Beauty by Divine design

Can you see something beautiful in those woods....faintly showing through?

I could read Charlotte's Web over and over, and watch the movie the same.  I am amazed at "SOME PIG".  And while I haven't actually found a spider that leaves me secret messages spelled out in her webs, I do find that they are some of the most simple, yet complex, natural beauties to be viewed.

They are really as thin as a strand of hair.....woven with tender loving care all night long.... 

                                     

I kept trying to get closer, zoom a little farther in, walk a few more steps toward the web, inching my way right up to the web....

EEEKKK....too close!

Seriously, those beaded drops of early morning dew, left from a heavy fog, are like strands of little pearls.

I have always been amazed by the little things....and am thankful the Creator gives these small insights, sweet reminders daily, of the beauty that is all around....if we'll only stop to look.  He's there in every little detail.

A fast runner I am not, but a finisher, I am.

So a couple of weekends ago I ran in my first ever real live 5K race....and achieved my first goal....SURVIVAL!!!   And I even achieved my second goal....don't come in last!!! 

I am not a runner, nor do I ever anticipate that being a title used with my name.  However, I did want to try this out and when my sister-in-law and a good friend said they had signed up for a local 5K, I jumped at the chance to join them.  Really, I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.

And do you know what I found out along the way....I enjoyed it!

Here we are after the race with local TV news anchor, Brenda Ladun.  It's actually her race....she's the namesake of the event, the Brenda Ladun Conquer Cancer 5K.  She is a survivor...and beautiful woman inside and out.

I have waited to post this because I kept thinking eventually they would have the race results posted online and I could get an official time.  For some reason, their clock went out shortly after the race began.  When crossing the finish line, they did take the bottom portion of our bibs for record, but I've yet to find the race results.  However, thank goodness I used one of my phone apps as a tracker that day.  I started it as soon as the gun went off and we began running and stopped it as soon as I crossed the finish line.....and even though it isn't an official time, it's official enough for me.  I completed my first ever 5K in 32:47. 

And for all the real runners out there, I realize that isn't a particularly fast time....but for me it was a personal record!  I had never completed that distance that fast in all of my days training, so I was really excited!!! 

It really is true, you have no idea what you and your body are capable of until you try. And I am ever so glad I tried. In fact, I plan on trying again sometime in the near future!  

Ever had those days where....

.....you would really like to be a fly on the wall?  I have. :)

I took these pics last year during a highschool baseball game while sitting in the dugout.  Was reminded of them today and searched to find them. 

Top O' the morning to you, Elder Son!

Elder Son is 15 now. It's very sad and if you want to cry with me that's perfectly understandable.

He invited a few friends over for dinner and of course we had his requested birthday cake---which isn't a cake at all, but rather a pie, his favorite pie--Banana Split Pie.

Middle Child was happy to serve our pyro needs for the night.

More than happy, actually.  

I don't really care if you're 15 or not, I'm the mama and I NEED a picture of you blowing out the candles. Yes, it's a need. Like air and water.

I have a 15 year old.  The only bright side I can think of is he can now chaffeur me around, oh wait, maybe that's not a bright side afterall.

Somebody mail me some nerve pills. I know y'all have some, share with your friend. Or at least a glass of wine.

Happy Birthday, my sweet, tenderhearted, good looking firstborn son. I love you!

Golden Eagle Chewies

They are delicious, but don't take my word for it, I think you should try them for yourself! 

Here's the recipe, or you can find the recipe, my changes or variations and a few photos over on the House of Bowling kitchen blog.

Or you can just click right here. :)

Flowing Gold....

I've got a yummy recipe to share (actually I have tons of them that involve using Golden Eagle)....and plan on doing so just as soon as I can get it loaded.  

More painting fun...

Baby Girl and I painted together with a group of friends last month. Here's our project:

Update to "I'm sexy and I know it" in a pin stipe vest.

First, I have to thank some of my friends who actually had the gumption to get their cameras out during this event and then shared their photos with me!!!  Otherwise, none of this would have been documented properly! :) Because this slacker mom was so enthralled in nerves, I never took out my camera.....crazy!!!  I didn't even manage to get one photo of the shindig as it unfolded before us. 

You may or may not remember hearing about from us or reading this post earlier this month concerning Elder Son and Middle Child participating in their school Campus King and Queen.  That particular post comes complete with interview dialogue, that will go down in our family as total keepers to talk about from here until the end of time.

Well, as it turns out, Middle Child was right to be his true self in the interview room--where his personality apparently was even higher than his GPA.  You will remember that I said he was very disappointed when he realized, as a 7th grader, he was not actually eligible to win Campus King...you must be in grades 10-12 to earn the title.  So, his next goal was focused intently on beating out his brother. 

And he did exactly that. By one spot. A fellow classmate of Elder Son won 3rd alternate.  Elder Son was happy to be announced a winner as 2nd alternate and I was a beaming proud mama!  But the excitement was short lived, when I realized there was only one place left that Middle Child could take, I'm not gonna lie....I was a bit sad for him.  I turned to my friends and said, "you know there are still several guys in the race, a couple of them seniors even, bless his heart, he is going to be so upset."  And then they announced Middle Child as 1st alternate!  I could have jumped out of my skin!!

• One of Middle Child's good friend, who is a senior, won Campus King....but I'm not so sure he wasn't as equally proud of the fact that Middle Child won 1st!!

• Amidst the excitement, and forgetting he was on stage in the spotlight for all to see, Middle Child "blew it up" on stage when his friend walked out:

• And of course, they had a picture made together where Middle Child was allowed to hold "the wand"....:)

• Elder Son and Middle Child are more like brothers to these girls, they are some of their best friends.

• This lovely lady placed won 1st alternate in Campus Queen and thus was coupled with Middle Child on stage and in the back for the photographer.....the yearbook photo of the two of them will look similar to Mutt and Jeff.

• This is the moment they announced he had won 1st alternate and he walked on stage to receive his plaque.....can you see just how shocked, excited and proud he was?  Priceless.

                                                 

I was so proud of both of our boys....and they were proud to have won, too. 

While I can't say Elder Son was exceedingly happy he was beaten out by his little brother, I can report that back home after the event, no one lost a limb or received a black eye.  And they weren't even miffed at their mom for forcing them to enter. Go figure. 

Maybe mamas really do know what they're talking about afterall. 

Wonderful.

This month is very special for our family....as we have two children who were born during March.  When deciding about our verse to memorize for H3 this month, I thought about how excited I am when their birthdays arrive, the stories of their birth and cute little memories of each stages they've experienced, the years we've been blessed to have each of them in our lives....aw, sweet, sweet blessings. The verse that popped out was one many people choose on birth announcements, or display on photo frames or wall art in a child's room.  You will easily recognize it and may already have it memorized.

"I will give thanks to You,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

 Wonderful are Your works,

 And my soul knows it very well."

~Psalm 139:14

Oh, my sould knows it very well.  I take one look into the chubby, silky face of a newborn and I know the Lord's works are wonderful. How could your soul not know it well?  I remember times when all of my wonderfully made babies were in my arms for the first time....my heart, my very soul ached, I was that happy. It seizes you.  It completely seizes your heart, your mind, your very soul. 

But it isn't just then, in that very moment. Nay, I'd say it happens, over and over again, with each breath they take, each milestone they conquer, each birthday that comes, each tear that is shed and giggle that is shared......my soul knows the Lord is capable of quite wonderful works, indeed, my soul knows it well.

Birthday Bacon Biscuit

For his 13th birthday, his Pappy and Nana are taking him on a ski trip---thus the new ski hat and goggle adorned head this morning! I can hardly believe he's a teenager!!!