Kroc Challenge Triathlon FINISHER!!

Well, I finished!! As my friend Liz told me, You can do it. You will do it, one mile at a time. And I did. Ironman length over 3 months. So its not in one day. Its a beginner triathlon. I rode all the bike miles inside the Kroc center and swam all the laps in the Kroc pool. Some of the running was on a track, on a elliptical machine, some on a treadmill, and some outside.
These are my prizes: swim cap for the swim portion 2.4 miles, water bottle for 112 miles on the bike, and the bag for 26.2 miles walking/running (140.6).

I loved it. And when I finished, I went to the Chiropractor for an adjustment and a massage. The Dr said, "What's next?" . I am still trying to decide what is next. All I know is that I really enjoy the Tri sports and don't want to stop. So I signed up for a 5K in Medical Lake WA August 17, 2013.  That's next.

I am reading a lot of books right now. Here are a few of them.

 

Here is a great blog I came across

http://www.swimbikemom.com/

Meredith, you are one of my heroes! She has completed 2 Half Ironman races and is coming here to Coeur D'Alene ID

to do the Ironman race in June. I hope to meet her...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I joined a Triathlon club. What a bunch of great people. I was very intimidated to go to

the sign up meeting, but the people were so encouraging and welcoming. All ages, sizes, and races- meaning , what race are you doing?? Some Ironman, some Sprint, some 5K, 10K . All competing against themselves- running their OWN race.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

 



Try 2013

I thought this was funny. It is definitely for me right now. The fitness level I am at now needs a boost and so 

I am challenged to start training for triathalon. 

The last few years I seem to be caving in to a Fear mentality. After taking a few STEPS of Faith, or LEAPS or JUMPS,  we felt discouraged, fearful, cautious, defeated about doing many things. 

Our whole family seems to be feeling it. I found it interested that Greg, Caleb and Andy all preached at the Watch night service- all 3 messages kinda went together. 

Greg- having Triumph in Christ, Caleb - Be a Nevertheless Christian and Andy - Fear Not.

In 2012, our family has been challenged and stretched. To get away from the Fear. To once again, step out and Do hard things. Good things that the Lord wants to help us with. 

My kids have been serving in an assisted living home, since 2 of the men in our church have not been able to be there. Caleb is 15 and does the preaching, Andrew is 14 and does the prayer reqests and Jonathan age 10 is the song leader. They had been practicing in this capacity for a while with their Dad, but lately they have been running the services themselves. Emily and Rachel and Caleb all take turns playing the piano. We are being pushed out of our comfort zones and it is good. 

In 2012 the Lord revealed to me that I am scared to go on a missions trip. Scared of the unknown, pain, trials, uncomfortable situations that I could be faced with.  I surrendered to the Lord that I would go on a missions trip if He wanted me to. For Christmas we received money for Greg and I to get our passports and buy tickets to go to the Philippines and Thailand this year.  WOW.

So the triathalon is just another extension of this, walking in Faith and not in Fear.  I went for my first outdoor  run last night with my friend Liz. I was scared I would fall on the ice. I did not fall. It was FUN!! I was afraid   

I would not make it to the end, but I did. ( it was a run/walk/run/walk/run /walk) lol. Thank you Lord for helping me to get over the fear. 

Fear not for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. 

Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

currently reading

The Bible

The Shunning by Beverly Lewis


The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine
The Smart Mom's Guide to Staying Home -65 Simple ways to Thrive, not deprive on one Income
by Christine Walker

The Go-Giver by Burg/Mann
Never eat alone by Keith Ferrazi

The GOD experiments - How science is discovering God in everything, including US. by Gary Schwartz

Reading

I have been busy, working, reading, exercising, working, reading and alot of reading.These first 2 books are excellent. Fighting for Dear Life by David Gibbs was a eye opening, heart breaking story. Silent Witness by Mark Furhman was scary, mind boggling. Mr. Furhman is a seasoned detective and gives you the inside story on this case. I was terrified at night after reading this book. I had to pray so I could go to sleep!

This month I also read The Redemption of Sarah Cain by Beverly Lewis. This was a good book. I enjoyed it. Easy reading, Christian Fiction.  For Business training, I have been reading Yes, You Can! by Art Linkletter. Basic tips for excelling in business.

ME

2006 picture


2008 picture


2011

helps and encouragement in homeschooling

Here is a list of books I recommend to any Christian mom considering homeschooling or in the midst of homeschooling. As they say, you gotta "eat the meat and spit out the bones" . I do not endorse or agree with every suggestion in these books, but there are some good ideas. That is for you and your family to pray about and pick and choose.

A seminar by Carole Joy Seid. I went to this back in 2004 . Some notes you may be able to find online. (or you can borrow mine)
Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe, by Todd Wilson
How to be a great wife (even though you homeschool) by Todd Wilson
Anything by Karen Andreola
The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
To Train Up a Child by the Pearls
The Strong Willed Child by Dr Dobson
101 Devotions for Homeschool Moms by Jackie Wellwood
Better Late than Early by the Moores
Anything by Raymond Moore (esp if you have boys)
Homeschooling, the Right Choice by Christopher Klicka
A Survivor's Guide to Home Schooling by L. Shackleford and S. White
Beyond Survival - A Guide to Abundant Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring
Life Skills for Kids by Christine Field
The Heart of Home Schooling- Teaching and living what really matters by Christopher Klicka
ANd
The Vaccine Guide by R Neustaeder
Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Balch

homeschool misperceptions

I have been homeschooling for about 17 yrs. I read alot about homeschooling. I have read about How to homeschool,  how to teach boys, how to teach girls, right brain learners, etc.  I am not a college graduate. I do not have a teaching degree. I am not the best reader. Sometimes people look at my kids and say wow. They have this perception that I am this SUPER  Teacher. Well I am not. I am just a woman trying to do what God called me to do.

When I got saved, I was 21 yrs old, with a 2 yr old daughter. A single mom, working my way up the corporate ladder, so to speak. One of my first friends at church was a mother of 3 boys and she homeschooled. This was the first I had ever heard of it. I had been in public school K-12 and taken some community college classes . The Lord started working on me about this and I was interested, my spirit was curious and my flesh didnt want to give up the business work that i had been doing. The Lord allowed circumstances that caused me to come home from work for 3 months, and after 3 months home with my daughter, I didnt want to go back. =-)

Fast forward a few years. I got married, had a few more children. Before Greg and I got married, we discussed children, how we would raise them and school them. We both believed that God wanted us to homeschool.
When we moved to Idaho, we had 5 children - ages 11, 5, 4, 1 1/2 yrs, and an 8 month old. We started our day reading the Bible and praying.
That is my #1 prescription for homeschooling. Read the Bible with the children and Pray. All 5 of my children learned to read using a basic phonics program and a King James Bible. Glory to God.

Now, the misperceptions I am talking about are many.
Here is one of them : "I am not smart enough to teach them. "
Now the public schools and other people would love for you to believe this. Just quit thinking you can do it and throw those kids out for the yellow bus to pick up. Its just not true. God gave you (and your husband) the wisdom to do what needs to be done with your kids.
There are so many I can't write about them all in one post. Todd Wilson hits alot of them in his book, Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe.  I know that many people home school today without any type of spiritual guidance or direction. Many of them are unhappy with what they are getting in the public school setting. As a Christian, I believe if God wants you to do something, then He will help you do it. I have told the Lord many days, I dont know how to do this and I need your help and He helps me.