Visit with Friends

Our dear friends from NC drove ten hours to Indiana to visit us for almost a week. A couple of months ago I invited them to come with us on a field trip to the Creation Museum, thinking that they would decline but hoping it would be enough to entice them to make the trip. When they replied with a yes - I was ecstatic.
We had so much fun together again. We kept the tradition going with late night games and laughter and just silly things that we do when we are together. All 13 of us shared one bathroom for six days and it didn't even seem to be an issue. Ok, except for the one time that one of the little ones forgot to close the door while using the potty, while her daddy was in the shower and I accidentally walked in. He was patiently and quietly waiting behind the curtain til everyone left. LOL - whoops!
We introduced them to a little Indiana culture - like the Rural King. We also had a fun day at the park and the kids enjoyed the chickens in the backyard. Our day trip to the Creation Museum was a success. It is really a wonderful place to see, if you have never been I highly recommend it.
As always when we are together one of the kids got sick. I guess our odds are fairly high that one of the nine will catch something. Unfortunately it fell upon Kelsey this time. She ran a high fever for a couple of days and was pretty lethargic but has bounced back nicely. Not sure what it was - something viral I guess, just glad that the rest of us didn't get it!
Since they have been gone the house seems empty and quiet. But I look forward to many more family gatherings with them. I just hope the time between visits is short.

First Half Marathon Complete

Today was a great day! The Lord provided us with great weather, perfect temperatures, healthy bodies and swift feet. John and I both finished our first half marathon in great time. We crossed the finish line within minutes of each other between 2 hours and 3 minutes to 2 hours and 6 minutes. However, I think I enjoyed the experience much more than my husband did.
I was so thankful for a restful night of sleep. That is usually always my biggest struggle leading up to a race. I tend to toss and turn and anticipate the alarm clock but this morning I slept the night thru and didn't wake up til the alarm sounded at 5 a.m. We had no trouble finding a terrific parking spot and taking the shuttle to the start line. I also always have to pee a couple of times before the race - I just call it the pre-race jitters and yet again everything worked out in perfect timing.
The course was a lot of fun. I have heard from other runners that once you have experienced a marathon you are hooked and I believe it now. There is nothing like the encouragement you receive from the people, friends and family members that line the streets, the many water stations, people passing out candy and orange slices or popsicles. The bands that are playing or simply the person who had their car stereo blasting got you pumped up or at least to the next mile marker. All the signs of encouragement, the cow bells and hand clappers - I loved it all, especially the polka lady who played her accordion somewhere around mile 4.
I usually have to walk around mile 7 and had prepared myself mentally to just be okay with the fact that during the course I would probably need to walk a portion of it. But all the adrenaline and the fact that my lower body went numbed (so I didn't feel the pain) got me through. Actually, I know it was all the prayers that were spoken on my behalf today and the constant murmurs of thankfulness that gave me the strength to run today. I give all the glory to God and am so thankful that he gave me the health and strength to run.
I am also so proud of my husband who endured this series of races with me. He never ceased to amaze me. In each race (from the 5K, 10K and now the half) he always surpassed my expectations. He says he doesn't ever want to run again though. Oh well, the marathon didn't have the same affect on him that it did on me. But I appreciate his support in doing this with me. It was so much more enjoyable to experience it together.
I also want to thank my Mom for coming up this weekend to stay home with the kids. It was such a huge stress reliever to not have to worry about them. My mind was at ease. Maybe next year they can watch from the sidelines too.
So - a word of encouragement to all you readers out there. Set a goal for yourself - something that you have not yet accomplished. Whether it is a walk or run around the block, to your first 5K or even bigger - You can do it! God will give you the strength. He created us to do amazing things. To say that you could never do something like that, is to say that God can't, and believe me, HE CAN!

Preparations for The Run

Well, my training time is over. I'm hoping that I have put in enough time and effort to make it through my first half marathon on Sunday. I am excited and anxious at the same time. I know that when I run in a big group event like this I tend to run at a little faster pace than I normally do and hopefully I will not wear myself out to soon on the course.
John had begun the training process with me this summer. Unfortunately he never finished training for the long runs but he has decided to join me anyways. He said he will run and walk when he needs too. I never made it past ten miles myself so I'm wondering what the last three miles will be like on Sunday. The goal I have set for myself is 2 hours and 15 minutes. I figure if I can finish in that amount of time I will be satisfied with a ten minute mile pace.
My mom is traveling here this afternoon. She is going to stay home with the girls on Sunday morning during the race. I'm so glad that she will be here. It relieves my mind to not have to worry about the kids plans and I will be able to focus on the run.
John and I would love for you to send up a prayer for our health and safety and speed Sunday morning when you wake up. We should be running from 7 to 10 a.m. central time.

Learning humility

Have you ever been in a situation where you were watching someone else do the job that you yourself are used to doing? Have you felt annoyed that they left out some important details or steps in the process or that their performance was less than par? And in these moments what did you learn from it or what was God teaching you?
Because I'm frustrated! But I can only vent about it here.
I am finding myself in more than one aspect of life, caught against the competition. Not that they should be my competitor - I guess I should feel the opposite, they should be more like a collegue. But yet, personality-wise I didn't strike friendship. I am learning how to be humble. Okay at least I'm trying to be humble.
So for now I will continue to do my jobs to the best of my ability and pray that the Lord will lead me to a place where I can get along well with others.

God is good.

Everything has worked out according to His will. The girls have gotten the opportunity to attend a homeschool co-op for this semester. They absolutely love it. We look forward to Mondays now - a day of the week that we used to dread. You know the beginning of the work week, but now they have these wonderful classes to go to and friends to see. It has kicked off our homeschool week with a bang.
We also started a running challenge for the older girls. They are doing a half marathon spread out over three weeks. The kick off was yesterday at the park. They ran 1 mile along with some other children. They now have three weeks to complete 11 more miles with the last mile to run on race day. They will cross a finish line and receive a medal at the end. With all the training that John and I have been doing lately the girls have wanted to run with us some too. Now they have their goal set and we are trying to run 1/2 to 1 mile with them every other day.
Emily and Kelsey also started ballet classes. Kelsey is taking through the homeschool co-op group. It is a preschool ballet class. Then we found a Dance school for Emily to attend that offers a homeschool ballet class for her age during the school day on Tuesdays. She had her first class today and came home telling us all about it. They are both learning classical ballet terms and steps - something that I have desired for them to have rather than the year-long recital piece preparation type studio.
I also got an exciting job opportunity to teach some more Zumba classes. A fitness center in a neighboring town called to see if could teach zumba for them two nights a week. The money is better than the hourly wage I make at the Y and it isn't as far of a drive. I will start teaching there in October which will up my class schedule to 6 classes a week.
So as you can see - all my worries are beginning to fade away. The Lord has always provided for us in just the right time. Things are still tight but we are relying on His provisions for us daily and our needs have been met every time.

10K Run

Today John and I ran our first 10K race together. After running off and on now for about five years this was my next goal to complete. I am thankful that my husband decided to join me because it is always more fun to experience it with someone else. At least that is my perspective.
For me, there is always a rush of satisfaction when crossing the finish line. There are many mental games I have to play along the course though. My husband asked me - do I actually enjoy this? My answer was yes, well - sort of, it's more like a love/hate relationship I have with running. It is painful and agonizing along the way but after the run is complete there is such a feeling of joy I have. I guess I feel like I really accomplished something. And yet it is also a humbling experience to know that I could not have done it without a greater source of strength which comes from my heavenly Father.
We took the girls with us this morning. We all left the house by 6 a.m. in order to get downtown and to the race location with some time to spare. They did great. I packed them some breakfast to eat and they hung out in the gym a the YMCA. We instructed them on what time to come out onto the street when we should be arriving at the finish line. It was fun for them to experience this with us. I hope that one day I will be able to run along side my girls. I hope that this will be an example to them for goals of lifetime fitness.
Anyhow - John is always a "game talker". He had decided that he was going to beat me. The kids took sides of who they thought would cross the finish line first. I didn't mind them choosing their daddy over me - they should think of him as the strong one but Emily always believes in her Mom. So during the fifth mile when I could see John ahead of me struggling a bit, I figured it was my chance to take him. So I passed with ease and thought he probably wouldn't let me get out of his sight.
I finished the race in 52:47 and John came in at 53:36. Yes there is a smile on my face now. The Shand household always rolls with some friendly competition.

homeschool activities

The pictures above include:
static electricity with balloons,
a spider web,
mummified dolls,
pyramid of rice krispies

We have been doing school for almost 4 weeks now and time has already flown by. I am so proud of the girls and the efforts they have put forth so far. It makes me thankful for the opportunity I have to educate them at home and pray that it will last. I cannot imagine not knowing what they are studying each day. I also have the benefit of relearning some things that I had forgotten along the way. It makes experiencing each thing that comes along in life a joy - a reminder that God is our ultimate Creator and Master of Everything.
Here are some of the fun things that we have been doing. We are back to ancients in our classical history cycle. This is the first time we will repeat some things that they have already learned four years ago. I'm amazed at what they remember. We are studying ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia - I love how it all ties in with the Bible stories they already know. In science we are using the Abeka curriculum. We have already learned about the moon, classified some insects, and now we are on electricity. They love science! Emily is hard at work memorizing those multiplication tables and Anna is enjoying the switch to Saxon math this year. Kelsey has begun her school work too. She is learning her alphabet sounds and beginning writing. She is always anxious for her turn with Mommy.