Thirteen Days Without Running Makes One Weak...

or at least for me it did.  I have been nursing a banged up knee for the past 3+ weeks.  After taking a week off from running, I decided to run again.  3/4 mile into the run I felt the pain return in my knee so I quit at 1 mile.  

Fast forward two weeks and here I am.  Two runs down (1.08 & 1.35 miles)... Knee still feels good, so hopefully I can ease back into marathon training.  It's crazy how fast you can lose your endurance.

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Meet Noah and his family.  Noah was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2011.  Read more about Noah HERE 

 

 

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The pledge for St. Jude is still ongoing, since someone hasn’t opened their checkbook to the tune of $2,300 yet! 

Updated stats:
I pledged to raise $2,500 total.  So far, I have $310, which leaves $2,190.

• If I had 219 people donate $10, I would reach my goal.
• If I had 87 people donate $25 (and one $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 43 people donate $50 (and two $20), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 21 people donate $100 (and six $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 1 person donate $2,175 (and one $15), I would reach my goal! :)

There are tons of combinations of how the money can be raised and the pledge fully-compensated.   Will you help?

 

DONATE HERE 

 

If you have questions, please send me an email.  I'd love to talk with you! Email Me! 

 

 

That's the thing about running; your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success.  They are the moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.

-Kara Goucher 

Mixed Emotions

I hope this post finds you doing well.  This past week (plus) has been a mixture of good & bad for us. 

First, the good:

• Rebecca and I celebrated our 6^th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday, July 7.  I can not describe the feeling I have for my bride.  She is such an awesome person to be around.  She is a Christ-follower.  She’s an amazing wife.  She’s a wonderful mother to my son.  I can’t wait to see where God leads us throughout the remainder of our lives, but I do know one thing; we’ll be side-by-side wherever we go.

  

  Engagement picture on the front porch of my parent's log-cabin

• Hudson celebrated his 3^rd birthday on Monday, July 8.  I’m still awestruck at how God chose me to father this precious child.  Hudson is the spot-on example of the perfect child.  In fact, I think Hudson is 2^nd only to Jesus, during his childhood J.  The kid has personality for days.  He is an incredible actor.  He can smile/joke his way out of almost anything.  He has a heart that is golden. 

  

  Hudson at 1 month

  

  Hudson at 6 months

  

  Hudson at 10 months

  

  White House visit (2011)

  

  Having fun swimming at Disney (April 2013)

  
  

  

  Hudson's BIG CATCH (June 2013)

  

  Enjoying the Spash-Park at DeWayne Hayes (June 2013)

  

  Our little Super-hero (June 2013)

Now the bad:

• The passing & funeral of Park Stevens.  Park was literally a larger-than-life person; and standing 6’7” everyone looked up to him.  Everyone that met Park remembered him afterwards.  He almost-always had a smile on his face.  Park tragically died last week in an auto-accident on his way home for the July 4^th holiday.  The funeral was on Saturday, July 6.  It was very evident that Park was a loved individual, if by nothing else, he packed out the sanctuary AND the fellowship hall at Mt. Vernon (700+ people).  Family, friends & football teammates from New Hope, Oak Hill, East Central CC & Ole Miss were in attendance.  His coaches spoke and Josh Daffern tried to help us understand why this happened (you can find his message here - Park Stevens).  The service was awesome to be able to see/hear/experience.  It was so difficult though.  Please remember the Stevens’ family in your prayers!

  

  Park Stevens (Spring 2013)

• Rebecca’s granddad, Papaw, spent the past 3+ weeks with our family in MS.  Over the past week we noticed that he wasn’t being himself.  He had trouble walking, keeping cool/warm & could not stay awake.  He was taken to the local clinic where we were told he needed to be taken to the hospital.  On Saturday, he was admitted into a hospital in Memphis.  Doctors are still trying to figure out exactly what is wrong.  Please pray for Papaw and his doctors and nursing staff.  Be sure to remember his caretaker(s) during this time as well; which primarily has been my mother-in-law.  Papaw is an 83 year-old Korean War veteran and a treat to sit & talk with.

  

  Papaw on July 5, 2013

Papaw at the Korean War memorial in Washington, DC (2011)

Papaw & Sheila (his daughter/Rebecca's mom) at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (2011)

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The pledge for St. Jude is still ongoing, since someone hasn’t opened their checkbook to the tune of $2,300 yet! J 

Updated stats:
I pledged to raise $2,500 total.  So far, I have $310, which leaves $2,190.

• If I had 219 people donate $10, I would reach my goal.
• If I had 87 people donate $25 (and one $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 43 people donate $50 (and two $20), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 21 people donate $100 (and six $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 1 person donate $2,175 (and one $15), I would reach my goal! :)

There are tons of combinations of how the money can be raised and the pledge fully-compensated.   Will you help?

DONATE HERE

Time costs more than money. You can get more money,

you can’t get time back.  Spend it wisely.

-Lecrae

No Mo' Chemo

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone had an awesome July 4th (even the folks outside of the United States).

An email made my Independence Day start off in a wonderful way... This email was a notification that someone donated to St. Jude via my site.  This email also stated that I have raised over $250 (thanks to you), which allows St. Jude to host 3 "No Mo Chemo" parties!  These parties are celebrations for a child completing their chemotherapy treatment.  Please watch Anna James' story HERE!

After seeing videos like that, it gives me chills knowing that each dollar goes directly toward the care (and fun) for a child that is stricken by a disease.  When someone says "St. Jude", I used to think of this big hospital that does good for the children that need it; which is the case.  But now, I put a name and face of the people that are being helped.

How comforting is it to know that Anna is still here due to the wonderful doctors & staff at St. Jude (and of course, God's grace and healing)?  It's amazing!!  Her family has never paid a dime for her care while at St. Jude, and they never will!

Thanks to the families that have given to St. Jude through my site!  I still have a long way to go, but I think know I can surpass my goal with the help of my friends (and their friends).  I would love for everyone who sees this page to share it with their family & friends; whether it be word of mouth, Facebook, email... whatever!  The more people that know, the better!

Updated stats:
I pledged to raise $2,500 total.  So far, I have $285, which leaves $2,215.

• If I had 221 people donate $10 (and one $5), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 88 people donate $25 (and one $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 44 people donate $50 (and one $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 22 people donate $100 (and one $15), I would reach my goal.
• If I had 1 person donate $2,200 (and one $15), I would reach my goal! :)

There are tons of combinations of how the money can be raised and the pledge fully-compensated.   Will you help?

Donate to St. Jude here!!

 The very fact that air is filling your lungs right now is all the proof 

you need that God STILL has great plans for your life! 

-Perry Noble