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Our internet has been down for the past six days. Yes, that would be SIX DAYS.  I can only imagine the notes on my AT&T account from all of my friendly inquisitive phone calls:).  

I've been busy with Vacation Bible School at our church, so I've managed okay without it ... but I'm not going to lie, I am oh so very happy to have it back. 

 Now, I've got quite a few emails to address, as well as school things to finish ordering and activities to check on ... and remember a couple of weeks ago both our a/c units needed repair??  Well, this week it was our washing machine.  Richard is off purchasing a new one as I type.  

Say a prayer for our family this weekend if you think of us.  

Tensions just might be a little elevated.  

It's Been a Long Time ...

Since Hanson Ellis has performed in any way.
She took a Musical Theater/Tap class this week.
They performed Mary Poppins today for their families.

It's been a long time since I've seen her smile like this.
It was a joy for us all.

Four in 30, I'm a Solid 8

92 days until the Army Ten Miler.  Not a huge deal for a lot of people I know.  Running isn't all that new to them.  For me, it's been a dream.  I joke with Richard, and tell him I can remember sitting in Grandma's brown suede Camel Back chair (Alabama football in the background), flipping through the latest Neiman Marcus catalog, pausing at the Ralph Lauren advertisements and thinking, "one day I'm going to live in a house with lush green grass in the countryside and go for morning runs and come home, read, drink coffee and wear preppy clothes like that.":)  SO SILLY.  But nonetheless, I've always dreamed of running ... really running ... I just never really had the opportunity.  I'm not sure that NOW I have the opportunity.  Psyching myself up to run in this humidity and up and down too many hills to count ... that is something in and of itself, but coming back into a house full of little girls with a million things on their mind and plans for the day and lessons to learn ... that's another.

It has also been a dream of mine to run the ATM with Richard.  With it being such a popular race, and selling out in just 36 hours this year ... we may never get another chance.  (the registration rules are going to be changed next year)  But now Richard is injured and really I don't think he should run up and down all these crazy hills on pavement.  It's too much for his body at this point and not worth permanent injury.  My heart really sunk when he told me he went to the doctor, was told to take a couple of weeks off and then to hear him say he was actually going to do it.
I knew it was serious then.
That is not like my Infantryman.

I had just about given up on running this race.  Training NOW for that distance in this heat alone ... just seems impossible.  But then I remembered my running hat.  I have a couple of things written on it.  When I first started running, I would write something every now and then to help motivate me to run ... to remind me of why I ran.

I thought of all the injured soldiers at Walter Reed, and those that have left and are back with their families and those who will never be with their families again.

And so this morning, I ran.  I went on our less hilly 5 mile route.  I couldn't make the last mile ... well, I might have been able to, but I didn't want to risk it.  I was happy I made it 4 out of 5 for today.  When I got back to the car, I checked my time.  30 minutes.  That made me smile.  I did it, and I did it with my usual pace.  I am a solid 8 min mile runner ... with or without Richard ... early, late, long runs, short runs, even runs in thick humidity.

Thank you Lord for my health.
Thank you for my life.
Thank you for my run.
Thank you for my steady pace.


I don't know what tomorrow will bring.
I don't know if I'll actually make the run in October.
But for this morning I was encouraged.

Thank you Lord for your blessings which overflow.
Truly, 
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

Joy in the Trenches

My eyes hurt.  

They've hurt all week.  

It's just been one of those weeks. 

Yes, I'm still learning, growing and adjusting.  

Yet ...

I am so blessed.  

Every day this week I've had someone unexpected check in and say something that was just what I needed to keep my chin up.  

For instance, a comment by this person (who I admire more than she knows) ... just a random comment was all I needed one day this week when I seriously thought nothing I did was right and that I should just , well, as Richard would say "be France."   

This person also made a difference in my life, too, with a very kind gesture (and I'll be getting to that tomorrow ... sorry I've not as of yet!!)

And then there have been several others, too, who have just sort of "popped up" just at the right time.  Coincidence?  No.  I don't believe that for a minute.  

The girls and I have been listening to the Hymns for a Kid's Heart, volume two in the mornings while I clean up the kitchen and get things situated for the day.  

The first song is "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty."   

...

Praise to the Lord
Who o'er all things so wonderfully reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yea, so gladly sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth

Praise to the Lord
Who doth prosper they work and defend thee
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee

...

This song has been in my head all week.  

I am sheltered under God's wings ... my desires are granted in Him ... He prospers my work and defends me and His goodness and mercy are present daily.

Yes there have been so many times this week, for whatever reason, that I've just felt DONE.  I've wanted to "be France," to quit.  God knows this and He is providing for all my needs.  I have been reminded this week that He surely does always provide and I am never tempted beyond that which I can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

SO now for a glimpse of joy in the trenches from today ... 

I promised Kate last night that today we'd have a tea party.  It was good for her to have that to look forward to. Kate really thrives on having things to look forward to.  It was cute to see her at the breakfast table talking to Hanson Ellis, who she said "is a nice friend," about the tea party.  "Maybe we can have it after lunch," she said, "that is a good idea!" (Kate also likes to have "good ideas") I enjoyed seeing her pick her outfit out and get things set up.  I brought the food up (and we were hurting for appropriate tea party food, but that's okay, Kate really didn't notice) and I let Kate put it on the plates.  Can you tell which was her plate and which was Olivia's?  

I think we need to work on "doing to others as you'd have them do unto you" a tad bit more. Thankfully, Olivia is a good team player and didn't notice.  

She was just happy she got invited.  

Our Morale Booster

It was nice outside tonight.  Not so humid and I know I felt a coolness in some of the breezes.  The girls played on the swing set and rolled down the hills over and over and over and over again.  How good for my soul to hear them giggling.  How absolutely good!

Richard took up the watering for me so that I could just enjoy them for a minute.  Olivia detected water was on in the front and decided to make contact.  I just had to grab my camera.  Children are great at reminding us to seek out joy and not hesitate to embrace it.  Children are great morale boosters:).

(oh and the lack of green in the grass ... that's another post I'm working on, so just excuse for now)

and my little lu ... I'm so glad you're still one ...

even if it is just for a little while longer

(linking up again for another sweet shot tuesday)

If emersonmade Were a BAMA Fan ...

She'd be selling these.

Introducing the bama rose.

In celebration of our 13th National Championship, won in the Rose Bowl, I think we should all be wearing one of these houndstooth roses!  More information coming SOON.  For now, here are the first photos of the small.  Roll Tide!
(and if you're not familiar with emersonmade ... click here or here.  She's amazing!)

Another Thursday

Some days I'm glad, really glad I have a camera.
I'm not the best at using mine.
I have yet to find the time to learn it.
And I know I don't have a lot of "wow" images ... but I have five daughters and one simple, but wonderful life that goes by all too quickly.
I'm glad I have a camera to counter my forgetfulness.

As I've stated before, Thursdays are family days where my husbands is stationed.  He comes home early and spends an extra hour or so with us.  Seems simple enough, and it is.  Yet, it is amazing how special that time is to the girls.  They look forward to it ... you'd think he had the entire day off!

We enjoy always.
We enjoyed it today.

My Girls

Before I say anything else, I need to address Miss Olivia.  I absolutely am not in favor at all of your turning two next month.  

Okay, now for the photos ... I cannot for the life of me get a photo of all of them that is the "perfect" one.  SIGH.

It is no help either that my camera always gives me the ERR notice.  HELP PLEASE!! What am I doing wrong?  (ummm, maybe not reading the manual?)

All the same, I mailed in my orders for my Blessed Be the Name trunk show today and I decided to get the older 4 in their outfits from Spring 09, just one more time.  I did my best to capture a great shot, but instead just got a lot of captured moments.  If only they were not so blurry ...

Fun all the same. 

These girls make me smile.

Richard says they are our morale boosters.

Yes, they are.