Leap of Faith

Have you ever ridden a zip line? Filled with trepidation and peering over the platform, you stand suspended in the tree line. The people below have transformed into specks. You know if you jump you'll be a blob on the ground in three seconds flat.

You. Can't. Let. Go.

You finally manage to muster the courage to scoot off the platform, and you're freefalling faster and faster to the ground. You're dying. This is it.

You're

F

A

L

L

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N

G

Then all of a sudden the rope, which has been masterfully attached to your harness, catches as you sail through the air in the most thrilling ride of your life. You're screaming at the top of your lungs, not out of terror, but out of sheer joy like a child on a swingset being pushed higher and higher. You feel weightless. You feel free.

I think this is kind of how faith works. Oftentimes we're so terrified of losing control of our lives. We cling so tightly to our plans, our perceptions and our dreams that we push out the One who created us; the One who knit our very fibers into being and gave us our unique personalities, families and features. We forget that He knows what's best for us and has dreams so much grander than we could ever fathom.

It's not until we let go, give up control and fall into God's grace that we truly experience the life we were born to live. I'm finally learning to let go, and so far the view is breathtaking!

"Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

*Mandy: Thanks for letting me use your pic and for making me jump!

10,080 Minutes

Whenever time allows, I like to spend a portion of Sunday evenings thinking over the past week and mentally preparing for the next. So often I get in such a hurry that I forget to be thankful and consider all the little blessed moments from the week past. Here is the Cliff Notes of mine; a completely random mix of highlights from the past seven days.

The week started off on an especially good one because I was able to share an early a.m. breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe with one of my oldest & dearest, Christy. Over her Smoked Salmon and my Garden Fresh omelette we caught up on the past couple of months of our lives. Christy, who is also a writer, lives in Charleston with her hubby Fraser. She will be rolling out her new blog very soon, and I'll be sure to share it.

Good news: I've finally found an energy bar keeper. The gnu foods flavor & fiber bars are delicious, filling, have 12g of fiber (50% of your daily fiber needs), low on sugar and come in a variety of fun flavors including my favorite - Cinnamon Raisin Bar. Their website is pretty cool too. Click here to order a 7-pack sampler deal for a pretty sweet price and no shipping. I even tried refrigerating one of mine that had melted and it was extra yummy.

Entering Week 2 of training for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Team Lakeshore is up to 19 runners! Woo hoo! I'm so excited about our team and proud of everyone who has trained whether on their own or with our group. Tomorrow is the last day to join our team on October 9th at 9 a.m. To register, click here.

It's amazing what a difference the midweek runs make on the long Saturday a.m. one. This fall weather is only making me want to run more. Looking forward to payday this Friday so I get finally get some new running shoes. My old ones are looking particularly ratty.

Dad and I have decided to start meeting Tuesdays during lunchtime for coffee. In the past several years, I've spent far too little time getting to know the man who has loved me since birth, given me an education, a firm foundation in the Christian faith, and constant support. It's amazing how busy we sometimes are that we forget to spend quality time with the people who mean the most to us! So this has been a really special time to hang out and share what's going on in our lives. Here we are sharing Starbucks over our time in Proverbs.

Because he was confused at first, I had to explain to him the importance of us documenting this important moment. The lady at the table next to us was so nice to let me interrupt her long enough to take our photo!

Since I'm currently going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, I'm trying extremely hard to cut back on the little things that add up and drain my checking account. So, that means, no more Starbucks (except on Fridays which are special) and striving to pack my lunches and breakfasts. It's also much easier to eat healthier when you prepare your own.

There's really no reason to go shopping these days without coupons; they're practically giving clothes away! Banana Republic, which I frequent, is really great about picking a day of the week (por exemplo: 40% off one item on Wednesdays) to provide super discounts.

I'm also trying really hard to veer away from plastic water bottles a.) for the environment & b.) the expense. Keeping reusables filled with filtered water makes it easier to do so.

Amanda Blake and I were finally able to sync our calendars and met up for Mediterranean Tacos at Tazikis for dinner.

Last weekend she was the first female finisher in the XTerra Mt. Cheaha 10K trail run. I wasn't able to make it this year, but here's our finisher's pic from September '09. Congrats Blake!

The weekend was wonderful yet incredibly hectic as I bid my time working at an injured military camp at Lake Martin, driving up and down highway 280, and in Birmingham with my family. Jennifer and Zach came in town Friday night to celebrate her 30th. We shared the evening with delicious food at Bottega's.

Aren't they adorable!

I was privileged to spend hours behind a camera lens Friday and Saturday capturing some of our nation's injured heroes as they water skied, fished, played tennis, shot skeet and were reminded of many of the activities they love.

These men and women have endured hell for our freedom and will wear their battle wounds until the day they die. I am humbled by their journey, thankful for their service and honored to be a part of an organization that provides opportunities for them to reclaim many of the pieces that made them the people they were pre-injury.

And last, but certainly not least, I want to make a special birthday wish for Miss Kylie Murphree on her first birthday! I'm sad I wasn't able to be there for your special day but hope you were able to open your present in time. Love you! Auntie Laura

My Vision

Be Thou My Vision has always been one of my favorite hymns. Did you know it was ironically written by a blind 6th Century poet saint named Dallan? Although Dallan would probably have been thankful for a return of his sight, I'm pretty sure his physical vision is not what he was referring to in the prayerful words below. Instead he is asking that the Lord be his best thought, his light, his dignity and delight:

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Conviction overwhelms me when I take in the lyrics. So often the Lord is one of my last thoughts rather than my best. I'm consumed with the tyranny of the urgent; filled with mindless thoughts of my daily checklist; caught in living out the motions.

I want more.

This week I'm praying the Lord will improve my vision. That He will lift my thoughts from self and give me an eternal focus which doesn't seek wealth or approval from others. That I will instead focus on what He calls us to in Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

And I pray the same for each of you. Because it is only in the Lord that we find meaning in this life, and only in giving of ourselves (our talent, time, words, hearts) that we find ourselves. Like my pastor said this morning, we are blessed to be a blessing.

Sleep well sweet friends. I hope your Monday morning is filled with joy and excitement over a brand new week and that we will all strive to truly LIVE the days we are given!

pics taken before sat. a.m.'s 9-miler; thanks for marking the miles with me kat!!!

The Cat's Meow

photo via caboodleranch.com

So here's a little tail I had to share with you. Anyone who knows me well, knows that despite most's hatred of four-legged felines, I absolutely LOVE cats! In fact, one of the main reasons I can't sit still with excitement over one day buying a little cottage is that I will finally be able to have my own kitty.

Well once upon a time, a Jacksonville man named Craig Grant disdained cats. I can imagine that he disliked them for all the silly reasons most people do: they shed, they're snobby, they're spooky, blah, blah blah.

But then one day Grant's son left little Pepper behind when he moved out of dad's house. The next thing Grant knew, Pepper was pregnant, and today Grant is a true convert; perhaps possessed is more apt. He now houses at least 660 felines at his Caboodle Ranch, a 5-acre cat-sized village for homeless cats.

Check out the whole story here.

And have a HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Happy Birthday Big Sis'

Hope you're 30th year is the best yet filled with lots of giggles, memorable moments, and joy!

Sending all my love,
Your Biggest Fan, Tag Along, Straight-haired Counterpart, Little Bird, and Favorite Sister!

Racing for the Cure

Last week I had the privilege to join a team captain meeting for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure at Birmingham's American Cancer Society headquarters. It was truly inspiring to gather with women of all sizes, ages, races and backgrounds who are unified by a common cause: defeating breast cancer. One woman wore a T-shirt that said: "Yes, they're fake. My real ones tried to kill me!" A pretty brunette who couldn't have been five years older than me shared her story of her surprising diagnosis. And, I learned that men can get breast cancer too; who knew?!

I left that evening so excited to start training for the morning of October 9th when thousands of women and men will gather in Linn Park for the 2010 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

If you'd like to race, but don't want to start by yourself, join Team Lakeshore! We'd love to have you along. Or, if you'd like to donate towards our team's fundraising efforts to find a cure for breast cancer, click here.

We started our four-week 5K training plan today with an easy 25-minute walk. I plan to run the same amount after work. If you're looking for an easy four-week training guide, you can download it from this page.

Alright, that's all for now. Have a wonderful Monday!

Now and Then

My college roommates and I celebrated our five-year graduation reunion this past month in Destin, Fla. Together we represent three states, two marriages, five kids, five completed marathons, a common faith and almost 10 years of shared life experience!

Here we are six years ago in Auburn.

Happy 28th Birthday Milky Wilkey! Love you Lew!!!

He Knows It's Scary to Be Us

In between sips of coffee and sniffles (still recooping from the weekend bug) early this morning, I found this encouragement from author and speaker Beth Moore. You know how sometimes it's good to just hear that somebody else has been through the same situation as you? That someone else has felt the same pains and endured the same hardships yet made it through to the other side? Or that someone else sees your hurt and genuinely cares? That's what Beth is saying about the Lord here. He knows we don't always have it easy here on earth; He cares. Most importantly, He offers real hope:

"He does not take lightly that some of us were raised in a veritable madhouse. He does not take lightly that some of us have been mentally berated or physically beaten or sexually abused or simply abandoned.

He does not take lightly that some of us are still trying to recover from that midnight phone call. He does not take lightly that some of us were born with legs that don't work. Or eyes that can't see. Or ears that can't hear.

He does not take lightly that some of us have endured the cancer treatment of our very own children. He does not take lightly that some of us, Lord help us, have buried our own children.

He knows it's scary to be us.

The thunder crashes in the heavens, and the earth grows dark in the middle of the afternoon, and a man, beaten to a bloody pulp, cries from a cross between two thieves, "It is finished!"

Because He did, one day God will wipe away every tear from the eyes of those who trusted Him, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will pass away and all our hardship will be finished."

Savoring Moments

A nasty sore throat had me out of commission today forcing me to live out the meaning of Sunday: REST. My only escapes from home were for a walk in the sunshine and a trip to Publix to gather ingredients for one of my favorite healthy fall dishes.

This chicken chili recipe is adapted from one of Bob Greene's Best Life recipes and is filled with fiber and iron from the kidney beans, lycopene from the tomatoes, and toxin removers from fresh cilantro which I also learned has strong anti-inflammatory agents for arthritis.

To make, dice half an onion and saute with half a TBSP of minced garlic.

Cook two chopped boneless, skinless chicken breasts in olive oil and sprinkle with as much chili powder as you can handle. Add your sauteed onions and garlic to the mixture.

Then rinse and drain two cans of light red kidney beans.

And pour into the pot with your chicken.

Pour in two cans of Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes.

Bring the mixture to a boil then turn down the heat to a medium simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Add in about 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.

Cook for another five minutes and then serve up with Parmesan cheese and blue corn chips.

Freeze leftovers in individual containers and enjoy over and over again!

Here's my lunch for at least two days this week!

I got to share yesterday afternoon running with two of my favorites, my Bestie and Baby Rollins. Kat had a 7.8-mile route marked out for us. We couldn't have asked for better weather or a happier baby.

One thing I will say is running while pushing a jogging stroller ain't for the faint at heart. I pushed the first three miles, and my back was on fire when we finally reached our 3-mile marker rest stop.

I know I'm always saying how much I love running, but I really can't think of any better way to spend a cool, late summer afternoon than logging miles.

And, it never hurts to have adorable running companions! :)

Cold Water

At the close of each of our letters to one another, my grandmother and I include this verse from Psalm 25:

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."

I just received WONDERFUL news from Mobile; Marlene has made it out of brain surgery safely. She is in a lot of pain right now and will have a CAT scan tomorrow a.m. to make sure she is not bleeding in her brain again. Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement. She's sporting a hot new hairdo and will hopefully feel like her spunky self in no time!

Have a blessed Labor Day weekend y'all!