27 Sleeps...well, maybe only 26

Today I woke up thinking...only 27 more sleeps until my first marathon.  Wow.  (Unless I don't sleep tonight at all, as it seems to be, then it is only 26 sleeps).  And I haven't totally lived up to all I hoped this marathon training would do.  I calculated my miles this morning and was quite surprised though.  Although I didn't run 17 days of the month due to an injury, and several days I didn't run because I only run three to four times a week, I still go 90 miles in this month!  90!!!  That's crazy for me!  I feel good about the race.  It is coming quickly, but I am focused with the Optimized Fat Metabolism way of eating and focused in my training.  I am not getting to run quite as much as I would like as I am still battling this hip issue.  However, I am focused.  I am continuing to run what I can, strength train, and practice yoga.  Most importantly, I am praying.  I know God has a plan for me and this is part of that plan.  He will get me there.  My OFM way of eating and Vespa is going to also play a huge role in getting me to race day, through the 26.2 miles to crossing the finish line.  And it will get me there without soreness and pain the day after.  That's one of my favorite things about it.

There has been a lot of loss and disappointment around lately.  I am thankful that God has it all in his control.  I am blessed my family is safe and healthy.  I am blessed in many ways.  My heart breaks for my friends who are going through loss and disappointments right now.  But I am blessed by being in their lives.  Being there to pray for them and with them.  Being there to help them laugh.  To help them in whatever way God decides to use me to do so.  My heart still hurts for them, but I feel so blessed today to be used by God.  That's one of the many amazing things about my Savior.  He uses us and blesses us in His plan.  I in no way get pleasure and feel good that my loved ones hurt.  But I feel blessed and thankful that God has chosen me to be in their lives, to be there to help comfort them.

God does the comforting.  God is the one that gets us through our struggles and eases our pains.  But He uses people, humans.  And it is a blessing to know God is using you.  Accept Him as your Lord and Savior today if you haven't already.  Surrender yourself to His plan and see how He can use you.  I know He still has work for me to do. How?  Because I am still alive.  I am still here.  He isn't done with me yet.  He has decided that some have served Him faithfully for many years.  They have fulfilled His plan for their lives and He has taken them home.  It leaves us on this earth with a pain in our hearts.  We are only human and we feel grief, sorrow, and heartache.  But He will comfort us.  He will love on us.  He will bring us through.  He helps us to move forward as we recognize He has a plan for us too.  There are things for us to do here.  May I live every day for His honor and glory.  I know I won't do all He wants me to, as I am not perfect and am only human.  But I know that I desire to do my best for Him.  I have caused many stripes on His back, and I strive today to make Him smile.