MY FIRST 5K (PART 1)

On Sunday I ran my first 5K. 

Let me repeat that: On Sunday I ran my first 5K.

I know for some people 3.1 miles is a walk, er… run, in the park, but for me it's a mountain that I've climbed. For me, the girl who I don't think ever has run actually run a full mile until a couple months ago, it's huge. 

I remember being told to run a mile in gym class and middle school and pretending I had asthma. I also remember sneaking off and chatting about boys with my girlfriends, and then walking the whole thing while smacking gum. That is pretty much my experience with the word run and the word mile. I really do enjoy working out, and I'd say for the past 8ish years I have exercised on a semi regular basis. I can do a mean hour on the elliptical but lacing up my sneaks and going for a run just wasn't going to happen, y'all. It wasn't. 

Until it did.

Last year, a couple months postpartum and thirty pound heavier, I downloaded the Ease into 5K app and desperately wanted to make it work. I wanted the time to myself, I wanted the exercise, I wanted to set a goal and accomplish it. There was always a thought in the back of my mind that I wouldn't actually be able to do it but I tried anyway. I got two weeks in and hurt my knee pretty badly. I came home crying that night because I was so discouraged. I wanted this so badly, I wanted to learn to run, cause that's what I needed to do, learn it. I wanted to enjoy running. I don't know what gave me this desire to begin with, but I have always been fascinated with people who run for fun. So I had to stop then, and I prayed and prayed that one day I'd be able to try it again, and that the pain would go away. 

On March 16th I decided it was time to try it again. I started the program and never stopped. I'm praising the Lord today that I've had no pain in my knee and that He allowed me to accomplish something I wanted to so bad… I could almost taste it.

I ran when it was freezing cold and I was dodging patches of ice. I ran when the wind was whipping across my face and I was asking myself WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DANIELLE!? I ran in the rain and I ran in the sunshine. I ran at 5 am and 7 pm. I ran and ran and ran. When I started the program I literally, kid you not, was out of all my breath after 45 seconds of running and the thought of running for 4 minutes straight blew my mind. I would be panting, trying to catch my breath, and praying that the Lord would give me the strength to just make it through the next running interval. And when the music stopped? Forget it. Those 3.6 seconds of no music and heavy breath and feet hitting the pavement: they were so bad. The first 2-3 weeks my legs ached and ached some more. My lady parts… excuse me… but they felt like they were going to fall out of me. And running after birthing three toddler sized children will make you wet yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you.

But, somehow, I did it. I completed the program. I ran my first 3.1 miles and then did it a few more times. I signed up for my first 5K and took a really deep breath…. 

LIFE IN PHOTOS

I'm sorry (not sorry) for the amount of photos this post includes. Spring is too sweet. Life is too good.

My girl will do anything to be outside. She stands at the door and whines like a puppy and brings me endless pairs of shoes all day long. She is over the rain and ready for the sunshine again.

Her new favorite dolly. You know I'm not gonna find anything in the store with her name on it, mmkay? So happy to have had Personal Creations send this sweet doll for my girl. She sleeps with it every night and I pull brown fuzz out from in between her finger every morning, from clutching her Story doll's hair. I kinda love it.  

Foster chose what he wanted from Personal Creations as well and, of course, he looked right at me and said, I want the grumpy and grouchy dino backpack. Well. That's fitting. Brody picked out the custom name sports puzzle and is mildly obsessed with it.

I actually can't help myself with these swing photos. Cannot. help. myself. 

Have I really not posted camera photos since my boy turned five? Oh, my heart. 

I love these spring nights. 

Story is pretty delicate when picking, and giving, flowers. 

Story and I lalalove our new headbands from my sweet friend Jessi at Suzie Studios.

Happy Wednesday, y'all. 

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.

Motherhood has different phases for me, and I'm guessing for you too. There's waves of goodness, moments of beauty, long nights with sometimes longer days, and then times that smack me right across the face when I realize that I have no idea what I'm doing.

I mean, sure, I know what to do. I know what my children need and how to meet those those basic needs. But, at the the same time, something will happen, or a conversation will take place, and it will knock me right over. I'll be crying in the grocery store because I have no idea how to handle a child that will not stop failing and screaming, as my baby runs down the other aisle, and everyone looks on at that crazy mom that attempted to grocery shop with all three children (me). Or my five going on thirty-five son will ask me questions that I don't know how to answer myself and I'll wonder how in the world he can think of such heartbreaking things already. Not yet, I'll whisper, not yet. I just want him to hold onto his precious innocence for a little while longer. 

These are the moments that I am crying out to Jesus and saying, Lord! What am I doing? How do I raise these children well? I know it was no mistake when you chose me for them, and them for me, but where do I go from here? 

It's overwhelming when I really think about the role I have been given. To be mom to these three, sweet souls. To be able to shape, and mold them, and be such a huge part of who they will one day become. To love them with a love I hadn't known I had, or felt before, a love so fierce and so strong that it scares me.

I think a lot of times, as moms, we feel like just moms and we're seeking adventure elsewhere. I am reminded tonight that THIS, right here, right now, is my adventure. There isn't anything more wild than the role of being a mother. The way it pushes me, bends me, and, inevitably, breaks me. It's the most beautiful, bittersweet, life changing experience that I'll find no where else.

So often, in those times of deep need, the Lord is reminding me that I can't do this thing alone. The moments where I break, and turn it all over to Him, are the moments where I ask myself why I ever thought I could? When everything's going good: I need Jesus. When everything's gone crazy: I need Jesus. And when I am reminded that I have no idea what in the world I am doing: I need Jesus. 

I'm thankful, every day, for the grace that my Jesus, and my children, give me. I'll never figure this motherhood thing out entirely but I'm forever grateful to be doing it. 

LOVE FOR UGANDA

A couple years ago, Jami, who now one of my dearest friends, contacted me to ask if she could donate money through sidebar sponsorship on her blog to our adoption fund. We didn't really know each other all that well, she just had a heart to give and follow what the Lord commands of us. I am still overwhelmed by her generosity to support our family and support adoption. Who would have thought we'd be where we are now, Jaimey? Taking vacations together. Laughing and crying and praying together on opposite sides of the country. Jami and her husband have made the decision to not let anything hold them back when it comes to what the Lord has commanded of them, what He is calling them to do: sharing the gospel, loving people, and serving Him. It's pretty amazing to see it. It's easy to get caught up in the thought that The Bible was written a long time ago, so it might not exactly, persay, apply to me specifically. But, guess what? (I am telling this to myself). THE PRICE IS WRONG, BOB. This applies to me, to you, to us. 

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16:24

So, today, it's my turn to support Jami and her family, as her husband Bill prepares to serve in Uganda this summer. Can you help? Can you give? Can you share about this?

Below you'll read Jami's post, and CLICK HERE to go to her blog to donate and enter to win these amazing prizes! 

today is the day! the day you get to see all the goodies up for grabs.
aaaand, i'm nervous. there i said it. i feel better already.

if you read my post from last week you know that hubby is part of a mission team going to uganda this summer.

we are thrilled to be able to participate and can not wait to see what the Lord does.

the team will be traveling with children of the nations spending time teaching and loving on children in group homes. they will also be visiting refugee camps, building a laundry facility and planting fruit trees.

the children they will be spending time with have been displaced by AIDS and war.

just the thought of it is heartbreaking to me. so many children with no parents and without a home. i long to look into their little faces. to tell them Jesus loves them. to tell them i love them.

for the time being, however,  i feel called to send my hubby off with as much support and prayer as possible.

will you pray for him and the entire team? pray that everyone they come in contact with will see and feel the love they have come to bring.

we are also in need of financial support. some wonderful friends have rallied behind me to make this fun giveaway possible. i am beyond grateful for and humbled by their support.

please give what you can. a little. a lot. every dollar is appreciated.

here are all the entry details:

*all of these items were donated by the shops and persons listed. this giveaway is open to US residents only. anyone of course, is free to give, however the gift sets will be shipped to US winners only. everyone can enter this giveaway once by leaving a comment with your name here and telling me that you shared this giveaway via twitter/facebook/instagram.

after that? $10 per comment/entry. click the "donate" button at the bottom of this post to donate through paypal. donate $20 leave 2 comments. donate $100 leave 10 comments. easy peasy right?

**please leave your email address with at least one of your donation comments so i can contact you if you win. the winners will be chosen using random.org and announced on monday, may 20th.

ok! let's get to the good good stuff.

there are 2 sets of prizes. so 2 winners! holla!

set #1

set #1 includes:
- color pop necklace, feather necklace & aqua vintage inspired earrings from happy days
- gray and white polka dot infinity scarf form lovelylittlewhimsy
- 1 necklace from heathers happys, winner's choice
- 2 prints from blossom&vine, winner's choice
- 10" teal wreath with fabric flowers from small town joy
- $20 target gift card


set #2

set #2 includes:

-2 necklaces & 1 needlepoint from hope homemade, winner's choice 

- 1 print from blossom&vine, winner's choice

-1 7" twig & flower wreath from florero

-1 necklace from heathers happys, winner's choice

-1 print from katygirl designs, winner's choice
- key necklace from salvage517

-$20 target gift card

bonus set
ok, a little bonus for you. because we are so grateful for everyone's support there will also be a winner of these fabulous items!

-a custom designed blog header from danielle burkleo worth $35.


  - a custom made clutch from jenni carlisle{@ragamuffinbeauties on instagram}

one more thing...

my dear friend carina has come up with another way you can support us.
for every arrow necklace purchased from her shop she will donate $10 to our uganda fund.
you can't really beat that.

well there you have it!

please visit all of these shops. these are some truly wonderful women.

and will you spread the word? tweet, facebook, instagram, blog about it? we would be super grateful.

thanks friends!

MY FIRST TATTOO

Last week I got my first tattoo. I think I've wanted one since I was around 15 years old. PRAISE THE LORD that I didn't get one then (like my parents would have actually let me) cause who in the world knows what it would have been. Justin Timberlake's face maybe? I actually don't even think my dad knows that I got this one. So, Hey dad! I got a tattoo… It will be okay.

This year I've made the promise to myself, and the Lord, to be brave in all areas of my life. Donald Miller says to think about a year from now and the things you wish you would of done. Do those things.

I'm doing them this year. Little by little, big breaths, and baby steps. 

It wasn't a hard choice for me to decide what I wanted for my tattoo. Although, there were lots of contenders. If you followed me on pinterest you probably unfollowed me cause for two weeks straight all I pinned was tattoos. It's okay, I understand. 

I was 99% sure I wanted a feather for my very first tattoo. So, I did what any girl would do, and asked my husband to draw it on me. He wouldn't let me look until he done… and then we looked together. My eyes bulged and my heart started beating fast, which sounds ridiculous to have a fast beating heart due to sharpie marker on your arm, but it's true. This is it, he said. I nodded, It's perfect. The next day I went and talked with the tattoo artist, gave him some pictures, asked way too many questions, and scheduled my appointment. 

My feather is for this verse:

And it's for so many other things.

Getting the tattoo was a pretty emotional experience for me. I literally almost talked myself out of it 6,000 times. It's all I thought about from Thursday, when I made the appointment, til Wednesday, when my appointment actually was. I am surprised my girlfriends are still friends with me after the endless tattoo texts that ensued. I am pretty sure I talked with everyone and anyone I knew who had been inked before to hear about the process, and mostly how they feel about their tattoos now. I polled the masses.

There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I wanted this tattoo. I just kept wondering what it would be like to have a tattoo 20, 30 years from now. I started to stare at everyone's arms, especially elderly women. All the grandmas that pick up the kids in Brody's classroom, I simply couldn't stop staring at their arms and imaging a feather there. Finally, I got to the point where I wrapped my brain around something being on my body forever. I think there is a seven stop mental process to getting your first tattoo, especially if your name is Danielle Burkleo. 

It didn't hurt. I was preparing myself for something awful, but I laughed, talked, and instagrammed my way through the 15ish minute process. The tattoo artist asked how I decided on a feather and I explained to him about the verse in Psalms and everything it means to me. He said, I'm a hippie Buddhist myself but that is pretty cool. I said, I think so, too. 

When he was done, and for the rest of the night, I felt overwhelmed. That's the best way I can describe it you. When I looked down at my arm I felt the presence of Jesus so strong and was overwhelmed with everything this meant to me. I was overwhelmed with the love, protection, and goodness of my great God. 

Call me crazy but I kind of felt like a new woman. 

I'm currently in the peeling process with my tattoo so once I'm done molting, and it completely heals, I'll share some up close, and real camera, photos. 

Now, tell me about you. Do you have tattoos? Do want one? What are the meanings behind yours? It fascinates me to hear your stories. 

Check that one off the bucket list, y'all.