Category Archives: Life

Road trip!

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Waycross, GA. or as I like to refer to our little trip as Waaaaaaaay-‘cross Georgia..

School is upon us and we can no longer deny the fact that the lazy days of summer are crashing to a close.  The kids will be grudgingly turning in sooner, waking earlier and submitting to whatever form of homework their teachers proffer (while Hubby and I pray we can keep up and help them if needed–mostly we just stay out-of-the-way!).  With the addition of cheer and soccer (which I’ve mentioned a zillion times already) as well as band commitments, I realized my traveling-for-fun weekends are done.  So, I decided to take a “quick” 8 hour road trip up to spend time with my girlfriend in Atlanta.  Her Hubby was traveling for work and her boys were on a school retreat, so the girls and I made the trek for a super-quick all-girls Road trip.  Let’s just say, I’ve cured myself for a bit.  I’m not as young as I used to be, but I can definitely say…..it was well worth the effort!

A visual “Quick Takes” of our road trip and the you can check in with Jen @ Conversion Diary and LOTS of other people, too!  Enjoy!!

1.

Our sassy girl found a little mailbox that reminded her of our cat during our little exploration of Roswell’s “Alive after Five” event in historic downtown Roswell. Tons to do and see and eat (if you want to wait an hour….)

2.

Bulloch Hall. A pic for my Hubby who is a big Teddy Roosevelt fan….so this will do until he can see the childhood plantation home of President Roosevelt’s mum!

3.

A pic for my meat and sausage and BACON loving boy! Provisions…quite the happenin’ spot as we picked up some sausage for my girlfriend’s lasagna the next day…sadly it was forgotten in the trunk until the next day! OOPS!

4.

The girls enjoyed the burlap chairs and couches @ Provisions (a super quaint and old-timey spot) as well as great people watching and super tempting delicacies all around…dinner was CALLING!

5.

The. BEST. Part of the evening (for the girls)…topless in the Beamer….”put your hands in the air like you don’t care!” They loved it and are now spoiled for all other vehicles. Poor dears.

6.

Cruising through downtown ATL. The girls were fascinated by the toll booths–apparently they forgot we actually have a few in Orlando…***the girls were iPhone-shooting all pics from the car, not me.…PuhLEEZE!! I was white gripping that wheel like a maniac!!

7.

Had to stop and get a photo OP with ‘Mater in a little used car parts/pieces place just south of Waycross. Although that doesn’t explain why our youngest’s shorts are pulled up like Erkel….ah well, whatcha gonna do?

***a couple bonus shots…

8.

My girlfriend’s AHHHHHH-some deck. We most certainly spent ALL morning on this baby, chatting, reading, drinking coffee and enjoying the breeze, the shade and each other’s company. Simply the best part of their renovation–and their kitchen is to die for–but this….this is beyond peaceful.

 

Taz enjoys the deck also. What he wasn’t all the interested in were 2 little paparazzi who wanted to use his image on their Baldify app….

 

9.

Nothing like a rainbow to settle your nerves after a good storm on the road

Happy weekend y’all!

 

 

 

 

 

Summertime and the living is easy….for those who have off that is!

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My view from the track for the next few months…BUT….it’s guaranteed cardio, so there’s that!

‘Tis the last week of summer for us and I’m taking off Wed-Fri to chill and occupy the children.  Except that I panicked at the thought of the next 4 months being utterly sucked up by soccer and cheer practice/games and any opportunity of any travel outside of games is POOF, gone, so I decided to make an somewhat-impromptu visit to see my girlfriend in Atlanta.  Taking my girls, of course.  (the boys aren’t interested…they are too cool for that, besides her boys won’t be there…)

what bored soccer players do at cheer practice…

It will be a busy few days, because that’s how I roll….all busy and hectic and such…it’s black and white with me sometimes–ok mostly.  Balls to the wall busy or slug.

Anyway, possibly a day trip to Gainesville to see my pregnant friend before she enters the world of 4 kiddos, birthday skateboard shopping for our almost 15-year-old!  WHhAaTt?!??!?!  Meet the teachers.  Pick up middle schooler’s schedule/locker/etc.

But first….let me get my arse off the chair and get ready to GO VOTE!

Have a great day and hopefully will have some fun stuff for you at the end of the week!

Ciao!

Try Tri…

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If you’ve ever had the desire to participate in a triathlon or perhaps even COMPETE in a triathlon, you might be missing a few screws.  Just sayin’ .  I’m not slandering you or anything, because my Hubby falls in that category.  It’s an observation.  My observation.  Just in case you ARE a triathlon person you don’t need to get your athletic panties in a wad…

Today marked Hubby’s return to triathlon competing.  yay him.  It’s all good though.  I’m proud of him.  I can’t run anymore, but even when I did…..NO.  DESIRE.  Mostly because I’m pretty certain I’d panic in the swim and drown.  Not my strong suit.  Plus, I’d be all concerned about what is swimming under and around me…visions of Jaws are seared in my brain.  Oh and biking…eh.  I hate that my rear is so sore….and yes, I know it goes away (I did actually teach spin classes for several years), but I only like to bike easy on the beach, like this on Saturday:

See, my girl likes a little break while biking…nice and easy, little breeze, water break….that’s a good ride!

However, today we got the kids up bright and early…5:30 a.m. on a Sunday.  Good times…..fortunately,  they have one more week of sleeping in to recover!  The bonus was the beautiful sunrise at the start of the race.

And then the race began.  Men first (in yellow caps)….followed by the ladies (in green caps).  The race was:

800 yd. ocean swim/15 mile road bike/4 mile beach run

We haven’t got the final results yet but Hubby did very well, placing roughly 7th in his age group and 40-something out of about 150ish people.  Awesome effort.  Rewarded by Dunkin Donuts at home!  Can I get a WOOP WOOP?!?!!!  Enjoy and hopefully you’ll get a nap today like I plan on doing!

Lining up

And they’re off…..(shooting blind here, had NO idea where Hubby was in the pack)

All I can say is…I was in that water yesterday and it was COLD! No thank you.

Lifeguards. Making sure no one is drowning from a kick to the head.

Go, baby, GO!

Bikes corralled and ready to go….

 

 

 

From fish to firma…on wheels…

the home stretch….all 4 miles of it….phew!

Under 1:40….not bad for an “old” guy…. 😉

The race tent for the record keepers….extremely well run race…no pun intended!

Passing time between clapping, getting sandy, rinsing off and getting on each other’s nerves. However, they were there to cheer on Dad and afterward said, “Eh, it wasn’t so bad. I just didn’t want to get up so early.” pssst…sneak peek into back to school/reality kiddos! (they did actually come over to the finish line to clap/cheer on and high 5 Dad…they come through in the clutch!)

Happy Sunday, ya’ll!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sufferin’ Succotash

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It’s Friday and usually I round-up the week with a little summary of what went down this past week with Jennifer Fulwiler and her peeps @ Conversion diary, however, it seems I’ve been doing plenty o’ whining about my week all week-long.  This Friday is a little different version…..because amidst all my moaning this week I’ve had a lot on my heart and prayers going up for various friends.  Tonight, in the midst of our evening routine a good friend emailed me great news regarding some prayers answered.  It was a reminder that suffering, though inevitable, often brings great changes.  This week I’ve been praying a lot and chewing on suffering.  We don’t always find out the “why” but when we realize that this life is temporary and accept that God CAN and DOES use all things to His glory, we can manage through a little bit easier until we gaze upon that which is eternal.  hopefully.  generally easier said than done.

  • In suffering we become more empathetic toward others, realizing we all have a cross to bear, none heavier than the other.
  • In suffering we are given the opportunity to open up and allow others in because we aren’t meant to carry our burdens alone.
  • In suffering we have a choice, to be bitter and let the weight of the world crush our shoulders or accept and let our suffering bring us to a healing relationship in Christ.
  • In suffering we are often begin to see more clearly the difference between what is useful and necessary and that which is excessive and confusing.
  • In suffering we prioritize the important and (hopefully) adjust our sails accordingly to tweak our actions to match our priorities.
  • In suffering we step out in faith.
  • In suffering we receive grace.

Whatever cross you bear, may you be fully comforted in the Truth and Joy that comes in a Savior that died for us so that we may be received into heaven freed from the suffering that comes in this life.  Be blessed.  Be encouraged.  You.  ARE.  Loved.

Psalm 66:10  For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

Psalm 94:12  Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law.

Isaiah 55:9  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 8:18  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 12:12  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the former things are passed away.