I GET TO BE.

• Never forget to express your gratitude for the gift of life. ― Debasish Mridha

I heard the quote, "Life is meant for the living." My initial reaction was confusion. I just wasn't sure what it meant. 

4 years ago, I would line up The Crim, determined that cancer would NOT steal my streak and I would give everything I had to finish. 

I ran that Crim 10 miler smiling the whole time. I cheered on the other runners; I ran it in my true Anita fashion. 

But not 10 minutes in the car from Flint to Holly I was fully passed out. 

Depleted. 

Empty. 

Wiped out. 

It literally took every ounce of everything I had to give my very best. 

That was my lesson. 

Last Saturday, I showed up with my everything. I would be pacing the 10min/miler in a full-on clown costume. 

I LOVE PEOPLE. I would shout, holler, cheer and encourage as many runners my little lungs and legs would allow. 

I would line up REMINDED GOD gave me another CRIM. 

Sometimes our journey forward circles us back. 

I had dove deep inside myself backtracking to 2019. Chemo didn't save me. Running didn't save me. My doctors didn't save me and my attitude didn't save me from DEATH. 

The awful truth is, I should have died. 

Yes, all those things "HELPED" save me BUT truly it was THE LORD that saved me. 

He chose to give me breath. 

EVERY day is a gift. A MORE valuable gift. 

It was more than just a shadow that humbled me to the real truth. The truth that I am living today because the LORD made a way when there was no way. 

Because of HIS grace I have another breath. 

Because of HIS mercy I get to be a mom, I get to be a wife, I get to feel happiness and I get to feel sorrow. I get to experience the good, the bad and the ugly. I get to BE....

I GET TO BE. 

I get the gift to LOVE. 

I get the gift to FORGIVE. 

I get the gift to LEARN. 

I get the gift to GROW. 

AND I get the gift to RUN. I got to run Saturday because the LORD healed me 4 years ago. I was given a second chance on life. 

EVERYTHING from HIS healing, from HIS grace, from HIS mercy, from HIS redemption is a GIFT.

It is HIS gift to me. 

I GET TO BE. 

I am not aimlessly wandering. I am pursing life as a gift. 

I GET TO BE. 

I AM HIS. 

"Know that the LORD, He is GOD! It is He who made us, and we are His, We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." Psalm 100:3

HIS PURPOSE.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

My life is God's gift to me. I want to live it for HIM. I choose JOY. This does not mean everything is hunky dory, this doesn't mean I don't have bad days, emotional days, days I fall on my face, moments I fail, times I lose my testimony, it just means I am TRYING really hard to embrace the Gift He has given me to live life for Him. 

With Love. 

With Gratitude.  

With Humility. 

With JOY. 

RUNDOWN:

• Training program had me at 57miles for last week- I DID 56. with 4200 feet of elevation.
• This weeks the plan is 50miles- I am currently at 34 miles for week 3,500 feet of elevation. 
• T-15 days for Run Rabbit Run 50m 
• Tapering is showing lil aches and pains, knee tweaks, piriformis, and even ITband. 
• I have been running trails about 75% of my runs to prepare for Colorado. 
• I will quit running trails next week to prevent injury before the race. 

In closing, I am so thankful the Lord has given me the strength, healed me and set my feet back to race and run. 

I am humbled that He loves this little ragamuffin so much he gave me another breath. 

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita