I do my best thinking when I run... all three of you loyal readers know that by now. Well, OK... sometimes I do my thinking in the shower, too. Well, OK... a lot of my thoughts come to me in the shower. But I haven't had a shower yet tonight, so for the purposes of this post, I pondered the following while running...

Which is better? To live "in the now" or to constantly consider the future? If I choose to live "in the now" - for the moment - and take life as it comes, do I miss out on the excitement of anticipation? What about plans? Goals? If I don't keep my eyes on the horizon, am I lost? Am I able to have purpose without direction?

And if I choose to chase the future, do I lose opportunities to enjoy what today has to offer? Am I ever satisfied with my station in life or do I lose myself in the pursuit of the next goal? What if I'm unable to achieve what I've worked toward for so long?

My dad tells a story of two men who decided to have a contest to see which of them could walk the straightest line across a snowy field. They set out together and crossed the field, then looked back to see who had won. The first man's path was crooked and erratic; the second man's path was a perfectly straight line. Baffled, the first man cried out, "How did you walk such a straight line?! I watched my feet all the way across the field, taking care to align each step! I was sure my path was straight." The second man answered, "I just chose a fence post on the other side of the field, never took my eyes off it, and walked straight toward it."

The first man got so bogged down in details - in "the now" - that he couldn't keep his path straight. The second man couldn't enjoy the details - the intricacies of his footprint... a perfect snowflake... the wisps of his breath in the crisp air - or his path might have wavered. Me? I'm probably more "in the now" than I am a planner (you already knew that, right?)... so I'm like that first man, always focused on putting one foot in front of the other. But maybe I - maybe we - can learn from both men. On our journey across the snowy field, wouldn't it be nice to focus on what's truly important, keeping our paths straight in the process? And when something does catch our eye, couldn't we pause for just a moment and take in the details? Maybe we never reach that fence post in the distance... but our path remains straight and true while we're still able to stop and wonder at each of the particulars along the way. And if we do wander off course for a little while, our guidepost will always be there when we're ready to look up again.

Meet Abagail Madison Messer.....

....born Tuesday, November 20th at 3:02 pm. 7 pounds, 10 ounces. 18.5 inches long.

She took a while to get here, but it was well worth the wait. This picture was from about 10 minutes after she was born.




Blue eyes and a head full of black hair.








Big Sister Izzy, meet little sister Abby.








Here she is stealing her Aunt J's heart the next day.









"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.'
Carl Sandburg

Welcome to the world little one!!

He's Going the Distance

Wondering about the progress of my running over the last couple of months? Eh... very little has happened since I ran a 23:13 in a competitive 5K back in mid-October. Right now, I'm exploring longer distances at slightly slower paces to see if my body is open to the idea. Tonight's route was 4.9 miles (I measured it... see?) and I ran it in 42:45-ish (I timed it, too... but I don't have the stopwatch in front of me).

I was thinking during tonight's run: Life = running... running = life. For example, it's interesting how my hardest and most strenuous workouts can result in the most disappointment. I feel like I'm flying... only to come down the stretch and realize that my training has taken a step BACK. On the other hand, I've been surprised by some quick times after what felt like relatively easy runs.

In much the same way, some of my daily "to-do's" appear to be relatively harmless at first. I worked on a few of those "softballs" today and, disappointingly enough, I made little progress. Other projects seem so daunting, I can hardly think about them... much less begin to chip away at the stone. Then they're gone in an instant, crumbling to dust, no longer important, off the list.

So... what's the true measure of importance? In running - when I'm out there by myself trying to overcome those demons in my head - I have to think it's the effort, not the results. It's pushing through those doubts and finishing... then coming back again for another shot at rising to meet my own challenge. In life, I may end the day disappointed in my lack of progress, but aren't the stiffest challenges - the tough tests that face me day after day - also the most rewarding?

One lucky little girl.....

I hope Julie and Brad's little one to be knows just how lucky she is to get the parents she has. Sunday a week ago, the girls spent an afternoon celebrating the Mom to be and Baby Girl Witers (name to be released at a later date.....in other words, Julie won't tell us)!!!

The theme was ice cream and pickles. Once again, Hansel and Gretel did a great job!!!







We hosted the event at an old house in downtown Matthews that can be rented out. It was a beautiful location and day!!







Probably the gift that got the most laughs....a onesie that says "My mommy taught me my first words......Kate Spade.". So true, so true. Hey, we all have our addictions....ours is expensive purses.





Boy or girl? Who cares.....there are more important questions in life like, Michigan or Ohio State? Although when it's time to pay out of state tuition, I'm sure they'll be happy to become fellow Tar Heels. I've already started the campaign, especially after one of the ultrasounds was of nothing but the bottom of her foot.




Just a random picture because it was so good. We put together a scrapbook of advice for the baby at each age and put a picture of the advise giver with it. Here's Julie and Betsey that we work with.






5 weeks and counting until we get to meet the little one. Remember Julie, I'll need my diaper training session before baby sitting. :-)

Echoing Mom

OK, kids... time for a few snapshots from Saturday's trip up to the Hill to see the Tar Heels grind out a victory over the Terps.

No day at Carolina would be complete without a stop at the Old Well, right?



Then we mosey on down to check out the drumline warming up. Hey, there are some people I know! Pete: the most drummingest JD around. Josh: tall and quad-like. And then there's Andy... the "Hans Device". Oh... wait... who's that I see trying to fix his ghetto loaner carrier? Could it be Brad himself?! Why yes. Yes, it is. Lovely to see all those guys for a li'l bit... and the other Andy, too.



Of course the sky's Carolina blue...



... and the band always plays while the team runs out of the tunnel and onto the field.



Not a bad day overall. There were other highlights... seeing the remodeled Campus Y, waving to the Arboretum as we drove by, fireworks after every score by the home team, etc. You just can't beat a beautiful day in Chapel Hill.

"Will you give me yourself. will you come travel with me? "

Happy Day after Halloween everyone! I hope you had your fair share of ghosts and goblins also.

Mike did a great job on the pumpkin this year!! Go Heels!!






We spent last weekend in Pocahontas, MS (outside of Jackson) for Mike's cousin's wedding. We're ready to go back. We truly got a taste of how the other half live. And your eyes are not deceiving you, that is a giraffe on the wall. There was a rhino, hippo, and all sorts of other animals too. We stayed at the farm next door to Lanier's mom and it was amazing!!!







My favorite picture of the bunch, compliments of Mike. I wish I had your shutterbug gene.







Meet Prince. As we were heading to the wedding day brunch, Mike got out to take pictures of the colt who had been "talking" to us and showing off all am morning. Kathryn, Andrew, and I stayed in the car until we saw he had come to the fence. I think I know what I want for Christmas!!!!








Providence Hill Farms was truly once of the prettiest places I have ever been. Thank you to the Martin family for making us feel so welcome.






Once all of the family exchanges photos we'll get some actual wedding pictures up. I think it was one of the best weddings either one of us had ever been too. I still can't believe that there were fireworks!!!!

Congratulations again Scott and Lanier! Have fun on your honeymoon and safe travels tomorrow on your way!!!