Tybee Island, Georgia: The Day Before Savannah

The first week in November I set out on a girls' road trip with my good friend to run in the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Half Marathon.  Laura and I left Friday morning and spent the next four hours laughing and talking to Savannah.  I was expecting horrific traffic since my memory from last year was scarred from long lines of people everywhere.  Well, we cruised right up to the convention center to collect our packets and then smoothly found a parking spot downtown by the water to walk about.  We met up with some other cute runners from Peachtree City and all decided to head to the beach.  I started dreaming of the sand beneath my toes already.  I live for the beach as you can appropriately guess by my skin color.   Although Savannah is a city on the water, it is not on the ocean.  Savannah's beach is really Tybee Island and it looks a lot like this:

I may have frolicked once or twice when I finally made it to the shore. 

The PTC gals about to run a half marathon: Shelyse, Linda, Julie, Laura, and Kristen

Peachtree City 15K Classic

At the end of October on a beautiful warm Saturday morning, I ran in the Peachtree City Classic with a time of 1 hour 23 minutes 14 seconds.  The course is a 15K or roughly 9.3 miles.  It was a personal best for I shaved off a couple minutes compared to last year's PTC Classic.  It was a perfect morning and I was so grateful for such a healthy body.

  

Here's a funny story for the history books.  I live about one mile from the starting line and last year I luckily hitch-hiked a ride on the back of a stranger's golf cart also going to the starting line.  I decided to press my luck and had the same transportation plan for this year's race.  Well, my luck ran dry for there was not a soul on the paths before the race started heading south.  I had left the house too late to casually walk to the start line so I had to run at about a race pace.  I found my running ladies, Liz and Coach LeAnn, near the start with about 20 seconds to spare before the gun.  I had plenty of adrenaline already flowing and I was ready to run...again.

And then to sandwich my race with more adrenaline, I had to finish under a certain time for Gavin had a soccer game later that morning.  With one car and the soccer fields only assessable by vehicles, I had to run fast enough so I would make his game.  So when I crossed the finished line I did not slow down.  I ran to get my finisher's tee, I ran to get my refreshments, and I ran to the car with a bunch of boys cheering and waiting for me.

Two Colorful Clowns

In the middle of October, my mother had a total knee replacement surgery.  Her recovery was amazing this round compared to six years earlier when she had her other knee replaced.  I think it might have had something to do with these two clowns.  The day we went to take my mother home, the boys walked the hospital halls wearing this wig we acquired from purchasing Madagascar 3.  I know I am their mother so it's only natural, but I would swell with pride when I saw someone's day brighten because of them.  They would laugh and sing Marty's song from the movie, but talking about apple circus instead afro circus.  I love every day with these two colorful clowns. 

The Tree in Our Front Yard

Every day during the fall I would wait all day until the sun hit this one tree in our front yard just right.  It usually happened around 4:00pm and it was almost like someone lit the tree on fire every day.    Amongst all these evergreens, this one tree had the most vibrant reds and oranges.  I loved watching this tree change during the season.  I even gave thanks to it once it dropped all of the leaves for we were able to make the biggest leaf piles with them.  This tree also lends itself to the boys every day when they can sneak in a swing or two.  Moments like these remind me how beautiful this earth is that our Heavenly Father created for us.  What a blessing to be surrounded with beauty.      

  

Happiest Christmas!

May your home be filled with love, health, and happiness this Christmas season.

p.s. I promise to update the blog again soon.