HOPEful girl

  Nov 3 50 weeks to 50, week 2 I still have goals and dreams.  The big one is getting that book out.  So the rough draft is done, working on fine tuning it. I invested in this writing class so I’m going to spend some time on that now. Andrew my oldest is away at his missions conference in Maui, comes back tonight. Nathan is surviving the cold AND his first year in college in Alaska. Micah is growing too fast.  Still working on getting that Women’s Physicians in Christ group started in my area, getting closer.  We are studying Romans in my bible study. Holiday season is upon us so feeling grateful. God is good.  Now off to my writing class…

  This week marks 50 weeks until I turn 50. (Since I’m posting this on October 28, 2024 its really less than 50 weeks) Before I turned 40, I wrote a blog, ’40 days to 40.’  I had a lot to write about then. What in Gods name is compelling  me to do this writing venture?  I DO NOT KNOW.  Haven’t I got enough on my plate?  Well I guess there are several reasons. They say life happens when you’re busy thinking of what to write.  No that’s not it.  The life you’re living now is the stuff to write about or something like that. There’s a quote. I can’t exactly recall?  The truth is Its been awhile since I’ve written.  I think that spark I had in me before I turned 40 dwindled and now its time to find that spark again….

  It is interesting how some words of advice just stick with you. I wonder if my brother would be surprised that I still remember the words of advice he gave to me that seem to pop in my head as I read the verse above. My brother, Steve who is eight years my senior,  ha ha, ‘my senior’. That sounds so old. Anyway, my brother who is eight years older than me once told me right before I was about to go to college, to ‘STAY FOCUSED’.   He was an athlete and this was very appropriate advice for him to give.  He would know. He played baseball his whole life, first baseman  and would’ve gone professional if it wasn’t for a devastating injury during college.   On the other hand I was a horrible athlete , well in the beginning and before I found my love for endurance sports that is.  When I was in junior high, I was very awkward. I was made fun of a lot. I was a nerd! My athletic skills were nil to none  so my dear brother must have felt sorry for me and ...

  Today I went for a brisk 45 minute walk.  And that was the hardest thing for me to do. You might be wondering why.   Why would a  measly brisk 45 minute walk be such a big deal for this woman whos’ run marathons and 10 Ks and sprint triathlons before?  Well it all started in 2012. I was driving home from work in Orange County on the 5 rush hour traffic.  It was about a couple weeks after I ran the Huntington Beach half marathon, the one they have on super bowl Sunday every year.   It was stop and go traffic. Then suddenly, as my foot came off the gas, a lightening bolt pain shot me right in the ARSE!  or  right buttock that is.  Thereafter I would always have this tender spot or pain in the very crook of my right hamstring. Nothing severe enough to keep me from running , just a nuisance like that little kink you got in the back that tightens up every once in awhile.  I’ve got one of those too. On my right upper back, scapula to ...

  Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. -Psalm 46:10 I have this sense of urgency, but I feel like God is working on me still, preparing me for something more.  I don’t know what that is, yet, but I’m to be still and do the work I have set before me.  My mind is never still.  In the stillness, I will praise God and worship him , glorify him with the work set before me.  The year is almost half way done and Ive been without social media. Although I do feel disconnected from those I know, I do feel more connected with my Lord. Have I gotten anywhere with my book? It is definitely slow going, but I will say I am further along then I was last year.  And even more then I was yesterday.   So I guess that’s something.  Instead of scrolling, I’ve just been filling my head with bible reading and studying.  I do watch YouTube, but mostly Christian topics appear on my feed.  S...

  CHAPTER 26-28 As I conclude this blog devotional in the book of Matthew, I hope that you’ve been blessed by it by learning more of who Jesus of the Bible is.   In these last three chapters, we learn about the days preceding his death.  In some churches this is called ‘Passion’ or ‘Holy’ week.  We learn about the passion of Jesus.  When I look up ‘passion’ in the dictionary, it is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion. It is also defined as the suffering and death of Jesus.    I guess I could say the suffering and death of Jesus came from a strong emotion-that is God’s love for us.  However, it is God who was always in control. This was always his plan and if you study the Old Testament which I encourage you to do next, this plan is evident.  QUESTIONS  Chapter 26 Why weren’t the Jewish religious leaders planning to kill Jesus on Good Friday at the Passover? Why didn’t Jesus see the woman’s action as wasteful...