OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL HALF-MARATHON

I've been waiting for this day for the last year. The race went pretty well although I think I was more tired toward the end than I realized – I looked down at my shadow and it looked like I was running like Napoleon Dynamite.

My sister Kelsey ran the entire 13.1 miles with me.

This is how we really felt about 30 minutes after the race ("bleh"). I almost had my dad give me a piggy-back ride to the car. It was a really great experience, though, and I’m ready to do it again!

People I Love

Some students and former students and I went to the Arts Festival tonight to trade stories, eat amazing food, and get some obnoxious face-painting done. 

That's Kerri (Korea) on the right - she just gave her life to Christ on Easter! In a few weeks she's headed to Chihuahua, Mexico with me to assist missionaries working with the Tarahumara Indians. She's really excited and so am I.

First we ate like pigs.

Then we acted like them.

I think I'm really blessed to get paid to work with such fun people. . .

at Andy Habib's. You really haven't lived 'til you've been to a party at the Habib's. They cooked Egyptian food for the Mediterranean Madness theme.

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Mrs. Small (fellow teacher and church friend) on the right. We have classrooms in the same hallway and "watch each other's backs" at school

Caleb as "Baby Bird"

Kaylie (left) got a phone for her 13th birthday today. Last night her slumber party posse was all set to come T.P. my house. . .thank goodness they ran out of time.

Here Matt, as Class Vice-President and self-appointed safety director, tells Kristen that things just weren't safe enough on the trampoline. It didn't go over that well (I guess we know who DIDN'T vote for Matt.) 

It was so fun to be with my students outside of school. . .I didn't have to tell a single person that I needed their homework or they had to take it down a notch all night. A student or two may have lost respect for me after my performance in those basketball games, but whatever.

The Weirdest Easter

Easter Sunday was so cold that we took our Peeps out of the Easter baskets and roasted them in the fireplace. It was kind of weird - like "Peeps Rotisserie" - but cool. All of my cousins said the Peeps incident and the weather made this the Easter no one will forget.

Kelsey and I after the first impalement.

Redbud Classic

(Also known to some of us as the Free Granola Bar and Starbucks Tea Emporium.) After several weeks of practicing while listening to inspirational Celine Dion tracks - I hope no one thinks I'm serious - I ran the 10K race. Kelsey (sort of) ran with me. In reality, she just cut in after three miles and joined me there. But I didn't tell a soul.

Next up on April 29th. . .I'm doing the half. Goodness knows how many Celine tracks I'm going to need to get me through THAT!

SPRING BREAK

Jessica came to town this weekend, along with a few other friends. Saturday we celebrated Val's birthday.

Christina!

Christian, Ben McG, Val, Jess, me, Ben McE

If you come to visit me, I will forcibly suggest that you go to The East Asia cafe with me. Rice box? Yes, please.

Today we took a road trip to Tulsa to see Grant's newly purchased house. "Livin' off the land" is his new motto as he gets ready to renovate the house in that fearsome manner that only Grant has.

The best thing about his new house is the POOL! (Look closely. That IS the pool behind us!) Swimming's my favorite! I am sooo ready for cook-outs by the pool.

Check out this guest bedroom. Brilliant.

And this one! (Great colors, sets a friendly mood, but suspect spelling.)

Christina helped by doing a little demolition work.

We want to put together a work party to help Grant do some painting, texturing, and throwing away Avon catalogues left on his doorstep. Grant has promised anyone who helps TWO MONTHS of free rent in one of his future rent houses (not really, but I'm just putting it on here as a suggestion to Grant).

Thanks to everyone who came to OKC this weekend! (I promise I will never accidentally leave my car anywhere again!)