karaspeak

Even though this week is the week before I turn the big (and inevitable) 3-0, my parents decided to come to Franklin this weekend because there was a race in our neighborhood and thought it would be fun for the family to do it on my unbirthday birthday. They arrived Friday night after Aiden was asleep and we stayed up talking and catching up on the past few weeks Since they had just kept Aiden while Nate took me to the beach for my really early birthday, we were close to caught up! And of course, Mom made me a phenomenal cake, so since it was there and in living color calling out my name, we had to partake! :) It was, of course, wonderful! And with a few scoops of Blue Bell (the all natural version without HFCS) it was divine!

See? Cake. Awesome.

The next morning we were off to the race, in the rain...which has been here nonstop for nearly two weeks. And despite my aversion to the rain, especially after such a time, I was grateful to run in it because 1) it's so much fun and 2) it definitely helped to squelch some of the unbearable humidity. So at 7:30 a.m., we were off and running. Pops pushed Aiden so Nathan could run with me (sweet hubby) and Mom pushed herself! :) I wish I would have taken my camera because the images I captured in my memory bank are priceless. He was just hanging out in the jogger with his legs covered by a shirt Dad had been smart enough to bring along and he was drenched from head to toe by the end of the race...drenched, but happy as a clam! We all finished in good time and amazingly enough me, Dad (and Aiden), and Mom all won our age group award! So fun!! Now I was really regretting not having my camera!! Poor Nathan is in such a stacked category for the 30 - 35 males, but is determined to get his time down (with the help of Coach K! Ha!).

My lovely age group award...a nice stainless steel water bottle.

The rest of the day was relaxed but fun...went to Costco, had snacks there, then grabbed an awesome lunch at Bread and Co (my favorite) and then headed back for a nice afternoon nap in the rain! The four of us adults all went out to dinner at Bricktops and had the most amazing meals followed by homemade donuts...I cannot describe how perfect these were! A-mazing!

What a great unbirthday birthday!

Sunday we did our usual Panera stop before Mimi and Pops headed on their way back home. Sad to see them go, but what a fun and special weekend all around. I am so very blessed to have family who loves and cares for me so deeply and have cherished every moment God has allowed me to spend with them as He's loaned me to them (and now to Nathan) for this short time we have on Earth. I am overwhelmed by their love, joy, and compassion over me and only know that our Father's is that much greater still. It is truly a great day!