Can't Believe It.

I've had a couple of "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS" moments lately. So, I thought I would jot them down.

I CAN'T BELIEVE that I have a seventh grader. So far, middle school has been a fun and sweet adventure. Watching her enter into some new and uncharted territory is a little frightening, but she is a good kid and makes parenting easy.

CAN'T BELIEVE my baby will be in my fourth grade choir in two weeks! Seems like yesterday she was in the kindergarten choir! It's going to be a fun year. I'm so excited to have Emma and her sweet friends. I have missed my choir kids this summer.

And speaking of Emma. I CAN'T BELIEVE she was stung by a wasp at school today! To make it worse, it was on her face. RIGHT under her eye. It was the first time she had every been stung. Of all places to be stung.

But the biggest I can't believe it moment is personal. I can't believe that I'm running.

Me. Stephanie! RUNNING. And even more surprising,

I enjoy it. Like REALLY enjoy it.

What is wrong with me?!?!

This week I passed my 35 mile mark. Tomorrow morning I will do my first four mile run.

I'm finding myself to be way to concerned with the numbers of my run. I watch my Nike trainer a little too much. Chad says, "SLOW DOWN, We aren't concerned about time right now, we just want to finish today's run." But in my mind...

I'm thinking that I want to beat his 1/2 marathon time from 2008. :) I have this crazy competitive side coming out and I'm not sure I've seen her before.

One of the reasons I'm enjoying the run so much is because every time I'm out there, huffing and puffing and yes sweating, God speaks.

He shows off in some way and I love it. Yesterday morning we were running early. (Like 5:30 am) and it was a course with several hills. These hills are hills that I drive every.single.day. I "know" they are there.

My perspective of thess demons...ummmm I mean hills.. :) was so different in my car. On foot these babies are evil!

The first one was pretty early in the three mile run. I made it all the way to the top and thought, "Well. At least I got the hill done early." Wrong.

At mile two, I started a LONG hill that took me right up to my three mile mark. I really wanted to stop. I was tired, my throat was dry and I was sweating way too much. (Have I mentioned how I feel about sweat?) To this point, it was the closest I've come to being done.

My Nike Trainer was talking in my ear, "1 mile to go" and then the next song started. It was "Jesus Saves" off of Travis Cottrell's "Jesus Saves Live" project.

We were about halfway up that horrible hill when Chad pointed up and said, "This is the best part of running in the morning. Look, it's daybreak." These were the next words I heard in the song:

"Freedom's calling, chains are falling, hope is dawning bright and true.
Day is breaking, night is quaking, God is making all things new.
Jesus saves."

I finished my run on the verge of tears. Daybreak was beautiful. The music I ran to was motivating, BUT it turned my run into a praise and worship time. So sweet.

Day is breaking and all things are new. I so needed the reminder Thursday morning that each day is an opportunity for a new start. A fresh dose of God's mercy. My God knew that I needed a holy reminder and He orchestrated one that I will not forget.

Can't believe that He loves the way He does. What a God we have.