Look who's 38!

Thirty eight years ago today a wonderful man was born...Drew Alan Mann.  Raised by awesome, God-loving parents, he is now a great father and husband who honors them everyday with his actions and words. 

We had to celebrate Drew's birthday on Sunday because he had a busy schedule today....boo!  Sunday was great and Drew really liked his presents, his dinner, and his cake!

New jacket for biking...super cool because the hood fits over the helmet.

Daddy and his kiddos!

Yummy dinner...pork loin, broccoli, and sweet potato brulee.

Birthday cake!

Making his wish!

Drew's slice of chocolate cake with cream cheese peppermint icing.  The cake is topped with mint truffle Hershey kisses and candy canes...oh my goodness!

Happy Birthday Daddy/Drew...we love you lots!!!!

Redemption is Sweet

Three weeks ago I ran my first half-marathon and it was not good.  In fact, it was just total junk!  It was not the race I hoped it would be.  I left Galveston so disappointed and have thought about it so much since then. 

Thanksgiving week I registered for my second half.  This time the race was at a park in Humble.  This meant I could sleep at home...a definite plus.  The race was two loops through two parks...a definite plus.  I was hopeful it would be cooler...and it was...a definite plus.

Drew was very supportive of this race.  It meant I had to miss church.  That meant he had to get all four kids ready by himself and try to get to church on time for choir practice.  I really did not like missing church especially during Advent, but I really felt this was a race I need to do for me and my sanity.  Drew knew this and he did everything he could to help me feel prepared.  What an awesome husband!

So, today was race day.  I had a great night of sleep.  A cool front moved through last night and I got my wish for cold weather.  It was probably 40 degrees at the start and windy.  Did I mention it was windy?  Today windy was defined as 15-25 mph gusts.

See the white caps and waves on Lake Houston!

Today I ran my race plan.  I did not do that in Galveston.  A slow 10 minute mile one.  My feet were starting to thaw by this point.  A quicker 9:30 for miles 2-3.  My two marked the beginning of no frozen toes...yeah!  A slightly quicker 9:15/20 for miles 4-5. I was able to shed my outer layer at this point.  In Galveston I hit the wall at mile 5.  Today at mile 5 I said "TAKE THAT!"  "My Sweet One" starting playing and off I went.  I ran progressively faster for the last 8.1 miles and felt great doing it.  My last three miles were under 8:00 which is fantastic!

I remembered to look at the clock as I finished.  I remembered to listen to the announcer to hear my name as I finished.  I remembered to remember it all!

I finished in 1:57.26....a full 6:08 faster than my time in Galveston.  I crossed the finished line and was given a great finishers medal.  I walked a few feet, bent over, and cried.  I felt the sweet release of so much frustration and disappointment.  I felt the joy of accomplishing what I new I was capable of doing.

I texted Drew while he was at church with my time.  I got this reply, "Good job!  Sermon about joy.  You experienced it today.  I did too because I get to be proud of you."  I cried again because he is so awesome!

Taken by me with my phone after the race...again so windy!

Fellowship

Last night was the annual Northwoods MOMents (new name this year and love it!) Christmas gift exchange party.  Lots of women gathered at my friends C's house for a night of eating, being merry, and having lots of fun.  We played a game in which each person had to introduce themselves and add a Christmas word beginning with the first letter of their first name...did that make sense?  So, my name was Kortni Kringle.  It was difficult to think of a "K" Christmas word so I was glad to be second.  Some of the words people used were

Tinsel
Kringle
Jolly
Carol
Candles
Lights
Love
Merry
O Holy
Kings
Hearth
Christ child
Bethlehem
Poinsettia
Kingdom
Angels

I know I am at least forgetting two "M's", but I must say that I am pretty proud of myself for remembering that many.

Isn't that list a great little synopsis of Christmas.  Christmas is about Love...the love of a God beyond our comprehension.  It is about singing Carols telling the joyful story of the Christ-child's birth in Bethlehem.  Angels were singing and Kings came to honor him.  Our journey in God's Kingdom would be forever changed because of His gift to us. 

Today we decorate our home with Lights, Candles, Poinsettias and Tinsel.  Stockings hang from our Hearth's.  We make our homes, church's, schools, and even cars Jolly and Merry.  Our children anxiously awake Kris Kringle's arrival. 

The Christmas season is filled with so much...too much sometimes.  Isn't it great in the busyness of it all to be able to take a time-out to fellowship with women, to have fun, to enJOY (thanks Carmalyn!), and to refresh.

Thank you Carmalyn and Michelle!

Samuel Keath Mann

Samuel is a tricky little boy.  He is so bad and so lovable at the same time.  I often say "it is a good thing he is cute...". 

He loves his paci, milk, his ba-ba, wearing jeans, and working in the shop with his daddy.  I am also pretty sure that he would eat fruit and cucumbers for every meal if I would let him. 

He also dearly loves his sister Emma.  He will do anything she says. Elena is becoming someone he likes more and more.  In the most sweet voice he tells her "good night sweetie pie" every night...so cute!  He and Jonah will probably be best friends and enemies at the same time.  They bug each other so much, but they also love to play together and do so beautifully.

No matter what you just have to love this sweet face....

Just a cute picture.

Playing football with his Daddy.

With his favorite person...Emma.

I think he is up to something...look at that face!

Playing outside makes him so happy.

Yeah, we are playing in sand...he loves to be dirty!

So excited about the fire

He fell asleep at dinner.

Eating his birthday cookie.  He loves cookies!

Playing at the beach this past summer

And my favorite special Samuel picture is....

He is just so handsome, isn't he??!! 

Love you Samuel