I'm happy to say my Chicago Marathon #2 is over! My best time yet and I'm recovering very well. I have been training for about 8 months and the training paid off. A marathon is a funny thing. Your body is ready but your mind plays tricks on you between mile 18-24. A time period that has you hating life and everything in it and makes you wonder why you ever paid money and signed yourself up to such a crazy event. But mile 24 comes around and you start to pick yourself up. The end is nearing and you know you can endure the pain to get through to victory. Crossing the finish line makes me want to hug strangers (don't worry I didn't) but it also brings on the tears. You realize what you've just been through and you praise God it's over! Well, my running training is done (for now) but I'm in another marathon in my life. One that makes me not wonder why I signed up but one that keeps me in the mile 18-24 zone. Adoption is a beautiful thing! I'm happy for the families I know that have been enjoying their kids they have received through adoption and I keep waiting for my happy reunion. When does this race end? I have to be honest, today was a hard 'training' day. One where I let my mind go to the unhappy place. The place where I sat and looked at all my pictures and videos I have of my daugther from my visit back in September and asked God 'why so long'? I allowed my body to break down and sob. You know, the kind of sobbing that worries the dog. Reese came over and put her paw on my lap and I just laid down, cuddling her tight for comfort. My friend reminded me I'm in the toughest marathon yet. She reminded me that even when my muscles are cramping and sore I continue to run. She said, it's not about the time but about crossing the finish line. So, I'm praying for mile 25. That's when I get a court date. And mile 26 is when we will return to bring her home. During the Chicago marathon I ran with family (Jacob stayed with me for 11 miles) and had Blaire cheering along the streets with other friends and church family. It was so great to hear people call out my name, cheering me to victory. That's really what gets me through. I have a great cheering section during my adoption marathon. Many have said the right thing at the right time and pray constantly for our daughter and paperwork to be signed in Ethiopia. I could never get through this alone. I don't know how people can get through life's trials without knowing God is in control. It's only because I've trusted God over and over that I can be sure He cares and loves me and loves my daughter more than I ever could.
Acts 20:24 'I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.'
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