my boys on their wheels!

A weekend with some sun shining upon us, along with some clouds but no rain, that is all so good when we were sleeping in our camper and doing the camping thing as the boys got to ride their dirt bikes!

 This is really the first time in a year that we have been out and about with the bikes since Layton's crash. It always makes my heart swell when I see that husband of mine out there riding bikes with the boys. Layton and Brayden are on their own and rode 40 miles thru the woods together. Jim, well, he got to hang with Corvan on the 20 miler thru the woods teaching and helping him get thru. Jim said, "it's always so hard to stop and go, stop and go" but I told him it is worth it because taking the time with him to learn will make him a good rider like his other two that he did the same thing for. It is worth it!! He agrees that is why he does it!

Jordan, rode his bike thru the woods on a 3 mile kid course. Guess who followed him around? And this Momma didn't have no engines to keep me going I had these legs getting me around the track. The first round was stop and go, the next two Jordan put me to the test and left me in the dust. It was a work out!

Corvan and Jordan got trophys. Jordan got a trophy for being 6 and under as a rider, Corvan got a trophy for being one of the youngest on the BIG trail.

 Look at all my boys, isn't this cool?

My partner for the day!

Look at my sweaty boy, it cracks me up how SWEATY he is!!

Happy boys, with some well deserved trophies!

 On the ride home!

Precious, isn't it?

Nephew Dawson

Yesterday, as I was running I had Nephew Dawson on my mind much of the time. It really helped me to get thru those miles. Then, as I approached 'the hill' that everyone dreads at about mile 10 there were these words on one sign that said, 'COURAGE' and then shortly after that a sign that said, 'STRENGTH'!

  Dawson has been using this verse before he goes into his procedures to get him through it. Joshua 1:9 I command you-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you! This has somewhat became the motto as we all sport it written on our hand to remind us to pray! Corvan saw this verse written on Dawson's hand in a picture , went to the bible,looked it up and came back with a marker to write it on each of our hands too.

  So, as I approached this 'hill' and seeing these signs, it was an amazing inspiration. I said Joshua 1:9 in my head as I climbed that never ending hill. My running partner said to me afterwards as I left her behind as I started climbing, "I couldn't believe it, the strength that came over you, IT WAS POWERFUL!" Yah, well I had that baby boy in my head and it PUSHED ME!

Dawson, I love this darling and he needs a healing. We are believing for that, Sha keeps us  updated on her blog. Right now we are waiting for results from some procedures he had in San Francisco which is hours away from their home.

 Justin and Shauna have great insurance along with a good job and we are so grateful for this. The expenses of driving back and forth and being away from their home accumulates extra expenses. Us sister's wanted to help her out in a way we could do in a long distance fashion (even though I wish I was there caring for her babes as she has to leave) We are also so grateful for the people that share in helping with the kiddoes. So grateful.

 We set up a paypal account if you would like to donate to their expenses go to her blog and it's as easy as pushing the 'donate button' and you are able to do so. Shauna and Justin walk with the Lord in a big faith filled way! We believe the Lord will carry them thru no matter what, even monetarily, this is something that can help ease a little bit of the concern. We want this family to be able to stay together as much as they possibly can and it takes money to do it. SO, if you feel so inclined.....http://www.theevergrowingvaughanfamily.blogspot.com just push the donate button and you will be able to do that.

Thank you so!

Race Day for Marlece 2012

Oh what a day in Marlece's world, Oh what a day!!! A person in my shoes today trains, and trains, and trains for this MOMENT of being able to run across the finish line, and this time was as much of a thrill as the last time. Finished a half marathon today!

I think training and the race are always like being pregnant and giving birth. No two are the same but you end up with the same goal.

  This race, one of my friends who is a ironman woman, she is crazy athletic and has run more races and won more medals than I can even put my head around. She kept voicing that she wanted to run with me and I flat out told her, "NO WAY, you will either kill me or I will keep you behind!" She didn't care and said she would run my pace. Oh Lord, I felt like I would hyperventilate just knowing we were knocking elbows thru the race. We ended up having a great time, GREAT TIME! I mentally just told myself to do my best and that is what I did. I would say, "oh here comes that nasty hill," and she would come back with, "oh we are good, we can do that no problem!" It was fun....I am some what of a closet runner, I run by myself 98 percent of the time so I get intimidated easy running along side someone. But it was a great experience and she certainly pushed me at the end, as in I am not a fast runner and my legs have never run that fast! Felt good and it was a great experience.

I do think one of the best parts is the people that I know cheering me on on the side lines. I love seeing my family out there chasing me around on the course, I JUST LOVE IT!! Friends, lots of friends out there as well!

Oh, to get in the shower afterwards is like the best part. Do you know how good that feels after being sweaty, wet from the rain (that I never even complained about, can you believe it?), the car ride home, the body temp is going down, and I am so COLD, take a shower, drink my Darigold Chocolate Milk, put my feet up for a few minutes and smile thinking about my morning.

  Great, great day!

don't we look like we are having fun?

gettin' it on....

Check out this woman's stride, Linda, you use those legs girl, use them!

She is pushin' me at the finish line!

FINISHED! HIGH FIVE!!

the burden carried is not alone....

Today I carry a heavy heart for my sis. She is going into unknown waters with her son and is having to trust people that she does not know to do the right thing for her baby.

 I started my day at 3:30 this morning because as I tossed and turned, I knew that that the best thing to do was quit fighting trying to sleep when I could use this time while I was awake and get busy with God. So, I came and sat on my couch with a blanket and told the Lord, "I DO TRUST YOU, I DO HAVE FAITH THAT YOU WILL COME THRU AND BE THE MIRACULOUS GOD THAT YOU ARE, but I still want to cry." So, as I go thru my day praying over sister and the load that she is carrying,as is the rest of the family, I got a few minutes before I needed to get about my duties in the salon the word "burden" kept coming to my mind.

 So, this verse popped up, Numbers 11:17 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.

As much as I cannot relate to Sha right now with her anguished Momma's heart, I do believe that the Lord spreads the burden so that Sha will not have to carry it alone. This is why I feel such a heaviness for her this day along with my weeping mother and father whom I spoke to today who are also scared for Dawson and see the heaviness Sha is carrying,as I know the other sisters are too carrying.

This family,as much as we don't see one another because we are spread so far apart when one laughs we laugh with, when one cries we cry with, when one fails at something we encourage, when one accomplishes something we rejoice, when one hurts, we hurt too, when one needs a miracle we get to our knees, when one needs a word of encouragement He sends it, the Lord spreads that 'burden', that 'anguish', that 'rejoicing' one to another so that we may all carry it.

These parents, three sisters of mine along with 22 kids among us love Jesus and walk with Him in all different places but when it comes to our heart? It's about bringing Him the glory and counting on who He is in each one of us......

SO grateful for all the friends who stand in the gap and pray along side.


  Sister and family!

Mother's day 2012

It's mothers day and I just sit my hinnie down getting prepared to write how wonderful my day has been and screaming from clear across the field, flew out of this chair faster than anybody, run to the field and Corvan had just got hit 'by accident' with a golf club right in the ear. Ohhhhhhhh, it smarts, I promise you, this ear is instantly black and blue. Now, as Corvan lays on the couch with ice on it, Jordan sits here and is crying very LOUD because he feels so bad. So, I begin to write again, and yelling from down stairs, "MOM, THE STEERS JUST GOT OUT!" OH (naughty word), race outside to get the steers back into their pin,ok now that is settled back to the computer.....Jim walks in, "do you know where the wheel barrel is? Do you know where this is? Do you know where that is? Just tell me and I'll get them all." I said, "they are this place, that place and then that place." He says, "I looked in all of those places and they are not there!" Ok, off the chair I go ONE MORE TIME and they were all in the exact places I had said they were. Ok, back into the house I go, sit my butt back at the computer, "Mom, neighbors need that recipe you keep telling them you would give to them, Lisa has all the stuff ready to go she just needs the recipe." In my head I'm thinking, seriously? Ok, it will be just a minute, as I see Lisa walking towards my door.... So, here I am TRYING it again, so far so good!


  Happy Mother's day to my Momma whom I am sure can relate a hundred millions times over this same scenario, yes Ma? She use to say, "Oh I'm sure Santa took off with it to give it to another child, or if it was an elephant in the room and I asked you to find it you wouldn't be able to find it" Us Mom's are always in need aren't we? This is a picture of my Ma and me just recently when we went to visit in Arizona. We hiked this canyon and had a blast!

My Ma, doesn't she look fabulous?

I had a great day today also. We got all the horses saddled up and went up into Fort Lewis. I must say, it just ain't what it use to be. I was reminiscing up there about how I would come home from flying, throw my boots on, get on  Kisha and go for ever up into the trails. Then they closed it down so I could no longer get up in there and just recently was able to get a permit to go up in there. But EVERYTHING is sooooooo over grown it's hard to even see the trails that I use to know by heart with closing my eyes. But still had a great time with the kiddoes, it was a great time!!! Jim kept the kids busy with 'retired' Kisha out in the field. She was showing her stuff today because she likes sun too. Great time had by all, certainly spoke to my love language today on Mother's Day!

Here we are, fun, fun, fun!!!!

Just getting back from Fort Lewis, horses got a good work out!

Look at these babies of mine!

Jim giving Jordan a boost!

Corv, is leading Jordan to the field isn't this darling?


whew, no major anything inbetween  while trying to write this!

my babies!

This picture speaks for it's self.....

My track star!

Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh....the first meet I attended of Brayden's I had just got there, heard the sound of the gun go off and BOOM, there goes my Brayden over one hurdle after the other, "WHAT? Is that my kid leading the pack?" Yes it was, he was flying over those hurdles. He even surprised himself. It was so very exciting! I have quite the track athlete and had no idea it was even in him. We went to districts and he finished with 2nd in hurdles, 1st in triple jump, 2nd in pole vaulting, and 2nd in long jump! It wrapped up to be quite a year!

Yes, that is Brayden int the black, look at him go!

Triple jump!