10:48 and sick as a dog

Well, I did it. I ran my first race. I was feeling bad all last week and woke up Saturday morning with a 101.4 fever. I knew I was coming down with the flu. But...I was so determined to run the race, that I went anyways. When I got there, I decided it was best that I only run the 1 mile fun run rather than try the 5k. 10 minutes and 48 seconds later, I realized that was a good idea. It was fun to run with others and see where I stacked up in the bunch. Unfortunately, there were about 5 kids under the age of 12 that beat me. Oh well. I had fun and plan to do it again. The guy that won the 5k ran the entire thing in just over 17 minutes. Now I feel really out of shape. I spent the rest of the weekend in bed recovering and feel much better today. Here's a picture of the runner number, completion ribbon and tshirt I received for running the race.

I hope to receive lots more.

Tonight, Zachary's Granny came over and played with him for a little while. He's been begging for her to come over and see him. They spent the evening playing Rescue Heroes. He's got her wrapped around his little fingers. It's fun to watch them play together. Here's a quick pic...

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Today's Bible verse:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:24

Happy Valentine's Day!

We want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! Hope your day was filled with lots of love. Take a gander at this video. It's too cute!

http://www.snapfishecard.com/Projects/view/197001/197006

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Today's verse:
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13

Your lessons on love are better than any textbook or self-help book, Father. Thank you for the love our family shares. Amen.

Cowboys, Painters and Runners...Oh My!

Zachary went to Grandma's house last weekend and found a bandana and developed sticky fingers. The bandana is now at our house - and has been worn everyday for the past week. It is too cute, though. He now thinks he is a real cowboy. Complete with the cowboy hat and everything. He is so much fur to just watch.

While Zachary has been playing cowboy, Marty has been painting the dining room. He is pretty stressed because we have a party at our house next weekend, so he is frantically trimming out windows and doors. This picture will show just how much fun he is having.

Allison, on the other hand, is trying to work up to running a 5k at some point in the next 6 months. In December, she set a goal to run one in 2008. On February 23, she will run her first road race at the Mall of Georgia. It is a fun run, but a huge first step. No pics to post just yet, but will for sure once it comes around. For some reason, she seem to be the one always behind the camera...

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Today's Bible Verse:

"but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14

Thank you, Lord for your sustaining well. Please use our family to draw others to your Spring of Life. Amen.

Choose Life

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion on demand all 9 months of pregnancy. Coincidentally, today is also the day that Allison received her "Choose Life" license plate for her car in the mail. This is making a bold statement to those around our family that we believe that abortion is wrong.

Please visit http://www.grtl.org/ for more information regarding the pro-life movement. Also, to see the new tag, you can visit http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/plate.asp?ptitle=CB.

Please pray that abortion will end. Pray that regardless of the legal system, the number of women seeking abortions continues to decline.
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The Bible verse for today:
"Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him." - Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Thank you, O God, that our families chose life. Lord we pray for the women who are wanting to choose to end the life of the baby inside their womb. May you guide them to a decision that will honor you. Please comfort them with your love and allow them to see their precious baby as you do through your loving eyes. Amen.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Today was the second snow of the season. It was also probably the second snow in about three years. Zachary was so excited about seeing the snow. After spending the day playing in the snow earlier this week, he was acting like an old pro today. Before we went outside to play, he had already created a plan of action.

First, the sledding...

Then, more sledding...

Then, build a snowman...

We were outside for quite a while this afternoon. After sledding and building the snowman, Zachary went next door and went sledding with his friend Caroline for a while. By then, we all were freezing. A glass of hot chocolate was waiting for us back inside. Right up Allison's alley.

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The Bible verse for today is:

"He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'" - Job 37: 5-7

Thank you, Father, for the memories made today. Your wonders are amazing. Thank you for your beautiful creation. Amen.

A Mean Trick

Last night was the first snow of the season. We were so excited! Zachary was hoping to get out this morning and build a HUGE snowman. He was able to get out, but not to build a snowman. Nature had other plans. At bedtime last night the ground was beautiful. Snow was falling everywhere and the three of us were looking forward to a day of playing in the snow today. Unfortunately, the snow turned to rain and sleet during the night. We awoke to a slushy mess. So, Zachary only got to spend the morning playing on his sled with his Granny while Marty and Allison got to go to work. By lunch, the roads were dry and snow was nowhere to be found. What a mean trick Mother Nature plays on us...

Unfortunately, Granny's new fancy digital camera doesn't work, so we don't have pictures to share of that, but I do have a few of the views this morning. Enjoy.

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The Bible verse for today is:

"It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter" - Psalm 74:17

Thank you, God, for the beauty of winter's snow. Thank you for the seasons and the excitements and anticipations that come with each. Your beauty is amazing. Amen.

Dogsitting

We've been busy these last few days dogsitting for Allison's mother. Ellie has been visiting with us since Thursday while Mommy is in Orlando with work. Pookie and Ellie are still trying to decide if they will be friends or not. Here's a picture of Pookie running Ellie under the kitchen table.

Pookie wants to make sure that everyone know this is her house. Funny thing is that right after this picture was taken, they were chasing each other out in the front yard and having a ball together. Ellie has been fun to have at our house. She is keeping Pookie young. It won't hurt her to burn a calorie or two. Below are a few other pictures for you to better see the girls...

We told Zachary that Grandma was going to Orlando for the week and he had no idea where that was, so we told him she was going to Mickey Mouse's house. That totally confused him. Then he got jealous because he wasn't going. It's not easy to explain to a 4 year old why Grandma goes somewhere fun like that and doesn't take him. Maybe next time.

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The Bible verse for today is:

"Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, [and] from a deceitful tongue." - Psalms 120:2

Lord, thank you for your perfect example of honesty. Keep our tongues honest. Teach us to be honest with ourselves and each other. Amen.