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I have been training for a marathon for the past several months.  It has been long, hard work for me.  I have never enjoyed running and never thought I would be participating in any sort of race, let alone a 26.2 mile one!

One of the places that I have been doing most of my longer training runs is a beautiful park.  It has 2 huge playgrounds, a skateboard ramp, a fenced in dog play area, covered picnic tables and a 1 mile paved track.

Usually when I am there I am circling that 1 mile loop of pavement anywhere from 13-20 times.  (I know it's crazy!!!) Anyway, I often see the same familiar faces during my many loops. 

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There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.

Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."

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I cannot believe I will be running 26.2 miles in just 1 month.  It is something I never thought I would do.

I have been training with an amazing team for the past several months, most of whom I have never met.

There are, however, a few people who I know really well that I look forward to seeing on race day!

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A 95 year old man gave his son some advice:

"Do you want to know the secret of a long life?"

"I guess so," the son answered.

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A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.

"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

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One day she is a normal citizen and the next day.....

SHE IS A FOURTH-GRADE SAFETY PATROL!!!

My 9 year old daughter is so pleased with her new status in the elementary school.  This special title (AND BADGE) is exclusively for "upper class men." It comes with a clipboard.  Yes. A clipboard!

What is this clipboard for?

To take names of children who are talking too loudly, or running, or misbehaving in the hallways.

I always thought that was tattling and now my daughter was being told that this act was a great privilege.

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Every morning when I send my kids off to school I say a prayer with them .  We pray for God to protect them throughout their day and they often ask for help with their spelling tests or a good lunch option in the cafeteria.  ;-) But I always end the prayer this way, "God, help us show your love to those around us today."

Do you know what that looks like?

What do you do to "re-charge" your battery? Do you read a book, take a nap, go for a walk, hang out with friends, eat a big bowl of ice cream, write in a journal, plan a party?

I know for each person it is so different.  If you are an introvert you probably feel drained after time with a big crowd of people and you need to re-charge with some alone time following an event like a family reunion or social gathering.  If you are an extrovert being with a large crowd actually charges your battery and pumps you up for life ahead.

Regardless of the preference and personality type, we all need to be re-charged.  We need to plug in.

My husband and I are in the process of building a home.  It has been a really fun process choosing each and every aspect of our home. Yet there have been a few decisions that we had never before considered.

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A few years ago I read a great book series by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock. The Seasons Series follows the lives of four women who live on the same cul-de-sac of a neighborhood suburb.

One of the books begins as a mom is cleaning and putting away the decorations following her youngest child's wedding reception in her home the night before.  She is reflecting on the fun events of the weekend but also mourning the emptiness of her home and the fact that all of her "babies" are now grown and gone creating families of their own.

She looks out the window to see her neighbor.  Her neighbor is frantically

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My father-in-law is a Chaplain in the Air National Guard.  He is currently deployed to Manas, Krygystan where he is serving at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Chapel.  This Transit Center ministers to many permanent party staff and also to hundreds of service men and women as they come and go from their deployments to home.

In addition to providing chapel services and counseling, the chaplain also tries to make life easier for these men and women by offering them things they might need, like a razor or a cell phone to call home.  My father-in-law has shared that many times people who come into the chapel just want someone to talk to, someone who will listen to their problems and be a friend.

Recently, an Army private came into the chapel sharing his problem.  He couldn't go home because the boots he needed to wear were already packed and loaded.  He had on his mountain boots and now needed his tan boots.  (This may seem irrelevant to those of you who have never experienced military life, but let me assure you, this is an important issue.) He would not be able to wear his mountain boots for his flight home and his E-2 salary would not afford the major purchase of buying new tan boots.  He was at a loss so he came to the chaplain for some encouragement and wisdom.