We had a great Thanksgiving with my family here! While I was waiting for them to arrive on Wednesday, I started making my first Thanksgiving item, cranberry salad. I don't have a food processor so I used my blender to chop the berries. BIG mistake! You know where this is going. I opened the lid and started pushing the berries down with a rubber spatula. I guess an air pocket formed because after about 20 seconds of this the cranberries exploded all over me! I had them caked to my face, all over my shirt, the kitchen floor and the walls. Al was in the shower so there wasn't even anyone to take a picture! Thankfully Carina is just around the corner and I was able to borrow her food processor.
The race was fantastic! The weather was perfect. It was a bit warmer than I am used to since Al & I run in the evenings, but overall it was great. Al didn't make it from work in time to run, but he was there at the finish line to cheer me on. Becky (my sister) & Jeannie ran alongside me and Dad was a good distance ahead. The girls ran like pros while I huffed and puffed after the 1 1/2 mark. :) Ever been to Cool Springs? Bakers Bridge Road is quite a hill! I was thankful for my teammates that encouraged me (I did some encouraging before I lost the ability to run and talk), and cheered me on. It was a great run and as I ran up that last hill towards the finish line I rejoiced in how far the Lord has brought me. Just like in life the run wasn't always easy, there was prayer needed and people to keep encouraging me further and that last hill didn't seem nearly as large once I got to the top.
I give God the glory for bringing me to this point. I was once a girl with asthma that was limited and God completely healed me. I used to think running more than a few feet was not worth it or too hard. I used to cheer others on while I stood on the sidelines. Not anymore! I will cherish this time as a reminder that whatever God calls me to, is not impossible with His strength and endurance. For me it was a physical race that represented what is always happening in the spiritual. I plan to race again and continue running for as long as God has me to.
Thank you Jeannie, Dad & Becky for encouraging me while I ran! Thank you Carina, Chris, Mom & Al for cheering for us as we crossed the finish line! Thank you Trish & Gina for running with us all the way in Georgia! Thank you everyone else who said a prayer on Saturday morning!
Here are some pictures of our weekend. 1st is Al & Chris (the twins ;)) napping after too much turkey. 2nd is me and Jack watching the water show at Opryland, the 3rd is me showing off after the race, the 4th is our group of runners. Dave & Felecia friends who also ran the race, Jeannie, Al, Dad, Me, Becky
