I’m delighted to introduce you to The Running Mama and share with you my guest post for her Summer Running Series. I hope that after taking a moment to check out my post titled Improve Your Mood, you’ll be inspired to get in motion!

If you’re here visiting www.michellesedas.com, I can safely assume that you’re looking for a bit of inspiration. And while the introduction to today’s post isn’t typical of what you’d normally find here, rest assured that if you’re able to power through and get past it, the rest of this story will warm your heart…

Recently, a group of anti-American, racist protesters promoting intolerance came to Dallas. While they claim to be a “church,” their dogma, as evidenced by their treatment of others, makes me physically ill. They are, in essence, a hate group. I won’t link to their website, repeat what their signs say, or call them by name, as I do not want to give them any publicity. What I will do, however, in keeping true to the spirit of my blog is tell you the good that came of their visit.

In response to this group coming to Dallas, many local counter-protest groups formed. Rather than engaging with the visiting group, these counter-protesters made silly signs, completely taking attention away from the others.

Here are a few of the messages from my other favorite signs:

What Would Scooby Do?

I Came For The Coffee

People Aren’t Wearing Enough Hats

Fire Flies Are Pretty

Blessed Are The Cheese Makers

I Have Acute Angina

Free Car Wash

Black Text on a White Sign

Armed with their signs, these counter-protesters were able to turn an event, meant to show hatred, into a community fundraiser. They raised almost three times their goal amount to assist one center and set an attendance record at a museum. After reading how the Dallas community came together to counteract hatred, I immediately thought of the verse: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

I’ve scoured the internet and have read every article I could find concerning this recent protest/counter-protest in Dallas and here’s one article that I found which focuses on the good that came out. It does mention the group by name. If you do decide to read it, I hope you’ll quickly forget the name and the actions of the others. Instead, I hope you’ll focus on the good.

As for me, I will not allow the horrific actions of one group occupy any part of my mind. In fact, during the week that it’s taken me to read all of the articles and view all of the photographs, there is one image which has continued to resurface again and again in my mind. Years from now, when I think of church and God and love in the Dallas community, this is the image which will come to mind: 

This weekend, we participated in the Great American Taste Test, coinciding with the release of More of America’s Most Wanted Recipes by Ron Douglas.

I knew my mom was the perfect person to help me with this project: she loves to cook and loves having any excuse to dress up my kids in costume. Here’s YaYa (my mom) with the kiddos, all donning their Chef attire.

We chose the Mongolian Beef recipe from PF Chang’s. For the Taste Test, we compared our homemade version (Choice #1) using the recipe from page 218 of the More of America’s Most Wanted Recipes cookbook with the restaurant-made dish (Choice #2). 

While we enjoyed cooking, there was one line from the recipe concerning the creation of the sauce that had us stumped: “Bring the mixture to a boil and let the sauce thicken, then set it aside until ready to use.” We brought the mixture to a boil…and kept stirring until it thickened. Then we set it aside. Later, when we were ready to use the sauce, it had thickened even more to look like this:

So, we remade the sauce. Perhaps it would have been better for the recipe to have said, ““Bring the mixture to a boil and then set aside. Mixture will thicken upon standing.”

Finally, we were ready: Ta Da!

Our judges were very thorough. While both choices were outstanding, the consensus was, after much contemplation, that Choice #1 (our homemade recipe!!) was more tender and flavorful. And, as a side-note, both of my children liked the “grass” (green onions). It was a wonderful experience and, if this recipe is any indication of the quality of the other 199 recipes contained within the cookbook, I can’t wait to make even more tasty meals!

 So, there you have it!

This afternoon, as I was checking my email, my eyes began to fill with tears and the hairs on my arms stood on end. Knowing that there was no way a calendar of upcoming local running races (contained within the email I was reading at the time) would bring on this type of involuntary response, I looked around the office for the source of my strange and abrupt physical reaction.

I am and always have been a sensitive person. “Sensitive” meaning I tend to feel my emotions deeply, as well as “sensitive” meaning I am easily affected by external stimuli. The same sights, smells, sounds, and touches that others around me are able to ignore can, at times, cause me to become overly uncomfortable.

After realizing that no one had lit a scented candle, nor had the thermostat been changed, I continued to sit motionless, still searching with my senses. Then, there it was: a faint, barely audible song on the radio —

Earlier this week, I stumbled upon an incredible new website, which touched me to my core. Within mere seconds of viewing his site for the first time, my eyes began to fill with tears and the hairs on my arms stood on end. And guess which song had been chosen to play in the background of this site? You guessed it — the same song emanating from my radio. Clearly, on some subconscious level, my body remembered the emotions evoked within me when I discovered, for the first time, The Matt Maher Story.

In early 2009, Matt Maher was a professional soccer player. Successful, well-educated, living the dream, he was “That Guy.” Then, in the early hours of Saturday, March 7th, 2009, Matt’s one bad decision changed his life, as well as the lives of many others, forever. He is now 25 years old serving 5 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter.

And yet he writes:

“I have found my purpose.”

“I’m embracing this journey with all my heart.”

“My curse (prison sentence) has become a blessing.”

“If my bad decision and experience can prevent countless others or save lives then I will bear this shame and be ‘that guy.’”

And his website says, “It is his heartfelt desire to spread the message that God is at work — even in the midst of the storm.”

If you’re familiar with my work, then you’ll know that last phrase stopped me in my tracks. While I cannot begin to fathom what Matt is going through, it was, ironically, my life-changing experience when I was 25 that inspired me to write Welcome The Rain: Choosing to See Beyond Life’s Storms, which also became an inspirational video. In reference to my struggle, I have written:

“Hospitalized for depression at 12, and then again at 25, I knew sadness. I knew the feeling of darkness. I knew the sensation of hopelessness. Yet as heartbreaking as that time period was, I am thankful for it because it has given me a richer appreciation and understanding of life.”

“I guess you could say the inspiration for Welcome The Rain started when I was 12. Yet, it took years and years for me to see how My Rain (my depression) had blessed me.”

“Although I sometimes find it difficult to talk about mental health, that doesn’t stop me. I write and speak on this topic not because it is easy for me to open my heart, but because I feel it is important for me to do so. Why waste pain? The whole point of making it through life’s challenges is so that we can help others.”

“While my faith and relationship with God kept me afloat through the toughest of times, I believe that ultimately He used my depression to help me seek out the key to my happiness.”

Within The Matt Maher Story, we find one young man who completely embodies The Farmer. Who has found purpose within his suffering. Who is not wasting pain. He has embraced his journey. He has… welcomed his rain.

I believe that through The Matt Maher Story, actions will change, hearts will be touched, lives will be transformed. If you are ready to witness God’s hand at work, I invite you to discover The Matt Maher Story.

During today’s post-church drive, the gloomy gray of the last few days gave way to a brilliant sapphire sky.

And whether it was due to our time spent in worship, or the ambient excitement of the July 4th holiday, our moods were buoyant as we explored the great outdoors. Laughter flowed freely and little smiles appeared easily and words of respect and gratitude filled the air. With the unmistakable presence of God’s hand on my heart, the four of us walked, hand in hand, under today’s sapphire sky.

For the first time ever, I’m actually interested in the World Cup. And by “interested,” I mean that I’ve looked at the standings a couple of times, and whenever my husband is watching a game and I pass through the room, I’ll ask Who is playing?…and hours later, I’ll often remember to ask Who won?

I’m pretty sure, though, that the reason I’m “into” the World Cup this year is that, to support my husband’s homeland, I found a cute Mexico soccer shirt to wear.

This isn’t the first time a shirt has swayed me: I often choose the running races I compete in based upon how cute the shirt is.

While my interest in the competition is based purely upon clothing, my husband’s interest in the World Cup is authentic. A couple of weeks ago, he happened to be in Mexico City when the Mexican team won. Outside of his hotel, a crowd gathered to celebrate. What a fun memory for him!

So, with Mexico and the US now out of the World Cup, my fascination with soccer will most likely dwindle. Thankfully, I can get back those 67 seconds a day that I’ve been devoting to following the World Cup, and I can move on to other interests….

Maybe yoga (cute pants!) Or tennis (love the skirt!)…

Father’s Day is right around the corner and what a great time it is to say Thanks Dad!

My dad is one of my best friends. I can always come to him when I need advice, to hear a compassionate point of view, or just a friend to talk to. That’s why I’m especially excited to announce that my story Crazy Curtains was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad: 101 Stories of Gratitude, Love, and Good Times. In the telling of this story, I’m able to express to my dad my gratitude for his unwavering love and support. So, I’ll just go ahead and say it again: Thanks Dad!!

And here’s an article in the The Lewisville Leader about my Chicken Soup story. Happy reading.

This month, Running Moms Rock is featured in an article in North Texas Child Magazine. We’re getting excited about our 5K coming up on April 24. While it’s a “Running Moms Rock” event, the race is for everyone: men, women, children, dogs, walkers, joggers, runners…

If you’re anywhere in the DFW area, I hope you’ll come out! This race benefits the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County.

After a bit of a break (life’s unexpected events sometime get in the way!), I’m wrapping up the Live Inspired Blog Tour. So please take a moment to visit Michele Deville’s site: www.micheledeville.com. She’s written a lovely post that I’m happy to share with you. And also, please check out her book: The Path to Forgiveness.

Thank you and thank you to all of you who were a part of my Live Inspired Blog Tour. It meant so much to me.

Today, my interview with Wendy Christensen is featured on Author Beginnings. Please take a moment to also check out her other site: Little Moments That Matter.