We Need Each Other to Finish Strong

I was (emphasis on “was”) a half-marathon runner up until a couple of years ago when my knees starting singing songs of “gloom, despair and agony on me”. I knew I needed to hang up my running shoes and put on my walking shoes. I remember the many hours and days of training and preparing for the impending marathon events. That training, combined with friends and family support, would assure me of a strong finish.

I think about all of us in these formidable times. While I am in a cozy, safe place here in my little home all to myself, I am well aware of the moms and dads working from home and/or homeschooling their children, which is an unprepared-for-way-of-life. A young single mom I know is having to confront all this by herself – with four young children. And I think about those who are struggling with enough finances to sustain their families throughout this time of job loss. And I think about all the healthcare workers and the essential services workers who are being stretched to the nth degree. And so many others whose lives have been turned upside down. They must feel like they are in a no-ending marathon because what was days has turned into weeks and maybe even months.

I’m convinced this race we’re in won’t last forever. The end may not be in sight just yet, but it is, without doubt, up ahead. I remember how long my marathons seemed. One mile completed, then two miles, then three...... The energy at the beginning was being depleted as I ran. But a bright light shined for me when, at strategic locations, my family would be standing on a corner, holding up signs and cheering me on “Go Nana! Go Mom! You can do this! You’ve got this!” It was just what I needed to help me finish strong. It seemed there was no end in sight, but I would round a corner and up ahead I could hear the crowd cheering, the announcer declaring the names of those crossing the finish line, and I just knew I could make it and hear my name being announced. Hurting, exhausted, and worn-out as I was – I crossed that finish line. How sweet the victory was for me AND for those cheering me on.

What can we do to be those cheerleaders who push and pull us through these times? My daughter-in-love sent me lots of videos and photos of what they’re doing during these times. It made me tear up – with happy tears – to see them making the most of their isolation. We can do the same thing. We can hold up encouragement signs via drive-bys or social media, texting, making phone calls. We can assure others that we are REALLY praying for them. Maybe even offering financial support for those who are at the end of their resources. Those small acts help them know their value and worth to us.

And to all of you – all of us – who are in this “season” of so many unknowns, we are not without hope. A new day is on the horizon – maybe we can’t see the end yet, but it will be seen sooner or later. That’s what this daily blog is all about. To be a cheerleader to you – no matter what you’re facing today. To be a megaphone for God shouting out to you: “You are God's beloved child and you are worthy of being encouraged and supported as you continue to run this race. Live strong during these times with knowing that God is with you, cheering you on to your Finish Line. Run strong. Finish strong. And, pass it along!

“Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings.” Galatians 6:2

Live Like Tomorrow May Never Come

All of us are still in shock at the news of the tragic death of Kolbe Bryant, his daughter and the other seven victims. Our hearts ache for what their families are going through right now. I pray for God’s peace to bring them comfort. It is this side of heaven that mourns such a great loss of lives – what seems to be way too soon. But, on the other side – in heaven – there is great rejoicing for those that came home. That has always brought me so much comfort whenever I have experienced the separation of loved ones in my life. That gives us the opportunity, instead of "Good-bye", to say "See you later!"

I don’t think anyone can argue with the statement: “He was one of the greatest athlete of all times.” A quote of Kolbe’s captured my attention. “It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly.” And, isn’t that what living each day with purpose and on purpose to make a difference in this world what really matters? Living like there is no tomorrow. “You do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14).

A resource book I've held dear to my heart is Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life". My favorite chapter is the one that is entitled "Made to Last Forever". This excerpt blesses me so much: "This life is not all there is. Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time on the other side of death, in eternity, than you will here. Earth is the staging area, the preschool, the tryout for your life in eternity. It is the practice workout before the actual game; the warm-up lap before the race begins. This life is preparation for the next. The Bible says, "No mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord." 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Don’t those words ring true about all the practice workouts and physical training workouts that Kolbe Bryant must have experienced in his career? All the preparation for the next big game. Does it make us wonder if his life of generosity and kindness plus, hopefully, a tight relationship with God, were the preparation for the life he is living now on the other side of heaven?

When Kolbe, his daughter and the other seven boarded that helicopter on Sunday morning, living in the light of eternity was probably the furthest thing on their mind. But it begs us to stop and think about our own lives and what if this were our last day here? My blog today is to honor a great sports figure. No doubts about that. But, this is an occasion of looking inside our own lives at times like this. Our motive should be, each day, to live like there's no tomorrow. Tomorrow just may not come.

I’d love to think that we can say to Kolbe and the others onboard “See you later!” If we live each day as if it were our last, then we'll walk through that door to our home sweet home one day, too. The bands will be playing, the choirs will be singing and our loved ones will be on the sidelines cheering for us loud and strong as we cross our Finish Line – even more so than all those that are pouring their heart outs for Kolbe Bryant on this side of heaven.. In the meantime, let's give our best to God in each day while we live with eternity in our hearts. I intend to finish strong right along with you! I'll see ya' later!

Made to Last Forever

Jack Silvey, husband, of my dear friend, Jo Silvey, graduated to heaven yesterday. We knew this day was close because Jack has been ill for quite some time, but nevertheless when the time comes, we still experience the sudden jolt of separation from the one whom we have loved, adored, celebrated, served, made memories with, and dreamed with. So many emotions wrapped up in theses times: gladness/sadness, remembering/forgetting, rejoicing/grieving, funeral/graveside, keep their things/give away things, make decisions quick/slow, and with King Solomon we live his words from Ecclesiastes 3: There's "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance"....... and oh, so many more highs and lows. From this widow's first hand experience to Jo and others, I can tell you, it's a roller coaster ride of emotions. I know what it means to watch my loved one in so much pain; I know what it is for my loved one to "go home"; I know what it is to have to deal with financial issues; I know what it is to not know what tomorrow holds. But I can tell you the opportunity will soon be given to realize "My loved one is gone....but I'm not. I'm still here, so God isn't finished with me yet. Now it's time to run MY RACE strong to the Finish Line!"

One of the resource books I'm reading during my one month hiatus with God, is Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life". How applicable was the chapter, "Made to Last Forever" that was in my readings, yesterday. Listen to this excerpt: "This life is not all there is. Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time on on the other side of death -- in eternity -- than you will here. Earth is the staging area, the preschool, the tryout for your life in eternity. It is the practice workout before the actual game; the warm-up lap before the race begins. This life is preparation for the next. The Bible says, "No mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord." 1 Corinthians 2:9. If you have a relationship with God through Jesus, you don't need to fear death. It is the door to eternity. It will be the last hour of your time on earth, but it won't be the last of you. Rather than being the end of your life, it will be your birthday into eternal life. Years ago a popular slogan encouraged people to live each day as "the first day of the rest of your life." Actually, it would be wiser to live each day as if it were the last day of your life. Matthew Henry said, "It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our final day."

With those words, I'd like to congratulate my friend, Jack Silvey, because his bags were packed, he was prepared and when his name was called, he walked through that door to eternity. As I was my sweetheart's midwife pushing him through that door, so was Jo as she watched him go home yesterday. Here's the best news of all.....we didn't say "Good bye, Jack"; we just said, "See ya' later", because as we live each day as if it were our last.....then we'll walk through that door to our HOME SWEET HOME, too, and the bands will be playing, choirs will be singing and all our beloved loved ones will be on the sidelines cheering for us loud and strong as we cross our Finish Line. In the meantime, let's give our best to God in each day on this side of heaven while we live with eternity in our hearts. I intend to finish strong right along with You and You and You! See ya' later!

We Can't Soar With Eagles If We're Hanging Out With Turkeys

For over 30+ years, Weight Watchers has been my accountability and sustainability partner to keep this girl in line when it comes to maintaining a healthy goal weight.

This post, today, isn't to advertise Weight Watchers, but to encourage us to hang with positive, supportive and inspiring people and groups that will help us keep "soaring with eagles", unless, of course, we are mentoring others who need an "eagle" role model that shows them how to fly to a higher level in their attitude and outlook in life.

Typically, I simply go in for a monthly weigh-in, but yesterday, I felt inclined to stay for the meeting. I want to make new friends, so I best be showing myself friendly to new groups here in Frisco. I was so glad I did, because, before the WW Leader started, there was already a buzz going on in the room. One of their determined WW members was being celebrated because she had reached her goal weight and has become a Lifetime Member which means all she has to do is maintain her goal weight and meetings, tools, and weigh-ins are FREE forever. This sweet gal admitted that, before now, she was ashamed to admit what her weight had been, but yesterday she admitted "I've lost 92 pounds". And, that's not the best part. Her crowning achievement includes no longer having to take medicine or insulin for Diabetes, no longer having to be on a C-pap machine, her blood pressure medicine has been cut in half and her eye doctor even told her the best thing she could have done for her eyes was to lose weight. I loved how proud she was of her new-found, better version of herself. It seems she has a whole new lease on life.

Not only was I inspired by her story, but her attitude and optimism elevated our thinking that we, too, can accomplish anything when we have the right tools, goals, and undaunted persistence and determination like she has had. And, this sweet gal isn't a "spring chicken" -- but she wants to finish life strong -- and her new self will help her do that.

Another much younger gal had reached her 10% weight loss goal and she, too, was celebrated. She admitted that sugar had been her best friend for years, and since reducing her sugar intake, the pounds have come off. She also shared that now she drinks 3 cups of green tea a day-- a tip she received from one of the founders of the Susan Komen Foundation. (BTW, to remove the bitterness of green tea, she adds a couple of squirts of lime juice.) It's been proven that the risk of breast cancer can be reduced by 50% by drinking green tea daily, and taking a tumeric pill will freeze the growth of breast cancer. Those cancer reducing routines are because she had two cancer scares, but now continues on to a healthy life. I learned all this because I took the time to "hang out" with eagles.

I looked around the room and saw these posters that put everything into perspective. I thought...."What a wonderful environment to be in to gain self respect and self worth! This is a safe place -- it is a supportive and encouraging place! We need environments like this that help us move closer to our goals and dreams!" And I thought about those who often hang out with negative folks, on purpose. I thought about those who watch negative tv shows and listen to negative commentary on the radio, and read it online and they just settle there.....scratching around with "turkeys". And, have you noticed, negativity attracts negativity?

I don't know about you, but I'm determined to hang out in places that will inspire me, empower me and build me up, that encourage me to strive to be a better me, that cause me to look at the bright side of life. I think I'll just keep on hanging out with optimistic friends and family at church, women's groups, Bible Studies, motivational meetings, and at Weight Watchers. Maybe it's time we choose a new "normal" -- the one that soars with eagles instead of hanging out with the turkeys.

Excuse me....I'm "suiting up" for flying today! How about you joining me? "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

No Need to Run for Ron -- He's Got This!

Day 328 of Photo Inspirations -- No Need to Run For Ron -- He's Got This!

Yesterday, for the 5th year in a row, I ran for Ron at the Route 66 Williams Marathon -- 5K. These photo inspirations are each year's photo, 2010 to yesterday's. In between those years, I did two Route 66 Half Marathons, another Half in Vancouver, BC and another in OKC, and the rest were 5Ks. The 5Ks are where I am right now, but that's not to say, I won't do another Half -- just nursing a leg injury from when I climbed Mt. Everest last summer. NOT! Just nursing a leg injury from two silly falls I had earlier in the year. Sure would have been more glamorous and impressive if I had been doing some audacious out loud feat. LOL!

Doing this run every year has meant so much to me. The first one was planned when my Sweetheart could no longer move his legs because of the tumor that was impinging on his spinal cord. He couldn't run, but we could, Staci was inspired to get the word out about a "Movement of Gratitude". She let our friends and family know: "Dad has no choice but to lie in that bed. Yet our legs are strong and fully able! We need to get in that race and give thanks for what God has given us and get moving.”

So one year ago, yesterday (two days after my Sweetheart's funeral), November 21st, 2010, over 25 of us showed up with our red "Run for Ron" t-shirts. It was the 5th 26.2 mile marathon in 55 days that our son, Ryan, ran, but this time, in honor of his dad. Our oldest grandson, Braden, ran the half-marathon (13.1 mile). The rest of us started our 5K run/walk at 8 am. We were all running/walking with such passion -- so appreciative that we could.

Once we completed our 5K, we rushed to cheer for Braden as he crossed the Finish Line from his half marathon in his personal best time ever. He told me that he felt his Papa pushing him all the way.

When we went to meet up with Ryan at Mile 16 to cheer him on, a call came in, "a man had passed out just in front him". What marathon runners don't do is stop running mid-way through a marathon as it seizes up their legs, but, nevertheless, Ryan stopped to help him. When it was apparent he was unconscious, Ryan held his feet and prayed while others were performing CPR for over 16 minutes. He stayed until the ambulance took the man away. Later we found out the 27-year old man passed away during that time. We knew it was providence that Ryan was there, and even that my Honey was probably at Heaven's gate to greet him when he reached the other side. We cheered for Ryan as he crossed the Finish Line -- not his best time because of the delay -- but God's best time, which IS the BEST time.

I was interviewed by the Tulsa World newspaper reporter about our "Run for Ron". As an exclamation point to our efforts, that article and photo ran in the paper the next day.

Yesterday, running with my friend, brought back sweet memories of these Runs for Ron. But I sensed a message from heaven as we ran. "It's time to stop Running for Ron. He's doing just fine running on his own now. He is no longer in pain and he even has a perfect back, perfect legs, and a perfect body in heaven." I agree. But, I will keep running. I'll do the Route 66 again next year. It's time I celebrate that I'm still here and I can be strong to Run for Donna and finish my OWN RACE! It's time to look straight ahead to what I expect to be MY BEST DAYS on earth!"

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

Having a Blast Until I Blast Out of Here!

48 years ago today, July 8, 1966 -- I married the love of my life, I was 17; he was 18 -- and that was after a LONG 5 years courtship -- since 12 & 13! And, if I had it to do over again, I’d do it ALL OVER AGAIN! Though many said “It will never last – you’re too young – don't get tied down yet -- you have so much life to live -- you’ll miss out on so much fun", I think "nanny, nanny, boo, boo" -- to all of those naysayers. NEVER did I think "tied down" -- we lived life to its fullest, and had SO MUCH FUN! Yes, we WERE young and immature. We made a LOT of mistakes – but we did so much that was right!! We had a blast living life, and a blast "overcoming" life, and its many surprises and challenges.

When my sweetheart graduated to heaven in 2010 -- I realized how blessed I was to have had him in my life for so many years. This precious man was my cheerleader, coach, counselor, confidante, caring and compassionate friend, and romantic lover. Most importantly, he brought out the best in me – literally, as I was a shy introvert, with so many insecurities, lacking in confidence, yet he saw so much more in me. He urged, coerced, and pushed me to be the best I could be. Because of him, I became a Mom to two truly great children, and also, an accomplished organist & pianist, a pilot, a real estate and securities broker, a fisherman (woman), a slalom water skier, a snow skier, a businesswoman, an administrator, a public speaker and, lover of God's Word and fully desiring to serve Him all the days of my life.

I miss him today – more than ever, but because I love him so much, I am overwhelmed with joy that he could be in heaven ahead of me -- he's on his heavenly assignment -- he earned and deserves this. And, of all the beautiful things he gave me, and urged me to become, I absolutely know that the peace, joy and happiness I’m experiencing today, is because of the impact he had on my life – to always look for the good in every circumstance, to be grateful for everything, to be determined to finish this race strong. Happy Anniversary, my Sweetheart! I'm having a blast here.....and I guarantee I'll keep your legacy strong until I BLAST OUT OF HERE to be THERE with you!