To be the best Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister, Friend, and Runner I can be...God willing!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Give Thanks!

This is my biggest blessing...my family!  We are each others blessing even when craziness reigns.  We are who we are because of one another.  
I love this picture from the summer and it is just so us.  Emma is looking at the camera.  Jonah is looking at who knows what.  Samuel is barely participating in the picture taking process.  Elena is along for the ride.
God has blessed us beyond measure!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances..." 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Marshmallows anyone?!

Two weeks ago we were supposed to have a marshmallow roast with our friends, but the dreaded pink eye struck our house.  So, we had the roast without our friends.  The kids missed their friend, but the yumminess made the happy!











No marshmallows for Elena, but she did like watching the fire!

Monday, November 22, 2010

It is just us again...

Mom/Mammy went home today.  I so dislike when people leave.  I lose my help.  I lose my adult daytime company.  I lose fun outings because two adults can handle four kids way better than just one. 

Mammy was here for my first ever half marathon.  Since I really used to dislike running, mom was super impressed with my accomplishment.  Since I was disappointed with the outcome, I was happy to hear encouraging words from my mom!

Mammy saw Jonah in his new gymnastics class and was shocked at his progress.  She told him "you have come a long way baby" and Jonah said "You can go that way.  It is shorter."  Five year olds can be so funny!

Mammy saw Emma at her gymnastics class and tennis lesson...both of which she enjoyed watching.

Samuel and Elena had fun just hanging out with Mammy!

On the beach in Galveston

I still can't believe they were all looking at the camera!

Me, Mom, and Emma
It was a great visit.  Now we have to plan the next one!!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Galveston

This was the weekend of my half-marathon in Galveston.  Friday afternoon we headed to Galveston because the race was early Saturday morning.  The race itself was not great, but the kids had a blast.  This was the view from our hotel.

Nice, huh?

Saturday morning Drew and Samuel took me to the starting point.  It was warmer than I had hoped it would be...about 70 degrees.  I was surprisingly not nervous and more ready to get running.

Me at Stewart Beach with a great sunrise in the background
The race was okay and a serious test of my mental stamina.  My legs hurt and felt heavy from the start.  I was very discouraged about this.  There were no mile markers for the first two miles so pacing was difficult for me.  I do better when I know the distances and as a result I know I ran too fast in the beginning.  At one point my stomach was starting to revolt and I had to walk through that frustration.  By mile five I did not think I could finish the race. 

I was just trying to get to mile 9 because I knew that Drew and the kids would be there.  I was so happy to see them.  Everyone had made posters Friday night and Emma and Jonah were holding them up and yelling for me.  Samuel was crying as I passed so I stopped to give him a kiss.  Jonah came running up and I gave him a kiss too!  Elena was still sleeping so mom was in the hotel with her.

Just past mile 9.  Emma and Jonah were holding their signs!!

This was my view for 7-8 miles of the race...not too bad!
After mile 9 I knew that under 2 hours was not going to happen so I was hoping for 2:05.  I was feeling somewhat better at this point, but there was too much time to make up.  The last 4.1 miles were pretty much a blur for me.  I just kept focusing on whoever was in front of me.  As I have stated before, pray, songs, and scripture filled me head and helped me finish.  Finish I did in 2:03.34...five minutes slower than my goal time.  I was tired and ready to see my family.

I still don't think I fully realize what I accomplished.  This is only the second time I have run this far.  It will get better and get easier because there will be another time.  There will be other chances!

At least the medal was nice!

After the race and a nice shower, we checked out and headed to the beach.  The kids had a blast.  Elena loved the sound of the waves and watching the waves.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed running in the water.  The loved it so much that they both were soaking wet.  Emma and Mammy spent their beach time looking for shells. 

Testing out the water...it was a little chilly!

The sand is so fun!

The beginning of getting wet and having so much fun!

Samuel completely soaked.

Having the time of their lives!
Of course, we had to have a family picture and it came out pretty well....

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Words in my Brain

This Saturday I am running my first half marathon.  I have been training since early September and the day is almost here!  I have gradually built up to running between 25-30 miles a week and have been running for about 6 weeks at this mileage.  I have run almost all my runs by myself which means I spend a lot of time alone with my thoughts.

So, what do I think about during these runs?  Early on I listened to music because it was light outside.  However, since I run in the morning, darkness remained for many runs and thus no music.  I thought about my kids, Drew, my friends and family, my to do list, upcoming activities, etc. 

Praying and scripture have also kept my brain busy on my runs.  I pray about all the things I listed above and whatever else popped in my head.  I pray for a successful and safe run..especially those runs in the dark!  It is amazing the things I remembered to pray about.  But, as the miles passed I was done praying too so then what???....Scripture

These are my favorites that kept me going and will keep me going on Saturday!

Philippians 4:13  "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Hebrews 12:1  "...Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"
Hebrews 10:35  "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
1 Corinthians 9:24  "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."
Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Obviously, I know that these words were not written to inspire me to run and run some more. I know they were written for bigger and better things...bigger challenges, better life finishes.  I get that.  But, I also know that God's word was written for me (and everyone) to read, to study, to learn.  I have done this while running and these words will help sustain while running this race on Saturday and during all my other races (not just the running kind!)

As in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  I trust that running these races are part of God's plan for me.  So, these words give me hope, give me energy, give me confidence that I am running a good race for me and for Him!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Sameul goes to gymnastics

Samuel has been bugging me and Drew to sign him up gymnastics for a while.  He loves to watch Emma and Jonah each week, but he really wants to jump, flip, and run.  Last week I gave in and registered him for a trial class and that class was TODAY!

Samuel was so excited.  I mean really excited.  While I was telling Ms. Eileen about his class, all he could do was smile and smile some more.  It was so cute!

After dinner we all went to the gym to watch him.
Standing in front of the big kids gym.  His class is in the toddler gym.
He was so excited that he could not stop waving his arms...silly boy!

It started out okay, but I was thinking doom was coming and it did.  He sat in the circle watching instead of participating.  After a short while the tears came and he was so sad.  Drew went into the class and he eventually stopped crying.  Drew helped Samuel follow along with the floor routine and things started to go better.  After the floor was the bars.  Samuel did better at trying to be independent and follow his teacher's lead.  He was able to do most of the skills with little or no help.  Finally, it was time for the trampoline and Samuel finally shined.  He did everything the teacher asked him to do and he did it well.

So, the first class was marginally successful.  I worry that Samuel will want Drew to go in every week.  This is going to be a hard habit to break I fear, but time will tell.  Samuel did say he had fun and that is what matters most!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Elena Joy

Today is the Day for Elena!!

Elena Joy is the best gift I ever received on December 18th (her birthday)!  I love her wonderful smiles, her sweet loud voice, her open mouth kisses, her big blue eyes, and her great hugs.  She has blessed our family beyond measure.  She is a great gift from our awesome GOD!













Thursday, November 11, 2010

I am thankful for...

Today has been a day!  I am glad it is about over and we all survived.  Still, no matter how much Emma, Jonah, Samuel, and Elena make me crazy I still love them.  How you could not love these sweet faces?




So this is my prayer for them tonight:

"Lead me daily to the well of grace, that as I nurture and instruct my children I would find my own weakness, selfishness, and pettiness replaced by Your abundant strength, generosity and kindness.  Lead me to listen and consider the thoughts and emotions of my children before I speak.  Give me unusual insight into their hearts and lives.  Guide me that I might guide them in the midst of the decisions and storms they will face.  Supply me with wisdom to prepare them to live as agents of grace, redemption and mercy in a fallen and broken world..  Lead me that I might lead these children whose lives and hearts you have entrusted to me for a season." 

This is from one of my favorite songs "Lead Me" sung by Sactus Real. 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Words....

Bobby Dot...what does that mean????

This is Samuel's new word and we have no idea what it means.   We have no idea where it came from either.  He says it all the time.  He says it to anyone, about anything, and refers to things at Bobby Dots.

My favorite Bobby Dot discussion went like this:

Me:  Samuel what is a Bobby Dot?
Samuel:  A Bobby Dot is a Bobby Dot and a Bobby Dot is a Bobby Dot!

That cleared it right up for me!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Off to the park we went...

We went to the park today.  It was so much fun...lovely weather and the park to ourselves.  The boys love this park because of this...

Samuel and Jonah love the merry go round.
Loving the swing, but always wondering where her brothers are.
She a great face!
Jonah doing what he loves to do...be upside down!
Great eyes...
Finally I caught Samuel smiling and looking at me at the same time!
Elena was very curious about the peep holes in the tunnel.
Samuel looking for his next adventure!
Hanging on for his life!