I don’t know who you are.  I don’t know what your week has looked like.  But, this is what I do know…God loves you with a crazy, intoxicating kinda love.  Let him.

Before you judge my dad, know that you’re in good company.  I am a judger. I think he’s totally crazy and most of my prayer life is consumed with prayers of protection and sanity for him.

He’s running 135 miles in Death Valley on July 12.

“Who does that?” you ask.  Well, he does.  Along with about 80 other people in the world every year.   The conditions are grueling. It’s not uncommon for the temperature to be upwards of 135 degrees, even in the shade and at night.

The average finish time is 40-48 hours (the current record for the course is a finish time of almost 23 hours).  He’s aiming to finish in 36 hours – before nighttime the second day.

He has a “crew” of 8 people, including one of my best friends, Kacee, that will be able to see him every couple of miles.  (I couldn’t join the crew because of the small human that I am responsible for).

He’s running to benefit the organization he leads, Pressley Ridge. You can read more about his journey and how you can support him here.

I’ll keep you posted with the results.

In less impressive news, I ran 20 miles this morning and I didn’t die. Look out, Chicago.

Man.  What a day.

Rhett is two months old today.  Not a huge rite of passage for a little guy…but it does mean a doctor’s appointment that I have been dreading for the past few days.  Shots.  Three of them.  Right square in the leg.  Even I hate shots, but I would have taken them a dozen times over having to see him get them.  But, he did great.  He let out a big scream, then turned beat red while deciding whether or not to breathe, and then it was all over.  He was so brave.  I nursed him immediately afterwards (a recommendation from my good friend, and experienced mom, Ashley) and he seemed to forget all about it.

As I was driving home, I was thinking about how badly I did not want Rhett to hurt, and how I would take it for him any day, but that I knew that this is what was best for him.  And I thought how God is much the same way with me.  There have been experiences in my life that have been painful enough to cause me to doubt, mistrust and even be infuriated at God about.  And the promise that I must cling to is that He does all things for my good.  All things.  Even the darkest seasons of my life, he is working together for my good.  And as I think about how devastated I would be if Rhett were to ever resent me for the things that I do to protect him, I am forced to repent from the way that I have felt about God during these seasons.  And rejoice that these seasons are developing in me perseverance, making me mature and complete.  (James 1.2-4)

This thought process was interrupted quickly by a cloud of smoke rising from a building so very close to Doug’s office.  I pulled over to the shoulder of the highway, as I watched flames engulf a building that I drove by everyday on the way to work.  I panicked as I tried to get a hold of Doug.  Finally, he called.  He’s fine.  And I get back on the road to head home.  I soon learn it wasn’t just a fire.  A man, furious at the government for some personal failures, set his home on fire, then got in a 4-seater plane and flew it square into the building that houses the IRS locally.   I was there just three minutes after the crash.  So very thankful that I didn’t see the crash, it has still completely shaken my day.  How could this happen?  What could possibly make someone act so selfishly and cowardly?  And it wasn’t too long that God gently reminded me of the conversation we were having just minutes before.  He works all these things together for good.  Oh God, please, please redeem today.  Rescue us.