7 Posts in 7 Days - An Epic Blogging Challenge

Asking the Lord what He wants from you might sound easy, but it isn't.  Speaking the words, "What can I do for you, Lord?" is simple. But, offering sincerity in those words is a different story.  A story that requires an honest level of conviction and commitment. When you ask in earnest, with an open mind and an open heart, you must be prepared for His answer to be anything.  Anything.  And, anything may be exactly what you need but not what you want, not what you expect.  

I've been asking this question in prayer for a while....and also asking the Lord to allow me to do something really beautiful for Him, just for Him.  I don't have anything specific in mind. One day, I just felt inspired to ask this of Him in prayer.  And, while I've been awake and ready for the opportunity for that "something beautiful" to come, the answer has simply been a quiet, "Just keep going."  

What we do everyday, in the ordinary moments of life, is in itself a beautiful gift, especially when we give our best efforts, the best of ourselves to others and to the Lord with love, despite how we may feel physically, mentally or emotionally. Those moments of sacrifice added up amount to a great deal more beauty than we can perceive.  I know this, and I believe it whole-heartily. Yet, I can't shake the feeling, deep down, that I am being called to pray this prayer, and that God will answer it in His time.

While the past six months of offering this petition have been a bit repetitious, something is beginning to stir - I can feel it - the winds of change are blowing.  I don't why, what, when or or how but they are. And, I hope I'm ready when the moment for beauty comes.  I hope I will be able to hear the call. I hope I will be brave.

In the mean time....

(Image shared from Conversion Diary)

In case you didn't catch this post title, I'm accepting the 7 Posts in 7 Days Epic blogging challenge over at one of my favorite blogs, Conversion Diary. Now, per usual, I am unfashionably late to the party.  Well, at least when your link up #191 you know you're not giving anyone blogger envy.  Wouldn't want to begin the week tempting anyone into the sin of envy, now would we?

So, I had this big plan to start the challenge off in a big way.  Big as in posting before 8:00 a.m. and giving ya'll some super-duper content to savor for the day.  It was a brilliant idea, I tell you, and I had all of the grit and ambition needed to see the plan through.  {You now feel an excuse coming on, don't you??}

Yes, I have sipped from the counter-productive cocktail once again.  The 2 year old who's new favorite activity is dumping out everything in sight and saying, "Uh-Oh! Oh, No!", combined with delayed travel plans and shaken together with a limping dog who needs to be taken to the vet have derailed my dedication to this project. So, here I am, at 1:30 p.m., with a big fat nuthin'!

So, I'm making the executive decision to hereby officially make the point of this post one of announcements {YAWN}, with the promise that Tuesday will deliver the dough.  For your speed-reading convenience, I'm going to style this up real pretty with bullet-points:

• You may have noticed that things look a little different around here.  And, while the blog is still under construction, I hope that the new format (once it's up and running) is more user-friendly

• You may be wondering where my Favorite Blog List went.  Well, they've received their own honorary page titled "Blog Love" with the other navigation tabs.

• Commenting has been difficult, if not impossible, for many of you, which is a big bummer!  I'm hoping with this new set-up that more of you will be able to post your thoughts/feedback now. Every blogger loves to hear from his/her readers, so please take a moment to share your thoughts with us!

• If by some small chance you were using Google Reader to stay updated on my recent posts, then you're fresh out of luck (and so am I).  The best way to keep up with all of the craziness around here is to: 

1.  Follow me on Facebook and Twitter,  

OR 

2.  Subscribe via e-mail or RSS feed.  

All of those links are in the right hand column - see the cute little green buttons above my picture, and the e-mail bar below? That's where you'll find me!

Okay, that about wraps things up.  Have a lovely evening!!

     

Collin Klein Passing Academy - 7 QT Friday

When Steve and I found out that one of our favorite athletes, Collin Klein (former QB for the K-State Wildcats), was bringing his Passing Academy Camp to our area, we were just a tad bit excited, and so were our boys.  Following Collin's career as a college athlete over the past few years hasn't just been about football.  Football is simply the platform upon which Collin, as a person, as a man of character, has been able to shine bright and lead young men across the nation through his great example and integrity.

Tuesday morning, I saddled the troops up (harvest highlights comin' to you next week!) and headed back west, just so the top three could attend the camp.  My 7 Quick Takes for the week are about - you guessed it - football camp.

1.  Mom Leads the Charge

Okay, I'm not going to take full credit for the birth of our fan club - wait, yes I am - but I was the one who began cheering for him before he became a national college football force.  The fact that he was homeschooled, and loves his family and the Lord may have a little bit to do with it (not to mention the obvious fact that he's totally adorable. Mrs. Klein, I say that with the utmost respect!.).  This picture may or may not have been snapped at a bar in Aggieville the night before the Cats pounced on Texas Tech - EMAW!!.

2.  George the Fearless

One thing you need to know about George is that he truly believes he can do anything.  If you told him to lace up his skates and hit the ice he would do it with passion - even if he'd never skated before. Watching him interact with Collin was delightful.  George never once felt intimidated (I envy his confidence!), high-fiving him after big plays, just like they were next door neighbors back in the day.

3.  Farm Kids vs. Pool Kids

Okay, this is a toughie, but if you had to guess which one of these boys has been working on the farm all summer, and which ones have been practicing their cannon balls at the pool, which one would you choose?? That's my Ben, sportin' his farmer tan like a boss!  He's also probably the one out there with the happiest heart - tractor driving and football playing all in one summer is heaven for that boy!

4. Mr. Most Likely to Play for KSU 

Seldom does life turn out the way we plan for it to, or hope for it to, but if we were to look into the future, in say 9 or 10 years, the probability of Andrew being on a football field at a university somewhere might not be an exaggerated vision.  Trust me, those aren't my plans, they're his.  And, when Andrew makes plans, he sees them through.  Time will tell!

5.  Charlie: A.K.A. 
Cutie-Patootie Equipment Manager 

Each day, at the close of camp, little siblings would pour out onto the field embracing their long-awaited opportunity to play like the big boys.  Let me tell you, Charlie was in pig-skin heaven!!  His favorite play was to run as fast as his little legs would carry him down the field with a chubby little finger clutch on the football, and then slow down just enough to throw it and tumble to the ground squealing, "I'm down, I'm down!" 

I love this shot of Charlie helping Ben get his cleats on.  Those two are like peas and carrots!

6.  Collin on Character

After the 1st day of camp, I asked the boys to tell me everything that they learned from the coaches and from Collin.  I expected to hear details about fundamentals and passing routes, but instead was given a heart-felt summary of Collin's sentiments on what truly makes a great player great.

{Collin's dad, standing in the background, was a great encourager to everyone.}

Just a little advice that Collin shared with the boys:

- Don't compare yourself to others.  You have specific gifts that no one else has.  Find out what those are, set your goals high and compete with yourself.

-  When opportunities and/or relationships arise on your journey toward your goals, if those opportunities don't help you grow, if they don't make your commitment to God, Family and Goals stronger, you need to say, "No" to those opportunities and relationships, even if it's difficult.

-  Set a time table for your goals. Don't just say, "In the future, I'd like to do this."  You must put a time frame on all of your goals and then work hard to reach them.

- Character is built in the little things, on and off the field.  Be an encourager to your team mates, your friends, your family, your school mates.  Put others before yourself, be a helper, and recognize when others are in need.

 7. We Owe the Man a Sharpie

As of yesterday, we are now the proud owners of 4 shirts, 3 footballs, 2 cards, 1 Sport's Illustrated, and 1 Nike cleat that have all been autographed by #7 himself.  If farming doesn't work out, I think we might have a good start to an EBay business.  Collin took his time talking to every camper, parent and sibling who stood in line to meet him, including our family.  It was truly a pleasure to visit with him!

He thanked every parent for bringing their kid(s) to the camp.  And, I think I can speak for all of us, when I say that we are the ones who owe him thanks for being such a strong and upright role model for our sons to look up to. Those role models (unfortunately) are few and far between in the world of sports. For us, Collin's athletic talents play second fiddle to his example, his commitment to character, family, values and God.  We wish him the best of luck and an abundance of blessings in whatever his future may bring. We're still cheering for you Collin!

More adventures here!

Have a fantastic weekend, my friends!!

Saying Good-Bye to Stella

Last week, our family said good-bye to our beautiful golden, Stella.  Our family had been away from the farm for two weeks, custom harvesting a few hours from home, when we received a call from Steve's mom, Kathy, who had made a quick trip back to the farm to collect mail and check on everything.  Over the phone, her voice was filled with concern that she could not find Stella, who is known to come running with excitement for some playtime and attention when any of us are outside.

I couldn't shake the sinking feeling I had inside, based on a close-call experience we had endured the previous winter, as Kathy described to me all the places she had looked for our girl, without success in finding her.

Back in November, Stella was hit by a car and suffered the loss of one of her legs.  To our surprise, she came back magnificently, and with great strength of spirit, found the will to not only recover, but to keep up with her new friend, Rose, whom we had purchased to help with Stella's healing process.

Stella had always been "my girl." She was my running buddy, the only other female in our family, the one whom I told my troubles to, when no boy could understand. After the accident we became closer than ever, bonding over the extra moments I spent brushing her coat, whispering pep talks in her ear, speaking to her as if she understood everything I said.  To my amazement, she displayed great determination and began running with me again - not every day, but once in a while, covering 2 or 3 miles with stunning effort.  I was so proud of her.  It's true what they say, dogs aren't purely animal, they really must be somewhere between animal and human.  With a heart like hers, this has to be true!

During our time away from the farm, I missed Stella very much, but knew that she was in good hands while we were gone.  However, my deep down intuition remained disturbed, and I couldn't shake the fear that something was truly wrong with Stella after receiving her status over the phone. The next day Kathy found her, but she was extremely weak and unable to move.  Not knowing what was wrong with her, Kathy took her immediately to the vet, who graciously agreed to see Stella as an emergency patient.

Just under an hour later, a disappointing phone call from the vet confirmed the truth in my worry.  Stella was in serious condition. His first inclination was that Stella had been hit by a vehicle, and was bleeding internally.  But, after examining her, concluded that she was dying from a slow-growing tumor and was in a great deal of pain.  If the tumor had been caught earlier, she may have been a candidate for treatment at one of the large university veterinary clinics, but regrettably, she was past the point of help.

The tears came.  I knew what was to come, and I didn't want to go there.

My mind immediately began to spin with memories of the previous weeks. What signs had she given us that she wasn't well? If she was eating less, I didn't notice, as she and Rose both share the same food and water dishes. Due to the heat, both pups had been less active, frequently seeking shade and rest, especially in the afternoons.  Was she exposed to something toxic on the farm?  Had she been trying to tell me that something was wrong, but I was to busy to listen, to take notice?

Deep, deep guilt and sadness set in. Every part of my being wanted to be there to hold Stella, to look into her eyes and to tell her thank you for being "our girl," to say good-bye and reassure her of our love as she left the world. That's where I wanted to be. Not here, not in this place, not is the shoes that would have to go out and face the hearts of 5 sweet boys, who had known Stella to be their very first, and best-ever dog and friend, and tell them she was gone.

The following days after Stella's passing were quiet for us, as we remembered with sadness, that our precious friend would not come running to meet us when we arrived home.  As we pulled into the driveway this evening from our long stay away, the boys couldn't wait to jump out of the car to find Rose, who was perched quietly inside the off-road Razer, Stella's favorite resting spot.  We knew that she dearly missed her sweet friend, and was ready for a little consolation and comfort as much as we were.

Finally home, we sat down tonight and, through teary eyes, scrolled through countless pictures that I had taken over the past four years of Stella and our family together. As tears ran down rosy cheeks, we all sat closely, in the quiet, missing our dear friend, but thankful for the memories that we had together with her.  What a gift, to have a such a special friend in our family, one to play with, one to watch over us, one to share our ups and downs with, one to accompany on our life's journey.  I can honestly say, without a doubt, that we are all better for having her in our lives. How dearly we will miss her.

To Stella With Love 

2009 ~ 2013

The first time we met....

It was love at first sight!

She instantly became a part of the family, and the football team!

Two babies on board! A family pic taken the fall before Charlie is born.

Stella waiting patiently for the boys to finish their schoolwork and come out to play!

There wasn't one snow-ball fight or sledding adventure that she wasn't a part of!

Stella the Wise - resting on the porch, in the midst of winter flurries, while we put up Christmas lights.

I snapped this pic while the boys were feeding their bucket calves.  She loved to "oversee" the bucket calf operations each day.

Lazy summer evening walks.

My daily lovin' time with Stella after her leg amputation.

Tender moments with Henry.

The kind woman whom we bought Stella from was a great encourager during Stella's amputation and recovery.  She recommended that we adopt another pup for Stella to motivate her to stay active and to keep her from becoming depressed.

When we brought Rose home, she and Stella quickly became friends.  I think Stella thought that she was the mama and Rose was the baby!

This is the last photo that was taken of Stella and Rose together with the family on Mother's Day (minus Steve, stand-in photographer).
Thank you, Stella, for loving us so much.
We will miss you always!!

In his grief over the loss of a dog, a little boy stands for the first time on tiptoe, peering into the rueful morrow of manhood. After this most inconsolable of sorrows there is nothing life can do to him that he will not be able somehow to bear.  ~ James Thurber

Heart & Sole Saturday, Vol. 1

(Yes, we're still under construction here! Thanks for your patience, hopefully things will be working according to plan very soon!)

I've decided to start a new series of posts called "Heart and Sole" Saturdays.  I'm hoping that eventually this might become a link-up where other runners can share their Saturday races, or any post that involves running, including tips, gear, giveaways etc.  

Today I snuck out early to enjoy participating in a race not far from where we're staying.  Living (temporarily) near a metropolis is so fun for me, because it offers a lot of weekend race options. Even though my opportunities to run have been pretty inconsistent over the past month, due to our current work adventure, I thought I would just go out and run the race for fun anyway, and not worry about my time. Here's the breakdown:

Event:  IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Superhero 5K, benefiting Rainbows United

Distance:  5K

Location:  Sedgwick Co. Park, Wichita, Kansas

Here are a few highlights from the race:

To honor the theme of the race, many runners dressed up in superhero costume, including Mr. Mario, whose picture I casually snapped over my shoulder before the race!

The lady talking to Wonder Woman thought I was a girl named Holly.  She actually asked at least 5 times, "So, you're not Holly?  Do you know Holly? Do you know Holly's cousin Mandy? You should find Holly on Facebook, you are totally her twin." 

(Aye, yi, yi, sister! )

My favorite "costume" of the entire race.

 Superhero babes at the finish line to motivate the dude runners - Wonder Woman and Bat Girl. 

All of the race volunteers were super-kind, and very organized.  I was impressed with how well the race came together, since it was IIDA's first time organizing it.

As usual, I finished the race, grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to the car to zip home to the family.  On my way, one of the volunteers caught up with me to let me know that I had finished 1st in the women's division!  Woo-hoo!  I won a $50 Visa gift card tucked inside of a koozie. You know which one of those will be put to use this afternoon!

Did you run in a race this weekend?  

Tell us all about it!

Have a great weekend!

Out of the Drought and Into the Rain!!

{Photo Credit}

For 5 young boys, whose summertime outdoor world has been but a swirl of dust and dirt and dry-as-a-bone earth for the past 3 years, the rains that come every few days at our home-away-from-home, just 3 hours west, is glorious!! 

I recognize, for some of you, the daily forecast, predicting rain every day, can be daunting and depressing.  But, at least from the rain fruit and flourish emerge - green growth, clean air, earth refreshed.  And, when the sun breaks out from behind the clouds, the world feels bright again, glistening with drops of goodness. 

To contrast, the drought against the rain, it bears nothing but burden.  It sucks the life out of everything and everyone in it's path, leaving behind trails of life-less dust.  Dust on homes, dust on grass, dust on bicycles and baseball bats, dust on dreams, on plans to garden and hopes to make the flowers bloom.  

At the beginning of summer, back at home, the early evening skies would build up big with clouds brimming with hope. We waited, every time, for just one...just one to burst open and offer us a little relief from the heat, but again and again, the storms followed a path away from our needs, leaving nothing but disappointment in its wake.

You can't explain how weary the dusty wind can make a soul until the soul finds rest somewhere new - somewhere where the earth tells a much different story.

And, all this rain, it's still fresh with excitement for the boys.  Yesterday, George came running into the house - "It's raining!! Come out everybody, it's raining!!" 

I sat in a seat of contentment on the porch with my camera, for the longest time, listening happily to all of the joy, snapping pics between splashes.   I wish I could have sat there all day long!

Back and forth, up and down the street they skipped, water pooling in their hands, streaming down their cheeks, soaking through their clothes, washing the drought from their memory and mine.

Rain by Shel Silverstein

I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.