Jenny-From-My-Block

I always get to remember

that when I struggle

I get to rely on my Savior.

Sometimes I forget

and try to rely

on

the flesh of man.

And it seems to me I should learn

the flesh of man

always.lets.you.down.

But the flesh of woman is completely different.

Jenny-from-my-block,

she has never let me down.

That is saying something.

I am lucky to have this lady in my life.

Without getting terribly sappy,

aside from my children and tied with my Mother,

she has honestly been

-the greatest blessing in my life-

When I look at her,

it's like I can see myself

because she knows me inside and out.

Aside from God and the woman who gave birth to me

this woman

knows every ounce of what makes me, me.

She is the definition of

Christlike, Compassionate, Unconditional

L.O.V.E.

There have been many times I have let her down

but she continues to love

unfailing.

There have been many times I have run our friendship emotional bank account dry

but she continues to deposit.

(Side note: Funny story. When I first met Jen, I asked her what she goes by...Jen, Jennifer, Jenny etc. Her reply was, 'Anything BUT Jenny.' Little did she know she should never tell me what not to call her. A year later, I moved in close proximity to her neighborhood unbeknownst to her or me, we ended up just a block apart. . .thus, she became the endearing, Jenny From My Block:)

***

I'm running the SL half marathon in memory of James on Saturday. 

He has been gone for six years on Friday.

Saturday marks the sixth time James has been represented in the SL Marathon.

I have represented four of those times.

My brother and his wife once and my best friend once.

It's always been therapeutic for me to 

'endure to the end'

'push through the pain'

'overcome obstacles'

'put one foot in front of the other'

'live in the moment'

'enjoy the journey'

'this too shall pass'

all with the mentality,

"I can Do Hard Things"

I have always been an active girl.

Last August I hurt my feet and it derailed me for quite some time.

I started back in January and thought I was good to go.

But then in February I injured my quad after I got a deep thigh bruise playing powder puff football.

I have spent the last while trying to figure out 

what.was.wrong.with.me.

I was experiencing crazy knee pain.

I went in for two deep tissue massages

and an adjustment from a Sports Medicine Chiropractor
a priesthood blessing from my brother

and Voila,

I'm almost better.

I ran seven miles with little knee pain.

There was some, but I could work through it. 

So the good news is, I get to run in memory of James on Saturday.

Cross your fingers that I can fight the pain and work through it. 

While I like to be prideful and say that 

"I can do hard things alone with my Savior"

I think I'm being just that....prideful.

When I say I can do hard things alone with my Savior, 

I really should be saying, "I can do hard things with the people my Savior has given to me."

Because he can't be here to give me a hug at the end,
he's given me a few who can.

In the blessing my brother Dave gave, he blessed that my legs would experience a speedy recovery,
and that I would find a service project of consequence to bless the lives of others.
He also blessed me that tI would find a spiritual marathon I could embark upon...
that is symbolic to the physical marathon I am embarking upon....
I think i I found just the right spiritual marathon...
I'm going to do a 3 month Book of Mormon challenge.
He also blessed me to live an abundant life.
Which I love, because it's easier to be happy when we recognize how many blessings we have
than it is to dwell on that which has been taken from us.
Even though James was taken,
so much has been given
in terms of growth, understanding, education, knowledge, testimony, love and compassion.
And for that, I am grateful.
For you I am grateful.
To all of those who have listened hour after hour
complain,
analyze and simply
cry,
thank you.
From the very bottom of my heart,
thank you. 

Love you all.

xoxo

Michelle