What a weekend! To start off, Saturday morning was the
morning of the Oyster Festival 5k Road Race. Let me begin by giving you a
little bit of background information about this race! This particular race is
very special to me because last year, this was the first 5k Devin and I had ever
done!
We instantly fell in love with the experience and have done several runs since
then. Devin’s mom and dad came and watched us last year when we did the run.
Mr. Donald of course had the camera ready for action when we crossed the finish
line. He was so excited that Devin and I had found a hobby that we enjoyed
doing together. Earlier this year, Mr. Donald set a goal for himself and that
was to run in the oyster festival race with Devin and I this upcoming year! He
started attending gold’s gym and was going every day to prepare him for the
race. I was so excited that he was on the 5k band wagon with Devin and I. I
loved spending time with Mr. Donald because he was like a father to me, so for
him to want to do this with Devin and I filled my heart with such joy! Life was
going great. Devin had just graduated from ECU, Mr. Donald was down 25 pounds,
and then tragedy stuck our family May 15th …5 months ago today. God
had a different plan than what we had in mind. Mr. Donald was taken from us
here on earth and went to be with his father in Heaven. No words can describe
the heart ache that we all have. My selfishness wants him here with us on
earth, but he gained the ultimate prize. He has already won the race. He gets
to spend eternity in Heaven.
Though we missed him so very much this weekend, we continued
to show our love for him by making these T-shirts. Of course we had to make them "hunter's orange."
My sister realized how important this race was to Devin and
I so she decided she wanted to be a part of it! She started training a couple
of months ago to run in the race with us. At first she was trying to run by timing
herself..2 minutes run..1 minute walk…and she would gradually work herself up
from there. I got her to try a different technique. I told her to listen to
some music that she liked and aim to finish a song…then a song and a half...then
2 songs…etc. I think she enjoyed running a little bit more like this! Rather
than making running a job, you have to make it fun and enjoyable. Running for
me is very therapeutic. It relaxes me and gives me time to clear my mind. I
pray, I worship, I dance in my head(especially when I listen to my Pitbull
radio station on Pandora), I imagine, and I think while running.
My sister finished her first 5k this past Saturday! I cannot
express how proud of her I am. She pushed herself and achieved her goal. Emily’s
boyfriend Drew, her best friend Casey, and Coach Hardy also completed the 5k! I
know papabear would have been a proud soul of all of us.
After the race, we went and got breakfast at a local
restaurant in Ocean Isle Beach. It is called Castaway. If you haven’t had
it, I suggest you go try it. They serve omelets like the size of your head!
Not only was Saturday special because of the race…but it was
the first day of HUNTING SEASON! Woohoo! After we ate breakfast, Devin, his
mom, and I decided to go down to bass pro because Devin insisted that I needed
this specific hunting jacket they were selling.
Notice the “S” on the front? He’s ready for me to rock that
initial
After we left bass pro, Mrs. Susie and I talked Devin into
taking us to Kirkland’s. As soon as we walked in, I was immediately drawn to
this certain item which is now going to be the CENTERPIECES for our wedding reception!!!
Earlier that day, I was telling Mrs. Susie I just could not find my “inspiration
picture” for my wedding décor. This one item sent me straight into wedding
mode! I have a vision of my wedding décor now! Yay! After purchasing 25+ of
these items, we were loading up my car and the song “I can only imagine” came on.
This was Mr. Donald’s favorite song to sing. Well…. I do believe this was a “God
thing.” Maybe it was God letting us know that we are going to be alright. Maybe
it was God telling us that Mr. Donald is rejoicing with us up in heaven. I
still can’t imagine my wedding day without him being there because I know he
would have been a happy soul, but I know he will have the best seat in the house
and that seat will be in the presence of the Lord.
To complete our day, Devin and I went out to the woods to
try and catch us a deer. As most of you know, I am a very girly girl. I don’t do
bugs. Devin informed me that I couldn’t wear my perfume or lotion because the
deer can smell it, but I sure did have on my lipstick!
After a long and exhausting week of nursing school, this weekend
brought me back to reality of how wonderful life truly is. I am so undeserving,
but my God is so gracious. I am so blessed to have the support and love in my
life that I do have. Life is so short, so take advantage of the times you
have with one another. Embrace and cherish every second you have with your
loved ones.
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