TAG Group Retreat

Good grief. . . it's been 2 1/2 months since I last posted.  I'm not even going to try to catch up.  Just jumping in with what's going on these days.

 

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I'm a part of a TAG group at our church.  TAG stands for Touching Another Generation, based on the Titus 2 mandate for women to teach and encourage other women. Our group has ten members and two mentors.  We've been together for a year now, and we've grown in beautiful, amazing ways as a group.

 

This past weekend, our group went on a little retreat to Hilton Head.  It was so much fun!  Sadly we were missing a few, but we were still able to enjoy being together, encouraging one another and laughing A WHOLE LOT!

 

 

Since some arrived Thursday, when the last of us arrived Friday afternoon we walked to the beach to see the sunset. 

 

 

 

 

I look at these women, and I see strength, beauty, perseverance, diligence, wisdom and love.  Oh the love! 

 

We walked a little way with our new friend who took our picture - she was also from Macon!  Crazy! We ended up at this cool boardwalk type place. 

 

 

The weekend was filled with good food, shopping, games, prayer, more food, good talks, more food, and rest

 

NOTE: If you ever find yourself on my team in a game of Balderdash, don't get me to hum a tune. Just don't.  I can't do it without laughing.  Speaking of laughing, we laughed we cried!   

 

Some had to come home Saturday night for church commitments, and the rest of us stayed and went to church Sunday there on the island.  After worship, a brief shopping trip in an old church, and more eating, we loaded up and headed home, too.

 

Full.  My heart is full.  This group was an answer to prayer for me.  A request I brought before God for over a year.  I cherish our group and our relationship!  Looking forward to another year together.  The best is surely yet to come!

 



 



Savannah Rock n Roll 2012

Last weekend was the Savannah Rock n Roll half marathon.  We had a blast!

As with a race this big, there were lots of people we knew running.  I ran into these sweet girls the night before the race and was so happy to see them!  Thanks to facebook, we were all able to keep up with each other's training along the way.  It was great to see them and be able to wish them luck on their first half!

 Thankfully it was not as cold as it was last year, and the sun was rising as the race started!  I think something like 17,000 people ran this race; it's crazy big!

Tim and I ran with our friend Brian. Tim and Brian ran all their long runs together, and it was Brian's first half marathon.  You would not have ever known it, though, because he rocked those 13.1 miles!  I think there were a few times Brian was pulling Tim and me along!

The city of Savannah showed up again this year, and there were just about always people standing along the course cheering every runner on.  That helps so very much! 

Early on, I was feeling awesome!  Adrenaline was running, spirits were high, and we were bookin' it (for me, anyway)!

We were making great time, completing a 10K in 1:04.  I was so pumped as that was the fastest I'd ever run 6.2 miles.  But, by mile 8 my mind got the best of me.  If I could turn off my mind while I run, I'd probably be a much better runner.  My mind had been saying, "you can't keep going at this pace.  You've never run this fast for this long.  You're going to crash." . . . and before I knew it?  I believed those thoughts. 

And I was ill as a hornet.  The picture above pretty much sums up what happens when I get mad while running.  Tim and Brian were a little ahead, Tim's turning around encouraging me, and I'm just mad. 

Bless that man for marrying me.  Bless him.

Anyway, I told Tim and Brian to go ahead; I needed to walk for a minute.  I think Tim could tell by the look in my eye how frustrated I was, and he obliged.  I walked for a few minutes, taking off my pull over and rearranging my bib. 

I walked just a little bit before another gatorade station, which I really needed.  Once I got there, I wished like heck I'd pushed through.  I started running again and powered through.

 

Yep, this picture is pretty accurate.  I laughed when I saw it and told Tim I knew exactly what I was doing.  Concentrating on breathing.  One foot in front of the other and knowing the faster I went, the quicker I was done.  Look how mad I look compared to that earlier picture where I'm still grinning ear to ear.  Ha!!

 

I knew I probably wasn't going to make my goal time of 2:15, but I also knew if I kept at it, I had a good shot at beating my time last year.  So, I ran. . .  and ran.  I remember various people cheering us on, each encouragement was just what I needed.  One older lady said, "lookin' good!" as I ran by.  I laughed and said, "I don't feel so good!"  She immediately responded, "You're looking a lot better than me, honey!"  :)

 

The last mile wasn't so bad as I knew I was so close to being done.  I crossed the finish line at 2:20:30, just under two minutes faster than last year and a PR for me.

 

 

 

DONE!  I've yet to cross the finish line of a half marathon without tears in my eyes.  I am not a natural runner, and it thrills me to no end that I can do this.  I may not be fast, but it's such a challenge, such a rush, and something I immediately want to do again and be better than before.  That's the amazing thing with running.  It hurts, it's agonizing at times.  Muscles and tendons ache. Breathing can get out of wack and lungs hurt.  But the high of running through all of that is like nothing I can ever put into words. 

 

 Running often presents some precious time for me and the Good Lord.  During the last part of this race, I did some serious praying about some things heavy on my heart.  He heard my cries, I know.  And He pulled me through this race.  All for Him.  I have to tell y'all I've found this page on Facebook that has been such an inspiration to me.  It's called Running4Him.  She is such an incredible runner, a strong Christian and everything she does is completely for His glory.  It's beautiful.  She is also super fast!  There were many times along my race I thought of her and how she'd power through.  Yet again, that's one of the great things about running:  the community.  We are all competitive to a degree, but we're also in it together, cheering each other on.

 

And here we are, four days after the race, planning for another! 



 



Halloween '12

Well. . .  almost three months has passed since my last post. 

Pitiful.  I outta be ashamed. 

Life just sometimes gets away from me, and then when I think, "Oh, I should blog about that!" I don't know how to pick back up when so much time has passed.

So, let's just act like it's not been three months and jump right in, m'kay?

Halloween 2012 was a total blast!  Best one ever if you ask me.  Molly was a pink poodle, and she was sure 'nuff proud of it.  Except she wouldn't wear her ears.  Or her puffy paws.  But she was a poodle still and was pretty cute!

 

We went to eat with friends and trick or treat in their neighborhood.  The eatin' was good, the fellowship was better!  And the kids were precious!

 

 

After feasting on BBQ, slaw, dessert and cider, we all loaded up and headed out to trick or treat!

 

Molly had no idea what was in store, and at the first house, when the lady went to put candy in Molly's pumpkin, Molly snatched her pumpking away and looked at that lady like she was crazy!  I quickly explained to Molly what was happening, the lady quickly realized this was Molly's first experience and was so nice!  Once the candy was in Molly's bucket, Molly looked into her bucket, looked up at me and said, "dis candy for me?"  When I told her it was, she said, "we go to another house now?"  :-) 

 

Sorry for the blurry picutre, but this was Molly checking out her treats!  :)

 

Molly quickly got the hang of "trick or treat" and "thank you" to everyone.  She had a ball and loved being with her friends. Surprisingly, it took a few houses before Molly asked for some of her candy.  She was quite the serious poodle about enjoying her treats!  No way in the world was she taking her eyes off those smarties to smile at her Daddy!

 

 

We left before Molly got too terribly tired and cranky.  She probably asked me "where my punkin" about 12 times in the 5 minutes it took us to get home.  I assured her her "punkin" was safe, candy was safe and all was well!

 

It was the most perfect Halloween!!

 

 

 

 



Faithfully Parenting: Growing Up and Soaking It In

Today's Faithfully Parenting Friday features a beautiful post by Michy.  It brought tears to my eyes as she beautifully puts into words what my heart seems to feel every single minute of the day.  Her little boy turns two on Sunday, and she readily admits to having what she calls Peter Pan Syndrome.  Yes, she and I are kindred spirits.  We don't want our babies to grow up!

My heart leaps with joy as Molly sings "Be strong, don't be afraid. God is with you always" in the car.  We hear her singing her ABCs or her favorite, "Itsy Bitsy", and we smile.  But I still feel that twinge of sadness that she's growing up.

Tim and I both beam with pride as Molly prays her own prayers.  Last night, as we were thanking God for our church and her new MMO teachers, Mrs Candace and Mrs Nikki, Molly chimed in with, "thank you for Meh Benda, Meh Minny, Meh Connie."  (That's Mrs. Brenda, Mrs. Middy and Mrs Connie, other MMO teachers!).  We put Molly to bed and walked out of her room. As Tim shut the door, I felt myself wishing time would stand still.

Molly and Ellie spend their days playing so well together (for the most part), but as I hear the occasional "her not sheering" from Molly, as quickly as I want to get frustrated that I'm refereeing yet again, I also thank God I'm able to be home with them to teach them to share and play well together.

As Mother's Morning Out kicks off next week, I'm so thankful our church offers such an incredible, loving, God centered program where Molly can go to learn, make friends, and grow.  I'm thankful for those few hours each week I'll have to catch up on house chores, work out with no time restraints (my therapy! Ha!), and have a few coffee dates with friends.  But I also feel a bit of sadness as I realize in just a few short years, we will be sending Molly off to kindergarten.  For the entire day.  Oh, that makes my heart ache! 

My constant prayer is that my heart will always be full of thankfulness.  He's blessed us beyond measure, and these days are truly fleeting.  Oh that we soak it all in as we watch our babies grow so quickly!

Faithfully Parenting Friday: In His Time

I'm doing something I've not done in a long time here. . .  I'm linking up with Michy at Loving our Journey today.  I really wasn't intending to link up, but when I read her post, I just had to.  I love her post. 

Today Michy is asking what is our prayer, our saying of calmness as we journey through life.  Mine is Ecclesiastes 3:11: 

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

             In His Time.

              He makes all things beautiful in His time.

When I cannot see the beauty in heartache and pain, I remind myself of this.

When things are going quite like I'd like, when answers aren't coming as quickly as I hoped, I remind myself of this promise.  I've seen it before and I will see it again. 

I sing this song over and over as well.  What a beautiful song!

And that, His promise, is what I cling to.

What promise of God's do you repeat to yourself in times of struggle and uncertainty? 

Build a Bear . . . or a Dog!

A couple of Molly's friends gave her gift cards to go to Build a Bear.  We decided to take her on her actual birthday to celebrate.

When we arrived, the ladies told us how it all words (we'd never been before) and gave Molly a birthday girl sticker.

Molly picked out a puppy dog, and we decided a barking sound had to be added. Molly loved all the buttons at the sound station!

Molly was not a big fan of stuffing the bear (she's scared of noises like that machine), but she did pick out a heart for her new puppy. 

Her puppy was soon strolling around the store as we picked out clothes and accessories.

Somebody had a ball!

Tim (aka Super Dad) helped put a bow on Molly's new puppy while Molly directed him on where it was to go.

We soon got Molly's puppy a dress and Molly named her Ruff Ruff!  She is so proud of Ruff Ruff, despite the fact that Ruff Ruff looks like she's hanging on by a thread in this picture. 

It was a great way to celebrate Molly turning 2!

HaPpY hApPy BiRtHdAy, MoLlY!!!

Molly Miller is TWO!  I just can't believe it!  She talks up a storm, has an indepence streak that rivals any one I've ever seen, and she laughs a whole bunch. She recognizes a number of letters, counts often (sometimes as high as 14), but is not quite "getting" colors right now (everything is blue). A super picky eater, she loves sweets like her momma (and daddy for that matter) but is super stingy with giving kisses to anyone. 

We celebrated Molly's birthday with an Ice Cream Parlor party with some of Molly's friends!  It was so much fun, and Molly had an absolute blast!

Molly loved being with all her friends as they enjoyed bubbles, ice cream sundaes, cupcakes and fun!

Thankfully, Molly loved everyone singing Happy Birthday to her.  Last year, she had a major meltdown while we sang, so we were so thankful she loved it this year!



It was a perfect ice cream parlor party for a precious little girl!



Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Yesterday you would have been 58!  Old Man!! :-)  I often wonder what you would look like now. . . I wonder what we would talk about. . . I wonder what you would have to say about certain things. . .

I've said so many times before that we miss you for different reasons with each passing day.  So, as yesterday kicked off around here, I thought of you.  I remembered yet again how I miss you in the little things.

Molly woke up and immediately needed her tutus.  "Two of them". . .  So, we put on her tutus, and as she peered out the window looking for "duck ducks", I wondered what you'd think about our precious little girl.  Man alive do I wish you could see her, hear her sweet voice, get one of her sweet hugs for yourself.

After breakfast, we got ready for MMO.  Ellie spent the night with Momma the night before because Jenn had to work early, so I had both girls to get ready! Watching these two girls play together never gets old.  My heart overflows every single time!  Whether it's their squeals and giggles filling our home, their little conversations about doing "gyn atics" or tending to their babies, it's so much fun!  And I wonder what you'd have to say about them, how you'd love to watch them play together.

While the girls were at MMO, I took care of a few things around the house and got a quick run in.  While running, I passed by the house Mom, Jenn and I moved into after you died.  Running around there is always good for me.  It reminds me of how far God's brought us.  I ran by 108 Senora Place and remembered the tears we shed on that back deck as a family of three, the times each of us got angry at you for leaving (likely on trash night!), the way God provided for us time and time and time again after you died.  I always wonder if we'd ever run together if you were still with us. Would you be proud of me for getting out there and pounding the pavement?

I picked the girls up and we had lunch, then we headed out for a wagon ride.  Ellie Grace loves a wagon ride more than any child I have ever known.  Molly?  Not so much. . .  She's pretty much on the fence about those wagon rides.  So, I typically end up holding her while pulling Ellie in the wagon!?!?  We headed down to the lake and the girls watched Belle wade into the water.  I watched them and wondered what you would have to say or what shenanigans you'd pull if you were with us on our wagon ride.

And that was before nap time!  See what fun you're missing, Daddy?  While the girls napped, I worked on painting our bathroom.  Again, when I do things like that, I wonder if you'd be proud of me. 

Once the girls woke from naps, we went outside to play.  Both Molly and Ellie love being outside, so we spend a lot of our time outdoors these days.  While watering our new dogwood tree Ellie and I planted a few weeks ago, we came up on this snake!?!?!  EEK!  Again, I wondered if you'd be racing us inside out of fear or if you'd be poking and prodding that snake trying to figure out what he was.  Would you egg on our fear by teasing us girls?

Lovie came home while we were outside watching Brian - ahem - get rid of Mr. Snake, so we all went downstairs for fun at Lovie's.  Ellie really likes playing Candyland these days (as long as you play by her rules!?!?!), so a game was shortly underway.  And as I watched Brian tease Ellie, I wondered if you'd be teasing her the same way, because I know you'd be right in the middle of that good fun!

Shortly after Ellie "won", the girls were entertained with "tic toc" by Brian.  Molly loves her Uncle Brian and Ellie is a Daddy's girl in her own sweet way, too.  Brian is always full of fun for the girls!  He's a lot like you.  We all laugh about that sometimes! 

And then, Lovie gave he girls snacks, and they soon had chocolate all over their faces and hands.  As I snapped this picture, I wondered how much joy they would be bringing to you if you were around, too.

So, while yesterday was a normal day for us, it was also your birthday.  We all thought of you so often as we always do.  And we missed you as much as we ever have.  Each time I wondered what it would be like for you to still be here, for you to enjoy these girls, I realized you are here with us in your own way.  We feel your spirit all the time, and for that I'm forever grateful.

So Happy Birthday, Daddy!  We love you and miss you dearly!



Molly Miller ~ 23 Months Old

Goodness gracious. . .  We are one month away from Molly being two years old.  I just about cannot stand it.  I look at her 23 month picture above and smile and tear up all at the same time.  She's getting so very big.  The way she's sitting up like a little girl in this chair. . .  the way she is grinning so big. . .  knowing she was singing her little heart out before I snapped this picture.  It all just makes my heart overflow!

This has been a busy month for Molly!  Her vocabulary continues to blow our minds.  Multiple times just this weekend, Tim or I would say, "did she just say that?"  Or "did you hear her?"  I know she's our child, and we are very biased, but she blows our minds all the time.

Last Thursday, for example. . .  I was driving down the road with Molly and Ellie.  We were in Tim's parent's Yukon, so I don't have any of Ellie's CDs in there.  Ellie had asked for her music, and when I told her we didn't have them, she said, "yet's sing, Aunt B!"  So, we started singing, and half way through our rendition of "Jesus Loves Me", Molly Miller chimes in and sings her little heart out!  I almost drove off the road out of excitement!  Then, this weekend, while we were playing in her playroom, she started singing, "hap pee bud day to youuuuuu hap pee bud day to youuuuu".  Then yesterday she started singing her ABCs along with her singing Duck!  Just precious!

Molly loves to be outside, and we blow bubbles, run up and down the drive, and jump off the curb over and over and over again.  Belle is one of Molly's favorite things, and they play beautifully together.  It helps that Molly's always wanting to give Belle "teats"!

She counts (once as high as 14, although she usually counts "one two free eight nine ten eleben telve") and often times when she's counting, she says, "eight nine ten heah I coooome!!!"  Yep, we play lots of hide and seek around here, too.

I say it all the time, and I'll say it again.  The days keep getting better and better.  Each day continues to be better than the day before, and this age is absolutely so much fun!  I cherish the moments, the many precious moments we have!

Now, the countdown is on to TWO!!!

So Berry Fun

Jenn and I took Molly and Ellie to a local strawberry patch last week.  The strawberries were so super yummy!  Omigoodness!  It was a first for all four of us, and Jenn and I were amazed at how good the berries tasted! 

Molly was quite serious about her picking. 

She was a bit amazed at the rows and rows of strawberries and at how heavy her bucket of berries got!

Ellie loved every second of being there, too. She was also very proud of her strawberries!

Elliott Farms also has animals.  The girls loved the chickens, horses, peacocks and bunnies.  If you know me, you know I cannot stand birds.  At. All.  Of any kind.  So, it made me cringe when Molly took to the chickens. 

Both girls loved this big ole rabbit.  Molly kept saying, "ribbit" to the rabbit.  I think we may be a little confused!?!!?

This may be one of my favorites from the day. . .  Have I mentioned how thankful I am that these two get to grow up together?  They are more like sisters, and it fills my heart with more joy than I could ever explain.

Molly refused to eat the first strawberry, but Ellie LOVED them! 

Yep, it was the perfect morning!