RUN FOR GOD!

As promised here is the 'more information' I promise (my kit arrived! :)

Now before you stop reading based on the fact that you are "not a runner" or you "don't live in Huntsville" please hear me out: read all of the information.

This is designed for 'non-runners' and runners alike. Also we WANT people all over the country participating in this with us! We know that Samantha's story reached far beyond the boarders of our houses and towns and we want other people to go on this journey with us and to be strengthened in their faith. For those that don't live in Huntsville here is my challenge: go to the run for God website: www.RUNFORGOD.com and order a student book.
We will be posting things for the discussion on either this blog, my sister's blog, the caringbridge site for Samantha or we will set up another temporary blog for this study. You can participate with us across the miles. Our goal is that you grow together as a family and grow in your faith. There are 5K races ALL over. If you need help finding one in your area on or around July 14 you can do so on-line or just e-mail me and I will help you find one. You can also just set the goal as a family and do it on your own. Please consider joining us on this journey!

One final note - any money raised through this race will be donated to Samantha's scholarship fund for children to attend Faith Lutheran School. If you cannot participate at this time in the race please consider donating to this great cause and help another child attend school where they can learn more about Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him. THANK YOU!

RUN FOR GOD – Bible study and 5K

WHO: YOU!!! Yes, even you – everyone is invited! Don’t like to run? Maybe you can walk. Don’t like to walk? You can pray for or sponsor someone. Most importantly this applies to families – we want you to do this in fellowship – with you family, your friends, but most importantly with your God. This course is for everyone! In fact, it is designed for those who have never run. However, if you wish to begin running for God, there is no better time to start than now.

WHAT: Run For God – The 5K Challenge
This is a practical guide to running and a 12-week training plan aimed at running a 5K, but with a Christian focus.

WHEN: The Bible study will take place on Thursday evenings @ 6:30 beginning April 12 and ending July 5. The 5K race will be July 14th.

WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church 111 Sumac Rd. Huntsville, TX 77340

HOW: From advice about shoes and Christian music for one’s MP3 player,
to tips on race etiquette, the book will be useful and inspirational.
The primary goal is to learn to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ
while understanding the parallels of endurance running and
enduring faith. Be ready for your first 5K road race in just 12 weeks, and learn how this
sport relates to the practice of faith in process.

WHY: Although people run for many different reasons, this program is for
those who make God the center of their lives—or need to be
reminded to do so. The tone is conversational and accessible, and
the workout plans, discussion questions, and Bible verses make it
both a practical resource and a workbook for individuals and
groups, especially beginning runners.

The other part of the ‘why’ is our family’s desire to leave a legacy of Samantha’s life that glorifies God and brings families together in worship to Him, time spent together, and growing in the faith.

We hope you will join us!!!!

A Journey (in memory of Samantha)

I have a huge long post formulating in my head about this, but want to wait till my 'kit' comes before I venture too much stuff out here. This is just an initial heads up....

Beginning sometime in April, hopefully on or around the 21st (to remember Samantha's baptism) and concluding around July 10ish (to celebrate her eternal life) we will be doing a very unique Bible study. I have been praying a lot about what kind of legacy we would like to leave for her. With all the 'anniversaries' of her life quickly approaching, I finally found something that fits the ticket! It doesn't matter where you are (here in Huntsville we will actually have a more formal get together, but this can be done on your own/in your home or home church, etc.), you can join us on this journey and we pray that you will! I will say this though - there is some very unique homework that goes with this study. Please prayerfully consider joining us on this journey. There will be much more information ahead, but wanted to put the initial thoughts out there.

Spring Break

We had a wonderful spring break together as a family. It so amazes me over the past couple of years how God is teaching me about so many blessings that I have taken for granted far too often. Being together as a family of 6 was wonderful.

The trip to Wisconsin was not without adventure - of course! What would we do without a little adventure in our lives??? (I'd love to find out - haha) We blew a tire on the highway in the middle of Missouri on Sunday (of course) so had to stay the night in Rolla so we could get it fixed in the morning. We were disappointed that our arrival was delayed but very thankful that God protected us and helped us to get the tire fixed safely.

Our week was very enjoyable although it went by WAY too fast. In the end Rachel stayed in Wisconsin with Daddy and the rest of us came back to Texas. It will be nice for Mark to not have to be alone and the timing worked out with the schools up there as every week between now and Easter we have good friends on spring break that can keep Mark for Rachel (in addition to some wonderful babysitters from the church).

We are all now back in the swing of things and staying busy with school/work/church/etc. We are coutning down the days till Easter break when we can be together again!

Swing!

Mary K, our good friend from Wisconsin was so sweet and watched the girls for us so that we could go on a lunch date.  We came back to the girls having a blast on the big swing at the park behind the house. 

Lunch

We stopped at a fun old fashioned diner on our way to Wisconsin after we got the tire fixed.  The girls loved sitting at the counter in the "spinny stools"

Making Lemonade

Due to our not so fun adventure of the tire on the car blowing out (in the pouring rain).  We decided to make the best of our situation and get a hotel with a pool.  The girls had a blast swimming.  We also did some finger painting and other fun things.

On Our Way

These were the only picture I took over spring break. We stopped in Bella Vista, AR on our way to see Mark/daddy and I got some pictures of the girls with great grandma and grandpa Gruhn before church on Sunday.

James 1:17

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

I find myself clinging to this verse on the eve of what would be Samantha's first birthday. A year. It's been a year. I can still see the joy and fear on Travis and Stephanie's faces. I can remember going back in the room and seeing her. Taking a video of Travis whispering to his precious little girl how much he loved her. I remember trying to capture moments to take and show Stephanie as she was in recovery and her sweet daughter was in the NICU. So many memeories. I remember the people in the waiting room that day, sitting there with my mom, I remember watching the clock, getting a coffee (I realize that for me this probably doesn't seem like a 'vivid' memory since I'm always getting coffee, but they had an old fashioned coffee vending machine where the cup drops down and fills - I remember that). She was so beautiful. So much hair. So alive!

I'm terrified to start this four month period this year. A four month period that last year started with such joy and then ended so wrong, so horrible, so....hard. The four months of Samanta's life here on earth was the hardest four months I have ever lived through. Her life journey alone could have made it such - but added to it our immediate family went through two major surgeries as well as many of other 'normal' difficult things (lice, tax audit, etc.). I think back, I look back, I don't know how we did it. I don't know how we are still alive, still breathing, still walking, still talking, still pretending like somehow things are 'normal'. There is no more normal, at least not like it used to be. We are changed. We are different. One day accepting, the next day angry. Sometimes all the 'stuff' of those four months overwhelms me to the point that I feel like I'm suffocating and can't breath or take another step. Then the next day I am rejoicing and praising God for all He has brought us through and the healing (both temporal and eternal) He has given. But wherever the emotions of the given day are, it is still true that we are changed, there is no going back.

Perhaps this is why I cling to the One who "doesn't change like shifting shadows." The same one who holds our past and holds us now also holds our furture. He will not change. He will not leave. He promises to take care of us and love us. Some things we can look back on with new understanding and appreication, other things still have me angry and wondering "why?" God doesn't promise that we will get to know the explanation. But He does promise that all He does and continues to do is for our good - and even though we may lose heart and struggle - He does not change. The one who holds our precious Samantha, also holds us here on earth and will continue to do so until we meet her again. That will not change. He does not change. She was a gift, that is now perfected in heaven with our Father, tomorrow we will celebrate that gift from above.

Strange Things....

I heard on the radio that for some reason a broom will do this because of something with the planets lining up just so.  I have no idea if that is true, but I still tried the little experiment and it worked!  Micaiah thought it was crazy :)

Camo Day

Some pitures from camo day of National Lutheran School's Week - I thought she looked the part :)

Mini-Monet Show!

It's National Lutheran Schools Week! We had a mini-monet show at school. Eliya got 2nd place in her class and so did Micaiah. Rachel wasn't able to take her picture with her ice cream sundae because unfortunately she came home with hand, foot and mouth virus yesterday :( The picture of the whole group is my classes pictures - and one of my students took home best of show! It was a fun night :0)

Love the treadmill

Eliya loves to go walking/joggin on the treadmill.  I still won't let her do it unless I am in the room, but she is getting better at it each time.  She says she wants to be a runner like her momma :)

Loves Minnie Mouse

I'm not sure when or how it started but Micaiah LOVES Minnie Mouse.  I found this little costume on clearance at Marashalls and she was so excited she wore it all day and then slept in it too!