The Hundred Dresses

No, this is not about how many dresses I own. This is about a book I read to my girls today. I purchased this book several months ago, planning on reading it aloud to them. I never got around to it. So, today I pulled out the book and decided to have read aloud day. We have been doing some non-traditional school things the past couple of days, and so today was the perfect day.

The book is called The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. Many people may have heard of this book, but I stumbled upon it on a reading list last year. It was originally published in the 40's and is loosely based on the author's elementary school experiences. It is about a girl, Wanda Petronski, who wears the same faded blue dress to school every day. After one day at school all the girls, especially one, teases the girl when she tells everyone that she has hundred dresses hanging in her closet, but still wears the same one to school everyday. Many events transpire during the book, but it is not only about the Polish girl, the girl who teases her, the other class mates who join in, but it is about the best friend of the girl who it the teaser. The best friend who herself was poor like Wanda, but chose to side with her best friend and join in the teasing. She felt bad for Wanda, but didn't want to say anything against it in fear she might be teased as well. She didn't want to tease, but followed the crowd. Later in the story Wanda and her family move away to get away from being the only Polish family in town and from being made fun of by their name. The girl later regrets all the times she joined in on the teasing and hopes to make amends. I will not spoil the ending, so you can read for yourself. It left me with these thoughts -

• How many times have you stood by allowed someone to make statements about someone that could hurt that person?
• Where you the one who joined in because everyone else was doing it? I saw this so many times in school, or may have joined in it(for which I am sorry), or maybe I was the one subjected to the teasing.
• Would you take up for the person who was being teased and risk potentially being ridiculed yourself?

I told the girls that I hoped that they would stick up for their friends and become friends with the friendless. Christ did this for us, despite the cost it was for Him. What would you do?

I recommend this for parents to read to your children, and ask them what would they do if faced with this.

Fall Pics

Yesterday, much to the girls chagrin, we did our yearly fall pictures. I have been trying to find neat, local places to do them. We had a little fun doing them, and I did promise Whit's when we were done. Whit's is always a good ending to anything. I have not picked out my picture for our Christmas card yet, but here are a couple of jewels from the adventure.

Their silly faces, although I do see these arise on several occasions.




I hope they will always be like this.

All I can say is WOW!!

This past weekend I did something I NEVER thought I would do - run in a race much less a half-marathon. In January my husband got the idea of running a marathon by the end of the year, and he thought it was a great idea to do it together. I thought he was nuts, but I went along. In April we were signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon in October. I was still not sure this would happen, but I was in training. We were already in better shape than the year before having lost around 50 lbs., and we wanted to bump up our training. Early in the training we were still "running" short distances, and I was ok with that. By mid-summer we were getting up to running 12, 14, etc miles once a week. I case you are wondering - that is ALOT!!! I was getting more worried about the full marathon. In the Marine Corp Marathon you have to run at least a 14 min/mile to make a bridge by mile 20. If you don't make it, you could not finish the race. That thought was devestating. In all my training I could not get, and I was getting totally frustrated! One week we were to run 16 miles, and I hit the WALL. All runners know what that is, and there is no way to get over it that day. I didn't want to completely give up, and I knew I could do a half-marathon. So I pulled out of the Marine and registered for the Air Force Half Marathon. I couldn't give up and quit on the training I had already put in. I knew God was totally in this, because I had seen an ad on a running website about it, and it happened to be on a Saturday and was only 1 1/2 hours from my house. In addition, I was concerned how Noel and I were going to be there for each other during the race since I knew we would not be running at the same speed. I felt more at peace running the half, and I knew Noel would be there cheering me on.

I did have one concern running this much and that was my ankle. I had surgery on it several years ago, and I didn't know how it would do. I have been praying God would strengthen it, and me. It did well during runs, but would hurt sometimes the next day. So I was thankful that it was holding up.

In the last few weeks leading up to this weekend God kept bringing the verse 2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In place of "have" I put "WILL" . That was my prayer thru the entire race - I WILL finish the race, and I WILL keep the faith. It is funny how He works, because there is a line of running clothing with a Christian message. When I would need a little boost, someone with one of those shirts on would run by me, and I knew He was there with me.

Race Day was here, and boy was I nervous! I still couldn't believe what I was about to do. We watched the 5K the night before, and I was tearing up already. I kept trying to think this is just another training day, no big deal. Noel kept telling me you can do it because you have already done it. I was determined to finish, and I didn't care about the time.

It was an exciting race to a part of at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. Me and 10,000 other crazy running people who are running without anything chasing us. At the start of the race they have a fighter jet flyover, which is totally cool. Before I knew it, we were off and running. It is a beautiful course, running thru areas where the Wright Bros flew and one of the first prairie airfields in the country. The coolest was the last .1 mile running the old Air Force planes call the hall of fame of Air Force fighters. Throughout the race the crowd was cheering for everyone at various spots on the race. Some of my favorites was the Air Force members who were guarding the race cheering for us, people who called out my name cheering(our names are on our babes), and the rock band playing at one spot along the race. The BEST was seeing my husband halfway thru, and to later find out he was able to get there meant even more. I did develop a blister on my heel, but I didn't want to stop, so I just kept running. I will say the longest mile was the last, but finishing was amazing. I can't explain what it was like to run that last tenth of a mile having people cheering and seeing that finish line. I am tearing up just thinking about it now. At the end you go thru stalls for your respective race, you are congratulated by a senior officer in the Air Force and they call out your name and place a medal around your neck. It is just amazing. WOW - I had just ran 13.1 miles! I FINISHED!! I even had my fastest time - a 14:53 min/mile. My goal was not only to finish, but to finish before the offical awards ceremony was to start. I did it! Noel totally surprised me at the end with 2 dozen roses and a box of dark chocolate from Godiva. I was so supportive to me for my race, and I hope I can be so much more for him in his race next month.

I decided to post a picture of me against my better judgement, because I generally do not like any of my pictures especially ones of me with no makeup. So here I am after the race with my roses and my medal.

Thank you to all who prayed for me and sent words of encouragement. I am already thinking about running a half marathon again, and maybe having the girls run with us in a 5K. Who would of thought I enjoy running. If I can do it - anyone can!!

It has been a while...

I am not sure if anyone even reads this anymore, but we are still here. It has been a busy summer and now school has started back.

SUMMER RECAP:

• SBC Convention, Louisville, KY - nice time away with no kids, but hot!!
• swimming lessons - great improvement from both girls
• Beach Vacation - wonderful getaway and the girls tried new foods - crab legs, crawfish, steamed oysters, clams. me - i tried key lime pie ice cream from ben&jerrys - yummy!
• a visit from Ashley - fun, fun, fun - we love visits from our southern friends
• Noel's grandmother passed away - sad and will miss her.
• Hannah took robotics class - loved it and will do again
• Family Mission Trip to Pittsburgh - great family time serving the Lord.
• I had a couple of families I photographed and a wedding or two.
• Had our first field trip to Georgia Aquarium and American Girl Store
  

So, pretty busy for the Dears. School has started back with all the extras with it. Both girls have added a dance class. Hannah is learning to play the flute for homeschool band. I am getting geared up to take senior pictures for this fall in addition to a couple of families. Get on the schedule - fall is coming early. I also am still teaching piano with a couple of spots available.

Maybe I can keep everyone up to date with the family better this fall.

Later Peeps!!

Birthdays and Ballet

So here is it, my 200th post and how fitting it is of the girls. It is has been busy around the Dear house with trips to MS/AL, Washington DC, Hocking Hills, and the zoo.





Best buds at Emily's 8th Birthday.

Hannah at her ballet recital.

This summer seems to be pretty busy, so I will update when I can.

Flashback Friday

I was scanning thru some of my pictures for a friend and ran across these. I can't believe this was 5 yrs ago. I still have those pots as well.

Jack Bauer of the Bible

Many of you know our family is reading the Bible thru the year. Sometimes it is tough to get thru some the passages, and sometimes you run across a little gem like this one from Judges 3.


Ehud Becomes Israel’s Judge

12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. 13 Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. 14 And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
15 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. 16 So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. 17 He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.

18 After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute. 19 But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.”

So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room.

20 Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied. 23 Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.

24 After Ehud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room, 25 so they waited. But when the king didn’t come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.

26 While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols on his way to Seirah. 27 When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills.

28 “Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing.

29 They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped. 30 So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.

What do you think? He is totally the Jack Bauer of the Bible.