26.2 Finisher

I don't finish things.
I'll start books, sewing projects, crafts, gardening and yard improvements or learn an instrument(organ, guitar, pan flute and penny whistler, I started them all). I'll start thinking great plans of how to do ministry better, parent better, disciple, save the planet, the list goes on but I often don't finish what I start. When I was a kid I took organ lessons but I never disciplined myself to practice so my organ teacher told my mom if I didn't practice I wasn't allowed to continue with lessons. I dropped out! I am 3 classes short of my bachelors of Christian studies! So many things I have not finished in life, and that is all behind me because I have a fresh start, I have something I have finished, something big.
5 months and approximately 350 miles of training completed, I disciplined myself and worked so hard to get to race day. This past Sunday I joined 13000 other people all in different races, and I was one of the 800(or so) who ran the full marathon. 26.2 miles completed! It felt so amazing to complete such a huge accomplishment. When I ran the 1/2 marathon 2 years ago it was about my marriage. I know that sounds funny but it was a lesson to me that even though it is hard and sometimes you think you can't go any farther, you can and I did and I completed that race(and my marriage is the best on the whole planet). But this race was about being able to accomplish anything. I believe that if i can set my mind and disciple myself to run a full marathon, I can accomplish anything, especially finishing a book:) It's a powerful feeling. If it is worth finishing I want to finish it. It was also about full filling hopes and dreams, you know that list you have, it might only be a mental list but some people write it out. It's a list of things you want to do in your life, well running a full marathon has been on my list for 8 years and it feels so great to have something I hoped for so long ago actually accomplished. One more thing as I crossed the finish line I was donned with a finisher metal and a t-shirt that boldly says 26.2 FINISHER across it. I'm a finisher.
So now I can say...
I finish things.
(now I am off to read the last few chapters of "Everything Must Change" by Brian McClarin which I start in January:)

4 kitties and an evening of perfect weather

Last Wednesday at breakfast Ariel told me that she had been listening to Jesus and when she had asked him when our stray cat would have babies(she was pregnant at the time) he said Friday. She then said that "Daddy always says that when I hear from God I should tell him. and if I don't know if it was just me or really God then he can help me know.... so was that God or just me?" she asks. I'm firstly amazed/excited that she has been communicating with God like that and then to answer her question I am wanting to say God but I don't know either so I tell her that we'll have to wait and see on Friday. Then as we are talking Ariel challenges me to ask God if it will rain on Friday or not because at that time I was wondering about the weather for the African Children's Choir that was planned for out doors. So I paused for a moment and to do that, I sensed God telling me that it will all be fine no matter the weather and after that I never worried once about the weather. When Friday came I had, what i can only explain as, a Spirit directed confidence to keep the concert out doors even though the forecast said rain and thunder storms. The Concert had perfect weather, really amazing. Then when we got home from the concert we all went looking for Milkshake the stray cat. and sure enough we found her under the stairs with 4 brand new baby kitties. I looked at Ariel, and I could tell she knew what this meant but I asked her anyway, "Do you remember what God told you?" she said "Yes". We have all been thrilled with God's reality this past weekend.... God still speaks.