Brushing Off the Cobwebs

This little place has a few cobwebs, geez! Funny how things get left behind as others start to nudge their way to the forefront. I do love this little place where my thoughts, feelings and heart can be laid out. Yet, there is so much in my life that I love and want to give my 100% towards, I just can't give 100% to everything all the time.

That being said, there are a few things that I must always devote my all to. My health, my marriage, and my family. My health must come before anything, because without it I can't function. I MUST keep up on my treatments, running and doctor visits. In addition my marriage is so very important to me. I work hard everyday to ensure that my spouse feels loved, secure, appreciated and wanted.

So many good things are in the works and I look forward to sharing all those amazing things with you all. God sure does work all things for our (my) good. It doesn't always feel that way, especially when we really really want something to go our way, on our timeline and with our desired outcome. However, that's not what is always best.

I can share with you that I will be doing another half marathon on April 12th. I feel very confident that I'll be healthy enough to participate. I've been training since the first of the year and finished the longest run in my training schedule this last Saturday (March 28th). I'm excited to get another half under my belt. I can't express just how much running has changed me. It helps me feel confident in areas of my life where I don't feel confident, it helps me take an active role in keeping my lungs clear of the mucus junk, gives me a healthy outlet, and soooo sooo much more.

My ever-so-sweet sister-in-law, Heather, has taken on the challenge for yet another year to head the Kari Doodlin' Great Strides Team. I'm a firm believer that support comes in many forms. She has chosen to support the funding a cure and she visits me when I'm in jail (hospital) with my ever do darling niece and nephew. I feel so grateful that she is the mother to my niece, nephew and wife to my brother. I also thankful we get along and feel enough love for each other to show our support. Thank you, Heather! I love you.

If you're interested in helping her help me you can make a tax-deductible donation here:
Team Kari Doodlin' Donation Page

~Doodlin'

Where I Am

Today, I'm in a much different place than....say.... this time last year.

Today I listen to sad music and watch sad movies with ridiculously sad plots because for some crazy reason it makes me feel closer to death. My death. Unpleasant?!

Sure...but that's where I live and survive. Somehow the grayness pushes me to successes. The world of unpleasantries is grey with no sunshine. The world where no one survives is my reality. No one with CF comes out unscarred, or unnamed. I lose a minimum of 2 friends a week.  My world is a marry-go-around of emotions. I log onto FB or  some other social media forum and find out that another CF'er has lost their battle.  Emotions run raw.

Do I trust God? Do I seek revenge? Do I pass over it as though I've never heard their name?

No!

God is forever good. He alone can turn devastation into love. My God is awesome.

I'm at a place of love. God has used me to show hope and promise. God has used others with and without CF to show hope and promise. Today, I'm home thinking and pondering God's journey for me. I do believe my path lies in helping those who need it. I will encourage and support.

I'm engrossed in about 10 books. All centered on God. All showing what hope is out there if we accept. I love my God.

I'm at a place of love. Of God. My reading list is all centered on God, He alone has brought me to this place. He is my salvation, no other! I hope you can trust how great my God is.

God helped me achieve my goal of completing a half marathon. I truly have no doubts.

I don't discriminate. God loves us ALL. I believe that whole heartily. God knew from the beginning of time what kind of difficulties we'd face. He is here to deliver us. Sin or Saint. I'm most certainly a sinner.

Engaging in sexual intercourse before marriage, yet I'm forgiven. Having taken drugs, yet I'm forgiven. Harboring hate in my heart, yet I'm forgiven. So, much more....yet I'm forgiven.

My God is amazing!  His love can move you. Can restore you. Whether you identify as homosexual, gay or lesbian, jew or gentile. His love is redemptive. I love ALL of God's people.

I'm in a place of reading, cooking and simply living in the presents of those who love me.

I love finding a new recipe to cook. I love setting the table for six rather than 2. I love feeding those I hold near and dear. I love all that God has provided.

I've identified as a self-mover. Meaning....I'm moved. No else could pick my feet up or my head.... just God.

The more I got to know God I came to understand how he loves us. His love is what lifted my feet and head. He alone carried me when my body was weak. He loves me enough to see my dreams come true. He rejoices as I succeeded.

I believe EVERYTHING happens for a reason. I hurt my knee during my first attempt at a half-marthon for a reason. The reason was hard to understand at first...but its for His glory. God gave me a reason to take a break....to breathe...so that I could see what had been accomplished. What so many had pushed me to achieve. I'm so grateful.

Where I am is place of worship. A place where God is completely in control. As place of understanding. Man, my God is amazing. I sure hope you spend sometime getting to know Him. To understand how much He loves YOU. To build a relationship that is so deep, nothing...I mean NOTHING...can separate you from Him.

Do you know my God?

~Doodlin'

My Mantra in Two Words

Because……

It's calming
I literally and figuratively strive for it each day
I spend thousands of dollars a year to do so
The world would be a gentler place if we practiced this before speaking
Life is hard
Inhaling new life while exhaling the old gives us perspective
Its life sustaining
Its a Christmas gift from a sweet sister-in-law of mine
It is not guaranteed for tomorrow

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breath in. Breathe out. Ever stop and notice your breathe? I can get so busy that I forget to 'Just Breathe'. To take a moment for myself. To relish in the beauty of life. To look around and see all the blessing.

Lately, I've noticed that I don't have any breathe; spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically (at times). I have been completely expelled. With all that has been going on with my health and behind the scenes with family and friends.

On Christmas when I opened this lovely little gift I was reminded to 'Just Breathe'. I also was compelled to look at what the Bible tells us about breathing. I ended up being enthralled with the part in the creation story where God breathed into Adam- and he lived. God gave Adam His very breath and all the days of Adam's life were sustained by that one, ONE, life-giving breath. God breathed out. Adam breathed in.

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

I'm reminded to Just Breathe; God's got this.

~Doodlin'