Wordless Wednesday - Color Run Style

From The Color Run 2013

I'm the crazy chic on the far right. hehe

 

And here is my crazy husband!

 

no matter what

Recently, within my circle of friends and in this part of my world, I've heard of so many in pain.  So many whose lives are changing forever.  Or have ended.

A 17 year old boy just drowned in a near-by reservoir.

A colleague from work just had surgery to remove a brain tumor - cancer.

It makes you wonder about your own mortality and that of those around you.  How and when will you die?  Because - news flash - you will.  Last time I checked, statistics were still 1 out of 1 die.  It is a fact we cannot escape.

I wonder about it. How?  When? 

Notice I didn't say I worry about it.  Because, I don't.

2 Timothy 1:12 Because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him (my soul) until that day.

I'm ready to go whenever He is ready to take me.

But I can't help but think about it - my mortality - when I hear about a young person's passing or of a friend struggling to stay alive.

Then, the song "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts came on the radio today as I was driving home from getting car repairs done.  I just LOVE the chorus!

No matter what, I'm gonna love You
No matter what, I'm gonna need You
I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, if not - I'll trust You
No matter what (no matter, no matter what, no matter)
No matter what (no matter, no matter what – no matter, no matter what)

Whether a brain tumor, cancer, a car wreck... you name it.  Whatever ends up eventually taking me from this world into the next, I KNOW His timing, His plan is good. It is right. It is best. I'm all for it!  My only prayer is that my eventual death results in greater glory for Him.

He is the only thing lasting and good in this world. Once you know Him, you know that.

I know You have Your reasons, for everything
So I will keep believing
Whatever I might be feeling
God You are my hope, and You'll be my strength.

The words of that song echo in my soul.  I hope they will encourage you today too.

Today's forget-me-not: Trust Him. It's freeing!

The Color Run 2013

I just had the funnest time of my life!  And yes, I know funnest isn't a word, but I don't care! LOL

My second 5K this year was The Color Run, and it was sooo much fun! Wait... I think I've used the word fun in every sentence now.  Do you get the point?!

I'm glad I ran this race because I wasn't going to do it at first.  I didn't think I would want to get my shoes and running clothes dirty.  I didn't want to inhale color dust particles.  It just sounded way to messy for clean me.  (quick clarification: clean me, my body, not clean me, my house ;-)

Anyway, one of my junior American Lit/Comp classes talked me into it and then I talked Michael into it, and we signed up.

clean us - before the run

This is by far the biggest 5K I have ever ran in (or might ever run in).  After Michael and I had run and did some post race partying, we went to leave, and we noticed that people were still trying to get in the parking lot for their turns to run!

look at all the white shirts

They started the race at 9:00am, and they let runners go in waves.  There was a 10:00am start time, but we like to run earlier as opposed to later.  Anyway, it was packed and hardly runnable at first, but things began to thin out soon, and I ran the whole thing.  I couldn't tell you what my time was because it wasn't a timed race.  They stressed having fun as the top priority and not your race time.  Although I'm a person who likes to know my time, I decided not to turn on my Map My Run app and just go with the flow.  I'm glad I did. I had a good time! 

 

finish line color celebration

 

I think I got more color on me AFTER the run than I did during the run.  Aside from the color packet they gave you to use at the finish line (pictured above), they had a stage set up where they were playing music and throwing out color packets for everyone to use after the race.  I got a little crazy...

 

 

All in all, I feel pretty darn cool for having done something so ... extreme? It was a great way to start my spring break! 

Today's forget-me-not: Take time to get a little crazy! It helps remind you that you are alive!!!

Resolutions Review - April

In 2013...

1. Grow Spiritually

2. Stay Healthy

3. Live, Love, and Laugh Often

 

I love taking the time to review my new year's resolutions.  I feel like I'm being held accountable by my blog and by you - my readers - to follow through with what I said I wanted to do in 2013.  Toward that end, here is my update:

 

1. I've started an awesome new Wednesday night bible study that promises to be even better than the first one of the year.  It's called Annointed, Transformed, Redeemed.  The study has some of the greatest female bible leaders of our time: Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur. It's a study of David.

 

Last night as I was reading from the study, it presented a challenge: "Think about your season of life... Come up with a list of practical suggestions that you can incorporate into everyday living to assist you in being constantly aware of God's presence.  Which one will you incorporate today?"

 

The study gave suggestions like "print a Scripture verse or two in a large font and tape it on the bathroom mirror to mediate on while brushing little teeth and washing little hands."  

 

I decided I needed to better utilize my commuting time to work.  It takes me 20 mins to get to work.  I thought I could listen to some of today's greatest preachers give words of wisdom, so I found an app on my phone for One Place.  I LOVE it!  It has one of my favorite preachers - James MacDonald.  I listened to it this morning, and it was good!!!

 

Aside from these things, I'm waiting for the money to sign up for the Beth Moore conference at the end of May. I'm hoping that doesn't sell out before I get a chance to do that. 

 

2. In other news, Michael and I put our name in a lottery to see if we could get in the Peachtree Road Race (10K) on the fourth of July, and WE GOT IN!  I'm going to download an ease into a 10K app and start that ASAP.  I'm looking forward to see if I'm up to the challenge.  :-) This will be my first 10K!

 

3. As for living, laughing, and loving, Michael and I run the color run on Saturday.  That should be a hoot!  In addition to that, we had a great time out with some of my English teacher friends at the high school prom - I had to chaperon.  It was fun to get all dressed up, go out to eat, and then see the students all dressed up.  I think my favorite part of the night was getting dressed up with hubby.  We've worked so hard to lose weight and now to maintain our healthy lifestyle, and I think you can see it in the picture of the night.

 

We clean up nice!

Well, folks.  Life is good!  If I had to cash in my chips now, I would have to say that I've won big and am happy with the results.  I've experienced more happiness this past year than many see an entire lifetime.  I'm looking forward to more - God willing - but that's just it. We don't know how much more time any of us has.  I recently heard about the passing of a former student of mine, and it has made me pause and really "stop and smell the roses" more.  She had broken an ankle, and because of that, she had some blood clots that traveled to her lungs.  Now - at 22 - she is dead.  So, what's the take away from that?

 

Today's forget-me-not: Live every day as if it is your last! And thank God for it!!!