So here's what we've been doing in our extra time

We've had a half marathon on our bucket list for quite some time, but never signed up for one.  In Sunday School one day, D figured out we were one of the few couples who had NOT done one, and that very day he said he was tired of messing around and signed us up.  At that time, his longest run was 8 miles, for me it was 6.  We didn't follow an official training plan, so it was our own training plan (experts would not be happy with us).  I run 3 miles daily with my awesome  neighbor.  I kept up with that and one day on the weekend I would do my long run.  In theory, you add one mile a week and max out at 11-12 miles  one week  before the race.  I did that somewhat, maxing out at 10.5 miles 9 days before our race.  The week of the race I continued running my normal route with Tanya and rested Friday and Saturday.  My hard working husband, on the other hand, made it to 12 miles three weeks before the race, but rarely trained during the week.  Running only 2 or 3 times a week isn't enough when one of those is your long run. Even with the lack of consistent training (his words not mine), he was very happy with his time.

Here's us at the expo after picking up our packets.  I was feeling really out of my league and nervous being around the other runners.  Especially when they start sentences with "Around mile 9..."

So here's a screen shot of our texts after he was done and I was getting close.  I know it seems nerdy I was texting him the last few miles, but I was desperate for some encouragement and needed to hear from him.  Plus I was ahead of schedule and wanted him to be on the lookout.

Okay, here we are after the race! Hard Workin' Man's final time 2:00:42. My time 2:40:34. Initially we said this was our one and only 1/2 marathon, but on the way home we decided we'd run one more. I'm equating it to the verse John 16:21 "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

Obviously finishing this race did not bring me the same joy as the birth of my children, but I would say in the aftermath we've forgotten the pain of miles 10-12.

Family of 6 is perfect, a dozen donuts is shared evenly!

I almost said shared perfectly, but when you have a teenage boy, he can pretty much eat the entire box alone.  We LOVE being a family of 6!!  Kid 1 is 14, Kid 2 is 11, Kid 3 is 10, and Kid 4 is 7.  I was as thrilled to find out we were expecting Kid 4 as I was Kid 1.  In fact, when that test turned positive, I literally fell on my face sobbing before God, thanking Him for making me a vessel for another of His miracles!!  We are just so proud of our kiddos, they are truly the world's greatest kids.

Keeping it real, a few challenges to a family of six:

-Can't (legally) share a hotel room.  Most hotels will only allow 5 people in a room due to their fire codes.
-Have to wait longer for a table at a restaurant.
-An unreal amount of laundry.
-Unless you have a huge house, some will have to share rooms.  I tell my kids they share rooms growing up, they share rooms in college, they share rooms when they get married.  It's part of life.
-No man on man coverage.  Even when my husband is home it's tough to get them all where they need to be.  Especially now that it's baseball/softball season and some nights all 4 have practice.  You didn't think their practices would be at the same place, did you?

Isn't this picture funny?  It's 6 bikes loaded on our truck!!  We love our big family.  It's crazy busy, but so much fun and filled with love.  

All A's Honor Roll

We are very proud of our Marky!

Mark's first 5k

Mark ran an amazing race finishing in 27:42!