I finally did it!

Most of you know that I did a 5K in July. I had a blast but then went home for the month and then came back to hot and humid weather. I cannot run in that heat and I refuse to. So, needless to say, I basically had to start over with my running. It was like starting ALL over again... which was extremely annoying. BUT..... thanks to FALL, I am so super excited that I am back in the game again and loving it more then before and also I am pushing myself farther every time. I just got back from 4 miles! I am proud to say that.... and am so glad that the weather is cool and nice. I am not sure how things will play out when it is dark by 5 and freezing outside. I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it!

What a great weekend. We went to the horse races again. The real life jockey and the acting Jockey in the new Disney movie were at the track so the girls got to meet them and get their autographs. Nevaeh was on fire again with picking the winning horses but no actually bets were placed this time.... mainly because Joel didn't quite know how to work the betting machines :) haha...

It is ten in the morning. The girls are playing... the school books are ready to go on the kitchen table. I will give them a few more minutes and then we will dive in. We have a lot to cover today since the rest of the weekend is getting full with field trips, art classes, gymnastics and a play date with a dear friend tomorrow. The weather is fantastic today. 66 with a little rain which we desperately need.

He Leadeth Me by The Martins (acapella)

Another old one but so beautiful.

They may be old, but these songs are GOOD.

How Great Thou Art
Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940


O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all

The works Thy Hand hath made,

I see the stars,

I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout

The universe displayed;

Stanza 2:

When through the woods

And forest glades I wander

I hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook

And feel the gentle breeze;

Refrain:

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Stanza 3:

When Christ shall come,

With shouts of acclamation,

And take me home,

What joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow

In humble adoration

And there proclaim,

"My God, how great Thou art!"

Refrain:

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Just call me Richard

I am so much like my father. My mom tells me this all the time but now I am really beginning to see it for myself. Even down to the little things like mixing cereals. I do that too, just like he does. We think the same. We have the same type of thoughts and same ideas about things. I also think we are not great listeners. I hate to admit that but I am afraid it is true. I try and listen while someone is telling me a long story but I often drift off to other thoughts. I am certain my dad does the same thing. It drives me mom crazy :) I am also not really into sitting around with a bunch of women and telling them my feelings. My worst nightmare is a church class just for women or a women's retreat. No thanks. My dad is the same way about men functions. No thanks.
My mom has often asked me what I think about a situation and I answer and she usually says, "that is exactly what your dad said." It is quite funny. Thank goodness I love my dad. He is great. A little quirky but great :) I guess that makes me quirky too but I am totally okay with that.

Fall.... where are you?!

It was in the 90's today and will continue to be through Friday. I am ready for cooler weather. Joel, on the other hand, absolutely loves this weather. I am ready for my air conditioning to be turned off and ready for windows to be open. I am ready for sweatshirts too and also ready for sipping on a pumpkin spice latte while the weather is cool. I see some hope in my near future... if I can make it to the weekend, the next ten days after that start to cool off. Also on a side note, since moving out here to the midwest, I have come to realize that people here actually have winter and summer clothes that go in bins and are stored and switched out as seasons come and go. I do not thing people do this in the northwest... in fact, I know they don't. In the northwest, you always need your sweatshirts and jeans nearby. Putting them away in a bin for the summer would never work... and that is one more reason why I love the great northwest! :)

a quiet night at home....

I just put the girls to bed and Joel is working an all-nighter. I am currently listening to the latest Driscoll podcast (no surprise there) and it is on Mary and Martha.... just started it.... I am thinking I am going to learn a lot from these two women.

A Night At The Races

What a night! Friday night we headed out to dinner and then to Target to get the girls some pipe cleaners. (they have been begging for some so they can be crafty with them)..... and then we headed to Turfway Park.... where they have horse races. We walked in.... straight into a cloud of stale smoke :) It was packed with people. People placing bets, reading up on the horses, and of course people smoking. Welcome to Kentucky! So, we watched from inside then headed out to see a race while standing right at the track. Joel golfs with the guy who does the announcing... and he even does the announcing for the Kentucky Derby and has for many many years. Joel texted him to let him know we were there and he spotted us through his binoculars. He waved us on up to his special booth in the top... and we got to watch him announce two races. It was awesome. He practices before the race, looking at each horse, saying their names over and over again along with their numbers. He showed us how he determines the odds.... he sets the odds for the night too... and then he even walked the girls down to place a bet. We bet two bucks on horse number #3 to place first, but the horse came in second! We would have won about $10 if the horse would have took first. I am amazed at all that goes into horse racing. It is amazing and awesome to watch. The girls are hooked too... they wanted to go back last night. I have a feeling we will be going to Turfway Park any chance to can get!

My little artist

I wanted to post this. Nevaeh drew this picture. She was inspired by a lady who was drawing a similar picture of her own daughter when we went to tour the facility where our art class is. For nine years old, I think it is brilliant. I hope she continues to grow this passion and keeps drawing and learning!

100 days till Christmas?!

Another morning spent on my deck. Coffee in hand, study Bible on my lap, kids still snoozing away, and Joel out on the golf course. I can hear the bugs and birds making noise in the trees, and the weather is just perfect. Actually a little chilly this morning, but that is perfect for me. I can hear school buses making their rounds, people leaving their houses for work, and can finally see some leaves starting to change to their amazing vibrant colors. I love these mornings. I love when I have time by myself in the morning. Time when the kids are still sleeping and I can get myself charged for the day. It is in these moments that I again realize the favor of God on my life. My life has had its ups and downs as we all have, but God has remained true and faithful. He has given me the desires of my heart and He continues to plant things there that I am hopeful will one day come into play. I believe and am starting to prepare for those things. Some would say I am digging ditches... ready for the rain to come... ready for His promises. I am thankful that I have walked my life with Jesus by my side. I am certain there is no other way to walk this life. It is too hard, too sad, and too depressing to walk it without the hand of Jesus. I simply could not do it.

On another note, I heard someone say yesterday that Christmas was 100 days away. I can hardly believe this.... but am getting that sudden urge to start preparing myself. Making lists, picking up gifts here and there. I am ready. I love it. My girls love it. Baking, christmas songs, shopping, and the list goes on. BUT- I will make sure to enjoy the fall and to take in every thing I can in the next 100 days.

Lord help me to always be thankful.

Here are some things I thought about today that made me super thankful....

*Nevaeh is a fantastic foot rubber. She grabs the lotion and rubs my feet for me and it is honestly better than any foot rub I have ever had. She is one talented little girl.

*I went for a run tonight and took a shower once I got back home. As I was finishing up in the bathroom, I could hear Joel playing around and wrestling with the girls. They were loud, they were laughing, and having a blast. I am so thankful my girls have a dad that loves them, kisses them, and lives with them. I am so thankful. Thankful beyond words for this.

*my dad has been calling me almost every afternoon while he is doing the laundry for his carpet business. I love his calls. They are usually short but always nice to get. So thankful for a father and mother who love me and love each other.

*we had some rain today. I am super thankful for rainy days for two reasons- we need rain and rainy days make me smile.

My girls had their first art class today. It is a homeschool 2D class and I am super pumped for them. They loved it. Nevaeh could not stop talking about it after I picked her up. They learned the primary colors and how to mix certain colors to make all the other colors. Then they talked about famous castles in the world and then began to draw one, and then later next week they will paint it. I am so thankful for classes like this that allow homeschooling moms to be able to offer more options for their kids. It also makes me feel so inspired and so great when my kids get a chance to learn new exciting things, things that I really could not teach them. I think we will be taking many art classes in the near future and once again I am reminded how much I LOVE being able to homeschool my kids.

A Perfect Day at the Zoo

Thanks to a good friend of mine, we were able to go to the zoo yesterday for free! My friends told me about this teacher's workshop that we signed up for and we were able to get in for free, free parking, free snacks, free drinks, free zoo tote, free handouts, and some free amazingly good cheesecake. Get the common word here? YES... FREE! We walked around the zoo, saw most of the animals, got to see and touch some of the animals, and just had a great time. The kids learned a ton and were so tired when we got home. It really was the perfect day at the zoo!

I heard this at church today- if we think that being a Christian is sailing along on a quiet little ship, we are dead wrong. Being a Christian is being on the battle field. Recognizing that the devil is here declaring war, wanting to destroy us, our family, and wanting to bring us to death. We are fools if we think that he is not working to destroy us. We must always be ready for battle. Active, responding, and fighting.

It is Saturday. This means no schoolwork, not really any responsibilities.... and it just started pouring down rain. This makes me smile. We have not had a day of rain in a very long time. Sure, we get a scattered storm here or there, but a rainy day? Oh how I have missed them. So, here are a few things I am looking forward to in the next months:

*football games. I love them. My favorite sport to watch.
*pumpkins. I love them. I love them sitting on my porch. I love going to the patch to get them.
*the trees. The pretty colors.... love them.
*caramel apples. I don't really care to eat them, but love watching my kids make them.
*cooler weather. Sweatshirts and my Uggs! Oh how I have missed you!
*having the windows open... fresh air flowing through the house is always nice.
*pumpkin spice lattes. MMMM.
*running in cooler weather. I have ran almost every day this last week. Now that the 90's are gone!
*baking things- such as pumpkin bread and things... also soups. I love making soup... there is nothing like having a big pot of soup on the stove :)

I am sure there are many more reasons I love this time of year.... but for now, I am going to enjoy this rainy day. (too bad Joel despises weather like this). We couldn't be more different.

On a side note, I went to the doctor and had my "numbers" checked. Cholesterol, bad ones, good ones, Triglycerides, etc..... all my numbers were really great! Now if I could only get that weight number to go down :( Maybe all this running will finally start paying off.

just a random thought.....

I find it almost funny when people think they are "cutting edge" or "thinking outside the box" or "breaking the mold" ..... when really.... they are just like everyone else. Just as narrow minded and judgmental as the rest of us. We all judge to a certain extent. It is hard not too.... and honestly, those who freak out about others judging them, usually are the ones who judge the most.

Oh Fall, how I love thee.

The fall weather is slowly making its way into my life. I know it will hide again and then pop up again but I cannot wait. Is it way too early to set out my fall wreath and decorations? Maybe I will wait until after Labor Day :)

I went for a run this morning. My kids stayed the night with friends last night so I had an evening to myself until I had to pick Joel up at the airport. My run was great. This cooler weather makes it so much more enjoyable so I don't have to catch my breath from all the humid, sticky air. Now I have a bit of time to myself before heading to get them..... I must say, it is kind of nice. :)

I finally watched Shawshank Redemption the other night- I know, I know, a totally old movie... but I finally watched it. Very good, I must say.

Well, I must go... my time alone in a quiet house is slowing ticking away. I must make the most of it!

Really Negative Women in Proverbs | The Mars Hill Blog

Really Negative Women in Proverbs | The Mars Hill Blog

Lots of great things and good points in this article.

I finally got my new car today! :) No more family van! yay.