My Very Expensive T-Shirt

So, I almost ran a race. An official-type, wear a number, cross an actual finish line race. Almost. I signed up for it back in February. About a week before the race, I found out that it was just not going to work out for me to do the night run in Denver. I picked up my racing stuff (above) in the middle of crazy Metro Denver a few days before in the hopes of selling my packet to someone who didn't sign up before it sold out. I had 3 Craigslist people fall through. 

I won't deny it, I was pretty disappointed. I had been training for this one race and it didn't happen. 

Last week, I did what I didn't want to do and got back on my treadmill. I haven't signed up for any more races (more local this time) but when I do, I'll be ready. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my cool, unearned, very expensive t-shirt.

Someone had a birthday...

Yep. It happened. I am officially 34. 

Pay no attention to John Adams behind me.

 My kind and sweet husband actually took pictures of me this year! (This is why my birthday even made it to the blogosphere.)

Tim went all out for my birthday~ he took us all out to Carrabba's for lunch and he picked up a strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Strawberry cheesecake was Dabney's idea. And, you guys, he got me the best, prettiest present EVER. I can't wait to show it to you! (It only came this past Saturday.)

 I had a fantabulous birthday. I got to talk to far away family, hug my closest family, eat delicious food, see friends, worship our risen Lord, and feel very loved by my husband and my slew of children who showered me with homemade cards and my very own starter collection of Matchbox cars.

I don't know why people are so down on birthdays. I don't feel any older than 17 (except when Tim works late) and I always feel like my birthday is the best day of the year. Maybe I am just especially blessed.

My First Outside 5K

There was a local running club running a tribute 5K in support of Monday's awful attack on the Boston Marathon and I decided (spur of the moment) to join them. I've been a treadmill-in-the-basement runner for a while now and this was my first outside run with actual humans along side me (but mostly running past me). I've got to say, I have quite a ways to go as an outside runner.

I won't lie. It was 25 degrees (not a big deal, and yes it was April 16th) but the whipping wind stung my lungs and it was pretty hard to breathe for most of the way. I know I was listening to music but the only thing going through my head was, "I am not a runner and this is torture".

 Meanwhile, Tim and the kids stayed in the car and stalked me and took photographic evidence for posterity and for YOU, faithful blog readers. :)

Please forgive my complete lack of makeup and my gross wind-tortured hair, but I tend to believe that of you look pretty at the end of a workout, you haven't done it right.

In retrospect, it really wasn't that bad. Apart from the wind and those experienced runners passing me left and right, it wasn't that different from my treadmill runs. Also, I don't like waiting for street lights to change when I'm trying to time myself...  Keeping my pace was a little tricky because I couldn't gauge my speed so I did have to walk once or twice especially when I got to the spot where the course travels UP Uintah.  I think I was running faster outside than I typically run on the treadmill. I've found a good pace that I can sustain through 3.1 miles, but of course I had no idea how fast I was running when I was outside running past the pretty part of downtown. The distance didn't feel any longer than normal either. Probably because I was running past Guiseppe's (where we had our rehersal dinner), Colorado College, the downtown library, Monument Creek, and our favorite hotel in town, the Antlers DoubleTree. All of those places are so memorable and special to me. 

I'm looking forward to my next outside 5k!

So, I've Been a Little Quiet

Yes, I'm still here. I guess it's time for an update.

I'm still pregnant. 38w 3d to be exact. I guess I'll confess that I had been hoping that our little bundle would have arrived by now, but I'm trying to be patient. Actually I'm more than happy that it looks like he truly will be a May baby; I'm not impatient to hold him. The truth is, I've been having contractions (some easy and some debilitating) every 25-45 minutes since Wednesday at 7am. I am in pain. My muscles are very sore. And on top of that, it's a little frustrating that the contractions aren't exactly speeding up yet either. Let's change the subject.

On a doleful note, Tim's dad passed away early on April 17th. Tim and his brothers had had the opportunity to visit him just last month as he exited the hospital for the last time and we're so thankful that Tim was able to be there to visit that last time. Although his passing wasn't sudden, it was definitely shocking and terribly sad. Tim drove up a few days later with 3 of our kids to be with his mom and brothers for the funeral. (I wanted to write about last week, but I think it would have been terribly unwise to tell the internet that I was home alone and my husband was very far away.) My husband and big kids returned from their long journey on Easter Sunday night. Adam and I were anxiously awaiting them with a good Easter dinner and Easter treats for everyone. I wished I had been able to go, but in my condition, it really was pretty unwise to travel by car so far away. Adam stayed with me and we rested and relaxed for the days the rest of the family was away. It was really quiet around here with just the two of us~ I was so happy to be able to finally squeeze my little joyful noisemakers when they returned.

While my family was away, I had a doctor's appointment and the ladies at church threw a sweet baby shower for me and Aaron and for another friend and her little pink bundle of joy. We had a great time and afterward my friends took me along on an expansive tour of all of the formal dresses throughout the nearest mall. I was super exhausted, but we really did have a great time together.

Oh, I also made new curtains while Tim was gone.

This time that I have on my hands have been filled with little last minute things for baby's arrival. The infant car seat is in the car, the bassinet is set up about 4 feet from my side of the bed, pacifiers have been ordered and delivered. And since Adam has all but adopted his baby brother's blanket, I ran out today to JoAnn's 1 day sale to buy more fabric for another blanket... or two.

Did I mention that we converted Adam's crib to a toddler bed a few weeks ago and he loves it? And I love it because I can tell him that it's time to get in bed and he goes and does it.

(Ok, he's on the couch in this picture, but you get the idea...)

And lest you forget, I actually did get the labels done for Adam's little bookshelf drawers. I didn't make them from fabric like I had planned, but I printed out the tags on paper and then laminated them and attached them to the handles of the drawers with some kitchen twine.

Hi, Mom!

Hello everyone!

(I'll edit this and write something when the kids are napping...)

Our Theological Heritage

(This post has been on my heart for months now. I'm only sorry that it has taken me so long to post it.)



I am an historical girl. I just love history. I love my family history, American history, world history, church history.

Maybe I love history because I live in Colorado which has practically no history; it only became a U.S. territory 149 years ago. I grew up in a small town in the rolling Pennsylvania farmland that is older than the American revolution. My parents used to drive half an hour away and show us where our nation was born- I wish I could do the same for my children. I miss learning about the old history that used to surround me. History is important because it tells us where we've come from and who we are.

Maybe I love history because I grew up learning from a dear pastor who taught us to value our theological heritage. I draw great comfort from learning about the Scottish Covenanters who were persecuted for their faith. They died not just for believing in Jesus, but for doctrinal truths from Scripture, like justification by faith alone, the solas of the reformation, bringing children into the covenant by baptism, and practices such as family worship and psalm singing. I would encourage you to read a few of these books to get you started learning about these great saints.


I believe that historic Biblical creeds, confessions, catechisms are very important as we grow in our faith and can meditate on weightier doctrines. The simple doctrines (like the Apostle's Creed) are crucial to know and understand and love, but after a while, theological meat is necessary to grow strong. Do we delve any deeper than pop culture Christianity? We have hundreds of years of Presbyterian history that we benefit from everyday. Are we taking advantage of this history? These ancient godly men searched the scriptures night and day and summarized biblical thoughts and doctrines for their children and congregants. This is our spiritual heritage. These men were persecuted for shaking up the status quo and doing and preaching what was biblical. Ministerial delegates in 1647 labored heavily and prayerfully as they drafted the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechism, a thorough exposition of Scripture heavily laden throughout with full proof texts for every word written. John Calvin after having fled to Basel, Switzerland in 1536, wrote his Institutes of the Christian Religion, a veritable handbook for reformed, newly protestant Christianity. Study for yourself and adopt the Canons of Dort in 1619 which defend the faith against the delinquent doctrine of Arminianism. Don't forget the puritan preachers and authors too, like Jeremiah Burroughs, Thomas Watson, Jonathan Edwards and Richard Baxter who thoroughly studied the Bible and wrote beautiful volumes about God's attributes and instructions on how to live a godly life. (I'd heartily recommend this one.) We must study these documents and learn about our church fathers. All of this is very important. There is a wealth that we cannot squander. These are the shoulders that we stand upon. We need to be mature enough in our faith to know why we believe what we believe.



A note to those who know me from church:
Do you ever wonder what exactly is a sacrament? Why do we baptize our babies? Who should partake of the Lord's Table? Why do we worship in the order we do? I would encourage you to take a look at The Westminister Confession and the OPC Book of Church Order ~ also known as The Westminster Standards. This organized way of worship is important because order reflects the order of our good God.

The Big 3-0

Today is my birthday. There is no getting around it~ and I'm ok with that.

I could be sad if I was turning 30 and I lived alone and had some dead end job, and attended a dead end church. I could be sad if I had no husband or children. However, I am 30 today and have found the man of my dreams. I don't deserve him. I have 4 healthy, beautiful, vivacious children! I have a tenderhearted, ladylike daughter who helps me with our 3 strapping, manly sons! God has answered my prayers in ways I could never imagine.

God was so good to me in my 20's! Think of all the things that have happened! I met and married my dream guy, became a homeowner and a mother times 4*! I've seen the Black Hills, the Grand Canyon, the Florida Keys, Mt. Rushmore, and a few Hawaiian islands, to boot! I've seen my brothers and sister grow and change into aunts and uncles and my parents into grandparents. I've retraced my family footprints in the south and made new history with my young family right here in Colorado.

Being a wife and a mom is a position that only God can put you in and I remember longing for the calling many years ago. And God granted me my desire. And I love my job. It's even better than all those expectations I had when I was younger. I have my dream job. I really do. I love to cook and sew and organize and shop and read and teach my children. God has blessed me beyond my imagination. Who can do anything but rejoice that another birthday has rolled around? I'm 30 today and I can't to see what God will do next!

This world seems to be obsessed with youth. And hey, being young really is fun. But also this world doesn't value wisdom very highly and wisdom must come with age. So my prayer is that as I go and cash in some years, God will grant me the wisdom along the way.





*(And for the record, I don't believe in all that "baby-to-be", "mother-to-be" nonsense. I believe with ever fiber of my being that when a little one is conceived it's a baby~ not a baby needing validation by birth~ no question. And if you have a baby inside you are already a mother! Let's not embrace the worldly pro-choice propaganda.)

Sweet Summer Nights

Although my house is quiet, I love nights like this. My babies are safely tucked into their warm beds upstairs, there's a soft breeze blowing through the front window, the stars are starting to peek out of the evening clouds and I'm at the kitchen table making a few alterations for a friend 's bridesmaid's dress with my faithful Singer 4525. I can hear the wind chimes from the front porch. I'm playing my favorite musical in the living room for inspiration~ I think the beautiful Edwardian costumes are my favorite part of the movie. I love the American Edwardian fashions (circa 1910) because they are modest but beautiful and fashionable. Anyway.

My house is quiet. It's not as full as it was yesterday. A little sadder, though, especially for the little one who doesn't take goodbyes very well. We had such a great time with my family~ actually, it's hard to not a have a great time with them. Dabney keeps saying, "I had such a fun time with Grandma and Pop Pop." We'll miss them lots but God is so good to let us see them as often as we do. I never imagined we'd see them so much when they first told me they were moving across the Pacific. I praise God for them and we're so glad they came.

Did I mention that I cut my hair?

Now that I've lived with it a week, I'm liking it more and more. It was a really big adjustment at first, but it's a lot cooler and lighter and I can do new things with my new length. Most importantly, Tim tells me it's cute almost everyday.