"The Race is On". "Between whom?" "That's your life." "Isn't that the truth." This was the conversation between my husband and me when we were trying to select a name for our blog. It is a perfect title for people with an active teenager, an active tween, family living nearby, many good friends, a business, a teaching job, and responsibilities in our beloved church. With all of the craziness that comes with our race, we feel we are the most blessed of all. This title seems even more appropriate because of the impression II Timothy 4:7 has recently made on my heart. The scripture reads, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I hope and pray that I am living my life in a way that it will be said that I started, ran, and finished my race in faith. If you have ever run in a physical race, you know how important the beginning of the race is, but if you have a great start and don't finish, what good is it? A person's Christian walk is the same. Sometimes we would like to have the prize without all of the training, work and difficulties. Isn't there something special, though, in the feeling you get when you have endured and finished--whether a race, a project around the house, or even washing ten loads of laundry in a day? How much greater the joy when we endure trials in our lives and still know that God loves us and is faithfully following through on the plans He has for each of us. During this Christmas season my prayer is that we will each run our races with perseverance during the next year. We will be sharing parts of our race with you on this spot. We have enjoyed keeping up with our family through blogging and have Jennie and Rachel to thank for that! I can't promise that I will be as faithful at writing as Rachel, but I am looking forward to sharing with you. May God bless your Christmastime with family and friends!
Alex thanking God for his over the fence homer during the championship game in their June tournament. They won first place.
Rachel had a fantastic track season. This is the 1600 meter relay at the State Championship finals.
The relay won second and set a new school record!
This is the 1600m run. Rachel placed seventh and set a new school record!
Rachel qualified in the 1600, 800 and 4 x 400 relay. What a great freshman season.
Showing her dad the medal she won in the 1600.
Rachel's New Jacket
The long awaited moment has arrived! Letterman jackets came last week.
Rachel's First JV Basketball Game
She's always moving so fast I can't get a better picture than this!
Alex's School Christmas Program
I have no idea what any of these kids are doing (especially Alex).
Mouths Are Finally Open
I think they might be singing now.
These two are enjoying their new roommate!
Scratch One Off the List
Football Team in the Parade
Softball Team in the Parade
Playing for the Home Crowd
Ready to Score
Green Grass
Alex Scores a Touchdown
Can you tell he's a little pumped?
Alex at Practice
Practice Jersey #21
Taking Her Sign
Rachel at Bat
Weekend Tournament
Rachel in Left
This was one of the ways I got to play with my camera.
Rachel in the Dugout
This is when she first sees the new camera!
My First Picture
Sydney and Rachel
Rick, Donnie, Sarah and Ronnie
Me, Mom and My Sister under the shade tree.
Sam and Alex waiting for the fireworks display.
My awesome mother!!!
Jeff and me trying to take a picture of ourselves.
Donnie, DC and Ronnie at the fireworks.
Alex, Jeff and Mom on the old Heagerty farm.
Grave of a Civil War veteran in our family.
View From Our Front Deck
I know you may not believe this, but Rachel actually took this tonight right before Jeff made his find! Just beyond those trees is a creek.
Alex Target Shooting
How long have kids practiced hunting around here? Rachel took this picture at the same time as the one above.
Jeff's Exciting Find
I know you can't see much, but there are ridges and notches from where some type of handle was attached.
This is way more fun than doing laundry and watching movies!
Getting to watch Rachel play softball..
Jacob is on third and Alex brings him in!
Alex catching in a tournament last weekend.
Other things that are way better than laundry and movies that I don't have pictures of would be:
My nephew, Drew, accepting Jesus as his personal Savior!
Knowing our family's prayers have been answered about my sister's house being sold!
Getting to see my mom!
My daughter having a great track season!
My son letting me read to him at nights on the sofa all cuddled up!
Having nice, warm, sunny weather!
If you could only have one appliance, what would it be?
Mom and Rach at the softball game
Who is your favorite team in the NCAA Tourney?
Which do you prefer?
Are you tired of winter?
Michelle's Top Ten Favorite Books
Job (mostly the last five chapters--they are a great reminder of who's who)
James (if I could only do what it says)
Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility
Dr. Seuss's ABC Book (the more I learn about my job, the more I think that this book helped my children's education more than any book I read them)
Love, Ruby Lavender (I loved reading it with my mother and daughter one weekend)
Heat (I love reading and Alex loves baseball--a perfect one for us to read together)
The Mitford Series
How My Parents Learned to Eat (a really sweet love story--in a children's book)
The Red Tent
More thoughts by Alex
As previously mentioned, Alex is a different type of thinker than the rest of us. This was once again brought to our attention as he was reading our family devotional a few nights ago. Alex volunteered to read that night and began, "As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives . . . " With the small pause, he developed a grin which spread across his entire face just as his father and I realized what he was thinking. Jeff burst into laughter as I asked him if he could ever hear that scripture the same way again. The next day I told my co-worker (who tends to also think like Alex). Of course, she enjoyed it immensely. Her first question was, "What color of olives did he picture?" Sadly, I was not creative enough to ask Alex until Kathy had asked. Alex said they were black.
Random Thoughts
Alex has a very different way of thinking than anyone else in his household. We have always said that it must be difficult for the baby of the family to live in a house full of first borns. Let's just say he makes for an interesting conversation often. The funniest things he says are totally innocent thoughts that seem to come from absolutely nowhere. Tonight he had one of those random thoughts that we thought was hilarious. I will relay it, but it may lose something in the translation. We lit Jeff's candles and sang Happy Birthday. As I was cutting the cake and scooping ice cream, Alex says, "I bet when they sing to Yao Ming they just say Happy Birthday to Yao, Happy Birthday to Yao . . ."
I just happen to be one of the most blessed women in the world. I have an amazing husband, two wonderful children and serve a Risen Savior.
Just this past week my husband and I were honored and blessed to help sponsor a trip to Colorado with the Youth Group from our local church. We had the most amazing time and thank the Lord for kids in our church, school, and town that our children will be able to fellowship with during their teens. God is so good!
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