Content & Thankful

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Phil 4:11b

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:18

I wish I could say this is true of me in my own life, but the truth is I'm not always the most content or most thankful person. There are times that I gripe, complain and wish I had a new or different material thing or circumstance in my life. But clearly this attitude is not right. God desires that we have a content and thankful heart. Whatever the circumstance.

Ways I can encourage contentment in my own heart and in the lives of my children:

--Spend more time investing in people God has placed in my life.

--Share with those in need, giving of my time, money and other resources.

--Be a good steward of what God has already given to us. Organize, clean and maintain those things.

--Simplify what we own. Give away, sell or donate things we don't use, like or can't maintain.

--Use what we have. Paint, clean, reuse, repair or repurpose older things. God is also in the business of restoration.

--Thank God for His blessings each day.

--Ask God to help me see each day in a positive light with a thankful attitude.

How Noah Packed a Shoebox

This week Noah packed a shoebox with gifts and toys for Operation Christmas Child. The host organization Samaritan's Purse distributes Christmas boxes to needy children around the world, sharing the love of Jesus with them and their families.

Noah started with an empty, wrapped shoebox. Mommy helped with the wrapping part.

Next, he colored some pictures and answered some questions about himself to mail to the child. He told me that his favorite color is blue, his favorite food is noodles, and his favorite drink is water.

He picked out a couple of pictures of himself to add with the letter for his shoebox.

Then Noah found special toys and gifts that Mommy collected for this project. Many things were free or very inexpensive using coupons and deals throughout the past year. We also added some special toys that he had gotten in kids' meals from restaurants.

We put toys, games, balls, pens, pencils, notebook, crayons, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, playdough, bandaids, and more in our box along with our letter and pictures.

Finally we closed the lid and prayed for the little boy who will receive this special gift. We prayed that he would know how much Jesus loves him.

Noah was very enthusiastic about putting together this box for our special friend. It's exciting to find ways to begin teaching Noah (even at 2 1/2 years old) about ways we can help others.

We will take our shoebox with us to drop off next week at the church where we go to MOPS. Next week is Operation Christmas Child collection week across the entire country.

Costumes!

Last week the boys dressed up in costumes as Bob the Builder and a froggy. Bob's costume was all borrowed or his own, and the frog was passed down from a friend. Gotta love spending $0 on costumes!

While I wouldn't saw we exactly celebrate Halloween, we did take the opportunity to meet some more of our neighbors that live around us and participate in our community. Eating Noah's candy afterward was a nice benefit too. =)

Half Marathon Recap

My First Half Marathon story... (Beware, it's long. Most of it I am writing so I will be able to remember.)

5:45 a.m. The alarm goes off. I get up and eat Cream of Wheat and drink a cup of coffee and several glasses of water and start preparing all of my gear for the big day. While getting ready, I check the current temperature: 26 degrees. It's gonna be a cold one!

7:50 a.m Jason and I arrive in downtown Indy later than we'd planned, partially due to the fact that our car's driver-side door would not latch (possibly due to frost??)! We had to spend a few minutes figuring out what was wrong with it. Since I knew the race began at 8 a.m., I was slightly nervous about the delay! As we near the starting line I give him a quick kiss, hop out of the car and find the "10 minute mile" sign in the starting corrals. About 8000 others are jumping around, chatting, and fiddling with hats, gloves, iPods, Garmins, and other running accessories. I regret that I drank so much water already when I see how long the port-a-john lines are. There is no way I am getting in one of those lines at this time. I will just survive!

8 a.m.
Mile 1 - The Monumental Marathon race begins! Due to the crowd in front of me, I have to wait about 4 1/2 minutes before I can actually walk up to the starting line. There is a lot of adrenaline flowing and I want to run fast. But I knew this would happen, so I make a concerted effort to hold back to a slower pace to warm up. There are fans cheering and people holding signs everywhere. We run by Lucas Oil Stadium and see the Colts cheerleaders. It is definitely cold out, but within the first two miles I warm up enough to take off my fleece jacket and tie it around my waist.

Mile 2 - Jason cheers me on at mile 2-3 and snaps this picture. I toss him my sock hat.

(Jason leaves and goes to spend some quality one-on-one time with Isaac. He told me they spend a long time in a nice hotel lobby just playing together!)

Meanwhile....


Miles 3 and 4 - We run through the streets of downtown Indy. The fans hold signs like "Run Jessica Run" and "If Sarah Palin can run, so can you!" I am running just like I've trained, and it's so much fun. On my iPod I hear songs like "Alive" by P.O.D. and "I'm Alive" by Jeremy Camp, and it describes how I feel. I run behind a gal with a label on her back "Marathon Pacer Mandy 4:30." I can't remember exactly what pace per mile this is, but a Half-Marathon would be half of that, so a 2:15 time. I figure that I should be okay following her for a while. I mark my time on the iPod with each passing mile, and she's running around 10:25/mile.


Mile 5 - I am ready to run a little faster now that I've warmed up. I know I can push myself just a bit more. I pass the Pacer and see where my legs will take me. I pull out my Clif Energy Gel and eat it. (They're kind of gross, but it was probably a good placebo effect to help me run a little faster.) I simply go with what feels comforable for me and mark the mile. 9:22. I surprise myself that this feels comfortable, but I keep going.

Mile 6 - I take water at the water station. I really am starting to need it now, unlike some of the previous water stations. I realize I am capable of finishing this thing in less than 2:15 if I keep up this pace and stay comfortable. I pass the 10-Kilometer marker at 1:02:24 with an overall pace of 10:03/mile.

Miles 7-8 - I keep marking the miles on my iPod timer. I am doing better than I had expected, maintaining a 9:30 or less pace. The half marathon and marathon splits off at mile 7. Some people seem to slow down around me after the split, so I kick it up a notch and start passing people. I think this boosts adrenaline even more.

Mile 9-11 - We run down Meridian Street toward the Circle. But I can't see the circle because it is still so far off. Music like Hillsong United's "Take it All" and Desperation Band's "I am Free" keep my feet moving. I remember some people telling me they hit a wall at mile 10. It is getting harder, and my heart hurts a little. Remembering that the cardiologist encouraged me to run but to listen to my body, I slow down a little and pray that it feels better. I make a conscious effort to smile at spectators and thank the volunteers. I am thankful for the Gatorade at the water station. I slow my pace to 10:02 for one of the miles. My heart stops hurting, but I am getting tired. I start to tell myself encouraging things like,

-You trained for this.
-You've run farther than this.
-Now is the time to do your best.
-You're over halfway done.

I also see my favorite sign during this part of the race: "Random Stranger -- I'm so proud of you!" I thank that fan. I give high fives to two little girls who are holding their arms out.

Mile 12 - We run through Monument Circle again. The crowd is everywhere. I know I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I listen to MercyMe's "Hold Fast" and am encouraged by the lyrics, "One thing greater than my strife is His grasp, So Hold Fast, Help is on the way." Jason cheers me on down the street and snaps this picture.


Mile 13 - I know I am almost there!! I just have to keep moving. A sign I pass reads "DIG DEEPER" and encourages me. I run faster.

Mile 13.1 - I pass the 13 mile sign and I know we are SO close. I see the finish line ahead. I want to slow down. But I muster up everything left within me and SPRINT to and through the finish line.

Finish - I did it!!! I mark my time and see 2:08:37. My overall pace for the entire race was 9:48. I was proud of myself that I sped up during the second half, which is hard to do when you're tired. I ran the last 6.9 miles at an average 9:35 pace.

I finished 196 out of 441 women 25-29.

Overall I placed 2073 out of 4153.

Finishers were awarded a half marathon medal. Then we got a space blanket, a running hat, bananas, bagels and peanut butter, cookies, chocolate milk, apples, and on the list goes. After I met up with Jason in the recovery tent we took some more pictures.

My little guy is hanging out in his cozy carseat.

Running this thing was a great experience for me. It reminds me of why I like running. I have never been an athletic person, so knowing that I am capable of running a long distance was pretty amazing. Instead of feeling bad that I will likely never be a "fast" runner, I was encouraged that there are so many other people who run similar paces to me.

I am ready to run another half and plan to train for the HUGE half marathon in May.

Video: Isaac scooting/trying to crawl

Isaac is not yet crawling, but he is starting to move to get to things. Here he is reaching for some toys and scooting a little....

Isaac at 6 months

Happy six months, sweet little one. It's hard to believe it's already been a half of a year since I felt the pangs of labor and "gave you the light" as they say in Spanish. I love watching you discover the world as you change from a content little infant to a curious and adventuresome baby on the go.

Within the past month you have discovered your feet, and you thoroughly enjoy putting them in your mouth and chewing your toes. (Daddy is a bit of a germ-phobe and doesn't like that, but Mommy thinks it's cute!)

You're not quite sitting up on your own yet, though I know you will be very soon. You try to sit up, but you often fall over to one side or the other.

You love playing with colorful and bright baby toys, and of course, everything goes in your mouth. It's fun to watch you spot something nearby and reach for it. Big brother Noah is going to have to learn how to share his toys very soon, I think.

I know you want to crawl, Isaac, and I expect that soon you will. You already roll all over the place and kick your little legs until you can reach what you want. And of course you try to eat it, exercising those two new baby teeth! Perhaps Mommy should try feeding you some solid food since you are resorting to eating books and puzzles.

Noah loves making sure you are sufficiently entertained when you wake up from a nap. I apologize for the toys he has managed to throw in your bed before Mommy can intervene. Though it doesn't seem like you really mind, does it? :)

Isaac, I am so blessed to be your Mommy and to share these moments with you. You are such a happy and healthy little one, and for that we are truly thankful.

Stewart friends and babies!

This weekend we visited with some good friends from Stewart. All of these girls were in PC '03 except me. (I was in PC '02.) The four that got together are Amanda, me, Sara, and Shae.

Amanda has two kids, Joshua and Leah, both of whom are about the same age as my two. (They were both napping during this picture.) There's me with Isaac, Sara with her Isaac, and Shae with Bailey. All four of us had babies within 8 weeks last spring.

Here are the four babies in age order. Bailey (8 mo), Isaac (7 mo), Isaac (6 mo), and Leah (6 mo)... I don't know why it's sideways. I will try to fix it.

Noah plays on the baby swing at Amanda's house.

Me and Amanda, both former teachers, Stewart girls, stay-at-home nursing moms with two kids and too much laundry. =) Our two big boys Noah and Joshua have enjoyed playing together a few times in the past few months.

Pictures of me are so rare... I had to include another one that Jason took while I was playing with Isaac in the saucer.

Visiting Purdue for Homecoming

Jason and I went back to Purdue for homecoming last week, though we did not actually go to the football game. We posed together in front of MSEE building, where Jason spent many days and nights in the computer lab working on his programming assignments.

Noah rides on Jason's shoulders as Uncle Paul gives us a tour of the new engineering hall, Armstrong. I think Jason was a little jealous of the high tech lab equipment and facilities that Purdue first year engineering students get to use now!

He's a Marwood Man, he's the best in the land!! He is strong, he is brave, he is true..... da da da I don't remember the rest of the house song!

Noah found a few other little playmates while we were chatting at the Stewart Alumni brunch. Behind Noah are Joshua and Rowan, other Stewart alumni kids.

Chatting with Amanda, my big sis at Stewart. She is partially responsible for setting me up with Jason! :)

Noah finds some food to munch on at the brunch.

sunset photos at Lake Michigan

Jason is holding up Noah in this picture taken by Melody on the Indiana Dunes beach. The lights of Chicago are seen on the left in the distance.

I love my husband!

Taking Opportunities or Making Excuses

A few months ago our pastor Steve Poe at Northview Church said something that has really impacted the way I think.

"Every season of your life is either going to be an opportunity [to serve God] or an excuse, depending on what you're looking for. So be honest with yourself, 'Am I looking for opportunities every day of my life, or am I just complaining, griping, and making excuses?' "

Too often I find myself thinking I am unable to serve God because of __________. Fill in the blank. Anything. For instance, in this season of my life I am a stay-at-home mom. I mean, how can I possibly go out and volunteer when I have two very small children at home who need constant attention? I don't have the time or the childcare or whatever. I have plenty of valid excuses. Or, I don't have enough money to really change anyone's situation. Or maybe, I can't serve God because I don't have the right skills to do the job. Whatever the excuse, I write myself off that I just can't do anything since I am in this circumstance.

But hearing this specific part of Steve's sermon really challenged me to change my thinking. While there may be some ways that I truly am unable to serve God in this moment, I need to instead focus on what I CAN do to serve God. Then I need to do it.

For me a huge part of serving God is serving my own family. While I am not the perfect little homemaker my primary role is a wife and mother, respecting my husband and raising my children for the glory of God. Opportunities exist moment-by-moment in my home to serve God by serving my family. I don't always get it right, but I am trying. And outside of my home, I can serve God in so many ways. Whether for me that means making a meal for a friend, watching someone's children, donating previously loved items to an organization, running to fundraise for a ministry, and on the list rolls.... the opportunities are there. I just have to look for them and choose to take them without all of the excuses.