Pumpkin Patch!!!!

For anyone not on facebook..... here are some pics from yesterday's trip to the pumpkin patch!  So fun!!!  She is such a great and easy subject to shoot! :)

Old friends.... New joy!

Had a beautiful time yesterday with a friend that goes way back!  Dixie Brewer became a kind of spiritual mom to me many years ago, early in my marriage.  I was part of her women's bible study group on marriage and later worked with her at the church.  But over the years, grew in relationship with her.  Well she and her husband moved to Coeur d'Alene about 4 years ago.  I haven't seen her since then.  But she has been on my mind for the past year in that I just HAD to tell her about our Miracle, Emery.  I've recently become friends with her daughter-in-law, Ally, who told me they were coming to visit.  So yesterday, I drove to Caruthers and spent half the day with these two beautiful women.  It was a wonderful time of catching up, sharing the good stuff and the bad, and praising God together for the tremendous things God is doing in our lives.  I could sense the pride and love she has for me and for Emery.  I only wish she was still living her to be a part of our lives.  But I love her so much and feel so blessed to have had the time with her yesterday.  So thank you, Ally, for letting me come invade your home for the day.  What a blessing!

... and Ally's kids jumped in too!

Here are some random pics of Emery just hanging around the house....

First time hanging out on the tile... she didn't mind it!

Look at that face!

LOVE IT!! 

these were my own baby clothes I found!!!

And some fun video for your viewing pleasure!!!

she cracks me up!!!!  (you'd think she was Italian! lol)

My HALF accomplishment!!!!

City to the Sea Half Marathon 2011

Well I did it!!!  I finished a half marathon in under 3 hours only 8 months after giving birth!  Some said I probably wouldn't do it.  They were trying to be nice, and I suppose, "realistic", in helping me have grace for myself in the first year of being a mom.   But, though I respect their efforts, I didn't take their advice.  I was back at bootcamp after my 6 week checkup and starting running a few months later to get ready for the Half.  We weren't the fastest.  But that wasn't my goal.  My initial goal was to run at least half of it.  Well we ran way more than half of the Half. lol  In fact, I kept setting personal goals as I was running at the start of the race and I made it 5 miles without stopping!  An all time first for me!   

 You see last year I signed up for the Nike Women's Half marathon in S.F. but ended up 6 months pregnant.  I was so sad as I watched my friends and all those runners take off at the startline (ok, I sobbed).  So this was a makeup for me and my good friend Kristin.  And we did it!!  I trained each time with Emery in the stroller.  Man, its so much easier without her! lol  

The best part was seeing Sean within a mile of the finish line!  He walked a bit with us and then we took off again.  I almost took Emery with me across the finish line. :)  It meant sooooo much to me that my husband and our daughter were there to celebrate this achievement with me.  I can't even express it in words.  But it meant the world to me!

  There's John, Kristin and me (don't know the girl in front) lol

That's us!!!

Crossing the finish line!!!  

Best siting of my day!!!  :)

 

 Traci, Kristin and I at the finish line

Amy ran the 5K but waited for me at the finish and cheered me on!

 My blue-eyed baby!!!

 Me and my training partner for the last month

And this is Claire..... we first stayed at her hotel (referred to us by Brent and Lisa) last summer when we went to SLO for my birthday.  I was pregnant then and she was just so excited for us (Lisa told her our story).  In the past year we have stayed with her a few times.  She is so amazing.  I think she is from Lebanon and she is truly a doll.  The most precious woman!  People keep coming back to the Peachtree Inn for Claire alone.  

 Claire (our hotel's manager) had her turn loving on Emery also!

Emery was trying to help Claire on the phone!