The Intentional Life

It was one of those picturesque fall afternoons. The sky was that delightful shade of happy blue. A slight breeze, the warm sun. It was the perfect time for an adventure walk. So, with clip boards in hand, we started out. They paused every few 100 feet of so to add to their map.  Drawing details to make it just right. We snaked and wound through the subdivisions.  One leading to another. Eventually coming to a cul-de-sac.  Having no choice but to turn around. So we followed the sidewalk, looking for clues on where to turn, consulting the map. The bright red tree, the creek, the fire hydrant, the house with ten cars (a party!) Object lesson: some things can be good markers, truths that will stand the test of time and be truth to let you know where to turn (i.e. the creek, the fire hydrant) And some things will change.  Some things you can't always reply on to be there, or to be the truth.  You can't depend on them to be accurat...

Up at 4:45 AM. Half a cup of coffee and a banana. Double, then triple check, to make sure all running essentials are accounted for. 6AM parking (on the street - free on Sundays - score!) 6:30 Bagel and Orange Juice, private bathrooms, heated tent - all thanks to the friends and family who helped up raise enough money to be a part of the VIP experience! 7AM stretches and jumps to shake out the jitters 7:30 start. I've said before how much I enjoy this race in Columbus and all the reasons why I do. A weekend away for Paul and I, getting back to where we lived when we first were married. Experiencing Columbus in the fall is the best time to experience Columbus The whole race is a great symbol of our earthly race, pushing through to the finish.  As an excerpt from 2010, when I ran my first half states: Training for a big race has quite the correlation of running the race of life spiritually speaking. Both take discipline, perseverance, and reme...

The baby that made me a mother turned 9 today. He requested the family favorite of Cabbage, Bacon, and Noodles for supper and an Angel Food Cake for dessert because "it will be easy for you to make, mom." His cake was topped with various numbers that added up to 9 because I didn't have actual candles...oops. When asked what he wanted to do for the evening:  "take a walk because I know mom likes to do that and play Mario Kart because I know that's what dad likes."  Owen, it's a joy to watch how you approach life.  Always asking "how" and "why."  You've got a knack for numbers and can get lost in a 500 page novel for hours.  Your scripture memory abilities put me to shame.  You are the big brother to your sisters.  You are always watching out for them.  Sometimes this is helpful...sometimes it is not.  But I know this is born out of your desire to follow the rules and you appreciate when others follow the rules, to...

Whoosh. That was the sound of September flying by. We got into the groove of school.  And started up some new things:  ballet for the girls, Cub Scouts for Owen, announcing sporting events (soccer and volleyball) for Paul, and me just making sure everyone is fed and where they are supposed to be. It's put a special kind of pace into life, but so far we're just dipping the toes into things, knowing we want to keep family, not events, first. Speaking of family, we had opportunities to spend time with both sides of ours. A Birthday Party/Slumber Party with my family. A Race-Running/ Camp Fire Weekend with Paul's. Fall was welcomed with open arms.  The cooler, crisp air.  Deep blue skies.  And hints of colors in the trees. September was full.  Full and good. Maddie joined the lost tooth club!  She was so scared and worried about the pain that would happen when her tooth would come out.  But it ended up falling out while she...

It starts as most mornings start around here. The breathed prayer to start the day. Up before the sun, a cup of coffee, splash of creamer. The fixing of breakfast with eyes half closed. The wrestling of children from under covers, herding them to breakfast. And as they begin to wake from their stupor, the conversations, the words, start to come. I wish I could say that all things are pleasant in the morning. That we hold decent conversation while scooping our oatmeal.  Sometimes we do. But sometimes we don't. Someone is looking at someone weird.  Someone's foot is on someone else's chair.  Arguments over who gets the bathroom first. Etc. I know I can't be alone in this. Those mornings that just have that funk. I wish I could say I rise above it and keep a calm, controlled demeanor despite the squabbling siblings. Ahem. They're pushed, prodded, propelled into the car.  Bookbags, lunches, permission slips. And then they are...