HERO RUSH 2013

HERO RUSH

April 20,2013

 Tough, Crazy, Fear-Facing Fun 

a 4-5 mile race with unique firefighter and “hero” themed obstacles,

a mile Kid's race ,

Food, 

Games for the by standers 

This makes the 3rd obstacle themed race Daniel has accomplished. The first race was last year at the Tennessee Fire School which he ran with his sister Sarah and her husband Randy. The second race was for Habitat a local charity which he ran with a group of guys from the Fire Hall one of which was our friend Jon. And for this race Daniel got to run with Sarah and Jon. Two great people who have supported Daniel and his running. These races have become a family affair. It is a Great way for us to get to see and spend time with Sarah and have some fun too. For this race Amos and Carter got to run. They had a one mile course for the little guys with a few kid sized obstacles. This race was All about firefighting...... start with a stair climb then sliding down a fireman's pole, rope walls, half wooden walls, tires, creek water,hose carry, hose climb, hose walk, slide into water, water pit where you are sprayed by fire nozzles and last but not least jump over a few rows of fire. Sounds fun, right?  As most obstacle races go they have different waves or starting times to run. With the Hero Rush they have a special one that you can choose to be a part of. Daniel choose the 343 Wave for them to run in. They would be running in remembrance of the brave men and women who lost their lives on 9/11. Each racer's bib showed a fallen hero's name. It cost a little more to run in this wave but the money was matched by Hero Rush and donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The kid race is way scaled down from the adult race, no water for them. Amos and Carter were a little bummed by that. I was happy because it was a extremely windy day and a little on the cool side. Daniel, Sarah and Jon were a little cold after running through the different water spots, luckily they were at the end of the course. So enjoy the pictures........

the starting point

the Runners

brother and sister

This the start for the 343 Wave. Daniel ran in memory of Thomas Haskell. This was the biggest group of runners.

It was great to hear this guy playing the bagpipes before Daniel and them started their wave in remembrance of the fallen Hero's

the boys showing their support for their dads

Daniel going down the pole.

Daniel

Amos spraying the runners in the water pit

Jon wore a video cam as they were running.

And Sarah had a camera with her on the course but it was hard to get many pictures

almost to the end

I think they caught some air going down the slide

around the bend is more water

All the kids were ready to spray them with water.

jumping over the rows of fire

They made it!

After the race. Thanks to my mom for watching Isaiah and Laura Mae.

getting their game faces on

Amos, Daniel and Carter

Amos going down the pole. How exciting for the boys!

Carter

the last picture of them together before the end of the race

Carter climbing in and out of the noddle mess

Carter leaving them all behind

Amos all tangled up

Amos carrying fire hose

Carter almost to the finish line

Carter crossing the finish line or should I say the tire line

Amos at the finish line

So proud of these boys!

hugs and prayers~ Kim

Homemade Granola

Homemade Granola

I love making yummy snacks for my family. One that I have made several times for them is homemade granola. It's quick and easy and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. So big plus at our house. And the kids actually like it, bonus. I found the recipe on Pinterest when I first joined the site but can't remember if I actually pinned it or not. Sometimes I just go ahead and write the recipe down and then forget to pin it. Or I combine more than one recipe and then forget which one I got the idea from even if I did pin it. Anywho, this is the recipe I have wrote down and have used. Hope you and yours enjoy as my family does.

Peanut Butter Granola

4 cups of old fashion oats

3/4 cup sunflower seeds or kernels, salted ones for us

1/2 cup of honey

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix peanut butter and honey together and melt in the microwave for 1 mintute

Take out and add the cinnamon and vanilla to mixture and stir well.

Slowly add seeds and oats

I usually add the oats 1 or 2 cups at a time

Mix until all are covered

Spread the granola out on a lightly greased pan. Put into a preheat oven of 350

Bake for 10 minutes stirring halfway through

Keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn

Take out when it's a golden brown color

I usually let it sit for a little bit and then put it in a container with a lid. Oh , I do actually eat some before this step. Not sure how long it stays good because it gets eat pretty quickly at our house. 

So go make it. I'm sure it's yummy on ice cream, yogurt, cereal but I mainly eat it by the handfuls. Enjoy!

Just Fellowship

So for the last couple of years, once a month I put together a ladies lunch for the women at my church. I love it! I love the time each month that I get to sit down with no kids, sometimes I have to bring them, and enjoy a meal with a wonderful group of ladies. Most the time I don't have a clue who is going to show up or not, there are a select few I can always count on and that is always the joy in it. The ones I can count on and new faces. Sometimes this is the only time I get to speak to some of the ladies, which is sad since we all go to church together. But that happens when you have more than one service and I am trying to make sure where my four kids are at and what they are into. These ladies have shown me strengths, struggles, joy, pain, hope, kind words but more than anything have shown me Christ. They help keep me on the line for him. Sometimes I will put together a devotional that I have wrote but most times I read something that has stood out to me since the last time we were together or sometimes we just chat. The most important thing is we come together for a common thread, that's our love for God. God designed us for fellowship with him first and foremost but he also wants us to have fellowship with each other. And through fellowship is when he gets  to shine. I believe when we go eat together in public restaurants others get to see us outside of church with a common goal. Often times as I am reading the devotion the other tables near us can hear what I am saying. And just maybe what is being read is something they may need to hear. They also hear the prayer before we eat and sometimes,  I have seen others join in with lowering their heads or even stop eating or talking. I pray that they may be joining in but who knows, only God does, it' at least a sign of respect. And maybe it makes them think did I pray for my meal? When others get to see a group of women or men together praying, talking about God and having a time of fellowship I believe a seed is being planted. Are we not called to be planters for Christ?

Not only do these lunches me the world to me but in the last year, every Thursday morning, I join in with ladies throughout our county and surrounding counties in a morning bible study called Community Bible Study or CBS. This past year we have been reading the book of John. Have I ever read it before this study? No, just bits and pieces through my life. The last few lessons we have studied about the last few days of Jesus Christ life and how he was preparing his disciples. He was letting them know that he his time is short but the Father was sending another counselor in his place, 

John 14:26 states, 

 "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

I have read this verse before as well as bits and pieces of all the Gospels but the last few weeks a light went off. I know that their is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit or the Trinity but what stood out to me was I have Jesus completely inside me. In the past I know that I have treated my Holy Spirit as that, a spirit or as just my consciousness or even my momma in my head. But guess what that's not the case, that is Jesus inside me convicting me on my actions. How many times I have I just brushed it off. So when I brush it off it off in reality I'm brushing Jesus off. Boy did a light bulb go off in my head, DUH Kim. The Holy Spirit is a person, as opposed to being just an influence,  He "walks the earth" through the men and women who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Knowing that I am LOVED that much for Jesus to live completely inside my body, heart and mind, WOW.  I need to stop, pray and listen. He is right there with me all the time.

We are made for fellowship with Him and through Him to have fellowship with others. We are made to bring glory to him through our lives. He is living inside all who believe in Him. So this brings to my mind how can I listen more to His Spirit and make God Famous.

Our God is Alive

Easter

I love Easter! The reason behind the celebration, knowing that I am as well as the whole world is Loved by a Wonderful God.  That Jesus died for my sins so that I may live forever with him. How awesome is that. Our tradition is to start Good Friday with Resurrection rolls and read the Easter story from the bible. Then we have a weekend full of family and friends. Egg hunts, Sunrise service, church and family meals all wrapped with the the love that God has for us. So here are some pictures from our God filled weekend.

Church

egg filled games

 Isaiah looking for blue eggs only

on the hunt for the Big egg

Isaiah got a few other colors and Laura Mae did pretty good

Found the Big egg. A great way to end hunting eggs with the younger kids. Next year it's onto the big kid egg hunt at night with flashlights.

cupcakes fro the farm

Carter and I made colorful deviled eggs

Easter basket

hunting eggs at the farm

checking to see what numbers are on the eggs.

Depending on the number on the egg depends what activity you have to do for a prize or some pocket change..... say a bible verse, hug an Aunt, count to 100 and so on.....

Pulled out my Granny Farless, Ella Mae's china. My daddy bought this along with the china cabinet for his mom. She passed it onto me as a wedding gift in2001. This is probably only the 2nd or 3rd time I have eaten off them.

The beatuiful sunset from the Farm. Our God is a Alive!