Well, am I happy that today if Friday! The week is over and I get to enjoy the weekend... kind of. We do have to run *gulp* 17 miles tomorrow and I am nervous. That is a long way, but I know that with Andy and with Andy's dad, Bill, I will make it.
The best news is that tonight I get to watch Reece!! I am so pumped and get so excited when Tori calls me in for baby-sitting backup. I love that kid and she is just so darn cute. I will have to take some pictures to show my bloging viewers next week.
Well, I am off for the lovely weekend and hope that the weather will continue to stay warm at least until my run is over. Pray for no rain and cool temps.
I spoke with Andy's mom, Amy, yesterday and when this whole marathon thing is over I promise to do a lot less talking about running. Since Andy's whole family is running it all we seem to talk about when we get together is running. We make a pack to be more conscious about not mentioning running until asked. It just really is our life right now. Apparently our extended family is a bit sick of hearing about it. Hee hee hee, just two more months. I hope I make it!!!!
Later!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Birthdays!
Sometimes Andy and I forget how lucky we are to have grandparents. Well, he is lucky and I have adopted his as mine (kind of came with the marriage thing) so now I have some too! Both of my grandparents have both passed away a few years ago so I feel especially lucky to have grandparents again.
I think that sometimes we forget how active his, excuse me, OUR grandparents are. Granddaddy still hikes a few times a week, every week. By a few miles I mean he hikes 10-20 miles. Amazing. Both Meme and Gigi still clog and live very active social lives, eating out with friends, traveling to the beach for weeks on end, cooking dinners for our whole family, sewing, knitting, you can pretty much name it and they do it. We love meeting them for dinners and having them cook/bake us things.
Meme makes the best pot roast. I am working on perfecting it but still have not even come close. Anytime she mentions that she is going to be cooking it, Andy and I are first in line to get a dinner invitation.
Gigi and her brownies! I don't think that I need to say anymore. When she sends them home with us Andy and I bicker over them. I am sure that there have been times when he has hidden them from me so he can keep them to himself. He does not even like sweets that much, but the are THAT good.
Granddaddy, what do you say about the man that walked you down the isle. He is amazing and super handsome. He has the gentlest nature, and some of the funnies quirks too!I don't think that I will ever forget at Christmas when he flashed the lights in the house because it was time to go. He is so funny and I love him dearly.
I know that sometimes we take for granted how spunky they are and I want them to know that we love you them so dearly and appreciate them. I love your wisdom and insight and treasure your cooking, sewing and life tips that you give to me. Thank you for letting me be your granddaughter. I love you guys!
The title of this post, if you made it down this far is because this weekend and in the upcoming weeks we are celebrating the birthdays of Meme and Gigi. Happy Birthday to two very beautiful women!!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
15
yeah, that is the number of miles that we ran on Saturday. It was a long way. We *ahem*, I use that term very loosely, decided to go back to Cades Cove and run around it to get our 15 miles in. I just want to tell you a little story from this time last year. Sometime last year Andy and I were training for the Knoxville Half Marathon. We got to the weekend where we were to run 11 miles and got the bright idea that going up to the Smokey Mountains and running Cades Cove would be a great idea. It was not and I hated every minute of it. We got there and just as we started to run it started to rain. Not only did it rain but it there was thunder and lightning the whole time. I clearly remember not getting 3 miles in and Andy asking if my feet were wet, to which I responded, soaked. Thank goodness that Andy's mother warned me because if you don't know the facts about Cades Cove it just might break your heart. There is a sign at the entrance of the loop that says that it is 11 miles. It lies, it is just a little over 10. I told Andy last year that I NEVER wanted to run this again. Actually I think I told him that after each mile. I hated the run and then proceeded to get sick on the way to Gatlinburg which just made the trip that much better.
So to bring you back up to speed, when Andy asked me on Friday where I wanted to run and I said I didn't care, he cautiously asked if I would be willing to go back to Cades Cove. I hesitated, and then forgot how much I HATED running there before and once again said that I would run Cades Cove. What in the world was I thinking!!!! Well we drove up there on Saturday. The weather was perfect. I think that it was about 50 degrees and sunny. The boys (Andy and his father) started out talking about how pretty it was and how the scenery was a great distraction. They were both on the lookout for deer and other forrest animals. I just ran. As I said before we were planning on running 15 miles and the loop is only a little over 10, so we ran down a path/road for a little while and then it got to hilly so we turned back. I think that one of the main things that I forgot about Cades Cove is how hilly it is. It is one giant hill after another. There were times when I thought that all we did was run uphill and we never when down a hill. Pretty frustrating when not only to you have to try hard to run up a hill but you have to also avoid getting hit by cars along the way. At one point I almost shouted to a car that I had just as much right to run on the road as they did to drive. It would have taken too much energy so I just kept my mouth shut. By the time that was made it to the end of the loop we still had 2.5 miles to run. We ran in circles until we got to 15 and made it back to the car. We were all pretty tired, achy, and so ready for it to be over. At the end of each one of our long runs Andy and I agree that there is no way that we could run another mile, but we somehow manage the next long run to add a mile or two. I guess this is why we train, to help our bodies realize that we can run for this long. Right now I just can't imagine doing the 15 that we did and then having to run another 11. This week is lighter, we only have to run 11 for our long run, but we still need any prayers that you want to send our way.
Most of you probably don't care about our running, but as I said in the previous post, it is kind of our life right now. That and planning for all of the upcoming weddings that we are in this summer.
If you see us on the road, don't be afraid to honk!!!
So to bring you back up to speed, when Andy asked me on Friday where I wanted to run and I said I didn't care, he cautiously asked if I would be willing to go back to Cades Cove. I hesitated, and then forgot how much I HATED running there before and once again said that I would run Cades Cove. What in the world was I thinking!!!! Well we drove up there on Saturday. The weather was perfect. I think that it was about 50 degrees and sunny. The boys (Andy and his father) started out talking about how pretty it was and how the scenery was a great distraction. They were both on the lookout for deer and other forrest animals. I just ran. As I said before we were planning on running 15 miles and the loop is only a little over 10, so we ran down a path/road for a little while and then it got to hilly so we turned back. I think that one of the main things that I forgot about Cades Cove is how hilly it is. It is one giant hill after another. There were times when I thought that all we did was run uphill and we never when down a hill. Pretty frustrating when not only to you have to try hard to run up a hill but you have to also avoid getting hit by cars along the way. At one point I almost shouted to a car that I had just as much right to run on the road as they did to drive. It would have taken too much energy so I just kept my mouth shut. By the time that was made it to the end of the loop we still had 2.5 miles to run. We ran in circles until we got to 15 and made it back to the car. We were all pretty tired, achy, and so ready for it to be over. At the end of each one of our long runs Andy and I agree that there is no way that we could run another mile, but we somehow manage the next long run to add a mile or two. I guess this is why we train, to help our bodies realize that we can run for this long. Right now I just can't imagine doing the 15 that we did and then having to run another 11. This week is lighter, we only have to run 11 for our long run, but we still need any prayers that you want to send our way.
Most of you probably don't care about our running, but as I said in the previous post, it is kind of our life right now. That and planning for all of the upcoming weddings that we are in this summer.
If you see us on the road, don't be afraid to honk!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
My long lost blog...
Where have I been hiding lately you ask. In Knoxville, mostly on the road running my little heart out. I feel like that is all we do, schedule our lives around running. We both knew that this training for the Cincy Marathon was going to be time consuming but holy cow! We are really enjoying the training (with the exception of the 9 mile run that we had last weekend where I just about started crying and Andy had no idea what to do with me. I got over it and finished the run, but it was probably the hardest run that we have done to date.) and are enjoying getting to spend time together. We are running 14 miles this Saturday, *gulp* that is tomorrow. So keep us in your thoughts and prayers as you go about your day!
I would like to give out a shout out (she has yet to give me one on TV and if only you knew how many times I have asked her to) my roomie from college. Kara will be turning 28 on Sat. Yes, she is a Valentines Baby! I am sure that her really sweet husband, Damien, had wonderful plans for her. I hope he knows not to get her a box of chocolate, she hates it and has gotten more of them in her life than I think that she knows what to do with. At any rate here you go Kara, just picture me singing this to you in my exceptional singing voice. And you guys did not know that I could sing...
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Dear Kara,
Happy Birthday to you!
I love you and miss you. I wish that you lived closer. I am still pushing for your off season home to be in K-town and always will. Have a happy birthday!!!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
where the players play!!!
This past weekend Andy and I with two of our (did you hear that Andy, OUR, Julie is MY friend so that makes 2) friends, Chris and Julie took a day trip to Atlanta. I was not really sure what to expect from this trip as we were going to visit a dear, dear friend of Andy and Chris that has recently been sick. Can I just tell you that the trip was so much fun. We had a blast on the way down, stopping only for coffee - twice! The conversation covered just about everything that you can imagine. Let's just say that Andy and I are a lot closer to Chris and Julie... and we will leave it at that. The three hour drive down there flew by and before we knew it we were getting ourselves lost in Atlanta. Now I don't know about you but there is not much scarier than driving around Atlanta, lost, with crazy drivers, your driver all hopped up on caffeine trying to input your destination into the GPS system of a car that he does not normally drive (it was his mother's - here is a shout our to Natalie and T for their A-W-E-S-O-M-E car), all the while doing his best not to kill all of us. It was an adventure alright. We finally made it to our destination, oh a couple of hours early so we went and ate lunch. Andy and I got burgers, Julie got soup and salad (she is such a lady) and Chris, well he got the skinny burger - a burger with 2-3 slices of ham, a mound of cheese and a side of fries. He ate the whole thing. We made it to our visit and when it was time to leave we loaded up in the car to head on back to Knoxville. I don't think that we stopped laughing the whole way home. My sides, my cheeks and my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. We only stopped one time on the way home and I will ask that all of you when you see Chris, ask him about yelling things out across gas stations in Cleveland, TN. I don't know what Andy and I would do without Chris in our lives but it sure would be a lot less funny. Thank you Chris and Julie for a fun and memorable day. Thinking about it right now still is making me laugh. We love you both and are so glad that we can call both of your our friends.
This picture is from Halloween,
how terrible is it that this is the most recent picture of the four of us!!!
Something that we will have to remedy.
Monday, January 12, 2009
I am a SISTER!
I wrote the following post a while ago HERE. Way back when I posted a very vague post and most of you thought that Andy and I were pregnant. I hope that this clears things up. I said in that post that we are blessed more than we know. We are and I hope this explains it a bit better. It is a bit long but I think well worth the read.
As most of you know, I love my blog. Would you believe that a year ago I did not really know what a blog is and now among my friends I am probably the person who talks about and gets excited about blogs the most? I guess that my verbal skills show up in my passions. I am a passionate person and at times it gets me into trouble. I love to tell people about the latest thing that I am thinking about or reading about. This leads me to what I want to tell you about today. It is something that I have kept quiet. It is not bad so fear not. It is one of the most beautiful, yet tragic stories that I have heard in a while. The story makes me burn with passion about something that is so important to me. F.A.M.I.L.Y.
First a side note. Last night Andy and I went on a run. A 5 mile run. That is the farthest that I have run in a while. I know, I have been a slacker. Before we started Andy mentioned that he was not sure that I was going to make it. I had some doubts myself. (Don’t tell him that.) He later told me that it was not that he did not think that I could make it but that I was going to start complaining and getting grumpy and he was going to take the brunt of it. (Not sure where he got that idea, because that has never happened before. Hee hee hee.) As Andy and I started the run on the Boulevard our pace, as it usually does when we run 5 or more miles, started slow and picked up as we got into a rhythm. Although we were making pretty good time, by the time that we got to Kingston Pike it was dusk/dark. We started down the trail to the Greenway, and it was dark. We could barely see the path in front of us, and I started to get scared. I think that I even said, “Oh, this is not scary!” Please read that with the most sarcastic voice that you can muster. I was scared and not to mention that there were people at the bridge at the bottom of the hill. As quickly as I became scared, and passed those men, I looked over at my husband and my fears subsided. I knew that he would protect me. The run continued and I picked up the pace because it was getting darker and I wanted to get back to the car. Now, some people listen to music when they run. I am not usually one of those people. I am not sure why. It may be that when I was in college during our countless fitness tests we were not allowed to run with music, or because I like to challenge myself without any outside help, or if I just like to hear the bike behind me before it hits me. Whatever the case may be, if it is less than 7 miles I usually don’t have any music on and this night was no different. So, because I don’t listen to music, I think a lot on my runs. Sometimes it is about mindless things that help me pass the time, and sometimes it is about the next soccer practice and what drills I would like to run, and sometimes I pray. Last night I knew that I needed strength to get through the run, and so I prayed. What I prayed for is the story that I want to tell you about…
There is a woman. Her name is Stephanie Nielson. She might just be one of the most beautiful women that I have ever seen. I have never met her and probably never will. When I first saw a picture of her I did not think much about it, but as I read her story (blog) I began to see her heart and her beauty really began to shine. Stephanie is my age (27) and has 4, yes you read that right, 4 adorable children. Her blog is about being a wife and a mother. She tells her story from the perspective that although her life is crazy at times, you can find beauty in everything. I am not sure that all of you know but I can’t wait to be a mom. Andy and I are not quite at the point where we are ready to start a family, but I can’t wait until we ARE ready to start a family and be given the greatest gift of becoming someone’s parents. Stephanie takes time to cherish her husband and children. She makes every moment important. This is where the tragedy comes in. In August of this year Stephanie and her husband, Christian (who was getting is pilot’s license), were in a plane crash. Christian sustained burns on 35% of his body, the instructor lost his life do to his injuries, and Stephanie suffered burns on 80% of her body. The story does not end there. This family has an amazing extended family. They have all stepped in taking various roles to help Stephanie and Christian. One of her sisters purchased her a house so Stephanie and Christian can move from Arizona (where they currently live and where the plane crash occurred and where Christian’s family lives) back to Utah (where Stephanie’s family lives and where she longed to live for some time now.) Utah is also where Stephanie’s children are now living. This to me is one of the more amazing parts of the story and very amazing to see God’s hand in this family’s life. One of Stephanie’s sisters already has 8 children, the other had just recently been married, and one had been wishing for children for some time and had recently given birth to a baby boy. The latter sister, Courtney, took on the HUGE task, although somehow I don’t think that she sees it that way, of caring for the three older children. She lives near the one that recently got married, Lucy, who is taking care of the baby of the family. They bring all the children together every night for dinner and are always helping each other out as well as traveling to Arizona (a 10 hour drive) to visit their beautiful sister. When I was running and praying I started off praying for Stephanie’s healing. She believes in God and although we don’t totally agree on everything… the bottom line is that she believes in God and so do I. I want God to heal Stephanie because I know that He can. I want her legs to become strong again so she can continue to enjoy running, as I do. I want her to be able to move her hands and feel her children’s touch. I want her arms to heal so she can continue to take care of her family the way that she always has by cooking them meals and taking care of her home. I want her mind to be strong so she can see the beautiful woman that she was and will continue to be. I want her heart to know all of the people that she has touch and inspired to become better women, wives and mothers. I want her to know that no matter the scars… she is an amazing woman of God.
Then I prayed for myself. The thing is, I want to be like Stephanie and Courtney in the very same breath. I want to take care of my family the way that Stephanie takes care of hers. I want my home to be filled with as much love and happiness as we can fit in it. I want to be like Courtney and be there for my extended family in whatever circumstances that our family will face in the future. I want to be strong so that if our family ever has to face a tough time that they know that I will always be there. I will take care of their children, visit them no matter how far away, and pray for them always. I want to be better. I long to be better and I will strive for it. Stephanie has opened my eyes wider to the importance of taking care of your family no matter the sacrifice. For this I am indebted to Stephanie. I am an only child and admittedly spoiled. Since Andy and I got married, my eyes have begun to open to a whole new relationship that I have never experienced before. I am now a sister. Andy and I will have been married for 2 wonderful years in July and slowly since that day I have started to remove the “in-law” status from his family. It just seems so formal and distant both of which I don’t want to be. I want to have a deeper and close relationship with both my brothers (I will have a new brother in June!) and sisters (three of them and they are each so beautiful and so much fun.) I know that it will not be easy as we have not always been family, but FAMILY is what matters. Years from now, we will still be family, we will still get together for holidays, we will go to each other’s birthday parties for our children, and we will love each other through tough times and the happiest of times. I love my siblings more than they will ever know. In the past 2 years they have taught me more than they will ever know. I wish to never disappoint them, although I know I will. What I want them to know the most is that they know that I will always, always be there. If they were to ever need anything, I would be there. So to Jeff, Danielle, Megan, Scott and Cally I love you all so much, I treasure the relationships that I have with each of you and in the future I can’t wait for the life that we have together as F.A.M.I.L.Y.
As most of you know, I love my blog. Would you believe that a year ago I did not really know what a blog is and now among my friends I am probably the person who talks about and gets excited about blogs the most? I guess that my verbal skills show up in my passions. I am a passionate person and at times it gets me into trouble. I love to tell people about the latest thing that I am thinking about or reading about. This leads me to what I want to tell you about today. It is something that I have kept quiet. It is not bad so fear not. It is one of the most beautiful, yet tragic stories that I have heard in a while. The story makes me burn with passion about something that is so important to me. F.A.M.I.L.Y.
First a side note. Last night Andy and I went on a run. A 5 mile run. That is the farthest that I have run in a while. I know, I have been a slacker. Before we started Andy mentioned that he was not sure that I was going to make it. I had some doubts myself. (Don’t tell him that.) He later told me that it was not that he did not think that I could make it but that I was going to start complaining and getting grumpy and he was going to take the brunt of it. (Not sure where he got that idea, because that has never happened before. Hee hee hee.) As Andy and I started the run on the Boulevard our pace, as it usually does when we run 5 or more miles, started slow and picked up as we got into a rhythm. Although we were making pretty good time, by the time that we got to Kingston Pike it was dusk/dark. We started down the trail to the Greenway, and it was dark. We could barely see the path in front of us, and I started to get scared. I think that I even said, “Oh, this is not scary!” Please read that with the most sarcastic voice that you can muster. I was scared and not to mention that there were people at the bridge at the bottom of the hill. As quickly as I became scared, and passed those men, I looked over at my husband and my fears subsided. I knew that he would protect me. The run continued and I picked up the pace because it was getting darker and I wanted to get back to the car. Now, some people listen to music when they run. I am not usually one of those people. I am not sure why. It may be that when I was in college during our countless fitness tests we were not allowed to run with music, or because I like to challenge myself without any outside help, or if I just like to hear the bike behind me before it hits me. Whatever the case may be, if it is less than 7 miles I usually don’t have any music on and this night was no different. So, because I don’t listen to music, I think a lot on my runs. Sometimes it is about mindless things that help me pass the time, and sometimes it is about the next soccer practice and what drills I would like to run, and sometimes I pray. Last night I knew that I needed strength to get through the run, and so I prayed. What I prayed for is the story that I want to tell you about…
There is a woman. Her name is Stephanie Nielson. She might just be one of the most beautiful women that I have ever seen. I have never met her and probably never will. When I first saw a picture of her I did not think much about it, but as I read her story (blog) I began to see her heart and her beauty really began to shine. Stephanie is my age (27) and has 4, yes you read that right, 4 adorable children. Her blog is about being a wife and a mother. She tells her story from the perspective that although her life is crazy at times, you can find beauty in everything. I am not sure that all of you know but I can’t wait to be a mom. Andy and I are not quite at the point where we are ready to start a family, but I can’t wait until we ARE ready to start a family and be given the greatest gift of becoming someone’s parents. Stephanie takes time to cherish her husband and children. She makes every moment important. This is where the tragedy comes in. In August of this year Stephanie and her husband, Christian (who was getting is pilot’s license), were in a plane crash. Christian sustained burns on 35% of his body, the instructor lost his life do to his injuries, and Stephanie suffered burns on 80% of her body. The story does not end there. This family has an amazing extended family. They have all stepped in taking various roles to help Stephanie and Christian. One of her sisters purchased her a house so Stephanie and Christian can move from Arizona (where they currently live and where the plane crash occurred and where Christian’s family lives) back to Utah (where Stephanie’s family lives and where she longed to live for some time now.) Utah is also where Stephanie’s children are now living. This to me is one of the more amazing parts of the story and very amazing to see God’s hand in this family’s life. One of Stephanie’s sisters already has 8 children, the other had just recently been married, and one had been wishing for children for some time and had recently given birth to a baby boy. The latter sister, Courtney, took on the HUGE task, although somehow I don’t think that she sees it that way, of caring for the three older children. She lives near the one that recently got married, Lucy, who is taking care of the baby of the family. They bring all the children together every night for dinner and are always helping each other out as well as traveling to Arizona (a 10 hour drive) to visit their beautiful sister. When I was running and praying I started off praying for Stephanie’s healing. She believes in God and although we don’t totally agree on everything… the bottom line is that she believes in God and so do I. I want God to heal Stephanie because I know that He can. I want her legs to become strong again so she can continue to enjoy running, as I do. I want her to be able to move her hands and feel her children’s touch. I want her arms to heal so she can continue to take care of her family the way that she always has by cooking them meals and taking care of her home. I want her mind to be strong so she can see the beautiful woman that she was and will continue to be. I want her heart to know all of the people that she has touch and inspired to become better women, wives and mothers. I want her to know that no matter the scars… she is an amazing woman of God.
Then I prayed for myself. The thing is, I want to be like Stephanie and Courtney in the very same breath. I want to take care of my family the way that Stephanie takes care of hers. I want my home to be filled with as much love and happiness as we can fit in it. I want to be like Courtney and be there for my extended family in whatever circumstances that our family will face in the future. I want to be strong so that if our family ever has to face a tough time that they know that I will always be there. I will take care of their children, visit them no matter how far away, and pray for them always. I want to be better. I long to be better and I will strive for it. Stephanie has opened my eyes wider to the importance of taking care of your family no matter the sacrifice. For this I am indebted to Stephanie. I am an only child and admittedly spoiled. Since Andy and I got married, my eyes have begun to open to a whole new relationship that I have never experienced before. I am now a sister. Andy and I will have been married for 2 wonderful years in July and slowly since that day I have started to remove the “in-law” status from his family. It just seems so formal and distant both of which I don’t want to be. I want to have a deeper and close relationship with both my brothers (I will have a new brother in June!) and sisters (three of them and they are each so beautiful and so much fun.) I know that it will not be easy as we have not always been family, but FAMILY is what matters. Years from now, we will still be family, we will still get together for holidays, we will go to each other’s birthday parties for our children, and we will love each other through tough times and the happiest of times. I love my siblings more than they will ever know. In the past 2 years they have taught me more than they will ever know. I wish to never disappoint them, although I know I will. What I want them to know the most is that they know that I will always, always be there. If they were to ever need anything, I would be there. So to Jeff, Danielle, Megan, Scott and Cally I love you all so much, I treasure the relationships that I have with each of you and in the future I can’t wait for the life that we have together as F.A.M.I.L.Y.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
We will keep praying...
For some reason God started off this year for Andy and I in a season of deep and continuous prayer. A great way to start the year even if we look at it as not for the reasons that we would have liked. We are so very thankful for answered prayers thus far. We will continue on in this season of prayer no matter how long it takes. God has placed some tough times on people that we love and are so dear to us, and so as this new year begins we are praying.
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