failed blogger again :/

Oh wow.  Here we are almost three months later.  I confess that I'm not the best blogger...especially when it comes to being consistent.  A lot has changed in the Barb household the last couple of months- including the Barb household.  Eric and I bought a house!  We had been looking since the middle of the summer- and went out probably 5-6 different times to see many homes in our area.  We actually put a rushed offer out in early August (when we found out there was another offer, so it was our only chance), but realized that we were not into playing the games that this 'for sale by owner' had.  So we kept looking....and then finally stumbled across the house that is now ours!  I like to refer to us as 'home owers' instead of 'owners' because we are far from owning this.  It's crazy when you look at the sheet with what you're actually paying out over all those years.  We even bought something at the very bottom of our price range and are actually saving money compared to what we paid in rent.  So I'll show you a picture of the little guy (on the outside) and then will hopefully get pictures up of the inside soon.  It is an old home (from the 1950's) in a great area of town that has lots of old homes with character.  It's actually on the same street as the first house we put the offer on.  We painted and got new carpet before we moved in and it seriously made a huge difference.  It has some fun features like a fireplace in the living room and built-in cabinets in the dining room.  We have moved down to only one bathroom, but the bathroom has been completely remodeled in the last 3 years and even has heated floors!  The major thing I would want to change is the kitchen.  It has green counters and an old, old green stove.  We plan to do a complete kitchen remodel somewhere down the road.  It is 1 1/2 story, Cape-Cod style.  The upstairs is really neat too- just needs a little love put into it, so that is probably in the future too!  But here it is from the front....

isn't it cute? the yard could use a little lovin' though...

We also finished our marathon last month!  It was such a great experience and we couldn't have picked better weather.  It started out around 50 degrees and was just starting to get too warm in the last couple of miles.  We also reached our goal of raising $1800 for 'His Voice Global' to go for building a 4th orphanage!  Several of our students came and watched us, so that was fun to see them at different points along the route!  I was definitely ready to be done by the end of it, and would have told you that I've completed my marathon and have no desire to do another full again.  It's funny though how you can forget those feelings- and in the back of my mind, I think I might want to do it again sometime in life.  I guess we'll see!

before the race in downtown STL

our cheering section after the race

The last thing I mentioned in my last blog was that I was going to work at the new Chick-Fil-A.  Well, about three days before we opened, I became a manager.  It has been a fun experience so far-- not that all days are easy or enjoyable, but I really like working there.  I have definitely been learning a lot about leadership and business.  It is hard work and we have been really busy.  It has also given me the flexibility to continue to work with the Student Ministry Team!  I work early in the day, so I finish early and still have the opportunity to get other things done.  I feel like I could probably blog about CFA though-- just all I have learned and experienced.  I come home and tell Eric stories everyday.  Like yesterday, for example, the outside door leading into the restaurant fell off (onto the sidewalk) at about 11am right as the lunch rush was starting.  Oh joy!

And I really do want to get better about blogging....so here's hoping that it's sooner than later :)

Video update!

Here is a little video update from my husband's blog http://exchangedlife.wordpress.com
Check it out!!

-KB

attempt #2

Back in January, I decided that I wanted to run a marathon...but I was a little late in starting to train.  I had to jump in on week 3 of training.  And then by about weeks 6-7, my left knee let me know that it was not very happy about all the running.  I actually claimed in late February that I was "retiring" from long races (although I had never competed in a full).   Not to mention that a trip with my team came up to go to Orlando and that conveniently meant that I could not do a marathon in Nashville that same weekend. 

My husband has previously run 2 marathons....one in 2009 and one in 2010. His last marathon was not the most fun ever...as he had pain in his toes from about mile 14 through the end. He actually told me at the finish line that if he "acts like he wants to do this again next year, to not let him".

Well here we are in the middle of July, and we're training for a marathon! Oops. Was I supposed to not let him?  And what happened to my retirement?  Who am I, Brett Favre?  It's not even something on my bucket list.  Really, it's just my competitiveness/pride.  I watch the Biggest Loser and they have run marathons on several of the seasons.  Oprah, for crying out loud, ran a marathon.  "If they can do it, I can do it."  And Eric?  Well he actually volunteered because he knows that I'll probably never do it on my own and I don't have anyone in CG to do it with- [insert: because he loves me and is a wonderful husband].  We are now about 4 weeks into our training. 

So what is going to keep us motivated during our running?  Keeping up with Oprah will only work for so long!  We have actually decided to run for orphans.  Eric ran the Chicago Marathon with a World Vision team back in 2009, he ran the Bass Pro Marathon last year as a part of 'I Run for Orphans', and I ran the KC 1/2 marathon in 2009 for 'I Run for Orphans'.  We desire to raise money for His Voice Global, an organization that is raising money to build their 4th orphanage in Sudan.  We learned that it takes approximately $30,000 to build one orphanage, that houses around 15 children and 2 adults.  We decided to take on the goal of raising $1800-$2000 which would either cover the cost of one room in the orphanage or for one student's education, clothes, food, housing, and needs at the orphanage.  We've set up a giving page to make it easy for you to partner with us.  Please check it out here and at least read about His Voice and the work they are doing.

Thanks friends and family.  We love you and are so grateful for you!

Kelly

Before the Bass Pro Marathon

PS- Just a little update on our training...I'm having a little right knee pain this time- so I'd love your prayers that it would go away and I'd be diligent to stretch and care for my body.

running with purpose

Today, I'm writing this post about my hubby-to-be. He's really wonderful ... and one of the things that we have had in common since we met, is that we both enjoy running.  When we met last May, we were both training (me for my first half-marathon, and him for his first marathon).  He ran with a World Vision team last year in the Chicago Marathon and in just 2 1/2 weeks, he will run another 26.2 miles in the Bass Pro Shops Marathon in Springfield.  This time around, Eric is running with 'I Run for Orphans' to raise money for 'His Voice Global', an organization that desires to empower orphans, widows, and church leaders to make disciples of all nations.  I actually ran my half-marathon through 'I Run for Orphans' to raise money for 'His Voice' last year.  Eric has a goal of raising $350.  He is 58.5% there (so over halfway), but still has $145 (OR MORE) that he'd love to raise for His Voice.  It gives a whole new outlook to running when you're doing it with a purpose. So how can you support him? ...It's easy. Just check out http://firstgiving.com/ericbarb1.
And did I mention that Eric is running this marathon on his birthday? Your giving can be like a birthday present :)

Also check out 'I Run for Orphans' http://www.irunfororphans.com/
and 'His Voice Global' http://www.hisvoiceforsudan.com/
and again, to donate for Eric http://firstgiving.com/ericbarb1

(Eric running the Chicago Marathon last year)