Team Hoyt

For my friends who are training for marathons...I hope this story encourages you. It almost made me want to do a marathon. Yikes!

On Father's Day at church a couple of weeks ago, during the worship service they told the story of the Hoyt Team.
The Hoyt Team is a Father and Son who compete continously in marathons, dualthons and triathlons-which is a combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. The thing that is amazing, as if that isn't amazing enough, is that the son is a spastic quadriplegic, has cerebal palsy and is non-speaking. His parents were told when he was born that he would amount to nothing and that they should just put him in an institution and forget about him. They were certain of his intelligence and kept him and loved him and he now has a computer that he is able to communicate through and is also a graduate of Boston University.

They completed their frist triathlon on Father's Day in 1985 after the Dad, Dick, learned how to swim for the first time, and learned how to ride a bike all over again (the last time he rode a bike was when he was 6!) For the run, he pushed Rick in his wheelchair, For the biking he had a special bike that carried Rick in the front, For the swimming he had a boat tied to his waist that Rick would be in as he swam, The amount of endurance that this man has at age 66 is incredible. Not only carrying his weight, but the weight of his son also.

Here is a quote that Rick communicated through his computer:
"Dad is one of my role models. Once he sets out to do something, Dad sticks to it whatever it is, until it is done. For example once we decided to really get into triathlons, dad worked out, up to five hours a day, five times a week, even when he was working.
"The love that this Dad has for his son is so amazing, that he would endure the pain and the time and the sweat to do something that he knows will make his son happy.
"What I mean when I say I feel like I am not handicapped when competing is that I am just like the other athletes."
This team has inspired so many people, they have gotten so much support from around the world!
"Whenever we are passed (usually on the bike) the athlete will say "Go for it!" or "Rick, help your Dad!" When we pass people (usually on the run) they’ll say "Go Team Hoyt!" or "If not for you, we would not be out here doing this."

Hebrews 12:1-3 "Let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

I can't help but think of the similarities between this Father and Son, and our relationship with God. God loves us very much, He would do anything for us. He actually gave us Jesus, who went through the pain, time and sweat of the cross to make us happy! To give us eternal life. He calls us His children. He took on the weight of sin of the entire world, so that we can be free, and not feel handicapped by the weight of our sin. There is no greater love than this!

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Check out more of Team Hoyt's story and look at some sweet pictures. If you get a chance, try and look up video clips. It is so touching to actually watch them. It gives me chills!

The Dream Giver-Part 1

I am not much of a reader, but when I find a book that grabs a hold of me, it is usually life-changing. Right now I am reading a parable "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson. Amazing! It's speaking so much to me, especially in my current stage of life. I thought I would share bits of what God is teaching me as I go through this book.

"One morning, Ordinary woke up with these words echoing in his mind: What you're missing, you already have...Could it be? Ordinary looked and looked. And then he discovered that in a small corner of his heart lay a Big Dream. The Big Dream told him that he, a Nobody, was made to be a Somebody and destined to achieve Great Things."

Everyone has a "dream". There is a driving passion in all of us that God has placed in us when He created us, even before we were born. No one else can do your dream. You are created in His image and there is no one in the universe like you!
God has uniquely designed each one of us not only for our Big Dream, but for His Big Dream for the world. Our dream is meant to accomplish a Big Need he cares deeply about.
I think of Moses and how overwhelmed he felt when God asked him to bring His people out of Egypt. He went through so many feelings. He came up with excuses, felt inadequate. But when he stepped out in obedience, God was pleased!
The author lists some things that could help in discovering your dream.

-Think back to what you wanted to do while you were growing up.
-Interview three people you respect, who you think are living their Dream.
-If someone came along and gave you all the money you ever wanted, what would you do with it?
-Observe your life and write down your conclusions, ask these questions:
What have I always been good at?
What needs do I care most about?
Who do I admire the most?
What makes me feel most fulfilled?
What do I love to do most?
What have I felt called to do?
-Ask yourself what legacy you would like to leave for your children and grandchildren?
-What do you most want to be remembered for?

I have been challeneged even more to pursue God and to Dream Big! I am a dreamer, that's for sure!
I will write more as I read. Hope this encouraged you to DREAM!

Rock, Paper, Scissors

The other day, some friends and I were watching TV and came across something very unusual...a tournament of sorts...

Yes...it was a rock, paper, scissors tournament!!! It was one of the funniest things I have seen. I couldn't tell if they were serious or not, but I really think they were. The winner got $50,000. CRAZY! I think my favorite part was when the camera scanned the crowd. One guy had a HUGE pair of scissors that he was waving around in the air! It was fabulous!

"Memories, Like the Corners of My Mind, Misty Water-Colored Memories"

Tonight I can't sleep. I have felt a little overwhelmed with the thought of how fast time flies. It will be soon that I will be packing up my stuff and heading south. Am I worried? Not really. Am I excited? YES! Am I nervous? Not yet. Am I scared? YES! I have been organizing and sorting through all of the junk that I have accumulated over the last 25 years! It's been more difficult than I thought it would be. Going through old memories is bringing up a mixture of emotions. Some sad, some happy. I'm reminded of how cool God is in how His plan is so detailed and perfect. He has walked me through so much in my life and it has all been His way of refining who I am, teaching me some hard life lessons, showing me His goodness and most of all covering me in His grace. I don't deserve anything, but it seems that God gives me more than I ever can conceive of. What is funny, is that in the world's eyes, what I have been given doesn't seem like alot. But in my eyes and in His eyes, it is everything! Everything that I need, and everything that satisfies. He is enough for me. And what I have I give back to Him.
I have been listening to Starfield lately and one song has been hitting me, especially as I have been thinking about my past.

Unashamed

I have not much
To offer You
Not near what You deserve
But still I come
Because Your cross
Has placed in me my worth
Oh Christ my King
Of sympathy
Whose wounds secure my peace
Your grace extends
To call me friend
Your mercy sets me free
And I know I'm weak
I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your name
But because of grace
Because of Your mercy
I stand here unashamed
I can't explain
This kind of love
I'm humbled and amazed
That You'd come down
From heavens heights
And greet me face to face
Here I am at Your feet
In my brokenness complete

My worth, is not my past. My worth is not my future. My worth is nothing about me. My worth is Jesus, the cross, in me. My worth is full of grace!
I am excited to live, to see what else He's going to do with me. I'm ready! Bring it on! He never stops working!

Nickel Creek

This weekend in Iowa City, IA, Nickel Creek played the Saturday night concert at the Arts Festival. It was amazing! The streets were packed! I personally loved their Brittany Spears version of "Toxic". I love going to concerts, but especially when the musicians are extremely talented like these guys. Check them out! They are pretty cool! They are coming to Austin in September for Austin City Limits!!! YEAH!

Purification, Luggage and my Dad

When my family got together to celebrate my 25th b-day and my sister's 30th b-day I was so blessed by the gifts that I received. There always seems to be "something special" in the gifts, whether it be like the Jesus air freshener I got as a gag gift that "Smells like Purification", or the 5 piece luggage set that I got from my sisters. So that I can come back home and visit when I'm in Austin!!! YEAH! One of the most precious gifts that I got was a piece of paper from my mom. Awhile back I had asked my mom if there was anything about me that was my dad. Character stuff, physical stuff, anything that I would have gotten from my dad. I always fear forgetting him, what he was like, the way he looked, so I wanted to know the things that were apart of me, that were like my dad. So my mom printed a picture of my dad and I when I was little and all around it she wrote things that we have in common!!! I CRIED!! It was so sweet!!!

"Full of lofty ideas-some almost too high for earth!"

"Can sleep anywhere!"

"Likes dogs"

"Strong, brave"

"Sweet"

"Great sense of humor-never afraid to be silly"

"Photo-fanatic"

"Freckles as a child-curly hair"

"Hesitates to find right words in explaining something:

He said, 'Uh...'

You say, 'Like...'"

"Creative, artistic, talented"

"Kind, caring"

"Adventursome spirit-try many things"

"Friendly, outgoing"

"Smart-figure things out and/or use resources wisely to learn"

"Soft-hearted, loving, affectionate"

"Messy"

"Cry easily"

"Strong opinions, convictions, not easily swayed or steered away from truth"

June 12 will be 9 years that he has been with Jesus!! I'm sure that for him it's only felt like minutes! Oh, I miss him! I can't wait to see him again!