Why sponsor a child? See what World Vision actually does. How can you resist these little faces??? =0)

Running for Rally Foundation again this year. Tacoma 1/2 Marathon here I come! Encourage me to actually get out there and train by making a donation. =0) Thanks!

On the Run again. =0)

Here I go again with this running thing! Somehow I keep hoping that someday I will become a better and faster runner. Though I don't actually "run" (except across the finish line), because endurance running is all about enduring I have learned the run/walk method (which is actually better for your body because it uses all your leg muscles); but I would like to be able to run for a longer period of time and improve upon my times. I know ~ KNOW~ that I can do this Tacoma 1/2 Marathon in May in 2:30 this year. That is shaving off 30 minutes from my BEST time (which is HUGE), but I really believe I can do it. Just like the kids I am championing this season who have to fight hard during the months of treatment for cancer...it is my goal to FIGHT HARD to raise $600 (or more) for them AND to run my best half marathon so far...LORD WILLING of course. He can change the plans at anytime. I would be disappointed, but He can if He wants to. (I am so glad He loves me and takes good care of me.) Anyway, our season officially started yesterday at with a Rally Fun Run of 3 miles in the pouring rain! My legs are a bit sore today because I haven't done much running in the past two or three months, so those muscles are asking me "what's up???"; but with my two friends and great coaches, I KNOW this will be a terrific season. If you'd like to donate to help out these kids let me know, and as soon as my custom Rally website is up I'll post a link here to make it easy. I am excited to see what the Lord brings in these next few months. Race Day is May 6th. Pray for me and my team as we train and raise funds for the most under funded area of cancer research. I was shocked myself to find out that only 3% of the total cancer research funds raised and distributed in America goes to fund research to find cure for childhood cancer. ONLY THREE PERCENT! that is astonishing. Anyway, tomorrow is DAY ONE of remembering to PRACTICE! Not quite sure when that will happen with schoolwork, workwork, and snow, but...it will. Good night everyone. eryn

smash and grab

So...I was enjoying a wonderful lunch with my Mom and friends at Red Lobster today after church today. Then, thanks to a generous customer of mine who had given me two tickets that she wasn't going to be able to use, my Mom and I were going to go see the beautifully decorated Christmas Tree Forest at the Red Lion. We had determined that we would both go home and then carpool from there, since my car's front right half shaft seems to be going bad (yay! I'm hoping it just needs an alignment, but it seems doubtful). As I got into my car to go I heard something "fall" into the back seat, which seemed rather odd to me since I didn't have anything that moved by itself in the car. I turned around to discover that my back seat was covered with shattered glass FROM THE FORMERLY INTACT rear passenger side window! SWELL!!! As soon as that is sinking in I realize that my backpack, which had been sitting there when I went in, was no longer there...and come to think of it, neither was my wonderfully warm jacket! Now normally I would have taken that into the restaurant with me, but I had worn a corduroy jacket and tank to church today today, so I didn't need the other one on top...it wasn't that cold (unless of course you are standing out in it for a while). I AM GRATEFUL that there was nothing of real value inside, except I just realized that my retainers where inside my pack, that's about $300-500 to replace (yay again!). You see I had been house/critter-sitting this weekend for some friends, so the backpack was full of dirty clothes, a pair of cheap shoes, a couple of books, oh and my other FAVORITE light jacket that kept me at just the right temperature...but I had gotten it at Value Village for a great deal, so maybe I can find another one similar. I am GRATEFUL that I had not taken my camera with me like I had thought about the night before when I was home to get clothes for Sunday. Thank you LORD for quietly saying..."Nah, you don't need it. You won't use it between now and tomorrow." Grateful that I listened to that inkling. Grateful that it wasn't a car thief who took the whole car. Looking for the lessons in it all.

Lesson #1 (which I already knew) DON'T LEAVE BACKPACKS IN PLAIN SIGHT STUPID! =0)

Granted, there was nothing really valuable in it, but the thief doesn't know that until he steals it. Happy that a probably homeless person has a nice coat to stay warm with tonight. I pray that they get good use of it and that maybe they read the books, especially the true story of a man's experience with God. I pray that whoever the thief is will give his life to JESUS, repent, and be saved.

Grateful that my Mom was there to help me stay calm and call the police to report the incident, and clean up the mess of the broken glass. Grateful she let me park in the garage tonight, so I could clean up the inside of my car. I vacuumed out the whole thing...might as well right...since I had the vacuum out anyway. =0) Shattered window glass weighs a lot! but it sure does look pretty...there has to be something I can make with it.... No, I did not keep it. I was tempted, but I already have enough clutter. =0)

Well, the window should be fixed tomorrow...I will have fewer clams than I had yesterday in my bank account...the world will keep turning...Jesus still reigns...God is still AMAZING...and life goes on. Just another blip on the radar screen.

Thanks for listening.
Eryn

A Day to be Humble

Oh my goodness! Has it really been so long since I have been on here? I guess so, computers don't lie. =0) So much has happened since then. I'll have to tell you all about that later, right now I am just GRATEFUL to GOD for all that He has done in my life...the friends He brings, the little ways He shows me quite regularly that HE LOVES ME! How He works out His plan, even when we are clueless and are actually getting in the way! Oh...how He loves us...oh! Today is a day of fasting and prayer for many people around our country...praying for repentance of our nation...to humble ourselves before our GOD and remember Him...remember how He has blessed us SO RICHLY in the past and in the present...and what He requires of us...RIGHTEOUSNESS...INTEGRITY...HONESTY...HUMILITY...OBEDIENCE...SELF-DISCIPLINE. I must admit that I failed on the fasting part, but I am all over the prayers for our leaders, families, and individuals to return to our roots in this country...our foundations have been laid on the ONE TRUE GOD and because of that we have freedom. He does exist. He does love you. He does want a relationship with you..."to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God." Oh God, may we as a people remember... be humbled... exalt YOU above all else. Hear our prayers Lord, save our family members who do not know you yet, guide the decisions of our leaders...may they seek after YOUR heart and align their desires with Your will. May we move in communion and in sync with You.Oh Lord, my words do not express well the deep desire in my heart to see righteousness restored to this land. Prophecy says that in the latter days lawlessness will increase. It seems to be happening now. May those who know you let their light shine BRIGHTLY so that those around us my see and seek after you. Thank you Father for Your long-suffering. Your loving kindness is BETTER than life! Thank you for this life. May I use it for Your GLORY.  IN JESUS NAME. Let it be.
Good night world.
eryn

Just thinkin'

To be a missionary is not to go to places far far away, beyond your borders, in exotic or not so exotic places. That for some reason just makes it easier. To be a missionary is to engage the people around you, no matter where you are, and share with them this GREAT NEWS that Jesus has given us to share ~ there is a way to be reconciled to God! HOW FANTASTIC IS THAT!!! You don't have to continue to pursue selfish things...there is great freedom in serving others; even greater freedom in being a servant of the Most High God. Speak, my fellow missionaries, for the world around you is listening...some of them anyway.

God...thank you for refining me. I know I asked for it, please help me see the test coming and react well when it arrives. Not like this morning when I totally forgot to ask you for help. Forgive me Father. I fumbled the ball. Thank you for picking me up and letting me try again. Thank you for reminding me it was a test half way through my stumbling. I pray Lord, that Your graciousness will flow out of me more often than it seems to be at the present time. I know the end of the heated pressure treatment is a beautiful gemstone that sparkles and shines, reflecting Your glory. In the midst, help me remember the outcome. Thank you my most wonderful Saviour. Love, eryn.