Well, this year has been a year of fitness. Mark and I both have realized we have a new found passion for running. Mark's goal for this year was to run a marathon, so his training started in early August. He trained like I have never seen him train before - waking up at 6:00 on SATURDAYS to meet a friend at a park to run at 7:00, running in the late evenings after the girls went to bed, running while on vacation, and he probably even ran in his dreams some too. He worked all the way up to a 20 mile run before his race and proved to himself that his goal was definitely attainable.
He found a marathon to do at the Chickamauga Battlefield National Park. Chattanooga, Tennessee is super close to the Battlefield, so we made it a little mini family vacation for the weekend. I couldn't let him go without his girls!
The girls on the dolly after Mark took the luggage off it. Loving every minute of their new freedoms!
This is Mark's wardrobe for the marathon all laid out the night before...#62!!!
Mark right before he left the hotel to go pick up his friend, Sean C, from his hotel who ran it with him. He walked out the door at 5:30 and the race started at 7:30, so I decided to bring the girls a little later in hopes of being able to find him along the way to cheer him on.
Here is the Farley Silly Bus with 5 kiddos strapped in tight! I stopped to pick up my friend, Mandy C, and her three kids from their hotel before we headed down to the battlefield. Mind you - Mandy - being the brave supportive wife and mother is bringing her 3 WEEK OLD baby along for the FUN!!! So we head off to the marathon to attempt to find a shuttle bus that in theory is suppose to allow us stop at 3 designated viewing/cheering areas. We arrived at 9:30, which meant we should have been able to catch the guys at mile 19, and then have time to ride another shuttle back to the finish line. However, the fact that the shuttle bus drivers "needed" potty breaks and gabbing breaks (You can tell there's more to that story!) it took the shuttles 45 minutes to an hour to come back around to pick the spectators up. Therefore, we decided it by the time we saw the guys run by mile 19, then we wouldn't have had enough time to get back to the finish line. Which is a good thing we didn't get off the bus, because Mandy's husband, Sean, called her while we were on the bus to tell her he had to stop running because of an ankle injury. They both were devastated, but Sean took it all in stride and completely swallowed his pride.
So, we rode the bus back around to the finish line where we met up with Sean. He immediately took the experience as a teaching opportunity for his boys to explain that when life knocks you down, you get up anyway, and that in everything all that really matters in life is the love and sacrifice of Jesus.
The girls and I waited at the finish line for at least 45 minutes. I felt extremely guilty for not being able to find him along the way to cheer him on, I was anxious about how he was doing, and I knew how much he had trained for this; therefore, I was filled with emotion.
Sarah and Hannah waited so patiently for their daddy to run across the finish line. Mandy was up on another corner waiting for Mark, and she called me when she saw him so I would be ready with the video and digital cameras.
"Sarah, here comes Daddy!!!" is what I was yelling as I was holding the cameras and fighting back tears!
Number 62 - Mark Farley approaching the finish line and coming in strong!!! He finished 26.2 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes. He has a new PR (personal record)!!! He immediately looked at me and said, "I want to do another one!" WHAT???
We are so proud of our Daddy!!! Hannah even stayed awake long enough to see her Daddy finish, then she passed out for a much needed nap.
Once Mark finished, Sarah said, "Can I go do the jumpy thing now?" LOL!!! Kind of puts things into perspective from a 4 year old's vantage point.
Sarah having good time while Daddy recuperates and Hannah naps.
Hannah couldn't miss out on all of the fun!
Daddy and his girls, and Sarah wearing his medal!
We went back to the hotel for Mark to shower, then we headed out for some touristy things. Mark was willing to put his own pain aside to enjoy the day with his family, and he was in a lot of pain. Once again, reality is being a parent doesn't allow you to dwell on your own pain, you must put aside your desires to focus on the kiddos. I am reminded of that lesson on a daily basis.
We drove up to Park Point and enjoyed the beautiful view from a top the mountain of Chattanooga.
The next day, after a much better night sleep, we spent 5 hours at the Tennessee Aquarium. The girls enjoyed every minute of it. Mark sporting his marathon shirt! Lookin' good Baby!!!
The girls looking at the alligators swimming around.
Posing with the penguins.
All in all, we had a fabulous family vacation with lots of new memories made! We hope to return to Chattanooga one day to do the Ruby Falls tour when Hannah is a little more stable on her feet. I am proud of Mark for being the husband he is, the daddy he is, and a MARATHONER!!! He's already talking about which marathon he can do next, and it's "killing" him not running this week to allow his body to recover. We give God the glory for his success and determination!
Hannah's tree was decorated by Sarah. Hannah painted the Santa cookie ornament. The tree is sitting on my old baby doll table.
This is my "Martha Stewart" tree in my bedroom. I love the muted glittery colors.
Sarah decorated her tree in her room in a Fancy Nancy style.
This is my chandelier in our multi-purpose room (playroom/dining room/exercise room). I love using berries and garland.
This is our kitchen chandelier decorated with garland and berries.
This is my sweet little cookie-cutter tree in the kitchen. I painted the cookie ornaments with a friend. I love that it illuminates our bible verse message board.
Sarah decorated the tree in our "multi-purpose" room with a little Fancy Nancy style.
Here is my new wall decor. This is a work in progress. I put some garland, berries, lights, and grapevine balls across the top. I am enjoying completing this new wall decor.
Here is our family living room tree with berries dispersed all over. I love collecting an ornament from our family vacations. So each year, we have a wonderful time reminiscing about our family trips as we hang each ornament.
This is the mantel with garland, berries, lights, and grapevine balls.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas celebrating Jesus' birthday, and I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas in Bethlehem internet tour!
