We went, we saw, we were sick (and so was everyone else)

So last week I had the privilege of taking a little road trip with my dear friend, Cydney.  I left two of my kiddos behind and we took a 5 and half hour road trip to Pittsburgh, PA, her old stopping grounds!  Not too long after we left I got word my family back home was getting sick.   Lee was REALLY sick, had to take him to the Urgent Care sick!  Thankfully, friends from our small group and my parents stepped in to help take care of the girls (who were also sick).  And all of us on the road trip, yep, we were sick too (except little Klara Jane who still is healthy...PTL!)  So despite our sickness and me worrying about my family back home we tried to make the most of it.

I must first say, the families that I stayed with and visited with were so incredibly kind and gracious!  THANK YOU (if you ever read this)!  What wonderful families!

I realized after looking back at my pictures (which I didn't take enough of) most of them had to do with eating food, which was not the extent of what we did, but must have been when I remembered to grab the camera.  Who doesn't like to eat?

Celebrating Fat Tuesday eating brownies & ice cream, at least that's what we told ourselves:)

Pittsburgh Aviary (where Cydney's sister-in-law works) - Penguin exhibit

This bird would take your money and put it in a donation box for you.  Pretty neat!

This Flamingo (sorry it's a dark picture) acted just like a dog, how it drank, how it took commands.  It was too cool.

The most delicious milkshake ever!  Pretzel Carmel milkshake that had small pieces of soft pretzel in it.  SOOO good!

Klara enjoyed her first taste of puffs!

The biggest sandwich I had ever eaten and I ate it all!  Famous in Pittsburgh for putting french fries on the sandwich.

The largest bakery I have ever been to.  This was only half of it!  Of course we had to get a treat from there!

Are you hungry now?

So, now I am home.  Everyone was still not feeling well when I got home, so I ended up taking EVERYONE (except myself) to the Dr.  The most shocking news was we found out little Ana girl has pneumonia.  Lee is on an antibiotic now, and Isabel is still fighting a virus.  All that being said, we are all recovering and I think on the mend.  Yay!  Not sure I'm ready to start the week, but it's here, so here we go.

R'Ace for Haiti

A nickname I had in high school was Ace because my name is CandACE.  No one here really knows about it (well, they do now I guess), but when I go back home a few friends still call me that, and occasionally Lee does too.

So my 12 week training count down for the half marathon began this week.  11 more to go!  Woo hoo!  I have been doing some pre-training up to this point.  Running several days a week, working on my endurance.  It's been ok.  Some days I feel great, other days I feel tired and wonder why I'm doing this.  Then I remember why I'm doing this.  I'm racing for Austin and Martha, and the work they will be doing to help the communities and people in Haiti!

My Uncle last month posted about his experience after traveling to Haiti on a missions trip.  Here are some of his comments:

"After Haiti one appreciates clean tap water, warm shower water, toilets that actually flush, McDonalds (or any "safe" restaurant). We didn't see a single McDonalds in all of PAP. What did we like? The people. Haitians are unique for their survival and pride under the worst conditions in the western hemisphere. You have never seen poverty until you see Port au Prince, Haiti. Go to the poorest part of America, the worst inner-city situation in America, and you're not even close to the poverty in Haiti. But still, the people of Haiti are noble and strong."

Now, here's where you can help!  My goal was to find 13 sponsors to help sponsor my race (13.1 miles of it).  I have 5 so far, $500.00!  Wow, that's amazing!  However, that means I still need 8 more sponsors!  Your sponsorship because it will go to World Concern (specifically for Austin and Martha), which is a Christian non-profit organization, will be tax-exempt.  My goal is to help them raise $1300.00 ($100/mile) that will go toward their effort to get to Haiti!  I thought of asking people if maybe they only wanted to sponsor a quarter of a mile or half a mile, but I truly believe God can raise up 8 more people at $100 sponsorships to meet my goal!  So I'm asking you, would you consider sponsoring a mile?  Would you consider giving to help the people of Haiti?  

So what's my role in all of this?  Well, other than the race itself, I want to pray for my sponsors.  Praying more than anything has gotten me through my long runs.  Not just praying for myself though, "dear God, please don't let me die."  No, praying for others.

For those that sponsor, I commit to praying for you.  If you want to give me specific prayer requests or just general ones, that fine too.  During the race I plan to pray for you during your specific sponsored mile of the race.  Maybe I'll have a cool shirt made up too with all my sponsors...still thinking on that.  

If you are interested, leave me a comment, send me an email, give me a call.  

Anyway, I hope you consider sponsoring a mile in my R'Ace for Haiti!

Our Valentines

Never thought I'd have 3 adorable little girl Valentines!

The Valentines the girls made for a few of their friends.  Wish it was my idea, but I stole the idea from Family Fun magazine.  Maybe you can't tell in the picture, but it's a real sucker for their friends to enjoy.

The everyday

This little one makes me laugh everyday...terrible twos or not, I love this little girl!

What a GREAT big sister and helper she is!  So proud of her!

And this little petite bug, who hates green beans with a passion.  Can't get enough of her!

Sometimes it's ok...

At the start of a New Year people are always excited about New Year resolutions.  For me it always seems like, ok get in gear...it's a new year let's go.  I find myself wanting to change or make new habits.  Wanting to find a better way of doing laundry, a better way to keep my house clean, a better way to time manage.  And all these things are great!  I'm sure (I know) there are lots of "betters" I can do in my life.  The other day I realized though...sometimes it's ok.  As in "my way" is ok.  I find this concept a little conflicting, because I know as Christians we should always be changing and growing, trying to be better.  Trying to strive to be more Christ like.  Less of me and MORE of Him.  I guess this is where contentment comes in.  One example: Although I would love to have a tidy house at all times.  Our family is ok with the fact that it's not.  So maybe the "Secret guide to always having a clean home" (from whatever magazine) doesn't really need to be for me.  I don't always make our bed (don't gasp Rachael Neal), but for us it's ok.  Sometimes it's where we hangout as a family.  Sometimes, I just don't get to it and figure well I'm going to get back in it soon anyway.

Even though I am ok with some things in our life, some things I humbly admit are better with change.  One recent example of this in our life was the removal of our TV from our bedroom.  Maybe some of you have no idea what it's like having a TV in your room (I feel very sorry for you...no, just kidding).  I must admit.  I was NOT sold on the idea.  I liked having a TV in our room.  I liked being able to go relax in our room after the kids were in bed, turn on an entertaining show, and go to sleep.  When we rearranged our bedroom a few weeks ago, we both decided we would take the TV out (me more bitterly).  But in all honesty, it's been great!  It was hard at first.  I would just put myself to bed at like 9 because I didn't know what to do with myself.  But guess what?  I've been READING!  For those of you who say, you're not a reader...well, you become one when you don't have a TV.  And believe me, it took a few weeks to adjust, but I don't know how else to explain other than it's been a good change.  Try it! 

One book I've been reading is entitled Real Marriage: The truth about sex, friendship, & life together by Mark & Grace Driscoll.  I'm only through the first 3 chapters, but so far it's been really good.  The chapter on friendship has been my favorite so far.  In fact, I think I'm going to need to read it again.  And Mark Driscoll is now doing a sermon series based on the book, so I just downloaded his sermons to listen to on my iPod while running.    I think it will be good!

the secret behind clouds and a nice dinner

It was a incredibly beautiful day here today...60 degrees February 1st, really?  We were driving along on the way to a friend's house when Isabel blurts out, "Mom, I see where clouds are made."  I look out my window to see two tall smoke stacks with huge amounts of white smoke coming out of them.  I couldn't help but chuckle out loud.  She was so sweet and genuine in her "discovery."  So much for all the "God created everything" learning we've done in school:)  (which we did talk about the rest of the car ride) 

This evening Lee cooked dinner and he invited Isabel to join along and play waitress.  Something I would never think to do, what a creative dad.  She put on an apron, took drink orders, and served the food to our various places at the table.  Well, upon serving Ana, the plate got tipped a bit and the food slid off onto Ana and the floor.  She was devastated, Ana was crying.  We told her things like that happen, even in real restaurants, and down played it.  She perked up and it was a nice family dinner.  Later in the evening before bed we were talking about it, and Ana mentioned that sometime she would like to play waitress with mommy cooking.  And of course she added with a grin, "and I won't spill the food." (Isabel even thought it was a bit funny)