No ifs, ands or buts

you may recall this post..
http://flporters.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-didnt-but-i-did.html

well this time...

I DID IT!!!

Turkey Trot 2009 was my first fully ran 5K.

Okay, okay so maybe a few ifs, like some people may have argued that it was just an exaggerated walk, but it was running for me, not stopping per my book. My time was 39:01, and I'll just proudly say that's a 12:30 pace...isn't it nice that you can snicker w/o me hearing you? For me though that time was good.

Brandon and the kids were there to welcome me. Later I asked Cole, when I was running into the finish line was I running superfast, medium or slow (in comparison to how I had been running all along it felt like I was a freight train)..Cole very lovingly said ...medium (better than slow I suppose). I thought I was going to die at the end when I was running medium.

Here's the cool thing though, at the two mile mark I was ready to cross over to the 10k lane and the race seemed short (you know at the end), so even though the week before I said I was never running again after the race, I may have a little fever now. Like can I better my time on the 5k? Can I go for the 10? Will I be in next year's Boston Marathon - okay one too far.

I couldn't have done it w/o Rachel...and her persistence, thanks Rach!

And guess what?

cue Rocky Theme

there were hills, only two but one was kind of steep. Next year I will concur those hills in Indianhead. Aren't you glad you can sing the Rocky theme song w/o me hearing you ;)!!!!

Don't hate the beauty in these pics!

Beautiful Things - Giving Thanks

In Sacrament meeting on Sunday six year old Emma T. sang this song, it's very simple but such a nice way to express a love of the beautiful things we have on this Earth and above. I am so thankful for the many beautiful things this life has to offer.

On a side note I have an "Edward" crush (I didn't catch the Twilight fever and feel a little left out, so here's mine) on the composer of this song...never laid eyes on him :).

1. Blue skies, mountains, rainbows, fountains:

These are some things I love to see.

Rivers, canyons, pine trees, oceans:

Heavenly Father made them for me.

[Chorus]Life is o’erflowing with beautiful things

Made by our loving and glorious King.

If I but strive to be grateful and true,

I can be happy in all that I do.

2. Music, laughter, peace thereafter:

These are some things I love to hear.

Please’s, thank you’s, may I’s, can do’s:

Hearing them fills my heart with good cheer.

Chorus

3. Silky flowers, cool rain showers:

These are some things I love to feel.

Promptings, guidance, warm assurance:

That’s how I know the Spirit is real.

[Chorus]Life is o’erflowing with beautiful things

Made by our loving and glorious King.

If I but strive to be grateful and true,

I can be happy in all that I do.

Copyright © 2008 by Thomas M. Croft. All rights reserved

here's a link to listen (doesn't compare to Emma's version)

http://www.nothingwavering.org/post/13293/2009-07-09/music-video-life-is-oerflowing-with-beautiful-things.html

FSU- giving thanks

just a few reasons why I'm thankful for the 'Noles (and the church).....

Tricia Price

Lia Bishop
Mary Bliss
Sonya Yongue

Nicole Ricks

Mary Ann Carr

Misty Wright

Janet Henderson

Liz Brock

Kim Sirmans

Alison Moulton

Melody Shipley

Rachel Crosby

Ann Thomas

Jennifer Frank

Jennifer Cherry

Jodi Hawthorne

Sara Brown

Trisha Headman

Sarah Rew

and many more

Living in a university town with the ward boundaries being in close proximity to the school makes for a lot of people coming and going. It is sad to see people go, but I've learned so much over the years and been loved and served in manners that amaze me. Thank you!!!

Jennifer

So old

A few months ago we received a coupon in the mail for Universal Studios. I have never been and I thought this was good chance for Brandon and I to have some good "kid" fun without the kids. So we set our date and it was our first time pretending to be newlweds for THREE whole days and TWO whole nights (we've not done this long of a trip since we had kids, whoa!) We were giddy like a couple of kids. We were going to sleep in, ride the big rides, eat good, have a grand ole time. Some things went as planned and some things not so much.



The first day we decided to ride bikes cause we never do in Tallahassee for some reason. Anyway, we tried the new fancy seated bike and next time we'll stick with the traditional deal, but it was fun to try. We wore helmets cause we're out of practice....and old.



We got dinner and went to an evening session at the temple, that happens...never....we were there til closing!




The next morning we got up and got to Universal at opening time. They have a new rollercoaster that I really wanted to ride, you choose your own music but it was a two hour wait, we didn't....cause we're old. We rode a few rides that were interesting.

After lunch we were ready to head over to Islands of Adventure to get on the rollercoasters, what I had been waiting for....I said, let's do the hulk first, start off mild (can you see where this is going?). I didn't watch it once, we beelined it to the entrance and the whole time you're in line you're inside, so you don't see the ride. We get on I'm so excited and the part that goes clunk, clunk, clunk is inside as well and you can see the sky and I was thinking okay it's going to take off up there...um not, it took off early and I stopped screaming and opened my eyes fully when the ride stopped. What happened to me? I used to love rollercoasters...not anymore. I made a deal with my Father in Heaven in a very short amount of time that if I got off this one I wouldn't get on another. I did go peak at the dueling dragons cause I really wanted to go, but couldn't do it.

After I got off I watched it and said what are people thinking, those turns are so close, gracious!

So. Old.

It had to happen I suppose, but so soon?

At least Brandon is right there with me, he was done after the Hulk too. Thanks babe!







So we didn't stay at the park zooming the rides all day, instead we went and took a nap. Only appropriate right?

That night we shopped, probably at stores for old people.

All in all it was tons of fun though. So nice to be together, but one of the best parts was getting our kids back (thanks Mom!) and being a family again, I can enjoy that at any age.

Memories

Every once in a while, maybe while I'm remembering something from my childhood, I wonder what the memories of my children will be of theirs. School, our backyard, spongebob, being asked (commanded) to clean again and again, games of skipbo, seasons, Christmases, love? And more importantly what will I look like to them through adult eyes? Scary to think of, I'd like to pick and choose those please ;)! That's all I have to say about that.

Telling it like it is

* be sure to catch Laura's bday blog post below this one :)* - that couldn't wait and neither could this....

A few weeks ago the discussion in Sunday School was Joseph Smith/Book of Mormon and how you gained a testimony. I read the Book of Mormon before I joined the church and was logically converted by Joseph's story. I even had a blog entry in my head to the tune of- why would a boy of 14 'claim' to have seen Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to be ridiculed, why would a young man bring forth false scripture to be tarred and feathered and why would a husband and father fight for a fraud, ultimately give his life and never waiver...never.

Makes sense right? But I knew I couldn't give it justice so I let it be. That same week I chatted with a friend from high school who is very involved with their religion question me about Joseph Smith and for the first time in a long time I had a chance to defend the Prophet/Book of Mormon and it strenthened my testimony.

Today, during General Conference an apostle of the Lord, Elder Holland did it justice...here it is if you missed it...
http://www.lds.org/move/index.html?type=conference&event=Oct179&lang=english

She is

1. so her father's child

2. strong

3. sensitive

4. stubborn

5. smart

6. shoe savvy

and

she's (finally)

7. SEVEN

disclaimer- there are better pics of the early days just not on the computer for some reason..

still just 6 3/4

THE PARTY

so I made have a made a slight mistake in renting the Hannah Montana movie cause it's been Hannah Montana fever ever since (and she was only six and 3/4 at the time) and maybe another mistake by agreeing to that theme for the party. I felt like I was in the middle of a 13 year old's party.

They put on make-up, squealed, chased Cole, played Hannah Montana bingo, danced, ate pizza while watcing the HM concert and we finished with a pinata. I then carted a few home and Laura got to bed super late. I'm thinking we'll tone it down a bit next year.

This cake was a Laura original design that I tried to interrupt, didn't get it quite right, but she still liked it, so sweet of her ;).

Happy Birthday Laura, I hope it's a fabulous year!!!!!