on your mark, get set, WHAT WAS I THINKING, go

Let me preface this by saying... I AM NOT A RUNNER! I would not dare pretend that I am! A few weeks ago, my assistant insisted that I sign up to run in the 5K Buddy Run that supports families/ children that have been affected by Down's Syndrome. It seemed like a fabulous idea. So I set out to prepare myself.

Of course, one of the most important parts of running is having the correct equipment, so I bought some brand new kicks! Too bad they didn't make me more capable of running. I've also heard that it's a good idea to train a little. I walked/ran (mostly walked) a few nights with my neighbor approximately 2 miles. But one night, I went alone and actually ran the entire 5K. After recovering for 7 days, I did it once more last Monday night. Otherwise, I guess you could say this morning was my 3rd attempt to run a 5K. To say I was unprepared is being kind!

Clearly you should practice MANY times before you actually run in a race.... but at 7:30 this morning, I thought I was an Olympic Runner! I thought that until 8:31... the race started at 8:30. I seriously underestimated the power of hills, and whoever mapped out the course, obviously HATED me! Kidding! It wasn't that bad, but there were a few times that I wanted to lay down on the concrete and die. None the less, minus a few walks here and there, I made it. And there was definitely a high at the end of it.

A friend from school ran along side of me the entire time and she actually won 3rd place in her age group.... too bad I'm not 40! I ran in one second ahead of her! All in all, it was a great day, and for some crazy reason, I've agreed to run again in two weeks at the Susan B. Comen Race for the Cure. I'm pretty sure I'll try to practice up before them! Here are a few pics from today (sorry... all iPhone photos... I couldn't possibly have carried my camera!)

This shot was early (pre-race). Kerstin said my face looked like I was saying, "Seriously?!?!? I can't believe you're making me do this." I don't think I was thinking that until 8:31, but I think I thought far worse things! :)

I still look half-asleep. This was another pre-race shot! I think I'll spruce up a little more for the next race if pictures are going to be taken! The funny thing is that this morning, Jason was stretching at home, and I was fixing my hair. I've gotta work on my priorities on race day!

Praise the Lord! This was the finish line! It was such a welcomed sight! That was my sweet friend Kelly right behind me that won 3rd place! Way to go, Kelly!

This is as close to a trophy as I will EVER get! Hey... a girl can dream!

These are my Saltillo girls! We represented Saltillo Primary and Team Peyton very well! We've already agreed to run again in two weeks!

Here's a shot of me and my man! Yea... he had gall bladder surgery two weeks ago and he still beat me! I wouldn't have it any other way. What kind of man would he be if he let a girl beat him! You won, Jason! It doesn't happen often so gloat all you want! We're just slightly competitive!

Here is the invisible team member for Team Peyton. Liz decided she would pay her money, get a shirt, and be a cheerleader. She was a pretty good cheerleader and made a killer sign, but she has to run one day! She CAN'T be worse than me!

The neatest part of running is the reason that you run each race... The picture below is of me, Kerstin (my assistant), and Peyton! God had special plans for him when He created him, and he is so fortunate to have been born to a family that loves him just as he is, as are the many children that were represented today!

five on friday

1. Tomorrow is race day. I'm not sure why I signed up for this... oh yea- to support a wonderful cause! I was pumped until someone told me they thought there might be hills on the course. I didn't practice running up hills! This should be interesting!

2. Jason is going out of town on Sunday and will not technically be home until Friday. I hate when he's gone! Lucky for me, he will be replaced by my mother! She'll be great company, as well as a great house-cleaner, chef, and live-in babysitter.

3. Does anybody want to buy my house? I'm already a little tired of having to keep it clean just in case someone comes to look at it. I'll give you a great deal. Any takers?

4. I made a flying trip to Dublin last weekend. I had a great time shooting pictures of Tiffany and her fiance' Chris. I put a few of my favorites below. Congratulations to you guys!

5. I'm starting my Girls' Night Out up again in two weeks with a group of girls from church. We started this last year, but somehow it fizzled out and we haven't been able to get back together. If you're one of those girls, prepare yourself. I have so much in store for you! And you just might see yourselves on this blog a whole lot!

life lessons

Ever have one of those weeks where you feel overwhelmed to the point where you're pretty sure you can't handle one more thing on your plate? It's safe to say that last week was one of those for me! Last Saturday night, Jason and I sat down to discuss the week's events, who would be where, and who would watch the children during each event. And then Sunday at 4:30 AM, all those plans seemed to disappear! It seems we forgot to add in Gall Bladder surgery on Monday morning. What were we thinking?

Along the way, I learned a thing or two, and I wanted to share a few of them:

1. Keep it simple! We attempt to keep our life simple. This means our kids aren't involved in every possible activity that is offered. We will give up any activity to be together as a family. And we always try to relish the simple moments. None of those things were possible last week, and I missed them more than you know. The routine things can sometimes seem ordinary and boring, but after a crazy week, I was reminded just how special the pictures below are!

(This picture is nothing exciting... just Jack enjoying some down-time- something that we had very little of last week.)

(I don't know why, but little boys in the floor with cars makes me happy!)

(I have to say that bath time for my boys is usually one of the most enjoyable times. They laugh, cry, and flood the floor almost every night! Last week, we hardly let the tub fill up with water before they had to get out. This week has been a different story... we even had time to make mohawks!)

2. Swallow your pride! I am not one to EVER ask for help. In fact, a friend sent me a text last week and it read, "You don't take to help too well!" And she was so right! Last week taught me a few things about my pride though. I'm not too good for help, and everyone needs a hand every now and then. I was also reminded that when people offer to help and I turn them down, I rob them of a blessing! I apologize to all the people who offered to help that I turned down. I try to be a one-man show way too often. For those of you who I came crawling back to asking for help, you are awesome, and I love you all!

3. Home-cooked food is important. Among the help that we received last week, several super sweet people brought us dinner.... home-cooked meals straight from their kitchens to ours! I have to say that sitting down to our table with a meal was just what we needed. I realized that my poor babies are being robbed of meals from their mama at their table. I can hardly recall a time when my own family did not sit down to a home-cooked meal, and I want my crew to know that feeling! Though I wouldn't dare pledge to cook EVERY night, I am going to start attempting to provide at least a few meals during the week. I know that some of you are gasping that we eat out every night... don't judge me! I'm a work in progress! But if you have any good, quick recipes that make your family smile, send them my way!

4. I learned a super lesson from a picture. Check out the picture below.

I know at first glance, you see me (I'm sorry!). But if you look closer, you'll see a little face in the background. You see... Max doesn't even know this picture isn't about him. He's smiling and giving his best regardless of who is in the spotlight! Last week was certainly not about ME. It was about everyone but me. And a few times (more than I'd like to mention), I forgot to smile about it! I read chapter 1 of Job this morning in my quiet time, and even when Satan stripped away everything Job had, he still worshipped God and said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

may the name of the LORD be praised."

I pray that when times are calm and when times are hectic, and when things are about me and when they are not, that my face is lit up like Max's!

5. Last but not least, I'm still as smitten with Jason as I was when I was fourteen years old! I know he wasn't in any grave danger from gall stones, but it sure made me realize how much I love him. He still makes me smile when he walks in a room, and it was good to be reminded of that! I'm one lucky girl.

five on friday

1. Just when you think you can't add one more thing to your schedule, the good Lord throws in gall bladder surgery for your husband! It's been a heck of a week, but I still can't complain. Even with lives that seem to be in fast forward, I'm still awfully blessed!

2. Speaking of being being in fast forward- I actually RAN the distance for a 5K this week. Okay- maybe it wasn't like being in fast forward.... I mostly resemble the tortoise, slow and steady. But don't forget who won the race in that old fable! Don't worry: I don't for one minute think I'm going to win my 5K. I'm just proud that I probably won't be in last place!

3. I'm on my way to Dublin, Georgia, this weekend! If you don't know, that's where I grew up and where the greatest parents on the planet reside! I can't wait to see them! They're paying for my gas to get there, allowing me to bring my dirty laundry for free laundry service, and hopefully, they'll feed me while I'm in town. You can't ask for much more than that!

4. Though I love my mama and daddy, I'm actually headed that way to take some engagement pictures for my best friend's little sister. Isn't it funny how the people like that don't ever seem to grow up in your mind? I know she's old enough to be getting married, but in my mind, I still see her as the little girl that had the potential to get on our nerves occasionally and was often not allowed to hang out with us! I'm super excited about taking pictures for her, but I'm not quite sure I"m qualified! We shall see!

5. Max has a cough. In the car today, he got choked from coughing and ended up throwing up. His super intelligent big brother offered him some sound advice: "Max, if you would have just swallowed that stuff back down, we wouldn't have this nasty throw-up in our car!" I LOVE BOYS! :)

the surgery

There are two sides to this story- the light-hearted side and the serious side. This is not the serious side.

I was awakened on Saturday night by a very unhappy man. It was nearly 4:30 AM, and the wake-up call was less than pleasant. Jason grabbed my foot and shook it violently while saying, "Don't you know I'm up and I'm hurting," to which I responded, "No. I didn't know that." After attempting to go back to sleep, I finally gave in and used my medical skills to diagnose what I thought was surely an issue with his gall bladder.

Since our kids were fast asleep, Jason (God bless him!) drove himself to the emergency room. He's a pro at this. He was checked in, doped up, and sent for an ultrasound. Though he questioned the technician about whether he "was having a girl or a boy," all they found was that he definitely had some gall stones and surgery would be necessary!

We requested that this surgery be done ASAP. The procedure was set for Monday morning, and we were all set to go home and return the next day. Unfortunately they wanted Jason to stay through the night!

Since this was unexpected, I ran home to grab a few things and left Jason at the hospital. He assured me he would be fine and that he didn't need anyone to "babysit" him. Boy was he wrong. When I returned, I found this outside the door.

And I found this on his arm.

These items are typically reserved for eighty-year-old women who might have trouble standing, but they aren't limited to them. Apparently if you get out of your bed to change the TV channel and you black out and wake up to find yourself laying on the floor, they will gladly label you a "Fall Risk" and adorn you with a matching bracelet and door sign. Jason was no longer allowed to leave his bed without assistance.

He made it through the rest of the day without any other major incidences, and his surgery was done bright and early on Monday morning. It went well, and he was returned to his room shortly after.

But I must tell you... when he came back my heart skipped a beat. Of course I missed him and I was happy to see him, but something about seeing your man in stockings really makes a girl excited! I couldn't resist a picture!

Jason is doing fairly well. He has been up and about and has been a fabulous patient. I have to say that he has not been a whiner at all and has probably done more than he should around the house to help out!

We are super grateful to all of our friends/ family that called, visited, or brought food! It's so nice to know that we are thought of and loved! Though it wasn't a major surgery, it certainly was unexpected and your kindness made it go smoother than I ever imagined!

(God used this experience to teach me some VERY valuable lessons! I'll share those another day!)

five on friday

1. My sweet husband called yesterday and informed me that someone would be coming to look at our house. They were to arrive in 20 minutes. Yes... I said 20 minutes. I had to ask him again myself to be sure I heard him right. There wasn't time to clean. We had to go to Plan B.... hide as many items as possible. We put things in the garage, washer, dryer, car- you name it, we shoved something in it. Guess what I'll be doing all weekend- play HIDE AND GO SEEK with my stuff!

2. One of my favorite people from church asked me Sunday night to make a hooded towel for a baby. She needed it on Friday. Isn't it funny how far away Friday seems on Sunday night? Before I knew it, Friday was just a few hours away, and that towel still ceased to exist! So at 10:18 PM I sat down to make a towel last night. I somehow managed to stay awake and finish the towel, and I laid my sweet head down a little before 1:00 AM. In all defense, I would have been in bed by 12 if I didn't have to play HIDE AND SEEK with my spools of thread. They were "stored" in the toy cabinet. For some reason, it never crossed my mind to look there!

3. Last night we had our weekly meal at Jason's parents. There's nothing like comfort food. And let's be honest... real comfort food CANNOT be healthy. This may be why we rarely sit down to the table without a fresh stick of butter on the table. And last night, we had fried cornbread. Need I say more? It's safe to say I always leave very comforted!!!

4. Number 4 will be an oxymoron for #3, but I started "running" (we'll call it that to make me feel better) this week. I went Saturday, Sunday, and Monday night. I'm ashamed to say that I have not been since. Jason reminded me that the 5K is just two weeks away. I'm thinking it's going to be very unlikely that I actually run that 5K from beginning to end, but you've got to start somewhere, right? And it was a great excuse to get some new running shoes!

5. Jack starts an art class next week. He is my super insecure child, and he doesn't venture into new activities very well. But when I asked him if he would be interested in this class, he quickly jumped on the opportunity and was so excited about it! I hope he loves it! My artistic tendencies have rubbed off on him! Maybe he'll grow up to be a Picasso!

nothing better

The boys relaxed in the bed last night to watch a little football. When they get together, a snack usually follows. Max hauled the oversized tub of cheese balls in the bed and everyone jumped in for a snack! After a few moments, Jack, in all his wisdom, said, "There's nothing better than the boys eating cheese balls in the bed together."

I am so grateful that he delights in the simple things. I totally agree with him that nothing could be better... unless you find pleasure in eating them naked!