To Be or Not To Be.. A Runner

I ran six miles for the first time yesterday.. Well, to be honest, I think I probably walked one of them. I've been following a training program for a half marathon that I was hoping to compete in this coming November. The bad news is.. Due to budget constraints, I'm going to have to push my half marathon hopes into 2013. Still, I wanted to follow through on the training.

ANYWAY... I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday, but I knew that I might not get a long run in on Saturday since we have buckets and buckets o' rain in the forecast. I took off on my run and was struggling the first mile..and the second and third. I kept pushing through thinking it would get easier.. It NEVER did. It was so bad at one point that I was praying (out loud, while running), and asking God to help me make it.

When I finally got home, I was sore and my muscles were so tight. My husband asked me if I thought that maybe I should reconsider my dreams of being a seasoned runner. I quickly told him to zip his lips and rub me down with Blue-Emu.

Seriously though... Does anyone have any running advice for me. My five miles last week weren't a breeze, but they were so much easier than this week's six. Help!!!!

A Day To Pray

I was inspired by a Facebook post last night... A friend posted a status:

To all my friends (including me) who are going through some issues right now--Let's start an blessing avalanche. We all need to bless and lift our friends and family to the Father right now. If I don't see your name, I'll understand. May I ask my friends wherever you might be, to kindly copy, paste, and share this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. I hope to see this on the walls of all my friends just for moral support. I know some will!! I did it for a friend and you can too. You have to copy & paste this one, no share button.

I know how important the power of prayer has been for me and my family. It has carried us through trials and storms.. It still carries us, daily. There's nothing that comforts more than knowing that there's someone out there praying for you when you need it most.

So I wanted to extend this challenge to all of my friends... Let's commit to pray for one another on a regular basis. Please leave your prayer request in the comments below or email me privately at amyelain@gmail.com

I'll be post a reminder every Tuesday and hopefully this will be an encouragement to all. I know it is to me!

Better Half

The room was starting to fill with people. There were so many beautiful people.. Girls with perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfect clothes on their perfect bodies. I felt myself tense up, my mind was second guessing my entire being. My hair wasn't right, my dress felt tight. Instantly I felt fat and ugly. I didn't want to be there.. I wanted to melt into the floor and disappear.

Then he grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear..."Relax. You're beautiful. Perfect. You're with me.. It's ok. Don't let those girls intimidate you."

I fell in love with my husband again a thousand times over that night. He really is my better half.

Abraham's Faith

I cannot imagine how Abraham felt when God asked him to give his son's life on that altar. The heartache and pain that he must have dealt with must have made his obedience that much more of a sacrifice. What faith he had.. No wonder he is called a hero of the faith.

Making the choice to move out of state without our boys moving with us has been the hardest decision that we've had to make as a husband and wife. Yet we know that God is leading us in this new direction.

So we choose to obey... although this obedience requires much sacrifice.

I'm asking that you keep our family in your prayers as we make this transition. We are forever grateful.

Moving Forward

As we drove away from the last chapter in our lives this morning, I couldn't help but to feel relieved. The past four years held so much pain and heartache. So much loneliness and despair. We were mostly ostracized in our small town. It seems it's easier to believe gossip than it is to ask the truth. Or some just choose indifference.

If you don't go through the storm, you don't see your true character and you won't know if you'll depend on God or try to fight the battle on your own. My many weaknesses were laid out for all to see... At times , I gave up. Then I would find renewed strength and realize strengths that I didn't know I had. My poor husband, he was carrying so much on his shoulders, yet he would still find ways to make me feel important to him and would try to lessen my burden.

We know that this move doesn't eliminate all of the battles that we faced before. You can never eliminate your problems by changing zip codes. But we have a new joy, new hope, and stronger faith. We have watched God move mountains, remove barriers, and answer prayers. One of our biggest battles isn't over... But the One who goes before us will continue to fight our battles for us.

Head 'Em Up

Well...

The Dellinger's are making a big move. After months of transition and decisions, we are headed to San Antonio, Texas! It's been a walk of blind faith and complete trust that God was directing our steps. Proverbs 16:9 says, "You may make your plans, but God directs your actions." We were actually planning on moving east, but God had a different plans. We are looking forward to a new adventure and most of all, we are over the top excited to be near my Mom and Dad.

I guess I'll have to change the name of this blog from Life on the Mountain to something a little more Tex-Mex. Any ideas?

Push

Somedays

You have to let yourself CRY

Let yourself question circumstances

Close your eyes and replay the conversations and accusations

Then

You get up

Dry your eyes

Take action

Drop to your knees and pray

Make the choice to PUSH through the darkness and heaviness

Set your course and move forward in faith

The lesson that I've learned is that more answers in prayer come from faithfulness in the midst of the storm than from moments of despair.