Friends

Few things are more fulfilling to me than seeing my children enjoying each other. I dropped them off for school the other day--the first time since the first day of classes--and I was so pleased to observe them going to class together, side by side, walking and running and walking again. They were icons of childhood and innocence and friendship.



I told them so over dinner that night. "I'm so glad you two are friends," was the way I put it. They both looked at me, confused.



"Daddy, we're not friends," Laura explained patiently, "we're brother and sister."



What a great opportunity--a real live teaching moment! I launched into an explanation of how my brother Ryan and I were the same way, yadda yadda yadda, and then when it came time to leave for my mission I realized how much I'd miss him, yadda yadda yadda, and I knew that he and I were best friends.



I sat back, very pleased with myself--what a great father! How lucky these children to have me!



The kids waited to make sure I was done, looked at each other, and then back at me.



"We're just brother and sister," concluded Cole. Laura smiled at him and agreed heartily.



"Well, even if they're not friends," I tell myself, "at least they're allies."

Pleased as punch

the kind with gingerale in it. So a couple of months ago I emailed a group of gals asking them to join me in the women's distance 5k. I did this last year on a whim having never ran more than a mile and that was in high school with an Army Colonel on my heels to make sure I ran it. So if I hadn't sent the emai l I don't think I would have even participated. I hadn't trained nearly as much as last year even I am probably in better shape....no laughing...thanks to MJs aerobics classes and good ole byutv aerobics. And if MJ and MA hadn't been going I still probably wouldn't have done it. So I ended up going and I ran for over a mile and a half w/o stopping. For me this is HUGE! I couldn't believe it. I beat my time from last year by 5+ minutes. I was elated, even thought I finished behind the speed walker, she was walking pretty darn fast!

The interesting aspect of this is that twice this past week I was reminded of this...
"and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper", (Hel 4:13). Leading up to the race I was like okay I know I can finish it no big deal, but the night before I got nervous. Could I finish it? I wasn't sure I could w/o help. All that night and the next morning I kept praying and repeating to myself you can do all things through Christ, do not rely on my own strength. As I ran that first mile and half, it could of been adrenaline, which I contributed it to at first. I choose to believe it was something more divine. As I've had to give it some thought I recall feeling like I was barely putting forth effort. Any of my neighbors who have pitied me as I trained would attest there was some serious effort before I reached a 1/4 mile. I know that my prayers were answered over something seemingly insignificant to the world, but to a Father worthy of His effort to help His daughter. I am blessed and pleased at punch!

Congrats MJ and Mary Ann I'm certain you guys were helped as well :)