"5210"

This was my post for Luke's carepage and I'll post pictures soon.

5210…sweet, sweet numbers. Guess what they are! My bib number for the Austin Marathon on Valentine’s Day 2010! The finish line!

Crazy what God can do, isn’t it? I saw my doctor again for a second opinion about my knee and ankle and brought my MRI and bone scan films. You could never have convinced me that he would say the marathon was feasible, but that’s what he said. He evaluated and looked at my whole body again focusing on my spine and alignment issues and how they related to my knee and ankle. Apparently the misalignment is causing me to pronate. That and weakened muscles in that leg along with tight muscles and tendons have caused all of the damage (that’s the short version). There is damage done, but he says there aren’t stress fractures. My symptoms don’t fully point to fractures either. So he got me started on PT then and there telling Ryan (the PT. And Ryan is Luke’s middle name) to hold my hand and get me through this marathon. Then after the marathon we’ll get to work in correcting for long term.

They both explained I won’t be able to run the whole thing and emphasized walking a lot and I may have to walk the majority depending on how things go. I’m THRILLED. I’ve said from the beginning I will be happy to cross that finish line no matter how I get there.

I was so excited! Another shining example of how God is bigger than everything. I can hardly believe He made this possible again. The marathon was sold out and He even managed to make my registration work out. I am so encouraged. Again.

The fact that the marathon is on Valentine’s Day made me realize how much He loves each of us. It is a total gift. The beginning of this leg of the journey was on Valentine’s Day of 2007 after 6 miscarriages. We found out on Valentine’s Day that we were pregnant with Luke… and we got to keep him. It’s been quite a journey and you guys know most of the rest. What a gift that I get to (God willing) cross this finish line on Valentine’s Day 2010.

It’s just icing on the cake that I get to bring in my 40th like this, too. I had been so bummed about the whole thing. My mom makes my favorite homemade chocolate frosting for my birthday every year. Talk about icing on the cake…I decided a long time ago that I didn’t need the cake part. I mean, really. Why? I don’t like that part and why take in the calories when all I really want is the frosting anyway, right? So, I get a big ole bowl of homemade chocolate frosting, a spoon, and maraschino cherries on the side. If I play my cards right, she might even make chicken and dumplings!

I’m still stunned and surprised. I never thought this would happen. God works in such amazing ways and I just praise Him. He keeps making the “impossible” happen. I’m on cloud nine!! Have a lot of PT exercises and stretches to do along with getting out there on some specific running exercises, bike, etc. The marathon is in 10 days! YIKES.

I would sure appreciate prayer for John to find a good local job asap and for our family to heal and recover. And, I would really appreciate any prayer about my knee and ankle. My ankle is still quite sore and I’m not sure how it’s going to hold up.

You know what just hit me? I was just thinking about putting my marathon medal next to Luke’s turtle race marathon medal and realized that mine is going to be a turtle race, too, at this point. I’m broken and wounded and slow and yet God is carrying me through this, too. He is so good. How cool is that?

I pray His blessings on each of you and your families and that He shows you how much bigger He is in your daily lives, too.