Running

I LOVE to run. Funny though- my track coach in high school couldn't get me to run more than a lap around the track. After gaining the freshman 20, I decided to pick up exercising again. When we moved to Spokane I started to run- but only occasionally. It was not until we moved back down South that I decided to really take a stab at running. My friend Anna ran her first half and encouraged me to do one. Nashville 2007 was my first- I was addicted. Running is such a challenge to me. It's mental. So many times I want to quit while running, but I don't like to quit, so I keep going. I have learned a lot about myself while running. At times my mind doesn't have to think about a thing. Other times, I enjoy taking in the Lords glorious creation and talking to Him. So peaceful. It makes me happy. I wish everybody could experience running this way! I feel...alive...free...relaxed. I started off this entry about running because that's exactly what I have been doing the past month..."running" through life. Figuratively and Literally. Here are some things I have been running through:

1. Sanders first birthday- Say What?!?!? My little pumpkin is a year old? CRAZY!!!Sanders, Britt, Sue Sue and I had a fun-filled birthday. We went to Starbucks, Jumpin' Jacks, Mellow Mushroom, the park, Bass Pro Shop, and then had a family birthday party. On Saturday, the big party took place with family, friends, cake, a mini-space walk, and presents!

2. We found out we will be having BOYS

! How exciting is that? Healthy baby boys to be born September 15- if not before. Matt and I are both excited to be adding more boys to the family. I am definitely outnumbered now! Hence the blog name change (courtesy of Regan Lawson): The Halls to Team Hall.

3. Nashville Half- At the end of April, Britt, Don, Ally, Seth and I loaded up the Camry and headed up to Nashville to run the Music City Half Marathon. Rebekah drove in from DC and Whitney met us in Nashville for the fun. IT WAS AMAZING. Despite the bad weather surrounding us, the worst held off for a little over three hours. It was just about enough time for everybody to complete the race. Rebekah was my heart and soul during the race- she stuck with me the whole time, so my stubborn self was forced to walk when I needed to. I owe a lot to her for driving 13 hours to run/walk a race. Finishing this particular half will always be special- 18 weeks pregnant with twins and running with an amazing friend God placed in my life.

Pic of me and Whit- waiting on one with Rebekah.

4. Mothers Day- Oh how sweet! Matt woke up and let me sleep in. He and Sanders went and picked me up some Starbucks and an Edible Arrangement- YUMMY! I could never eat too much of the fruit they have...especially the chocolate Sanders walked in the door with a card he handed me- too cute! The day was relaxing and made me feel so special- the way this day should!

It's been a long time!!!

Wow...How pathetic am I? I was soooo set on being a blogger the day I found out Sanders was a boy....and wham! He's almost a year, Im preggo with twins (yes, that's two; three under the age of 18 months) and I haven't written a post since. Bad mommy I am! I guess I've been- busy? There have been days I have had so many good things to post...but my laziness has caused me not to get on and post them. So, like a new years resolution that I WILL KEEP, I am promising myself to post on my blog at least twice a week. Feel free to shoot me hate mail at Brady.hall@yahoo.com if I don't keep up with it.

Where to begin? I cannot believe Sanders is almost a year old. Time sure does fly by. The Lord has blessed us with an amazing child (yes, I am the mother, so I can say it.) Really. He's been pretty easy. Such a happy boy. The first six weeks were tough, but after that, he picked up a routine and that made my life a whole lot easier. Every day gets better and better with him around. Matt has been an amazing support in a husband and father. There is not one thing that he hasn't tried to do on his own with Sanders. From the very beginning he would come home and tell me to leave for and hour or two, so I could have some free time- how wonderful!!! Little pumpkin is ALMOST walking...any day now. Im pretty sure he has a double dose of stubborness from his father and I- if you could get somewhere fast crawling, wouldn't you just crawl? I sure would!

The Surprise- ummm...getting preggo and not only that, but with twins. I cried and said some not nice words when I found out I was pregnant again. I have Ally and Anna to thank for me not being institutionalized that day. I called Susie at Dr. Dawkins office and somehow communicated to her (thru sobbing) that I was pregnant and didn't want to be. She was estatic...calming me down and letting me know what a blessing a child is. That night Matt came home and I was feeding Sanders. I balled right as he walked in the door ( I'm sure he thought I was dying of something.) Through my sobbing I finally got out that I was pregnant. He stood there with a smile on his face and said great. Great?!?!? Why wasn't he upset like me? Thank God for his support! Three days later I found out it was not just one, but two. Matt sat on the floor, my mom had her hands on her face saying "oh my gosh...oh my gosh" and I just laughed. I laugh when I get nervous. I couldn't stop laughing. The whole staff at the doctors office couldn't quit chuckling...I thought- laugh! Do ya'll want to provide financially for the family? It was ok for me to laugh, but not them!!!! To top off everything, I lost my job two weeks later. No more free car. No more free gas. No more free car insurance. Oh! and no more paycheck. What were we going to do?

Through all of the events of the past three months, the Lord has reitturated how much he LOVES me and is going to care for the family. I always have known it, but at times, I know it takes events like this in a life to wake up and see reality. I had been MISERABLE at my job for so long. As I have told many people, the Lord knew I would never have quit- why would I with all the great benefits. I knew I wasn't supposed to be doing that job any more. The almost six year run as a pharmaceutical rep had been a life changing experience. SO many great memories. However, it was time for me to move on. I'm thankful Matt and I have been doing Dave Ramsey for three years- without the budgeting knowledge we now have, we would be in a really messed up situation. God had all this in plan. Matt even got a new job in December that significantly raised his pay- I know all things in life happen for a reason, it's just really cool when you can look back and put the puzzle pieces together! I know there are a lot out there struggling and hurting right now. My encouragement would be to not lose hope! Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hop and future."

So, as the days ahead approach, I will confidently lift my head high, knowing my Father is in control! Matt, Sanders, Max and I are going to cram in every fun and memorable moments we can before the next two arrive. I am trying to say sane myself by running, hanging out with friends, and attempting to relax. I'm not good at relaxing, so I have to make myslef just sit sometimes. Be praying for our sanity!!!! Tootles

Fist time for everything

So, I'm a newbie at this blogging thing. Five months ago somebody couldn't have gotten my energized self to sit down for a long enough time to write something...but now that I'm almost five months pregnant, I take all of the rest time I can get!!! Naps and being lazy are two wonderful things!!! Trying to decide to start trying to become pregnant was a long process. Matt and I had always said "five years." When that five year mark was coming up, I kept telling myself (and my mother, to her disapproval) "just one more half-marathon and then I'll get off the BC." Well, the April Country Music Half in Nashville ended up being my last. The end of April I decided, what the heck, let's try. After all, who knows how long it will take us to have a little one? To my amazement (oh, me of little faith) we became pregnant in July. All has been grand so far. As stated earlier just LOTS and LOTS of naps...no sickness PTL!!

So skip ahead 4 1/2 months to last week. I swore it was going to be the worst week ever...Bama at number one, Obama as President elect...and I was 99% positive I was having a little baby girl. Don't get me wrong, having a healthy baby is the goal here...Ive just always invisioned myself as having little boys running around. The morning we were going to find out what we were having, the Lord and I were chatting. "God, I know I am being so selfish and human with all of this...I just don't know what I am going to do with a little girl" (like I know what I am giong to do with a boy since he's our first. I was almost in tears.) I kept repeating"Be still" and "for I know the plans I have for you..." during that time. How silly of me to be worried about that! In all I have been apart of, the Lord has ALWAYS know what is best for me...thank goodness I didn't get what I always I wanted when I was growing up. I would have been some bama fan/figure ice-skater (yes laugh...I do have a little girly side) named Brandy, (hated Brady as a child) who married the wrong guy.

Anyways, Matt and my mother accompanied me to the doctor last Monday. My blood pressure was up becuase I was sooooo nervous/excited. When the doctor was listening to the heartbeat, she even said girl. Deep breaths and off to the ultra-sound room I headed. When the tech asked me why I thought it was a girl I just told her because. She replied, "well it's not...it's little boy!" My mom and Matt jumped up and down, yelled ( you would have thought Auburn had just won the Natl Chapionship for Matt and Bama had won for Mom.) My mom even puncaed Matt on the arm and told him "he did it!" I asked the tech if she was positive and she said yea. I'll never forget the image and the feeling I felt that day. It has taken over a week for all of it to sink in. Matt and I are having a little baby boy, Matthew Sanders Hall (calling him Sanders) and we could never be more thrilled!!! I know it is going to be a learning process, but I am so thankful the Lord has allowed us to be apart of this little one's life. My prayers for Sanders are that Matt and I will lay the foundation for him to be rooted and grow as a child who knows the Lord and wants to serve Him and have a relationship with Him. Prayers are welcome!!!!