"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run WITH ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shames, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
About 5 months after I began training, I completed my first Triathlon. Certainly my feat was nothing compared to Jesus' suffering on the cross, but I can definitely understand with more depth this verse and it's meaning. I've had a few people ask me how it went, and I respond by saying, "I finished!" It is quite a humorous tale which began at approximately 7:00 am last Sunday.
We (my friends Ashley, Sarah and I) had planned to leave the dwelling in which we were staying by 5:45 am last Sunday. I think we left closer to 6, but I didn't pay that close of attention to our departure time since I was certain we would be at the race location well before the 6:35 am cut-off for placing our belongings next to our bikes. (we left our bikes in the care of an on-site security officer the day before. I, however, invested in a $7 bike lock, which was pink, just in case.) My friend, Ashley, left the directions I had carefully printed out in her purse, so we were "feeling our way" to hwy 290. That didn't turn out very well since we got turned around and ended up arriving just around 6:30 am. I dropped off the other two girls closer to the bikes with directions to take my fanny pack to my bike, #1035.
I went to park the van and ran back to the bike transition area in hopes that they would show me mercy and allow me to place my shoes and shirt next to my bike, and where I assumed I would find my fanny pack. Ashley and Sarah forgot my number and decided to leave my fanny pack near Ashley's bike. So, I was literally running around, barefoot, looking for them because my fanny pack contained my lovely orange colored swim cap, my timing chip and goggles. I was literally fighting back tears since there were thousands of people milling around and I could not find my friends anywhere. I was finally directed towards a tent where a kind lady gave me another swim cap and timing chip. The 500 meter swim across the lake would have to be completed without goggles this time.
I was placed in the wave of other women ages 35-39. We all wore the lovely orange swim caps. Waves were sent off every 3 minutes. There were two waves behind me. All women. The next wave wore pink caps and the last wave wore red. I felt very confident about the swim section of the race, less confident in the bike and even less confident about the run. However, I kept joking that even if I had to walk the entire run, and crawl across the finish line, I would complete the race. So, I began the swim and was feeling pretty good. Then, I started to see pink caps pass me and eventually began to see red caps. Uh oh! However, I finished strong and felt ready to complete the bike portion.
Getting on my bike proceeded without incident until I heard my name. My friend Ashley had a flat tire. I pulled over to loan her my hand pump. I moved back into bike traffic fairly easily. I felt as though I was moving along rapidly, but kept hearing the phrase, "On your left!" which racers use to let you know they are passing you on your left. I probably heard this phrase 50 times during the bike ride. I uttered the words once.
I completed the bike portion and moved onto "running". I actually began the 3.65 mile trek with a slow jog. My legs felt strange from peddling for 13.5 miles straight. I passed about 50 runners this time, however they were running the other direction which meant they were almost finished with the running portion, and thus finishing the race. Several cheered me on. "You can do it, 1035!" "You're almost finished, Erin! Keep going!" (our names were written on our "bib" neatly pinned on our front) I grimaced at most of them because I was so envious that they were almost finished and I had just begun the run. The words I had stated to confidently over the last 5 months came back to haunt me. "If I have to, I will walk the entire run portion." It was funny that now, in the event, I felt myself wanting to win! I realized pretty quickly that would not happen this day. I would be doing well to not finish dead last.
However, I remembered the verse that I posted above. I wanted to finish well, not just for myself, but I knew that the Lord had some sort of lesson for me in this endurance challenge. I began to pray and worship while running, walking and sweating. I was passed over and over. I jogged with a woman for a short time who stated that she had raced in numerous triathlons. This was her last race, she said. I asked her how old she was, and she stated, "65" and then kept running while I went back to my walk. Ashley soon passed me. Her bike tire was saved by a kind man who knew how to salvage her tire, and she was determined to run the entire 3.65 miles. She is a much better runner than me. I had already seen our other friend, Sarah, twice. Both times she was going the other way which meant she was much further ahead than me.
In my struggle to swallow my pride, I had a thought. "This is how the spiritual walk is, isn't it, Lord? We will struggle and hurt even though we have trained for this moment. We will be passed in life by so many. It will appear that we will finish last, but it's really not about finishing first. It's about finishing well. It's about running with endurance. It's about moving forward when we want to stop and quit. It's about keeping our eyes focused on the finish line which is our eternal life with you, even in the midst of the largest challenges of our lives. It's about choosing to live, love, laugh even when we want to fall on our faces and die. You are the prize, Jesus. I get it."
I wish that thought could have propelled me forward in such a fashion that I did not finish last. But, I did. There were a few people behind me, but I think, literally three. The 65 year old woman finished before me. I ran across the finish line 3 hours and 1 minute after the first wave of bodies propelled through the water. Some of those in the front did the race twice and finished ahead of me the second time. I don't know my time, exactly, because the new chip I was given didn't record my time. I was not listed on the records that were e-mailed to me the next day. In their minds, I didn't even show up. I know I did, though. And Jesus knows. He's proud of me for finishing. And finishing well.
I so look forward to finishing the race of life and to be told, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I pray that I am able to continue this race and run with endurance, praising and worshiping my maker the entire way. It truly is worth it to finish, even if it's not mapped out exactly as we envisioned when we began. It is worth it. HE is worth it.
It seems that the wedding trend these days is for brides to have something at their wedding that none of the their guests have seen before. One of these latest trends is having a vintage wedding. According to the Huffington Post (not necessarily the experts on wedding trends 
"I will be yours, you will be mine... Together in eternity." Those were the opening lyrics of the song that I danced with my brand new husband for the first time 14 years ago. My sweet husband and I celebrated our life, love and marriage yesterday with a simple "date in" without children and distractions. It was a wonderful evening of good food, movies and reminiscing about our wedding and marriage. The very first memory that came to his mind was our pastor's jokes as he was speaking to our crowd of about 250 people. I remember so many aspects of our wedding as it was exactly as I always dreamed it would be, down to the very last detail. We both agreed that as wonderful as our wedding was, and as smoothly as it ran, we both love the place where our journey together has taken us. Little did we know what was ahead of us on that blissful day. No one could have ever articulated in words what our journey would look like and where it would take us. Not one person could have spoken to our hearts what the Lord knew our life together would bring. This path has taken us to the very heights of joy with our love, experiencing the birth and lives of four amazing children, friends, and experiencing just a taste of the joy that comes from knowing Jesus so intimately. This sojourn has also led us to the depths of sorrow and pain as we have experienced loss, death, and the darkness of our souls at our very lowest times. Through the highs and the lows, though, we have had our Lord in our midst, and we both consider it a privilege and a blessing to be able to experience it all together. We are so fortunate to have family and friends to cheer us on and walk with us through the good, the bad and the ugly of marriage, family and life. For that I am eternally grateful. We ended our date with prayers of Thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father who has been so faithful, good, patient and life-giving to us. Fourteen years ago, I would have never fathomed where my dreams and hopes would have taken me. However, there is no one in the world I would rather be walking this journey with than my husband.
My parents celebrated 40 years of marriage this weekend. My Dad decided that they would renew their wedding vows. Anyone who knows my Dad knows that this in itself is a miraculous act of God, since my Dad has never been known to be the romeo of which every woman dreams. That being said, one certain aspect of my Dad's heart is that he truly loves my Mom.
These two amazing people, of which I have the privilege to call my parents, have been through the ringer. They raised a special needs child during a time when there was no information on how to handle and deal with this child. My Dad climbed the corporate ladder and
My little family was blessed to witness true love at it's best as these two beautiful people vowed once again, before God and friends, to love no matter what. God is gracious, merciful and true and the ceremony we viewed this weekend is all attributed to His Glory.
I was flipping through news this morning and came across an article that sparked my brain as a topic for this blog entry. Kate Moss married rocker Jamie Hince today in England. I don't really follow celebrity gossip very often, (except while standing in line at the grocery store) but this particular article was interesting to me because Kate changed dresses four times throughout the celebration. (Also the groom wore a pale blue tuxedo) 
I was thinking about one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies last night. From 27 Dresses... Bride: "Aren't these dresses great? And the best thing about them, is you can shorten them and wear them again!" Jane: "That is definitely so true!" As I'm watching this (for the 20th time. The opening scene has me in stitches every time I watch it) I'm thinking, "There is no way she will ever wear that again. Just like my bridesmaids probably never wore theirs again, nor did I ever wear my bridesmaids dresses again." And, we come to find out later, Jane's 27 bridesmaids dresses sit tucked away in her closet of her studio apartment, never worn again.
Outdoor weddings are incredibly beautiful! Marrying the love of your life encased in the backdrop of God's amazing creation can produce a memorable day for everyone. However, outdoor weddings can be complete disasters as well. Here are some tips for creating a spectacular outdoor wedding based on my experience.
Next to your wedding plans, deciding on the honeymoon is definitely the most important decision you will make regarding your big day. My husband and I decided to keep ours simple. We had a wonderful time at some locations in Texas which are now very special to our hearts since we spent there the first several days as husband and wife.
After all these years, I still remember watching Charles and Diana get married. My most vivid memory of that wedding was Diana's train. I was too young to understand the implications and pomp and circumstance behind the ceremony, but I definitely recall that Diana was truly beautiful and so was her train!
Spring: a word often equated with new growth. The trees are blooming, and here in Texas, we see Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and a wide assortment of colors from our renowned wildflowers. For me, it is the time of year that I get to plant a new garden. I have delightful memories with my children planting our beds each year. Last weekend, we went to Lowes and purchased plants with which to landscape. They were each allowed to chose a flower to plant in our garden. So, this year, we will have a bundle of purples to view. One of my sons spent his own money to purchase 
a hydrangea. I told him that it's my favorite flower for a wedding because it is created in such a way that it already has the same appearance as a bridal bouquet. It seems as though the Lord designed hydragneas for a bride's floral arrangements. They are so beautiful! Of course, they are not even remotely the only popular flower you will find at a wedding these days. The classic, roses, are as popular today as they were many moons ago. Gerbera Daisies are another crowd pleaser as well as orchids and tulips. If you are a person that just read this post and has no idea what is the appearance of any of these blooms, then here's a tip: SEARCH until you can't look at another flower. Tear out pages from a magazine, print pictures off of the internet. Find as many bouquets, centerpieces and boutonniers as you like and take them to your florist. If you have picked the right florist, he/she will be able to help you sort through your pictures and tailor your choices to fit your tastes and preferences. He/she might also be able to assist you in saving money by offering alternative styles of flowers that are similar to those you chose but may be easier on your budget. Either way, you are guaranteed to have as your final choice the floral combination of your dreams. How do you find the right florist? Ask your wedding coordinator for recommendations! And in the meantime, enjoy the spring and the beautiful array of flowers on display. It's an amazing time of year!
A few years ago, one of my clients' number one topic for her wedding was the cake. The cake was more important than the venue, photographer, music or flowers. She said she attended a friend's wedding and the cake was so delicious, that is what she remembered above everything else. She wanted her wedding to be remembered for the fabulous cake.
Selecting the perfect date for your wedding can be quite a headache! There are so many aspects to consider. The most important one is knowing if the venue you most adore is available during the time you desire to speak your nuptials. After that, you can choose your other favorite vendors and hope for the best! One way to almost guarantee that you can pick your preferred choices is to have several weekends available on your end to choose from. It may prove easier to line everyone up if there are diverse options from which to choose.
When I attend a wedding that I did not coordinate, I struggle. It is difficult to sit and enjoy the ceremony without viewing it from an experienced and somewhat critical eye. Last night was one of those situations. I was looking forward to attending a wedding as a date night with my husband. It was at the Antique Rose Emporium (such a beautiful venue located between College Station and Brenham), there was going to be dancing, food and of course, my favorite; cake! 
The TOMS shoe idea is incredible. Buy a pair of shoes from them, and they will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. Of course, it's a marketing ploy, but I'm a big fan of Capitalism and this is the free market at it's best! So, I want to put a plug in for TOMS. They have a Wedding Collection. I've not bought a pair of TOMS yet, but everyone I know who owns them says they are extremely comfortable. So, why not take the money you would use to purchase a pair of uncomfortable high heeled shoes from a department store and buy some TOMS, which you really could wear later, and help a child in need receive a free pair of shoes? The line includes shoes for brides, bridesmaids, grooms, groomsmen and kids. You could just have a TOMS shoes themed wedding. That way, everyone's feet are adorned in adorable footwear, which don't hurt at the end of the night, and a child somewhere in the world won't have to walk incredible distances without adequate protection for their feet. Here's a link to their site: http://www.toms.com/wedding?icid=us032011_10
Spring Break is here, which means one of my favorite places, JJ's Snowcones, will be opening soon! So, why do I mention this in my wedding blog? One new trend I've noticed with my brides is the aspiration to have something unique in the way of desserts at their reception. Most brides desire a traditional wedding cake, but still want to have something for which their guests can clearly remember. Some examples: candy buffets, cheesecake, ice cream sundaes, chocolate fountains. My mouth is watering just thinking about all the options!
