Praise Report

I went for my yearly physical this past week and got a great report.  I'm very thankful.  She said my blood work could not be better.  My BP was excellent.  My weight is good, but can stand to lose another 10 lbs.  She said as far as she can tell I'm as healthy as can be.  I could not be more thankful.

I ran 8 miles Saturday (our long run for the week) with no walking, under my goal pace.  Very thankful for that too.

So far I'm loving my new studies.  It's all so interesting.

I'm beginning to be in charge of children's ministry at church, which is exciting!  I've been over the nursery for a little while now, and I've been teaching the kids on Wednesday night for over a year.  I'm adding children's church to this list very soon.  Getting it all organized now.

Praising the Lord for His many blessings!

Exciting News!!!

I just enrolled in a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant Program!  I have 6 months to complete the work and take the test.  I'm so beyond excited!  I've spent time in prayer and thought over this and I feel like the Lord has given me a passion for better health and a strong desire and love to help others as well.  So I want to learn more!

It will definitely be a balancing act with family, homeschooling, doing my own studies, and children's ministry, but I pray the Lord will guide me, help me, and sustain me through it all with a good attitude, perspective, and focus on Him!

Sooooo, here we go.............

P.E.

On Monday, our 1st day of school, we had P.E. outside.  It included lots of exercising.  The girls were beyond thrilled:)  Then we worked in the church yard, so they got double the exercise, which is good!

Air squats, we have a little work to do on form!!! Ha

Jumping jacks

This wasn't actually part of the exercising, but she was having fun!

Push-ups

Sit-ups  (Anna Claire was absolutely cracking me up)  She kept saying, this is too hard!

Stretch time!

I plan to include this into their daily routine often:)  And, since we live on a busy street, we got lots of stares!

1st Day of School

We started school Monday!  Everyone had a great first day!  Thankful:):):)

Abby is in 6th grade

Kyndal is in 4th grade

Anna Claire is in 4K

These girls wake up at the crack of dawn, on their own, to get started!  Like 6 am.  Very proud of them!

Of course, a great first day of school deserves froyo!!!  The teacher needed some too! lol

Old Home Days Fun

This was our 4th Old Home Days as a family ministering here.  Our kids love helping with this outreach every year.  Sooooo, Kyndal signed us up to be at the church at 6 am to load cars and go set up at the site.  Sooooo, we were up at 5 am to eat breakfast and head that way.  After setting up, it was race time.  Craig, myself, and Anna Claire headed home for showers while the big girls stayed.  It was a beautiful day and quite warm.  It was another great year and families in the community were blessed through the love our church family shared.  The girls had lots of fun.  By 6 pm, I was SO ready for bed!  HA

She loved the moonwalk and was drenched in sweat!

Abby and Kyndal testing it out!

Cute little Travis!  He wasn't so sure about it all:)

And then, Kyndal got a hold of my camera.......

Cuties!

Old Home Days 5K

Craig and I ran the Old Home Days 5K Saturday!  After running a race Thursday night, setting PR's, doing cross training Friday, I didn't have any high expectations for this race, and especially since it's very hilly and tough.  A friend said, set a personal best, as I headed for the start line.  I said, yeah right, that probably won't be happening today!  Well, low and behold, I set another PR and couldn't have been more shocked or happy about it.  Very thankful the Lord helps me!  Craig had a great run  and met his goal as well.

Craig's results:  Finish time=23:25  Pace=7:33

My results:  Finish time=27:57  Pace=8:55

Before the fun!

Craig headed for the finish line!

This precious man is a real inspiration!  He's run this race, I know for the past 3 years, but I believe a lot longer, maybe every year.  He is 90 and ran it in 55 minutes. 

Library Party

Our local library does a reading program every summer.  The girls participated again this year.  Friday they had the end of summer party.  They had ice cream and games, and did giveaways.  The girls seemed to enjoy it.  I think it's more of an Anna Claire age thing, and Abby and Kyndal are good big sisters!  They do enjoy reading though, especially Kyndal!

Yummy ice cream

This guy, who had to be burning up, wanted to take pictures with all the kids, so sweet Abby obliged:)

Bubble fun for this cutie!

Cigna 5K

Craig and I ran the Cigna 5K road race this year for the first time.  A good friend asked us to join her work group.  It was an all flat course right up till the end where there was a hill to the finish line. 

It's the largest road race in NH.  There were 6,576 runners.  By far the largest race we have ever been a part of, so far!  It was tons of fun.  There were bands, and SO many people.  We look forward to doing it again next year.

We both set PR's!!!!!!

Craig's results:  He finished in 23:06, which was a 7:27 pace.  He was 55 out of 295 in his division and 588 out of 6,576.  He did awesome!

My results:  I finished in 28:21, which was a 9:08 pace.  I was 74 out of 413 in my division and 1,769 out of 6,576.

Before the fun!!

Room transformation

Abby came to us recently and said she would like her own bedroom space.  We live in a 2 bedroom house that has a loft.  The girls have always shared the master bedroom which has the loft.  There is lots of room in there thankfully.

We did the best we could and made them all a separate space.  So far, they are loving it!

Kyndal's space:

Abby's space:

Anna Claire's space:

It works, they're excited, and we are all thankful:):):)

Pudding face

I make the girls frozen pudding pops for a snack during the week.  Anna Claire loves the chocolate ones.  Her face is always a big mess after eating one.  It's hilarious!

We always ask her did the pudding pop eat her!!!lol

New Do

I got my hair cut a few days ago.  I love how my sister in law cuts hair, but she's too far away, so I had to find someone here to do it.  A friend recommended someone and I was very impressed.  She did exactly what I ask her to do and I really like it.  I do like long hair, but mine is just so thin that it looks unhealthy when it gets too long, in my opinion. 

 

Before

 

After

Before

After

She cut a lot, just like I ask, and I think it looks so much more healthy now!

Year 4

Today began our 4th year here at Christian Fellowship.  We are excited to see what the Lord will do this year in ministry.  The past 3 years have gone by really quickly for the most part.  The winters are definitely long, but pretty too.  The culture is extremely different for us, and that can be challenging at times.  We are Very far from our family and that too can be very difficult at times, but through all the challenges, good, bad, hard, ugly, great, and exciting, we serve a Good God who cares more deeply for us than we can even imagine.  We are thankful for the ministry He has placed us in and we will continue to serve through His power and strength.

Hat

Anna Claire made me a hat at the BYBC last Sunday as one of her crafts.  She was so proud!  Once we returned from the beach Monday, I cut the grass at the church.  I had gotten a little too much sun at the beach so I thought I would wear the beautiful hat she made me to keep the sun off my face.  I think she was a happy girl that I wore the hat she made just for me:)

She's quiet the artist:)  Precious girl!!!