She Runs By Faith

No matter how much we wish it was so, babies do not arrive with their own personal how-to manuals and Google isn't a guaranteed reliable resource for parenting questions. Oh, how I wish they did come with at least a FAQ booklet! When it comes to food,  The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers  is the FAQ book I have been looking for. Written by Anthony Porto, MD, and Dina DiMaggio, MD, this book covers nearly every feeding-related question that I have had since the births of our two children. Information on different feeding options are covered in detail, from breastfeeding to formula to choosing the right bottle for your baby. The pediatric team gives very helpful information on milk storage for moms who plan to pump and a breakdown of the types of formula for moms who plan to formula-feed. As a breastfeeding mom, I greatly appreciate a resource that shares the benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby to remind me why I'm still nursing him p...

Well, it's officially summer now—we made it to our first parade of the summer! Watching the parade and seeing all of the people there made me miss my family and my own small town. The small town I call "home" is about 2,000 people larger than this one and I was blessed to grow up with most of my family and friends nearby. It is so easy to take that closeness for granted until it's gone! "Home" is cozy and knowing everyone is comfortable. I miss that. Being the new person, the outsider, means meeting new people often (which is fun), trying to remember a list of new names (which is hard!), who's related to who and lots of small talk to build new relationships. I know it's been good for me, for all of us, but starting over again and again is frustrating. I even can't imagine how career military families feel!!! As the years pass and more memories are made, I know this new town will become home.  That is, if we stay here. The Lord has bles...

Currently, I'm in that awkward space of "time off" between two marathons. I have had plenty of time to recover from the Fargo Marathon yet it's not quite time to jump into training for the Wild Hog Marathon. Not a huge dilemma here. It just feels weird to run without a training plan. Like I was in the groove and now I'm breaking a good habit. (Uh, not good!) British educator Charlotte Mason has written a lot on the formation of habits in ourselves and our children as well. The below quote sums up the habit: The fact is, that the things we do a good many times over leave some sort of impression in the very substance of our brain; and this impression, the more often it is repeated, makes it the easier for us to do the thing the next time. - Charlotte Mason (Vol. 4, Book 1, p. 208). The more often we repeat something, the easier it is to do the next time.  Making time to run the training miles has formed a habit; turning running into something I enjoy rather ...

The little ones and I have been working on a Father's Day art project this week and my latest book to review, Simple Calligraphy , was a wonderful inspiration! My oldest did all kinds of hand printing and painting for the background of the project. Then came time for the lettering. Simple Calligraphy is a short and sweet guide through the basics of calligraphy. Judy Detrick walks you through the art of lettering, numbering and creative flourishes. She equips the reader with the skills to create their own elegant invitations, custom cards and personalized designs. I do recommend investing in a calligraphy pen if you choose to purchase this book. Seems like common sense, but I didn't have one just laying around! While I wasn't able to get the full feel of calligraphy, I was inspired by the beautiful typography in this book and used a similar style in our Father's Day creation! My "freehand calligraphy"... Calligraphy pens are recommended! The ...

I'm not quite sure how to even start this post. My writing topics are usually pretty light on this blog as I write about the joys of motherhood, running all over the place and my faith in God but the Lord has been on my heart to mention the Orlando shooting. Many people lost their lives in Orlando over the weekend and my heart breaks for the victims and their loved ones. Some of the news articles I have read have portrayed a very disturbing view of Christianity - like the idea that we would celebrate another person's suffering. That perspective is so far from Jesus' teaching that it makes my stomach turn. Though I do not agree with the lifestyle choices of that nightclub, I have nothing but love for them and pray for them as EVERY LIFE is precious in the eyes of our Mighty God. May we lift up prayers of healing and peace for the victims of this tragedy.   #prayfororlando Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ROMANS 12:15 The Lord is close t...

'Tis the season for allergies! As a Moms Meet Ambassador , I received an assortment of nasal and sinus products from NeilMed , the largest manufacturer and supplier of LVLP (Large Volume Low Pressure) saline nasal irrigation systems in the world. Neilmed's products help to alleviate common nasal and sinus symptoms in a simple, safe, effective, and affordable way. They have also developed a growing line of products for baby care, ear care, and first aid. NeilMed® Naspira® Nasal-Oral Aspirator is a lifesaver for parents of littles! This nasal aspirator system safely and effectively suctions baby’s and toddler’s stuffy, runny or congested noses. The 2-in-1 design allows parents to use the NeilMed® NasaBulb aspirator or as an effective Nasal-Oral suction device, where parents can use suction force generated by the mouth to alleviate nasal congestion in babies and small children. Personally, I just use the NasaBulb end to clean baby's nose rather than using the tu...

It's June already... How can this be?! I have been taking it easy since the Fargo Marathon and that's the plan for all of June — 3 runs a week or more if I'm feeling it. My goal is to recover well and be (somewhat) rested and ready to start training for the Wild Hog Marathon by July. Runner's Connect has an awesome article on marathon recovery and you should really check it out! Being patient with recovery is hard but it's totally worth it. Even without running much, I still find that I'm wiped out! Our one-year-old has been fighting a double ear infection the past week or so (and I suspect he had it for a while longer) and it makes for some cranky, long days and nights. Thank God for medicine to heal him up! This weekend, the kids and I went to visit my parents and we adventured to the nearby state park. We took the kids on a "hike" (slow and short) and I am itchin' to run the trail around the lake someday. Here are a few of my favorite...