Why Blog?

Okay, I'm going to be honest. I have been fighting the urge to start a blog for months now because I just didn't feel like my life had anything worth sharing with the World Wide Web. Now don't get me wrong, my kids and family are my life but that's just it, they are MY life and I just wasn't sure I wanted to share them with everyone else on the planet. So, why am I blogging now? Well, let me tell you my story:

Back in March, I attended a children's ministry conference in Chicago with a dear friend that God has so graciously blessed me with. While we were there, we were challenged to consider running a marathon or half-marathon on behalf of children in Africa. Well that's is wonderful! For someone else! I already have two children from Africa that my family supports and that is good enough, right? Besides, I ran in school but SHORT distances. And, I had just discovered that I have 3 bulging discs in my lower back that has been causing me pain for months. I homeschool my children which means I am NEVER without them and I can't train for something like this with them. These people challenging us were very obviously NOT talking to me.

Well, my friend, Robin, decided that they were talking to her. And she asked if I would go to the informational meeting with her later that day to find out more. Sure, it was a free meal, and I never miss an opportunity to hang out with this woman. Well, even though the meeting was very motivational and exciting, I still was not feeling the tug on my heart to do this. But Robin was. Do you see where this is going? We watched a mother of 2 stand in front of us telling her story of how she ran the 26.2 mile marathon. 26.2 miles?! You people are nuts! But, she is a mother of 2 little ones...how did she do that? Well I asked her and it was really simple. Get a babysitter. Well okay but...Well we left the meeting and Robin informed me that I was doing this and we were going to do the 26.2 marathon. Well I understood her reasoning on that. Why go all the way back to Chicago if you aren't going to go all out? I texted my husband, Jerod, on the way out and said, "Me and Robin are going to come back in October to run a marathon for children in Africa. Wanna join us?" He's one of those crazy people that ran cross country in school so he might be interested. Well his reply was, "have fun." Okay so he's not in, and I'm not totally, but I'm now beginning to feel this small pull at my heart. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime April. And it will get you in shape! You need more energy and you'll be running for kids who need help!" It was the kids part that kept getting me. I know how bad their situation is and if I could raise money for them while getting in shape...

Well fast forward a few days. We came home pumped up about this telling everyone in the church about it that weekend. Well let's just say, we didn't get the BEST response ever. But something good was happening...while I was excitedly telling people (and partly still convincing myself) about this opportunity and how they needed to join us on this journey, my husband was watching me carefully. We did get 4 people to agree to join us that weekend but that number would not stay...

Monday morning I get an email from my husband, "I've decided that if you are really going to do this, I think it would be great for us if I joined you." WHAT? Did he just agree to join me in this journey? I couldn't even respond because I really thought he might be kidding. But he wasn't. He came home, we discussed it and decided that it was important for us as a couple and individuals to put ourselves back on the priority list and do this together. All knowing that while there was talk about "us" it was for "them" and ultimately for "Him."

Well, once we committed, Satan started his attack. I can't tell you how many people told us, "People die running marathons." " You are crazy!" Even our own families weren't entirely on board with us. The original 5 we had gotten to agree to join us quickly became 2. For different reasons that are there own, but we were losing team members instead of gaining them. Well we continued on our journey. Our official "pre-training" hadn't started yet so those of us who were "in" started doing a little this and that on our own. I went to the doctor to make sure it was okay...just start on the elliptical he said. It will strengthen my back and knees and with my pain pill, I should be fine.

So here we go...Team Amarillo South...against all odds as first time runners and Satan following us every step of the way...training for "run." That's what we call it now, our "run" or as my kids like to say, "Chicago." And as we start, there are things that happen that are a little mind-blowing and frustrating. And that's why I'm blogging. To tell you the story of Jerod, April, Robin, Amy, Kyla, and a few more that I haven't meet yet and how we will do this. For those precious children in Africa but ultimately for our Lord who will give us the strength we need and because through Him, we can do anything! Future posts to come...