Father's Day 2009

We celebrated Father's Day one week early because Momma and Daddy came up for a visit. We had such a great time with them. Of course, as you can see in a previous post, I ran my first 5K that weekend and they came to see the race. Sunday, we took them to the Loveless Cafe! It was very good - as always!

After lunch on Sunday, I convinced Momma and Daddy to play Wii! Daddy kicked my tail in Wii Tennis and Momma kicked all our tails in Wii Bowling! We had a good time.

Momma is bowling here:

Daddy is bowling:

Me and Daddy playing Tennis:

2009 College World Series

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YEAH LSU BASEBALL TEAM!!!!!!!!!!


2009 College World Series Champions!!!!!!


GO TIGERS!!!!
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Ellie's Run for Africa!

About 10 weeks ago I, Miranda, started a "couch to 5K" training program at the Fleet Feet in Brentwood, TN called "No Boundaries". I loved, loved, loved it!!! The coaches were AMAZING! I made some friends and actually had fun! Although it wasn't ALL fun! This was probably one of the hardest things (physically) I have EVER done! Running is not my forte but I fought through it, sometimes with Stephen literally dragging me to the greenway to do my running homework in between my Tuesday night meetings with Fleet Feet. He was SOOOO encouraging! Exactly what I needed to get through this. He actually ran with me on my homework days - on top of his own, personal, longer, runs!

So today, Saturday, was like the "commencement ceremony" of the class...it was our 5K we had been training for. Ellie's Run for Africa! WOW...that's all I have to say about this young girl! Please, please click the link and read the "Race History"! Ellie was 10 years old when she decided to "do something"! Sixteen years old now, this was her 5th annual race and Stephen and I were happy to be supporting such a great event!

As EXTREMLY slow as it is...my goal was to finish the race in 45 minutes...I DID IT!!!! I finished in 40 minutes (and 4 seconds)!! I did have to walk a few times but I ran the majority of it! I wished I hadn't had to walk as much but I'm very pleased with my finish! I have to admit, running on uneven grass for 3.2 miles is definitely not the same as running on a firmer ground (like pavement or asphalt) which I had practiced on! It was better on the joints and knees and stuff, but caused a slightly slower pace.

Stephen decided to run the race too, although he did his own thing (didn't hold back with me)! He finished in 25 minutes. Congrats to our friend Mary who also ran the race and in surprise, I was happy to hear her cheering me own as I crossed the finish line!! (Mary finished in about 30 minutes.)

So here are some photos Momma took for us...


After the race...


Stephen nearing the finish line...(a little fuzzy but I still like it)


Stephen just about to cross the finish line...


Miranda nearing the finish line...


Miranda crossing the finish line...


Stephen and Mary visiting prior to the starting gun going off...this is the only pic we got of Mary...

Marc Eckel: The Splat Experience

This guy came to our church last year and performed his beautiful gift! It was amazing. I found this on youtube from another performance and wanted to share it! It is pretty neat! You must listen to the words being spoken and song while you watch Marc at work...block everything out and just think on Jesus and I hope it will move you like it does me each time I see it!

I takes 8 minutes and 44 secs for the video so don't start it unless you have time to watch the whole thing!

Carolyn's Baby Shower

Keli, Kim and I hosted a baby shower for Carolyn at my house Saturday night! This will be Marcus and Carolyn's second baby (2nd boy), whose name will be Jacob. We had a "Dipes & Wipes" shower...needless to say, she got lots of diapers and wipes of all sizes/brands.

I think the petite fours (from Hermitage Bakery) were THE cutest things at the shower so I had to share a photo. The regular butter/vanilla ones have blue and brown polka dots and the choc/choc ones have little blue booties with brown bows. Also, I'm adding a couple other photos or the layout! We had petite fours, pizza bites, chipotle chicken cornbread cups, chicken salad sandwiches, chips and salsa, fruit bowl, cracker and cheese tray, spinach dip, water (w/orange slices), small bottles of Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite.

Everything was beautiful (if I do say so myself)!!

You can click a picture to make it bigger!

Carolyn and the Hostesses!

WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET LITTLE JACOB!!!

(Carolyn, I will honor your request and not put your prego pics on facebook; but you didn't say anything about the blog!)

Stephen's FIRST 1/2 Marathon

Today was the Music City Marathon in Nashville TN. Stephen has been training for months for this event! His goal was to finish his first 1/2 marathon in 2 hours. He did it in 1 hour and 56 minutes. I am soooo proud of him...and he wasn't dying at the end...which was good cause we had to walk a couple miles to get to the car afterwards! I was able to get to over the to finish line early enough to find a spot on the fence right on the finish line!!! I tried to get a picture of him crossing the finish line and this was the best I could do! They had professional photographers there also so we'll check those out in a couple days when they are available!!

Here, if you look to the right of the finish line, you'll see Stephen (green shirt, navy shorts) actually stepping on the finish line. Although it's not a "great" pic of him crossing, at least I got it.
The clock over his head was set when the first wave began the race. He was in the second wave of runners that they released so that clock only shows how long it had been since the very beginning. So although it says 1H 58M, he actually did it in 1H 56M.

This was just a shot I took early in the race with the finish line and downtown buildings in the background.

This was at the very end when we finally found each other. There was a total of 30,000 people racing today!

I was waiting for Stephen to come through the end of the race...after they cross the finish line, there was quite a path for them to take to get out to the rest of the public. Along the way they had options for medical treatment, sports drinks, apples, bananas, protein bars and other stuff. I spotted him as he was coming out...see center picture in green shirt and navy shorts.

I thought this was funny even though it was very smart and I was glad to see all the appropriate snacks being set up for the runners. Publix (a grocery store) had two rows of tables stacked high with tons of bananas. I couldn't resist getting a couple pictures.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY AWESOME HUSBAND ON HIS FIRST 1/2 MARATHON!!

Easter Weekend 09

LSU was playing AL in Tuscaloosa so some of our family decided to all meet in Tuscaloosa for Easter weekend and go to the games (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday). We had some from LA, some from GA and us, from TN. We had a BLAST!!!

The whole Easter Gang!

Mrs. Nell brought "Gummy Rabbit Teeth" for everyone...