race day {run for hope}

We made it.

We all finished the race.

The day of the run was a busy, crazy day...but so good.

I spent the morning at the craft fair with my sister and some friends,

came home for a quick nap for Levi,

and then barely made it in time for the race.

It was SO hot.

But we finished...and even ran the whole way.

I was so proud of Joel.

He HATES running and really didn't have time to do much training.

I was a little worried about him.

I figured I was going to have to drag him along.

But, I couldn't keep up with him.

He even beat me by three minutes.

(Why can guys always do that without even trying too hard??)

I'm trying to convince him to keep running now!

The day was so crazy that I totally forgot to take any pictures until we were leaving.

There were almost 200 participants in the race.

Many were running in honor or memory of a loved one affected by cancer.

We of course were running for Cora

along with many of our friends and family.

Even my sweet friend Laura came all the way from Colorado 

with her two boys to run for Cora.

(I didn't get any pictures of her either...bummer.)

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After the race we all ate together and then it was time for the concert.

Andrew Peterson was fantastic.

If you haven't heard his music, you need to check him out.

As we sat and listened {completely exhausted},

these words really spoke to my heart:

More

This is not the end here at this grave
This is just a hole that someone made
Every hole was made to fill
And every heart can feel it still--
Our nature hates a vacuum

This is not the hardest part of all
This is just the seed that has to fall
All our lives we till the ground
Until we lay our sorrows down
And watch the sky for rain

There is more
More than all this pain
More than all the falling down
And the getting up again
There is more
More than we can see
From our tiny vantage point
In this vast eternity
There is more

A thing resounds when it rings true
Ringing all the bells inside of you
Like a golden sky on a summer eve
Your heart is tugging at your sleeve
And you cannot say why
There must be more

There is more
More than we can stand
Standing in the glory
Of a love that never ends
There is more
More than we can guess
More and more, forever more
And not a second less

There is more than what the naked eye can see
Clothing all our days with mystery
Watching over everything
Wilder than our wildest dreams
Could ever dream to be
There is more  

Today as I continue to miss my sweet little girl and 

try to recover from the busyness of the weekend,

I am so thankful there is MORE.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, 

all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31:24

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

In case you are wondering, I did survive without drinking pop.

August 23 until race day = no pop for me.

My friend Lindsay was my "no pop" accountability partner.

She helped me stay strong.

After the race Joel took me to Sonic for a Dr. Pepper.

I was hoping I wouldn't like it as much anymore.

Nope.

Still good. 

Soooooo good.

I am going to try to practice more self control from now on though.

Water is just as good, right!??