"Talent is like beauty. You're either born with it, or you buy it."

Just finished watching "Design Star" on DVR. That has to be my favorite quote lately....and it came from a woman from Raleigh. Go Will Smith......home town boy from Charlotte!!

Random picture time. The boys waiting for us to finish on Saturday. I had two hole in ones and had a better score than Mike!!! He always wins.....it was about time. Thanks again to Julie and Brad for inviting us on your beach birthday trip. Next year we'll have little Wallifina with us....is that how you spell it?




Grace partying down at her 5th birthday disco party. 5 going on 15.







Lucky just hanging out in the pantry. That's where the Coke usually is. Hard to believe there's none there. Although after my dentist visit today, that's probably a good thing. I have GOT to quit drinking so much Coke.....but I love it so much. I know, my teeth and waist line will thank me. Does anyone have a miracle cure for caffeine headaches?

My latest obsession.....my space. I fought it for a long time, but I'm hooked. I've found some of my sorority sisters, so it's worth it. One lives right down the street!! We'll see how long it lasts. Ha.

Miles To Go

Lift up your eyes and don’t stand still
People of the world
And people of the will
Move on and on and on down this road.

Don’t give up and don’t give in
Someday we'll be strong again
But there’s still miles to go.

- Dave Barnes

8 kilometers. 4.96 miles. 40 minutes, 41 seconds of my life. Less than one-fifth of a marathon.

What happened last Monday? I don't usually run any farther past the 3.1 mile barrier than I have to to reach my front door or the car... but the evening of 7/16 was different. Something pushed me past my limits. A divine wind? Too much energy? An unexpected shot of adrenaline? Whatever it was, I felt compelled to go an extra 3K after I had completed my usual 5K. Afterwards, I felt drained... but I felt like I had accomplished something. I felt good about myself. And then my put-it-all-in-perspective brain kicked in: "You'd have to go FIVE TIMES as far - and then some - to finish a marathon."

I used to have a simple goal: to run a marathon. That was it. No formal training regimen. No timeline. No waypoints. Nothing to hold myself to. Monday night, my mind turned on a dime... from the pride and sense of accomplishment at having run 60% farther than my usual distance to the realizations that a) I had only run 18.93% of a marathon, and b) a goal can't really be a goal until there's a plan and some action taken towards accomplishing it. My dad has said the same thing about prayer: What is a prayer, really, if there isn't any action behind it? Can your friend be cured of cancer if you pray for it to happen, but don't encourage her to see an oncologist? Maybe. If you pray every day for your college loans to be paid off, will 25,000 bucks eventually fall in your lap? Might happen... although a tight budget or a money management class could be more sensible answers to the same prayer. And the lost teenager who just keeps making bad decisions? We can all pray for him, but who's taking him under their wing, getting him some help, showing him the right choice?

So... without any formal training, I might be able to finish a marathon tomorrow. But I think I'm going to start by setting a deadline, finding a training regimen, and taking the actions necessary to give myself the best chance at accomplishing the goal. I may have to finish a few 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons before I'm ready to run those 26.2 miles, but eventually I'll get there. And if I have to stop along the way and pray for the strength to achieve the goal, I'll know that my prayers and my actions are one and the same.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye.........

Two very important events today for Julie......

HAPPY 3OTH BIRTHDAY!!!!

and for Julie and Brad...........

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!

We'll have to come up with a new nickname, Wally just isn't going to work anymore. Ha.

See you both tomorrow at the beach!!

Once a Thug, always a thug.

I could rant on here for days and days about Michael Vick. I have always despised him and the latest revelations horrify and disgust me.

He and all involved should have done to them the same things they are being charged for.

I love sports and especially football, but this and the "I'm owed everything, because I can throw a ball" attitude a lot of athletes have makes me almost want to boycott all professional sports.

Come on commissioner.....suspend him all ready!!!!

Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays......

We have an excuse this time. I promise. We've been busy with birthdays.....with more to come.

In this non-sweeps time of year known as reality tv summer, I've fallen in love with a new show...."30 Rock". Thank you NBC for making it available online. Here's a quote for you Mike. It made me laugh out loud. You've even got me correcting people now.....


Tracy: So, how you doing over there, Theo Huxtable.
Toofer: I'm doing good.
Tracy: Nah-uh. Superman does good; you're doing well. You need to study your grammar, son.
Frank: (to Toofer) Wow, that was embarassing for you.

For those of you that care.....here's an update on our comings and goings the past week or so. Friday a week ago, Mike asked me on a dinner date and we went to the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. The facility is awesome! It was a gorgeous evening, so we sat out on the patio, had dinner, and then walked around the course. I wish I had pictures of the 3 guys flipping end over end in raft. It was hilarious! Here's a picture of the facility I found online. This place is a must visit in Charlotte. It's a little out of the way, but totally worth it.

Last Saturday I attended a dance party for little Grace's 5th birthday (Dorian's daughter). Being in a house with 5 or 6 five year old girls during a thunderstorm......makes you only want to have boys. Ha. It's hard to believe that "egg" is now 5 years old. How did that happen? After the party Mike and I headed to Mooresville for some fresh from Alaska salmon and to see Phil's pictures from his guy's Alaskan fishing trip.

Mike's birthday was Thursday, so we grilled out with his family and visited with Kathryn who is visiting from WI. Too bad he was stuck in meetings all day on his birthday......shouldn't we get our birthdays off as a vacation day????... now that would be nice.

Julie's birthday is this Thursday so we started her birthday week by having a girls night in at the house. No boys were allowed (except Moa and Lucky), so Mike went and spent time with his family. We had a blast just sitting around talking and eating a ton of junk food. The birthday celebration continues this week with lunch on Wednesday, heading to the beach on Thursday, and finding out whether she's having a boy or girl on her birthday!!! My vote is for pink!!, although I am partial to Carolina blue. Julie....Happy 30th Birthday week!!!!!

Flip was our first house guest on Saturday night. Is it bad that I requested she cook breakfast?....man I miss those hash browns. Your room is ready for you anytime!! I met the DeBerry and Coates clans after church for lunch, caught a quick nap, and then Mike, Kathryn, and I went to Nighbeat in Charlotte last night. There was a little bit of a rain delay, but they were able to have the show. Crown's color guard is amazing!! The Cadets took first place.

We have another busy week and a vacation at the end of the tunnel. I'm ready for friends, food, sand, and some adult beverages (virgin for Julie, of course). Hamburger Joe's.......here we come!!

Happy Birthday Mike!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Harold's Angels......

.......is officially up and running. Please check out our other blog at http://harolds-angels.blogspot.com or our team page at www.komencharlotte.org/goto/haroldsangels.

For those of you that don't know, Harold's Angels is our Race for the Cure team we started last year in honor of Mike's Uncle Harold.

As we saw first hand this weekend at a close family friend's funeral.....you can never tell someone enough what they mean to you. Please be sure to do that today and everyday.