PREPARING FOR THE 5K

As I think about how long it has been since I've participated in any type of "group" exercise, well let's just say that I don't really remember the exact year! I can't locate my T-shirt either to jog my memory.

The last race was a 6 mile race. Now this didn't include the distance that I had to walk to get to the starting point, that must have been about 3 miles by itself and the same distance back to where my vehicle was parked.

Monday is the big day and I've been walking and the last couple of weeks I've been doing some weight training.

Today, I tried jogging/walking and it actually felt good so much so that I had to come home and take a nap.

I was nervous about it at first, but honestly now I am so excited and the best part is the reward the T-Shirt!!! :) Honestly, some might think how silly, but I absolutely love the T-Shirt's.

Jogging/running has always been my exercise of choice, I'm not much of a step climber or a bike rider, although I do try those things at times but jogging and participating in road races are fun. I only try to compete against myself and see if I can do better than the time before.

Think of me on Monday and wish me well. :)

HOME REMODELING PROJECT'S

We are almost finished with one of our many, project's. Getting rid of all of the carpet! Yes, we are so excited. We are down to our bedroom where half of the room is hard wood and the other side is nasty carpet.

On our list of project's inside are as follows....

1) Completely gut and remodel both bathrooms. I am planning on posting before and after picture's.

2) The kitchen,now this will be my personal favorite.

3) Move our laundry area back into our walk in pantry and turn that old space (laundry area) into a 1/2 bath.

4) Turn the enclosed garage into a "game room".

This doesn't look like a lot but it will take a whole lot of time. Because I am the type that has to plan way in advance...mentally! I am do it NOW and it is working out for me.

Living through a remodel isn't the easiest thing to do, but we are doing it. Our children are learning a ton from it as well. They are gaining skills that even grown men aren't equipped with so it is truly a blessing to me.

Visiting mom...

Chris may get to see his mom next week. I was actually excited that she made the call and requested a visit. This is really good because I have been praying for her and I really do hope that she will give her life to the Lord. She is so young and so lost. She is missing out on so much not being in his life. With that said, I am thankful to the Lord that he has given "us" this opportunity to love him and raise him up to know the Lord.

Chris is such a lovely baby who will be a year old on the first of September. I am looking forward to his birth day and see what he decides to do with a birthday cake when placed right in front of him.

Fun in the sand..

Fun filled day

Chris loves being outside and he was happy, happy, happy. He loved the swing today and looked like a big boy with the older boys.

Finishing up the HARDWOOD Floor's

RJ learning to use the nail gun today was so exciting for him. Now we have both older boy's in training. This really does my heart good. RJ is so proud, that he had his opportunity at the nail gun.

We have EGGS!!!!!

We went out to check on the chicken's today and low and behold...Ross stuck is head in the nesting boxes and there were "2" egg's!!!!

I had to take picture's of them, being the first eggs and all. How excited we are today!

Excited...Frightened...OH MY!

I can't believe that I am actually going to do it! Randy and I usually do these types of things together, but since he hurt his knee he won't be able to walk/jog for a while.
I asked a friend from Church if she would do it with me and she said YES! I am excited because I so need this to jump start my consistent exercising plan.

The exercising that I am doing right now is a combination of riding bikes with Randy and walking with Chris and Ryan.

Please pray for me especially that I won't get any cramps and that I finish, but not be the last one to cross. :) That is my only goal this time around!

Here is a link to my Labor Day plans: http://www.macontracks.org/LDRR-2008.htm

What an amazing God I serve!

A few days ago we accidentally locked "Chris" in the vehicle.... let me explain!

My youngest son is really a GREAT helper, he carries my purse and Chris' diaper bag for me to the vehicle, while I carry "Chris" who isn't light weight..ha!

Anyway, my son was trying to get a ride in the front seat, when I was buckling

Chris in. I noticed that he was trying to ride in the front seat :) so I reminded

him that he had to get into the back seat, so he did but somehow when he got out,

the doors locked! I didn't notice it right off because I was just trying to get

going. He closed the front passenger door and I closed the back one where the

baby was buckled in at. He walked over to the other side of the vehicle and said,

hey, mom I can't get in. I couldn't believe it, I was starring my keys right in the

eye's and I couldn't get to them!!!! Initially I didn't panic because I just knew

that "my DH" had a spare set in the house. WE HAVE ALWAYS had a

spare....since FOREVER! I couldn't find them nor could I get my DH on the

phone to find out where they were! I started to panic!!! I sent one of the boy's

over to a neighbor's to see what he could do to help direct my next move. Before

he came out I decided (I couldn't wait) to call 911- Long story short "they don't

do anything but ask a ton of question's and offered to call a lock smith for me!"

When I was told that, I decided to call one myself. So, I thanked the 911

operator and called a locksmith myself. Now, all of this felt like it took hours

when actually it was minutes! THANK the LORD that he provided one that was

really close by in a neighborhood that I was familiar with and I gave him

direction's to our house. He was there for maybe 5 minute's and had the door

unlocked to the tune of $50.00 buck's. My son, said he really wanted to say out

loud "that was cool" ...ha! But he didn't...He later told his dad and I that he

may have found out what he would like to do in life..as a career! :)

Chris was just fine and I was so happy to hold him in my arms again! Boy that

was really nice. I was a WRECK and one of my children told me that I was

acting a little illiterate, because I couldn't open the door after the locksmith

clearly unlocked it, he had to jump in and open the door for me. What an

ordeal, I can honestly say that I haven't or I truly don't remember doing that

with the other 3 boy's when they were babies..but I did lock the key's in the

vehicle with it running when I was pregnant a couple of time's. I wasn't 42 then

either...ha,ha,ha!!!



God is gracious- means, an undeserved favor or gift; the undeserved forgiveness, kindness and mercy that God gives us.

While, I know that I am saved by his grace alone, I can not tell you enough how

helpless I felt right in the middle of this ordeal, but I surely FELT Gods

GRACE upon me this day. I was "in tune" to it and blessed by it! Right after we

were all in the house making sure that Christ was fine, I felt an over whelming

desire to in some way praise God for bringing us out of this situation and the

DOXOLOGY just came to my mind, so I asked the boy's if we could sing it and so

we did. All of the tremble left my body and what remained was just the after "shock".

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW...PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURE'S HERE BELOW, PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOST...PRAISE FATHER SON AND HOLY GHOST! Amen.