I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Wow! Such a neat experience! Josh and I traveled to Dayton, Ohio over this past weekend. My cousin and his family live and work on the Air Force Base. A few of my family members, have been planning for the past months to gather and run the "U.S Air Force Marathon". These pictures can only say a little of what an unforgettable weekend it was.

Paragliders dropping US flags in the sky. This happened while I was running, Josh says it was really, really neat!

Before the race...ready to go!

On the Runway with the Sun coming up!

Air Force Base Museums. Our legs (I speak for myself anyway!) were too tired to walk through these museums! Bummer, such a cool place! The kids would've loved it!

After 26.2 miles! It was a hilly course, I don't know that I want to run this course again! I finished 4:24 and Rich finished 4:27, regretfully we got separated and did not run together! Steph ran the 10K-her first race EVER, YAH Steph!

I saw a sign on my 4 hour run, "The World Learns to Fly Here!"...I love that! Such a cool place and I came home with a greater appreciation of America! Each plane on display had a "story". What war it was flown and such.

Cool signs for our Aunts, made by a family member.  I love that big, honkin' medal! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. FYI- I was not saying that at mile 21! A banana actually saved my life, to tell you the truth!  A banana and an old man! An older man, his 16th marathon showed up at my side. He says to me, "This is your race, bear down and do the thing!"  Randomly, he would say to me between miles 21 and 26,   "I'm still here."  "You've got this!"  "Get into your gut and run your own race.".....I will never see this guy again, but he was the reason my legs did not cave!  I have taken this advice to my Aunts battling Cancer or anyone for that matter going through a trial.   "God is with you. This is your race, bear down and do the thing!".  This is probably not my last marathon, nothing on the schedule because I'm pretty sure at this point I can not swing more training time and such for my family to adjust to. However, I am forever changed!!

 

9 year old Puppy Lover!

 Check out this neat cake! Wow, Thanks Grandma Karla! It turned out awesome! Macy loved it!

 Meet "Buddy"! This was Macy's birthday surprise! A Yellow Lab Puppy! We gave him to her a week early and planned a "Puppy birthday party".  She received lots of puppy accessories as gifts.  I think the Puppy is set with bones, chew toys and such -- however, it still does not stay away from shoes! For some reason, our shoes are just too tempting for him! Such a cute little Buddy to join our family!! His paws are huge!

We also celebrated with our friends the "Kuntz" girls! It is always a girl party to have 4 extra blonde girls around for pizza!

Macy is such a neat girl!  She absolutely loves to read! She is a fantastic reader, writer, and an avid dog lover! She is a T-shirt and jeans girl and is often found in a tree with no shoes! We love watching her grow and seeing how God uniquely created her in special ways.  Her face has not changed since birth, still the little rose bud lips, squinty eyes, and perfect nose!  Praying for another blessed year with Macy at our side!!

The Cutest Little Pre-K Girl

A VERY anxious Noelle started Pre-School this week! She is anxious to have a taste of this thing called "school" like her brother and sisters!  I had actually decided to not enroll her in any Pre-K program.  She is with Josh and I at work during the day, and with only one more year with her at home we didn't really want to give her up. However, a super friend who is a teacher resigned her position at the school this year in order to be at home. She decided to teach a bible based Pre-school at her home with 6 little kids.  This opportunity for Noelle just came knocking on our door in late August.  PERFECT! It is perfect for Noelle!!