Who would ever think that a $2 set of goggles and dust masks would make a 3 year old boy so happy?
Lately, Oliver has been very interested in going camping. So it wasn’t all-too-surprising the other day when Oliver announced after dinner, “I’m going camping!” And he proceeded to pack his backpack with all sorts of things that he would need for his trip: binoculars, a race medal, a stuffed dinosaur, a comb, a stuffed frog, a Black & Decker flash light, a pair of crab sunglasses, a necktie.
We decided to go “camping” at the playground, so we all got our bikes ready to ride. Biking to a shady playground seems almost like the perfect way to spend the two hours between dinner time and bedtime, right?
Well, it didn't quite go that way! First, Buttercup fought wearing her bike helmet (as usual). Then Oliver fell off of his bike and skinned his palms. Then my bicycle chain started clicking every time I pedaled faster. By the time we got to the end of our neighborhood (a little longer than 1/4 mile), Buttercup was whimpering, Oliver was in tears, and the chain had totally fallen off of my bike. Not to mention that we were all sweating buckets because it was hot and the bike ride was taking much longer than we had anticipated. Oops!
So Dennis and Oliver rode ahead to the playground while I put the chain back on my bike, then I coasted down the sidewalk to the playground. Things could have been a lot better, but they also could have been a lot worse. And that's just what happens sometimes! Gotta go with the flow. In the end, everyone had a great time, and I'm glad we got to do this as a family!
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Psalm 19:1-3
This morning I got up early and went out for my weekly long run. I was up early enough to watch the sunrise, and Psalm 19:1-3 started running through my head as I watched the sky and clouds change color. I really started thinking about the first verse, particularly the phrase "the heavens declare the glory of God." The heavens declare the glory of God! How cool is that, that you can just look up and see His handiwork, see all of the beautiful, wonderful things that He has made!
Further into my run, I was still singing the psalm to myself, as my feet pounded on the trail in cadence with the tune. The tune stuck in my head was written by one of the teachers at the private Christian school that I attended from kindergarten through 6th grade. It's funny that I remember that song from so long ago. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have thought that I would end up where I am right now. Back then, I didn't think it was a big deal that my parents were Christians and that I was raised in a Christian home. But now that I have two kids of my own, I realize how truly important it is. Proverbs 22:6 says it best: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." It's been a long, bumpy road for me, one where I didn't always make the best choices, but I'm thankful for God for His forgiveness and for giving me Christian parents and a loving home to grow up in, and I'm thankful for my parents for leading me when I was young enough to be led, letting go when I was old enough to make my own decisions, and loving me no matter what. I love you guys!!
I love peanut butter cookies, and I love chocolate chip cookies, so I decided to experiment with one of my favorite recipes. It turned out very well, and I'll definitely make these again!
1/4 cup margarine or butter
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
Preheat oven to 375. Measure margarine and peanut butter into a microwave-safe bowl, and heat for 15-20 seconds or until it's beginning to melt. Stir. In a large bowl, combine baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, and sugar. Stir dry ingredients into the margarine and peanut butter mixture, then add egg, honey, and chips, and mix well. Spoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool for 15 minutes before removing from the baking sheet.
Mmmmm!
Right about 7 1/2 years ago, I married a guy who I had known for only 6 months. Back then, what I loved most about him was his laidback attitude (a good match for my firecracker personality!), gentleness, kindness, understanding, and big bear hugs.
Two kids and almost 8 years later, he is still all of those things, but so much more. He is patient, loving, giving, a good listener, a hard worker. I could go on and on. But what I love the most is that he is the absolute best daddy to our babies. I loved him then, but I love him so much more now for who he is and the ways that we've grown together in our marriage and parenthood. We knew 7 1/2 years ago that God put us together for a reason, and I still believe that today. I love this man, and I love God for giving him to me!
Happy Father's Day!
First woman overall, finishing time: 21:51.
My time goal, as usual, was to finish this 5k in under 20 minutes. I have been chasing this goal ever since I started running 7 years ago. I ran 3.1 miles in 19:56 during a pace run about 4 1/2 years ago, but I don't think that time counts since it wasn't in a race! I got very close to my goal last month, and I was confident that it was in the bag for today's race. Ha!
I didn't sleep very well last night, and when I woke up this morning I had that weird, shaky, nauseous feeling that I get when I don't get enough sleep. Before the race started, I did a short warmup and for some reason my legs were just really tired and heavy. I was jogging at a slow pace, but it felt like way too much effort for that pace. I tried a few strides to loosen my legs, but that didn't help at all.
The race started, and I went out at 6:25 pace and managed to sustain that for the first mile. I wasn't actually feeling too bad at that point. But as I got halfway into mile 2, my legs started to get SO tired. Running at 6:30ish pace felt like a sprint and I just could not do it anymore. I gave up and walked for a little bit before trying to run again. I managed to stay under 7:30 pace. In mile 3, I stopped at a water stop to dump a cup of water on my head. That helped cool me off, and I was able to run at close to 7:00 pace for the rest of that mile.
Finished as the first woman in 21:51. It was one of my worst races, but a good learning experience. It's normal to have an "off" day. And I still believe that I will someday run a sub 20 5k!!! :-)
And the most fun part of the morning? Exploring the park with my sister, Oliver, and Buttercup! Although eating ice cold watermelon at the race finish was pretty nice, too. :-) 
Is it hot in everyone's attic? Like in South Africa or Guatemala?
I'm going to run away and hide in the ocean with the whale sharks and Jonathan.
I'm bigger than all of the baby bears because I'm 3 and a HALF, and that means I'm TALL.
Is it okay if I put Buttercup in time out if she hurts somebody?
Mama, did you get those cool pizza plates when you and Daddy got weddinged?
I drank all of my milk because I was thirsty for a lot of seconds.
There are 409 rooms in my new house in South Africa. But no window washers.
Want to play hide-and-stink?
My scuba mask covers my nose and catches my snot! That way I don't have to pick my boogers at naptime!
Buttercup can't read these books. These are dangerous books.
I am not Buttercup's protector. I'm a builder. And a demolitioner.
How big is the biggest crane in the world? Is it as tall as my daddy?
