Come Hell or High Water Coast to Coast Half 2011

Early morning Miami registration.
A race bib waiting.
A warm sunny day on the East Coast.
Friendly beach-type participants.
Friendly Floridians cheering Krystal on.
Just Krystal and the Miami Half people.
That's how this one rolled out - East Coast.

No registration table in sight.
No race bib to run with.
A sunny cold Nevada morning.
No other participants.
No water tables or friendly cheering faces.
Just me and the Nevada wind.
That's how this one rolled out - West Coast.

And I'm not complaining!

Getting to this place took a lot.
And that's why we aptly named it
"Come Hell or Highwater - Coast to Coast Half"

For a number of reasons, our
-Plans fouled out to get to Vegas for the Rock n Roll Half.
-Plans fouled out to get to the Bay Area for the Walnut Creek Half.
-Plans fouled out to run together here in Reno, and make our own race on Saturday, December 10th.

So long story short, due to unforseen circumstances, we didn't do this half together (same time and place) but we finished well West and East Coast respectively.

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Race Day Report

PRE-RACE
Using Google Maps, James and I looked at a route in Northwest Reno that was 13.1 out and back. Just before the race, I drove three miles in and hid a water bottle in the bushes....that would be an extra water stop if I needed it along the way, which I did end up picking up.

GEAR
Garmin watch was charged the night before to keep track of mileage.

CLOTHES
I was all decked out in "Patagucci" gear.
Capilene 1 silkweight pants -first layer
Speedwork tights- running pants with little pocket for key and Gu.

Zoot tank with runners pocket in the back for Gu and Iphone
Capilene 3 1/4 zip as a baselayer
Runshade Crew over that for SPF protection and the nice lil' pocket that fit one Power Bar Gu.

3 packs of Power Bar Gel - Vanilla, Strawberry, Caffe Latte
Platypus - filled with water

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I started out around 8:45 am. The air was crisp and it was a little chilly but I was ready. Slow and even pace, I kept my first two miles in the 10:30 range. Then the wind hit and I slowed to and 11 pace. As I hit some hills, I looked down at the watch atleast once to see a 12 minute pace. Grrh! Frustrated, i kept reminding myself to just go slow. I wanted to finish and finish strong. The rest of the miles until around mile 8 were fairly good - somewhere in the 10 minute mark, dipping into 11 here and there. But on the way back that 5 mph East wind was definitely felt and frustrating! Combating that for the final 5 miles was brutal, to be honest. Nevada wind sucks!

I did spend my time wisely, as that's one thing about long distance running that drives me crazy. It feels like a waste of time! But I did use the time to connect with my creator, enjoying the beautiful outdoors, including the Truckee River and to pray for people that I know right now are struggling - in their marriages, with their health, in life in general. That helped the time pass for sure.

That and MUSIC!!! Having the Soul Surfer soundtrack, Owl City, Matt Kearney and Brooke Frasier in the music mix to keep me going!

So glad to say I did accomplish the goal - A half marathon in 2011!

First call made to celebrate with my husband.
Second call made to celebrate with my partner in crime, Krystal in Miami who had finished her race.
Third call made to the most amazing place in the world, especially after a half - Thanks to Eclipse Pizza for making the very best meat calzone in the world!! :) The world!!!

Next year I plan to do it - but hopefully there will be a beach, warm weather, other participants, a race bib and after party! Nonetheless, my knees hurt tremendously but my ankles held up. I'm going to spend the next week just taking walks. No workouts through Christmas.

Hymn to a Good Woman

Inspired once again by this woman in Proverbs 31 - Yep. I'm going to learn to sew! ha!!
Oh, and what exactly is "hearth??"and "festoon"?? Anyone? Anyone?

"A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need reaches out to help the poor.

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. (or from Patagonia -ha!) She makes her own clothing and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well made and elegant and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

Whe she speaks she has something worthwhile to say and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise. Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all.

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear(honor) of God Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!"

-proverbs 31:10-31

Life....

This is your life.
Do what you love and do it often.
If you don't like something, change it.
If you don't like your job, quit.
If you don't have enough time, stop watching tv.
If you are looking for the love of your life, stop;
they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.
Stop over analyzing, all emotions are beautiful.
When you eat, appreciate every last bite.
Life is simple.
Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people.
We are united in our differences.
Ask the next person you see what their passion is.
And share your inspiring dream with them.
Travel often;
Getting lost will help you find yourself.
Some opportunities only come once, seize them.
Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them.
So go out and start creating.
Life is short.
Live your dream and wear your passion.

Flyin' Kites: In Memory of Pepere

When I think of kites,I think of warm, breezy summer vacation days in Whittier's Palm Park. I think of a man whose solitary life drew him to the art of kite-flying.
I think of my grandfather, Pepere.

Pepere, (which mean's grandpa in French - or so we were told by him) was my dad's dad. Pepere made colorful kites and flew them just across the street from the house where my dad grew up in Southern California. He made simple but interesting kites. Watching him fly from a young age was always fun but being an active child, I never stuck around long enough to fully enjoy it. Yet Pepere never did it with fan and flare. He did it for himself. He did it quietly. He did it for his creative, demonstrative side to his solitary soul.

Pepere had quite a collection going by the time he was 90 years old. I regret not requesting them when he passed away. As time went by and he flew less and less while he was alive, I thoroughly enjoyed the times he did get out to watch him perfect his hobby.

Legend has it that one summer on His visit to Nevada, we took Pepere and some of his kites to Mills Park to fly. My dad warned him that Nevada winds can be brutal, but Pepere didn't listen. Stubborn man that he was, he rarely listened. He was a man set in his ways. Although rumor has it he liked listening to my mom over a glass of cream cherry. Who doesn't? You don't even need cream cherry to enjoy listening to her.

Pepere had his kite flying so high that day and before long, those Nevada winds turned for the worst. He had to cut the line or be overpowered with his arm out of socket. The kite dove straight down into a tree trunk and embarrassingly enough, it stayed in that tree for weeks.

His tenacity, his stubborn nature must have started young. He had reason to be that self willed. Somewhere around 10 years old, he had to grow up and help parent his siblings. His father was a severe alcoholic and Pepere became sole provider for the family. Hard working, through the depression, he was a man with opinions and he raised three boys each with their own expressions and ways.

Recently I got to thinking about Pepere and his kites primarily because of some good Southern California memories and curiosity as to what Pepere enjoyed most in flying those instruments. Maybe the kites helped him soar above the daily grind and get him far beyond the reality of what his life had been for 90 years. Not that it was bad. By no means, for Pepere did well. He purchased a home for his bride and three boys in Whittier, which at the time was filled with orange groves. Not today! And for some 80 years he had been a hard worker, diligently providing and plodding along for his family, taking pristine care of his home. Feisty, testy, but true and loyal to what needed to get done.

Kites are tethered aircrafts and maybe that was the joy Pepere found. He could move past his limitations and life as it had been for those brief moments, knowing he'd come back to the security of the life he labored so hard to create. I know Pepere had pain and I'm sure there were a lot of things he never fully worked through. There were things about Pepere that I really loved. His tenacious talks with me about why I wanted to be a lawyer anyways. And then I thought about the blessing and inheritance he left for his sons. He flew kites, but he was also anchored. A tethered life is a blessed life to me.

Only way is up

Out of convenience, most of my runs in training have been around our neighborhood. Fortunately for the views, it's amazing on these runs. But unfortunately, for the training I prefer, we're surrounded by hills. It's actually really good for training, but I'm just not a big fan of the hills. The only way to get home is to take on some form of these monsters. I don't mind an occasional booty but kicker, but I'm much more prone to find flat, long stretches on my own.

Yesterday's run was convenient and I set out from home to take on a 3 mile run. Part of it included one of these hills and as I took it on, my pace came down to pretty much a slow walk. I contemplated turning around and going back down the hill just so I could enjoy the feeling of a light, easy, quick stretch of run to what I was doing. But the reality was I still had to get up that hill if I wanted to get home.

And that gets me to this point. Aren't there times in life we just have to go through things and there's no way around it? But when you get through it, or to the top of the hill, so to speak, you're home. As convenient as it may feel to just slip back into things that are easy, you're never going to get where you were intended to be unless you take on the booty but kickers.

And this brings me to another point for myself as a Christ-follower. Sometimes in the day to day events of life, it's super easy to forget the bigger picture. It's easy to forget His love and His purpose in life. When things get dark and life lacks meaning, you feel lost until you look up and put one foot in front of the other and take on the monsters in your mind and heart to get to the top where home is, where Christ is. That's a slow journey for me but I never regret it. Sometimes it's a word I read that reminds me and stirs my soul to action, giving me courage to take on the hill. Sometimes it's the encouragement of a friend whose on this journey too. And together we see the hill but we take it on.

In the end, I'm grateful for booty but kickers that keep me out of convenience and challenge me physically to get better while running. I'm also grateful for the struggles in my spiritual life as I look to Christ to perfect what He started in my heart years ago when I was just a crazy high school student. To see those victories in life and in running, the only way is up.

Exposed Roots

One of Sweden's longest and most popular national trails is called the Kungsleden or "King's Trail" which starts in the Northern town of Abisko and stops in the Southern town of Hemaven. Most people hike/camp Kungsleden over their summer, breaking it up into four weeks or a portion of the trail for a week or two. The trail is marked with posts every few hundred yards and huts every 6-14 miles (about a days hike). The trail was created around the turn of the 19th century to get the Swedes outdoor to enjoy their beautiful country! And what a beautiful country it is!


While James and I spent a few days at Abisko National Park, we set out one afternoon to hike a portion of this 270 mile trail. As we walked the easy part of the Kings trail my eyes were basking in the lush, green landscape with the Abisko river hugging the path. I couldn't keep my eyes off the rushing river in all its glory. In one area of the trail, cliffs and rocks made of gorgeous marble slats layered the banks of the river, encasing it in unique beauty.

Making our way a few miles into the trail, we came into the forested areas of Abisko with beautiful wildflowers and gorgeous mountain peaks. And then I noticed something a bit disturbing. Many of the lush trees had a labrynth of roots growing up and out near the walking path, completely exposed. Anyone taking the Kings Trail trampled on hundreds of exposed roots that lay bare on the path with no soil to protect them. Some of the roots broke off and were no longer connected to the tree.. Some roots were still in tact, just exposed to harsh hikers feet.



Walking on exposed roots felt a little like nails on the chalkboard to me. Somehow it felt wrong. I immediately remembered that somewhere in scripture, Christ-followers are challenged to be rooted in Christ's love. Here I had a visual of what it looks like when your roots are not deeply rooted in the good soil it needs but instead exposed to strangers and their trampling feet.

When we got back to the Lodge, I found this scripture in Ephesians 3:17 that Paul penned "...I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Paul prayed that every Christ-follower would find their roots of faith established and deeply centered in the most important thing -- God's rich and deep labrynth of love.

If not rooted in Christ's love, what's the alternative? Does our faith look like these exposed roots when it's not rooted deeper in His love? Exposed roots. Exposed to whoever walks by and tramples those roots underfoot. Exposed to strangers who could care less. That's not exactly how the biblical text reads but I considered the "or else" as I now saw the visual on roots that didn't go deep, roots whose soil no longer protected and preserved the growth of the true roots.

And here is the challenge my soul was left with on the Kings Trail.

My life is like a tree. Somewhere in the Bible it talks about being a tree planted by streams of living water. It's important where you are planted but it's also important how deep you allow your roots to go. I once heard that one of the primary understandings among architects is that you can only build as high as you build deep. Where you plant your life, how deep you plant it will also determine how strong and high it can grow.

My prayer for myself and all my loved ones is that our roots will be buried, completely covered by the dirt grow deep in Him. Deeper and deeper until we're lost in how high, how wide, how deep....Until our roots are that labyrinth of grace hidden in the rich soil of His love. Hidden. Unexposed roots. Roots that have the opportunity to thrive in the richness of His essence.

Patience is a virtue, eh?

Patience. It's listed as the first thing in a string of love definers in 1 Corinthians 13.
In Galatians 5, it's supposed to be evidence of a spirit-led life for a Christ-follower.

So where is it in my life these days??? Patience wouldn't be on many of the pages of the book of my life, specifically with people. Without even realizing it, I'm easily set on fulfilling my agenda and can run right over others. I'm not quite sure what has brought this self-revelation on but I'm realizing just how impatient I can be.

If patience is a virtue, a positive substance that should be in the heart of a believer, what does it look like and where is it in my life? I'd like the question answered and I'd like to see this quality more evidenced in my life, right now! Ha!

What did Paul mean when he wrote those texts?.....The best definition I've found thus far is "waiting without complaint" or "enduring discomfort without complaint." Living in a world with people, it's very easy to complain when we have to wait for anything.

In a book called "The Practice of Godliness", Abraham Kuyper writes that "Patience ought to be the possession of every child of God. If it is not his when he is reborn, it ought to grow within him as he grows in Christ.....Patience is a strength of spirit, engendered within the heart of God’s children by the Holy Spirit, which enables them to remain standing, unshaken and undaunted, in spite of all the forces that would tear them from the Kingdom of God. It is strength; it is endurance. (Patience's) branches twine about the cross of Christ. Its goal is eternity. Its glory is in the grace of God."

One thing I know quite well is that If patience is a fruit of the spirit, there had to be a seed of that fruit planted in my heart. I wasn't born with it. In fact, if anything, I was born impatient. My mom reminded me this week that I was very impatient or "active" from the time I was born....She woke up at 6:30 am and delivered me at 7:30 am and I came out with my eyes wide open, ready to take on the world, quite impatiently.

Patience is a seed in the soul that Jesus planted in me when I handed over the reigns of my life to His authority. But there is wrestling in the soul to see it grow, even after a lot of years. In the midst of whatever we're learning to be patient about, it can be a fight. Although it may sound a bit dramatic, I find at times it can be a soul distress when the exercising of patience is present. It's not automatic but grows. And yet after all these years where its had opportunity to grow, there are areas in my life that I find of late it's sadly lacking in me. Abraham Kuyper says this is evidence of restlessness. That this lack is my aversion to the cross. Ouch! That hurts.

By nature I am still opposed to patience because in my dark heart I admire strength, vigor, power over suffering when it's called for. Kuyter notes that monuments are built to those who fight great battles and perform valiant deeds and we're ever ready to praise what others dare to do. Hero worship is not necessarily our first instinct when we read the Old testament description of Christ as the "lamb that is dumb before the shearer". That old testament passage talks about Jesus in that moment at the cross when He displayed the greatest soul strength in patience, being God and yet quietly enduring what He knew was to come. Some might say he didn't stand up for himself. But in reality, His soul was bathed in patience. He is patience.

Patience isn't necessarily an admired quality...It's usually despised. I know my soul despises it at times and of late I'm wrestling to be the kind of woman Christ created me to be....To turn the other cheek...really? Ouch. Patience is needed. Jesus is my best example. And still I find myself asking the question. How does that play out in every day life? I guess when the heart naturally seeks strength, power, dignity, that might be evidence of a soul plunging down into the depths instead of climbing upward on the ladder of patience, a patience that isn't resigning but enduring in the midst of adverse circumstances.

Although I may have experienced glimpses of patience as a godly quality in my heart, there's been nothing over the long run and I hate that. But how can I walk in patience if not a constant friend of Jesus - the Patient. So I guess at the end of all my thoughts on patience today, I stand with Paul who also said that He still hadn't laid hold of all that He was created to be....." but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Continually.....through every changing season

"And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul...."Isaiah lviii. 11.

" Wherever He may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim,--
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him."
A. L. WARING.

"Abandon yourself to His care and guidance, as a sheep in the care of a shepherd, and trust Him utterly. No matter though you may seem to yourself to be in the very midst of a desert, with nothing green about you, inwardly or outwardly, and may think you will have to make a long journey before you can get into the green pastures. Our Shepherd will turn that very place where you are into green pastures, for He has power to make the desert rejoice and blossom as a rose."
H. W. SMITH.

This morning these quotes were a soul refresher. Married life is exciting and I'm so blessed already in this new life with James! Yet I've never been here before. There are new areas to trust God. New moments to strengthen faith. New moments to be guided....continually. I feel like I'm in a wildly green pasture full of lush garden flowers and joys abounding (even though we're smack dab in the middle of the Northern Nevada desert.) Right now life is rich and I'm so thankful. Last night James and I read a devotional that we can't trust our hearts but we have to lead our hearts. My heart is learning to abandon all to His care and guidance as a married woman now. I'm learning to lead my heart in marriage. Exciting!!! Let the journey begin. He cares for us. He is so trustworthy. Continually, through every changing season.

Our story and proposal

The story starts in the biggest little city in the world!

The first date takes place at a Reno Ace's game in June of 2009. The Ace's won that night, but James had the biggest win with Jen that evening when he showed his generosity by donating an XBOX to a youth group.

The date was almost over as quickly as it started when Jen whipped out her new Iphone (James is a Microsoft employee)! Fortunately for Jen, James was the bigger person and proceeded to play around with the weather settings. Jen's been keeping track of weather patterns around the world ever since!

Jen thought James was quite intriguing, having lived in Europe for a few years. She loved his desire to be outdoors, to travel, live an active lifestyle and serve Christ. Jen thought it was admirable that he served in Kid's ministry at his local church and volunteered at St. Mary's Hospital. James was impressed with Jen's desire to serve Christ, her missions work, her worldly travels and outlook, and her active lifestyle; and he hoped for a second date, even if she was an Apple fan!

After returning from an East Coast trip with her mom, Jen agreed to a second date and the adventure continued. They enjoyed getting to know each other in their travels to Yosemite Park, Napa, Oregon, Washington and a plethora of other places! As Jen's Mom once said to them as they returned from a hike, 'What oceans and mountains did you guys cross today?'

For almost a year and a half this adventure continued until. . .New Year's Eve, just after a family dinner with both family's meeting for the first time. James and Jen drove back to Reno to watch the fireworks from Keystone Canyon in Northwest Reno.

Just after the last fireworks went off, James asked Jen to get out of the car.

Although it was a chilly night with snow on the ground, .......

James got down on one knee in that glistening snow and proposed!

and with smiles between them, a sense of excitement and joy, Jen said YES!

Thank you for sharing in our joy as we look to exchange our vows this summer!

All the days of your life....

Sometimes the best thing to do is remember "I only have today." Instead of thinking about the myriad of possibilities the future holds, hold steady both mind and heart and contemplate the reality that the essence of life is summed up in the moment.

"I only have today."

I can and will make plans for tomorrow but there are no guarantees. I can reminisce about the good old days or mourn the pain of the past, but at some point it's fruitless since I can't change a bit of it. This is the moment that counts.

As a Christ follower, my soul is strengthened by the truth that God will never leave my side. As I consider that I only have today, I realize that no matter what I feel or think, He is complete in mercy, love, power and strength so that all of who He is becomes available to me since He is by my side. He is faithful as the sun that rises in the morning and He will never give up on me. Today He is with me to call me into more of His ways and less of my own. Every day He waits to shower fresh perspective and understanding on my soul so that I'll shed my own. These are the attributes of His character that I lean into and they are more than enough FOR TODAY. What I need tomorrow will be provided.

I'm in the mix of some very exciting changes! Getting married, moving back to Reno, changing jobs, taking classes.....All of it is good. All of it is exciting. I'm blessed and holding these moments close. And this perspective that I only have today ultimately leads me to the promise God made when I was just a crazy teenager! It's about every day but it's also about all my life. God wants to be with me until my last day, my dying day, through good and bad days, through dark and bright days. So that all the days of my life are summed up in Him. But all the days must start with today.

A friend ends her voicemail recording with "Make it a great day!" I absolutely love that! Can we stop long enough in the busy lives we live to realize we just have today and we can make it a great day? Hug a little longer, read a few more nuggets for the soul from the good book, do a few things you wouldn't normally do for someone else. Love with His love. Make it a great day!

Celebrate it all!

This month our family is celebrating it all! From Jeremy's high school graduation to more than one birthday (Emma, Chloe, Jeremy, Izzy, Savvy), an anniversary (Scofields), a wedding (soon to be Simmons), it's hard to stay on top of it all!

In the midst of these wonderful life moments, the kind of moments you look back on in years to come, I'm also experiencing some other celebrations. There is the grand move from Carson City to Reno and all the transitions surrounding the move as my stuff is officially at my soon to be residence :). No longer will I commute to Minden and live in Carson City and drive to Reno to be with James.... the transition of starting a life in Reno has begun!

I've officially moved stuff over. Now I'm getting familiar with the neighborhood. I'm super excited to discover all the running/cycling trails in the Northwest.

Wow. It's been almost a decade since I lived in Reno. And things have changed! I have changed. This month I'm celebrating and thankful for all the people who have been a part of my life from the beginning of my faith walk in Christ. I'm celebrating how Christ has brought me to this place and excited to see what God has for James and me in the future. I'm blessed. I'm celebrating!!

And this is why I love Jesus....Thanks John Piper for breaking it down!

In Awe of Jesus Christ
by John Piper

"One reason to admire and trust Jesus above all other persons is that he knows more than anyone else. He knows all people thoroughly, their hearts and their thoughts. "He knew all men" (John 2:24). "You, Lord, . . . know the hearts of all men" (Acts 1:24). "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, 'Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?'" (Matthew 9:4). There is no one who perplexes Jesus. No thought or action is unintelligible to him. He knows its origin and end. The most convoluted psychotic and the most abstruse genius are open and laid bare to his understanding. He understands every motion of their minds.

Jesus not only knows all people thoroughly as they were and are today, he also knows what people will think and do tomorrow. He knows all things that will come to pass. "Jesus, [knew] all the things that were coming upon Him" (John 18:4). On the basis of this knowledge, he foretold numerous things that his friends and enemies would do. "[Jesus said] 'There are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him" (John 6:64). "From now on," he said, "I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am" (John 13:19). The reason he foretold these things, he explains, is so that we might know that "he is" - is what? That he is the divine Son of God. "I am" is the name for God in Exodus 3:14 and the designation of deity in Isaiah 43:10. Jesus knows all that will come to pass, and, to help our faith, he says, "Behold, I have told you in advance" (Matthew 24:25).

Jesus simply knows all things. Thus his disciples said, truly, "Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God" (John 16:30). The extent of Jesus' knowledge was a compelling warrant for faith in his divine origin. At the end of his time on earth Jesus pressed Peter, "'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You' (John 21:17). Peter did not conclude from Jesus' knowledge of his heart that he knew all things; rather he concluded from the omniscience of Jesus that he knew his heart. "You know all things," is a general and unqualified statement that John's gospel presses on our minds.

The greatest thing that can be said of Jesus' knowledge is that he knows God perfectly. We know God partially and imperfectly. Jesus knows him like no other being knows him. He knows him the way an omniscient Person knows himself. "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him" (Matthew 11:27). No one but Jesus knows the Father immediately, completely and perfectly. Our knowledge of the Father depends wholly on Jesus' gracious revelation; it is derivative and partial and imperfect.

Nothing greater can be said about the knowledge of Jesus than that he knows God perfectly. All reality outside God is parochial compared to the infinite Reality that God is. What God has made is like a toy compared to the complexity and depth of what God is. All the sciences that scratch the surface of the created universe are the mere ABCs compared to Christ's exhaustive knowledge of the created universe. And this knowledge of the created universe is as a dewdrop on a blade of grass compared to the ocean of knowledge that Jesus has of the Being of God himself. God is infinite. The universe is finite. Knowledge of the infinite is infinite. Therefore to know God, as Jesus knows God, is to have infinite knowledge.

Therefore let us bow down and worship Jesus Christ. If we are impressed with the scholarship of man and the achievements of scientific knowledge, then let us not play the fool by trumpeting a tiny chirp and ignoring the thunder clap of omniscience. Jesus alone is worthy of our highest admiration. Jesus alone is worthy of our trust. He can show us the Father (Matthew 11:27). He can give us irresistible wisdom (Luke 21:15). He can see how to make all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). None of his judgments about anything is ever mistaken (John 8:16). He teaches the way of God with infallible truthfulness (Matthew 22:16). Trust him. Admire him. Follow him.

In awe of Jesus,

Pastor John"

Wendi's beautiful life

There's a lot that can be said about Wendi Lehman. And a lot was said this past Saturday in Grass Valley as we celebrated all the things we love and appreciate about this woman.

Wendi's laugh. So contagious. So unforgettable. And her passion. For people, for Christ. Some people just live their life in such a way that their solid, firm way of living just speaks. Wendi lived this way.

This past weekend we were all reminded that the passion and principle that lived inside of Wendi is living on well beyond her own life.

I think the most memorable moment for me as we celebrated her life this weekend was the story from the woman in Los Angeles. Wow! So powerful.

My friend Wendi worked tirelessly for the unborn. She was passionate about leading women to other options, even doing things that others might call radical to make a point. And this weekend, as we celebrated her life in Grass Valley with her parents and other friends/family who knew her, her passion was made crystal clear......

Sitting in the church building listening to words about a woman he hardly knew, a young man heard how his mother went to a clinic in Los Angeles and was going to abort him but was greeted by Wendi, who encouraged her to know that God loved her and the child in her womb, that there were options. Through a course of events, the woman kept the child - Wendi threw her a baby shower, loved this woman the best she could. The woman had her son and then years came between them until a few years ago when they reconnected through Facebook. Now, at Wendi's funeral, this woman and her son were there to pay tribute to a woman who God used to changed the course of their lives.

Wendi and I worked together in college campus ministry in Los Angeles. One thing that stands out to me most often is her authenticity and her love for God. She was a very real person, no pretense, no falsehood, and I loved that about Wendi. She was also a prayer warrior. She could pray for things with fervor and I appreciated that about her.

Over the last few years when she found out she was sick with cancer, she made the effort to connect with me since she moved back to Northern Cal and I was in Reno. James got to meet her at Shakespeare on the Lake as we met up with her and Adrea and the following year in Sacramento with another mutual friend, Lara. My final time to see her was in Genoa, Nevada, when she came to visit along with Leo, Pat and Julianne Lawson. A brief reunion in an ice cream shop and we talked about making it to Jeremy's wedding in October. It never happened, as I got busy and her health was still failing.

God, thank you for saving Wendi in High School. Thank you for placing her in my life and for her quiet, subtle but strong witness for you. I rejoice that she is with you today as to be absent from the body is to be in your presence. We will miss her life here on earth but will cherish the gift you gave us in her. Please comfort her family now and speak your words of comfort to them. Wendi, you lived a beautiful life. Thank you for being obedient to your creator, for caring for the things that he cared about. You are a gift, a blessing, a treasure. I celebrate your beautiful life.

Stay with it....

In the morning, I've been listening to the Message Bible on my Ipod. It's a great way to multi-task.

This morning I listened to Matthew 24. In light of all that's going on in the world, I found this scripture as one to hold on to. The Best part??

"STAY WITH IT TO THE END. YOU WON'T BE SORRY AND YOU'LL BE SAVED." - Again, you earn your ending! (See my last entry!)

"...His disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us...What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?" Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming....In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.....(v 32) Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

Earn your ending....??

"You have to earn an ending. You don't just fall into one." John Irving








On Sunday James and I watched Anthony Robles wrestle for the NCAA championship. One of the commercials that played just before the match had John Irving comparing the art of wresting and writing - and it captured my thoughts.

How many times have I heard that saying, "It's not how well you start something. It's how you finish." As many times as I've heard it (often from individuals I loved and respected), is as many times I can count men and women who didn't finish as I would have expected.

This time the words brought a new spin, a fresh perspective on how we live life and how, at this juncture in my life, it's good to consider living life from the ending backwards.

What do I want my life to look like when I die?

Living a life of no regrets requires courage to face where you're at now and where you want to be and make the necessary changes in your heart, mind, and soul to get there.

I guess the point is you don't just emerge. A life well lived requires discipline, forethought, determination, and the ability to shed off and let go of things that entangle and keep you from a well-earned ending.

I think of bitterness. How many people do you know who have been destroyed by this cancer? Holding onto bitterness only rots and corrodes the insides. It doesn't benefit anyone, let alone yourself.

I think of unfaithfulness. How many lives have been cut into by the pain of this blind cancer? With no forethought for how things might be in a well-lived life, it's as if all the potential is cut short in a few foolish glances and acts.

I think of less obvious but just as debilitating ways to go. What about laziness? Without wrestling this flesh to the ground and beating my natural human emotions into the submission of my savior, it's easy to sink into the every day lazy fare life.

And that's where I consider God's grace. Sure, by God's rich and lavishing love, I've found a new way to live and have been given the ability to be free, to withstand temptations, to overcome my flesh and see internal challenges become victories.

But there's something to be said about choosing to look to Christ to do and be that every day to see that kind of ending take place in my soul. In some ways, yes, I've fallen into a grace that I absolutely don't understand. In other ways, I must be purposeful about how I'm living my life and what I'm doing to guard and protect this precious gift I've been given.

In the end I want to live a life that honors Christ, where His love shines through. So many times this doesn't happen. On a daily basis I'm reminded of just how janked up I am inside. And yet, I know there's more to the story if I'll continue to look to Him, to be swayed only by His working in me and not give into the flesh.

Just some early morning thoughts and reflections...

What's happening in Japan is hard to miss and has caused me to think about the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed. The events that happened in Egypt a few months ago and what's going on in Lybia are another reminder that this world is filled with unrest and it doesn't seem to want to go away. Even with all of man's progression and knowledge, you'd think we'd get a few things figured out. And then of course there's March Madness, which no one can quite figure out, but people will bet on it like crazy! Such an insignificant thing to keep track of in light of world events, really.

In my own soul I find myself longing for a time when all will be right in the world. From the inconsistencies in my own life to world events seen on the news these days, my heart and soul groan for relief! And then I have to wonder. Do natural things speak of the invisible? Natural events like earthquakes, tsunamis. Is this the earth groaning too in wait for a redeemer?

This morning I woke at 4 am thinking about way too much. And as I pulled out Max Lucado's Devotional Bible, I read this devotion on Heaven. I'll be chewing on this today.

"The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be home on earth. As long as we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland. Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth. To be content in a strange land....
We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be happy here. We are "foreigners and strangers in this world. (1 Peter 2:11) Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and martini? Do you wardrobe him in double-breasted fins and people skinned shoes? Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on the beach simply because he was not made for the beach. And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for this earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace, but they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead."

Fit2Wed

Right now our office could be called Fit2Wed instead of Fit2Race. Sayuri, Jesse and I lament about what still needs to get done all before the big day. With wedding on the brain, we each have our own distractions with this part of life. It does make for a fun/understanding work environment as we make calls to vendors on our lunch breaks or have to work on wedding details in our spare moments. But for Sayuri, the big day is here this weekend! Ready or not, the day has come. Congratulations to Dustin and Sayuri and little Bink, our office mascot. I pray for years and years of good things for the two of you.

We took on a challenge mid-February to get in better shape before our weddings and signed up for KAIA FIT (Functional Intense Training for Women) which is conveniently located just next door to work. We've had a lot of fun (and suffered a lot of good pain) with the ladies at KAIA FIT. I'm loving the set up - in Tumbleweeds Gymnastic Center. Nikki's philosophy on fitness is inspiring! After watching kids jump around and do gymnastics, she asked herself, what happens to us as adults to think we can't get in there and do that? Many women's lives have been changed by it. I love the energy and the fun of the class and the ladies who lead it. I love seeing average women get in there. You don't know what to expect each time you walk through the door except that you're going to sweat, move your body, and work it out with a bunch of other like-minded ladies of all shapes and sizes!
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On another note, interviews for my position have started, as I won't be making the commute once James and I are married. So, if you live in the Carson/Minden area and are looking for a fantastic, fast-paced, tough job, I'd say apply now. It is kind of interesting to see who comes through the doors and curiosity gets the best of me. I wonder who will carry on here at Fit2Race.

For now, I'm workin' hard to be Fit2Wed. Even though I hate all the details and the planning of a wedding, I'm enjoying the process as James and I get to know each other in different ways through this too. The hardest part is living in the moment. I have to constantly remind myself that I only have today. I'm not given tomorrow so I need to just enjoy the moments I have now with co-workers, family, friends and my handsome fiance. Tomorrow will come soon enough and I'm sure there will be plenty think about then too.

Strength

It might be the number of times I biffed it snowboarding this weekend at Northstar. It might be the fact that wedding planning has now been added to the details of every day life. It might have been the number of thoughts I've had about the exciting (but unknown) changes that are coming in the next few months. For whatever reason, this morning I was tired and felt weak.

Strength of body - Shred the mountain?! ha! My body felt like shredded meat for atleast a day.
Strength of mind - Take your thoughts captive. Remind yourself you only have today. Don't get overwhelmed. My constant struggle.
Strength of heart - Taking on the details of wedding planning requires this, even if you are a bride-zilla and/or love this kind of stuff. (not me!)

My plain and obvious need this morning was to be strengthened from above. Your own resources run out....

And guess what I opened up to this morning in la Biblia? A few passages on this very topic, something I so desperately needed to hear.

Isaiah 45
"I will go before you and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,"

To be strengthened with a strength that never runs out. Now that's real strength.
Just today I felt that strength running through my thoughts, my heart, my physical body even! Intangible but so real. His essence strengthening my human frame so I can do His will and be His girl. I'm so far from it, but I want it.

I started thinking about life a little and how I'm venturing into a new season, one that includes marriage and family, all very new stuff. And I asked God for the strength for that.

You want to know what He said?
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46

Later today I heard a song by Sidewalk Prophets
"The Words I Would Say" and I was encouraged and strengthened once again.


"Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say..."

So my hope for you is this kind of strength and this kind of relationship with the living God, where He speaks and you are changed.

"I have learned......." Contentment

There will always be opportunity to be discontent. It's just what you do with those moments that count. A lot like junk food, discontentment is always being dished out on a plate nearby and most likely looks good. Can you train yourself not to grab it and find a healthy replacement instead?

A discontented person is easy to spot. I know I'm a dead giveaway when I'm discontent. I'm unhappy, fretting, worried, negative, unthankful, ungrateful. No matter how many good things are going on, it's the one thing that isn't that becomes the focal point to fret about. In a state of pride, expectations of what is owed and what your life should be like becomes the central driving thought. Maybe it's the nature of being human. Most of us want something we don't have. Somehow we never seem to be satisfied. I think of all the jokes about women. Blonds want to be Brunettes. Curly haired girls want it straight. We're never satisfied.

The more a mind is allowed to find reasons to be discontent, the more spiritually unhealthy the soul becomes. Living in the moment is the most fruitful thing you can do and yet it doesn't come naturally. It must be learned.

When contentment rules the heart, there is confidence, joy and peace no matter what happens in your circumstances. But this kind of ruling takes focused effort. This is not to say that we should stop praying for better circumstances. Yet, contentment allows you to have a continual feast no matter what your circumstances.

When you're discontent, you're never happy. You never have enough. You'll always find something to fret about. It's a state of mind. It's an act of the will. To be content is a character trait we should add to our faith. When we live in contentment we live contrary to culture. It's a tough one, but it reflects the heart of our creator. When we live with contentment, we train our soul to desire nothing more or different from what we currently have by limiting our will and perspective to live in the moment and be thankful for what is in our lap at the time. Contentment is a choice and it is learned behavior as Paul showed us by Christ’s strength.

The opposite of contentment is wanting more than you have at the moment, wanting something that isn't yours, even if your desires are for good things. When we are discontent, we give ourselves over to grumbling, complaining, and being bitter.

Sometimes I wonder if discontentment comes because we have complicated our lives. The simpler the lifestyle, the less opportunity for disappointment. Obligations consume spirituality, time, and energy. If we spent half that time setting our affections and our time on things that count, things that are eternal, I wonder if we'd be so discontent.

I'm writing this today not because I'm discontent. Instead, there are many things in my life right now that are in a state of uncertainty. I want to remind myself to live with a thankful heart and not focus on the uncertain elements in life. I want to constantly remember to cultivate a thankful heart.

Some good friends of mine who are now planting a church in Marsaille, France, have trained their kids to go in another room and not come out until they have a "happy heart". It sounds funny to hear a parent say "Go and get a happy heart" but really this is the crux of life. You can be happy and content even when your expectations don't measure up knowing that contentment is a choice you can make right now, because right now is all you have.

Learning To Sing!

If you've ever been awake when songbirds are singing in the morning, you may appreciate this scientific finding.

On Friday morning, I picked up a copy of Science News from April 2010 while cycling at the gym. Inside was an article about the first songbird genome. Besides the chicken, the only other bird that has a completely determined genome is the Zebra finch. And scientists have found within the bird's DNA some clues on how songbirds learn vocally.

Apparently, the male zebra finch learns to sing by memorizing his father's song and practicing the song for a month or two. Once he learns his father's song, it becomes his signature song and he sings the same tune for life. Zebra Finches are loud and boisterous singers. Although it starts as a few small beeps it leads to a rhythmic song of varying complexity. Their song begins as a few disjointed sounds, but as they experiment and match what they sing to the memory of the father's song, it rapidly matures into a full-fledged song. During these formative times, they will incorporate sounds from their surroundings into their song. Each finch has a unique sound but they will overlay their own uniqueness onto a common rhythmic framework. Sons generally learn the song of their father with little variation. Although the male finch's song may change during puberty, he later sings his father's song his entire life.

Ok, hmmmm. First, he learns His father's song.
Second, he sings the same tune for life.

I got to thinking about how this songbird provides a parallel to my life as a believer.

When my Heavenly Father made me His daughter, I began to learn a new song. I'm still learning to sing it, probably still at the peeping stage, definitely still disjointed. What may take the finch only one or two months will probably take me a lifetime but as I experiment in living out this song, hopefully I will mature! Fortunately, I'm following the one who sang the Father's song perfectly - Christ Jesus. Christ's life was perfection. Mine is not. He sings a perfect melody each morning to our Heavenly Father and although I'm still learning the tune, still learning when to hit the low notes or reach some higher places in song, Christ has already perfected it.

And oh how much do I have to learn! The Father's character is trustworthy, patient, kind, full of love, gentleness, authority, justice, peace, grace. I could go on and on as I consider the character of God. My character is shifty, impatient, unkind, full of selfish ambition, brash, weak, prone to worry and often ungracious with others. Almost daily I'm confronted with my own humanity, which sounds a lot like a song that is sung off key. How deeply I need a Savior.

Although my own variation can sometimes be heard in my life and it's probably a little off key, my Heavenly Father's song is definitely my signature song. I don't want to sing any other. I do hear the Father's melody breaking into my song on more occasions than my own selfish song plays out and for that I'm thankful! And so there you go! Some moments of reflection from an Australian song bird!

God is Power

Last night James and I watched part of the old classic movie, Chariots of Fire. Eric Liddel was supposed to follow in his family's footsteps and become a vocational minister. His sister gets so distraught that Eric focuses instead on running instead of helping her with the mission. We laughed at how uptight and sour she gets about it all.

I was inspired at how Eric uses that platform to make comparisons between faith and running a long distance race and speaks to a captivated audience that wants to hear about his running experiences.

At one point in the movie, a professor or student or someone (can't remember now) makes the comment that God is a benevolent dictator. James so clearly pointed out that God is not a benevolent dictator. He IS power. He doesn't need to take power from somewhere or something else. As I've stewed over that today, I've come to recognize and embrace once again that God needs nothing from man. He is all knowing, all powerful and yet He has extended His hands to us.

Sometimes we relegate God to a place in our mind that fits in a box. But He's so much bigger. Another reason to bow down before Him.

Lunch Break

On my lunch break, I've been enjoying the rural areas of Carson Valley where the cows graze and alfalfa fields are covered in snow. It's incredibly beautiful to see the surrounding mountains that create the Carson Valley and enable Tahoe to be one of the most beautiful pearls on earth! These power walks are also helping me burn some calories for an upcoming wedding until the weather warms up and the ice melts so that outside running and biking can be added to the mix again. :)



My I-phone has a holy bible application and I love it, using it whenever I am bored or need to look up a verse! I can look up scriptures but it also has a daily reading guide. Hands down, I always choose the daily Psalm and Proverb reading. Just a few days ago Psalm 89:2 in the World English translation came up....

"I indeed declare, 'Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them."

Hmmmm, God's faithfulness is seen in the heavens. Something about that last sentence caused my heart and thoughts to be jolted. What exactly is meant by this? His faithfulness is intangible and it's not quite clear how God's faithfulness is in the heavens, or is it? How does one measure faithfulness anyway? The heavens are visible so what can I get from the visible to help me understand the invisible? What do I see in the heavens?

Every morning I see the sun rise and every night I see the sun set. When the moon gives light in the winter night, reflecting off the glistening snow, I'm reminded that even then, there's a consistent stream of light. God's faithfulness is consistent. It doesn't change. Is this what is meant? Tangible evidence that the world isn't falling into the sky? Tangible evidence that there is a God and I'm not Him, that His definition of faithful is the purest essence of the word. He is crystal clear in faithfulness.

Pondering and chewing on some good stuff on my lunch break.....


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One thing I noticed while taking my lunch break are the dormant alfalfa fields. Winter is a time when all the crops lie dormant waiting for Spring. Do I heed this natural cycle in my own life? Am I allowing time for things that need to die to do so and wait in hope that Spring will bring a richer, fuller crop, or am I going through the motions? I want God's faithfulness, God's character, God's goodness to yield an even bigger crop next year. But how will that happen if my own selfish ambition continues to thrive inside? Selfish ambition has to die so that Christ can live in me.

This was a revelation I got this week on Monday night. Wow...If I have no more "righteousness" on my own, meaning "flexibility righteousness" where I pride myself in being flexible and others centered, then I am empty! Hmh! This Winter, maybe that's the point. Empty yourself so you can be filled with Him.

...........So many good thoughts pondered on the lunch break. :)

My girl :)

For Christmas, my little brother gave me a music mix of songs that we had fun listening to on our trip to Seattle for Thanksgiving. His homemade gift has been great for new music in the mix!

The song I've been playing over and over in the car is a song by "my girl", Natasha Bedingfield's "Love Like This"....At first I thought it was the catchy tune, the fun lyrics about a love that started when they were young and hasn't gone away. It's just kind of a catchy song!! Check it out if you want. :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KqMB4hRVgk)

But then I realized that I like it because it's a song I can dedicate to my one true love, Jesus. Parts of it obviously wouldn't make sense that way but a lot of it does....I don't know if that's cheese for some people, but I find that happens in songs and movies for me.....A lyric, a line in a movie, can speak with so much weight that my heart is enraptured.

So, as the lyrics sing....


"You're the only one that knows me
love it when you hold me
I'd never find a love like this, let me hear you say
Now I'll never be lonely,
Look at what you've shown me,
I'd never find a love like this!

When this life tries to keep us apart
You keep callin' me back to your heart, let me hear you say
I'm so glad you found me, wrap you all around me,
I'd never find a love like this

All the guys tried to take me, you're the one who saved me
I feel like I owe you my life
And as strange as it may seem, I'll go if you take me
I'm willing to sacrifice...

And that's why you keep runnin' in and out of my mind
As the years they all roll by, its not hard to know why
I keep comin' back to you.....

You're the only one that knows me, love it when you hold me...
I'd never find a love like this...."

I'm so thankful for how God has brought James into my life. I guess I just resonate with this song; my first love will always be Jesus. I'll never find a love like Him. I think a lot of women forget this and once they go into marriage they expect that man to be Jesus. Last time I checked, there's only one. Keep coming back to Him. He's the only one who knows us....we'll never find a love like His!