Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step

OK, so it's not really a thousand miles...more like 3.1 and for all you metric fans 5 kilometers. I ran my first 5K on Saturday. My friend Lindsey and I entered the Reindeer Romp in Rock Hill. As you might be able to guess with that clever name they did provide us with reindeer antlers to run with (we both opted out of that one...according to Josh I didn't need the extra drag slowing me down!) but my favorite thing in our race packet was the compass/whistle combo! I had two goals...to run the entire race and NOT be the person they were picking up cones behind. Thankfully I didn't have to trip anyone to avoid coming in last...I was actually 6 minutes faster than my average time! Hopefully this won't be the last 5K for me...I'm thinking I'll get Josh to run in the next one with me.

Before the race...numbers 59 & 60.

Start line...we were not at the front but in the middle of the pack with a slew of elementary school girls.


Here we are behind some of the racers that did wear the antlers.

Lindsey crossing the finish.

Me coming up to the finish line.

Play Along!

We were listening to the radio one day and they gave a statistic that 70% of all high school graduates don't read a single book after they graduate. I was astonished by this and Josh remarked "you make up for at least 3 of those people". Very true.

A few years ago at a women's conference the speaker made the following statement..."Read things that matter". I was personally convicted and decided to read different kinds of books. Now I wasn't reading smutty novels or anything but I do enjoy fiction. Her point was that what you are reading is what is going to rattle around and stick in your head. Since then I have tried to read more biographies...especially those of Christians.

I do still pick up a novel and will never give up Jane Austen but wanted to share a quote from a very powerful book that I recently finished. The book is "The Heavenly Man" (thanks for the copy Brian McGhee!) by Brother Yun & Paul Hattaway. "We are absolutely nothing. We have nothing to be proud about. We have no abilities and nothing to offer God. The fact that he chooses to use us is only due to his grace. It has nothing to do with us. If God should choose to raise up others for his purpose and never to use us again we would have nothing to complain about."

Even though my reading time is not as abundant as it was pre-children I still manage to make time. I know that several people look at this blog and I would love for you to make yourself known. Please post a comment. Let me know who you are, how we know each other, and tell me a favorite book or better yet recommend a book for me to read! Please don't make me feel like a dork...REPLY!!!

Thanksgiving Fort Mill

After a great Thanksgiving day in Anderson we went to Fort Mill for the weekend. We joined Mimi, Pappa, Aunt Bet, & Meema. Here Meema waits for the food...it was all so good (thanks again Mimi)!

Pappa and Aunt Bet goof off.
Mimi and Sam are ready to eat.

Dressed and ready to cheer on the Tigers. Way to beat those Gamecocks again!

Of course this is how Troy enjoys most of the football games.

Thanksgiving Anderson

We spent Thanksgiving day in Anderson with Nana & Pops. Uncle John, Aunt Stacy, Aunt Meg, & Uncle Matt came later in the day so we had lots of family fun together. Troy watches from the johnny-jump-up while Nana cooks.

Sam & Pops played outside. Sam's favorite thing to do is throw rocks in the water with Pops.
Nana & Pops also kept Shiloh & Dozer for us while we were in Fort Mill. That was good for us but bad for Little Kitty. She is traumatized everytime our dogs visit. Check out Pops trying to coax her out of the top of the tree.

With our camera zoom you can tell that she had settled in and had no intention of getting down until the dogs were stowed away in the garage. Even then it took over an hour for her to come down!

Working on His Escape...

Troy doesn't quite understand that the best way to get out of the crib is NOT to try and squeeze between the slats. It's amazing he was able to get that chubby leg through there!

Sam enjoys hanging out in the crib with Troy.

Morning Fun

Some mornings while I'm getting ready I'll put Troy on our bed to play. Sam always climbs up with him and they get to hang out together. Here Sam gives a hug...gentle!

Our two cutie pie boys.

Troy smiling and Sam being silly.