ah choo!!

I was fumbling with my phone in the car and accidentally took a picture of myself just as I sneezed. Ha! What are the odds?? Nice pic, huh...

Hamming it Up

Ben and his brother, Jacob, out and about in the city. They stopped by Chuck's Boots to do some window shopping . . . looks like they may decide to hold the place up . . . "Draw, Pardner!"

Surprise!!!

My mom turns 70 this year! We surprised her by telling her we were getting together for a be-lated party for G-ka's 16th birthday. But we were also celebrating her! Happy Birthday!!

Jessica lights the candles on her multi-level cake.
Quick! . . . I don't know how long this cake will last with 70 candles all a-flame!
(It sure lit up the room.) :)

Mom's cake.

Inside Jessica's cake . . . RAINBOW layers. Fun!

Checking out snapshots of the wish-making, flame-engulfing, candle-blowing moment.

As everyone bustles busily around her, Mom takes a moment to enjoy her cake . . . and the wonderful chaos of a Hamblin gathering.

Cancer Fighting Superheroes

Race To Cure Lymphoma: October 1, 2011
"There is no finish line until there's a cure!"

I ran 6.2 miles today without walking! The clock said 1:11:45 when I crossed the finish line. I ran the Race to Cure Lymphoma 10K in memory of my Dad who died of leukemia on February 8, 2010.
I wrote his name on a balloon and on the other side I drew his trademark monkey and "DAD".

The truth behind this picture.... I had to stage it. I accidentally deleted the (of course) very cute one I took just before the race. I was sooo disappointed with myself. But I knew my dad would have helped me find a way to laugh about it, so I chose to let it go. After all, I can have a deleted picture and be upset, or I can have a deleted picture and be happy. Either way, the picture is deleted, so I might as well choose to be happy.
So this picture is a re-enactment of my balloon I made for my dad. When I let it go, his name stayed facing me as it rose to heaven. It was so cool I thought, "I wish I had a picture of that!" Oh yeah! Then I jumped to action with my cell phone . . . duh . . . but this was all I got:

Oh well . . . it was a very neat experience for me.
The theme of this particular race is "Be a cancer fighting superhero." The back of my race shirt says, "I'm a Hero." Running this 10K helped me come to a couple realizations:
1. Sometimes I feel like a victim of cancer, because it took my dad.
2. Running helps me feel like I can do something about it.
I was telling a friend about wanting to run a full marathon. 26.2 miles!! It terrifies me. I don't think I can do it. I want to give up before I even begin. So I don't understand why I feel drawn to doing it. My friend suggested doing a marathon relay: putting a team together so you only have to run 6-7 miles. I told her it sounded like fun, but that I had to do my 1st marathon by myself.... Because I had to push my body beyond it's normal capacities... Because I had to physically fight to make it to the finish line... Because I had to know and understand what Carrie went through, what Devree goes through, what my dad went through. By this time I was completely emotional and I realized the "why". Why I have to run. I didn't understand before. So I guess I'm coming out of the closet... I'm a runner...

... a Cancer Fighting Superhero Runner.

"There is no finish line until there's a cure."

My Little Architects

My New Favorite Picture

(Gibbons Falls, Yellowstone, 2011 Mackley Family Reunion)

My Best Friends

I know right now things are tough. It's hard to raise kids. I'm never 100% sure I'm doing my job right as a mother. Am I too tough? Am I too lenient? Are my expectations too high? Do I challenge them enough? Do they know I love them no matter what? Do they know when I'm disappointed it's only because I know what they are capable of accomplishing? Do I choose to fight the right battles? Do they hear what I'm not saying? Do they know who they really are? Because I do. I remember. I remember their distinct spirits following me while they were in my womb. I know their personalitities. I know they're daughters of a king. Do I remind them of that and give them the tools needed to fulfill God's potential for themselves? I don't know. But when I see this picture, I know it has captured 4 very best friends who will not only go through life there for each other, but also into the eternities. God has blessed me greatly.