to the moon and back

When I told Dad that I was going to train for a marathon for you during this year leading up for your 13th birthday and use that time to be praying for you, he reminded me that I could certainly do a half marathon to match the significance of 13.... 

But, it seems symbolic that I'm training for 26.2-- because doubling the distance also can be a reminder that I love you to the moon and back!! 

motivation

As I keep getting more miles under my belt each week,

I want you to know that I've got the best motivation around: 

YOU!!! 

Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing

We've used different devotionals through the years with you and Taylor, but my favorite has been Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones.  

Today's reading was wonderful: 

"Do you ever feel like nothing good is happening in your life? When a skyscraper is built, what's the first thing the builders do? Dig a huge hole. Wait. They're going the wrong way! For years, the construction site is just a hole in the ground. It looks like nothing's happening. But the builders would tell you they are laying the foundation- the part you don't see that keeps the tower from falling over. The higher they build, the deeper they must dig.  They are digging down to go up. And the Bible says God will use even the bad things- which won't last- to do something good, to build something beautiful in us that will last forever. He is digging down to go up." 

As I ran around Green Lake this morning, I was praying for you for the skyscraper God is building out of your life.  As we pray for friendships and through the ups and downs of this season in middle school, I want you to know that even when it looks like nothing is happening that God is indeed at work.  Just as spring is starting to show its face here in Seattle, the hope trees and daffodils are a tangible reminder of God's hand and of His love. 

hope trees on 52nd Ave 

the sign of the cross

This morning when I was running, I listened to the recording for today on "Pray as You Go".  At the end of each of these recordings, they say "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." I made the sign of the cross as I heard it (which I am not sure I have ever done while I was running!) and thought of the lesson from catechesis that we shared together years ago at St. B's.  The sign reminds us that we are God's design and we are signed by the Author.  He puts His name on us as a mark and seal on us and we can use this as an opportunity to remember that we belong to Him and are called His own.  You are certainly a masterpiece, Anna!

pink popping as spring is just around the corner! 

a prayer for you today...

Father who breathed into this daughter…

I pray for this girl being formed into eternity….

 May the wind always be in her hair

 May the sky always be wide with hope above her

And may all the hills be an exhilaration

the trials but a trail,

all the stones but stairs to God.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of grace

Grace, the only dress that makes beautiful,

the style of Your spirit.

Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word, 

Word, that makes her crave more of Christ, have hunger pangs for Him.

Enclose her in communion with You

You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart into a roof

that absorbs storms for souls,

that makes her tongue speak only the words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation

Translating every enemy into esteemed guest

Translating every countenance into the face of Christ

Translating every burden into blessing

When it’s hard to be patient… make her willing to suffer

When it’s ridiculous to be thankful … make her see all is grace

When it’s radical to forgive … make her live the foundation of our faith

And when it’s time to work… make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and her laughter

May she be thread and mend brokeness and knit hearts

May she be dead to all ladders & never go higher , only lower, to the lonely, the least & the longing

May she be led of the Spirit to lead many to the Cross that leads to the tomb wildly empty.

 Oh, and raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins 

to love this beautiful girl like You do…

In the name of Christ who rose and appeared first to one of His daughters…

Amen…

-a prayer by Ann Voskamp 

I love you so much, Anna! 

Love, Mom 

Down to the River to Pray

Anna, this morning when I went running, I ran for about 45 minutes along a beautiful trail by the river near the cabin where we were with the Whites. It was pretty muddy along the trail and so at one point, I decided to try to find a short cut to the highway rather than backtracking on the trail.  As I went, I listened for the cars and watched the trail carefully picking my path to find the road.  

As I was running, this beautiful song by Allison Krauss came to mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Eu85pZNoWY

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way

I was praying this morning as I was trying to find my way that God would help you find your way in these coming months and years as you grow, that you will be able to listen for clues of where you should go, and that you will find that your feet are on solid ground: 

4Show me your ways, Lord,

teach me your paths.

5Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25: 4-5 

be still my soul...

I listened to this song on my run and prayed that you could just tell God every detail with all the emotions that are swirling around these days and know that His peace will come to you.... 

Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Leave to thy God to order and provide

In every change He faithful will remain

Be still my soul, thy best, thy Heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still my soul, thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past

Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake

All now mysterious will be bright at last

Delight yourselves in the Lord

Yes, and find your joy in Him

Be known for your gentleness

And never forget the nearness of our God

And don't worry - whatever is going to come

Just tell God every detail

And the peace of God that no one understands will come to you

No, don't worry

Just tell Him every detail and His peace will come to you

click over to 3:50 in the video to hear Amy Grant

 reading the last part in bold and let those words wash over you.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsreL-9PbEI

Radar in Fog

I loved that this was in our devotion this morning after our talk
last night about friends and doubt and feelings and regrets.

"The only way pilots can fly in fog is by trusting their radar. Radar tells you about things that are there, but are too far away or too hidden fro your eyes to see. Corrie ten Boom said, "Faith is like radar that sees through fog."  Faith knows what is there and tells us- even when we can't actually see it with our eyes. We can't see God with our eyes, but faith tells us he is there."
-Sally Lloyd Jones Thoughts That Make Your Heart Sing 

Here is part of the liturgy from the Ash Wednesday service that I wanted to remind you of today too: 

We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. 

This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, calls us to heartfelt repentance and urges us to place our hope in God alone. 

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth. May these ashes remind us of our mortality and penitence and teach us again that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Savior. 

Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation that we may show forth your glory in the world. By the cross and the passion of our Savior bring us with all your saints to the joy of Christ's resurrection. May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

"...the biggest mistake I see families and churches making when they talk about Lent and sacrifice is that the sacrifice slips into somehow feeling like we have to earn God’s approval.

We don’t. What separates Christianity from every other religion is grace......

In short, we honor Lent not to earn God’s approval or to feel better about ourselves, but so our lives are great big Thank You Notes back to God." -Kara Powell 

So today, sweet Anna, my prayer for you is that God will grow your faith and remind you often of His love... I love your tender heart! 

....who crowns you with His love

Today as I was running, the song came on by Ellie Holcomb based on Psalm 103: 

Praise the Lord, O my soul
Oh and all my inmost being
Praise the Lord, O my soul
Don’t forget His love

Who forgives all of your sins
And who heals all your diseases
Who redeems your life from the pit
And who crowns you with His love

Who satisfies your desires
Oh with good and lovely things
Who renews your heart
Like a flight on eagles’ wings

Praise the Lord, O my soul
Oh and all my inmost being
Praise the Lord, O my soul
Don’t forget His love

I know I have told you the story over the years about how the phrase "Daughter of the King" came to mean so much to me.  I was on a retreat in college and the speaker named Ron Ritchie was sitting outside the conference center. I was walking by myself up to the meeting room, and he simply stopped me with his words as I was passing by: "Did you know that you are a daughter of the King?" I did not really know what to say and recall saying a tentative "Yes." He then said, "You need to walk like that."  He did not know me at all so it was not an admonition. But it was an invitation to live in light of the identity I had in Christ and to live in light of such glory...  

My two favorite quotes about being a daughter of the King are below: 

On May 28, 1972, the Duke of Windsor, the uncrowned King Edward VIII, died in Paris.  The same evening, a television program rehearsed the main events of his life.  Extracts of earlier films were shown, in which he answered questions about his upbringing, brief reign and abdication.  Recalling his boyhood as Prince of Wales, he said, “My father (King George V) was a strict disciplinarian. Sometimes when I had done something wrong, he would admonish me by saying, “My dear boy, you must always remember who you are.”  It is my conviction that our Heavenly Father says the same to us everyday: “My dear child, you must always remember who you are.”

THERE was once a little princess who—

"But Mr. Author, why do you always write about princesses?" 

"Because every little girl is a princess." 

"You will make them vain if you tell them that." 

"Not if they understand what I mean." 

"Then what do you mean?" 

"What do you mean by a princess?" 

"The daughter of a king." 

"Very well, then every little girl is a princess, and there would be no need to say anything about it, except that she is always in danger of forgetting her rank, and behaving as if she had grown out of the mud. I have seen little princesses behave like children of thieves and lying beggars, and that is why they need to be told they are princesses. -George MacDonald 

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me your love
Through the judgment you received

And you've won my heart
And you've won my heart, now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down at the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death you bore for me

And you've won my heart
And you've won my heart, now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down at the foot of the cross

And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down at the foot of the cross

And you've won my heart
And you've won my heart, now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down

I trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down

I lay every burden down, every burden
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross

 I have always loved children's stories about kings and princesses.  And in this Grand Story of which God has invited us to be a part, we are princesses for whom he came into the world to rescue.  

Anna, I am praying that you will know that you are His daughter whom he crowns with such love...  

Running Buddy

It's one thing to get to think about and pray FOR you while I'm running, but it's another thing to get to run WITH you. I loved being with you today and love how you make even a trip to the post office with a line a mile long more fun as we made that stop on our run together. 

You are the most precious running buddy! I loved getting to put my hand on your back up the hills in the park too as it reminded me of Elizabeth doing that for me in the marathon last summer.  

I hope we will always be able to do that for each other through the years in seasons that feel like they are all uphill for one reason or another.  

strength

I have had some aches and pains in the last few weeks- a tight hamstring, a sore hip, etc.  While I've been trying to be careful with more stretching and strength exercises, I also know that some of these things may just be part of the territory as I am getting older.  When one tiny thing hurts, it gives perspective and I realize how many times I've never even thought about my hip when I've run before.  It's all too easy to take things for granted when things are running smoothly.  These things remind me that I have so much to be grateful for with a healthy body and the ability to run and move and breathe so easily.

As I was running today, I was thinking about your feet and you trying to get ready for going en pointe for ballet and the word "strength" kept popping in my head... May God give you strength to dance and play and read and laugh and love and listen and grow. May you know that your strength is found in God even when you feel like you are on shaky ground and you are doubting. May weakness that you face be a simple reminder to look toward God, to seek His grace, to have perspective.  Strength to you, my precious little one!

Fall Forward

Dear Anna,
This is a piece that I read about a a piano lesson of a little girl named Hope. I thought about it today in light of our conversation last night...  and also here's some spring hope for you on this mid-February day:

"So you forgot some notes! Fear and old habits and people pressure and your own interior playlist can do that --- to all of us. But! When the piece started to fall apart?

You fell forward, Hope. You didn't fret about the music behind you --- you focused on the next bar."

Hope had nodded slowly, like a dawning, smiling.

The adjudicator looked down the row of girls and budding pianists and said it with this steady beat.

"We are all going to botch it somedays. We all sometimes get the notes wrong. But the song only goes wrong when we keep thinking back to the wrong notes."

"When a piece starts to fall apart --- fall forward. Fall forward into the next bar. Moving forward is what makes music."

And I sit there at the end of the year, on the end of the bed before the sock drawer with a lapful of holey, mismatched socks, and I can hear it, these notes that I might wear like a habit ---

Failing? What feels likes failing is really gaining experience. Keep moving Forward!

Falling apart? Fall forward into His arms --- falling forward is the only way you make music. Keep moving Forward!

Fearful? Fear is always the first step of faith. Keep moving Forward! 

Whenever you are lost, forward is always the way Home." -Ann Voskamp 

Never-Failing, Never-Giving Up Love

As I was running, I felt like I had a spring in my step today.  The sun was peeking out a bit, I could see daffodils all over town and the pink cherry blossoms are starting to bloom.  But I don't always feel that way when I am on a run.  Some days, I feel like I am an elephant, tromping along and not able to go very fast.  I was thinking about your day yesterday in that you were so tired. You told me at bedtime that you just were not able to do the pirouettes in class very well because you were just spent.

As I was heading up a 2 mile hill, this song came on (One Thing Remains) and the chorus hit home in particular that God's love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out... I am praying for you today that whether you feel like a gazelle or an elephant that your heart would be wrapped up in this love that never fails or gives up or runs out of steam (even though we sure do sometimes!).  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KXsMCJgBQ

One Thing Remains 

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing… Remains [repeat]

[Chorus:]
Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me [3x]

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains

[Bridge:]
In death, In life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love...

a big thank you note

As I was biking today to SPU, I was so grateful for the fact that I was healthy and could bike to work, and I began to think about gratitude... My prayer for you today Anna was that you would have a grateful heart and that your whole life would indeed be a big thank you note to God. 

you are so very loved... 

Running with Purpose

Today, I had 5 miles to run and I decided to run some errands (literally).  I packed up my running backpack that Elizabeth gave me and I stuffed in some streamers, packing tape, sidewalk chalk, and party hats.  (I wonder how many other folks training for marathons have these things in their packs?).  I ran over to the White's house to spread some cheer for Wallace's birthday and then to the Atkins' house to decorate for Isaac's birthday. 

As I was running, I was thinking about how I love to run with a mission in mind like being the chalk fairy on the occasion of two friends' birthdays.  It gives me satisfaction in knowing that I am running with purpose. 

So I run with purpose in every step. 

1 Corinthians 9:26 

That phrase is something that I kept churning in my head as I was running today and praying for you. My prayer for you, Anna, is that you would always know that your days are filled with hope and with purpose (and a little sidewalk chalk on hand to keep things festive). 

Anchor

Dear Anna,
When I got out my marathon training guide again, I worked backwards from June 14th (the day of the Light at the End of the Tunnel marathon) and the day to officially start training is today (February 10th.)

So after I sent you off on your way to school this morning, I laced up my running shoes and hit the road for Day One. I am so excited about this time in the next four months to pray for you and to try to listen in to God's heartbeat for you.

As I was running today, I was listening to a sermon from a friend in California. She was talking about Hebrews 6.   This verse below stood out to me as I was thinking about this significant year for you of turning 13.  

 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19) 

What I am praying for you, Anna, is that you will have a firm foundation, knowing that you are God's  beautiful daughter.  I pray that you would know His love for you and that this would be your anchor.   And when thinking about an anchor, I am thinking not of something that weighs you down in a negative way, but something that keeps you from going all over the place on the sea that is grounding and secure.... 

May this be a season of hope and of anchoring, my little one. 

you are my bright yellow daffodil 

and I love you...