Running

I went running in town this afternoon. As a matter of fact, I ran for 43 minutes and 56 seconds. I ran for 5.01 miles, and my pace ranged from 8:30-9:30 per mile.

How do I know all this?






A very sweet family made me wonder if there really is a Santa Clause this week by sending me this really cool watch. It is a Garmin GPS watch with all kinds of running capabilities that I will not bore you with.... I am eager to continue training with my new "virtual partner," as I am shooting towards a marathon in April.

My family calls it my secret agent watch, because I said it is my spy gear/ mini-computer... I've told them that I only pull out the laser beam on special occasions! :)

new backgound

By the way, if you haven't noticed, I changed my background. I went with the maroon because it was football season and everything, and I picked "dawg days..." because it went along with the football theme.

I never really liked the name, though, so I changed it... I do like alliterated things! Maybe it will stick, maybe not... any better title ideas? Definitely open to suggestion!

If you ask my children what my favorite color is, they will immediately tell you, "Rainbow!" I love bright colors and all the colors of the spectrum together... hence the new background! It makes me happy!

Speaking of happy, Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Today Scott's sister and family are coming into town, and tomorrow my parents, Scott's dad, stepmom, brothers, and some people from church will join us for a feast. I think it will be about 25 in all. So... I need to get movin' and clean my house! :)

more feast pictures

We had the feast at Lake Arrowhead Lodge in Myrtle. It was a log building with a big stone fireplace and log beams in the ceiling... it was perfect!
Hannah fencing with pastor John
Will discovered chess at the feast, and spent most of the activity time in this tent with Mrs. Sandy learning to play.

Feast Pics

The feast was not only a meal, we also had a "medieval faire" to go along with it. Each family set up a booth or activity for others to enjoy. There was fencing, catapult, archery, chess, wood-splitting, jousting, coats of arms, and a few others. We also had a group come and display swords and armor and demonstrate how chain mail was made.

Robin Hood and the wood splitter


Fair ladies and archery.... notice my friend Laura cringing, and I don't even have the bow strung! :)
This is probably my favorite picture from the event... the knights and woodsmen protecting the maidens! It was so cold that Sarah kept her cape wrapped up around her, and we never really saw her dress!

this week

Well, this week was spent catching up on "normal" things, but that didn't include blogging! We are having Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year, and I spent most of the week completing little projects that only get done if you are having a party... you know, cleaning the individual leaves on the silk tree, finishing a roman shade, making slip covers, etc.

I still intend to post feast pictures, because I got some good ones. However, we are at my mom-in-law's house and I am without my own computer. They live on the gulf coast of Mississippi in a little town called Kiln. (Home of Brett Farve, football fans!) It is about 10 minutes away from the beach, and very close to good, fresh shrimp! Shrimp pasta, fried shrimp, shrimp gumbo, and best of all SHRIMP PO BOYS!!! Scott's step-dad does his best to make sure I get my fill when we come down here, and he usually succeeds in sending me home about 5 pounds heavier than when I arrive.

This morning we went to the library and to the new exercise trail. The local news station was filming a piece about "Let's go Walkin', Mississippi," and a lady asked my mom-in-law to come and bring the kids. We got filmed trying out all of the equipment, Hannah and Will got interviewed, and then he got a cute shot of everyone walking up to the camera saying, "Let's go walking, Mississippi!" It will air on Thanksgiving day here, so Kay will record it and send it to us. How fun!

For dinner we went out to eat seafood, and I got my fill on shrimp for the trip!

We leave early Tuesday morning, and then it will be finishing up Thanksgiving preparations!

Off Line

I have been "offline" for the last several days. I have so many things that I would like to do... like write notes to all of my precious runners... but our medieval feast has taken precedence over other matters.

We participate in a homeschool co-op, Excelsior, that meets once a week in Tupelo. Different moms teach different classes, and give students assignments to complete at home during the week. Some of the classes are Latin, Bible, History, Grammar, Literature, Science, Art Appreciation, and Geography.

We operate with the "classical" philosophy of education. I could give you a long explanation about what that means, but here it is in a nutshell: We study history chronologically. As we go through, we integrate literature, art and music, etc. History is sort of the centerpiece of the subjects, and Latin is started at an early age because our English roots are in the Latin language.

This year we are studying the Middle Ages, Rennaissance, and Reformation. SO... our fall get together is a medieval feast!

I started this post last week one night, and now the feast has already taken place this past Saturday night. The feast went beautifully, and I will post pictures next time. I am somewhat relieved, however, because now I have time to catch up on "normal" things and get ready for the holidays!

real life

Yesterday as I was cleaning someone else's house, thinking about how much my house needed cleaning, and really struggling with being a servant, I started thinking about blogging. My feelings and the drudgery of the day were certainly nothing to post about. Most definitely not...

I think part of the appeal of blogging is that we can create a perfect little snapshot of our family for others to see. You know, we don't take pictures of our kids when they are snotty-nosed or being disobedient and post them; we take pictures when they are being cute, clever, diligent, or helpful! We post our thoughts that might amaze or encourage others, but those thoughts that might reveal our struggles with sin, wavering faith, or less than submissive attitude..... well, we just don't blog on those days!

This might not be a bad thing... it isn't always best to be completely transparent on the "world wide web," but we mustn't do two things:
1. "escape" to our little world on the web, where we try to portray everything as perfect and hope everyone sees us as so.
2. Be naive enough to think that everyone else is perfect and we are not

I had been thinking about this yesterday, and then I read a post this morning that was very encouraging... we don't have to have it all together or be perfect. We are called to humbly serve the Lord, in whatever situation we might find ourselves in. A lady that I knew in Kentucky posted about a week that many of us can relate to, but not many of us would post about! Check out Laura's blog... we are not alone!

from the mouths of babes...

Some comments this morning from the Duley kids....

"So does this mean we won't get to have Christmas presents anymore?"

"If he takes all of our guns, how will we slay deer?"

Last, but definitely not least... also a summary of the dangers of socialism....

Will: "Is he going to take all of our money and give it away? We don't have any money!"

Reply: "actually, we are in a tax group that will probably end up getting money, but we still don't agree with the plan."

Will: "Ok, good, so why don't we just try to stay poor?"

In this time (as in any time) we do need to be faithful to pray for our nation and for our leaders. PLEASE check out Kurt's post about this... It is a call to prayer and some Christ-centered, biblical examples of areas in which we can do so.

XC Champ

Gas Money from New Albany to Clinton.... $40

Meals on the road for me and the girls......$30

Watching Austin Epting win state his senior year.... PRICELESS!
Austin, Hannah Walker, me, Richard Feist
(Tuesdae was there but off on her 10 miler!)

In 2002, Scott and I started a cross country program at East Union Attendance Center where he taught. It is a small, K-12 school out in the county. We had a great group of kids that turned into a great group of runners! The first season we did not do much, but the second and third seasons we had the boys' state champion, got state-runner up as a team (boys), and had a few girls get all-state. Best of all, the kids began to love the sport!

The first year we coached, Austin was a 7th grader. I was taller than he, and he probably weighed 80lbs. He was always a good listener, did what he was told, and worked hard. In fact, although he did not have the most natural ability, his hard work paid off exponentially over the years. We were there for three years before moving to Kentucky, and got to see him make huge strides in improving his times. While we were gone, Austin continued to improve and do very well each year. He is a very earnest young man who is quite determined. Most notably, it seems as though the Lord is really working in Austin's life. I have seen a humility and gentleness that is very encouraging. I believe he is planning to go to Blue Mountain next year, where he will join Richard and Tuesdae, two of my other kids from the beginning.

I debated as to whether or not to go this weekend... gas prices, plans that evening, would it really even matter, or was I just sentimental... However, I am so glad I went!!! I wouldn't trade the hug and thanks I got after that race for anything! WAY TO GO AUSTIN; I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!