USA gymnastics...

The official uniforms for Grace and Scarlett’s gymnastics team have arrived. They are so proud to represent their organization. And what better colors than those that represent the United States of America...🇺🇸

When an apple becomes a man...

You know that Connor’s artistic skills have struck again...

Belle...

Our sweet belle somberly watching as Austin gets ready to open his mission call. She may just be a dog but she knows when something big is happening...

Called to serve...

My grown up boy is going to be serving a two year mission for our church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and surrounding areas. When he opened his call (he later told me) “I knew this is where I was supposed to be” 

He reports to the missionary training center on February 6th, 2019. I’m going to relish every moment I have left with him...we all are.

Sisters...

Both of my girls sitting on the couch enduring a football game. Having a sister just makes life better.

My greatest supporters...

These (including Chris) are my greatest supporters. In racing. In life. In everything. 

When the payoff is worth it...

I had no idea how hard it would be to start back running when I’d taken 10 months off. Back in May Austin and I decided that one thing to motivate us to run would be to sign up for a race. Every week we’d run and run together. I can’t tell you how many wonderful conversations I had with my sweet son over so many hours of running. 

Saturday it all came to fruition when we finished 13.1 miles together (actually it was 13.2 and I’m still resentful of that last 0.1) but every mile I’d look at Austin and tell him our mileage and he would give me a big smile and wink. It truly kept me going strong especially when I wanted to quit, and believe me there were a few times I REALLY wanted to quit. At mile 11 I got choked up thinking that Austin would be leaving on a mission soon. That we had trained so hard together. That we were almost finished. That I’d miss him so much. So many things ran through my head (happy and sad.) 

I just can’t say enough what a privilege it was to run this race with my wonderful boy that has turned into an incredible, loving and kind young man. It’s been a wonderful ride since the day he was born.

Falcon stadium....

When we decided to set out for Georgia I promised Austin I’d take him to see the falcon stadium. He’s a huge fan to say the least. I was afraid to get us there since it’s in the heart of downtown Atlanta but we survived and had so much fun.

Cabbage patch general hospital...

One of my favorite childhood memories is when my parents brought  us to visit the cabbage patch hospital in Georgia. It was in a much smaller facility but had the same charm it still possesses. Worth every second of our time to return to this fun place. 

When you realize you were home all along...

I don’t really know what spurred it on, maybe it was turning 40, but I recently felt very compelled to go visit my hometown that I haven’t been to in nearly 25 years. I’ve been craving reliving where I grew up. The memories in the two houses I spent most of my childhood. The streets I walked as a child. The pool I played in with my siblings. The driveway we rode our bikes on. The church building we attended. Holidays with my Mamaw and Papaw (on both sides.) There is SO MUCH I needed to see. And I’m so grateful I did. Having Halee and Austin there made it that much more rewarding.

But I realized something I didn’t know when I set out for home. Home was there all along. When we moved to Oregon I had it my head that I left so much behind. But that’s not really true. It’s not the “places” that made Georgia my home. It’s the people. It’s my mom and dad, my grandparents, my friends. I would drive by these wonderful places I lived but until I visited my best friend Sarah, my aunt, my uncle, friends of our family....that’s where the real reward was found. Like a hidden gem. 

I’m thankful to be home in Oregon but both Oregon and Georgia have my heart because I’ll be home either way.

My handsome junior...

This handsome fella starred 11th grade today at a brand new school. No matter how old they get, you still worry about them. You still miss them. You’ll always love them.

Bottle it up...

Sometimes I worry that this happy life I’ve been given will somehow change or be altered to a state I don’t like. I wish at times I could take all the joy I’ve been given and bottle it up so it never goes away. Chris is a huge part of that joy. My children are a huge part. My faith is a huge part. I hope that if challenges come my way (and they will) I’ll always have joy because I really, really like to be happy. 

Two peas...

Scarlett loves to watch people bake or cook or make anything yummy in the kitchen. She reminds me of Chris In so many ways with her zest for trying and making new things.