A Second Attempt

The First Attempt back in January

And these are her first pig tails too.

"Where's Rebekah?" "There she is!" And she realized she had pig tails...
Time to clean up. We got more paint on arms and legs than paper. This was the best thirty minutes of Beks' whole week thus far.

Being sickly is NO fun.

"Run Forest Run' 5K in New Orleans

Forest was walking around talking and handing out chocolates.
There were about a jillion people there.
Largest race we have participated in yet.

It was H-O-T, but not as bad as I expected.

My time was not so great but this was the "easiest" race thus far on my body.

"Run Forest Run" winner results

Complete results will be available in 1-2 weeks

There is a new "Man" in our lives

Hanging out in Oma and KaaKaa's front yard

She decided she wanted to go for a stroll with her Daddy

Playing with Oma, but then there was a little black nose on her back...

It was "Man", J.R.'s new pup.

Being gentle

They are into each other

Sweet

Thinking about walking
Man at home
Our men.

http://www.pcwebsites.com/circlecamericanbulldogs/

Some random linkage

A very thought provoking post, click here. This really interested me in light of a conversation I had with a dear friend/co-worker Wednesday. I have lots of opinions on church, but I'm not in charge.


I will probably be ordering this for the most beautiful girl in the world. I think her Pops and KaaKaa will get a kick out of it.

I love love love these and I'll probably make something similar for our next wee one.

In the last four days, two people I see very frequently have said "You never wear shoes" meaning I never wear tennis shoes. I think that is funny because I've been seriously contemplating these which could be described as "barefoot shoes" because I hate shoes!

That's all folks.

We've been making art

My class...well we've needed a break. I know we just got back from spring break, but we're all a little "urgh" and very ready for school to be out and very much on each others' nerves...so we need breaks. And art breaks are working for us. Some pictures for your enjoyment.

A very bittersweet past several days

My Nonnie (paternal grandmother) passed peacefully in her sleep Easter night. J.R., Rebekah and I joined the other family members in Rogers, AR.

Saying "good bye" to Nonnie was difficult but it was very wonderful to spend time with the family and enjoy all the little girls. We spent Thursday night and most of Friday in Rogers.

Margo and Rebekah's first meeting, they are a month apart in age

Margo and Beks playing with LuAnn's "no-no's"

The service was held Friday afternoon at First Christian Church.

It was lovely.
4 of 5 Hayes grandgirls before our "Nonnie walk"5 of 6 Hayes great grandgirls, Margo was napping
Our family is very blessed with lots of ladies!
The little girls really enjoy J.R.
I only captured JR and Caroline on film.
JR was a busy man entertaining these sweethearts.

Alex and Caroline, deep in conversation

Bekah, her Pops, and her Daddy

We had a good time. We spent approximately three days in the car traveling 1300 miles total. We stopped A LOT to let Rebekah work some energy off. On the way home, JR detoured through Cleveland (one of my favorite places on earth!)
This is our sweetness at Guadalajara in Cleveland...JR fell in love with me there during our DSU days. After lunch, we visited the Crosstie Festival. I didn't have time to call and arrange visits with my Cleveland buddies. But I saw all but one of the people I try to visit anyway...one after another I ran into these dear friends at Crosstie. God works in mysterious ways.

This Makes Me Smile

I love this whole body laugh.

I love how she has a little laugh watching herself laugh.

And this is what my heart has needed this week.

Run for the Roses 5K, Prentiss

This is Jenny (she's the one in pink :P) being awesome!This is Jenny with her award for being awesome!

Yay! Go Jenny!

This is our cute family after the race where we were less than Jenny awesome, BUT we tried!

I ran 38:35, which is slow compared to the other runners.

But I am very proud of myself.

I might could have some Jenny awesomeness one day if I would run between races.

The following is a list (with links) to the four 5Ks I have completed.

My time has gotten a little better with each one.

God continues to carry me through the last mile so I can finish.

To Him be the Glory.

October: My First 5K

I can't find my official time for this one. I think it was like 44 something, but I walked with the stroller for at least half of it.

November: HealthTrust Scrub Run results 42:00

Oh the hills!

March: St. Thomas results 39:23

I love the running on LongLeaf Trace...have to appreciate the flatness!

April: Run for the Roses results 38:35

A hill at the very end is punishment!

Happy Easter

2008 on the left and 2009 on the right

...the difference a year makes...

So several months ago, Crystal had a very good idea. Her good idea was for us to attend a Living Proof Live even for her birthday. We all discussed and agreed that it was a very good idea. So Friday afternoon, Crystal, Jennifer, Kristin and I loaded up and drove to New Orleans. And we saw Beth Moore (and her hair) (and her cute clothes).

I had to include this picture of Rebekah watching Beth Moore's Esther study while we were home sick on Thursday.
Now back to LPL in NOLA.

She taught from 1Thessalonians5:11-24

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

It was great. It was amazing. God is amazing. I loved it.

One thing Beth put before us was the importance of living in a community of faith. It made me think back to my Delta State days and the girls who were my community and how God used them to encourage me and shape me and to teach me about Himself. Our community of faith changes with time and enviroments. I think those girls (JenFin, Joy, Rebecca, Annette, Amberly, Sayward, Hilary...) will always be so important to me. They were the first people who I felt loved me despite myself. I cry to think about it. Sweetness.

And Travis Cottrell lead the worship times, which were awesome too. God is so awesome with the awesome things He does through his servants. I bounce on my toes when music moves me. I bounced so much Friday and Saturday that my calves are about to fall off my body.

Ok, thanks for reading.

And here is a video from LPM blog.

Living Proof Live - New Orleans 2009 from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

And I saw BooMama and BigMama from a distance.

They are writing about this event here.