Beauty Will Rise

I am really excited for the new Steven Curtis Chapman album, it is going to be incredible! I keep hearing early buzz about it and the more I read, the more amazed I am at SCC his family and their faith. Every song on the album was written from the experience of losing daughter Marie Sue in a tragedy that occured last year. Here is one review about the process of writing that SCC went through, and a full review of the album. The thing that gave me goosebumps (or "God bumps" as I like to call it) was the flower that dots the "i" on the album.


That flower has an amazing story. After Maria died, Steven Curtis found what he believes was a love note from his daughter. Check out this story:


Chapman told about a discovery he made in the hours after the accident that has provided comfort in the days since.

“Maria had the morning of the accident drawn a picture of a flower and had written a word that she had never written before. She knew how to write her name. That was all I had ever seen, and maybe ‘I love Dad’ or ‘I love Mom,’” Chapman said. “But she had never written any other words.

“And when she first died, Caleb and I, especially, kept saying if we could just see, if we could just have a dream, something, God, we’d believe it. If we could just see something that would tell us that she’s OK.

“And the day after the accident, we went home to get some clothes for the funeral, for the memorial,” he said. “Sitting on the art table was this little picture that Maria had drawn the morning of the accident. She had drawn a six-petaled flower, and only one petal was colored in. We have six children. Only one is whole now, we believe, in the arms of Jesus.

“She wrote the word S-E-E,” he said. “She wrote the word see. And she had never written that before. She was saying, ‘See, I'm good. I'm OK.’”


Anyway, this is a total tissue alert but well worth it! Check out the first single from the album called "Heaven is the Face". Pre-order the album here.

Favorite Fall Salad

This is my favorite "comfort food" time of year. I love all of the great recipes that comes from anything pumpkin, apple, squash you name it. One of my favorite fall meals is Apple Pecan Salad which is a whole family favorite. It's light, sweet, filling, and healthy (and everyone eats it, a minor miracle)!:)



Click here for the super easy recipe. We are also doing a contest on the Mom Squad blog for your favorite fall recipe. The winner gets dinner and tickets to Mercy Me and Johnny Diaz. Good luck!:)

Finally Finished!

I did it! It wasn't pretty but I completed the Akron half marathon in 2:10. I started off strong (hills, what hills?!) :) but then at about mile 8 I just hit a wall and couldn't recover. I started getting stomach cramps and they were severe, I didn't know what to do! I've never encountered physcial problems running before but you hear horror stories about leg cramps, pulled muscles and all sorts of mishaps. Even on my training runs I have never had more than a nagging blister to bother me, so when I started having the stomach pain I didn't really know what to do. I just kept running through it and it would come and go. So that slowed me down and mentally I was a gon-er, I just wanted to be home sipping coffee, eating breakfast with the boys and reading the paper. Ha ha, that is not the "no pain no gain" mindset I needed! Lol. Near the end my Team in Training coach (Diane) ran alongside me and pushed me to finish strong. That is just what I needed! She was an angel. I was so proud to be a part of the LLS group! Even though I'm disappointed in my performance, I am happy that I finished and that my family was there to see me do something hard but totally worth it. Here are some photos from the day (P.S. It didn't rain!):)

That's me in the purple shirt w/ the hot pink tape and white hat!:)


Crossing the finish line. Yeah!


In tears after seeing my family, I was just so happy it was done.

Runners Prayer

The race is just hours away. The rain is en route too but that is okay!:) Congratulations to everyone who will be participating and God bless you on your journey! Here is another good piece that isn't just for physical runners, it's a good illustration of our "life race" in general.

Dear Father,

Accept our gratitude for providing a land that affords the liberty to choose our pursuits. As we freely choose to run, we pray you also will freely bestow your blessings upon us.

Remind us that true liberty is the result of investing ourselves fully in life while encouraging others to do the same. Grant that we may give our best to this contest and to each other without hesitation.

Help us to breathe deeply of the wonder of this day. Remove that which encumbers our spirit. Energize us with possibilities and potential. May our hearts be passionate and our minds be alert.

Accept our thanks for the sense of release running brings to life. Help us leave behind the confines of hectic schedules and the burden of stressful tasks. May the load of life be lightened as we willingly embrace the weight of the challenge before us.

Free us from the constraints imposed upon us by the opinions of others. Release us from fruitless negativity which speaks of what we cannot do. Liberate us from small thinking so that we may achieve greater goals. Teach us through running that we can do more than we think and accomplish more than we realize.

You are our Creator. As we embark on this day’s journey, help us appreciate the world you have made. Remind us that we too are your creation. Give us the capacity to cherish the uniqueness of each individual who runs with us.

Grant that our love of running will also reflect our gratitude for the One who makes it possible. May both the Giver and those who receive freely commune so that when the finish draws near, we also will be drawn closer together.

Amen!!!

You can check out my time and final results tomorrow (hopefully shortly after 9am) at the official Akron Roadrunner Marathon website. I expect to have a slower time just based on the challenging course (I've heard the hills are a bear) and the fact rainy weather is expected. Still, I WILL finish and I pray everyone else will too with healthy bodies and good times. See you at the finish line!:)

Need to Breathe

This is one of the newest, coolest bands in Christian music. Wow, love the old Southern Gospel influence! Check out this catchy spiritual called "Lay Em' Down" from Need to Breathe. This is the second home run from them in my book. Their first single "Washed by the Water" is on my iPod running soundtrack. This one is another hit. Crank it up!:)

Pretty (and Practical) Projects

Jim sent me this website today and it was love at first hit!:) It's called Project Girl and has a bunch of free downloadables to make life easier. Everything from packing labels to chore charts. It also turns out this blogger has a scrapbook line too! Check out this page from the "back to school" theme.




I am also loving the food journal download which is such an effective way to stay accountable for your meal choices. Thanks to my hubby for such a hot tip, good one Jim!:)

Countdown to Race Day!

This weekend is the Akron Marathon! I have such mixed feelings about it but overall I am excited. I trained but not as much as I would have liked to, and Akron has a particularly challenging terrain. Oh boy, I am making excuses already! Lol. It’s frustrating though because I want to do my very best and I’m just not feeling top-notch (fitness-wise). I am running with Team in Training for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society though so it’s nice to know there is a great support system as we encourage each other.

I am just grateful for a strong heart and lungs, legs that keep me going (although slowly). Lol. So often when I run now I think about people that I have seen or met that struggle with walking or cannot walk at all or are sick. It is a reminder to pray for them and although it sounds weird…run for them too. Giving God each heartbeat and push myself a little more knowing that the run in and of itself is a fully body prayer, mentally, spiritually and physically. I’m trying to focus on that as opposed to what my finish time will be. I just want to cross that goal!:) For everyone who is participating, go get em’! I’ll cheer you on as you pass me! Lol.



2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

**Update**
Thank you to beautiful D-D for sending this devotion! I just saw it on my e-mail and had to share it with you.

Feel The Burn

Luann Prater



"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)



Devotion:

Jagged rocks sunk deep into my knee. They left a hole the size of a quarter and deep enough for my mom to wrap her finger in a washcloth and stick it down in it to clean it out! (How is that for way too graphic?) This 3rd grade bicycle accident left an impression, literally!
My knee always gave me trouble after that. Bike riding was still possible because I had the leverage of the other leg. I could walk for miles. But running was a different story. Running a lap in gym class caused my knee to swell the size of a small cantaloupe! If the teacher insisted I keep running, the knee would go limp and I would fall on the track.
The school nurse told my mom to take me to the doctor. He drained it, then wrote a note and handed it to my mom. A prescription? No, a note excusing me from EVER taking another gym class....EVER! Woo Hoo! I felt like I had just been released from exercise-prison!

What that did over time, however, was clip the wings of this butterfly. That note was my "get out of jail free card" and I pulled it out whenever exercise was mentioned. At first I was fearful that my silly weak knee would let me down and embarrass me in front of my friends, so I would just excuse myself from the fun. Then I just gave up all together, thinking I could never do anything physical beyond walking.
A few years ago, my sweet friend Lysa began running every morning. I remember thinking, I wish I could do that. My neighbor also runs every morning and asked if I wanted to join her. "Wish I could," I'd say.
Dealing with congestion in our chests one day, my hubby and I decided to go for a walk. Suddenly I blurted, "Let's run and get active enough to break this stuff up!" He looked to see if I was joking, then saw my serious face. So we ran.

And I liked it! I didn't even consult my knee! We made a second lap and I finally felt it -- the burn.
People talk about feeling the burn but I never really "got it." However, that day the warm sensation in my limp, lazy muscles felt good. Stretching past the norm made me feel alive.


Complacency is never good, not physically or spiritually. Fear of what might happen took the drive out of my physical life. Sometimes fear of what might happen can take the power out of my run with Christ.
Are you pulling out your note of excuses, explaining why being an active Christian just won't work for you? Or are you regularly feeling the burn in your walk with Jesus?
My husband and I are running twice a day now. I feel the burn and I'm LOVIN' IT!
Is God calling you to get off the couch and out in the world to make a difference? If so, get up and go with gusto.

Dear Lord, You never sat lazily on the sidelines and watched life happen while You were here on earth. You were active in the lives of others. Help me Father to love the burn that comes with stretching my faith. Take my hand Lord and teach me to run! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Stretch yourself today. What can you do to get off the sidelines of life and get into the race?

Power Verses:

Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (NIV)



Proverbs 31:17, "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." (NIV)

Playing at Cedar Point

Well, we made it! Home sweet home after a fantastic weekend. In my last post (below) I was bracing for the dreaded "Top Thrill Dragster". It was really the only ride in the park that made me nervous, and of course that was what the winner (Debbie) picked! Lol. We met Brandon Heath (great Contemporary Christian artist) and she rode in the front car with him. I was able to rope Jim and my friend Jen into coming along too! We met Debbie and her husband Eric and when she informed me she was a grandmother and was not afraid, I knew I could not chicken out. If Debbie could do it, by golly so could I! Anyway, we only snapped one photo due to the craziness and rush of it all. We got to skip the line and hop right on. Here is a picture of Debbie and Eric along with me and Jim.



I am feeling bad I didn't take more photos! I pulled them up on the computer today and regret not having the camera handy to capture the boys on different rides, etc. I know it's in our memory though. We had a wonderful time and no one threw up or had a meltdown, that is a minor miracle! Okay, time go go unpack. Another busy week is in store, only a few more days until the Akron Marathon!

Top Thrill (Terror)!:)

I am bracing for a big weekend, almost literally! We are headed to Cedar Point for "PointFest" with Toby Mac, Brandon Heath and a bunch of great Contemporary Chrtian artists. I love the combination of the great music and the excitement of CEDAR POINT! A little Brooke triva; I grew up near Cedar Point and spent many years, there during the summer becoming a roller coaster conossouer (or I liked to think so. Haha). It's been a blessing to pass the adventures along to the boys and this year Gabriel is ready for the big boys in the park!:) The ironic thing is that now that the kids are getting bigger and bolder when it comes to thrill rides, I am becoming more of a chicken! Lol. I think something changes in your body as you age, my body is less tolerant of those crazy antics. Anyway, we did a station promotion and now I am set to ride a coaster with our winner and Brandon Heath. It's not a coaster, it's THEE coaster to end all! I went on it with Jim a few years ago and thought I was going to either pass out or poop my pants! Ha ha. j/k Anyway, although I survived I did not expect to go it again. Now I have to do it with a listener and Brandon Heath. Ahhhh! It should be fun, I just have to remember to b-r-e-a-t-h-e.:) Here is a video of the ride but it doesn't launch until about :42. Oh boy, scream city!

Chalk it Up!

This is a cute idea. A company called "Dezign With a Z" has created these removable, and reusable wall designs. They have different themes and items for kids rooms, and even the kitchen (love the wall calendar)!:) They are pricey (this map will run you $85) but they do add a cool, unique touch. You can see the whole selection at the website. Click here


Also, I have two follow-uppers (I think I just made up a new phrase. Ha ha). Just a quick update about the braces situation (I posted last week ). Yesterday Gabriel got two baby teeth pulled. Next week he will have two more in preparation for an expander. Hopefully the intervention will help correct the issues and (hopefully) require less work when he is older. Thanks again for all the great feedback!


Karen also wrote an update regarding Dan (from the "Calling all Prayer Warriors" post). Thanks in advance to everyone who has lifted Dan and his family in prayer.

I think that's it! A busy week, waking up at 2am to fill in for our news guy. Oh I need some bag control for my eyes!:) Lol. It's also getting closer to the Akron Marathon and training has been intense. The event is a week from Saturday. I could use your prayers on that too.:)

8 Years Ago...

We were getting ready to welcome our first baby into the world! My water broke and it was quite an adventure to get on Ft. Bragg to Womack (our Army hospital) after 9/11. We didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl but after 12 hours of labor we finally got to meet our little BOY for the first time! Gabriel James, our precious son. Here is a picture of him with daddy when he was still brand new.
I love his expression of awe as he looks up at his big, handsome protector.:)


Happy Birthday Gabriel! We love you and are so proud of the young man you are becoming!

Speaking of being proud of Gabe, he really made a good choice at Family Video the other night. He really likes westerns and old movies. One of his favorite films is "The Bridge at the River Kwai" which he watched with his grandpa one weekend. Anyway, he picked out a movie called Battleground. At first I thought it would be too violent, but then I actually took the time to read the jacket description. It looked great! We watched it as a family and we LOVED. IT. I cannot overstate how GREAT the movie is! There is nothing like an old classic when it's done well. It's about the Battle of Bastogne during WWII. For a war movie I thought it was more tame than the average cartoon we see today! Very classy, funny, and poignant. Here is a clip. The chaplain answers the question "Was this trip, to Bastogne necessary?". If you are looking for a good war movie, our family gives five thumb's up!:)

9/11/2009

A few days ago, I had a powerful yet unexpected moment with Gabriel. I was lying in bed and flipping through the channels before doing my Bible reading and turning in. Well, I landed on the National Geographic channel and a program called "Inside 9/11". After watching about 10 minutes I heard something and realized Gabriel was sitting in the hallway watching it too! I knew I couldn't just put him back to bed, he had seen too much and it was time to tell him about September 11, 2001.
He was born 3 days after the terrorist attacks so he knew about it somewhat, but not any real details. We stayed up and watched the program and had a wonderful talk about freedom, the blessing and importance of liberty, what makes a real hero and why evil happens (that was a biggie). At the tender age of almost 8, I am amazed at how perceptive he is. Asking pointed questions and wondering "will that happen again mom"? By the grace of God we are here today but then again, that is every day. Although I hadn't mapped out "the right words" ahead of time, I feel the Holy Spirit was with me as I tried to explain the horrific events to my son. When I finally tucked him in, we said a prayer for our country and protection not just today, but for generations to come. I don't know about you, but 9/11 came up fast this year, I honestly didn't even think about it until that night. For a good perspective, check out this article: "Talking to your Kids about September 11".

50 most Extraordinary Churches

I remember telling a friend once that after I retire (and it's okay with my husband, ha ha) that in a dream scenario, I would like to travel the world and photograph churches. There are so many breathtaking structures made in the name of God and it would be a beautiful exploration! From huge cathedrals with rich history to humble little chapels on the side of a country road, they are all special and unique. The article "50 Extraordinary Churches" is a great little peek at just some of the amazing, offbeat sanctuaries in the world. My mom and I visited #14 on the list, Sagrada Familia (in Barcelona) and it's even more awe-inspiring in person! Here is the link to view all 50.

P.S. This just in! Over at Bargain Jargon Christy has a sweet deal where you can get a free movie ticket when you pick up Spot Shot carpet cleaner. Here is the link for the details.

Loving' the Long Weekend!

Don't you just love 3-day weekends?! I was so grateful to have Labor Day off and we really tried to make the most of family time. I have a bunch of random pictures so I'm just going to post away and explain as I go.

I forgot to post Garrett's first day of preschool! He started last Monday and we did a whole family send off. I thought he might have a hard time but he was a pro! He hung up his backpack, found some blocks, and went to town. My baby is in preschool?! I can't believe it.


One of the ways we enjoyed the weekend was by lounging with Miss Clementine. She is so lovable (but also a little gassy) Lol!


One of the highlights of the weekend was going to the Great Trail Fest in Malvern. It's a great little event that pays tribute to the Native Americans, Folk Art, etc. It has a great mix and we had a wonderful time. We arrived in time for the flag raising ceremony, complete with cannons going off and bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace". Here is Jim and Garrett looking on during the music:

Oh yeah, good thing Garrett wore his cowboy boots! Giddy up!




To top it off, the weather was fantastic all weekend long. What a blessing. I even got in an 11-mile run this morning (although I am dying tonight)!

Anyway as balmy and beautiful as the weekend was, it still has that fall flavor in the air (not sure how to describe it). That is a good thing though, autumn is probably my favorite time of the year. It got be thinking about crock pot recipes as we enter the "comfort food" season. I ran across the website: www.slowandsimple.com and hit the mother lode of slower cooker recipes. Hope you enjoy, there are some good ones posted and I can't wait to get crockin'!

I hope you had a happy, healthy, wonderful weekend too. Now, bring on the homework assignments and hectic schedule again!:)

Music Memories

It's amazing how a song can bring back a flood of memories in an instant. Listening to the soundtrack of your teenage years (mine was Ace of Base, Bryan Adams, and Garth Brooks to name a few). I had a song for everything. A sad ballad when my boyfriend and I broke up, songs that seemed to capture summer and of course the dating tunes, songs that hold special meaning to Jim and me and our early years of our blossoming relationship. Some are big hits, others are more obscure songs that that struck an emotional chord, even if it wasn't #1 on Billboard.

For me, one of those songs was "You Can't Lose Me" by Faith Hill. I LOVED this video. I would wait for it on CMT and wish I was a part of the group!:) Everything about it captivated me; from the joy and bond of the ladies, to the carefree beach scene and of course how cute Faith Hill is!:) Anyway, when I went back and watched it today I was just flooded with a wave of emotions. It's funny how a song can take on a new, or deeper feel when you are at a different stage in life. Now, almost 15 years after it came out I am a wife, and mom and the the lyric "I am here, and I will always be" is something that hits me right in the heart. I think of my husband, my boys, and especially my mom. She has been such a beautiful example of faith and fidelity, no matter what stages I went through and challenges I gave her she has always been patiently waiting and praying. We are closer than ever now, but it's a reminder of what a blessing it is to have unconditional love. I may be getting to deep for a song that is really light and fun, but that is the power of music. Love ya mom!:) Check the video here:




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Calling All Prayer Warriors

"I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth"
-Psalm 121


I received a direct petition of prayer today from Karen.

"Brooke I hope you don't mind if I leave you a prayer request. We have a 35 year old man named Dan at our parish, wonderful guy with two young boys and a beautiful wife. His older boy just made his First Communion.
On Aug 9 Dan contracted a mysterious infection in his spine that has caused paralysis and numbness from the center of his chest down. He only has limited use of his right arm and hand and the whole left side of his body is totally paralyzed and without any feeling. He also has the infection in his brain. The doctors cannot seem to figure out what is wrong with him or how to treat him. Please pray that they will find a way to heal him. This has been like being struck by lightening for him and his family. One day he was fine, vibrant and working hard for God and his family, and the next he was fighting for his life and now he is paralyzed. We are hoping really for a miracle. Thank you so much. Please pray for Dan. "


Please add Dan and his family to your intentions. Thank you Karen for sharing his story and allowing us to unite in prayer for strength, healing, and fortitude for the days ahead. Please keep us posted.


I Will Lift My Eyes, by Bebo Norman.

Soap Souffle

Have you heard of the Ivory Soap experiment? I've seen it circulating around the Internet and wanted to test out it with the boys. Here's how it works: If you unwrap a bar of Ivory™ soap and microwave it, the soap will expand into a foam that is more than six times the size of the original bar!

It's a fun trick that won't hurt either your microwave or the soap. The soap trick can be used to demonstrate closed-cell foam formation, physical change, and Charles' Law.

The boys and I tried it tonight and after reading how easy it was, I thought it would be totally... (ahem) fool-proof. I don't know what it is with me and experiments but believe it or not, it didn't turn into giant foam as expected. I followed the instructions EXACTLY (which are simple to begin with) so I am claiming "defective soap" this time around. Lol. We only had one bar (and supposedly it has to be Ivory) so we'll definitley try again after we buy more. Here is what we did:

Unwrap Ivory and place in microwave safe dish (or on paper towel)


Place in microwave for between 90 seconds to 2 minutes.


Watch and be amazed! Btw, I know the boys are too close to the microwave! Lol.

Voila! This is what it's *supposed* to look like:



Our bar did expand but not nearly as much as pictured here. The cool thing is, once it's in "souffle" form you can mold it and play with it like clay. Fun. Click here for the Ivory Soap trick. Hopefully yours will be perfect. Good luck!