Mountain running.

We've had a little snow.

Like 7-8" of snow.

That's enough down here in the south to

shut everything down for the week!

Lord help me!

Its been a beautiful week and though I've begun to get
a bit jumpy from all the nerf gun wars inside my small house,
my nerves are holding up fairly well!

Being the crazy fool that I am,
I've been planning runs in my head as they were
forecasting the numerous inches of snow!

When it rains, I wanna run in the rain.
When it's hot, I wanna run in the heat.
When there's a beautiful sunset, I wanna run as I take it all in.
And when it snows, I wanna run in it too!

As I have traveled to different places,
one of the first things I
look forward to doing is running.
For me, running is the most meaningful way to experience most everything!

Back in college I was in a vocal group that went on tour
and one of our trips was to California.
We sang in several places, one of which was
at the Crystal Cathedral with Robert Shuller on national television
(it was incredibly cool!!)
As our plane landed in LA and we were bussed to our host homes for the evening,
I began to get fidgety.
After a full day of close quarters on buses, planes and airports;
I was bustin at the seams to get my shoes on and go running!!
As quickly as possible,
I was dressed and was out the door!
It was an awesome run that evening in LA
and one I will never forget!

That was almost 16 years ago, as much as it burdens me to say that!!

Anyhoooo, back to this week....and the snow,
I have secretly hoped that I could instill in my children a love for running,
a love for the great outdoors and
the ability to enjoy the two as one!

Two days ago I told the boys that I was going to be running the trails up here
and asked if any of them were interested in joining me....
as I had expected Dakota and Ramiro were all over that idea!!

So the first day, I took Dakota.
We had an awesome time!
We ran the trails but we also climbed up the mountain
until we felt it was too dangerous.
It was incredibly fun and for a few minutes I felt
as if I was running with a friend, not my child!

And then he called me "Mom"

and I snapped out of that moment!
Dakota is growing up so quickly

and becoming such a fun
kid to be with that I completely

enjoy hanging with him!

And for the record:

he challenged me to be the first back to the house...

we both kicked it in gear and sprinted like nobody's business!!

I blew past him

and then if he hadn't cheated and

cut through the hay field....I would have won!

Just saying!

We're not competitive or anything.

Yesterday it was Ramiro's turn.
He was so excited and had been asking all morning what he should wear,
if he would need _____,
and wanting to pinpoint the exact time we would be leaving for our
first ever "mountain running", as he calls it!

He wore 2 hats,
a head warmer around his face,
2 shirts and a jacket, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of gloves,
2 pairs of socks and his football cleats
(it was very icy by this point, and actually I wished I had some too!!)

Here we are as we were leaving....
the orange hats were to inform hunters that we were not in fact deer!
Ramiro thought this was so funny b/c after all (as he says),
"we don't look like deer Momma"!!
Right.
We don't, but wear the hat anyways child!!

Ramiro and I had so much fun!
He ran, and ran and ran!
I kept asking him if he wanted to walk.
He never did.

And to tell you the truth, I couldn't have run much faster!
He kept up with me and did incredible!

About half way through,
we took a break on a hill and sat in the snow and just
listened to the wind.
It was priceless.

We ended up finishing 2.08 miles!
At the end I jumped over our finish line and dove into the snow!
Ramiro cracked up and laid down next to me, resting his head on my chest
and laughed himself silly.

As we hung out there in the snow, he says
"so this is what you do when you go running?"
I laughed and said, "ya babe, something like it!!"
Another moment, etched in my memory....
another run I'll never forget!

A week ago I was cleaning out Ramiro's backpack and found this paper
he had written at school.
It wasn't an assignment, I don't think,
it was just something he had written and
in an instant I knew it was a precious gift!

I love how he couldn't decide on how to spell "math"
and so he "x" out what wasn't right.
(Cool math is a web site he likes to go on to play computer games)

As I have looked at his paper over and over again,
I can't let go of his first sentence.

Ramiro, may you one day understand
the full extent of just how good God has been to you!
You are unbelievable!!
And may you know just how good God has been to me,
by giving me YOU!!
-Love, your Mommy

Starting Lines.

A simple line. A marking signifying one side from another. A place of separation, from past and future. A beginning, something left behind and something else in front.

I love a starting line. The anticipation, the excitement and energy, the hopefulness. It's a wonderful place to be whether its the first day of school, the beginning of a new job, a new home, a brand new baby, a new year or the start of a race. At times, on those rare occasions when I actually see one, a sunrise feels like a starting line too-a new day!

I got a new running journal the other day and as I flipped through the empty pages of the calendar, pages that will soon be filled with miles, times, goals and "reality" (ahem); I was excited about the starting line of 2011. But as I continued to flip through the pages I was reminded that the journey is where most of the lessons are learned. The process of getting from A to B is where we become more of who we are. The exhilaration of the finish line will never be felt if it wasn't for crossing over the starting line and seeing the thing through.

For me, 2011 will be a year of starting lines, long runs and finish lines! I will cross some finish lines this year that I started many, many....lets not get into those details now (*sigh*), but just know that its been a LONG road!! And as soon as I run through the finishers tape this summer, the very next step puts me at another starting line! The education process is gruesome like that! But there is something incredible about seeing things come full circle, no matter how long ago the start was!

Reality is, some races in life require us to start, re-start and start again...can I get an Amen on the second chances?? (And the third?? And the fourth??) The journey as well may take us to different finish lines than we originally thought, and the process often leaving us with blisters and calluses (aka "beauty marks"). My life seems to be summed up in those 2 sentences, never the less:
It takes courage to stand at the starting line, will power to cross over and begin the run, and perseverance to stay on the road (however long it takes) and cross the finish line!

This isn't supposed to rhyme or feel poetic

'Tis the season to be stressed, uptight, behind, agitated, cold, sick and crazy!
'Tis the season to explain 100 or so times how Santa visits houses with no chimney.
'Tis the season to "get over" a few things and go with Plan Z.

'Tis the season to know the cell number for your pharmacist, by heart.
'Tis the season to make 2 trips to the same store in one day because you forgot something on the list, the list you never made.
'Tis the season to NOT rely on your memory.

'Tis the season that once again gives birth to a schedule that's nearly impossible.
'Tis the season to promise that next year will be different.
'Tis the season which you remember you said that last year.

'Tis the season that crock pots are a gift from Heaven and coffee becomes an essential food group.
'Tis the season that you wished you had planned for financially, back in June.
'Tis the season to quickly discover "patience" as your middle name.

'Tis the season for finals and 15 page papers amongst ball games, banquets and parades.
'Tis the season for little white lies.
'Tis the season that 1 or 2 runs a week is the best one can hope for and will require a miracle of some sort.

But....
'Tis the season to celebrate the birth.
'Tis the season a babe saved the world.
'Tis the season to remember....
the Reason for the season.

happy thanks giving

*written on 11/25/10*

Wow, Thanksgiving morning! I love the holidays! I love the way the sun rises differently on this Thursday morning. I love how the breeze blows a fresh sense of excitement through the air and the holiday spirit fills our hearts like a thick fog! I'm dying to run this morning, I'm desperate to get outdoors so my mind can settle down.

As I opened my eyes this morning, pondering the thoughts of "thanksgiving", I've been reminded of a few things. I wanted to share them here.

Sometimes "happy thanks giving" is tough. There are times when those 3 words are simply exhausting. I am deeply aware of the families that are not going to find this day easy. Hope has grown legs and walked out the door. Love is a foreign language. Commitment is merely a word, not a verb. Jobs have ended. The bank account is starving. The stress loads are dumping quicker than anyone could possibly imagine digging out from under. I know many are adorning their smiling "plastic faces" today, while deep inside their hearts are curled up in the fetal position screaming in agony and pain.

I've been there too, on this day specifically. I know the gut-wrenching feeling when people would say "Happy Thanksgiving". It was incredibly confusing. I wasn't "happy", I was too numb for a feeling, let alone one of "thanks" and I was empty and had nothing to "give".

There is something about the human heart that allows us to identify and carry a burden for those who are walking down roads where our own feet have been. Its a heart condition that gives us the ability to feel a bit of their pain, simply because we have hurt in a very similar way.

So today I want to encourage you, to lift you up with the Word, and to remind those who are struggling with "Happy Thanksgiving":


"Rejoice in the Lord always,

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything,

by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.....

for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content

in any and every sitation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through Him who gives my strength."


These verses remind me that I must act....reguardless of how I feel!
Our feelings are slow to respond sometimes, they may have stage fright. And that's ok! We don't live by how we feel, we live by the promises of God which are not subjective to how we feel right now, or in 2 hours from now!
So...Give thanks.
Its a verb.
Pray.
That's a verb too!
When you do, God promises to stand guard over your heart and your mind.
You will sense His presence,
for He is the peace that rises above all understanding.
You won't want to miss it!

Hello, my name is Jill.

Hello, my name is Jill.
Just in case you were still wondering, and the title wasn't clear!

I am a mother of 4 precious children and a stay home mom who just might remain a student indefinitely. I'm a runner, a Bama fan and the miserable owner of 3 vocal chord nodules that are quite possibly never going to recover after my boys' football season! I mean really, why is sitting in the stands and clapping for your son not an option for me? I've tried. It lasted 2 minutes and 25 seconds. And I'm not kidding.

Anyways, nice to meet you.

I thought I'd re-introduce myself as the creator of this blog! I've been MIA for over a month now and though I write blog posts in my head frequently, I've failed to actually share them here. I think about this blog every day. However as I work on my "50 things that HAVE to get done today", sitting here to write just doesn't rise to the top very often! I'd like to promise to do better. But Ramiro (yes, he's that little boy of mine that is now 7!!) has recently pointed out that making promises that I can't keep is not in his Bible. Thank you Pastor Ramiro for your Biblical insight!! So, I will NOT promise to do better....I'll just hope that I can and maybe Pastor Ramiro will find that sufficient! geesh, kids!

So, as of late......Ramiro is now thrilled to be 7 because he thinks he's closer to being "in charge", Andre is now 6 and thrilled to no longer hear Ramiro remind him that he's only 5! Andre said that was on his "EVERY last nerve"! haha I am also a year older now.....and we'll not worry about how old I am....I'll just say that I'm very sure it means I should be "in charge". I worry that its not actually a correct representation of reality at this house!! Dakota and Madelyn are both doing great as well!

The boys football teams have made it into the playoff's and we are so stinkin excited!! They have worked so hard and its awesome to see how they've grown as athletes since the first day of training camp! I "hope" to soon do a big post on Ramiro's season (scroll down a few posts for some of Dakota's highlights)....he's been amazing! You've never seen a kid so tiny take down kids 3x his size....and then jump up, pull up his pants/pads and run back in place for the next play....all before the other kid has gotten up off the ground! He's hysterical, that Ramiro! Go #42!!

As we wind down football, basketball practices have already started! Andre will be joining in this year....so having 3 boys now with practices/games should prove to be interesting! I'm just praying Ramiro and Andre don't body slam each other on the court like they do at home! I'm not over-exaggerating either!! Its a real possibility!

The weather is beautiful here and it makes for some great running! More on that later! Gotta get offa here now, I've just remembered that list of 50 things that HAVE to get done today!!
Love ya'll....its good to be back!!

Bye, my name is Jill.

one motley crew

I'm trying to make up for lost time on this blog...so here's some recent pics of the kids.

Madelyn now goes to a moms-morning-out program on Tuesday and Thursdays.

She was so excited to need a "pack-pack" and a "yunchbox".

This pic was from her first morning and I wish she looked more excited, ahem!

These 2 pic's were from the boys first day of school...
Maddie just likes to get in on the action too!
Off they were....Andre in K, Ramiro in 1st grade and Dakota in 7th grade.
(Ramiro's morning meds had not quite hit yet
so he was still off in his own little world,
Lord bless his teacher!)


As I look at these 4 kids I'm reminded of this past baseball season when
Dakota had a mishap with a baseball in the mouth.
As I raced home to drop off the little kids to my Dad and get to the ER
Dakota was quickly getting out of control from the pain and blood.

In moments like those one of the things that happens,
and it warms my heart,
is that the kids become very emotional
from seeing one of them hurting so badly.

By the time I got home, I had all 3 of the little kids squalling as well.
They fight like nobodies business,
don't get me wrong.....
but when push comes to shove,
these kids are tight!

My baby can RUN!!

Football. The south. Enough said.
And my boys are no exception, they love some football.
Except for one thing:

I'm not sure what they are feeding these boys down here,

but this first shot is just to show you what we're dealing with here in size.

So #92 back there....he's 11 (6th grade)!!

And my son, the big strapping brut #16 there in front, Dakota...he's 12 (7th grade).

It's enough to make this mother pace the sidelines,

holler like a wild woman and
be ready to jump the fence at any given moment

if her child is down for more than 2 seconds!

Never the less, Dakota is doing so well!

That's him there with the ball on the left.

And there.

And there.

First down baby!!

Way to run, 1*6*!!

And then, his biggest play of the season so far....

(#75 you'd better not even think about it....)

he's got the ball,

and he's got his work cut out for him,

50 yards away from the end zone....

hurry babe, hurry!

Run Kota, Run!

(about here I began to feel my vocal chords issue a warning:

please stop this abusive screaming! I ignore.)

Faster D, faster!!

Your not done yet, blue/white are all over you babe....

go Kota Man, run your heart out!!

He successfully "juked" those kids there....and was GONE BABY!!

(about here...his mother in the stands is loosing her ever lovin' mind, and her voice!)

TOUCHDOWN DAKOTA!!

Now that is a beautiful sight when your son had the ball!

Dakota was later thankful to find out that I decided NOT to jump the fence

and join in the "body bump" in the end zone. Just sayin'.

It was a close call.