2011...TIME TO CLAW, TIME TO FIGHT

But,you only learn that when you start losing stuff.
You find out that life is just a game of inches.
So is football.

Because in either game-
life or football
the margin for error is so small.
I mean one half step too late or to early
you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast
and you don't quite catch it.

The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in ever break of the game
every minute, every second.

On this team, we fight for that inch
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch.
We CLAW with our finger nails for that inch.

Cause we know when we add up all those inches
that's going to make the (F word-ing) difference between WINNING and LOSING
between LIVING and DYING.

I'll tell you this in any fight
it is the guy who is willing to die
who is going to win that inch.
And I know if I am going to have any life anymore
it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch
because that is what LIVING is.

The six inches in front of your face.

(ANY GIVEN SUNDAY- Pre Game speech by Al Pacino...boy do I LOVE FOOTBALL! Just saw this movie yesterday for the first time. A FAVORITE!)

Be Strong

Ephesians 6

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full Armor of God so you will be able to stand firm.

- SHIELD OF FAITH: to extinguish all flaming arrows of the evil one.

- HELMET OF SALVATION

- SWORD OF SPIRIT: the word of God

STAND FIRM.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Do just as purposed in your heart not grudgling- For God loves a cheerful giver.

Giving Thanks and Being Joyful

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always;

Pray Continually;

Give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

This is all I can say about this wonderful University of Texas Volleyball team. While yesterday night wasn't the game they had worked for nor dreamt about- these amazing girls are standing tall today. Life continues on and they will fight again as a family next season.

We can't begin to understand God's will and of course, this softy triathlete masssage therapist is guilty of shedding a lot of tears last night and today. Seeing each girl with the frustration and sadness on their face just crushes my heart.

Today I will stand firm and give thanks. I will give thanks because no matter in victory or loss, we are to be joyful.

To each athlete- I am so proud of you. And I am honored to be a part of this journey. And I am ready for 2011. LET'S GO.

A Prayer for My Husband

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commands.

His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in the darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast,
trusting in the Lord.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteous endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

After a sad night, I have a lot on my heart. On twitter, I saw Psalm 112 in Max Lucado's tweets saying his wife prays this over him. I read it and boy it is good! I will be praying this over Zane from now on. That he will be blessed, fearing the Lord, delighting in his commands. I pray that he leads our family with love, honor, and a secure heart that has no fear.

I will write about the University of Texas Volleyball game later. For now, we have a team breakfast and then a "end of the year" brunch. The dreary cold weather outside seems to fit all our moods.

LET'S GOOOOOO!

It's game day. I have spent a good part of my morning praying, spending time with the Lord in quiet, and listening to music that simply stirs the spirit. We leave for Game Day Warm up Practice in a little bit. I am going to just sit there with my little travel bible and pray over each athlete, over the coaching staff, over the whole event. I BELIEVE IT IS THEIR TIME- it is Texas's time to shine.

What a special year. Seeing each athlete grow in their own way. To see a team who has faced such adversity with injuries etc, band together as sisters and FIGHT in the true TEXAS FIGHT way- such inspiration to me especially with the challenges that presented themselves in my life this year.

Tonight the team plays Penn State. We faced them last year in the final game. Such heart break that followed that performance with a loss and hurt spirits. The girls put it behind them this year and found the excellence they are capable of- being a family, fighting as a team, and going to war for each point, and learning IT IS NEVER OVER- continue the battle.

Please join me in prayer for these amazing ladies. May the Lord bless each of them as they step on the court tonight, and in the name of Jesus- SATURDAY NIGHT FOR THE FINAL GAME!

We are chosen and HIS power is Mighty

Ephesians 1:11-12

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were first to hope in Christ, might be for the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.

Ephesians 1:17-20

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be elightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER for us who believe. That power is like the working of his MIGHTY STRENGTH, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms...

All I need by Shawn McDonald

As I sit here and think
About all that You've done
About how You gave me Your one and only Son
And I'm trying to fathom
All that You are, but so far, Lord
You're so beyond me
I fall down in reverence
And I fall down in fear
And I'm asking You, Lord, won't You please draw near
Won't You open my eyes
So that I can see
The way that You are working in me

All I need is Your love
To come and fill this heart of mine
My heart is a desert that has gone dry
And I need Your love to carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by

And I lay down my life
And I put it before You
all that I am is in your hands
and I’m not gonna question why you’re so faithful
Why that You give me the blessings that You have
Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown
to lift You up unto the throne
You are my God, You are my King
To You I give, I give You everything

(My new favorite Artist. This song came up on my Pandora channel and I fell in love with it. )

Watch this video of my Papa

Daily Commute: my papa is awesome just so you know

This is a video of my Papa (on my super fly brother's blog)

Enjoy! It is a good one. Boy, I am blessed to have these 2 grandparents in my life.

Psalm 20

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now I know that the Lord saves his annointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

O Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call.

Thankful

Thankful for support of friends and family at my races.

Couldn't do it without the army of loved ones that surround me.

THANKFUL.

Solo Hike with Igby

Austin's Barton Springs Greenbelt.

My professional squirrel chaser - I couldn't keep up

Checking it out- excited to be out in the water and warm fall sun

Igby going to war with a monster stick he pulled from the water

A blue heron- way back there in the water

Swimming near the cliff rocks. Super DOG!

Beauty

Ironman Arizona had some crazy weather. Cold, Rain, Sun, some hail on the bike, WIND- and then as I finished up the marathon, around mile 22ish? I ran under a double rainbow. I looked at it and in my "heated emotions" I had a little "talk" with God. I was frustrated and angry. Looking back now, I see the BEAUTY that is present. How cool is that Rainbow?

Strength for the journey

I prayed for what I wanted
God gave me what I NEEDED.

Sometimes what you want is not what God wants.
In the journey you are on - DONT GIVE UP. God is with you.

He has begun a good work in you and He will bring it to completion. He desires you to be fruitful and He promises to give you strength for the journey you are on.

When you are at the end of "Your Strength", that is when God's STRENGTH will kick in. He gives us daily strength, mercy and grace. It renews each day. In this, trust in his strengthing process.

Order your Life and Take the step as the next phase of your journey is about to start.

(from Enduring Truth Ministry sermon "Part 3- A word to those who have had enough)

* I randomly listened to this sermon as I sat in the Phoenix Airport on my way home from Ironman Arizona. I couldn't help but shed a few tears. At what point to you realize or come to the conclusion that in YOUR STRENGTH AND MIGHT, you will fail because YOU are "trying" to accomplish it on your own.

I sat at the table in the small cafe, my heart a bit healed and cleaned because my eyes were opening to the fact that I must TRUST in my mighty God's strengthing process. I was renewed in spirit that my God desires for each of us to bear much fruit. He promises to give us fuel for our journey, strength to climb those mountains that seem unclimbable. With God, you will can ask those mountains to move. They will move.

I have discovered peace in the fact that My God is doing a work in me and He will complete it. How exciting is that? Each day he renews me - my spirit, my heart, and my mind. I may go to bed exhausted from the world that trys to rest on my shoulders, but when I wake up I am renewed and ready to live another day for my Father.

My prayer today for each of us is that we will be willing each day to surrender our own strength to that of our Father's. His strength surpasses all understanding. I pray that in that surrendering we step forward on the next phase of the journey, trusting in HIM, not our own understanding, desires, and the things of this world.

Join me as we take that first step into 2011. It is going to be exciting. Currently, I am working to "order my life" so that I can truly let the Father lead me. For me, I am beginning with my thought process and outlook, because in our thoughts we develop our self image, our behaviors and our views etc. We all must start somewhere.

Alright- HERE WE GO. ONWARD ON THE JOURNEY BEFORE US....

Decorating for Christmas

Little Terra's smile and excitement makes your heart melt.

The complete tree after vegan chili, dessert, and the adults catching up on life.

Since Little T was the decorater in charge, She did the star (with the help of her Daddy!)

Everyone needs to be silly once in awhile. Candy ornaments help fuel that one!

Igby didn't know what to make of the silver glass ornaments. He was puzzled.

Gingerbread ornament with sparkles- a 4 year old's favorite.