Nephews

I love this picture and love these boys!

Half Marathon #9

On Saturday, April 14, I completed my 9th half marathon (13.1 miles). I thoroughly enjoyed this race and was quite pleased with myself when it was over! I finished in 2:18. My plan from the beginning of my training was to get a PR (personal record) on this race, which would have required me to finish with a time under 2:12. A few weeks before the race I ran some of the course and when I realized how hilly it was, I decided it probably wouldn't be a PR race. I am proud of my time and proud of the fact that I ran the whole thing. I didn't stop to walk which is something I've gotten into a bad habit of doing in my past races.

It was the Rock the Parkway Half Marathon in Kansas City and the course was along Ward Parkway. It was very scenic, with lots of big, old, beautiful houses to look at along the way. There were people lined up along the majority of the course cheering the runners on. The cheering is always so encouraging me, especially when I hear someone call out my name. (The race bib numbers usually have your name printed on them and it's so much fun to hear someone call out my name to cheer me on.)

Since the race was in Kansas City, we went up Friday night and stayed with Ross' parents. His mom made us a wonderful dinner of fettuccine alfredo and chicken piccata, and then we had a fun time playing the game Outburst together. Ross, the wonderful husband that he is, got up with me at 6:45am that Saturday morning and drove me to the race starting line. He waited with me until the race started, went back to his parents house, and then came back to the race around the time I finished.

All in all it was a very good race and I would definitely do it again. Now I'm going to keep running during the week and enjoy sleeping in on Saturday mornings! I haven't slept in on a Saturday morning since February! My plan for the fall is to possibly run the Omaha, NE, half marathon in September and the Bass Pro half marathon in Springfield, MO, in November.

Lining up before the race. There were about 4,500 runners!

Professional picture taken during the race, just before crossing the finish line. I'm waving to Ross!

Crossing the finish line!

Ross and me after the race.

My medal is very cool and I felt oh so cool with the "blanket" to help me stay warm.

Another 13.1 down!

Young Ladies Knitting Circle

A few months ago, I was telling my friend, Erica, about my dilemma of trying to figure out which knitting project to do next:  a baby dress that had a complicated pattern or another baby blanket. I've wanted to make the dress for a while, but was a bit intimidated by the pattern. This decision was really stressing me out...I know, what a hard life I lead...

Anyway, Erica told me about some of her crocheting projects and I was so excited to hear that she crochets! I didn't know this about her and thought it was great because I wanted to learn how to crochet, and up to then didn't know anyone who could teach me. We talked about our yarn work a little more and she suggested we start a knitting circle, the "Young Ladies Knitting Circle." Oh I was so excited about this idea and started making plans for it immediately!

We decided to meet the first Thursday of each month to sit together and knit or crochet. Our first meeting was in March at my house and we had six girls show up. I taught everyone how to knit at this meeting and I must say, it was challenging! I've been knitting for quite a few years, since 1988 (I remember because my Mom taught me to knit while we were watching the Republican National Convention on television). Once you've been doing something for so long it's hard to remember what it was like when you first learned how to do it. I had high hopes of everyone completing a coaster and maybe even starting a second one during the two-hour time frame, but quickly realized that fantasy was not going to become a reality! Even though knitting proved to be a bit challenging, it was still a good time. Two of the girls took their work home and actually completed their coaster. I am very proud of them! 


Our next meeting was in April and we had six girls show up again. Erica taught us how to crochet, and this proved to be much easier for the girls than knitting. She taught us how to make a scarf and we enjoyed sitting together chatting and crocheting. I like crocheting and completed my scarf in about one week. I think crocheting is much easier than knitting, especially for someone who has no experience with either of the two.

I'm looking forwad to May 3 when we meet again! From now on, we'll just and work on whatever craft we prefer - knitting or crocheting. I'm so glad we started this group and hope it continues for a long time! It's fun to be a little old fashioned like this!

How to Pray

Do you ever find yourself not really knowing how to pray for someone? I have this problem a lot and I feel like I just start repeating the same thing over and over. A few weeks ago, I was reading the commentary section in my Life Application Study Bible and found a great prayer tool from the verses in Colossians 1:9-12. Below I've listed the verses and the seven ways the commentary suggested to pray for someone. I've found this very helpful and hope you do, too! 

Colossians 1:9-12, NIV:  

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹²and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

1.  Pray that your friend would be filled with the knowledge of God's will (verse 9)

2.  Pray that your friend would gain spiritual wisdom (verse 9)

3.  Pray that your friend would please and honor God (verse 10)

4.  Pray that your friend would bear good fruit (verse 10)

5.  Pray that your friend would grow in the knowedge of God (verse 10)

6.  Pray that your friend would be filled with God's strength (verse 11)

7.  Pray that your friend would have great endurance and patience (verse 11)

Back to Reality

I'm happy to report that Ross and I both survived our first day back to work after a wonderful, relaxing vacation the week before! We had a great time in Jamaica and I'll be posting about our trip here in a few weeks. For now, here's a few pictures to get you by!

Happy Two-Year Anniversary to Us!

Today, April 17, is our two-year anniversary! We'll be celebrating today in Jamaica!! I still think our wedding day was the absolute best day ever! Thank you for being such a good husband and a good, good man, Ross. I love you lots!

Time

I'm in a chapter of life right now where I have lots of time on my hands. I stay busy with work (although I'm not always all that busy at work), my aerobics classes, and running, but other than that I don't have anything pressing to keep me busy. Sure, I work on my knitting, do crafts here and there, read, sew, little things like that, but nothing really that I have to do. Nothing that demands all of my time. Ross is the same way. We just have a lot of time on our hands right now.

I've been so aware of this lately, especially when talking to my friends that have kids. Their lives seem crazy busy! From the constant care and attention the little ones need to the toting around of the older ones to school activities, they are definitely busy! Sometimes I wish I could give them some of my extra time so they have time to rest and relax. 

I know that someday our lives will change and we will become the busy ones, but for now I'm trying to just enjoy this season of extra time. I have to admit, it can be hard. I like to stay busy and work better when I have something going on. I also think about how someday I'm really going to miss this extra time I have. I wish I could bottle it and let it out later when I'm crunched for time.

This morning I read a devotion from the book, Jesus is Calling, Do You Hear Him?, by Sarah Young, that gave me a greater appreciation for this extra time I have. I really liked what this said. I hope you do, too!

When I give you no special guidance, stay where you are. Concentrate on doing your everyday tasks in awareness of My Presence with you. The Joy of My Presence will shine on you, as you do everything for Me. Thus you invite Me into every aspect of your life. Through collaborating with Me in all things, you allow My Life to merge with yours. This is the secret not only of joyful living but also of victorious living. I designed you to depend on Me moment by moment, recognizing that apart from me you can do nothing. 

Be thankful for quiet days, when nothing special seems to be happening. Instead of being bored by the lack of action, use times of routine to seek My Face. Although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in spiritual realms. Moreover, you are richly blessed when you walk trustingly with Me through the routines of your day.

Colossians 3:23; John 15:5; Psalm 105:4

A Busy Saturday

This coming Saturday will be a busy one for us. It will consist of a half marathon, a pedicure (hopefully!), a wedding, and driving back home that evening. And the busyness doesn't stop there...it continues to Sunday morning when we'll be waking up around 4:30 to get to the airport by 5:30 in time for our 6:30 flight taking us to Jamaica for our anniversary trip! We are very excited about this trip and can't wait to get there!

I'm excited for the half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday morning. I've been training for this since February and feel ready for it. It's a hilly course, but I am ready to conquer the hills! I hope to meet up with my sister-in-law after the run for a pedicure - what a great way to reward myself for the training and race and get my toes looking good for the beach!

That afternoon we're going to a wedding of a family friend of the Wiseman's, Ingrid Holmberg. I'm so happy for her. She will be 35 this year and has never been married. It's always exciting to me when someone a little "older" (not that 35 is old by any means) gets married because I can relate to that. I can relate to the feelings she probably had of wondering if she would ever get married after going to countless bridal showers and weddings. So, congratulations Ingrid & Curt!

After the wedding we'll head back home because we're flying out of Springfield early Sunday morning. We usually fly out of Kansas City, but the thought of driving only 20 minutes compared to 120+ minutes to get home when we got back won out over the marginal cost savings of flying out of Kansas City. We'll be tired Sunday morning, but we've got a week to relax and rest up, so I think it will be worth it!

Easter Pictures

Ross was so good to take pictures with me on Easter Sunday after church. We always took pictures on Easter Sunday when I was growing up. It was a tradition and I'm glad to continue that with our little family of two!

We gave each other an Easter basket, not knowing that the other had planned the same! We even got each other the same item - a waterproof camera! We will definitely use this camera on our trip next week to Jamaica!

Happy Easter!

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Easter!!

What a wonderful day today is! The day Jesus rose from the dead!

Below I have copied song lyrics from the old hymn, "Up from the Grave He Arose." I thought about posting a lot of different song lyrics here, all of them very fitting to the day. There are so many good songs that describe today..."Because He Lives," "The Wondrous Cross," "In Christ Alone," "He Is Risen," "The Old Rugged Cross," and many, many more. But, I chose this one because I remember singing it with my Gramma Ward years ago on Easter Sunday. 

When I was maybe 10 or 11 years old, one year our church held its Easter service at the Hammon's Student Center on the Campus of then Southwest Missouri State University. I don't remember why it was held there, but I'm sure it was to allow for as many people as possible to attend service that day. My Gramma and Grampa Ward visited over Easter that year and we went to this service together. I remember when we sang this song during the service, my Gramma and I sang the "up from the grave He arose" in a low voice and it was just so much fun! 

Up from the Grave He Arose

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!


Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!


Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
 

It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'!

Today is Good Friday. In the Christian world this day is known as the day that Jesus was crucified on a cross and died. It's such a bittersweet story, or more like an unimaginable story. How could someone endure such physical and emotional pain like that?

I absolutely love Easter. It is my favorite holiday by far. I get excited thinking about everything that Easter means:  Jesus died such a cruel death so that I, Libby Lee Ward Wiseman, could have life. And the fact that He did that Y-E-A-R-S before I was ever thought of, just for me. And He had me in mind when He was hanging on that cross. 

It's just exciting to me and I look forward to Easter Sunday every year!

If you have a few minutes, take time to watch this video, It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'

Go Cart Part 2

Last Saturday we were at my parent's house and I finally got to ride the go cart again! My legs were a little crammed, but it was a great time!