Thanksgiving Update!

I just realized I didn't update about the Turkey Trot! Our Thanksgiving weekend was such a fun one, but by the time it was over we had a lot of catching up to do. It was filled with friends and lots of fun. We got up early for the race, to say Jeremiah was excited would be an understatement. After the 5k, (I ran & they cheered me across the finish line), Jeremiah and his best buddy, Blake (14) got set to run the race. When they said, "go" he ran his little heart out, but soon became distracted with buildings, police cars, even a leaf or two. I thought surely something was wrong when they were so far behind so I ran to meet them, but Blake explained that J was taking it all in. His post-race comments included, "Where were the cheerleaders" and "I thought it was a little too long". Here are a few shots from the day. Thank you to all who supported us by cheering us on, by sponsoring us and by encouraging our little guy. 

Thanksgiving Reflections

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts to paper so forgive me if this is a bit jumbled, but I do want to share. I am running a Thanksgiving Day 5k tomorrow morning and immediately afterwards Jeremiah is running his first Kids Fun Run 1k. He is adorably excited about it and cannot wait for people to cheer for him.

All day today I have been emotional thinking about him running this race. It was 4 years ago that the Lord first called me to begin running and I ran this same race on Thanksgiving day, 2008. See, we had been trying to conceive a baby for several years and we had lost 2 babies to miscarriage. Al & I both felt like this run was unto Jeremiah. I didn't really know what that meant, just that we were committed to do anything the Lord called us to, not to waste any days just waiting. Each time we trained we prayed for the baby boy God had promised, but also asked what else He might have for us in our season of preparation. When I ran that race I was carrying a teeny tiny little guy that only God knew existed. I found out the Saturday after Thanksgiving that I was pregnant. Now that tiny little miracle is a walking, talking, running little boy!

He doesn't know what this race means for me, but I do. The bigger picture for us this year is that Jeremiah and I  are racing to raise support to bring the next member of this family home through adoption. I look forward to a night like this in the future when I can sit down and blog after the kids are in bed and remember the race Jeremiah ran for his brother Luke, still unknown to us in Ethiopia. I know that Thanksgiving I'll be a mess watching my boys run side by side, a couple of promises fulfilled. Don't worry, Iris will be right there with them! I'm confident she won't let them do much without her.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us, encouraged us and sowed into this adoption financially! We are so thankful for each of you! We are very close to having another payment to send in and then we'll be starting our home study! Exciting days ahead!

If you see me tomorrow at the race, don't be surprised if you see a few tears of joy. God is so good and I am ever thankful for his faithfulness. He who promised, truly is faithful.

Martha

Sponsor Jeremiah is his first 1K! Click the link to the right or contact me for a mailing address...

Remember if you'd like to run, walk or skip in the Turkey Trot 5K, you can join our team and get your own sponsors! Email me for more details, marthaandal@gmail.com. We love you and appreciate ALL the prayers and support!

26 weeks and the Half Marathon

My countdown says 98 days to go. Um, is that right? Stores have 90 day return policies. That is not long people! I am so excited to meet Jeremiah, but I also feel like there is a lot to do! I know it will all get done, not going to stress over any of it. I plan to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy. I love feeling Jeremiah move and kick, I love praying over him and talking to him in there and I love how he seems to come to life as soon as Al speaks. I think I will have a daddy's boy on my hands. Not that I can blame him, his daddy is pretty fantastic.

Speaking of...

Al completed the Music City Half Marathon on Saturday. I am so proud of him. The temperatures were at record highs and it was so crowded. So very crowded. Jeannie and I were able to cheer him and much of the New Song team on around the 2 mile mark, but after that I didn't see Al again. Not even at the finish line! I am trying not to beat myself up over this fact. It was impossible for me to have gotten there any sooner, too many people! Did I mention that it was crowded? Al completed the race in 1 hour and 52 minutes! An incredible time for a first time runner. He answered the call God placed on his heart for this run, set his sights high on a good time and finished well! 

Jeremiah has some new friends waiting for him to come play! The Grabers & the Kellums each welcomed healthy boys into their familes last week. Jennifer and Garner's new baby boy, Eden in this top picture. Congrats guys!