an award

I got an award yesterday for dedication to coaching speech and debate at our first tournament this season.

I was holding another coach's baby girl at the time.  It was the coach that hosted the tournament.  She knows exactly what it's like trying to dedicate time to a school's speech and debate program while teaching and balancing life as a wife and a mother.  It's hard! And she thought I deserved this.

*cue huge smile*

It's nice to be recognized for your efforts every now and then.  Often in the speech and debate world, it seems like those coaches who get recognized the most are those that "martyr" themselves and their lives for these events.  Often, they don't have families, so I guess they figure it's no big deal if they go to EVERY. SINGLE. TOURNAMENT. under the sun. 

But ladies like Lee and I, we can't do that.  We won't do that.  As much as we love speech and debate and recognize the importance of it and its life changing effect on students, our families have to come first.  Too often - because of speech and debate - they don't.  And that's the sacrifice we make to ensure the students we work with have this opportunity to grow as new speakers and as newly empowered individuals.   

It's a calling; that's for sure!  And until God says, "Stop, Jamie. Move in a different direction," I'll keep juggling my roles as wife, mother, friend, teacher, and coach.  And it's just nice that sometimes you get recognized for your effort.

Thanks Lee!
((hugz))

ps. Please ignore the fragments in this piece. Besides, I would term them as "functional". ;-)

a flight home

Me and my girls went to see my family in Indiana.  Hubby had to work - new job. 

I'm originally from Indiana.  Born and raised a Hoosier.  ;-) It wasn't until I met my Georgia peach in an internet chat room 13 years ago that I moved south.  I guess I should tell you all that story... later though. LOL

Anyway, it was because of my father's near death experience that I thought I should go see my family.  It put an emphasis on the fact that life is short and you don't want to live with any regrets, so I went to see him, to see my mom, to see everyone.  No one had seen Hannah yet, and I knew I would regret it if I didn't "share" her with them while she was still so young.  Sooooo, I flew north with my girls, and they saw their Grammy - my mom - for the first time.

 

 

I saw my dad too, but only for a couple hours for pizza one night.  I didn't think to get a picture.  :-(  Anyway, it was awkward.  He's working too much again and doing a job he shouldn't be doing for his health all because he is obsessed with paying off bills. I mean he's OCD about it!  I tried to encourage him to make some decisions to improve his life like insisting on them transferring him to another position at work, getting a credit card so it's not so hard on him to buy the things he needs when he needs them (like groceries) because he obsessed with paying other things, or not working 6 days a week.  But, he doesn't listen.  He's on some anti-depressant drugs that numb him to  life, and as a result, he's not even thinking about his eternal destination anymore.  After his near death experience, he had talked about going to church.  Not any more.  It's sad.  He's sad to look at too.  He looks like death walking. I'm kinda glad, in a way, that I didn't get a pic of him right now. 

 

Well, aside from a short, disappointing visit with him, the rest of the experience was great.  We had some excellent pictures taken of the cousins - despite the fact that the youngest of my sister - Lucas - HATED Hannah.  No exaggeration people.  He was very upset she was in his territory, so the below pic was a miracle to have gotten.

 

 

It was nice to see everyone - together.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents.  In a way, it makes me want to be closer to my family.  However, one thing is certain; Indiana doesn't feel like home anymore.  Georgia has everything that is "home".  Our church, our jobs, our friends, our children's one of a kind daycare/school... I know I couldn't have found a better place to raise a healthy family. 

 

I am blessed.

 

 



 

 



live like you are dying

Bible study started back this past Wednesday night after having ended for the summer this past May.  And man, oh man, I so needed it! 

I really missed delving deep into the word of God for truth with fellow female Christians who are equally thirsty for a word from the Savior.  *insert relaxed sigh* It was great!

The study I'm attending is a Kay Arthur study on spiritual warfare.  Last night, we got a good look at the enemy and how he works.  He's subtle - or "crafty" as the Bible calls him - and manipulates God's word to make you doubt yourself and God.

Ultimately, the enemy will be destroyed by Jesus, but until then, he lives to disrupt our relationship with our creator.  And I know - all too often - I let him do just that.  I'm looking forward to finishing this study and learning how to better combat my enemy.

He's a tough foe, but often, my toughest foe is myself.  I doubt. I worry. I'm a control freak.  And often, I think I know best - or better - about... well, everything.  I set myself up for failure when I do these things and I don't trust my savior. 

I need to trust.  I need to relax.  I need to enjoy - and be thankful for - the life God has blessed me with.  Life can change in an instant, so I need to revel in the moments with my family and my health that He's given to me.

A friend of mine passed away unexpectedly.  We had gone to high school together.  We were on the speech team together.  We had just reconnected through facebook.  Then, she was gone.  Thirty-five and never woke up one morning.  Just like that.  Done.

You never know how much time you are awarded on this earth.  Only God knows that.  Yes, life can be hard.  For a Christian, it's a spiritual battle every day.  However,  it's a gift - life.  To breathe.  To wake up the next morning.  To see your loved ones.  To live your life.  All. Gifts.

I'm realizing that.  And now, I'm striving to live like everyday is a gift.

It's hard.  But I gotta try.  It's a disservice to my savior to not live every day as if it is a gift.  He gives us these precious days. 

We gotta live like we're dying.

My first 5K - I did it!!!

Got a babysitter for the kids, and we packed up and left for the University of Georgia (UGA) Sunday afternoon.  We got to the Hilton Garden Inn, and my husband and I started our sight seeing together.  It began with a look outside our cool hotel.  A hotel is cool ONLY if it has a fountain outside of it, and ours did! ;-)

We walked around Athens for a bit.  I saw a few former students, but thankfully, they didn't see me ;-)  We ate at a really cool pizza place called "Your Pie".  Then, we went exploring some more.  Found this...

University of Georgia football stadium

After exploring, we headed back to the hotel for the night.  Got some good sleep, and we awoke at 6:00am to get dressed and go to Action Dash registration.  :-)

ready to run my first race

hubby ready to run his first race

I can't tell you the amount of energy and excitement that was running through me!  I had set only two goals for this race: 1 - have fun! 2 - run most of the race with minimal walking breaks.

The first was easy to achieve.  They had a warm up for the race where everyone had to get out and do a dance called the wobble.  Back in my day - am I really that old? - we "warmed up" with songs like the electric slide. LOL  Anyway, I got to learn the moves to a new song! I like being silly in front of large crowds!

The second goal wasn't so hard to achieve either, surprisingly.  I only walked in the race once - at a HUGE hill near the engineering building.  Wow! No one told me that the UGA campus was filled with hills!  There were some difficult inclines, but like I said, I only stopped at one really big one and walked it.  Only about 4 mins of my time was spent there.  The rest of the race, I ran! PROUD! OF! ME!!

I finished strong!  My e-mail from Action Dash that had my results read...

Your 5K time was 39:25
Your pace was 12:41/M
You were number 104 overall
You were number 4 of 8 in your age group 35-39

For my first 5K - I'm happy!  And I can't wait to run again!!!  Even though I was about ready to die as I finished the race...




My husband did great for his first 5K.  He got 3rd place overall for his age group!  He finished in about 30 mins.



hubby getting his 3rd place prize - an Action Dash bag





As for me...

I got a cool t-shirt!


I think I'm gonna like collecting race t-shirts!

I LOVE TO RUN!