(good friend )

A good friend of mine has been borrowing my camera lately to capture her family's spring activities.  She's becoming quite the photographer.  It's been so fun when she returns the camera to see the photos she's taken.  There are always a couple of pictures that her kids have taken.  I enjoy them because they show me life from her children's perspective.

This weekend her husband ran in a triathalon.  She borrowed my camera to take pictures of the race.  Last night I got to look through them and I was struck by just how much her hubbie has changed in the five years that we've known him and how much his friendship with my husband has impacted both of their lives.

About three years ago our friend was stuggling with his weight and a possible job change.  He began running for mental and physical strength.  My husband, who has always been a runner, began running with him.  And I think that is when their friendship began to grow.  Since that time they have become good friends….buddies, I guess.  They serve at church together.  They still run together occassionally.  And they serve the same Lord.

I remember seeing our friend trudge around our cul-de-sac like he was running through quick sand.  But each day we'd see him slowly, steadily running.  Sometimes we'd push the window down and yell something encouraging to him.  Othertimes I'd just sit and think how dedicated he was (and how painful it looked).

As I looked at the photos from this weekend I wondered how his path would have been different had my husband not reached out at a time when he needed a friend.  He has been an amazing example of endurance to me as I have watched him change from someone trudging around my cul-de-sac to someone running, swimming and biking in a triathalon. 

Thanks, Clark, for being an example of “going the distance”.  My prayer for you is that you would apply grace to your life as you continue to do so…..
IN HIM,
Julie

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes on not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2Corin4:17-18

so, “No, I can't walk well yet.”  I feel like I've been sitting on a barrel for a week.  My husband went on a 7 hour horseback ride after my 3 hour ride.  I hate to admit it, I think he's doing better than I am. 

We decided to run to NC to visit my mom after church yesterday.  Michelle, I think I passed right by you.  Next time I decide to spend 8 hours in the car with my kids in a 24 hour period somebody smack me.  I love them but I love space too.  So, here are some pictures from our Friday night ride at our friend's house.

Here's my hubbie and middle son on Diesel….

Here's my oldest on “Colt”

And the rascal and baby girl on “colt”

Baby Girl found another horsey she liked a lot.

An absolutely gorgeous sunset……

While the moon rose to the east………….

There was a little static electricity in the air…..

Happy Belated Mother's Day.
Julie

The kind people who own Lacy let my oldest take her to school today so he could tell them all about us finding her, then the owners finding her and us giving her back.  The neat thing about the story is that the family who owns her are Christians and they were praying for Lacy.  They were so excited that we were Christians and had taken good care of her and were willing to return her. 

It was fun watching my dear son share about what happened with his class.  Lacy spotted the mice in the classroom and made a beeline for them.  I guess she hadn't had enough breakfast this morning.  At 4 months old she is a strong dog and I imagine she's going to be huge once she's full grown. 

She showed up on our doorstep the day before yesterday, stole our hearts and promptly disappeared.  We're going to the Animal Control Dept. today to see if she's there.  When I called this morning they said they picked up a lot of dogs in our area yesterday.  So…..I'll let you know later today if “Jello” or “Maggie” as we've called her comes home with us.

Part of the Gift
by Ruth Harms Calkin

I heard today
Of a decrepit native woman
Who walked mile after mile
Under the blistering sun
To bring a small gift of embroidery
To the missionary she deeply loved.
Hour after hour she trudged
Over rough, rugged roads
Clutching tightly her small gift.
Her weary body sagged
Her vision blurred
Her bare feet bled fromt he jagged rocks.

Grateful but overwhelmed
The missionary wept
The trembling old woman spoke softly:
“Please understand.
The walk is part of the gift.”

My Lord
My commitment to You is for life.
I give myself to You unreservedly
To do with me as You please.
But may I not forget
That the tears, the fears
The strain and the pain
The sunless days
The starless nights
Are all a part of the whole.
In my total commitment
I give full consent:
The walk is part of the gift.