My First 5K!

     This weekend, I went home to walk my very first 5K with my dad!!! It was so much fun! The race was at my home church and the money raised is for missions. I was able to see and visit with several people I haven't seen in a long time. The race was in a nearby neighborhood and it was very hilly! Some of those hills were steep! And let me just say, I was scared that we would be the last ones to cross the finish line. Simply because my dad's back has been out for a couple of weeks and he has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months. And, when we walk together around the neighborhood at home, he doesn't walk very fast. Well, all those preconceived notions of my dad walking slow and barely making it were WRONG!!! I think his competitive side came out. He used to run marathons all the time. So, he knew what to expect. He was in the zone. He got ahead of me several times and had to motion me forward, ha! We stuck it out and finished strong! We crossed the finish line at 51:21 and he grabbed my hand and held it up. We got some refreshments and visited with everyone. I won a door prize! AND......I came in 3rd place in my age group and my dad came in 1st place in his age group! It was a very enjoyable day! I'm glad my dad asked me to walk this race with him. :)

  

Ready to get our walk on!

Champions! :)

29 And Fabulous!!!

     So, the other day I turned 29!!! I got to celebrate with my family and friends. My family cooked some delicious food and played a game of Farkle (of course)! Then, my friends and I met up one night to try out one of the new local restaurants. I had a lot of fun at both celebrations! And so far, 29 is fabulous! This past year has been like no other and I look forward to what God has planned for this one. I'm going to rock my last year in my 20s!

Yummy, delicious party food!

Farkle fun! It should be noted that my Dad's very first roll (he never plays games) scored 1500 points! 

Peace, Love, Friends, & Family! :)

God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Psalm 18:30 NLT

This was the Bible verse of the day on my birthday. Just thought I would share because it really spoke to me and encouraged me. I often doubt God's promises because they seem impossible sometimes. But nothing is impossible with Him and His promises are true!!! Let's take Him at His word, do what He says, and leave the consequences up to Him! Be blessed!!!

Just Call Me Mother Goose

    I have a confession to make. Sometimes I catch myself at home singing along to "Wheels on the Bus" from a commercial. Like, really getting into it singing along! Then, I realize what I'm doing and I'm like "Candace, get control of yourself! Why are you singing children's songs? You don't even have kids!" But then I remember my job and the fifty-something children I work with. And while on the job, I often read nursery rhymes to my preschool children during speech therapy. It is useful for articulation, language, phonological awareness, etc. The kids love it and so do I! And here is another confession: Sometimes as I read the rhymes my brain tweaks them, Candace style. Crazy, right? Welcome to my world!

Case in point #1:  Inspired by Mary had a Little Lamb

Miss Candace has a little dog,

little dog,

little dog,

Miss Candace has a little dog

Her name is Effie Pooh!

And everywhere that Candace goes

Candace goes,

Candace goes,

Everywhere that Candace goes

Effie goes there too!

She followed her to school one day

School one day,

School one day,

She followed her to school one day 

Which was against the rules!

It made the children laugh and play

laugh and play,

laugh and play,

It made the children laugh and play

To see Effie at school!

Case in point #2: Inspired by There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

There was an old woman a young speech therapist who worked at a school

She had so many speech students she didn't know what to do!

She sang them some songs to teach them to talk

And praised them happily and told them to walk. (not run!) 

     Well, that's all I've got for today! Don't worry, I haven't shared my versions with the children. Yet.

A Little Bit Of Ombre In My Life!

     So, one day last week I got the wild idea to get highlights in my hair. I have never gotten my hair colored for various reasons but, I wanted to do something fun and different for a change! So, I was googling what I wanted to do. That's when I discovered ombre highlights! If you are like me, you have never heard of this. Basically, it is when the top of your hair is dark and gradually gets lighter towards the bottom. The word 'ombre' is actually french for 'shadow'. Who knew??? I really liked the look and decided to go for it! The best part about this is that it is lower maintenance because I won't have to worry about my roots showing...they already are ha! Here are the results:

Curls straight from the salon!

Straight!

Hope

     On my daily commute home from work this afternoon, I noticed the sun was shining through these massive grey clouds. Today is the first day the sun has shown its face in about a week. It was really beautiful! The scene reminded me of hope. Hope shines through when there are grey clouds in the way and you can't see past them. 

I did not intend for the exit sign to be in the picture, but I like it. Exit here, at hope! :)

~ But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I cannot count it. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Psalm 71:14-17, 19-21

Effie and Her Rabbit

Meet Effie's rabbit:

This is her absolute favorite toy!

She LOVES it.

But sometimes she rips it up and gets the stuffing out. 

Then, it has to be sewn back together.

The other day, my mom was doing just that.

Effie saw her with the rabbit.

And then that is all she wanted.

SHE WANTED HER RABBIT.

She started circling the table over and over.

She kept looking at my mom, whimpering pitifully.

Then, she started climbing in the chair beside her.

Watching.

Watching.

Watching. 

Then, she climbed onto the table!

Of course after I took a picture, I made her get down.

Then, she just lay down and waited.

I watched this entire scene unfold and thought it was so funny.

Then, I realized something. 

My mom wanted to give the rabbit to her, but she wasn't finished with it yet. 

                                                            The rabbit wasn't quite ready.

I couldn't help but think it is the same for me.

I act just like Effie.

I see evidence of God working in my life. 

But sometimes I get anxious and do everything in my power to get whatever He is working on.

But, my power alone can do nothing.

He has to do it.

He's the only one capable of doing it.

I know He wants to give me my heart's desires. 

He's just not ready yet.

He is completing it. 

When He gets it just right, He will give it to me.

His timing is perfect.

I just have to wait.

Black-Eyed Peas, Cornbread, Cabbage, and New Year's Resolutions

What would New Year's Day be without black-eyed peas, cornbread, and cabbage? This is a Southern tradition. The peas are for good luck and the cabbage is for money in the new year. I must confess though, I did not eat any cabbage. I still have a little time left so I may sneak in the kitchen and eat some leftovers! I probably need to considering we have fallen off the fiscal cliff and taxes are going up, up, up!

 

     On to my 2013 resolutions. I, like most people, make these every year and utterly fail year after year. But, I think it is good to try to improve and challenge yourself. This year, I only have a few. They are completely reachable. Here they are:

1. Reach my total weight loss goal.
2. Run 1 mile. (and potentially more)
3. Finish my quilt. (I am such a procrastinator!)
4. Read the entire Bible through.