Ok, so for anyone who loves a good contest with a free giveaway, head on over to sugarsnapphotography.wordpress.com, and send us your story=) Hope everyone is having a fabulous day!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I Run-A Reflection: Goal 4!!!!
When was the last defining moment of your life? Were you fully present when it happened, or did you have to look back on that moment in time from a distance to realize it was a defining moment? When was the last time you set a big, hairy, audacious goal? (A BHAG as they’re called in the Chick-fil-A world=) A goal so lofty, you really weren’t sure if it was actually attainable, even feasible, but you went for it anyways? If/When that BHAG was realized, how did you feel? Are their words? I’m not even sure I have the words. But this is my story…might want to settle in with a blanket by a fire for this one=)
This past Saturday, January 8th, 2011, I was fully present in time for the realization of one of the first BHAG’s I’ve probably ever set for myself--if I was honest. I crossed the finish line of the Disney Half Marathon with an official time of 2 hours 30 minutes and 31 seconds. 13.1 miles of careful training and God-breathed energy had passed under my feet. By my guesstimate, I walked maybe 2 miles or less only for the sake of taking in water or energy gels, then it was right back to running. I’m serious when I tell you, there really are no words to explain to you how this made and still makes me feel. My eyes are welling with tears as I write this simple statement. I literally cried when I crossed the finish line. I’ve never pushed myself that hard for something I really felt so unprepared to accomplish. Heck, my longest training run was only 8.8 miles! How the heavens did I run 13.1???? There’s really only one answer. GOD. He orchestrated every circumstance before and during this race. He met me for the past 5 months of training for every run, through a week off due to a sinus infection, for a week off due to tendonitis in my hamstring, for time off just due to the holiday craziness. He remained faithful to sustain my spirit, my drive, and ultimately—on the day of the race, He sustained my body and my mind. I had resigned myself going into this race that there was only one plan that could get me across the finish line alive. My plan was to run 3 miles and walk 1 mile until I reached that finish line. That was my plan of attack. I honestly felt my body could not physically endure 13.1 miles of solid running. I was being realistic and setting a goal I could reach. I would finish--THAT was the goal. Admittedly, inside I felt a bit defeated having to settle for this plan, but muscles were aching and cramping in my high mileage training such that I wasn’t going to risk really hurting myself. It seemed the wise thing to do. I trusted God just wanted me to finish. Joey and I were the only ones of my family actually able to make it race day. My dear sister and brother-in-law Tim were holding down the fort back at their house with kids, for which I am eternally grateful because without their help, we couldn’t have done this.
2:30am came calling early as we carefully got dressed and headed down to the starting line. Mad props should be given to the Disney staff for their careful herding of 27,000 people. Four porta-potty breaks later, at 5am, the nerves were itchy, and we anxiously awaited the start. The first wave started at 5:30am, we didn’t actually get to start the race until 6am. Did I mention there were 27,000 people??? Not even ½ mile in, Joey and I were making a mad dash for the woods along with many others who had over hydrated themselves for this race. Men have it so easy—I was just hoping no one further back in the woods was getting a better show of my backside. Fully relieved and ready to run, Joey said he would hang with me until I wanted to walk my first mile. I was feeling great and hitting a good stride, so I didn’t actually stop to take in my first round of water bottle and energy gels until mile 4. Joey went on ahead, so I was left alone, but I really felt so good, I decided it was time to see what God could do with me. Instead of walking to mile 5, I started running at mile 4.5. Unbeknownst to me, Joey was having a tough time. A collision at a water station took him to all fours as he tried to cough all the PowerAde out of his lungs he had inhaled only to lose his iPod nano trying to recover and get back in the race. This set his pace off just enough that I actually caught back up with him at mile 8! Trust me…this is unbelievable, and truly God-ordained.
We ran together to mile 9, and I took a quick walking break to finish my water bottle and refuel with gels. I was tired. I won’t lie. Four more miles seemed like an eternity. BUT, Joey was with me. He decided that we would finish this race together. In hindsight, I can’t express how much that decision meant to me. His knee was in excruciating pain, and by mile 11 my Achilles’ tendons and tendons in the bottom of my feet were cramping. I didn’t stop, but I almost tripped half a dozen times because when those muscles cramped it felt like someone was grabbing me and pulling my foot to the ground. Joey would say, “You’re doing good. Keep going! We’ve got this babe.” And I would bite my lip, and stomp my feet into the ground until the cramp let go, and I would keep going until it happened again. By mile 12, I was on the verge of tears. I wanted to quit so badly. I wanted to walk the cramps away. I wanted to stop and stretch, but we were so close. Joey kept encouraging me. Kept reminding me of all the people we were finishing ahead of. (We finished in the top half of 27,000 people actually.) The finish line finally in sight, Joey grabbed my hand and we slugged our way down the homestretch. There it was. A beautiful banner…FINISH LINE. With a stadium of cheering people looming behind it in the distance. Somehow, I think entering the gates of heaven will feel like this, and I can only wish that my best friend is holding my hand when we cross over that finish line together too. Video of us crossing finish line--we cross on the right at about minute 2:58 on the clock--along with the marathon photos: http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=74486&BIB=36751&PWD=
The last 10 yards we let go and sprinted—or what felt like sprinted, I’m sure it looked like a slow run—toward that final time ramp in the road. There were so many people. The rush. The noise. The panting. The whirring. The herding. His hand holding mine. His words gasping, “We did it. You did it! I’m so proud of you.” I’m doing the best I can, but these words don’t do it justice. I could have lost it completely in tears at that moment. Sobbed uncontrollably on the ground in the middle of these throngs of people. But Joey kept me focused on the next step, and together we made it to a quiet parking lot patch of asphalt where we could down bottles of PowerAde and help stretch each others’ muscles that were cramping sporadically.
It was finished!!! We did it!! God is so good! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that physically I was unprepared to run this race the way I did. I don’t care how committed to training I had been, this was the ultimate test. My physical break point. I WILL NOT be training for a marathon, in case anyone was wondering. 13.1 is my break point. However, I might do it again, especially at Disney. It was a very fast and flat race with plenty of entertainment as you ran through The Magic Kingdom and Epcot. My favorite part was the fanfare of trumpets as you ran through Cinderella’s Castle=) Why even talk about the next thing? Some people would say I’m crazy. How do you top that experience? Well, I don’t, but God can. However, I have to follow His lead, follow His plan, and put in the hard work, effort, commitment, and perseverance it will take to get to that next BHAG. You have to have a dream, a goal, a vision. The Lord was wise when He recorded in His Word, “Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18a)” It’s true. If I don’t set another goal of some kind, be it physical or spiritual, then I promise you, I will slip quickly into depression and gain back the 25 pounds I’ve lost in a year. Trust me. It will happen. So what’s next? I don’t know. This year, I definitely want to run the Peachtree for the first time, and complete one maybe two sprint triathlons. But this year, I’m setting other goals as well. If you can’t tell, my heart is to write. Write a book. A book that gets published. A published book that people actually want to read and benefit from reading. A book that impacts this world for Christ. Maybe even a best-seller? Too much of a BHAG? I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve ever announced this thought in a public arena. Fear already overtakes me, and doubt clouds my thoughts. Rejection and failure are also comrades that hide in the recesses of my mind when I think about this goal. I don’t know. There’s still much training that the Lord must provide before this goal is realized. But one thing’s for sure, after this year and 3 months of physical training, I am more mentally and spiritually prepared now to face what it will take to meet this goal than I have ever been in my entire life. That is a God gift. That is how God works. You must follow Him through each step of His plan before you can even think about another one. I leave you with His Word spoken into my life for this New Year:
This past Saturday, January 8th, 2011, I was fully present in time for the realization of one of the first BHAG’s I’ve probably ever set for myself--if I was honest. I crossed the finish line of the Disney Half Marathon with an official time of 2 hours 30 minutes and 31 seconds. 13.1 miles of careful training and God-breathed energy had passed under my feet. By my guesstimate, I walked maybe 2 miles or less only for the sake of taking in water or energy gels, then it was right back to running. I’m serious when I tell you, there really are no words to explain to you how this made and still makes me feel. My eyes are welling with tears as I write this simple statement. I literally cried when I crossed the finish line. I’ve never pushed myself that hard for something I really felt so unprepared to accomplish. Heck, my longest training run was only 8.8 miles! How the heavens did I run 13.1???? There’s really only one answer. GOD. He orchestrated every circumstance before and during this race. He met me for the past 5 months of training for every run, through a week off due to a sinus infection, for a week off due to tendonitis in my hamstring, for time off just due to the holiday craziness. He remained faithful to sustain my spirit, my drive, and ultimately—on the day of the race, He sustained my body and my mind. I had resigned myself going into this race that there was only one plan that could get me across the finish line alive. My plan was to run 3 miles and walk 1 mile until I reached that finish line. That was my plan of attack. I honestly felt my body could not physically endure 13.1 miles of solid running. I was being realistic and setting a goal I could reach. I would finish--THAT was the goal. Admittedly, inside I felt a bit defeated having to settle for this plan, but muscles were aching and cramping in my high mileage training such that I wasn’t going to risk really hurting myself. It seemed the wise thing to do. I trusted God just wanted me to finish. Joey and I were the only ones of my family actually able to make it race day. My dear sister and brother-in-law Tim were holding down the fort back at their house with kids, for which I am eternally grateful because without their help, we couldn’t have done this. 2:30am came calling early as we carefully got dressed and headed down to the starting line. Mad props should be given to the Disney staff for their careful herding of 27,000 people. Four porta-potty breaks later, at 5am, the nerves were itchy, and we anxiously awaited the start. The first wave started at 5:30am, we didn’t actually get to start the race until 6am. Did I mention there were 27,000 people??? Not even ½ mile in, Joey and I were making a mad dash for the woods along with many others who had over hydrated themselves for this race. Men have it so easy—I was just hoping no one further back in the woods was getting a better show of my backside. Fully relieved and ready to run, Joey said he would hang with me until I wanted to walk my first mile. I was feeling great and hitting a good stride, so I didn’t actually stop to take in my first round of water bottle and energy gels until mile 4. Joey went on ahead, so I was left alone, but I really felt so good, I decided it was time to see what God could do with me. Instead of walking to mile 5, I started running at mile 4.5. Unbeknownst to me, Joey was having a tough time. A collision at a water station took him to all fours as he tried to cough all the PowerAde out of his lungs he had inhaled only to lose his iPod nano trying to recover and get back in the race. This set his pace off just enough that I actually caught back up with him at mile 8! Trust me…this is unbelievable, and truly God-ordained.We ran together to mile 9, and I took a quick walking break to finish my water bottle and refuel with gels. I was tired. I won’t lie. Four more miles seemed like an eternity. BUT, Joey was with me. He decided that we would finish this race together. In hindsight, I can’t express how much that decision meant to me. His knee was in excruciating pain, and by mile 11 my Achilles’ tendons and tendons in the bottom of my feet were cramping. I didn’t stop, but I almost tripped half a dozen times because when those muscles cramped it felt like someone was grabbing me and pulling my foot to the ground. Joey would say, “You’re doing good. Keep going! We’ve got this babe.” And I would bite my lip, and stomp my feet into the ground until the cramp let go, and I would keep going until it happened again. By mile 12, I was on the verge of tears. I wanted to quit so badly. I wanted to walk the cramps away. I wanted to stop and stretch, but we were so close. Joey kept encouraging me. Kept reminding me of all the people we were finishing ahead of. (We finished in the top half of 27,000 people actually.) The finish line finally in sight, Joey grabbed my hand and we slugged our way down the homestretch. There it was. A beautiful banner…FINISH LINE. With a stadium of cheering people looming behind it in the distance. Somehow, I think entering the gates of heaven will feel like this, and I can only wish that my best friend is holding my hand when we cross over that finish line together too. Video of us crossing finish line--we cross on the right at about minute 2:58 on the clock--along with the marathon photos: http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=74486&BIB=36751&PWD=
The last 10 yards we let go and sprinted—or what felt like sprinted, I’m sure it looked like a slow run—toward that final time ramp in the road. There were so many people. The rush. The noise. The panting. The whirring. The herding. His hand holding mine. His words gasping, “We did it. You did it! I’m so proud of you.” I’m doing the best I can, but these words don’t do it justice. I could have lost it completely in tears at that moment. Sobbed uncontrollably on the ground in the middle of these throngs of people. But Joey kept me focused on the next step, and together we made it to a quiet parking lot patch of asphalt where we could down bottles of PowerAde and help stretch each others’ muscles that were cramping sporadically.
It was finished!!! We did it!! God is so good! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that physically I was unprepared to run this race the way I did. I don’t care how committed to training I had been, this was the ultimate test. My physical break point. I WILL NOT be training for a marathon, in case anyone was wondering. 13.1 is my break point. However, I might do it again, especially at Disney. It was a very fast and flat race with plenty of entertainment as you ran through The Magic Kingdom and Epcot. My favorite part was the fanfare of trumpets as you ran through Cinderella’s Castle=) Why even talk about the next thing? Some people would say I’m crazy. How do you top that experience? Well, I don’t, but God can. However, I have to follow His lead, follow His plan, and put in the hard work, effort, commitment, and perseverance it will take to get to that next BHAG. You have to have a dream, a goal, a vision. The Lord was wise when He recorded in His Word, “Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18a)” It’s true. If I don’t set another goal of some kind, be it physical or spiritual, then I promise you, I will slip quickly into depression and gain back the 25 pounds I’ve lost in a year. Trust me. It will happen. So what’s next? I don’t know. This year, I definitely want to run the Peachtree for the first time, and complete one maybe two sprint triathlons. But this year, I’m setting other goals as well. If you can’t tell, my heart is to write. Write a book. A book that gets published. A published book that people actually want to read and benefit from reading. A book that impacts this world for Christ. Maybe even a best-seller? Too much of a BHAG? I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve ever announced this thought in a public arena. Fear already overtakes me, and doubt clouds my thoughts. Rejection and failure are also comrades that hide in the recesses of my mind when I think about this goal. I don’t know. There’s still much training that the Lord must provide before this goal is realized. But one thing’s for sure, after this year and 3 months of physical training, I am more mentally and spiritually prepared now to face what it will take to meet this goal than I have ever been in my entire life. That is a God gift. That is how God works. You must follow Him through each step of His plan before you can even think about another one. I leave you with His Word spoken into my life for this New Year: “12 NOT that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17Brethren, join in following my example (God's example, not my personal=), and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
(Philippians 3)emphasis mine
What's your next BHAG? It took me 15 months to accomplish my first. Probably will take me 15 years to accomplish the 2nd, but hey, that makes the next 15 years worth living, right?
What about you?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
An Update in Rhyme
November came and then it went,
Not exactly sure how the time was spent.
Orlando was my last big blog spree,
Thanks to a hubby who sent me down kid free.
I vaguely remember some sickness and some fun,
Then of course there was the Thanksgiving Gobble Jog run.
My second 10k was a success!
I beat my May time even with tendonitis=)
Thanksgiving at my mom’s house was a blast,
Time always flies by quick; I wish it would last.
December first Weston began to walk,
And it’s so funny to hear him try to talk=)
Four generations the Nutcracker surveyed,
Invaluable time and memories made.
Savannah and Joey went to Texas for his brother’s graduation,
Which freed my time to prepare for our Christmas celebration.
One weekend passed, and with only one kid in tow,
I bought every gift and was ready to go!
December 15th an adoption was finalized,
Durhams and Harmons—one family still in our eyes=)
Down in Macon, our Christmas began a weekend early,
Six kids, six adults, rainy weather equals topsy turvy!
Loved every minute of watching all those cousins play,
Reminds me of my childhood in every chaotic way=)
WestRidge service for Christmas Eve Eve,
My family sharing God’s workings on Christmas Eve,
Christmas morning came after that late night,
But children don’t wait; we were up at first light.
Presents opened and monkey bread eaten,
Clean up ensued, then off to Dot-Dot’s for more eating.
Narnia was our choice for Christmas Day movie tradition,
Then back to my mom’s bright and early for a sibling present rendition.
Longs nights of Just Dance played on the Wii,
Wouldn’t trade one moment with my family.
The New Year came and went with just me and my man,
Enjoying sparkling cider and two sleeping children.
No resolutions for me this year,
Just so grateful for this little family here
Home. Warm and cozy and resting without fear,
Waiting peacefully and patiently for God’s next move in our lives this coming year.
Grateful for every blessing He’s given.
Not more I could say. For Him I’ll just keep on livin’. =)
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Card 2010
So this is the first year I've done this, and I've been blogging for a few, but since this is kind of my online journal, and I never keep a copy of my own Christmas letter, I thought I'd post this for my own sake=) All of my Christmas cards have been mailed by now, so if you are on my list, then you might just want to disregard because you've seen this already. If you're not on my Christmas card list, and would like to be in the future, just send me your address=) And if you'd rather read a blog then get a card, feel free to let me know that too=) Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy!
Dear Family & Friends, December 2010
Well, 2010! This has been a year of staying the course. If I had to put a slogan on it, I would have to say God told our family to “Be intentional, and just run.” In all that we have done this year, we have sought the Lord to make sure we are where He wants us to be, constantly having a listening spirit, waiting for the next move He was going to make in our lives, but things pretty much stayed the same. No major changes, just some major training in discipline, consistency, and keeping on keeping on.
Joey is still in graduate school with graduation peering at us from this time next year! I’m so proud of the opportunities he’s balanced in his life this year: our family, his store, Rotary Club, putting forth his best effort in every school class, taking on the vice-presidency of the Atlanta Marketing Board for Chick-fil-A operators. He has truly accomplished so much, yet I don’t feel we sacrificed at all because of how involved he intentionally stayed at home. Through it all, he has remained painfully humble, and will hate that I wrote all of this to you, but he is an incredible man of God and man of integrity, and I am blessed to be his wife.
So much blessing also comes with hardships, and I would be remiss in making you feel like this year has been easy, particularly for me in my spiritual walk. I have never done well when life levels out. I tend to hold fast to God in the highs and the lows, but the plateaus often leave me struggling with myself in living in my own strength. It’s ok. I’m still learning, and I’m ok with that. I think Joey is too. I’m just thankful the Lord never gives up on us.
Never give up. Stay the course. Keep on keeping on. Just run. These are the mottos that have branded every aspect of my life this past year. November 1st of 2009, I began running for the very first time in my life. The journey this exercise has taken me on from 5K, to 10K, to Sprint Triathlon, to currently training for a Half Marathon has blown my mind. Literally every step of the mileage run, God has taught me about HIS strength, HIS will, and HIS plan for my life. I could go on. (Read it all for yourself at our blog…just click on the label ‘I Run’ to see it all.) I’ve felt these life lessons echoed in the daily grind of parenting, of mothering, of being a child of God. I still have so much left to learn, but I’m grateful that God has put this very physical example in my life. It has made these lessons so much clearer.
I also was blessed this year to partner with a dear friend of mine and begin working VERY part time from home as her office administrator for her photography business, Sugar Snap Photography. I have enjoyed every moment of this opportunity, and the value it adds to my days and my life. I feel like all the administrative and organizational gifts God has given me are actually being put to good use to help someone else other than myself, and the fulfillment that brings is a deep blessing in my life. (If you’re looking for a good photographer, check out Sugar Snap Photography / http://www.sugarsnapatl.com/ / sugarsnapatl@gmail.com.)
As if running and “working” from home hasn’t given me enough to ponder and reflect and add to my life, God has gifted us with two beautiful children, and I can’t be grateful enough for them! Savannah turned three this year—Hard to believe! She is the picture of life and passion and joy in its purest form. She is my little mama, my little helper, my little boundary pusher, my little drama queen. As high as life can get her, she can fall as equally low in the bat of an eye. But I see this, and it’s my pleasure these days to talk to her often about talking to Jesus about how she feels. Teaching her now to go to Him with her fears and worries, cares and burdens. Already at three she has such a large capacity to love and be hurt, to be a leader or a follower. She is my heart joy, my day song. I pray for wisdom every day not to mess her up too badly=) Ha! Isn’t that every parent’s hope?
And then there’s Weston, my little lover son=) Oh, how he loves his Mama! He has had quite a year of overcoming sicknesses, and teeth really put him into a tizzy, but through it all nothing can quite compare to his winning smile. Unfortunately, as amazing as his smile might be, his scream is equally obnoxious. We have endured a year of screaming as a form of communication, but just recently, he has finally started to associate specific sounds/words with actual items. It’s a dictionary we are still learning to decode, but more understanding on our part means less screaming on his part, so we are eager and hopeful that 2011 will involve many more smiles and giggles and much less screaming. All that to say, he is our little boy, and I wouldn’t trade a piece of his personality for all the quiet moments in the world=) His studious, steady nature combined with careful willingness to take risks is an interesting combination. I foresee many hard knocks in his future, but I’m pretty sure he will always know they were coming. I can only pray that he continues to pick himself up and smile and laugh through the whole ordeal like he does now.
So…we have a boundary pusher and a calculated risk-taker in the house. Life is only going to get more interesting! But I’m excited about the positive sides of these character traits and how God will be able to use these children to further His kingdom. Please pray for Joey and me as we continue to be intentional in training these little hearts and minds for the Lord. Our deepest prayer is that we be good stewards with all that He has entrusted us, especially our children—His children. Pray that we continue to stay the course and finish strong with the end of Joey’s schooling in sight. Pray that God moves in our hearts and lives to help us be more effective in sharing our many blessings with the hurting world around us.
This year we ran. We trained. We pulled together as one unit and stayed the course. But it meant being a little more introspective, being what may have seemed a little selfish to others as we pulled out of many service opportunities to put our family first. With Weston finally walking as of December 1st, we are coming out of that first baby-year stage and about to enter a new more mobile stage of life. I’m praying this means jumping back into service opportunities wherever God leads. Next year, my heart is to serve. To teach my kids how to live out their relationship with Christ with willing hearts and available hands. Don’t know what that will look like right now, but stay tuned, I’m sure my blog will keep you updated=)
This year, I leave you with God’s Word of encouragement in your lives. In light of this year’s lessons, these verses are only fitting. May God allow you to read and ponder them with fresh eyes and fertile heart for your own life:
23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
I Corinthians 9
May God bless you and your families this Christmas season with the hope of a New Year, with the remembrance of all the good He has done in your lives, and with an anticipating joy of all He has yet to accomplish.
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas,
Joey, Jennifer, Savannah & Weston Durham
Sunday, November 21, 2010
What Goes Up Must....
So, when you have had an incredibly high month like October--loving all the family fun and harvest events--you don't expect to be brought back down to earth quite as quickly as we experienced.
The first week of November consisted of a speeding ticket (not mine..whew), a flat tire, a little family drama, a paycheck reality check, the putting down of our dear little Lila bean (may she rest in peace), and some $400+ car repairs. They say things come in sets of three, but SIX? Really?
It has been a little trying, and although my dogs are definitely not my life anymore, when you have to put down a loyal and trusting part of your family, it leaves holes of emptiness that echo with twangs of pain every now and then. It didn't help trying to explain things to Savannah. When I told her that Lila was very sick, and that she would not be coming home because she needed to go home with Jesus so He could take care of her, Savannah promptly dropped to her knees, angelic hands folded, head bowed, propped on the rocking chair ottoman, "Dear Jesus. Please take good care of Lila and help her to feel better. Amen." The sweetness stole my heart.
Gratefully, Savannah offered complete acceptance of the change in circumstances from that point on. When asked what happened to Lila, she would simply say, "She went to live at Jesus' house, so He could take care of her." It was sad the other morning, when she woke up in tears a week or so later. She threw her dramatic little self into my arms when I went in to get her up, and little body shaking, she cried for about two minutes, saying how much she missed Lila at Jesus' house. Broke my heart. Just goes to show that nothing is lost on little eyes and little ears. Their little hearts feel things the same as we do, but on such a more tender and innocent level.
Parts of me long to recapture that innocence. Every day I am aware of the truths of this sinful world that chip away at my children's innocence, solely for their safety. "You can't go running all the way down the sidewalk away from mommy. Not every person is a nice person. They could take you away from mommy." What a sucky conversation to have to have with your three year old. To be the one that has to steal their joy of freedom in order to protect them, yet I'm still the one that will inevitable jade their view about the perfect world they live in. My guidance and protection and offerings of truth and reality will forever color how they see the world. "Lord give me wisdom. May my children grow in the perfect peace of Your presence and knowledge of Your truth without having to live in fear, nor ignorance."
Let the balancing act of life begin little ones. There's so much more to come!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
October Finale
So, the end of October came racing to a halt with a glorious weekend in Amelia Island with the extended fam. The GA/FL game has become an almost tradition. Each year different sets of couples seem to be able to make it, but no matter what, it always makes for fun times and great memories.
Sad that they lost. But what a great game to witness and be at! No boring football here.
And last, but most certainly not least, I can finally proudly announce that Grandkid #3 will be joining Savannah and Weston in our family's ranks come May of 2011! I am so inexplicably excited for my brother Matthew and sister-in-love Emily. They will be amazing parents, and their child will be truly blessed.
I did not attend the University of Georgia, but I am a proud Georgia southern belle, born and raised. With so many of my family actually being graduates of UGA, it was only natural to fall into the category of a fan for the Dawgs. Plus, UGA ladies are just swanky, with good southern class and style, and who can deny the appeal of a cute red and black number?
Hoping they win.....
Sad that they lost. But what a great game to witness and be at! No boring football here.And last, but most certainly not least, I can finally proudly announce that Grandkid #3 will be joining Savannah and Weston in our family's ranks come May of 2011! I am so inexplicably excited for my brother Matthew and sister-in-love Emily. They will be amazing parents, and their child will be truly blessed.
Congratulations!!!! Looking forward to having some company in the parents ranks=)
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