The Weekend

My computer has been down at home and I wasn't able to update anything all weekend...completely without access to the internet. I can't even remember the last time that happened. It was kind of crazy; at some point, we had to turn the house upside down looking for a phone book - which I was amazed we still owned. There was a lot that went on in the Woodard household this weekend and looking back at it, I'm not sure how we packed it all into the weekend, good thing we had an extra day.

Thursday, Derek ran again, this time finishing 61st out of over 100 runners. He was so disappointed, but as I told him, it was 92 degrees outside, the fact that he could finish the race was a huge accomplishment. Grandaddy D was in town from Tampa to cheer him to the finish and Mimi made it there too. As he rounded the last turn and headed for the finish line Caleb yells "turn on the heat Bubba"...my thought was "if it gets any hotter, no one is going to finish" but of course, Derek stepped it up and passed several kids, one who did not appreciate Derek's NASCAR style moves and abruptly "bumped" him back a position. I think he actually ran better this time, it only took him a minute or two to catch his breath after the race instead of ten or twelve...it was success as far as I am concerned.

Friday, Grandaddy D picked Derek up for a short visit in Murfreesboro because Aunt Terrie was getting married but only after a quick trip to the shoe store for dress shoes...in a size 9. Looks like my little boy might actually grow a few inches sometime soon...he will be so excited! Caleb got some serious Mom & Dad time because Russ then left to spend the night at Mimi & Grandaddy's for a fishing trip on Saturday. Caleb loves it when he gets all of the attention. He even finagled a 9:30pm trip to Marble Slab for some ice cream...you know, the baby thing again!

Saturday, Russ fished with Grandaddy, reeling in a massive 3 ounce fish! Derek witnessed the exchanging of vows between Aunt Terrie and now Uncle, Jack. Caleb had one last splash at the rec center. I made it out of the house with no boy of any sort in tow and managed lunch and shopping with Marisa while Chris drafted yet another fantasy football team.

Sunday, we were awakened by tragic news that Ricky Headley, Jr, "little Ricky" to us, had passed away Saturday. My heart aches for my friend Terrie and her family. Please pray for them; they have been through so much. Melissa will bury her first-born tomorrow, I don't know how you even get out of bed to do that. Ricky has a 2-year old daughter, Anna Grace, who I pray will remember how she was the light of her Daddy's eye, please pray for memories of him for her as she grows up. This is a time of suffering and grief for the Headley family, please ask for God's healing touch for them.

Monday, we rose very, very early and headed into Franklin for the Franklin Classic. Derek and Chris ran the 5K and Russ and Caleb tackled the Kids Kilometer. Derek finished his 3.2 miles in 29:52 and Chris followed right behind in 29:54 each having an average time of 9:38 per mile. I'm pretty sure they are still sore today! Russ knocked out the kids kilometer in a mere 4:47 (which was 8th place by the way) and Caleb (with Derek's help) finished up in a little over 9 minutes. We might still be waiting for him if his biggest brother hadn't given him a piggy-back-ride for 100 yards. Derek is our hero, he chugged that last kilometer with Caleb after running 5 of his own! Everyone had a great time and while Chris looks really thrilled to be there in the picture above, he had a good time once it was all said and done.

After the race, there was laughter over the following conversation that has been declared my quote of the race:

C - (beginning to walk instead of run at approximately 2.5 miles) "D, run on if you want to, but I've hit my wall"
D - (immediately stopping as well)"that's okay Dad, I've hit your wall too!"

I know the secret to their record times; they are both so competitive that neither one of them wanted to let the other get a leg-up so they both ran until they couldn't function any longer!! Going into the event, Chris had the advantage on the distance (running 4 miles at least 5 days a week) and Derek had the speed (running a mile in 8:30). Russ and I were placing wagers on who would cross the finish line first (but we'll never tell who we bet on). It was great to see them coming up the street on the last leg together. It was a day they will both remember and cherish.

This Labor Day weekend brought both sorrow and joy, while we will always remember this weekend as a tragedy in the life of our friends, we will also remember the joys that our family experienced. Life is a journey through which we will encounter both, but never more than we can bear, and that's a promise!