Heaven's Wager

A challenge was issued by Satan saying he could pull a righteous man away from God, that is the story of Job from the Bible... Another challenge was issued by Satan saying he could keep an unrighteous man away from God, that is the story of Kent...this story, Heaven's Wager.

Future Down Hill Biker

Today while Madison was at a soccer clinic, Maddox and I took a little bike ride along the Audubon Trail. The weather was nothing beautiful, actually rather chilly, windy, and gloomy... but it was a day for making a beautiful memory.

Maddox just started riding his bike with out training wheels a few weeks ago. He was so stubborn about it and just flat out refused to try and learn, so I wasn't sure how far we would make it. Once again this boy surpassed my expectations making it from the Albertson's to connected lakes.

We took lots of stops to "explore" trails that led us deep into the forest, hunting for sticks and snail shells, searching for birds. We played a game from the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? and adapted it for us... Maddox, Maddox, what do you see? I see a tall tree looking at me... Maddox took advantage of every off road section of the trail, even traipsing through the tall winter grasses in search of the vanishing trail.

The best part was his first down hill experience...he was so excited to take his bike on this exclaiming "Wow mom! Did you see that! It was AWESOME!". Pretty soon he will need to tag along with Heather (my teaching teammate and friend) who is an avid down hill-er, since his mom, as Heather commented, is a "sissy".

Afterward we enjoyed a nice warm cup of hot cocoa, and an americano, to thaw us.

Learned? This moment for me was one of those that puts the rest of life into perspective, it truly is the small things that bring the most meaning to life.

I Want to Know You...

I have been in a season of drought...not one where I withered in my faith in God, but in my relationship with Him. Many of the teachings I was taught, and so eagerly believed, have left me jaded, cold, dry.

The truths, that I have clung to: God is good, He loves me, Jesus paid the price of my death so that I may live forever in the presence of God, are the underground rivers that have sustained me.

For a while now I have felt winds of change stirring the dried soil, seen glimpses of mirages of well watered lands, heard whispers of rain storms on distant planes... the rains are coming.

The first rains to wet my tongue... a friend to show me what TRUE faith is, being faithful even as she was drug to the gates of hell, she is at now the climax of her story, and God is faithful.

Realizing that I am to partake in a great story of my own, one not promised to be free of pain and challenges, though given a guarantee of a happy ending, for God is the master story teller... cool waters soothing my parched lips.

The swollen river banks... continual revelation of the intricate design, attention to detail, and great care, to which I (and the world around me) were created.

My soul speaks out with rumbling thunder "I want to know You... I want to know You..." to a God I thought I knew.

In every direction clouds hang heavy, pregnant, distended, ready to drench the soil below...The first of the rains are beginning to fall... and I am ready.

Super Bowl 2011

In years past, when the Colts weren't in the big game, I at least despised one team, or was completely impressed by the other.

Even though I enjoyed the game this year it just isn't the same unless you have a strong conviction for a winner or a looser.

Regardless, it was an evening well spent with great friends... Rachel, Josh, and their beautiful daughter.

...but next year...I'll be watching the Colts IN Indianapolis...

R.E.S.T. (and an admittance of how shallow I really am)

Well after being a big baby last weekend, Brian drug me to the foot specialist. The good news is I do not have a stress fracture...the bad news is I have tendinitis of the peroneus longus tendon and it takes 3-6 months to heal. There is a small, small, chance I will still be able to run the Moab half marathon and it all depends on my ability to rest for 2 weeks and then runs short, very short, distances gradually building up the miles... as long as there is no pain.


Well that is all fine and dandy except I have this mental issue with no running...as soon as I haven't run for 3 days in a row I instantly gain 10 lbs and my clothes don't fit. So as you can imagine that does wonders for my mental state... then you throw in me not being able to wear high heels during the "rest" period which means I end up wearing jeans and committing a cardinal fashion sin... cute jeans and dressy tops with tennis shoes...blah!

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So now, not only am I not running, packing on the mental pounds, getting no stress relief/decompression time, but I am also banned from looking cute! Egats! I hope I can survive another week...of rest.

(Here's to hoping that it's only one more week.)

Oh and its been one week and there is noticible improvement, but still noticible pain...especially by the end of the day.