Competition and Giving Birth

After running 8 years of track and field, and cross country, I have learned a lot about training, dedication, commitment and focus.

Key word: Focus

Before a race I did not want to talk to anyone. I couldn't even stand to hear my coach or my team ask or talk about my race. If they did, I couldn't look at them. I'd just nod my head, "ok" and do what I had to do.

If I thought too much about it, I knew I already lost the battle. One such instance was a meet somewhere in L.A. Don't remember, but sure Grace would if I mentioned the word, "Occidental" (sp?). It was more like the "Accidental" meet.

Anyway, every year I ran terribly at this race. Perhaps I connected past experiences the first time and just turned to jello when I arrived.

But no matter what the race I could barely eat before and my stomach had butterflies fluttering constantly! My heart pounded and therefore I could not talk to ANYONE. Whether I ran well or not I often threw-up, couldn't breathe...but really, those memories of pain and training for the big race...

Well worth it.

Giving Birth:

Same thing. If I could write a book, it would be called: Everything I learned in Child Birth, I Learned in Competitive Running. 

This week, my parents arrived. Quite excited and nervous.

Yet, every time they talked about the baby coming to my boys, I wanted to run away and pass out. Why?

This week many of ya'll have been praying for me and even telling me, "God put you on my heart today". It is a TREMENDOUS encouragement. I'll tell you why.

Saturday night I had a nightmare and couldn't sleep the whole night. I had sweats, chills, dizziness, and couldn't eat. Thought for sure baby was coming. Sunday morning I had sweet friends encourage and pray for me. Long story short the days have been better. Monday and Tuesday was filled with false labor and left me quite confused. Praise the Lord, my friend Katja had her baby boy (first picture above) on his due date!

Let's not forget what the Lord has done. His grace...it's more than I can ever ask or imagine! He's given me Philippians 4:4-7, Proverbs 18:10, and 1John 4:4 and others...

So thank you for the awesome support and love. I tend to think of the past (my birth experience from the past) and freak out as though it were an "Occidental" meet. I still have ups and downs but was able to walk to the town center to order a pizza, rent a movie and grab something from the store with Mikko. The boys are away with grandparents and hope to share more about that later.

Last night before we watched the movie, Mikko wanted me to see the replay of the 200m Men's race. I got so nervous I about ripped the computer out of the wall! 

Meanwhile, before my whole dizzy spell thing, I was totally nesting. One night I defrosted the freezer to make room for more berries. I even made jam with the boys from last year's berries.

My biggest helpers!

Before my parents came, our guest Matt, helped us out so much around the apartment. He helped Mikko fix our bed frame (we had been sleeping on the floor quite some time..don't ask how it broke, tee-hee). Then they put together a book shelf and I am grateful for that time because Mikko had a awesome time bonding with Matt and talking theology, books, authors, etc. Not to mention carrying stuff to the storage and back. Thanks Matt! Arianne, thanks for lending him!

The boys and "boss" say final "hei"'s Thanks for teaching them how to make snakes with play dough. In fact, Oma came and brought some wooden ones from the states, and boy, were they excited! 

Keep you updated, grace and peace to you all!