What a difference a year makes....

A year ago today I was here. Getting ready to run one of the best marathon's of my life. The weather was perfect. My training had gone perfect. I was ready to just have fun, take it all in, and do my best. Cody was with me and we were having the best girls weekend in the city. She was such a trooper letting me drag her around the Expo, and getting up early with me to walk to the start. She even gave my bootie a shove over the fence once we realized I missed the entrance and had less than 5 minutes to get to my corral. It was quite commical. :) The day could not have gone more perfect. Drew and the kids drove down to see me, and I saw them on mile 14. I mean totally saw them. It was like slow motion Chariots of Fire getting over to the side to drool and sweat on them. I got kisses from all my monkies (including daddy!) and I was off, with just enough energy to get me to the end. And Cody got to fill-in for me and take kids to bathrooms in nasty gas stations, herd them into shape as they patrolled the streets of Chicago looking for me, and eat yummy McDonalds. All while I was shuffling along, babbling to myself, and seeing mirages of a finish line. And she still wants kids! Amazing. ;)

So today, I got up early and went for a run. To mark the one year anniversary of Chicago, and to be thankful. Thankful I have two legs that are allowing me to run. This year has been C-R-A-Z-Y. A year that I will not have a hard time saying goodbye to in 3 months. God has lead me on a journey this year that has been really, really tough. How easy it is to take for granted the ability to even train for a marathon? And my body has carried me through that 3 times. The body is truly amazing. It's easy to look at running and talk about your PR's, and splits, and training....but, sometimes I am just thankful for a good run and legs that hold me up. I pray that marathon training is in my future still, but for now, I am SO VERY thankful to be able to just run. Baby steps.....and then I'll go for the giant steps again. Sometimes God chooses for us to take the roads in life that are not planned. And to trust Him. And I do. My life is so much bigger than just me, and my trials are so much bigger than me. I don't want to shoulder any of this on my own. I am choosing to run the race God has set before me with endurance (Heb. 12:1).

In a way it's like a marthon. Some miles are easy, some bring you to your knees in tears, and some you look back and wonder how in the world you got through it - and then you pump your fist up towards heaven. I think I have a few more marathons in me yet, and that is what I am holding myself to. This is the run of my life...the good, the bad, and the roads I've yet to travel. And I'm trusting God all the way......