Thankful

First off, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone and anyone who supported us in any way for the Run for the Border/Hope for Dinner Campaign. We were honestly humbled by your kind words, texts, messages, prayers and monetary donations given to this campaign.
Collectively as a group of runners, with God's grace and your help, we were able to help raise over 25,000.00 dollars for the refugees of Burma. Our sponsoring church, Cedar Valley Church, collectively raised the total given to the Run for the Border/Hope for Dinner Campaign to right under 100,000.00 dollars! That amount of money sends five huge shipping containers of food to the Thai/Burmese border. We are humbled with the amount of individuals who would do even a small part for people across the globe that they most likely will never meet.

A team is over on the Burmese border as I am typing this post, distributing a shipment of food to the very people group we have been raising awareness and money for in this endeavor.

I am moved again as I look into the eyes of these people and see a glimmer of HOPE.

In the midst of ruins, HOPE rises up......

Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace proclaiming news of happiness...."

Thank you again for your support to us on a personal level as well, it helped keep us motivated during the really hard times on this journey and helped keep us focused on the reason why we were doing it all in the first place. Your encouragement in this campaign meant the world to Erik and I, your kindness appreciated.

When God asks you to do something hard, it is invaluable to have people in your life that support, encourage and help you to meet your goals- everybody needs that in life.
Below is an article written by a staff member at Feed My Starving Children. It is a fantastic overview explaining the work that is happening there, and specifically where your support is going towards. Worth the few minutes of reading time!
Article Posting Click Here.

Photo Credits: Ryan Skoog and Alicia Davis

Playlist.

I have had a few requests for my playlist during these few months of training. When you are running hours a week you can easily "kill" songs if you overplay them, so this list is pretty fluid. I must warn you there is no rhyme or reason to this playlist, as it's really a hot mess of randomness. I also must admit most of these songs I don't play outside of my training time, they may drive me crazy in "regular life" but somehow you throw a pair of tennis shoes into the mix and they compel my feet to keep moving in a forward direction, so I go with it.

Crazy In Love..... Beyonce
Carry On....Fun.
Don't Stop Believin'....Journey
Girl On Fire.... Alicia Keys- (My "stop dragging- kick it in- you can do better than this" song.)
Good Life.....One Republic
God Is Able......Hillsong Live
Brave.... Sara Bareilles -I pray this for my girls as I've seen what this looks like in it's full grown state in adults-no bueno.
Mirrors.... Justin Timberlake
Hallelujah....Jason Castro
Great I am.....New Life
Halo...... Beyonce
Ho Hey.....Lumineers
I'm Yours....Jason Mraz
It's A Beautiful Day....U2 and Michael Buble's version- impossible not to smile just a little.
What Makes You Beautiful....One Direction-Added for Sophia. (Which is really code for "Me," Yep, I'm still 11.)
Let's Hear It For The Boy.... Deniece Williams- a nod to my junior high days.
Oceans...Hillsong United
We Are Young... Fun.
Who Shall I Fear.... Passion
Home....Phillip Phillips
Brighter Than The Sun.....Colbie Calliat
Stronger..... Kelly Clarkson
Eye of The Tiger...Survior
We Come Running... Youngblood Hawke -Obvious reasons.

I also have been playing the album, "Glorious Ruins" by Hillsong Live. Which also is the term I've coined for my wrecked "summer feet" of 2013...

See? I told you it was random.
The End.

Diane's 40th Birthday- "Forever in Her 20's" Gatsby Garden party

Double-click this photo for a slideshow of all of the fun !

Forever in Her 20's!

To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate

Celebration - definition of celebration by the Free Online Dictionary ...
1. To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or MUCH rejoicing.

If anyone knows me long enough they'll figure out quickly that I love to celebrate people and occasions. If there is reason to throw a party together, I will find one. I simply love to see something come together from the start and into completion. The benefit I get from the work and efforts is to see those around me smile and have fun.
I even celebrate holidays that have nothing to do with me. Oh, I can become Irish for St. Patty's day... Watch me.

When it was my 40th last month, as those close to me know I agonized over this "event" for the months before- not wanting to mark this part of my life's timeline at all.
Ugh, who wants to mark 40?
With the clock ticking, I decided to chop my husband's MUCH loftier ideas down to an intimate dinner party in our very own back yard. Instead of gifts, requested donations for the Hope for Dinner/ Run for the Border Non-profit in July that Erik and I have been working hard towards- and this is what I came up with.

To celebrate indeed.
Enjoy.