Thoughts for Thursday

What are my weekend plans? For the first time in a month, we have a “free” weekend without too many goings-on.  As a result, we’re thinking of heading up to the Air and Space Museum in DC to give the boys an exciting Saturday afternoon.  They are totally space crazy these days and we can’t wait to show them the real space shuttle there.  Afterward, we are planning to swing by and see some great friends from our Notre Dame Law years–this promises to be wonderful.  On Sunday, we are meeting up with another family to do our FIRE at-home catechesis after church.  From then, we’ll fill the rest of the time with race training (GG for a half-marathon in March and me for a 10k in April) and yard work while the kids play outside in this gorgeous weather. My idea of a perfect weekend!

What are my prayer intentions today? My prayer intentions today are for a good friend, Sarah, who in the wake of a second occurrence of breast cancer, has learned she is miraculously pregnant.  This is a joy beyond joys.  I am in awe of our Gracious God and the work he is doing through this lovely, faithful couple.  I am praising and praying in earnest.  Our friend’s body has been greatly damaged by years of chemo and we are praying this baby will continue to grow and thrive.  We are also praying for a miracle regarding the remission of Sarah’s very estrogen-related type of cancer.  Our Mother of Mercy, pray for Sarah!

What can my children do instead of watching TV? Play. outside.  We are so ready, it’s not even funny.  Bring on the 70 degrees tomorrow!  Let’s go on a walk.  Let’s go on a bike ride.  Did I mention we’re ready?

What is one product that is making my life a little easier? My full-size food processor is a wonderful help these days, especially as I’m making vast quantities of homemade baby food.  Butternut squash is on the baby menu tonight.  Bon appetit.

What have I done for my marriage this week? I participated in a military-style organization night last night, put on by my husband.  We sat down and worked the budget, worked the calendar, worked our long-term spiritual goals, worked some future planning, and then we prayed together.  Whew!  It was Army tough, but gosh, I’m a lucky gal to have this kind of a leader as a husband.  He is rock solid and such a gifted leader.  God bless him (and his sometimes unwilling, unmotivated second-in-command wife!)  He is so good for me.

What’s challenging me lately? I’ll be honest, I have shin splints and they are challenging my outlook.  I was injured through most of my college running career, had a resurgence in my 20’s as I took on longer (slower) distance, and now am here.  I am training for a 10k and trying to run it fast(er) only to end up right back where I was in college.  Ugh.  Maybe I need to pray about this more.  Lord, heal my shins!

Something that made me think? One of my “bosom friends” in life, the type of friend who has been there from the beginning and knows me better than I know myself, has taken on this project and is doing amazing things!  She has been featured all over and is raising awareness for human and sex trafficking occurring in our hometown of Toledo, Ohio.  Apparently, it’s #3 in the country for the trade.  All of this has had me thinking a great deal about The Daughter Project and daughters and fathers.  How did these women end up here?  Which leads me to thinking about our daughter and how we can love and protect her from the brutalities of the world.  People need Christ.  That’s about it.  They need Jesus and now.