Eagerly anticipating

 I woke up this morning knowing that Our Lords birth is right around the corner.  I didn't feel the anxiousness of the past few days - my new found phrase "myriad of things to do" did not cross my lips, and I snuggled with my Abby

 Stephen's school party was over and the 655 dozen cookies that I baked where gone!  I finally finished some projects that I knew would take time and lots of love, and gifts are wrapped.  I'm feeling peaceful!  (That could have something to do with the Grace I received through the Sacrament of Reconciliation!) 

 And did I mention today is my Nephew's birthday?  Yep, and I get to see him!!  That could also account for the peace and joy!

So this morning, The Maddox family will continue to prepare our hearts and our home to receive Our Lord on Tuesday!  We are in full eager anticipation!!

OH Cinnamon rolls, how I love you!!

 When we first looked at this house I walked right into the kitchen and imagined myself making these yummy Cinnamon rolls on these wonderful long counters!

 Like all good things, I had to wait until the right opportunity and the perfect helper!

 Once Advent came around, I knew I must get these delious rolls made and ready for our first Christmas morning at our own house.  These rolls are amazing, freeze well, and are so easy to pop out and warm up for any occasion!  These Cinnamon rolls are the Pioneer Woman's recipe - and they are unforgetable!!!  Like I told my friend yesterday "if I can do it, anyone can do it!"

What I love most (ok, second to the yummyness) is that this recipe makes a ton of rolls, enough to freeze, hand out, or just keep pulling them out and eating them up! 

 Of course, how could I fill the house with this amazing smell and not let the big ones dig in - but the rest of the crew will just have to wait until Christmas morning for the rest!

Happy Advent!!  Christmas is just around the corner and this family is ready to Celebrate Our Lord!!!!  God Bless!

Because everyone needs a laugh!

Still waiting on our Christmas card?

Hope you get it before Christmas :)

 

My hope was to get our cards out early so everyone would have our new address.  So if you need our new address, please facebook me, email me, or text me.  God Bless!!

I promise, I haven't "run" away!!

 Ok, Ok, I know it's been over a month since my last post.  But I promise I have a really good excuse.  See a little over a month ago we bought a new house!!!  Whoo hoo!!!  The downfall....we just got Internet.  I won't go into that horrible story, but just be glad I did not have Internet and the ability to blog about it!!

 To say the least, like usual, the Maddox family has been busy!!!  I finished the race (thank you again for everyone's support and prayers) we bought a house the next week and then two days later Stephen brought the flu home from school. 

 All that being said, really I am so happy.  We all are.  It's been a great transition for the kids.  They love the new house, and of course the big 5 acres of yard to play and dig in!!  Please don't let me get started on how much our dog loves it!!  He was made for the country!

 I dont' know if it's the swing set that Cecilia has to climb up everyday, or the feeling of stability, but something has really changed.  She has made major progress!!  I am just so thankful for all the words that come out of her mouth, her movements, the little things!!

I promise, I will do my best to get back on the blog train.  I miss keeping all of you up to speed on our wonderful, crazy, loud life.  God has blessed us in so many ways.  I will up date you on the new house and all the fun that has gone on.  And of course, I will give you some funny Christmas picture "trials" haha.  Getting this group to sit still for a picture is truly entertaining!! 

 

Until next time!  Happy Advent!

13.1 down..... now what?

 So I did it!! I still can't believe it, but by the pain in my thighs I know I ran 13.1 and I ran it hard!  I'm not going to go through the play by play, but I want to, but I won't :)  It was just an amazing experience. I was so happy that all my kids where there - we don't have a lot of pictures, but if it was between Alan having his hands on the camera concentrating on me or having the four little ones there, I totally choose the little ones!

 My brother, his wife and my nephew made the hike over from Huntsville - that was amazing!!! 

 

So here are the highlights. 

 On the way to race Stephen decided it was the perfect time to sing his favorite song.  He wrote it.  He loves it.  It's a rock song.  It goes a little something like this: ( please sing in a very loud hard rock melody) " Rock down in the Raaace" say that over and over and there is his song :)

 

I actually ran into an old Troy teammate at the starting line. Haha, what a small world!

 

Seeing my sweet family cheering for me and screaming "go mommy" as I started!  It was cold and there were a lot of people there!!  Not to many little ones that early

 

The last two miles was the hardest!!! Ahhhh, that last mile had the worst hills and I thought my legs would stop moving - they didn't, thank God!

As I approached the finish line I heard my sweet family, that was amazing!  I looked up and saw my sweet babies, hubby, brother, sis-in-law, and oh so cute nephew.  That took my breath away!! 

 

As the race began they announced Team John.  John was the "named" runner for the run.  He is a young boy, around 8ish, who is a UCP child.  The team was about 20 men and women who alternated pushing him in a jogger the entire 13.1!!  They announced the team and I had seen them earlier, and I just started to cry.  I think all the emotion and work and Cecilia just flooded me.  I was standing next to my old team mate and honestly I'm so glad it was someone I knew so people didn't think I was crazy.  

 

But I wanted to say thank you again, b/c those tears weren't just b/c I am an emotional wreak.  It was b/c I knew I wasn't standing at that starting line alone. I knew that all of you were there with me, that Team Cecilia was there.  Thank you for that!  Thank you for your love, your encouragement, your support!!  I am forever humbled!!!

 

God Bless you all!!! 

I am done writing about running, this week has new adventures (plus running, b/c I think I'm addicted and my legs need to feel better so I know I must run, but I won't write about that)...... :) 

Little thoughts

 So last night was my last run before the race...... wow!  I can't believe it!  First I can't believe that I would ever in my entire life say that 3 miles was an "easy short" run.  That is just absurd, but true :)  I hope and pray I can keep some of this endurance up!

 I was on the Life Without Limits Half-Marathon website the other day www.ucprun.org, I read an awesome comment from a runner last year.  She was an older woman who had run her first half and it sounded like she was a volunteer for UCP.  She said that everyone told her that the last two miles would be the hardest.  As she approached the last two, it was hard, but she started to think about all the children with limitations and special needs and how hard they struggle everyday and push themselves to the limit and keep pushing, after that she stopped struggling and pushed through. 

 What a great motivator.  I can understand, and I know I will have many thoughts over the course of that run this Saturday.  But I pray that I finish strong and that maybe I've made a difference for someone! 

I want to end my last post before the race by saying Thank you!!  Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me through this training!!  Whether it was comments online, emails, texts, words of encouragement, every bit has helped and I am so grateful!!  I also want to give a big shout out to my Mother-in-law Shirley.  90% of every night run was made possible by her.  Alan and Stephen have been out late for football , or Alan has had to work late, and after putting the kids to bed Shirley has been there so I could lace up my shoes and head out the door.  Thank you so much Shirley, I truly appreciate it!!! 

 

Don't forget you can still join Team Cecilia and donate to UCP of Mobile by clicking on this UCP link.  Please make the dedication to Team Cecilia and at the bottom please put Mobile AL as the local office.  Thanks so much!!! 

Join Team Cecilia!

*Updated!!!  click here to go directly to the UCP of Mobile website to donate today*

Just put "Team Cecilia" for the dedication, and select Mobile for locale UCP

 

I want to begin by thanking everyone who has supported us during this training.  I remember coming home from a run shortly after we had received Cecilia's diagnosis.  I had tons of energy and desire to do something, but what?  I knew and still know that we are completely blessed in so many ways.  Cecilia is doing amazing and continues to impress me daily.  But I still needed to do something.  I told Alan I wanted to start running 5k's to raise money for UCP (United Cerebral Palsy).  I started searching for runs that any UCP sponsored and I couldn't find many..... but I came across one for a half marathon.  I laughed and told Alan that I had no desire to ever run that far!! 

 

I'm not sure what changed my mind.  I think it was the challenge of the race, the training, the preparation, the time that I would need to put into it.  I knew that it would be an amazing accomplishment, and something that I could be proud of.  I knew that all of my children will struggle with something in their lives and I wanted/needed to be the example to them that they can do anything, big or small!  So all that being said, as you know I committed to this half marathon, and here I am two weeks out - sick as a dog - but ready!! 

 

So what can you do now?  Well, first please continue to pray for us, pray that I don't get hurt (as I'm sure you remember my broken arm was not the easiest thing for my little family to work around).  I ask you to pray for the many, many children the UCP help around the country.  Did you know that 65% of the children that UCP works with do not have cerebral palsy.  This organization helps all children with any number of limitations and special needs.  There are so many children out there that rely on UCP as the sole provider for their children's therapy.  One neat program that UCP of Mobile has is camp SMILE.  Camp SMILE is a true summer camp for children with limitations and/or special needs.  They get the opportunity to ride horses, climb walls, hike, canoe, anything a traditional summer camp experience would contain. Camp SMILE also encourages family members to attend camp also.  What an amazing opportunity for so many children.

 

So today, I ask you to pray, ask yourself if you and your family would be willing to join Team Cecilia.  By joining Team Cecilia I am asking you to donate some of your treasures to help others.  I am running 13.1 miles, can you join me and match every mile I run with $1? 

 

If you would rather lace up your sneakers, then I have another option for you.  Coming this January UCP of Mobile will be hosting its 2nd annual 5K on Dauphin Island.  If you have never run or walked 3.1 miles, then I think this is the time to start.  I would love to see all of you out on the Island in January. 

 

If you would like to support UCP today by joing Team Cecilia, click on the picture below, it will pull up a different page, print it - fill it out, mail it in :)  How simple is that!!  If you have problems printing out the form (I know there is a better way to get a file up for you, but I can't figure it out at the moment) please call, email, or message me on facebook and I will get the form to you ASAP! 

 

Thank you all so much!!

 

 

THE ORIGINAL TEAM CECILIA!