Texas Half Marathon

After the race - the Abernathy Girls - Angie, me, and Jara

Avery had gathered sticks as she was waiting for me at the finish line.
This was my "stick bouquet".

When Jara got there, she got to carry the bouquet for a while too.

Dad & Mom brought Avery down to cheer us on!
It was a huge encouragement
to have them there

Right after Jara's finish. It's hard to stand up straight

when you just ran 13.1 miles!

The girl on the right is a friend of Angie's from

the Metroplex who ran the race too.

Angie & Jara

At the finish line! You have a little "chip" that you attach to your shoe and when you run across the mat at the beginning of the race, it starts your time, and when you run across it as the picture shows at the finish line, it stops your chip. My main goal was to run the whole race without walking, which I was able to do. I also beat my time goal, so it was a great day!

At mile 9. Mom, Dad and Avery were there to cheer me on, which was a good place because by this point I was getting tired! And clearly the man in front of me was too!

Near mile 9.

It was an absolutely PERFECT day, weather wise, and the course was beautiful, around White Rock Lake in Dallas. The course was not, however, FLAT, as my brother-in-law had said it was. Since we trained on the plains of West Texas, the hills were killers.

"Did you win?"

When someone asks me this question, I know they are not a runner.

Runners understand that it's not so much a competition against the others there, but an inward competition - to see if you can conquer a challenge that sometimes seems too big to be attempted. It's about taking something that's going on inside of you, and putting it on the outside.

The race is not so much about the hours you are actually out there running at the "race event". For me, this was a compilation of about 90 previous days of juggling schedules, hearing the blaring alarm at 5:00 - telling me to go out in freezing temperatures to get the day's run in before Gabe left for work, and pushing myself on the days I didn't feel like doing what was on the schedule. One day I even threw a large tantrum when I needed to do a 10 mile long-run and the winds were blowing at 40 mph! There were lots of days I felt like giving up. So why did I do it? I think it has to do with perseverance.

I have noticed a pattern in my life. Many times, for me, when God is renewing my spirit, my motivation for physical fitness (in this case, running) is an outward expression of what's going on inside. This past year the Lord has worked in my heart like never before. I praise Him for not leaving me alone, but for stretching me, teaching me, and changing me. My desire to run this race, I know, was God-given. He has been my training partner, my sustainer, my helper, my courage.

On many days, that encouragement came in human form. On November 6th, in my prayer journal, I told God I had committed to this 1/2 marathon and asked him to provide a friend to do it with me. I knew that without accountability, I would most likely fail. I had no idea who would possibly want to do this race though, and didn't have anyone in mind. Two days later, I was talking to my friend Jara, who has not been much of a runner in recent years, and she AND our friend Angie both determined to do it with me. They helped me believe that I could do it, and were an incredible inspiration and encouragement through the experience.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "

Hebrews 12:1-2

New Postings for November & December

I have done several new posts!! However, since I am using this like a scrapbook for our family, I am keeping the posts in their correct order of events, so I have done some blogging about our November and December, but you'll have to go back to those dates to look at them! Check them out!

Babes with Batons

Well, I want to appease the family, so I'm doing this post first.

Avery was in "Twirling Camp" this last week and they perfomed last night at halftime of the girls Varsity Basketball Game. Avery was the youngest girl out of 50, and the oldest girls were 6th graders. I didn't realize how tiny Avery would look until she got out there with the big girls!! The teacher was Cheri Liess, a friend of mine from here in Abernathy, who is the director of the High School Twirlers. Some of the high school girls helped as well.

Avery was about as excited as she gets yesteday waiting for the performance. She told me, at least 20 times throughout the day, that "I'm supposed to be out in the hall with Ms. Cheri at the start of the 2nd quarter!". Our camera was having "issues" and kept dying on us, so Gabe did his best and got a few good shots, even though he missed watching Avery because he was so busy trying to be the photographer. I wish Aunt Robyn lived here and could follow us around and be our personal photographer! That would be fab! Anyway, we did video the show and when I get a chance I'll try to figure out how to upload that so you can watch it.

The girls twirled to a Hannah Montana song, "The Best of Both Worlds". Apparently that is the song on her show, but I'm not into the teeny-bopper-elementary-age-girl-idol world these days, so it was new to me. All the girls screamed and squealed when they heard that they would be twirling to her music though. Avery participated. I guess we are moving into the world of "peer pressure" at age 4.

Grandparents Mam & Granpappy came to watch (well, Granpappy was a little late due to cows getting out, but he got to watch the video), and our friends Kaidance and Amanda. Then they all came over for our "after twirling party" where we had sandwiches and chips, and chocolate chip cookies in honor of Gabe's birthday coming up tomorrow. It was very fun!

Moudy Christmas

We had a great Christmas with the Moudy Family, although we were disappointed that more of the family couldn't be there. Robyn & Vernon were not able to come as planned because of family health issues and Matt & Keely's family was not able to come either. We missed them all dearly, but made the best of it and enjoyed being together for a quiet and relaxing Christmas together. Lynsey got to come earlier than Robby, so we got lots of time with her! She is always so sweet to play with Avery and participate in whatever games Avery thinks up. This time, it was mostly about having "total makeovers", so this is what you will see in the photos below. Aren't they gorgeous? Lynsey spent a night with us and slept on Avery's bottom bunk, which made Avery so happy.

Lynsey and I got to have a fun afternoon of shopping together one day and I had so much fun with her. Lynsey is one of the sweetest people I've ever known, and so much fun too. I'm so glad to have her as a sister.

We didn't get nearly as much time with Robby as with Lynsey, but the time we had together was good. We celebrated our Christmas Eve early with our traditional Baked Potato Soup and then had a Dirty Santa exchange with the adults and Avery got presents from everyone!! Our pretend "Christmas Morning" we had our big brunch and Grandmother & Grandad Mimms joined us for that. We went to a movie and had a great day.

Aren't these 2 girls GORGEOUS??

Robby and Lynsey went up to Fritch to celebrate on actual Christmas Day with his family, so we had a quiet morning at home together and Avery woke up at 6:30 to see what Santa had left. He left this adorable Groovy Girls bicycle for her!

Granpappy & Mam came over for breakfast and spent the day with us. Granpappy took Avery to the park for her first ride on her new bike. We took a drive to Plainview and through the country and came home for a late lunch and a game of "Family Fued" on the DVD player. It was a fun and restful Christmas Day.

New Friends and Jewelry Fun

The Lord has blessed me with several new girlfriends lately, and I want you to meet these awesome women. First of all just let me thank God for friends who inspire me to want to be better! These girls are people are I want to be like and who encourage me - the way they fill their roles as godly wives, mothers, and friends. They are each heavily involved in service in their church, and in sharing their faith. They are true worshipers who honor God with their lives. They are also very REAL - very fun, not at all "religious"! They are extremely Godly and spiritual, but open and honest with daily struggles of life. These girls pray. These girls value the Word of God. These girls are striving to love and discipline their children in a godly way so that their kids will learn to have kingdom eyes. These girls are givers - givers of their time, resources, and money.

This is what I already know about these friends, and I've only known most of them for a few months! We get together one Friday each month and make jewelry (and visit, and EAT!) for several hours. One of the girls, Laura, has a booming jewelry business and has taught me everything I know! I didn't have the first clue how to put a necklace together, but now I'm addicted! She makes the cutest necklaces and pendants and has generously shared her ideas and expertise with all of us. There are a few others who weren't able to come to our get-together Friday, so they aren't in the picture. I want to thank these girls for including me and reaching out in friendship! I love you guys!

Left: Jara, Heather (in red), Lyndsie (in green) and Laura

This is SERIOUS business. Deep concentration is required! (but we get lots of visiting done too)

Breakfast With Santa

American Girl Bistro

Okay, if you are not a girl, you can stop reading now. This post is only for girls who appreciate girlie things. The day after Thanksgiving, my mom planned a fun girls' day out for the women in our family - Mom, Aunt Sessie, Aunt Julie, Avery, and me. She made a reservation for us all at the new American Girl Boutique & Bistro at the Galleria in Dallas. Downstairs where you go in is the store, and it has ALL of the dolls, accessories and fun things you could ever want for your American Girl doll. Avery has the Bitty Baby doll which she got for her birthday this past year. She had SO much fun going through the Bitty Baby section and showing us all the things she liked (most of which we all secretly bought for her for Christmas). In addition to all the merchandise for your doll, there is also a Hair Salon where you can have your doll's hair styled. It was pretty cute. Not that Bitty Baby has any hair, but the bigger American Girl Dolls do.

When it came time for our Bistro reservation, so we went up the escalator to the Bistro and Dessert Bar. You bring your doll with you, and your doll has a special seat at your table.

These were the napkin rings which we got to take home. They can be a cookie cutter, or just a neat souvenir.
We could not get our cameras to work in this place - weird lighting or something, and it made the pictures all look blurry. But, at least you can tell who we all are.
Aunt Julie, Aunt Sessie, Avery and Mimi

Proud mom with daughter Bitty Baby
Avery and Mimi

This was Avery's favorite part, the delicious sprinkle sundae. She THOROUGHLY enjoyed it.

Sorry for the bad picture, this could have been really pretty if we knew how to use a camera!!

When Avery is a little bit older I want to get her the "Kit" doll because she looks so much like Avery. She looks more like her than any of the dolls you can create to look "just like you".

We had a blast that day and hope we can go back to the Boutique and Bistro in the coming years, although it's a very dangerous place because you want to buy everything in there!

After we left there, we went to look at the GIANT Christmas Tree in the middle of the Galleria Ice Rink. It was amazingly huge. Here we are - again, bad picture. Sorry!