Meet Moose

Like life ain't crazy enough, we have to adopt a 43 pound, 5 1/2 month old hound dog/wiemeriner mix puppy! (We have since found out he is probably a Catahoula Leopard Dog.)

Meet Moose.

We fell in love almost immediately.  He came and spent the night on New Year's Eve.  We decided then that he was just too big.  And he wanted to be a couch doggie.  So we brought him back to his foster mommy.  But, while looking at another yippy, smaller puppy we saw Moose again and we just decided to bring him home!

He is a puppy and has puppy behavior but he is super sweet.  And pretty lazy.  He has his active moments during the day and we are learning how to handle those.  We brought him to Meals on Wheels on Wednesday and are hoping to share him with our clients once he has some manners.  He is going to much needed puppy school.  Because he will be so big that was a must!

He is really smart and catches on pretty quick (but can be kinda stubborn.)  While walking him yesterday and training him not to pull on the leash, you could see the struggle to obey my command and his desire to do what he wanted to do.  He even kind of whimpered as he walked back to my side.  Kind of like us sometimes!  We know the right thing to do but doing it can be sooo hard!

Welcome to the family Moose . . . .

"Training"

With about a month left before my first and only half marathon, I thought I would give a quick update.  I have learned a lot about myself and my body in the last few months.

First, I do like to run.  I enjoy the solitude and the feeling of accomplishment that I have when I am done.

Second, I am not and will never be a long distance runner and I am finally OK with that.  About the 7 mile mark my body started to revolt.  Aches and pains that I was just not expecting.  After having been to the doc one too many times, I have come to the conclusion that having four babies and being 47 just does not lend itself well to long distance running.  Up until these past few weeks, I had really hoped to run the whole 13.1 miles.  It was a mental set back to realize that a plan of walking and running was just going to have to be the way it is.  And that is totally fine!

Third, I am encouraging my kids to start a habit of "exercising" while they are young.  Nothing major just a quick walk around the block or a bike ride a couple times a week.  Just developing a healthy, active life style.

Fourth, I am not so afraid of stray dogs anymore.  I haven't seen many lately and because I have been running more during the day, I actually see where some live and know which houses have invisible fences etc.

Fifth, I have met a really neat couple in the neighborhood.  The wife runs half marathons and has been an encouragement.  Unfortunately they have put their house up for sale and are moving to a nice piece of property in the North Georgia mountains.  I will miss seeing them.

Sixth, I am glad I am doing this with friends.  It has been great to see the encouragement through texts and talks that we give one another even though we don't "train" together.  Most importantly, I think it has made all of us really appreciate our health.

Seventh, I really hope to continuing running even after the 1/2.  Probably more along the 3-6 mile distance.

Well, this is probably the last post about my training until after the 1/2.  Here's hoping it goes well . . .

Camping and a Birthday

All EG wanted to do for her birthday was go camping.  She did want to go to the beach where we went last year.  But, by the time I got around to looking for reservations, our favorite sites at our favorite beach were booked.  So, I had a plan B.  And it turned our really great!

Small campground about an hour from the house.  It was on a beautiful lake and our site was lakeside.  It did ended up being one of the coldest weekends of the year but we can tolerate almost anything if we can cuddle up in our warm camper at the end of the day!

Two other family joined us which made it extra special.

View from the camper.

The dock right in "our backyard."

The kids.

Tons of deer.  We about ran 2 over as we entered the park.  Trails to walk and bike and run.

EG's birthday party.

Sweet friends.

Sweet siblings.

Walking over a stream.

Family birthday at home.

It is wonderful when we can celebrate and birthday and go camping all in one.  What a great way to celebrate all kinds of blessings . . . .

Dodgeball

Yup.  That's right.  Dodgeball.  Co-ed dodgeball no less!  In the early part of fall, our church youth group decided to participate in an area Dodgeball Competition.  At first I was like "no way."  We don't have time for this and it was dodgeball for goodness sake.

But, both girls were recruited along with all of the girlfriends (mostly because the boys needed at least two girls on a team) and the excitement started to grow.  After Sunday night youth they would get together and practice.  We would all go just to watch.  But, the next thing you know daddy was playing along with a handful of other men and it turned out to be a really great time!

It was so fun to watch the grown up men get really competitive.  They even let Boop practice with them and any other siblings who happened to be there.  The little girls would be ball getters and cheerleaders.

For all the practicing they did, unfortunately, they did not fair very well in the tournament.  I think we had the most teams present but didn't win a single trophy.  It was fun to watch, though, and the kids had a blast!

Just a great group of fun loving kids . . .

Pointe Pictures

A year ago, Nature Girl accomplished a pretty awesome feat in her ballet "career."  She was evaluated in her dance class for progressing to "going on pointe."  Huge step for ballerinas.  Unfortunately, at the time of her getting her pointe shoes, I didn't not have my camera so was unable to get pictures of her.

This year, when we had our annual Christmas pictures done, I asked if our photographer/friend/babysitter would take her pointe pictures.  And I couldn't have been more pleased.  She definitely has a gift and even after almost 10 years of ballet, I still love to watch her dance. . . . 

Thankful for Health

On Thanksgiving Thursday, the big girls and I ran in our local Turkey Trot.  Us and about 7000 others!  We met friends out there and had a great time.  Not to mention all, of us had great runs.  

The big girls completed a 5K.  The picture below is Nature Girl's back.  She is in the yellow.

These two are of Little Mama.  If you look close at the picture above, you will see a super sweet smile!

The three runners.  I had just completed my first 10K.

The three older kids have all been training with me as I prepare for my half marathon.  The girls run and walk.  Usually by themselves.  And Boop will go with me when I walk for an hour.  

I am super proud of them and their desires to be active.  I will continue to train and they will continue to be encouraging.

It really was a great way to start our day of thanksgiving.  Thankful for health and beautiful weather, family and friends . . . 

Thankful for Hope

This past Tuesday I had to do one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life so far.  A deputy on my husband's shift was shot to death by a man who hated government and law enforcement and first responders.  My husband was on scene but not part of the ambush.  I went with my husband to the funeral.

Because the deputy was on my husband's shift, his shift was treated as part of the family.  All of the deputies on the shift met in a parking lot before heading, together, in their patrol cars, to the church.  It was rainy and gloomy.  I sat in his patrol car as I watched grown men, weighted down with bullet proof vests and 20 pound gun belts, with red rimmed eyes hug each other, asking "Are you OK?", "How are you doing?" Grief so visible.  It was surreal.  Almost like a movie.

The phone calls from my husband the day of the shooting provoked so many emotions in me, I can't even begin to describe them.  I confess, most days, I don't think about what he does.  I think if I dwell on it for too long, I would probably go slightly crazy.  There have been times when my mind has gone there.  The times when I try to call him and hours go by and I don't hear from him.  The time I answered the phone only to hear that he had been in a shoot out but was unharmed.  The time when there was a knock on the door and all I could see was a green law enforcement uniform on the other side.

Our life is different.  I get phone calls from him when he hears a gray van has been in an accident.  We are super protective of our kids.  There are places we are just are not able to go.  It is OK.  It is a small sacrifice to give him, me, peace of mind.

I was a mess Tuesday morning.  But, as we approached the church I was encouraged by the outpouring of law enforcement and first responders.  They filled the church.  Two thousand strong including friends and family.  I was even more encouraged by the service it self.  The preacher was retired law enforcement so he got it.  He understood the sacrifices made by these men and women and their families.  And was able connect with the majority of people in attendance.  To share an eternal hope.

He said that the greatest gift that the fallen deputy could give his wife was the guarantee she would some day see him in Heaven.  A number of years ago he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  He acknowledge that Jesus lived a sinless life, He was sacrificed on the cross for our sins, died, was buried and rose again.  And is now sitting at the right hand of the Father.  So is the fallen deputy.  What a gift to his wife and kids!

She was the picture of this hope.  All. Day. Long.  I watched her.  Amazed by her peace.  She was gracious and loving and abundant with hugs for all.  I even saw her laugh!  She knew.  She knew.  She knew there will be hard days.  But, she knew this life was temporary.  She knew she would miss him terribly.  For as long as she is on this earth.  But she knew she would see him again some day.

It gave me such hope to watch her.  She was faith in action.  Her life, his life has affected thousands.  Affected thousands for the loving, saving, grace of Christ!

There are no guarantees in this life.  There will be great sorrow.  But there is also great joy.  And there is an abounding peace in those who have trusted Christ as their Savior.  I believe it with all my heart and soul.  And God has aloud me to see it with my very own eyes.

Thank you Chris and Erika Smith for sharing your love of Christ.  And a hope that is eternal.  At the most sorrowful time in your life . . .

(Pictures from the Law Enforcement Procession from the church to the gravesite.  I have heard there were 700 cars, 20 miles long and traffic was at a stand still for 45 minutes.  The streets and interstate overpasses had people saluting, holding flags, saying "thank you.")