Day at River Valley Ranch

I have been trying hard to be a good mother and give my darling daughter by love, Tiffany, a chance to brag first but I have decided that five days is enough time to wait!


Last Saturday, August 23 started early for us. We were out the door and heading towards I-95 by 6:30 a.m. Why would we do this after a full work week? Because we wouldn't miss seeing our granddaughter Caitlin and her dad (our son, Brent, or course!) in her first 5K race at River Valley Race. Caitlin had been with her mom and Dad to a "Do Hard Things" conference earlier in the summer and Cait had decided that running in this race and stepping out of her comfort zone to ask people to sponsor her would be her hard thing to attempt. When we arrived she was all smiles, excited to be doing this with her dad.

It was a delight to us to see the excitement and bonding in their family getting ready for this event. Cait was faithful in preparing, running daily with her dad and sending out letters to let people know what she was doing and why. It gives me such joy to see my boys taking their parenting one giant leap beyond ours. Which is why we have 14 fabulous grandchildren!


Grant and Jacob were taking part in the one mile Fun Run (along with Ethan Canfield, whose brother Zach and Amanda Schmidt were also running in the 5K). Although he didn't attend the conference, Jacob was also doing his "hard thing" emulating his sister. He was a little nervous about running without mom or dad along but he did great and they all had a great time.


And finished the race with determination! Way to go, Jake!


We were waiting on the other side of the covered bridge in excitement, watching for Cait and Brent to come into view. It was neat to see him running backwards and encouraging Caitlin on as they came to the finish! We could imagine him saying--You're almost there, keep going! Come on, come on! And she made it. She came in 6th place in her category (under 16 girls)!

Is she a happy girl or what?

The boys enjoyed playing at the stream while we waited for all the runners to finish and the award ceremony to begin. (Water draws boys like a magnet--but amazingly no one got wet!)


Cait's goal had been to raise $500.00 She reached this goal a week before the race and ended up exceeding it, raising a total of $790.00. She was excited about receiving an Ipod for raising $500.00 but then the surprise came. In her category she raised the most money! Although she was more excited about getting the Ipod, it was a thrill to have her name announced and have Tracy Tiernan (WRBS Morning Team and who also ran in the 5K) present her with a bike!

It is hard for me to express the blessing it is to see my children and grandchildren making so much more of their lives than I could have dreamed of. I have so many regrets of the way I wasted my youth. I was a "good" kid in the eyes of the world and even at church, I guess. But I was so wrapped up in "me" and pleasing myself, never pushing myself to be more or to do a "hard thing". Watching my kids and grans feels like God giving me a second chance--to at least encourage them to walk farther than I did and be more than I am. What an awesome and grace-giving God we serve!