running a triathlon...

dear debra - so, actually i am sitting here a tad bit jealous as i realize you are about to do a very cool thing. run a triathlon. how awesome is that! i know it is cool because i have run a marathon and that is cool too. you train you train you train... you get all the right gear... you train some more. then you do it. well, girlfriend of mine, you are about to do it! in my heart i will be swimming, biking and running with you. and i may cry. cry because i was made to do athletic things. cry because i have had the gifted privilege of fulfilling a lot of athletic and endurance events... some of them were dreams that came true. and i know what that is going to feel like for you when it is all done. accomplished. you are across the finish line. i know that feeling. i am so proud of you. so proud of you for seeing something out there that you wanted to do ... and then going after it with all your might to do it! it shows what you are made of. it shows your heart. your grit. it has cost you something.. but the gain is more. isn't it? i am cheering you on with all i am made of - and i cannot wait to see you cross the finish line. you are way cool. i love you. - kc

time... never enough...

so i am very unsettled at this moment...
i feel like i never have enough time.
never enough time to sit and be still with God.
never enough time to exercise as much as i want to.
never enough time to relax on week day evenings.
never enough time to enjoy the down time of the weekends.
never enough time to pour into my friends.
never enough time to just sit and "be" with my husband.
never enough time to write and journal.
never enough time to be creative and do art.
so i am restless, unsettled, not at peace.
i saw a friend at church this morning,
and she was obviously struggling.
i had not had enough time to meet up with her over the past 2 weeks.
time... never enough time...

i spent some time this afternoon cleaning my office here at home.
wow - so many memories flooded my melancholy heart as i began moving things and dusting... and re-arranging and putting away. i have indeed lived a full life and i have loved a lot of people... and they have loved me. i cherished remembering these memories:

• the metal tree lola gave me when we moved to greenville almost 6 years ago. she always called me "her tree", because i gave her shade and stood strong with her through every season.
• our wedding album - what an amazing day of celebration that was
• an ink drawing by lauren called, "I will yet praise Him" - it was a "doodle" she was working on when she was a temp at work. she is so gifted and i cherish that "doodle".
• birthday cards and special words sent to me on my 50th birthday from lots of friends and then lauren put them together in a book.
• a framed certificate and medal for completing the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, DC. ran and finished on october 23, 1994.
• dawn and mark's wedding picture.
• a baseball that i "caught" from the greenville drive game this season.
• a hiking picture from a training hike in va - "little devil stairs" - jer and i are all smiles and sweat.
• my very first bible - being held together with tape.
• a note from lila.
• the word on my book shelf - LAUGH.
• a photo of me on top of Mt. Quandary in Colorado... my first 14'er!
• a bible rebound in beautiful brown leather - a gift from my dear friend kathy ray.
• several drawings from jessica and sarah.
• a few books that helped grow and change me:

Power of a Praying Wife
The Sacred Marriage
Having a Mary Spirit
Get Out of that Pit
My 1st Bible
Come Away My Beloved
Strong Women, Soft Hearts
The Message Bible
The Love Dare
The Spirit Controlled Temperment

i'm glad i needed to clean my office. it is very good to remember....