Five Minute Friday: Small

Photo credit: Rachel Duran



It's easy for a momma to disappear.  Does anybody know underneath 'mom' there is a real person with feelings and hopes and dreams and talents?  And we wonder if we are making a difference.  Because really, all we want to know is that we are significant.  We shrink beneath the piles of laundry and taxi-ing kids to their activities and trying to figure out what's for dinner tonight.  And we feel as if we will never have a clean home and we have to wipe another nose and wash another load of dishes.  And the baby won't stop crying and the toddler throws another tantrum and a teenager breaks your heart.  We trade in our hobbies and exercising and restful nights for parent/teacher meetings and stretch marks and chasing away the boogey man.  And the carpet needs cleaning and the weeds need to be pulled and the car is a mess.  We wake up early and go to bed too late and kiss boos and give baths and say prayers.  We struggle through homework and argue about curfew and discipline even when it's hard.  And we pray.  We are driven to our knees because sometimes we don't know what to do and we feel so small.  We wake up the next day and do it all over again.  We give and we give and we give.  When we feel like we have nothing left - we give some more.

We are mommas.  We pray hard. We work hard.  We love hard.

And that is no small thing.

                             

 

Want to know more about Five Minute Friday?  Click here.

And the Winner Is...

 

Congratulations, Ashley, from This Southern Girl's Heart!!

 

Ashley will be receiving a copy of the book, Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist!

You can order a copy here!

Wishing you all a lovely day and if it gets sorta rough: 

 

  

 

:)  - Liv

Unwired

Okay, so this is getting ridiculous! 

Please say I'm not the only one ... I HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO MANAGE MY TIME BETTER!  I often go through my days distracted, finding it hard to focus on completing a single thought.  One cannot be fully present when constantly feeling the need to stop for every Facebook notification or to respond to every tweet!  I find myself spending whole evenings online while I fall further behind on my ever-growing to-do list.  If I truly believe what I read and write, about WAKING UP and SLOWING to live this one life well, then something has got to give. 

Today I am joining other women in The Unwired Mom Challenge, to put the Internet back into its proper place - as a tool.  The Internet has given me a wonderful outlet to write through blogging.  I love keeping in touch with you through Facebook and Instagram; I am not giving up on Pinterest or Youtube.  But none of that compares to spending time with my family and engaging in real life. This challenge is not to stay off of the computer, but to be intentional about the way I spend my time on it.  I love that, since I'm not one to set up unrealistic rules and expectations to break and beat myself up over.

Also, I am loving what the Hands Free Momma has to say about what really matters and the day she stopped saying 'hurry up'.  

How about you?  Do you struggle with slowing down and being present?  What are some of the things you do to manage your time better?

Win This Book!

I just finished reading Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist.   It is "a love letter to life around the table..."  And it has recipes!

This drawing has expired

This book is too good not to share, so I am going to give away ONE copy!  To enter, email me here and put your email address in the subject line.  Invite your friends to enter!  Place your entry by Monday, August 12th!  Or, you can order the book here!   
  

Shauna's love for food and people pours out from the pages of this food memoir.  It feels as if you are sitting across the table from a  dear friend, listening to her stories of travels and tastes and lessons learned.  You will fall in love with food all over again as she describes the sizzles and the smells and the joy of cooking a dish and creating a space where friends can come in, put their feet up and have more than just their stomachs filled.  Shauna makes me want to love cooking!

I tried the blueberry crisp recipe, using peaches from a friend's peach tree instead...


 

 

Yumminess!  The plan was to have this topped with vanilla ice cream, but I sacrificed that idea to three hungry girls with a sugar craving during a sleepover.  Who knew they could finish off a whole tub of ice cream by themselves??

 

It was still delicious!  Wishing we could chat over a cup of coffee and a warm slice ... with ice cream! 



82 Things I Want To Tell My Daughter Before Tomorrow

 



The long days of summer break are over and a new school year starts tomorrow!  My daughter will enter the halls of her high school in her new cheer uniform; her sophomore year a blank page, waiting to be filled with homework and new teachers and friends and football games.  No doubt there will be exciting new opportunities as well as challenges and alas ... boys.  What I want her to remember for this year (and for always):

1) Every day you wake up is a day you are loved
2) Every day you wake up is a day you have been prayed for
3) CLING to what you know about God - it will get you through the confusion
4) Beauty from the inside is more beautiful than beauty from the outside
5) If you don't like how you feel, change how you think
6) Or...have some chocolate
7) Just because a boy shows interest doesn't mean he deserves your attention
8) Boys are stinky anyway...
9) ...and you aren't allowed to date until you are 30
10) Grades matter
11) Good girls are not boring
12) Keep your air of mystery
13) Don't confuse a bad day with feeling you have a bad life (see #6)
14) Always, always, always find something to be thankful for - especially on the bad days
15) Never stop dancing

16) Never make fun of anyone
17) Stick up for the kid everyone is hating on
18) Do what is right
19) Be fair
20) Love kindness
21) Be humble
22) Choose to have fun
23) Music is a gift
24) Cherish your friendships
25) Choose your friends wisely - you will act like the people you spend your time with
26) Don't be afraid to say "hi" first
27) Don't be ashamed to say "I don't understand"
28) Don't be afraid to ask a question
29) Anything worth having is going to take a lot of work
30) Do your best
31) Smile

 32) You will make mistakes

33) It's ok
34) What matters is what you do after
35) What you have to say is important
36) Drink water, drink water, and drink more water
37) Your body is strong
38) Take care of it - feed it - listen to it
39) You can do hard things
40) It's ok to rest when you are tired
41) You are the boss of your mind
42) Think about what is honest
43) Think about what is true
44) Think about what is lovely
45) Think about what is pure
46) Books are a gift (smile)
47) I am on your side - even when it doesn't feel that way
48) Sometimes all you need is a hug from your mom
49) It's ok to cry
50) It's ok to laugh out loud
51) It's ok to laugh at yourself
52) It's ok to have emotions
53) ... but they're tricky - don't always believe them (see #3)
54) You don't have to make everybody happy - their happiness is not your job
55) What people think of you is their business, not yours
56) Trust your gut - if it makes you uncomfortable don't do it...
57) ...don't say it ...
58) ...don't wear it
59) The truth is always the correct answer - a lie will make you look and feel foolish
60) Perfect doesn't exist
61) The movies lie
62) You will never be too old for my kisses
63) We will always need each other
64) You can't do anything to make me love you more
65) You can't do anything to make me stop loving you
66) You are important to me
67) I am proud of you
68) You make me smile
69) I love your dad
70) Your dad loves me
71) Daddy loves you - you are his treasure
72) Your dad is a good man
73) Boys should be afraid of your dad - very afraid
74) If a boy doesn't treat you the way daddy treats you or me - RUN!
75) I am thankful for you
76) Never forget who you are and Who you belong to
77) Never trade in your faith for temporary things
78) Remember you have a hope and a future
79) Love is always the right answer
 80) One day at a time - do your best
81) We will make better mistakes tomorrow
82)  When all else fails, call your mom!

I know, I know.  There are a thousand things to tell her and I only listed 82!  How do we fit a lifetime of lessons into the short amount of time we have before we kiss the baby days goodbye? 

Praying for all of our littles and not-so-littles as they begin the new school year!  And if your baby is starting kindergarten - hang in there, momma!  I will say an extra prayer for you!  I promise - it is going to be ok.  ((hugs))

Pinteresting Things

Look what popped up in my neighborhood recently! 


 

It's a Little Free Library!  What a great way to share and exchange books!  I had seen it before on Pinterest, and thought it was a cool idea. You can imagine how excited I was to see one on the corner of my street!  I took a walk to the little wooden box this afternoon and peeked through the plexiglass window.  Behind the door was a goulash of children's stories, novels and self-help books.  A note invites you to take or leave a book.  This library allows you to borrow or keep what you like.  I browsed a bit, not finding anything I was interested in this time.  Before leaving, I placed a book in the front, just so.  I wanted it to be the first seen by the next visitor.  LOL.  Silly, the things we do!

 

Speaking of Pinterest: how many things that we 'pin' do we actually get around to doing?  So many great ideas and so little time to do them all!  A few girlfriends and myself have been having Pinterest parties throughout the year to try some of our favorites.  We have a blast!  The next one is coming up soon.  I'll post pictures! 

What are some of your favorite things to 'pin'?

Five Minute Friday: Story

Learn more about Five Minute Friday here!

 

So, what's your story?

We are all story tellers in some way or another.  It's in your walk, when the stress aches across your shoulders like a fraying rope pulled taut, promising to snap at the next tug.  It's in your eyes as they light up when a loved one enters a room.  It's in the words you speak - the way you speak them.

I have been challenged to live honestly.  To tell my story truthfully.  To not be afraid to laugh or cry; to not be afraid of being less than perfect.  It's a dull life to live, being afraid to express too much emotion or not allowing others to see your weaknesses.  When we live truthfully, we give others permission to do the same.  And when we share a little of ourselves we learn that we are not alone in our trials and imperfections.

My struggles and victories; my faith and my hopes - they are part of me.  They are my story.  I want to live my one life well, so that in the end it will be told as a love story that was full of tears and laughter and messiness and mistakes and forgiveness and redemption.  Those are the best kind.

 

- Liv



Filling Up On Happy (plus a recipe and a book giveaway!)



 

I am fascinated by people who read through recipe books the way I read through design books!  Being in the kitchen is like an art to them, mixing flavors the way a painter mixes colors; swirling pans and sprinkling spices until their masterpiece is just right.  They know things like how to emulsify liquids and oils and the correct way to hold a knife.  I love watching how creating a meal is a labor of love to them.  I wish I had that.  For me, cooking is labor, period.

I do love the eating part, though!  Even more than that, there is something about sharing a meal around a table with loved ones or new acquaintances that just sits right with me.  It's a happy place.

We recently had one such evening.  Scotty and I invited three couples over for dinner.  We decided on an Italian theme and everybody brought a little something.  The eight of us gathered around our table for six, pulling up a folding chair that was too short and a wobbly stool. We had the best time! 

With Bocelli playing in the background, we had Toscana soup (recipe here), salad and homemade ciabatta bread.  Then we took a break from the eating and told stories and talked about current events.  Next was lasagna and garlic zucchini.  We pulled out Catch Phrase and laughed until our cheeks were sore.

And then ...

Sea salt and caramel cheesecake.  Creamy, smooth, heavenly yumminess.  That's all I have to say about that! 

We laughed and talked late into the night.  It was the kind of evening that still lingered with a smile the next day.  We did so much more than just fill empty stomachs that night.  We built friendship and filled ourselves up with happy. 

I am no artist in the kitchen and my home does not look like the beautiful homes from the design books I drool over.  In fact, my bathroom has been in the middle of a ceiling repair for the past few (ahem) ... years.  The carpet needs a cleaning and the couch ... well, let's not go there.  But that night it was a lovely place.  The flaws were hidden by the richness of communion. 

I have just finished reading the book, Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist.  She describes what I am talking about so wonderfully!  Read this book!  And what are you waiting for?  Don't wait for your home to look perfect!  Order pizza, pop open some soda, and invite your people over to enjoy life around the table!  Unless, of course, you're one of those.  In that case, create your culinary masterpiece!   Here's to food and friendship!  Bon appetit!

- Liv

 

 

 

 

This drawing has expired.
This book is too good not to share, so I am going to give away ONE copy!  To enter, email me here and put your email address in the subject line.  Place your entry by Monday, August 12th!  Or, you can order the book here!  



For when you can't find the words



Photo Credit: Mara Borrego

"Sometimes we can’t find the words to pray and we’re so desperate, so frantic, that elaborate prayers and words just fail us.  All I’d had was please and even if I’d not had that, my spirit would have cried out and doesn’t Jesus hear and feel that?  Doesn’t he know how we’re crumbling and tell it to the Father?...You’re frantic, but He’s already working on it and you haven’t even asked, but He‘s heard." - Ruth Povey

Guys, I know I haven't written much lately, but I sure do think of you a lot.  It's quite frustrating to me, actually.  I have started several posts, but the words to finish have been just out of my reach.  I'm  taking it as a que that during this season, I need to soak in words from those who have them to give.  Here is one from today that I wanted to share with you. Click on over to (in)courage to read more from Ruth Povey.

 

 

Love ya, Liv

Five Minute Friday: Present

 

I can smell the French-pressed coffee sitting on the counter.  Scotty's car is backing out of the drive.  The house is still.  The only sounds are the buzzing of my laptap and the c-l-i-c-k-i-n-g of the keys as I type.  With a busy day ahead, I may not have a moment of quiet like this until I crawl into bed tonight.

How to stay present in the busyness?  How does one keep herself from becoming intoxicated in this media-drunk world?  We have become numb to the ear-splitting cacophony of work and whining kids and tv and Twitter and sprinting from one task to another.  We feel the need to fill an empty moment with something productive.  Like a factory run by the unrelenting task master of time, mass-producing a commercially wrapped product of success in the form of  a clean home, beautiful pictures on Facebook, well-behaved, talented kids, a nice body, or ______ (fill in the blank).

How do we hear that still, small voice over the roar of it all?  The voice that offers us peace.  Peace. 

How do we remain present in our own lives?  To hear our loved ones and see their needs?

How do we put down the yoke of the urgent to be present and available for the important?

Somehow, I don't think the answer is more time...

- Liv 



New to Five Minute Friday?   Click here for the details.

Five Minute Friday: Beautiful

How about a little bit of Friday for your Tuesday morning?  I linked up for FMF at www.lisajobaker.com.  If you like to write, why not join the fun?  Set your timer for five minutes and write, using the prompt. No need to edit.  Just write for the love of writing.  Want to see what others wrote?  Click here. 

 

Tired, weathered hand holding a new baby.  Family gathered through tears to celebrate a life lived. Clothing scattered after watching my daughter dance graceful.  The aftermath of Christmas morning.  A kiss to make up after a fight.  Dark skies watering a cracked, thirsty ground, and the cool freshness after.   Dishes piles high after fresh baked yumminess.  The easy laughter of a friendship that has walked the hard times together.  Dirt beneath the nails after planting.   This life, well lived - it's a beautiful mess.      
 

My Favorites List

Psst...

Check out the new 'My Favorites List' tab on the top of my page!  I can't wait to show you the book I'm reading right now!  Here's a hint:  It's about food.  And friendship.  What's not to love?

Tired does not mean defeated

 "It doesn't matter how you feel, just how you trust and how you respond."

A dear friend texted this to me the other morning after I told her that it felt like I was  "just trudging through - one foot in front of the other...dealing with one thing at a time with no motivation to do anything else."

There are some things going on in my life that I wish were different.  I'm not gonna lie.  Some things have been downright hard.  And I am tired. 

Her text went on to remind me that even when it feels like I'm running in the sand, God is in the present moment and He will carry me across the finish line if need be.  I love how she knows me well enough to use a race analogy.

 

Marathons (or 1/2 marathons) are long, hard and exhausting.  It is as much mental as it is physical.  You have to go in knowing that it will be a challenge.  Throughout the course you must constantly remind yourself that you are going to be ok.  Because really.  You think you are going to die.  You have to trust your training.  Drink. Breathe. Repeat.  Fix your eye on a short goal (for me it was the next crack in the sidewalk), then set your sight on the next one.  Your purpose is to just. Cross. The. Finish line.  Even if it means crawling across.  Quitting is not an option (well, I guess it is, but really - who wants to be a quitter?). And you will want to quit many times.  I am so glad that feeling tired or even feeling like quitting did not disqualify me from the race. It didn't even make me weak. Taking a break from the running and slowing to a walk did not mean I was a bad runner - it was absolutely necessary.

 We've heard it so many times, it's a cliché: life is a marathon, not a sprint.  Or as Ann Voskamp says, "Life is not an emergency".  Hurrying takes away from the present.  And the present is where God is. I AM.  Emmanuel - God is with us. Although I have a wonderful life, it is not always going to be easy.  There are going to be challenges.  Isn't that what Jesus told us?  "In this life you will have trouble" (John 16:33).  So when I feel like quitting, I have to remind myself that, "honey, every little thing is going to be okay." (Romans 8:28)

I am so aware that there are many around me who are going through difficult situations.  I can't help but think of the families of the 19 firemen who lost their lives earlier this week.  When the news reminds us daily of just how dark things can be, we have got to cling to what we know - that God is always good and you are always loved.  Do you know this?  I mean, really know it?

So girlfriend, if you're tired - I'm right there with you.  I am not a quitter and neither are you.  Let's remind ourselves that being tired does not mean defeat.  Let's set short goals for ourselves and just do the next thing.  Aren't you glad that feeling tired doesn't disqualify you from the race?  It doesn't even make you weak.  It just means that it's time to slow down.  Drink. Breathe. Repeat.

"...If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink."  (John 7:37)

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."  (Philippians 3:14 (NLT))

Becoming Real

Hi, y'all!  Just kidding.  I never say "y'all".  It sounds cute though. 

Things have been kinda crazy around here, so I haven't done much writing, but I wanted to pop in and say "Hey" and also:

 

 

"Why," you ask? 

 

 

First of all, because apparently they let anyone have a blog these days.  It is giving me the opportunity to do something I've always wanted to do: be a writer.  Of course I'm not a real writer.  Just like I'm not a real runner.  But these are things I love and I'm having a whole lot of fun turning into those things.  And how else do you turn into a real anything, except by doing what real writers and runners and artists and dancers and whatever it is you want to become, do?

 

So:



 

 

The other reason I am thankful is because of you.  I think about you and what I want to say to you a lot.  And even though I haven't become real yet, you come back to read what I  have to say.  It's quite puzzling and surprising and wonderful.  Thank you for your encouragement and kind words.  I don't think you realize how much you make me smile. 

 

 

Love, Liv

Father to the Fatherless

Happy Father's day to all those daddies out there!  I hope you are having an amazing day.

However, this one is for those who might be having a tough day.  For those who may not have a dad to celebrate, for whatever reason.  Maybe you just miss him because he is on the other side of the world or across the country.  Maybe your dad has passed away, or you've never met him before.  Maybe your dad was/is not a good father.  To some, the word 'dad' brings up anger, sadness, hurt and disappointment.  Do you ache for the love of a father?  Any story you hear or movie you see about a father's love brings tears to your eyes.  You may become angry at those who complain about their fathers because, at least they have one. You miss having a father because every boy needs a hero and every girl needs her daddy, even if she is grown up.  We know instinctively what a father should be.  All of those things you long for in a Father?  God has placed there.  He has put a longing in our hearts for Himself. 

Did you know that you have a special place in God's heart?  You are not forgotten. 

When my mother and father forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Psalm 27:10

"...Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

I know you know it in your head.  I just wanted to remind you.  Cling to the fact that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:37-39) and let it seep down into your heart until you are wrapped up securely in it. 

Love ya!

- Liv

When It's Time to Bail

I'm over at my friend, Lindsay's blog, Contagious Comfort, sharing about giving ourselves permission to not have to do it all!

Having a kid graduate makes a girl feel old.  I was hit with a happy/sad nostalgia as I gathered pictures of my son for a photo display.  (He's the little guy in the middle - so adorable!)  Almost 18 years of memories all summed up on a piece of card board.  It was only natural for me to wonder if I would do things differently if I could do it over again.  I would never trade in the sticky kisses and pockets full of rocks and stepping on Legos.  I don't take back the sleepless nights or tears; the Band-Aids and teachers conferences or the trips to the emergency room.

But if I could do anything differently it would be this:  I would keep things simple.  Looking back now, I realize how busy we were.  We had something going on every night.  Good things.  Church things.  And work things.  And Super Momma things .  I planned cool birthday parties and fun play dates.  We had calendar time every morning and learned about cumulus and cirrus clouds.  We did crafts and I even homeschooled for a couple of years.  All.  Good.  Things.  

  
 

Click here to read more...

Five Minute Friday: Fall

I'm a few days late, but I am linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday.  By the way, she is on Momastery today.  Check out her post:  For the Dog Days of Motherhood When You Want Your Money Back.  It's perfect! 
 
Anyway, back to FMF.  It happens every week.  Lisa-Jo gives a prompt and we write unedited for five minutes.  There is just one rule when you link up on her page: encourage the writer who linked up before you.  It's just another great reason to love Fridays!
 
GO.



                                                                  

 

This is the hardest thing.  Ever.  Knowing you have to let go and let them fall.

When you have done all you can do to love your children and teach them about Jesus and love them some more and pray for them and teach them more about Jesus.  How is it done?  This letting go? 

I have to fall too.  I have to fall into the loving arms of my Father because this letting go – it’s heart breaking.  I have to let go and trust the One who has said “I will never leave you or forsake you”.   And the One who has promised that there is no where we can go where His Spirit can’t find us.   And really, when we let go and trust, isn’t that where we are allowing them to fall also?  Out of our arms and into the arms of Jesus. 

 

STOP.

Guest Post: Hannah's Cry

Eep!  I've been so excited about this guest post!  Lindsay, from Contagious Comfort, is a sweet southern girl who loves God, her family and music.  She writes about faith and motherhood,  sprinkled with recipes and thrifty shopping tips.  Her posts are filled with encouragement and the challenge to "stay contagious".   - Liv

 

 

1 Samuel 1:11 “And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

When I read this passage, I am just struck by the heartache of Hannah.  She hurt so badly for a baby.  She longed so much just to be pregnant.  She was in agony, just pure agony.

But you know what shocks me the most is that Hannah was so willing to give him back to God.  All she wanted was to be a carrier for Samuel, and then she was willing to give him back to God.  1 Samuel 1:19-28 talks about how Hannah breastfed him and got him fully weaned so that she could give him back to Eli.  What a huge sacrifice!  What an unbelievable mom!

To just top it off, after she had dropped him off at the temple, she then prays and exclaims:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high.....”

“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”

Do you honestly think you could drop your kid off at a temple, and then go prancing out with such a wonderful heart? She was celebrating and exclaiming the wonderful privilege of being a mother.  I honestly think I would be a screaming, blubbering mess.  I would try to reason with God, try to change His mind.  Maybe see if I could have custody of Samuel on the weekends, etc.  But Hannah was so incredibly obedient.  She promised God that if she could bear a son, she would give Him back.

So this has been on my mind for the last several weeks.  You see, we too raise our children to give them back.  We keep them in our houses for 18-20 years and then we send them on their way.  We place them in God's hands, and hope that everything turns out.  But we have it easier than Hannah, we get to keep them much longer than she did.

So what are we doing with the time we have with them?

I truly want to run this “parenting race” so that at the end I can say as Hannah did  “My heart rejoices in the Lord!”

So here are a few things I am incorporating into my daily life in order to embrace my wonderful gifts, Mercy and Shep and prepare them for the day where they leave my house:

1.                 

I am trying my very best to not talk of them as though they are a nuisance. They are a gift, a wonderful gift, that many women would love to have. I try to let them hear me speaking of their strong points to others. I brag, encourage, brag, encourage on repeat right now.  They need to see me proud of them.

2.                 

I am trying to physically show my children how I pray and read my Bible.  They hear me talk of it, but I want them to see my actually doing it in front of them. I want them to naturally reach for a Bible when they need answers.  I want it to become a part of their daily lives.

3.                 

I speak of the future often with them.  I speak of the huge plans God has for them.  I tell them that they will not always have me around, so they need to know how to love Jesus themselves.  We talk about good and evil; we talk about sin and pain.  I want them to figure out how to call on Jesus without me around.

Do I do this all perfectly?  Absolutely not.  I am just trying with all my heart to get these little guys ready for a big world.  I know that ultimately I will have to throw them back into God's hands just like Hannah did.  I know that I can't control their little lives forever.  But until then, I will hold onto Jesus and my kids as tight as I possibly can, and we will ride this roller coaster of parenting together.

I hope this encourages your heart today.  Don't give up, Sweet Momma!  Let's live in a way that we can freely give our children back to God and know that He is going to take sweet, sweet care of them.

How To Run a Good Race

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1

5:30  am - The alarm goes off.  I roll over like Beethoven and decide that I am not going for a run this Saturday morning.  It's been a stressful week - I need the sleep.  I doze back into a far away dream about who knows what.  It must have been pleasant, because I couldn't wait to get back.



5:45 am - The alarm chirps shrill again.  I cover my head as murderous thoughts cross my mind.  I'm thinking a hammer and lighter fluid.  I'm gonna clock that clock over the head - it won't know what time it is.  Okay, sorry.  Not awake enough to be funny. Or pun-ee.  Whatever...

Hubby starts to stir.

"You running today?" 

I play dead.  He shakes my lifeless body.

"Honey, it's getting late." 

I feel him kick off the covers as he sits at the edge of the bed.  Silence.  Blessed silence.

... Never mind.  He gets up and shuffles to the bathroom.  I hear the lid go up, the faucet turns on and the toilet flushes.  The other faucet turns on, and he's washing his hands.  Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.  He shakes me again. 

"Come on, it's gonna get too hot." 



"Fiiine."  Sigh. I throw off the covers and do my own shuffle, shuffle, shuffle to the bathroom.  It's so hard to get moving.  The sun is out.  My head hurts.  Probably dehydrated.   I so don't want to do this, but I really should.  I won't regret it.  All this goes through my head before I reach the toilet.

6:30 am - We park the car behind the Yamaha building and stretch our dull muscles.  It's been two weeks since we last ran.  It's warm, but not hot yet.  We decide to slightly change our route.  It's the same distance, but goes off the main road and in between the golf course and a housing area.  A little more hilly.  Clearly it's still too early and our judgment is cloudy. 

We decide on a slow pace.  Or rather, Scotty decides to stick with me.  It's actually pleasant -  running side by side, Ed Sheeran playing on my ipod.  We look like that athletic couple who bonds over early workouts on Saturday mornings.  Crazy people.  We are that couple.  We're awesome.  Kinda like this:

We get to the final mile that will take us back to the car.  Uphill.  It's hot.  I'm tired.  Really tired.  Not feeling so awesome now.   I remind myself that I've run more difficult courses. 

My legs hurt.  Just put one foot in front of the other, I tell myself.



My lungs are burning.  Deep breaths.  Ignore the side cramp.  I've slowed to a walk-run.  My shoulders are slumped.  I know if I stop now I won't start back up.  

"Almost there."  Scotty says. 

I'm pretty sure there are horns growing out of his head.

I just want to walk the rest of the way. Don't quit.  Just. Fall.  Forward.

We finally round a corner and I see the Circle K that is across from where we are parked.  I'm thinking about the cold water bottle that's waiting for me.  And rest.  I lift my head, square my shoulders and increase my pace.  I am almost finished. 



Sunday:

Rough morning.  Grumpy kids.  Grumpy momma.  I'm pouting over certain situations and wishing things were different.

 "Is this always going to be a struggle?" "   

 "Put one foot in front of the other." 

 "Lord, I'm just so tired." 

 "Deep breaths.  Don't quit."

 "How long will I have to do this?' 

 "You've made it through more difficult situations than this.   Just.  Fall.  Forward."

Sometimes it seems we are running up hill with tired legs and burning lungs.  But at the top of the hill is rest.  And refreshment.  So, I'm lifting my head, squaring my shoulders and turning up the music.  I'm going to finish strong.

 



But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.          - Psalm 3:3

 I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from which comes my help. - Psalm 121:11

Five Minute Friday: Imagine

I love FMF (click here to learn more about it)!  I am especially excited because today is the kid's edition and I've asked my nephew, Josiah, and my niece, Abigail, to be my guests!!  Enjoy!

Imagine:

Imagine if I had a pet shark.  I mean they are kind of carnivores (but it's just because of mistakes, they are going endangered because another animal is endangered and they are just hungry). 

I would feed it everyday. 

But still where would I get a pet shark?  Would I go fishing and catch it?  And where would I find it's cage?  I  would want to get a glass cage.  But imagining could get you anywhere!

 

Josiah is 11 years old.  He is kind and thoughtful.  He was student of the month at his new school AND he came in 5th place for all of 5th grade at the schools 5k run.  Josiah likes books, baseball, teasing his sister and playing with his dog, Benji.

 

Imagine:

I love you.

Imagine if I can come back I will miss my family and friends.

Imagine if I left home, Sierra Vista, I would miss you guys. 

Well that is my imagine.  Miss you.  And don't forget to write to me!

 

Abigail is 9 years old and full of laughter and silliness!  She came in 1ST PLACE of all the girls in 4th grade at her new school's 5k run.  She dreams of becoming a ballerina, likes hanging around with her friends and teasing her brother.

 

 

I'm so proud of these two!  Would you do me a favor?  Would you take a teeny, tiny second to leave Josiah and Abigail a comment in the comment box below?  They would love it!  You're the best!

 

- Liv