Resolution Run 2014

Another year has come to pass. It seems as though time is passing so quickly. The older I get the faster it goes. This year, like the last, I set out with some running goals. Last year I vowed to run a race every month in 2013 and succeeded! So, this year I made my goal to run one half marathon every. single. month. For the entire year of 2014. You can read about last year and my goal here: 

http://thehawkinsfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/resolution-race.html

This proved to way more challenging than I thought. Not physically, but challenging in other ways. Let me explain... First, Half Marathons are hard to come by. What I mean by this is that I had to travel. And travel some more... 2 of the 12 were close to home. The rest required hotel stays or leaving at 4:30 in the morning.  7 of my races required a hotel stay. Secondly, for those of you who don't run or participate in races, half marathons are expensive! I lucked out on my first half and got to do it for free! But I paid the price for the other 11. Anywhere from $50 to $90 a race. (And let's don't forget the hotels and food!) 

Now, I am not saying that I didn't love every minute of this challenge, because I totally did! It was just a little more trying than I had expected.  I most definitely could not have done it without some special running buddies though. I want to take a minute to tell these gals thanks. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for all your support and help and encouragement! Elaine Mangham- who I ran my first AND last half with, My mom, who came along for the adventure on a race or two, Ashley Green, who ran in two of these races with me, Stacy Morris who I not only suckered into running one, but THREE half marathons with me and countless miles weekend after weekend, and last my wonderful sister who I had the privilege of dragging across the finish line of her FIRST half marathon and even managed to talk her into a second one! I really can't tell you how awesome it is to have friends who are there for you when you need them the most.

Okay, I have posted a picture from each race below. Under each pic is a little bit about the race and all the details of date and location. Okay, here we go:

Red Nose Half Marathon

January 4, Columbus GA

My first half of the year! This was not only the coldest race of the year- 22 degrees, but this was also my fastest half of the year. I managed to finish this one in 1:58 despite the numbing cold..

                                       

Run the Reagan Half Marathon

February 15, Snellville GA

This race was another cold one. It had just snowed also, so there were piles of snow in the parking lots! I had a great race- finished in 1:58 and won 2nd place in my age group!

                                      

Publix Half Marathon

March 23, Downtown Atlanta, GA

I ran this one last year as well and it is one of my favorites! I did this one with my best running friend. It was her first half marathon! We finished up in the rain, but had a fun night out in Atlanta and ate a HUGE sundae at Hard Rock Cafe.

Georgia Peach Jam Half Marathon

April 19, Big Creek Greenway, Cumming GA

Thank the Lord for running buddies! Ashley and I stayed in a hotel for the Peach Jam Half. I loved this course. It was through a beautiful park and most of the path was on wood plank boardwalk! This one I finished in 2 hours.

Pre-Memorial Day Half Marathon

May 25, Tribble Mill Park, Lawrenville GA

This was a nice little race. Not too many people and located in a nice park. I found this racing outfit online and it worked well with my schedule so I signed up. This race ran several laps through the park, unlike most races.

                                       

Bootlegger Half Marathon

June 7, Dawsonville GA

I took the whole family on this one. This race started and finished at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Not to interesting of a course, but the museum was pretty awesome! This was a hot race, and I finished in 2:05

Rockin' the LP Half Marathon

July 6, Lenora Park- Snellville GA

Unfortunately, half marathons in the Georgia summer are hard to come by. This was another race with the small outfitter called Deborah Montgomery Racing, like the May race. It was very small as well and done in a park where we made multiple laps. Finished in 2:07

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The Hotlanta Half Marathon

August 24, Underground Atlanta GA

Talk about HOT. This was the hottest race of the year. I think it was 85 degrees by the 3rd mile. This was an awesome route! This was the inaugural year for this race. I hope to run it again next summer. Several miles of the course was ran on the Atlanta Beltline, which I had never seen! Despite the heat, hills and humidity, I finished in 2:04

The Diva's Half Marathon

September 6, Peachtree City GA

The Diva race was awesome! It took place on the golf cart paths of Peachtree City.At the finish line we were greeted with hot, shirtless fire fighters, feather boas, crowns, roses and champagne! We were treated like true queens! My friend Stacy ran this one with me. Unfortunately, the humidity got the best of this race and both were pooped by the finish. And due to my marathon training, I had to run 2 miles BEFORE the race to get my 15 miles in!

Michelob Ultra Half Marathon

October 4, Cumming GA

This was the second part of the Publix half. I suckered my sister into this one. She runs a little slower than me, but I wanted to stay with her and help her across the finish line! We had a great time and managed to finish.. even though she was DONE at mile 12.. ;)

Race For This City, Benefiting Impact Racing Ministries

November 27, Griffin GA

Who is that I see in that picture?? Yes, my sister! I got her on board to do another one! This was a local race. It benefited Impact Racing which is a running ministry that caters to inner city kids. They run every weekend and get the kids in the local neighborhoods involved in something physically active and keeps them off the streets!

Hope For Orphans Half Marathon 

December 6, Griffin GA

My last half was also a local race. This time benefiting Hope for Orphans. The proceeds from this race went to the adoption of a precious little boy from South America who has cancer. He is now with his new family here in Griffin receiving cancer treatments! Lots of my friends were at this race! We all got yummy BBQ plates at the finish line too! Although this wasn't a cold race , it was a WET one! It was pouring the last mile on us!

And there you have it. My running resolution year in review. I managed to complete my second year of running goals! Now, looking into 2015... what do I have up my sleeve for this year? Well, I still plan on doing at least one race a month.. after all I am on a 24 month straight race streak! But this year, I plan on branching out. I am looking forward to dualthons, triathlons, a tough mudder and a Spartan race. I want to mix it up this year! 

I encourage you all to set your own fitness goals for 2015! Whether it be to walk three times a week, or maybe do your first 5K! Get out there and get moving! Your body will thank you.

Also, if anyone is interested in running FOR someone with special needs (I run for Erica), please see this post: 

http://thehawkinsfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/i-run-4.html

Christmas 2014... Meet Betty

Another Christmas has come and gone. Each one a little different than the last. And this year was no different (as I described in my last post). But I do want to take a minute to reminisce on this Christmas and write it down so I will not forget those special memories.

Patiently waiting to head downstairs!

Jada wanted an ipod touch and a waffle chair for Christmas. That is all she asked for. Santa brought her both of those things! As well as a fashion design kit, a case for her ipod, a lava lamp and some beautiful new dresses! When we moved, we had to leave our in ground basketball goal.. so Santa brought a new ball goal for her and Carter as well.

Carter had asked for a new iphone . And he wanted some very expensive, very hard to find Jordan basketball shoes. Luckily, for this Mama, I found them on eBay last minute for half the price! He also got Jordan pants, a Jordan jacket and a Jordan jersey. His stocking was filled with jerky and trading cards. His favorites.

Kennedy is really understanding Christmas and presents and Santa this year. So cute! She asked Santa at Six Flags for a unicorn. I think she wanted a real unicorn. She mostly got My Little Pony stuff. She also got a new big girl bike!

Maggie has wanted a pig for almost 2 years now. She has asked time and time again about getting one. I always said NO. A resounding no. We had no where to keep a pig, I knew nothing about them, and I was not ready to deal with an animal. Well, when she asked for a pig for Christmas, I thought a little bit about it. You see, we have a new house and lots of land. We even have a barn and three nice kennels/pens for animals. So I had to really think about it. Long and hard...  She also asked for an iPhone for Christmas. Santa most definitely brought her an iphone! She also got a new soccer ball, a cute chevron straightener, some clothes, and a lava lamp. Maggie was actually about half way through opening her presents from Santa before she even noticed that he had also brought her a pig! She had not seen the kennel in the chair! She had skipped right over it. She screamed!

Before she had even noticed the pig...

This was right after she screamed and saw the kennel with her piggie!

Her first time holding her.

She named her Betty. Betty is a two week old mini pot-belly. She was the runt of the litter. She is being bottle fed pig formula, but she does NOT like it. She is sleeping with Maggie in her room (in her kennel). She has become very attached to us and cries if she can't find us or we walk out of the room without her. We LOVE Betty! She has quickly become a part of the family! Now Jada wants a pig for Christmas next year.. ;)

Merry Christmas?

            

      Well, it's that time of year again. The season to be jolly, and merry and bright... or so they say. I will have to say that this year has NOT felt like Christmas. Not even a little. Actually, the entire "holiday season" has been out of sorts. For starters, we were living with a house full of boxes during Thanksgiving. I could not decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving night, like I ALWAYS do. I didn't get to watch the Lighting of the Macy's tree and listen to Christmas carols with the kids while we drink hot cocoa and decorate our Christmas tree. These are always my favorite memories. I didn't get to hang the stockings or string the lights. Well, at least not when I normally do it. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for moving and our new home. I just didn't get to do it the way I like to.
I have not sent our Christmas cards, or even had a chance to THINK about them! And as many of you know, I put a lot of time and effort into those! I am pretty bummed about that. (Look foward to New Year's cards though). I have rushed and hustled around to try and get Christmas gifts bought- also unlike me... I prefer to be done by Thanksgiving with shopping and things all perfectly planned and in order. Not this year though. No way. I was too caught up in boxes and packing tape. Which brings me to my next thought...

What is Christmas really? What is it truly about? I had quite a moment last Saturday while I was out rushing about buying gifts. The kids were scattered about and Kevin was off work and at home with Kennedy, so I took the rare moment to leave and head to Hampton to shop. I chose the center off Highway 20 which includes Hobby Lobby, Toys R Us, TJ Maxx and Acadamey... all the stores I needed in one parking lot. Bam. When I was done, my trunk was full of bags and boxes. I was backing out of my parking spot and headed out when I noticed the car in front of me. The car was so full of toys, boxes and bags, I could not see the driver. Or anything for that matter. Just boxes. It hit me. Like a ton of bricks. The Lord lifted the blinders off my eyes and I remembered what a selfish country we live in. I rememered how we spend $1000's of dollars on uneccesary items for each other every Christmas, when so many live without even food or fresh drinking water. We pile our homes and garages full of junk year after year and don't even think twice about 3rd world countries full of sickness and children with no shoes on there feet. We send a shoebox or two to Operation Christmas Child and pat ourselves on the back- "we have done a great thing for Christmas." We live so selfishly. Myself included. We get caught up in our own little world, our own people and places and things. But oh how WRONG we are!! How far away from walking like Jesus could we be! Especially at Christmas! I had all these thoughts in a split moment in that parking lot. I wanted to turn right back around and return every single thing I just bought. I couldn't believe how selfish I was being. So many others in need and my family wants for nothing. Yet there I sat in that parking lot with hundreds of others needing nothing and buying everything.

The parable of the rich young man comes to mind. "Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.…" Matthew 19:21-22 
Oh Lord may I not be that young man! May I not hang my head and walk away grieving because I own too much! 

I have seen true poverty. Not only here in the United States, but in Uganda too. In some of the most remote villages in the world. Places with holes in the ground for bathrooms. Places with mud huts to live in. Children and adults who had never even SEEN a white person. Women with no shirts or shoes. What a life changing experience to see how others in this world live. I think if you could visit a place like this you would see. You would understand. I left many of my belongings there for those people. My shirts and shoes and dresses. They had so little, and I had so much! I pray for my heart to remember. To remember how much others have and how much I have to give! I pray that for you too. 

We just bought a new house. Our old house was fine. It was paid for. It was far more than many others have. We could use more space, but we were making do. I find myself feeling a little guilty for this new house. It's so nice and has so much land. I feel greedy sometimes for buying it. But I am reminded that the Lord will use my home and my family for His kingdom. We have so many more opportunities to have others in our home now. So many ways we can love on others in our community here!

So what is Christmas? It is definitely not what I thought. Not this year. This year, Christmas is not only about the birth of our Savior, but it's about giving. It's about giving of ourselves, our time and our money. Giving to those who are truly in need. Those who need to feel God's love. I want nothing more than to be the servant of my Lord who reaches out and touches those who are poor. Poor in spirit or in wealth. Those who need love. Lord, may I have this spirit, the spirit of giving the whole year through!