Thankful

I am thankful for these silly, mischievous, sweet, funny, little faces!

(Rachel reading the paper)

(Logan and his cousin Max. This was nothing but trouble...okay, maybe some fun too!)

Keep on Running

I decided three weeks ago to run a half marathon that is in two weeks. Since I've run a half and full marathon before it's not quite as intimidating as it was the first go-around. Last weekend I ran 10 miles and my hope is to run 14 miles today.  I know that 14 miles is further than a half marathon, but I'm hoping to get my muscles used to the distance this weekend so I can run faster on race day.  


I think the hardest part about running is the mental part.  The times I tell myself "you can run further" it seems my body buckles up and gets it done.  I've got to admit that it's hard to keep a positive attitude when all I want to do is stop running. Thoughts like, "you can just stop, no one will know" or "no, you can't do it!" seem to creep up quietly unnoticed and then loudly yell in my ear over and over until I begin to believe it. 


Isn't this the same with sin? I doubt many people wake up in the morning excited and ready to sin (whether it be yelling at their kids or husband, to gossip about someone, or even look at something that will cause them to think things that aren't pure). Oftentimes it starts out kind of sneaky and quiet.  However, if it's left untreated it becomes a roaring lion and it has taken over control. 


Anyway, I'm realizing the more aware I become of the thought patterns in my life, be it on the treadmill for hours or when I look in the mirror at my reflection, the more I can recognize thoughts that honor the Lord and thoughts that send me down a path I don't really want to go.  


Philipans 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


Okay, time to stop stalling and get stretching because I've got some pavement (or treadmill) to hit! 

Getting them to smile is just as hard as picking the perfect card!

I'm going to admit that getting a decent family picture for a Christmas card is not easy work.  However, I'm not sure if it's more difficult than deciding which Christmas card to order. I started looking on Shutterfly months before Christmas, and yet here I am on Thanksgiving needing to order a card ASAP, but can't decide what to do.  

I love the idea of a flat card that is simple and classic. I love this partially because some of our family like having a more recent picture to hang up, but this way it's not too Christmas-y.  Then again I would love to have a folded Christmas card with a more personal greeting on the inside.  In the past we've done some of the chocolate brown and maroon themed ones and I've liked those, but wondering if I want to do less of the "card" part and more of the picture part (if that makes sense).

As you can tell, it's hard to decide!  I did post a few of my favorites below with the links to the cards.  Now that I look it over again I realize I am leaning towards something more simple.  Let me know what you think, or if you find one here you think would be even better!  

If you click on this link it will take you to all the holiday cards and you'll see my option dilemma. http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

Here are some simple ones that I like (BTW: that's not us in case you were wondering):

In the meantime I can't help but think a wall calendar like this http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/wall-calendars would help me remember everyone's birthdays and I could put all the pictures that didn't fit on our Christmas card on our calendar!  

Also, since I'm thinking about Christmas gifts (and no I can't handle the crowds on a normal shopping day, so I'm not about to go out tomorrow for Black Friday) I wonder if the grandparents would like a mug with their grandkids on it? It's so much classier then the plastic ones we used to color in and give as gifts when we were growing up! http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs

Anyway, there are my Christmas card & other gift thoughts for the day! 

My Birthday Boy

I love my son. It is amazing to think back over the past 4 years and how much our life has changed because of this one little guy. I remember being slightly shocked realizing we could be pregnant. Sure we'd been married over a year, but this wasn't my "plan." Well, I am SO THANKFUL it was God's plan. Since it's my little boy's 4th birthday (although little man might be more accurate), I wanted to blog about some of the top four character traits I love about Logan.

1. Loving. Logan has this really sweet presence about him. He genuinely loves other people, and I can honestly say I can't recall a time he has ever spoken poorly or meanly about anyone (besides the occasional tattling on his little sister, but even then it's not "mean," just annoyed). We had a run-in with a bully last year, and he couldn't understand why anyone would want to be mean. It just did not make any sense to Logan why or how someone could be cruel.

2. Joyful. I love watching Logan's face light up when he sees his friends, or finds out we're having pizza (his favorite...along with tortillas, grapes, grilled cheese, cookies...), or hears we're going to have family time. Overall he is a very joyful boy, and it seems to be contagious to the other people he is around.

3. Empathetic. I often catch Logan studying my face or the faces of people in books or on shows. If he doesn't understand what someone is thinking or feeling he will say, "Mom, what does that face mean?" Times when I've been sad, his face will drop and he'll ask why I'm sad. He is a very perceptive little boy and I think this is a gift he has.

4. Forgiving. There have been many times over the past 4 years that I have lost my patience and not responded to my little boy in a loving and godly way. There have also, not surprisingly, been many occasions I have had to apologize to him and confess my harshness or frustration. Before I can even get to the "will you forgive me" part of my apology my son looks at me, smiles and says, "It's okay mom, I forgive you! And don't worry, Jesus forgives you too...that's why he died for you...for when you do bad things." Then, as though I have never been impatient or harsh, he smiles, hugs me and it's like he has totally forgotten about all my faults.  I have a lot to learn from my son in this area!