Pray without ceasing

The word ‘prayer’ is written 132 times in the Bible . Something there says it’s just a smidge important right ? 

Recently I heard about a revival project in Nashville where 400 churches came together to pray for their city . It was tireless work for these pastors but oh how it paid off ! They actually went to the phone book and got names and address of the entire city . The list was divided into groups of 15 and these pastors gave each member of their church 15 names . Each Church member was then asked to pray for these 15 strangers over the course of one month . They could send these strangers anonymous letters of encouragement , prayers , or just do so in the quiet of their own home . Can you imagine the power in a city that comes from this? As one of the main pastors there mentioned in a podcast I listened to last week , 80% of their city had probably never been prayed for by name before this .

This is a task that I know I personally couldn’t wrap my head around but the idea has stuck with me daily since hearing about this . As a child I grew up thinking prayer only happened while kneeling in a pew on Sunday or the really big prayers happened when you paid a dollar to light a candle to pray extra  . It was life changing as an adult and new believer when I discovered that Christ was in fact with us and we are able to pray daily , hour by hour minute by minute . To many life-long Christians that may sound silly but it really changed my life ! I am not one that takes “ I will pray for you” lightly because of this and thankfully many women the Lord has placed around me feel the same. 

Prayer can be so simple that we often skip over it’s importantance , unless of course a tragedy hits . If it’s mentioned 132 times in the Bible It is probably something we should always be working on and working on improving personally right ? I know I want to! This story just totally inspired me and I wanted to share it with you friends .

How can we pray for our city ? We often have a list of those closest to us from immediate family , to extended , and close friends . Maybe we have a random stranger or two on our note for prayers but how much further do we go than that ? How can we pray for those personally that aren’t connected to us or the big C Church or our lives in any way? How can lives and cities be transformed by the power of prayer ? Maybe we start small. Take 5 Facebook friends you never interact with and pray for them for a month? Invest in their name and their life even if you don’t know anything about it ( besides the vaguebooking we see now and then ) I haven’t completed this idea but I know that my people are good at this . Send me your ideas ! Comment on here . How can we begin to pray for our own brothers and sisters who were created in the exact same image as ourselves ( YES that means every human on earth .) 

I’m super inspired by Nashville and the revival they have begun simply by directing their prayers intentionally . Let’s pray without ceasing ... Be anxious for nothing but in everything through prayer and petition ... rejoice always and PRAY continuously . 

xoxo

B

Alaska drives

Alaska drives . There is just something magical about this state and , contrary to popular opinions , residing in the interior . If you only ever called the “ big city “ home than this winding road from a winter fairytale wouldn’t be carved with the memories we all get to carry in our pockets . 

( the next days of photos will all be edited from iPhone apps) 

As we lay in a hotel with sleeping kiddos amongst the loud fans but the city lights outside the window , I can’t help but be thankful for all of it. Thankful we have spent 2 years and 11 months so far in the far north. Thankful that our kids get these unreal experiences . Thankful that I forged ahead last summer and made this 6-7 hour one way trip alone as much as possible because these memories are worth it. But today I’m thankful for this . The ease of having two parents just as it’s supposed to be . The simplicity of having 4 arms helping check into the hotel and carry backage , another person to laugh with and dance to the trolls soundtrack with when the road gets too long. Thankful that after 9 long months apart a little drive to the coast and 4 nights in a no-frills yet perfect hotel is really all that we need because together is absolutely everything . As hard as times had been it’s all distant memories because this covers all of it .

This state has stolen our heart without question and as we drive through sunshine then snow then mountains and purple sunsets over the icy creeks ... I am reminded that we will be back . Early summer travels still await across the last frontier but every moment spent now will be another memory for the bank to hold us over until . we. are . back.

Alaska is one big and wild love story that we’re just blessed to be experiencing.

Book Review- Running is my Therapy

Over the course of these 40 days of writing there will definitely be a myriad of topics, it's a tiny and slightly frightening view into the many tabs always open in this brain of mine.

I really hate to give a book review of a book I haven't finished but currently I'm in the middle of skimming through this running book and wanted to recommend it already. If you are a runner you fully understand the idea of a runner's high or running every day just to feel good. If you are NOT a runner, well you should really try it out sometime. Ya ya ya, I can feel your eye rolls through the screen my friend but REALLY . If you start around your block and just hate it , go a little further. I don't like running at all the first 2.5 miles either I promise. Just try it ! Ok back to the book. 

As a person that uses the pavement pounding almost entirely for mental health and time for prayer/ meditation , I found this to be extremely informative filled with countless aha moments so far. The pages are filled with science based research on what a regular running routine actually does for our brain and the effect on the seemingly epidemic of anxiety and depression that is becoming more the norm than ever before. Reading about what is really happening to our brain not just after a run but continuously when we develop a regular running routine, it's pretty amazing. I see physical health, spiritual health,  and mental health on the same playing field and necessary to take care of every single day. To me it doesn't matter if it is through therapy sessions, medications, or exercise but whatever meets each persons needs is EXACTLY the right choice for them. Period. But running helps and this book explains all of that . 

My one disclaimer is that this is not a faith based book as most books on my favorite sport are not- and that is fine . It isn't supposed to be. I do personally believe that being in God's word and spending time in prayer and fellowship with other believers is the missing puzzle piece here to total wellness BUT it's ok that not everyone does. 

Go pick this up though if you are a runner or just someone that is really curious about how incorporating the most simple form of exercise can change not only your body but more importantly the mind. 

Tomorrow we are road tripping for the first time since October ! Also the first time I'm not alone with the kiddos on a road trip in far too long. Expect some pretty photos of snowy mountains and deep theological ideas from the adventure. Or maybe just a picture of pizza. Mooses tooth. Probably that. 

xoxo

B 

40 days

Hello helllllo! Here we are again my friends.

This is tough but here we are . Let me tell you that as I type tonight I am slightly kicking and screaming about it.  For over two years now I have been extremely disobedient. Regardless of what you believe or who you call king of your life- we all know that feeling of " trusting your gut"... for me I call it listening to the Holy Spirit. For two years the Lord has been quietly whispering, turned to regularly chatting, to honestly yelling, back to silence toward me on something in my life that I have very blatantly turned my cheek on. Holy Spirit telling me that it's time to start writing more for far too long. He has shown me repetitively  that we can make a difference with the words we use and sharing that encouragement with others here is something I am being called to do.

Part of me wants to ramble on about this and how we have got to this point but guess what? We will have plenty of time here to do just that. WHY? Because after much prayer and contemplation and pleading with the Lord- I am committing to writing here publicly for all of Lent. < insert all my eye rolls > Part of it may be my Catholic upbringing or sensitive spirit but Lent is always a really important time me.  As a kid I took giving up things very seriously- like that time I gave up chex mix in high school and thought I may not live to make it through Easter ( the dramatics haven't changed much in 18 years I guess ) But as I dove headfirst into a relationship with Christ as an adult it became a very sacred time in both my heart and my relationship with God's word . I switched from giving up to transforming a space in life. Last year I started social media fasting on Sundays and am happy to report that this stuck and has been life giving.

Bottom line... today  I have nothing to say. Some days I probably won't share posts anywhere but I will write them and hit publish no matter what. Every day but Sunday from now until Easter all the tiny bits of my heart will be poured out here hopefully to bring encouragement, ideas, and probably some humor to whoever may need to hear just that.

Here is a random picture of a mountain in Denali National Park shot through a window to say HAPPY LENT which is kind of a weird thing to say I GET IT  but this season really is a joyous one. This picture makes me feel like the season ahead- partially dark, gloomy , cold , but also filled with beauty and grace because we know what is to come under all that snow.

( Also for anyone new- I do not edit or use proper grammar or any of the things. Leave now if you have time to care about silliness such as this . Thanks.)

-B

One week until Boston - all the feels.

April 9. Monday. It is officially one week until the Boston Marathon 2018.

I can't help but think back to the disappointment of last year after working so hard to finally qualify, with a few minutes to spare, and then coming up short for registration since the race had the biggest qualifying to acceptance gap yet. For a solid day I kept wondering why, asking God what this was all about. He showed me that the training process wasn't for selfish gains but for the community he built around me because of it. Because of the people he inspired in the process and the work on my own heart that needed to be done. Within a couple days I felt like it really did make sense and the disappointment really washed away to be honest. I mentioned here in the fall but because of not saving up money for Boston or a Trip out for Grandma, we ended up going last minute to the Final year of the Soldier marathon( spoiler alert: it ended up NOT being the final year after all hahaha! We serve a FUNNNy God y'all ) The race was incredible and again it ALL MADE SENSE.

Here we are the week before I would have been lining up in Hopkinton. I would have probably been anxiously packing my bags while tapering for the big day. I would have been SOOOO pumped up to be there the year Shalane attempts to finally take the Gold as the fastest American woman right in her hometown . But instead I am sitting here in total peace with the sun-shining through to my computer listening to the snow quickly melt from the roof, like raindrops on a sunny day. I'm reflecting on all of the things that have happened this spring that 100% would not have happened had I been training for Boston.

1. I would have probably quit my board position in our military community ministry ( PWOC ) to focus on my intense training this spring.
2. Instead of enjoying our spring trip to Arizona I would have been spent the days running for speed instead of pleasure.
3. I NEVER ever would have taken on leading a study for said ministry , meaning many of the friendships I've made there may have never happened?
4. Had I not said YES to leading that study, my dear sweet friend Tina wouldn't have joined me in leading it.
5. Had she not joined me in leading,  we would have not witnessed the quick and powerful salvation and literal " COME TO JESUS " moment and baptism of a dear sister-in-Christ of ours.
6. We definitely would have never written a book on photography together or held a photography workshop for Moms.
7. I would have spent the past months stressed and anxious about finding time and place to train during one of the snowiest winters in Fairbanks .
8. Both my husband and children would be missing the opportunity to experience my first Boston Marathon with me, simply because Alaska is TOO far away.
9. My proud heart would have never been humbled in the process.
10. I would be leaving my family one of the last weekends we have together until 2019.

This list is just a few examples of the PLANS God had for me right here where he wanted me. To lay aside my pride and listen to him, it's not what I planned but what HE knew was ahead all along.
So , as many have asked, I don't sit here sad or having FOMO for the big day of Boston next weekend. In fact- I am really filled with joy that my plans were a big fat failure. They always are right? Instead I am sitting here in the quiet of nap time registering for a fun local 5k this weekend  with some of Fairbanks finest Mamas , a 5k that I definitely won't even PR at.

What about next year? Well technically I did already qualify for 2019 but not with a time that is solid enough. I had a very strong conviction during the Soldier's Marathon that until my family, or at least my husband, can be with me there is no reason to experience something so special. So far as we kick off this season back outdoors my pace is a little quicker than last year distance wise so SURE there is a good chance of a new marathon PR this fall. Spring of 2019 will be very unknown for our family with PCS season ( moving for you civilians ) and homecomings so a Boston Race for 2019 even if I run well this year  is really up on the air ! One day I will get these feet to Boylston street without a doubt in my mind, my prayer now is that it happens on HIS terms not my own.

I can not WAIT to watch THE Boston Marathon from my couch next Monday , I'll probably make some of my favorite RUN FAST EAT SLOW recipes while cheering on Shalane Flanagan to a victory for all of us .

This mural in Phoenix at the Runner's Den was such an inspiration.

-B

PS. My whole business is getting a revamp this summer when my entire plate of responsibilities becomes my own once again - I can not WAIT to share more with you all. This is just a start.  I am STILL currently not taking photography clients either so if you are needing someone let me know.. I have a girl ;)

Ending of a season

A common phrase you hear today is this idea of "seasons. " Maybe it's just the christian culture since it's something that's still fairly new to me to be honest, but every time someone mentions a challenging situation an almost guaranteed response is " It's just the season of life right now..." So I'm trying not to be light on this phrase BUT I really have felt the past two weeks have been the end of a real season of life in so many ways.

Over the past 6 years the makeup of me has been slowly transforming. I went from not even knowing who Jesus was ( REALLY ) to throwing my all into a relationship with him and his people . As I look back over these years of parenting littles, moves, deployments, etc. I can clearly see how he has been working on my heart through so many unique ways. Picking up a camera was one of them for sure, it's the reason this space is called BELIEVE studio and not " Brittany T Photography" because it was never supposed to be that. It was always a way to share his work with others and for a little while that meant photographing anyone and everything that came in my path- it's going to look a lot different in the future once I get balanced on two feet.  Over that time he has carried me from a " can't run a mile" 20-something to a first time marathoner as a mother of two  to a TWO time Boston qualifying marathoner and mother of 3! I have encountered some of the deepest and most life giving friendships in that time and learned to let go of others that were hurtful and life draining. The journey of motherhood hasn't been easy either but it has been beautiful and as I tucked my big boys in tonight and we said prayers I was in tears at their grateful and growing hearts.

Two seasons are really changing for me and I want to talk about both here but for tonight I want to focus on running ( you're shocked right!?! )

If you're friends with me personally, which pretty much anyone taking the time to read this is, you know that I recently ran the Soldier Marathon which is my favorite race. There were so many layers to this year it's a little difficult to unpack to be honest... this is why I haven't sat down to write! But I will try.

  The first time I ran this course was with one of my favorite people and dear friend while we lived in Alabama. We ran the half marathon together and it was my first half marathon pregnant as I was 23 weeks along with kiddo #2! The following year I felt lead to my first full marathon in honor of the families of recent fallen aviators we knew from flight school. My heart broke, is still broken, for them and it's literally the only thing I could think to do that year. Training during a deployment with two babies wasn't easy but I felt it 100% necessary. Each year whenever we could make it to this race we did because year after year we had more people to honor and more reason to run.

When we moved to Alaska I heard about this group of Moms that worked out together that was starting up so of course I had to check it out. At this point I had been running almost daily with a double stroller for 5 years only acquiring a couple mother runner friends along the way .I met the soon-to-be owner and we quickly chatted running adventures realizing that in 2014 we both ran the Soldier half marathon. Long story short we not only both ran it but we finished within seconds of each other along with her best running friend ( who I actually ended up running with THIS year ) I'm sure God looks back at that and just giggles. It's hilarious that he totally knows what he's doing and just takes his sweet time to show us. So here we are in Alaska in 2016 and this group of Moms becomes my people. That same Mom asked me to do photography work ( insert another AHA moment on the big picture ) for this business she was starting here Stroller Strong Moms Fairbanks. It's a nationwide organization she was part of in Georgia and was fearlessly bringing this community to a town she just KNEW needed it. Boy was she right! My answer was of course yes and since day one I have loved working out with these ladies but more importantly just doing this Mom life with them! There is a bond formed when you sweat with others that can't be recreated. Watching these women set goals and crush them, run first half marathons, lift heavy things, raise kind kiddos, give orphans a forever home, transform their own lives, etc. it's just truly changed me. Without it I would have never been motivated to tackle the year I just did.

We set a goal on one of the last stroller strong classes of 2016 . It was real cold and too many feet of snow for any normal person in the lower 48. I think 4 of us showed up and 3 of them had to push my van out of the deep snow that day. But that day to just those few Mamas I first said " I want to qualify for Boston. "

( skip this section if you're SO TIRED of hearing about my toes. I know me too. )

Fast forward to January 2nd. Two of my toes had started turning grey after a long winter run  and had slowly lost all feeling and turned black over a weeks time so I - against my will- went back to the hospital just to be safe. Immediately panic went across all of the medical staff as they brought everyone in to " TAKE A LOOK!" They informed me that I needed to be prepared to loose 2 possibly 3 of my toes and booked me with the surgeon the following day. I was placed in a boot and crutches. This was very practical with my husband leaving the next day for training and a 6 month old that needed carried everywhere! Thankfully the surgeon wanted to wait a week and see how keeping pressure off of it helped. As I was obviously forced out of any running I decided to use our gym's pool while the kiddos played at the childcare, I couldn't run so swimming was the next best endurance activity. It felt so great to move in that pool and just work out all of the negative thoughts that had filled my head during that time. The real healing, however, came when I got out of that pool. The black layers of skin literally just began pealing off and underneath were perfectly healthy fresh toes with no damage. I sobbed and sobbed, texted everyone I knew the pictures, and couldn't explain it any way besides holy healing water! Each day I returned and swam more laps before removing more and more dead tissue. A week later I returned to that same surgeon when he wanted to schedule possible amputation . He removed my boot off and was in complete shock. Before I knew it all of the same medical staff surrounded me and no one had any explanation for what they saw... perfectly healthy TOES!  I walked out of there without crutches, a boot, or any follow up appointments.

I remember feeling like God told me in that moment, TRUST me. Give me what you have this year and trust me. So I did. I mean he gave me a second shot with my toes how could I not?

I took a huge leap and stepped into women's ministry this spring using the gifts given to me with design and photography. It hasn't been easy but I've trusted him and he has transformed my heart 100% through this.

Once the snow started melting I got foot to pavement again. I found a race to qualify for, trained throughout the summer and - by his grace -did it! You can read my last post all about that. During that training I found God in every mile. I saw his glory in the early sunrises, his people surrounded me through community, I found a new love for podcasts to listen to on training runs that pointed me directly to his word. My simple act of running wasn't about being faster or better than anyone else it was about glorifying God and just trusting him in the process. When submitting this season to the lord it truly became effortless.

" but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
August I ran my first Boston Qualifying marathon in 3:32:34 in Anchorage Alaska.

September I finished ( ran is an overstatement ) the Equinox Trail marathon here in Fairbanks- one of the most challenging courses in the world- in 4:39:49. By far one of my favorite runs yet because of the people and incredible course.

November I ran my second Boston Qualifier at the Soldier marathon in Columbus Georgia - according to my GPS watch in 3:32:01 but their course distance was off .3 mile and clocked it in at about 3:34 . Finished the final year of this race on the podium with a first place in my age group. By far the most proud moments of my running career... I doubt anything will beat that for me to be honest.

Those last 26.2 miles around Fort Benning Georgia really changed my thoughts.  I realized  that this running thing has nothing to do with running but has everything to do with God's purpose for my life. He wanted to show me that YES when I trust him I can do big things but reaching these running goals are just the tip of the iceberg . It's just a small peak at his faithfulness in what is ahead in this journey through life.   As I ran that course and was missing my kiddos back home in Alaska I realized that I never want to run the Boston Marathon until they can all be there celebrating with me ! Why spend all that money and effort to get to this once-in-a-lifetimg ( ok maybe a couple times for some) but without my support team by my side. Why not wait until my daughter is old enough to tell the story of when she watched her Mama run THE Boston marathon? I may very well continue at this pace and qualify again but there is so much comfort knowing it's just not the right time , not yet.

Our weekend in Georgia just filled up my cup... race or not. My Mom so bravely held down our fort and the kids had a blast with her in Alaska. We got to catch up with friends that moved from Fairbanks to Georgia last year, I got to meet tons of Columbus Stroller Strong Mamas and watch them crush their own goals, and really just ate a whole lot of chipotle in the sunshine. I couldn't have asked for anything more!

Fairbanks Stroller Strong MOMS SLAMing in Georgia 

Pre race fun! 

First Marathon this year was with Anchorage SLAMers, Second of the year was with my Fairbanks Mamas, and final with the Columbus SLAM. What a gift to have this community from one coast to the other. 

One of my dear friends, first Alaska friend, and neighbor. She also set a new 5k PR WITH a back injury. Love this girl 

I heart MY soldier 

 This is WHY this race matters

Action shot around mile 8

Finishing strong, sore , but strong !

 So happy to see this Mama at the finish line. She beat her 5k goal by 8 minutes? I was blessed to photograph her twice in Fairbanks and of course SLAM with her too! 

My Arizona girl. One of my first Alaska friends that also comes form AZ and her heart is just made of gold, she's grown into such a strong leader and fast boy-mama. Miss you already friend! 

Totally unexpected. To go from my first Marathon here and now finish my 7th over 20 minutes faster and taking first place. Truly and honor. 

 I feel like I just mic dropped myself. Like...that's it ! The work here is done. Everyone keeps asking me what is next and to be honest I have zero goals next year personally as far as running goes . My heart is really set on helping more Moms get moving and reach big goals doing something for themselves . I haven't mapped out how that looks quite yet but I'm going to just keep trusting the lord and follow his lead with it. I truly believe that running and a healthy lifestyle can bring much healing no matter how fast or far you take it . Creatively I'm ready to really start telling stories through my photography . The personal project I've had on hold all year is going to take a big priority next year , I'm sure my next post  ( ending of a season part 2? ) will have plenty of the details.

To everyone that has been part of this journey of 2017 with me ( I would list everyone but I know you're already tired of reading this and it would add at least 4 more minutes) every single one of you is loved and treasured and I couldn't have done it without you.

So that's a wrap . 2017 will forever be the year I let go and gave the glory to the one who deserves it all. The year these Mom x3 legs miraculously moved through three marathons and qualified for the Boston marathon twice in 4 months. May 2018 be filled with lots of precious family memories and being an encourager for other women , showing them that they are stronger than they even know <3

-B

-

Georgia > Boston

Last week the Boston Marathon released the emails confirming entrance into the 2017 race. The standards are steep requiring runners to obviously meet a competitive time but then even if you qualify there isn't a guarantee on acceptance. For the past few years runners that were on THE LIST were about 1-2 minutes under qualifying time... considering I finished two and half minutes under my time I was confident and P U M P E D to receive that acceptance email after this long journey reaching this ultimate goal as a runner.

Wednesday morning I was really  practicing patience anxiously enjoying my time with my dear friends at PWOC { women's bible study on Army bases } Something pulled me outside just to check real quick, how fun would it be to celebrate with a few of my friends that have stood and ran beside me along the way? Then the subject line said it all...

" Letter of NON-acceptance"

This year , because of so many applicants and only 23,000 spots for qualified runners, the cut off time was extravagant. Any other year I would have been in but for 2018 runners must have run 3 minutes and 32 seconds FASTER than the required qualifying time. I missed it by an entire minute! 5,000 qualified runners were not accepted for 2018.

I won't lie, in that moment I was devastated. Complete defeat and shock. The sacrifice of this training season was not just my sacrifice but my families and my friends. I was given standards and by the grace of God surpassed those but yet still was not enough. In that moment confusion consumed me. Here I boast about distance running being my peace with the creator, my calm , my time of ultimate quiet and prayer but let anger consume me because of selfish desires.

Throughout the past few months I have had a theme of identity ringing in my soul. I've had countless conversations with friends about exactly this. When we put labels on ourselves  - Wife, Soldier, Runner, Writer, Cook, Gardener, Musician, etc- we are forgetting how easily they can be taken away.

Even the strongest marriages can end in divorce.
A Singer could lose their voice.
A writer can lose inspiration.
A runner can have heart failure.
A War hero can be medically discharged from the military with no career path in place.

Nothing is promised in this life!

And what are we left with when our identity fails us? We are left empty . We are left feeling broken.

Thankfully there is ONE title and one identity that is unfailing -  being the son/daughter of the creator of the universe. We were all made in his perfect image and have been given life to do incredible things , things that we may not even be aware of. Maybe even things that have nothing to do with the identity we have built around ourselves!  Yes I call myself a runner and YES I was proud to add the title " Boston Marathoner" to that identity I've built but in reality it would never have defined me anyways.  I'm made for immeasurably more than the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston street and in that I find peace.

After this realization the logistics started flooding in.  This means goodbye to the stress over training for a spring Marathon in -40 degree Fairbanks temperatures ! The Army has my husband in the spring which meant struggling to get a Grandparent to come stay here for several days with the kiddos for me to travel alone to Boston ... again NOT easy.  Beyond all of that I would be traveling from Alaska and have no loved ones to share this once in a lifetime day with.  The hidden blessings in this NON acceptance started slowly pouring in with complete understanding.

Then Friday everything changed.

In 2012 I ran my first marathon. The year prior I had finished the Soldier half marathon in Columbus Georgia which immediately became a favorite because of it's beautiful weather, quick course, military appreciation, and mostly because you run for fallen heroes. At the time I didn't know any soldiers that lost their lives at war so I put a name on my bib belonging to a neighbors' friend . It really meant something to run that day for someone that no longer could .  ( Yes I was 24 weeks pregnant incase you're thinking WOW you sure ate a lot of cupcakes back then... well that's true too )

 2011

 Can we also take a moment to acknowledge my photo editing. I hope that it's come a long way from this. Also the days of ALL the instagram filters!

In June of the following year a friend lost her husband in the first helicopter crash after our husbands' graduated from flight school in Alabama.  Our community was and continues to be broken over it along with several tragic crashes shortly after . Mat Fazzari left behind a beautiful wife, two boys, and a solid foundation of family members in Washington. In moments like that there are no words or actions that are ever enough but to me the only thing I could do was return to the race and run for him, run for all of them.  That year a half marathon wasn't enough it had to be the full even if it meant training during my husbands's deployment . As many of his friends and family that could make it came out to Georgia and ran that day as well including his wife, kids, parents, and former military leaders . There are exactly zero words to describe the emotions and heart poured out by all that day but it is one that will live in my heart forever.

( Top right picture with Kristen... how cool is it that she now lives right here in Fairbanks with us?!  ) 

It became my mission to run every single year after that, even if I never ran another marathon I would  always run soldiers. A couple years it took a plane trip from Arizona, some years a short drive from our home in Alabama, and once a forced Virtual race day when I just couldn't swing childcare to go. The starting line has been shared with military spouse sisters, some of my best friends, my husband, my kids, and even one of my now dearest running friends 3 years before we even met all the way in Alaska !  Shortly after meeting and talking race stories I looked up the results and realized we finished in 2013 just seconds apart. In the photo below Katie was probably crossing the finish line !

2013

2014

2015 (Virtual race ) 

Last Friday they announced this would be the final year of the Soldier Marathon. Again my heart shattered. I understood from behind the scenes why it couldn't continue as a volunteer run event but still.. NO ! Within an hour , without question, my husband had booked our tickets to Atlanta . Traveling from Alaska is no easy trip but for us it's worth it. My Mom is so awesomely able to fly up to spend the weekend with her Grandkids and we are heading to GEORGIA together! Flights books- race registered-on our way November 16. As a military couple we don't ever get even a night away so the fact that every detail about this weekend fell into place is nothing but a Godsend . Can I just say that it takes a VERY AMAZING husband to understand the importance of this and joyfully experience this with me, I mean we could probably fly to Hawaii easier but we're going to Columbus Georgia on our weekend getaway so I can run a marathon ;) He loves me as much as I do him.

Had Boston worked out like I planned none of this would be possible. We couldn't afford plane tickets if I was flying to Boston in the spring, my Mom couldn't come this fall if she was possibly going to help us out in the spring. I wouldn't even be able to leave my sweet kiddos to be honest if I knew I was leaving them again in a few months! Thanks to that qualifier in August and the Equinox marathon last month  I am just going to hop back into a couple weeks of re-training and be good to go.  Every single step of this training season was planned in a way I couldn't even see in the blinding of my own selfish plans , but alas they all turned out GOOD and better than my own.

ALSO I can't leave out that  a sweet military spouse friend of mine here in Fairbanks just happens to be the daughter of the owners of Big Dog Running Company who just HAPPENS to have sponsored and helped organize the event since day one. Our paths crossed every single year but weren't lead together until living in Alaska of all places where we get to run alongside each other- ok she flew by me in the Equinox marathon so not exactly alongside - and serve on a board of spouses together too! You can't make this good stuff up guys.

God is good friends... all the time . He is good.

-B