blessed. I always feel blessed and humbled every time God chooses to use me to serve our church in this capacity. </span></span><br />
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The theme of the past few weeks, in my Bible studies and at church, has been surrendering everything over to God. I gave my running to God while I was training for the LA Full Marathon earlier this year. He first had me turn my music on my MP3 player totally over to Him. So, I did. While I ran every word I meditated on, and it got stuck in my head. And if it was not uplifting then I was thinking on things that I really didn't want in my brain. Then I got an injury below my right knee, and He asked me to trust Him to heal me, to stop running and ride my bike to train. So, I trusted Him. And He healed my knee and I ran and finished the LA Marathon! The experience was humbling, and it brought me much closer to God. After that race I found a Bible study called "Run for God," and it was exactly what I had experienced, so I led a Bible study group to do their first 5k and 10k as we went through that. And now a <a href="http://www.runforgod.com/devotions" target="_blank">devotional book</a> is coming out in November from the Run for God people, and I have my marathon story in it! (Which is exciting!) I thought God and I were good, what else was there to hand over?<br />
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Interesting thing about God, He always figures out what you are holding back from Him, and then He asks for it to be given to Him. I joked with my brother when he was here for a visit a couple months ago, "Can't I have anything for myself? Must God take EVERY thing?" My brother is an Episcopal Priest, and he knows what I mean. God likes to insert Himself into every aspect of our lives, and then He likes to take it over. Even when something is "good," like running, He still wants it under submission to Him. He may not take away what we love (although He may do that sometimes) but He will make sure we are glorifying Him in whatever we do. Because He is Holy, and He wants everything in the Christian's life to reflect His perfect Holiness. (And that is quite a process, because I am neither "perfect" nor "holy.")<br />
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414883027136_6199" style="text-align: center;">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414883027136_6207"><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414883027136_6206">“Since
you have heard about Jesus and
have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful
nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and
deception.
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your
new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.”
</i></b><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414883027136_6201">(Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT)</b></div>
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That verse may not seem like it applies at first glance, because my running may not fit the category of "old sinful nature" or "lust and deception" but I am in process of letting the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. And part of putting on my "new nature" is to be like God, as the verse says. "Truly righteous and holy," are the words it uses to describe this new nature. So, it does apply.</div>
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I also heard a sermon on 1 John 5:20-21,<b><i> "<span class="text 1John-5-20" id="en-ESV-30628"><sup>20</sup>And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.</span> <span class="text 1John-5-21" id="en-ESV-30629"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Little children, keep yourselves from idols." </span></i></b><span class="text 1John-5-21" id="en-ESV-30629">And again, you may read verse 21 and think, "I don't have any idols! How does that verse apply to me?" But it does apply when you think of an idol in these terms: an idol is anything we love more than we love God, or give a higher place than God in priority in our life. Now can you think of anything that is an idol in your life? The Pastor that was giving this sermon said even our children can be our idol. And that would be very easy to do, because their needs go before my needs, and I love them so dearly. But even they need to take a back seat to God. May sound a little strange, but as Deuteronomy </span>6:5 says, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/6-5.htm"></a></span><i><b><span class="highl">"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." </span></b><span class="highl"></span></i><span class="highl"></span><span class="highl">And</span><span class="highl"> Jesus quoted that verse as the greatest commandment!</span><br />
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<span class="highl">So, there is my little lesson for the day. Which is actually quite a BIG lesson, if you think about it. Because as human beings we have a sinful nature, and we are not perfect, so there will be many things in our life that God will be asking us to lay on the altar before Him. Just as Abraham was willing to lay his own son, Isaac, on the altar of sacrifice to God, we too must be willing to do the same. Abraham was lucky, an Angel of the Lord stopped his hand before he sacrificed his son. And perhaps God will do the same thing in my life, and in your life. He will ask for the sacrifice, but not take it away completely (like my running). But you must be willing to give it up.Because perhaps He will take it under submission and take away the idol completely from you, because it is a stumbling block in your life. But just know this, if He asks for the sacrifice, He has a better plan for you. He will replace the idols of your life with greater blessings and the gift of fellowship with Him. Fellowship with the creator, God?! How mind blowing is that? I am humbled by that thought, that God is jealous for my time, and desires to be in fellowship with ME. Little ol' me.</span><br />
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<span class="highl">God bless you all today, and always. Amen. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-34535269523874620452014-10-07T00:11:00.000-07:002014-10-07T00:12:00.479-07:00...They Need to See Jesus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFue8ruAW4Reo9i1rUq-fdw10jM_vMP3POI7hmX4akEveV9K1FfCe_Sq9QGboTn-5AbpTJKJifAiZFPClgk1jXEuswbn8BL00X2vhyphenhyphensGw3V7zwegl7nP8GAxwC8Fwkc1Kc0NqtI2ldlXw/s1600/There-are-times-when-God-wants-to-use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFue8ruAW4Reo9i1rUq-fdw10jM_vMP3POI7hmX4akEveV9K1FfCe_Sq9QGboTn-5AbpTJKJifAiZFPClgk1jXEuswbn8BL00X2vhyphenhyphensGw3V7zwegl7nP8GAxwC8Fwkc1Kc0NqtI2ldlXw/s1600/There-are-times-when-God-wants-to-use.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041604228100457106.post-49071546972354117492014-10-03T16:06:00.003-07:002014-10-03T16:38:24.284-07:00Those Weirdos Are My Tribe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUke6zZPpkrJ5AIgZEhiNms7plRBPJnDpVeawNL6fm4CLZDYnv-FOgb4f_jwF8BLzJWexJL1qNASbBjZhynOG8hfsvn6mCY3OhUvkp_wGaMbWB9_whl2mo2eoIZdikY6FPgNNcK4GwT_Q/s1600/10484742_10152813146374715_2064800145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUke6zZPpkrJ5AIgZEhiNms7plRBPJnDpVeawNL6fm4CLZDYnv-FOgb4f_jwF8BLzJWexJL1qNASbBjZhynOG8hfsvn6mCY3OhUvkp_wGaMbWB9_whl2mo2eoIZdikY6FPgNNcK4GwT_Q/s1600/10484742_10152813146374715_2064800145_n.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
I saw this posted in a group on Facebook that I am in, called Meg's Miles (a very encouraging and inspiring group of people.) and I had to steal it! I love all the quotes and they fit so well with my blog title! <br />
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I am currently training for my next half marathon, which will be November 15th. It's all downhill, and I thought since I had such an amazing PR time from my 10k (which was partly downhill) I should try a half with a downhill. Maybe I will suddenly be super fast and speedy! My PR to date for a half is a 10min/ mile pace. So, we will see if I smash that record or not. (My amazing 10k pace was 8:31min/ mile. I have no idea where that came from! Except for that downhill slope... and probably all the training left over from my full marathon earlier in the year.)<br />
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The quote "I love the person I've become because I fought to become her, I am a runner" is very cool. Running has its challenges, and I have had to overcome many issues to keep going. Runner's knee, IT band issues, a stress fracture, just to name a few. But I got through those problems and have kept on going! I am a runner, and no one can take that title away from me! I remember not wanting to claim that as a title for myself, I wasn't sure I was a runner. And then one day, after looking at a wall full of medals from multiple half marathons, a couple 5ks and a full marathon, I decided... "Yup, I am a runner." My brother, Nathan, visited me in September and he said he's been following my posts on Facebook (he lives on the East Coast and I live on the West Coast) and he said, "Wow! My sister's a jock!" I thought that was pretty cool. I am an athlete, I am a runner, I am a full on jock! Never thought those words would ever be used to describe me! <br />
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The next quote is pretty awesome, "You are intense. You are obsessed. You are not normal. You say yes, when others say no. You rise when others sleep. You are better today than you were yesterday. You do what others will not. You control your destiny. You are on a quest. Never stop." I think those statements are very true about myself. And I can thank running for that. I use to never get up before the sun rose! This past week, I have woken up between 4:10am for a 7 mile run, to 4:30am for boot camp! When I wake up my daughter for school I have a pile of sweaty clothes sitting in the laundry machine and my hair is wet from taking my shower. When I tell her I have already worked out for the day, or just ran several miles she says, "No way!" (She's 6, by the way.) And I say, "I am not lying! Go check out the laundry machine, look at my wet hair. Check out my Facebook post from this morning." And she runs to the machine, and checks out my sweatie selfie portrait, or my boot camp check in, and she goes... "Wowwwww." How cool is that?! I hope that inspires my daughter to do great things in her life. I want her to conquer the world, to feel that anything is possible, and to be a strong woman, as well as a woman of God. And yes, I am not normal either... so I accept that statement as true. haha And yes, I am obsessed with running and staying fit. But I think that is a healthy obsession! A pattern in life that I hope my daughter and son follow in theirs.<br />
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That last quote really sums things up perfectly, regarding my running buddies. "When you find people that not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with glad cries of "Me too!" be sure to cherish them. Because those weirdos are your tribe." I do love and cherish my running buddies! I am in an awesome group of women runners, our group is called "Mom's Run This Town," and we get each other out of bed at 4am for 5am runs, and drag each other through hilly dirt trails, and around bike trails, and we share our lives with each other while we run side by side. They accept all my craziness, and my quirkiness, and they are my tribe! They may be weirdos, because they get up and run and spend money on races, and talk about new running shoes, and all that stuff... but so do I! They get it, they get me, and I love it! And besides that group, that gets me out for early morning runs, or late night runs (after dinner is done, and the kids are in bed) I have another group that are my regular Saturday morning group. They are called RunningFriends4Life, I can't leave them out! They are there faithfully every Saturday, rain or shine. And they are up for ANYTHING! Any distance, any direction, any pace... they never leave a man or woman behind and they just give the most amazing support! No matter how fast or slow, or how new or seasoned you are. They are just amazing! I love them! And they are so funny! They make getting up early for a run on Saturday fun, and not a chore. <br />
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So, have I sold you on running yet? Do you want to lace up your shoes and head out the door? How about this... I feel like I could have written these myself! These are from a woman named Suzanne Kvilhaug and this is from her blog on <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-14281/10-life-lessons-i-learned-from-running.html" target="_blank">Mind Body Green</a><br />
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10 LIFE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM RUNNING<br />
1. Beginning is always the hardest part. Push yourself to keep going. It gets easier.<br />
2. Consistency creates habits, and habits create the results to want to achieve.<br />
3. If you want to get better, pain is unavoidable. Don't shy away from it.<br />
4. If you don't get out of your comfort zone, you'll ne<span class="text_exposed_show">ver achieve your goals.<br /> 5. People who do things better than you are your teachers, not your competition.<br /> 6. Often, thinking you can't go on any longer is a illusion. You often can.<br /> 7. Sometimes things don't go as planned. Accept it and move on.<br /> 8. When you're going uphill and you want to quit, don’t. Move slower if you have to, but keep going. You will get there.<br /> 9. Happiness shouldn't be put on hold until you cross the finish line. Enjoy as much as you can along the way, even when the going gets tough.<br /> 10. Don’t let your desire for improvement rob you of pride in small victories!<br />
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I may be a weirdo, I may be half crazy... but can you feel it? Can you feel how awesome it is to be a runner? ;-)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0