ouch!

my legs hurt. they throb. they feel heavy. i do not want to move. i know i am gaining muscle, but was fat so bad? i do not want to move, but i must. i want to quit, i want to lie down in the middle of the street (i've only done it once), but something stirs me up to move... to run.
i hear it inside me, "run Denise, run... a little farther...a little more...run."

Melanie

It was August of 1990, i was a senior in high school, and after being invited more times than i can count to come to church with a friend i finally did (there was a cute boy there). That evening the church introduced their new children's pastor and his family. i didn't know then that the 6th grade daughter of that man would soon be my friend, sister, neighbor, and co-worker to my hubby.
With 6 years between us, i am always surprised at how God brought us together. i believe he wrote her for my life. She had a vibrancy for life and God that matched my own. And, in a time when i was a new Christian being given wings to take off and soar, Melanie would join me on my flight.
17 years later we have experienced laughter, dreams, tears, despair, faith, growth, and much love.
i admire her wittiness, talent, depth, faith, and desire for Truth. She is beautiful, She is my God- sister.

I am long to stay, i am slow to leave, especially when it comes to you my friend.
You have taught me to slow down and to pick up my feet , it's the fine art of being who i am ...
And at the risk of wearing out my welcome, at the risk of self-discovery, i'll take every moment, and every minuet that you'll give me.

from Every Moment by Sara Groves

picnik

Somebody is playing at Picnik

question?

is it okay to do a 5 mile walk/run (mostly walk), and at the half way point stop and have a b.l.t., fries, and a chocolate malt from the Forks?

if it's not, i'm gonna have to stop training at Bass Lake.

b.t.w. until 3 years ago we lived in beautiful Bass Lake (we now live 40 miles south).
It is not so lovely where we live now, but it is ours.

industry-less

i just realized that on my profile it said that my industry was "Accounting," and it's not, never will be, never could be. i taught preschool for 10 years because you do not need to know how to count any further than 10. at this point in my life i have no industry, and i am okay with that.

Add to the Beauty

There are many women in my church family that i feel i do not get enough time with. Sunday a.m. small talk doesn't satisfy my need for fellowship with them. I experience and see them love, serve, and come along side in many ways. I am blessed by their lives.
Today i had a brunch in my home to celebrate some of these ladies (Mama Holly helped).

In a beautiful setting of delicate tea sets, flowers, and floral table cloths we enjoyed a couple of mixers (games), ate yummy food (quiches, scones, tea sandwiches, green salad, strawberry cheesecake) and a variety of teas. We shared conversations, and sweet community.

I gave the ladies a blessing expressing to them who they have been to our community.

"In thinking of you words that come to mind are; gracious, servant, gentle, happy- spirit, spunk, faithful, encourager, affirmer, passionate, giver, hospitality, can-doer, believer, beautiful, the fragrance of Christ...
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, Be imitators of God, therefore, live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Thank you for the ways you give your lives, you are a fragrant offering.

The words of the song Add to the Beauty by Sara Groves describe you perfectly.

We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts
Written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work

It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find it's worth

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace, an invitation

Thank you for adding to the beauty, for helping this soul find it's worth, for all the ways you give me grace, and invite me to be beautiful. Each of you makes me want to add to the beauty, to be the fragrance of Christ."

After the blessing each lady was given an embroidered flower pin (made by my g-ma), to serve as a reminder of the blessing they are.


It was a lovely day, and long over due.
Nothing makes my heart gladder than celebrating, and sweet community.

For Life's Sake

i'm back.
so, at first i went through some crazy withdrawals (yeah i know it was just barely more than a week being computerless), but then i got back into a rthymn. i finished a book, read a book, started another book, sewed, gardened (including the weed eating, yes, with a weed eater!), walked a lot, and learned how to play "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by John Lennon on the piano.
i have to confess, it was nice to get my life back. i recognize i run to the computer to fill a void. being a sahm can be lonely (though i am never alone), and i look to email, blogging, and facebook to tell me i have value, am needed, am included, just am. so i am going to have to be a bit more disciplined, for life's sake.

speaking of life's sake- i have something to share... so as i said i have been walking a lot, and well, i have had this desire for a while to run. i am NOT athletic. and my reasons for wanting to run aren't so much physical as it is spiritual. i am inspired by the runners i listen to (Sarah being one of them). by their stories of pressing past pain, of the beauty of the run, for stories of perseverance, and the thrill of finishing a race.
in life i do NOT run well this race that is marked out for me. i do not do well in adversity, i tend to stomp my feet, stop running, and refuse to move. i want to learn to run well. i would say i persevere eventually, but there is no thrill at the finish line because i have run so poorly.
in my walking i shared this with two friends. one immediately said she wanted to come alongside and help me train (she began running last year), another wants to begin to run with me. what a gift!
and now i am committed, because i bought these (i went to a running store, and they determined my step, and what shoes would be best... i had to sell one of my kids to get them),
and i am using this program.

i am excited (and when reality sets in- aaahhh!) about the journey ahead!

and if you runners have suggestions or advice i welcome it, and need it.

mission impossible

dun dun du du dun dun du du dun dun du du..(Mission Impossible tune)...

Michael and the kids are snuggled together watching Swiss Family Robinson, i disappear out the back door, off to the neighbors house. The neighbors enjoy their supper than retire to the couch, eyes fixed on the tube. They do not recognize that just steps away from them, down the hall, in the office, there is an intruder.
Why did i intrude you ask... our hard drive has crashed!
i am computerless. it has been days since i have been on a computer. i do not know what the weather is going to be tomorrow, or why i should take magnesium, how long the sale for washers and dryers at Sears will last, or if there are any good movies playing at the theater. Did i have a meeting to go to tonight, or have i got one tomorrow, was i invited to sub for Bunko, is there a girl's night out?? Without email i am out of the loop.
And worst of all, i have not seen any of you!
i am a mess, and going through withdrawals!!

The most impossible mission of all is living without a computer. i have had to resort to old fashioned things to fill up my time- like playing with the kids, reading a book, actually practicing my piano lessons, walking, oh and the big one- actually talking to people (yikes).


all that to say, the computers in the shop, and hopefully things will be up and running sometime next week.