A friend of mine has said, "We gotta have a Monday before we get another Saturday!"  We've sure been enjoying our weekends lately!  For example:

Friday we went to the Columbus Zoo!  I love our zoo; it's rated one of the best in the country for a reason!  We were there for over 7 hours of fun- what a wonderful day!  Highlights were . .

1.Seeing the new baby elephant, "Beco".

He was worth standing in line for an hour.  Jeff did most of the waiting, we joined him in line about half way through.  Here the girls and I take a break with about 15 minutes to go until we see the elephants.

2. Watching a trainer feed a tiger meatballs!

3. Having a gorilla stick his tongue out at us!

4. Seeing such amazing creatures as this Okapi.  We have a creative God.  Was He thinking He'd combine a giraffe and a zebra and see what He'd get?!

5. And, of course, rides on the train, boat, and carousel!

6. And snakes.  Well, at least Julia was fascinated.  I was rather creeped out.

To celebrate Independence Day, we picked up my mom and went to see the parade in town.

The best part of this, of course, is the candy that flies from every vehicle.  The girls were armed with empty bags to serve as candy collectors, and they weren't disappointed! 

And what's the 4th of July without fireworks?  We had a great show here in Plain City- the grande finale was incredible!  Even if it was raining a bit; we just opened the back of the van to watch.  Except Julia, she thought she'd rather be out in the action!

"We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom." -Dwight D. Eisenhower

"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul."  Moshe Dayan

Here's a perfect (and perfectly healthy!) recipe for summer!

Fresh Strawberry Fruit Ice

6 cups fresh strawberries

1/2 cup white grape peach juice concentrate

1/2 cup water

Slice fruit and freeze until firm but not solid.  In blender, mix fruit, concentrate, and water.  Spoon mixture into serving cups.   Makes 6 servings.  Other berries or melons could be used in place of the strawberries with equal success!

Like today, it was a great way to cool down after a hot time in the garden!  And, of course, it's good to the last drop . . .

It's not the first time I got a look like that, the one with eyes narrowed and one brow raised that says, "You're kidding, right?"  That's the response I got when I inspirationally said to Jeff one day, "Wouldn't it be neat to run a 5K sometime?"  I could tell he didn't share my enthusiasm, but I certainly thought it would be fun- I like new experiences, they most always make you a better person.  And this latest idea of mine has been no exception.

By no means am I a distance runner.  Or even a runner, period, for that matter.  I have speed and strength, neither of which come in handy when you're training to run over three miles.  Nonetheless, I had lofty ideals that first day I trotted down my driveway, took off down the road, and was quickly met with these strange feelings of windedness mixed with disgust that I couldn't even make it to the corner near my house without getting tired out!  I have new respect for runners, believe me. 

As with any endeavor, this one has had trials and triumphs.  And I've learned a lot.  There were times I thought the idea impossible- while I was on the treadmill and would be interrupted at least three or more times by one child or the other, or when I just couldn't seem to get past two miles without hitting a wall,  or when I only had made the time to run once a week instead of three times like the programs all suggest.  Those times, I was doubtful the dream would ever happen.  But, I had just enough little glimpses of "victory" to keep me going.  Like the out-of-body sensation you get when you push the last 200 yards and can't even feel your legs moving, you just know you're going fast, or when you realize that your lungs are finally cooperating and you can get the breaths that just last month you struggled with.

Probably most surprising to me in training for this 5K was the battle that took place not in my body, but in my mind.  Inevitably, if I start thinking, "I can't make it this far, I need to stop!", my body will follow suit.  But if I instead, think, "I can do this, come on!", the difference is incredible.  There were plenty of times I verbally yelled a pep-talk to myself as I ran!  Adrenaline is a beautiful thing.

The 5K was Saturday and I did it in 31 minutes.  For a first time on an unfamiliar course, I was pleased.  And I'm also hooked.  It's not the sweat and exercise that lures me, or even the time of worship as I motor along listening to my mp3 player.  It's the spiritual analogy that resonates in my soul.  For our relationship with the Lord is also a distance race: one that hold interruptions and discouragements, one that requires priorities and perseverance.  And also one that gives us just enough tastes of "victory" to keep on.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which  the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." II Timothy 4:7-8

Run on!