Pretty in Pink

Look what I found on my run this morning on a bush by our house-- 

On this gray mid-winter rainy Northwest day, I was surprised to see this burst of color. The pink blooms in contrast with the bright green leaves popped as I ran by, and it was delightful. 

May God bring a splash of color into your day today, Hannah! 

Sunrise

This morning, as I was wrapping up my run, I saw the a burst of pink across the sky and I was so grateful for this morning gift. It was the kind of thing that I know you would have delighted in as well.  

May you know God's unfailing love today, sweet Hannah! 

Green Hope

 Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! 

Romans 15:13 

trees spotted in the park that inspired me to pray for some green hope for you...

Open Tabs

One of the things about running that I love is that it helps me clear my head. This morning, I jetted out the door for a quick run, and I was so grateful for some space to let my mind run a bit. By the time I was finished, I felt like I'd been able to process a few things, and I felt so refreshed. 

My prayer for you is that you will find ways to clear your head and find some peace of mind today in the midst of lots on your plate getting back into the swing of things after your trip. 

What you focus on grows

When you have a sore thumb or a stubbed toe or a heel that is aching, it's easy to focus on the thing that is hurting and not focus on all the things that are healthy and strong.  Why is it that we don't ever stop to be thankful for our knee or elbow until we have an ache or pain there that reminds us of how we wished it were back to normal?  Pain is quite an interesting thing in that it sharpens our focus. 

I was thinking about this quote below that I love and that I tell often to Anna and Taylor and to my students.  

So my prayer for you today is that you will be mindful of what you focus on 

so that what grows in the next year is something beautiful... 

Support

On Friday, Elizabeth looked at my heel that had been hurting last week and told me that it was likely a case of plantar fasciitis. Bummer!!!  So I taped it over the weekend and went to get some new shoes today to try to remedy some of the issues. As I was running today, I also used some special inserts in my shoes to give some extra support. 

Having this extra support simply reminded me to pray for you to have the support you need especially in this next year and as high school is just around the corner. 

Sending you much love today, sweet Hannah! 

  

Please note that the only color they had in the shoes that I bought totally match the sparkly surprise I mentioned to you.  Race day is going to be so much fun!! 

Fan Club

Just wanted you to see two people who got to hang out tonight

 at a party who are part of the Hannah Langford Fan Club!!! 

Be our Joy

This was a prayer I posted for one of my classes today, and it reminded me of you... 

For each step that we might take 

Be our guide, O Lord of life.

For each load that we might bear 

Be our strength, O Lord of life.

For each mountain that we might face

Be our power, O Lord of life.

For each river that might impede 

Be our safety, O Lord of life.

For each place where we might rest 

Be our peace, O Lord of life.

For each sunrise and each sunset 

Be our joy, O Lord of life.

-John Birch A Fragrant Offering

praying for a sweet time for you in Texas!!! 

Drive Friendly

I woke up thinking about you this morning and how excited I am that you get to go on the trip to Texas with your mom!!

The last time I was there, I remembered seeing this sign....

I am praying that your time will be full of joy and that you'll have sweet reunions with old friends and enjoy some new friends along the way too.... 

Drive (and fly) friendly! 

Ouch

The last couple of days when I have gone running, my heel has hurt. I'm not sure what I did to it, but it feels like it was bruised somehow.  Anyway, I immediately thought of you and some of the issues that you have had to deal with in regard to your feet and how frustrating this has been at times. 

Just know that with each step this morning, I just prayed for God to give you the strength to do the things you love and to be able to be active to enjoy this amazing world God has given you. 

Nothing Can Separate You from His Love

I was listening to reading of the book Romans on my bike ride to work this morning, and this verse was loud and clear today: 

Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 New Living Translation (NLT)

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My prayer for you today is that you will know that NOTHING can separate you from His love.... 

4 years ago today....

As we do every year on MLK Day, we went to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in South Seattle. Here's a picture from this year: 

 

And here are some pictures of you when you joined us in 2016 for this tradition.... 

My prayer for you is that you would walk in light of the truths we celebrate and honor today... 

sparkly sneak peek

I walked into a store the other day and saw something sparkly that totally reminded me of you, and I could not resist. So I bought one in my size to wear in the race in February and bought one for you because it just looked like something you would love.

So- just know that we both have some fun dress up in store.... 

XOXO! 

near and dear

We offer prayers for all those with whom we share the. Journey: those who have been given to us, and to whom we have been given, those to whom we promised our faithfulness and prayers… especially…….. HANNAH 

We entrust all who are dear to us to Your never-failing love and care, for this life and for the life to come; knowing that You will do for them far more than we can desire or pray for. Amen

(from our small group liturgy.....) 

He restores my soul...

This image is one that I have printed and framed on my desk in my office at SPU.

To keep this short and sweet, let's just say that the last 24 hours have been crazy, but the brushstrokes and the muted blue tones in this image along with the words from Psalm 23:3 remind me that we can run to God for strength, for comfort, for forgiveness, for healing, for grace, for everything.... 

My prayer for you tonight is that no matter what your week has been like 

that God would restore your soul. 

Bedtime Prayer

I read a bedtime story to Anna tonight.  It's been a long time since that was a part of our routine, and it was such a sweet gift to us both. In light of that, I wanted to pull this prayer out of the Jesus Storybook Bible as my prayer for you tonight before I went to bed.... 

May you know God's deep love and be close to His heart.... 

Gardener of my Soul

a favorite prayer for you below, Hannah, that I am praying for you today....

Spirit of the living God, be the Gardener of my soul.

For so long I have been waiting, silent and still — experiencing a winter of the soul.

But now, in the strong name of Jesus Christ,

I dare to ask:

Clear away the dead growth of the past,

Break up the hard clods of custom and routine,

Stir in the rich compost of vision and challenge,

Bury deep in my soul the implanted Word,

Cultivate and water and tend my heart,

Until new life buds and opens and flowers.

Amen.

- Richard Foster, Prayers from the Heart

Spontaneity

Here was the text I got this morning from Elizabeth- 

and it turned out to be such a fun and beautiful run this morning.... 

I do think that spontaneity is the best kind of adventure...

....and my prayer for you today is that God would give you some spontaneous adventures today on this snow day and in this upcoming year as you turn 13.... 

Let it Snow!

Hannah, I am simply praying today that you would
delight in the snow day and enjoy the winter wonderland!


O Christ, King of Snow, 

we bless you for bidding this blanket 

of white to cover us in holy hush, 

that our hearts might be quieted 

at the sight, that we might sense

the emptiness of canvas

over which your Spirit broods, 

and upon which you would 

create 

and recreate

our hearts in the image of the one

whose word first spoke snow into existence. 

-Amen 

Doug McKelvey, Every Moment Holy 

thought you would love our new gnome doormat :)