Country Music Half Marathon....Run for a Cause!

I know it is a crazy time to even talk about something so generic as running with all of the extreme sadness happening in Haiti right now. I guess I have been kind of struggling to sort out my thoughts about it. Heartbreaking. We can all play a role in making a difference there...I am seeing so so much need everywhere I turn these days, it is hard to know how to best help. Maybe I will post more later on this.
Today, I want to talk about the Country Music Half Marathon....If you are a local here in Missouri or live anywhere EVEN REMOTELY close to Nashville, please consider this:
On behalf of orphans all over the world, Room For One More is pulling together a team to run and raise awareness for this cause. We are putting it out there now...And the response has just been awesome already! We will each wear a shirt with a message about the orphan crisis in the world, and on April 24th we will meet up in Nashcity to run for the cause.
This is the perfect time to step out...If you have been thinking that you want to get "back in shape", or, "I have always wanted to run a half marathon"....Or maybe you are completely out of shape and could never imagine doing this race....This is still for you!
I have been running the past few weeks, though previous to this past couple of weeks, have taken a hiatus from running for 3 YEARS!!!!
Feb 1 really kicks of the training time...12 weeks and you can start as a beginner, no problem.
I have friends who are avid runners who will "RUN FOR ONE" and also people who have not exercised in MANY years (you know who you are). This is a time to come together and make a physical sacrifice for a cause close to our hearts.
I was running this week inside our gym and I have just been using the time to pray and think about kids in need. I thought how crazy it would be for some of the children I have spent time with in various countries in Africa, and what they would think if they could see me running, in circles no less...I bet they would wonder what the heck I was doing. I was thinking what if they had a bird's eye view into my gym on a typical day. People working up a sweat peddling and peddling a bike that goes nowhere, people running on treadmills going nowhere, and those of us on the track running in circles....Focusing, all pushing ourselves to a "better body".
How freakin crazy! When I start to get sick of running, usually early in my run, I think about how a young girl, not much older than Bianca spends a good deal of her day, EVERY day just trying to retrieve water for her family. Carrying a load much heavier than we can imagine, and all at the same time, hoping, praying that she is not attacked on her walk back to her village...No thought of high priced tennis shoes, no heated gym, no perfect workout gear, thinking she needs to lose 10lbs...Just a child trying to help keep her family alive....Rocks my world.
This is life for millions.
So, when people tell me, "oh, there is no way I would run that race", that is fine, as of course it is totally your personal choice, but for me, it is different. I personally do not enjoy running...AT ALL.
But the time I spend running is a time I pray for and think about life for people in other parts of the world. It puts my privileged life in check, and I walk out of the gym with a clearer mission. I am more thankful, much more thankful when I walk down the stairs and pick up my kids in the child care. Overwhelmed sometimes.
I am starting to realize, every day, I want to make a difference, but it can be easy to lose focus. Of course, I want to be healthy, and yes, I am still vain in the sense that I want to be a certain size and shape, but even more I want to be "on task" with my life. Wow, life can really get away from you when you are a momma taking care of little people all day. These are precious moments and at times I find myself a little too giddy about the fact that their day school is about to start back...Selfish, yes, of course. These are moments not to miss.
I guess you can see where I am coming from here. Anyway, if you read my blog and are remotely interested, email or post me. We would LOVE it! And we will set up a page for support on facebook.
We will also partner with any other nonprofits for the race and come together as one. Just contact me about it...Now dust off those running shoes and your spandex...Okay, maybe just the shoes!
Face your fears!!!!
Here are a few of the latest pics of the girls!


I found Solie napping like this yesterday! How adorable

Loving the one day of warm weather!