A fun, comfy spot to rest
A good book to read
A friend to sit next to and read with
A friend to learn with and play with
Friends to sing and dance with
Don't be fooled.
These are very important for all of us to remember, especially for myself.
Lessons From Pre-School Photos
The following photos of Lainey at pre-school today reminded me of things that make life great:
A fun, comfy spot to rest
A good book to read
A friend to sit next to and read with
A friend to learn with and play with
Friends to sing and dance with
Don't be fooled.
These are very important for all of us to remember, especially for myself.
A fun, comfy spot to rest
A good book to read
A friend to sit next to and read with
A friend to learn with and play with
Friends to sing and dance with
Don't be fooled.
These are very important for all of us to remember, especially for myself.
My #IceBucketChallenge
My nephew Brody challenge me to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Lydia and Lainey wanted to do it too. :)
Jeremy and The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Lydia and The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Lainey and The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Lydia and Lainey wanted to do it too. :)
Jeremy and The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Lydia and The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Lainey and The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Lainey's First Day of Pre-School
Lainey is attending the same preschool that Lydia attended, which is next door to the PDO she has been attending. It would appear the familiarity of already knowing a lot about the school and her teacher (which was Lydia's for 2 years) made the transition virtually painless for Lainey.
Time flies...
Time flies...
Pondering Passover
Yesterday I found myself thinking about Passo
ver, which we are a couple of days into at this point. Not being from a Jewish family, the significance of Passover is somewhat lost on me from a cultural perspective.
However, several years ago Lisa and I sat down with a group of friends and a former Jewish Rabbi walked us through a traditional passover meal, explaining each element as we went. The symbolism that is tied to each and every item on the table is quite meaningful. If you have the time, the video below from Jews For Jesus is similar to what we experienced.
It is important that I remember my spiritual heritage.
It is important to remember what I have been rescued from.
I challenge you to pause and reflect on either your current spiritual state of bondage or freedom.
I pray that you will accept the freedom and deliverance found in Christ.
Below are two songs from Andrew Peterson that move me to remember all these things.
Passover Us
Lyrics for "Passover Us"
by Andrew Peterson
Well, we all remember Moses on the banks of the river
He said "Pharaoh, you've got to let my people go.
You don't want me to have to tell you this ten times over--
Denial ain't just a river, you know"
So we all remember Pharaoh, he just wouldn't do it
So the plagues came upon Egypt one by one
His heart was hard and the other nine just couldn't move it
So the last was the worst: the death of the firstborn son
Oh but the Lord, he gave to Moses a word for the people
He said their firstborn sons would live to see another day
"Put the blood of a lamb on the doorway and death will pass right over"
That night all the children of Israel prayed,
They prayed,
"Lord, let your judgment passover us
Lord, let your love hover near
Don't let your sweet mercy passover us
Let this blood cover over us here"
So the years went by and the people they whined and they wandered
And only sacrifice atoned for the sins of the land
So you see the priest he placed upon the holy altar
The body of a spotless lamb
And he prayed,
"Lord, let your judgment passover us
Lord, let your love hover near
Don't let your sweet mercy passover us
Let this blood cover over us here"
Deliver Us
Lyrics for "Deliver Us
" by Andrew Peterson
Our enemy, our captor is no pharaoh on the Nile
Our toil is neither mud nor brick nor sand
Our ankles bear no calluses from chains, yet Lord, we're bound
Imprisoned here, we dwell in our own land
Deliver us, deliver us
Oh Yahweh, hear our cry
And gather us beneath your wings tonight
Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay
These shackles they were made with our own hands
Our toil is our atonement and our freedom yours to give
So Yahweh, break your silence if you can
Deliver us, deliver us
Oh Yahweh, hear our cry
And gather us beneath your wings tonight
'Jerusalem, Jerusalem
How often I have longed
To gather you beneath my gentle wings'
ver, which we are a couple of days into at this point. Not being from a Jewish family, the significance of Passover is somewhat lost on me from a cultural perspective.However, several years ago Lisa and I sat down with a group of friends and a former Jewish Rabbi walked us through a traditional passover meal, explaining each element as we went. The symbolism that is tied to each and every item on the table is quite meaningful. If you have the time, the video below from Jews For Jesus is similar to what we experienced.
It is important that I remember my spiritual heritage.
It is important to remember what I have been rescued from.
I challenge you to pause and reflect on either your current spiritual state of bondage or freedom.
I pray that you will accept the freedom and deliverance found in Christ.
Below are two songs from Andrew Peterson that move me to remember all these things.
Passover Us
Lyrics for "Passover Us"
by Andrew PetersonWell, we all remember Moses on the banks of the river
He said "Pharaoh, you've got to let my people go.
You don't want me to have to tell you this ten times over--
Denial ain't just a river, you know"
So we all remember Pharaoh, he just wouldn't do it
So the plagues came upon Egypt one by one
His heart was hard and the other nine just couldn't move it
So the last was the worst: the death of the firstborn son
Oh but the Lord, he gave to Moses a word for the people
He said their firstborn sons would live to see another day
"Put the blood of a lamb on the doorway and death will pass right over"
That night all the children of Israel prayed,
They prayed,
"Lord, let your judgment passover us
Lord, let your love hover near
Don't let your sweet mercy passover us
Let this blood cover over us here"
So the years went by and the people they whined and they wandered
And only sacrifice atoned for the sins of the land
So you see the priest he placed upon the holy altar
The body of a spotless lamb
And he prayed,
"Lord, let your judgment passover us
Lord, let your love hover near
Don't let your sweet mercy passover us
Let this blood cover over us here"
Deliver Us
Lyrics for "Deliver Us
" by Andrew PetersonOur enemy, our captor is no pharaoh on the Nile
Our toil is neither mud nor brick nor sand
Our ankles bear no calluses from chains, yet Lord, we're bound
Imprisoned here, we dwell in our own land
Deliver us, deliver us
Oh Yahweh, hear our cry
And gather us beneath your wings tonight
Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay
These shackles they were made with our own hands
Our toil is our atonement and our freedom yours to give
So Yahweh, break your silence if you can
Deliver us, deliver us
Oh Yahweh, hear our cry
And gather us beneath your wings tonight
'Jerusalem, Jerusalem
How often I have longed
To gather you beneath my gentle wings'
No One Higher - TuesdayTunes
Lyrics for "No One Higher
" by Aaron Shust Our Father, Creator
You hold our hearts together
There's no one higher than You
Redeemer, Defender
Our great and mighty Savior
There's no one higher than You
You are always with us
Gracious to forgive us
By Your power we've been set free
And Lord we stand amazed in Your presence
Astounded by Your mercy and love
Our hands are lifted high in surrender
Your grace for me is always enough
And there is no one higher than our God
There is no one higher than our You
Majestic in wonder
You reign with love forever
There's no one higher than You
Your beauty, Your splendor
Your glory knows no measure
There's no one higher than You
You are always with us
Gracious to forgive us
By Your power we've been set free
And Lord we stand amazed in Your presence
Astounded by Your mercy and love
Our hands are lifted high in surrender
Your grace for me is always enough
And there is no one higher than our God
There is no one higher than our You
Let my life forever praise the glory of Your name
There is no one higher than You
There is no one higher
No one greater
No one like our God
There is none more able
Christ our Savior
Great and glorious
And Lord we stand amazed in Your presence
Astounded by Your mercy and love
Our hands are lifted high in surrender
Your grace for me is always enough
And there is no one higher than our God
There is no one higher than our You
Let my life forever praise the glory of Your name
There is no one higher than You
Keep Making Me - TuesdayTunes
Lyrics for "Keep Making Me
" by Sidewalk Prophets:Make me broken
So I can be healed
‘Cause I’m so calloused
And now I can’t feel
I want to run to You
With heart wide open
Make me broken
Make empty
So I can be filled
‘Cause I’m still holding
Onto my will
And I’m completed
When you are with me
Make me empty
[Chorus:]
‘Til You are my one desire
‘Til You are my one true love
‘Til You are my breath, my everything
Lord, please keep making me
Make me lonely
So I can be Yours
‘Til I want no one
More than You, Lord
‘Cause in the darkness
I know You will hold me
Make me lonely
[Chorus]
Starting Over is Hard
3 weeks ago I started over.
I hadn't run since I injured myself at the end of July and the insanely cold weather finally eased up a bit, motivating me to get going. I have learned that I have to rein in myself when I start running after even a brief break, as I mentally want to run at least 3 miles each time out but my body won't like it one bit. So I got my gear on and went for a 2 mile run.
Let's just say that I huffed and puffed through both miles, finishing completely winded.
It was a slow, grueling, ugly run.
It was a start.
I ran several times that week and the next - I was starting a good pattern and hoped that my cardio would start slowly improving in the coming week or so.
Then, last week I came down with some nasty head cold thing that eliminated my ability to breath easily while sitting, let alone trying to run. So I didn't run last week.
That puts me back at ground zero (in my mind) and is quite frustrating, although it shouldn't be as I have just started running again. There isn't exactly much physical fitness to lose at this point.
For those of you who run or enjoy any other type of cardio-based activity, you understand that feeling of knowing your cardio abilities are dwindling/dying/dead. It is pleasant. In fact, it is a terrible thing.
Knowing that I am starting over as if I have never run before is a bit hard to take.
It was easier starting to run when I had never run before.
I was naive, as I believe all new runners are.
Now I know how hard it will be to get back to the shape I was in after consistently running for 2 years and it isn't pretty.
But it is motivating.
Almost exactly two years ago, I wrote a little piece about Why I Run, in which I wrote the following:
I acknowledge my current limitations.
I have lost muscle mass, gained fat and lost my cardiovascular strength, along with my habit/pattern of running.
However, I have not lost the ability to run, therefore I can gain the rest back through hard work and diligence.
And so I begin again...
Ready to need to purchase new running shoes, adjust my playlist, reset my alarm clock and go.
I am ready to run, even if I am not quite able to yet.
Starting over is hard, but it is needed and worthwhile.
I hadn't run since I injured myself at the end of July and the insanely cold weather finally eased up a bit, motivating me to get going. I have learned that I have to rein in myself when I start running after even a brief break, as I mentally want to run at least 3 miles each time out but my body won't like it one bit. So I got my gear on and went for a 2 mile run.
Let's just say that I huffed and puffed through both miles, finishing completely winded.
It was a start.
I ran several times that week and the next - I was starting a good pattern and hoped that my cardio would start slowly improving in the coming week or so.
Then, last week I came down with some nasty head cold thing that eliminated my ability to breath easily while sitting, let alone trying to run. So I didn't run last week.
That puts me back at ground zero (in my mind) and is quite frustrating, although it shouldn't be as I have just started running again. There isn't exactly much physical fitness to lose at this point.
For those of you who run or enjoy any other type of cardio-based activity, you understand that feeling of knowing your cardio abilities are dwindling/dying/dead. It is pleasant. In fact, it is a terrible thing.
Knowing that I am starting over as if I have never run before is a bit hard to take.
It was easier starting to run when I had never run before.
I was naive, as I believe all new runners are.
Now I know how hard it will be to get back to the shape I was in after consistently running for 2 years and it isn't pretty.
But it is motivating.
Almost exactly two years ago, I wrote a little piece about Why I Run, in which I wrote the following:
Runners realize their limitations through the repetitive motion of slamming their feet into the ground and propelling themselves forward. Runners of any skill level must deal with learning how to manage the mental as well as physical challenges that come with starting a race. To get to that line, the runner has to have determined weeks or months in advance that they are going to commit themselves to the task of purposefully wearing themselves out multiple times a week when literally nobody is looking and nobody cares.And that is where I am.
I acknowledge my current limitations.
I have lost muscle mass, gained fat and lost my cardiovascular strength, along with my habit/pattern of running.
However, I have not lost the ability to run, therefore I can gain the rest back through hard work and diligence.
And so I begin again...
Ready to need to purchase new running shoes, adjust my playlist, reset my alarm clock and go.
I am ready to run, even if I am not quite able to yet.
Starting over is hard, but it is needed and worthwhile.
Photo: Lydia on 14MAR14
Today Lydia was the Door Holder at school.
She loves being a helper.
I love her for that and so much more.
She loves being a helper.
I love her for that and so much more.
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