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Hitting the Pavement Once Again
09
January
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In 2010 Brian and I ran a marathon.  It was the San Antonio Rock ‘n Roll marathon, and it was AMAZING!  As soon as we crossed the finish line we started talking about doing it again.  However, more than a year went by without a marathon.  We continued to run and did small events but the LONG distance was lost.

It is 2012 and we have a little fire burning in our bellies that can only be quenched by 16 weeks of training ending with one very long run and a feeling of accomplishment that I have no comparison for.

Step one – finding a race.  We had narrowed our choices down to two races and made our final decision last night, casting our vote with a registration for the Pittsburgh Marathon.  There are 117 days until the race!

Step two – a training plan.  I pulled out our previous plan designed by our good friend Greg Despres and I ran the first week last week.  I plan to do some research to find the “prefect” training plan for this race.

Step three – stay motivated.  In my mind I started training right after Christmas when I hit the pavement three times in one week (something I had not done in awhile).  So last week, while following Greg’s plan was a bit of a second week for me.  I found myself in one weak moment remembering how very long the long runs take at the end and how much time overall I had to commit.  For a split moment I was tempted to decide “I have done this once, do I need to do it again right now?”  But the answer is YES!  I reminded myself in reality all I need to do is concentrate on the running for this week and not let my mind go beyond that.  Run what I have to run this week.  Get it done, enjoy it, learn from it and let it train you!

Rick Kimbal (the Marathon Nut), a guy I just started following on twitter posted a list of to dos for running a marathon.  His step three is set your goals.  I had a general purpose for running, a gut feeling, a drive.  But I realized I needed to write it out and have a clear defined reason.  Doing so would give me more purpose and drive, it would give more meaning to the one foot in front of the other.  I will be sharing my purpose for running a marathon in a future post.

Step four – Get a new pair of running shoes.  I will be headed to a specialty store to replace my old sneakers, the ones I wore in my last marathon. I hope to share a little on that process as well.

It feels good to have this started!

Join me!

Finish the race!

Category: Mandy, running  Tags: , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Honest Words from a Pastor’s Wife – Christmas on a Sunday
28
December
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This year Christmas came on a Sunday, which has not happened since 2005.  If I am going to be completely honest I was not excited about this occurrence.  Although I love going to church I do not enjoy getting this family of 6 ready for church.  If we could just go in our PJs that would be glorious, although totally distracting and strange to say the least!  When we are home for Christmas it is a pajama kinda day.  Last year I remember thinking how strange it was to be sitting down to Christmas dinner served on our fine china along side family heirloom silver all the while wearing PJs!

My thoughts about this started before Thanksgiving.  Our church has a Thanksgiving Day service, Brian was there.  I was not too excited about that one either.

Then came Christmas.

Brian was to be at both the Christmas Eve service and the Christmas day service, there would be no getting around that unless we left town and he took a vacation day.

A week before Christmas, I got a text message from the husband/pastor/creative ministries guy that informs me my two oldest children will be singing in both the Christmas Eve service and the Christmas Day service.  Well it looks like I am loosing this one!  All I could think was, this must be what the Lord wants them to do.  It is not so much about me.

It is important to always be checking my heart and listening for what God might say in every life situation…
Speaking to my Mom around Thanksgiving gave me the first viewpoint/heart change that was needed.  My Mom was in a new town away from family and was informing me how neat it was to go to a church service on Thanksgiving Day.  My heart that had been set on, “can’t we just be a family on Thanksgiving and Christmas and hang out at our house” began to change as I realized the blessing a service can be to others.  Others who do not have family, others who have guests in town who only go to church on holidays, others who need the encouraging words of Scripture in song and word all are encouraged by a Thanksgiving or Christmas service.  In reality I am encouraged as well, but that was not my concern at the time.  I just wanted my loves home in their PJs.

The girls were delighted to find out they would be singing in the Christmas services, I believe there were even screams of joy when the news was told.  However, on Christmas morning when it was time to put the newly unwrapped presents down and dress for church the delight wore off a bit.  I had to give the pep talks while placing the curlers in their golden hair.  “You have the opportunity to bring joy to others by singing and encouraging their hearts.  You never know who will be in the audience.  Someone may really need the encouragement this service will bring.”  I was speaking to myself as well as to my girls.  The Lord always teaches me as I try to teach them :)

They went, they sang, they came back all smiles!  They ended up with their picture on the front page of the newspaper, singing so sweet.  I received word from several who went to the services how encouraged they were by the service and the girls’ involvement.  The Lord knows what He is doing!

To finish it all off they were back in their PJs with in 30 minutes of coming home, back to their new unwrapped gifts!  Christmas dinner was still china, crystal, silver and PJs!

Category: christmas, Family Life, Mandy, ministry, Uncategorized  Tags: , , , ,  2 Comments
Merry CHRISTmas Tweets
19
December
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Focusing my mind on the gift of Christ this Christmas brought me to look for verses that show the blessings we have in and through Him.  The following are the verses I tweeted throughout last week.  Here is my list so far:

When we were dead in our trespasses God made us alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:5

In Christ we have obtained an inheritance.  Ephesians 1:11

In Christ we were chosen before the foundation of the world.  Ephesians 1:4

In Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3

In Christ you who were once far off have been brought near.  Ephesians 2:13

Because of Christ, if we confess our sins he is faithful to forgive. I John 1:9

In Christ we receive grace & apostleship for the sake of his name among the nations. Romans 1:5

The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22

In Christ we are filled with the fruit of righteousness.  Philippians 1:11

I can be found in Christ, having a righteousness that comes through faith in him.  Philippians 3:9

Merry CHRISTmas!

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Merry CHRISTmas!
12
December
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It is the time of giving and receiving!  If you are like me in your Christmas history you have a few gifts you were given that at the time seemed nice, maybe even exciting, but it was not until years later that you discovered just how wonderful they really were.  One of mine is a serving tray my Grandmother gave me.  I thought it was nice and was glad to receive it, but I was not too sure how much it would actually get used.  Several years later I consider this tray invaluable as I use it repeatedly for different things.

At Christmas time we often focus our thoughts on the wonder of Jesus’ birth, and rightly so!  However, I think the longer He lived here on earth and the longer we walk in our devotion to Him the greatness of His gift is realized even more.  I will be tweeting a series of verses with the hash tag #MerryCHRISTmas to focus my thoughts on the greatness of the gift of Jesus that developed after His birth.  Jesus life, death and resurrections are what truly makes Christmas Merry and CHRISTmas!

If you would like to follow along on twitter, find me at  MandaRayel.  If you are a Facebook friend I will be posting them there as well.

May we see the gift of CHRIST in all it’s value!

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5K
01
October
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Today I ran a 5K.  That would be the first time I have done the 5K distance for an event.  A group of mom’s from my oldest’s soccer team decided to run the Hands on House 5K, so of course I joined them.  In the last two years running has become a great friend to me.  In 2010 I ran my first half marathon in the spring and followed it with a full marathon in the fall.  I have scaled back since then for many reasons, and it has been missed!  I have plans to hit the road for those long distances again in the future, but for now the 5K was a perfect fit.

I had two favorite moments in today’s race worth sharing with you!

Off and on through out the three-plus miles there was a VERY tall man running alongside of me, behind me or right in front of me.  We seemed to have similar paces and we just kept exchanging who was in the lead.  When it was time for the final push of the race this gentleman broke our running silence, where we had both lived, pacing ourselves and challenging ourselves.  Out of nowhere he speaks up and says “Hey, we have been exchanging places this entire time.  Let’s end it together!”  Immediately I picked up my pace and was like “Yes, let’s push to the end”…although I don’t think I actually said anything. We then turned on our wheels and approached two ladies in front of us.  Again my giant, no longer silent, encourager declaired “OK, take these two lets go!” and we dug deep and passed them.  Well I gave it all I had to the end.  My encourager had more to give and finished before me, but just as he left my side my second favorite part of the morning arrived.

On the final turn of the race my husband and four kids stood cheering!  “Go Mom!” As I passed them I was so encouraged to hear those sweet little voices that I love so dearly cheering me on!  I turned the corner and saw the end.  As I approached I realized my kids were running along after me on the sideline cheering as they went.  What a blessing!  I heard Emma declaire “I can’t keep up with her.”

I LOVE encouragement and a well placed exhortation!  In life we need it desperately!  When we think we have given it all we can or we have fallen into the belief that coasting is a good idea, a well put “kick in the pants”, “you can do it” does wonders!

Thank you silent-giant!

Thank you Brian and my amazing kids!

Category: goals, good friends, Mandy, running  Tags: , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Moore Muffin Tin Lunch
22
August
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One of the things I love about reading blogs is that I get inspired to try new things, even simple things!  Last week while checking $5 Dinners I found this inspiration and another site to follow, Muffin Tin Mom.

I don’t know what it is about cute little spaces filled in fun ways, but I am all about it.  Last year we purchased Laptop Lunch boxes, they are bento boxes.  Both the kids and myself love filling them and using them.  I was not sure if the kids would like this muffin tin lunch idea, it seemed so close to a bento boxes we already have.  I soon discovered they loved it!  The talk around the island went something like this:

“When lunch looks cute it tastes better.” Emma

“This looks like a bunny lunch Mom!” Owen

“Thank you, Mom…for muffin lunch!” Isabelle.

We don’t even have cute muffin tins, and it still worked :)   Give it a try….happy munching!!

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