another 5k.

Mom is on fire.

She is loving these 5k's!

A week before...

Mom asks, "You want to run in this 5k?"

"Sure, why not."

She sends in the entry fee and the threesome are signed up.

We arrive at the school. A high school. 

This race is to help the FFA.

(Future Farmers of America)

We receive our packets and complete our stretches.

We are ready.

Blessings abound.

We take our places at the starting line.

The horn buzzes and the runners are off.

The Cow Patty Trot has begun.

I set my pace and settle in for the 3.1 miles ahead of me.

People pass me. I pass others.

We run by cow fields.

Smoke from a burn pile.

A house that smells strongly of dogs.
The country scenes.

I round the bend and the finish line is in sight.

Going too fast, I feel weak.

(low blood sugar. another story for another day.)

 I slow down and then, seeing the family, I kick it into high gear.

I cross the finish line.

Blessings abound.

Mom and the sister come in first in their age category.

I couldn't be more happier for them.

//More blessings.//

Stats for my info:

Chip Time: 33:01

Gun Time: 33:03

Overall Place: 86 out of 159

Age Division: 20-29

Place: 7th out of the 16 in my age group

winn-dixie with the girls.

The threesome have a break.

This Saturday morning isn't rushed with having to don our running gear and rush off to a 5k race.

Nope.

We sleep in. This Saturday (like all Saturday's) is going to be good.

We have made plans.

Blessings abound.

One has straight hair, one has braids, and the other curls.

We load up in the white Sub and head out....anxiously awaiting the adventures that are sure to be had--

just us and mom.

Blessings abound.

The Gas Station and a Car Wash.

The New Black Clothing Store.

Wally World.

Then it's to Chick-fil-A to meet Daddy.

Radio Shack.

Rue 21.

Bath and Body Works.

Shoe Station.

And then it's off to Winn-Dixie for groceries.

We enter the grocery store and memories come flooding...

being little girls, helping mom calculate the best deals on the giant calculator and putting the item into the grocery cart.

not seeing the perfect head of lettuce and asking for a fresher one from the back of the store.

developing relationships with the workers where they know us by name.

standing on the massive scale/slipping up behind the brother or sister and stepping on the edge, making the needle skyrocket.

looking forward to the sucker bucket at the check-out.

receiving those coupons.

the sis and I growing up and being able to drive ourselves to the store to tackle the trip alone.

sales papers.

cookie samples from the bakery.

a sock monkey Easter basket.

the beef-smelling and freezing back of the store.
popsicles and frozen dinners.

This trip is different. Almost sad.

I am more than thankful for all the memories that the three of us have in this place called Winn-Dixie.

But, I realize that our trips to town together will soon become very few and far between.

People grow up. People get married.

Our little girl-selves are no longer....little.

We're in a different phase in our life.

A new, exciting
(and maybe scary)
 phase.

So, (*tear*)
even though we may sometimes wish that we could completely stop time
(and maybe even reverse it just a little),
here is to the future.

The future of us being big girls now.

Blessings abound.

Oh, and God, thanks for the snow flurry's this past trip.

We were quite excited...to say the least. 

(we only got a few weird stares from other people)

bored.

                                       
                                                                             //Source via Pinterest//

i'm over there today.

Hey guys.

I'm super excited to be featured over here today.

Thank you, R 16:16 for having me! I'm so honored.

Joyfully at Home: Chapter Ten

Overcoming a False View of Singleness

Jasmine Baucham states:

Why don't we enjoy our single years?

Instead of wringing our hands in helpless, lonely melancholy, or conversely, allowing ourselves to become distracted and discouraged by the list of things that we must achieve before we can get married, as if marital preparation were some sort of checklist that we could mark off with a gold sticker awaiting us at the end (enter: tall, dark, and handsome), let's understand that, while honest evaluation of our level of growth can be sober and spur us onward as we mature in Christ, that maturity in Christ is the goal here--

not matrimony.

You could be married nine months from now, or you could be married nine years from now. The Lord might purpose for you to never marry. There is no way that you can know exactly when or to whom you will wed. But here's what we do know: The Lord has given us life, perhaps an unmarried one at this point, and has given us a mission to carry out, single or married (Matt. 28:18-20), and is constantly sanctifying us, single or married, and has called us to a purpose, single or married...

And that's a wonderful thing!

I am not suggesting that we should not actively prepare to be capable wives and mothers...but daughterhood is the best training ground. Checklists aside, yes, we should have goals in mind, but not superficial goals that will crumble and waver with every unmarried year that passes. Our goals should be spiritual ones, ones that we can strive for whether we are getting married next year of getting married ten years from now, goals that can serve the Lord if He calls us to a life of singleness or whether we end of having eight children. Our goal should be to bless others in whatever sphere of influence the Lord has placed us--in whatever context He has called us to live out the biblical womanhood that He has called us to.

To spend my unmarried years discontentedly counting the moments until I'm married, missing out on all of the blessings and opportunities the Lord has provided for me here and now, for His glory...that would truly be a waste.

...trust in the Lord's sovereign timing as you look towards the future.

check it out.