Women's Only!

If you don't know this about me, I consider myself a runner. I started running races in 2008 and am always working to run further and to run faster. I ran my first half marathon in October of 2008. 2009 I kind of slacked off a little.... I was really busy, January-May, I was working, had an internship and trying to get to graduation, from August-October I was working 2 jobs. And technically at the beginning of August is when I found out I was pregnant with Leeland and wanted to take things easy anyways. With all that said, I was determined to get back to running after Leeland was born and it was TOUGH! People say that your muscles remember which could be true, but your lungs sure don't! I felt like I was starting all over again. My goal was originally to get back into shape and start training for my second half-marathon. But with the demands of having a baby, and starting all over again, I didn't get that far. I settled for a 5k, which is still an accomplishment. An added bonus is that it was for a GREAT cause. I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was 7 years old and the Women's Only raises money for a mammography scholarship fund for women who don't have health insurance-- making sure that another little girl out there doesn't lose her mommmy.

I decided the day before the race that instead of having someone baby-sit Leeland, I would run the race with him. That is why my husband and I invested so much money in our BOB (fancy jogger stroller). And I am SO GLAD that I made that decision! We had to be there an hour and a half before the race started because they block off the roads. We walked around, watched the little girls run, and picked up lots of SWAG (stuff we all get). Leeland had a bottle and ended up falling asleep just as we were lining up. He slept from the start until right after we got to the finish! I'm so proud of him! He's such a great running buddy! :0)

The fastest 5k I have ever run is 32 minutes. And that was way back in 2008 when I was racing consistently. Prior to this race the furthest I got in training was a little over 2 miles so I was SUPER nervous. I ended up running the whole thing in 40 minutes and 9 seconds, not bad for starting back out and pushing a stroller.

This Momma loves to bake!

Desserts for my sister's baby shower.  A vanilla pound cake decorated with buttercream, and the cupcakes are devils food chocolate, filled with chocolate mousse and buttercream frosting! MMMM!!!!

Forgiveness and God's Sovereignty

   For the past few months, I have been trying to read through the Old Testament.  I started with Ruth and continued on through Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Daniel and just finished up Genesis.  I've heard many of the stories in the Old Testament and dabbled in it before but never truly read through the books myself.  I have been enjoying this study time although sometimes it's difficult hearing so many "begets". :D
     It was revealed to me this past summer the struggle that I have been having with forgiveness and past hurts.  I think that forgiveness is a struggle for many people because it isn't something that you can do alone.  True forgiveness comes from God, and it is only through His strength that we can truly forgive others.  Without giving too many details for the sake of time, and also at the risk of gossip, I had my feelings hurt a while back by who I would consider close friends.  It was a hard transitional time in my life dealing with those hurts.  I cried about it and thought about it for many months.  However, I also prayed about it and felt that I was working through the pain and forgiving those who hurt me.... Who probably didn't even know they had hurt me.  I remember specifically speaking with Daniel about it and even giving him advice on forgiveness and about how we just have to give it to God and not harbor bad feelings.
    This past summer, for whatever reason-- bitterness began to rise in my heart.  I was dwelling on the hurts from the past, and thinking malicious thoughts of the people who hurt me.  I had no idea where it came from.  I couldn't believe that I felt so terribly about those people, especially since the events were far in the past and I had supposedly already forgiven.  Since then it has been a daily struggle to not let these emotions get the best of me.  With that said, I finished Genesis today and God's sovereignty was revealed to me once again.  
    Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph being sold by his brothers to Egypt.  Joseph had 12 brothers and they conspired against him.  They were originally going to kill him, but decided against it.  Joseph ended up making his way to the top in Egypt (Genesis 41) and was essentially hired by the Pharaoh to be somewhat a governor in Egypt.  Joseph achieved this high position by interpreting dreams for the Pharaoh.  The interpretation of one of the dreams was about a famine coming over the land for 7 years.  In Genesis 42 the famine is in full force and Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt for food for the family.  Their father Jacob sent them.  Joseph recognizes them but they do not recognize him.  Long story short, he assists them and helps them out all that he can.  He provides them with sacks of food and even gives them there money back so that they get the food for free.  The brothers come back again, and he takes care of them again.  In the end (leaving out a few details) Jacob dies and Joseph goes to bury him in the land of Canaan.  After Jacob's death, the brothers are a bit nervous that Joseph may lash out on them for what they did to him when he was young, selling him to the Egyptians.  They go to Joseph to ask him about it and Joseph says,
          "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of
          God?  But as for you, you meant evil against
          me; but God meant it for good, in order to 
          bring it about as it is this day, to save
          many people alive.  Now therefore, do not be
          afraid; I will provide for you and your little
          ones."  -Genesis 50:19-21
Joseph forgave his brothers and went above and beyond that.  He rescued them and took care of them during the famine.  They were going to kill him, and they sold them off when he was young and yet he was able to forgive.  Not only did he forgive them but he kept his trust in God that it was all a part of His plan.  He puts all the control on God, that they sold him and put him in the high position and that he was blessed to have been able to take care of them.  
    With that said, I can only trust that decisions were made and actions were taken because God was in control.  I don't truly know why what happened did, but I know that God has a plan for those people and also for me.  I have to keep trusting that this is all a part of his plan and just continue to pray that the bitterness will wash away and I will truly be able to forgive like Joseph did and like Christ did for me.  

New camera!

I got a fancy new camera this past week.  (Nikon D3000) It's a DSLR, I can't even tell you what those letters stand for... haha.  There will be lots of learning ahead of me.  Trying to figure out how everything works on it, but I can already tell that the pictures I'm taking of Leeland are looking WAY better than before with my 6 year old Kodak point and shoot.  I think my Kodak took pictures that were like 6 mega pixels, which back in the day was pretty good, but now they have cameras that do like 14 mega pixels.  All of the pictures posted on my previous post "Leeland at 5 months" were taken with the new camera.  Don't you think they're looking better? If anyone has any tips or advice about how to use this thing, all information is much appreciated! Thanks!

Leeland at 5 months!

WOW! Time truly is flying by and baby Leeland is growing up! Everyone said it happened fast, but I just had no idea.  He doesn't even like to be held like a baby anymore, he's very active and doesn't stop moving.  Even in his sleep he flops around. (Just like his daddy :0)

Here are some things that Leeland is doing at 5 months:

-Jumps when supported by someone or in his Johnny Jumper

- Eats solid foods twice a day.  The foods that he has tried are....

          Rice Cereal, Mixed Grain Rice Cereal & Oatmeal

          Green Beans, Peas, Sweet Potatos, Squash

          Carrots & Bananas

-Sleeps through the night.  Leeland goes to bed at 9pm and wakes up around 7am
-Can pick his pacifier up and put it in his mouth all by himself!

-Leeland went to his first football game on September 11, 2010.  Greensboro College VS Emory & Henry.  Unfortunately it rained and we were only able to stay for about a quarter and a half, and watched 1 quarter from the car. :0(

-Leeland can walk supported with Mommy holding his hands.  

-Leeland can get up on his knees and scoot a little but hasn't quite figured out what to do with his arms.

-Leeland can pet and play with the dog... He really enjoys yanking on her ears, and she always knows how to make him smile when he is upset.

-We're dealing with his GERD, and the medication is making things better! Hallelujah! 

-Leeland gives "hugs"... don't know that he thinks of it as a hug, but he wraps his arms around me and holds on tight. And I melt every time! 

 That's about all the new things so far.  This has been a great adventure.  I look forward to waking up each day to see what's in store for us.  I love being at home with Leeland and am enjoying every second, every minute and every day with my sweet sweet little boy! <3