INCREDIBLE GRANDKIDS

Wanda and I have seven grandchildren. They are all special in their individual ways. Someone said that children are your reward for not killing your own children. I never wanted to kill my kids, but I'll admit that they did aggravate me at times. Well, maybe more than aggravate. But they have given us beautiful grandchildren.

We have two Alex's, one Nic, once Cole, one Lorenzo, a Claudia, and a Paige. They are quite a group. They're growing up and it is happening too fast.

Today Nic called just to say hi. He said on the phone message that he just wanted to talk to his Papa. That made me feel great. He made my day!

Wanda is a wonderful grandmother. She goes far out of her way to do for them and make each one of them feel special. All you have to do is look out our back yard to see the grandkid's bird houses to know what Wanda thinks about each of them.

I wonder what they will grow up to be? I wonder if they will follow the Lord? I wonder who they will marry and where they will live? I wonder if they will always have a special place in their hearts for me? For Wanda?

Time will tell on all of those questions. I will continue to call their names in prayer each day. I will invest in them as I much as I can. They are ours. I want them to do well and go to heaven.

FITNESS FOR LIFE

The older I get the more I realize that you only get one body. Just one. No more. No less. The older I get the more wrinkles, aches, and pains set in. What is one to do?

I don't think it will get better. The fall of man is hitting me. Yet, I know all isn't lost.

In this life, I know that what I have is what will be, but I can take care of it. Proper dieting, adequate rest, good thinking, and moderate exercise all have a part in how I will fair. One key to better health and feeling good is stretching.

I am not into yoga, but meditation is Biblical. Stretching is Biblical too. I don't know where one would find it in the Bible, but I will look.

Since slowly getting into stretching, I can touch my toes while standing up with relative ease. My muscles feel stronger. Aches and pains are not as bad.

On Friday before the recent 15K Gate River Run, I get a massage at one of the booths at the pickup station for running numbers. Man, did that ever feel good. It was provided by one of the local rehab centers who were there promoting their business. Wow! I enjoyed that. My muscles felt great. I know it helped my run the next day.

They confirmed again the importance of simple stretching. Stretching is painless but really effective. It increases balance, muscle tone, and endurance. I feel better.

I have only one body. What I do with it counts for life.

I FINISHED THE RUN

Saturday was a windy day for a 15K run. It was cool with strong winds blowing westerly. The cool temperature was fine. It was in the mid 6o's and could have been much cooler in fact. But the wind was another story.

I got in line with 21,000 other runners around 8 AM for a 8:30 start. They play Chariots of Fire to begin the race and a cannon shot is the official start.

When the shot was fired, I moved forward with a big stop. No one moves at the beginning except those right at the front of the starting line. Those are the elite runners. They can run the 9.3 miles at about 42-43 minutes. That is a 4.5 minute mile average for 9.3 miles. Now that is moving fast.

My pace is around 10 minutes per mile, but actually I run the 9.3 a little slower than that. I had hoped to run the 15K in 90 minutes or so, but it was just too windy.

Our church manned a water station at the 4 mile mark giving water to thousands of runners. I was thrilled and proud to see so many willing people offering water. That was the most special part of the race for me. I needed the water to run and all the other runners did too. What does the Bible say about offering a cup of water in His Name?

Another part of the event was the joy of having family and friends run too. Mark, my stepson, ran as well as Caleb, a friend of Mark's from Lakeland. Two of our grandchildren ran in the kid's run which is a 1 mile run. I was so proud of Cole and Paige. They ran great races too!

I changed into a dry shirt for this last picture. I was cold and wet!

I ran on past them mile after mile. Actually I felt strong until the last mile. That is the mile over the Hart Bridge. That is huge and tough. The winner of the men's division said that the wind was brutal. He was right. The conditions going up and over that bridge were tough.

As I ran up the bridge my strength drained from me. The wind kept pushing me. Once the wind nearly blew me over. Other runners were struggling more than me. In fact, one lady fell at the top of the bridge and had to be helped down by paramedics.

Several times as I struggled up the bridge I wanted to quit. I didn't think I could make it, but I kept running. I envisioned the end. I envisioned the finish line. I rememberd a sign someone was holding up just before I started the bridge incline. It read, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I kept running step by step and finally reached the top. I made it.

Now, it was downhill all the way to the finish.

As I approached the finish line, I scanned the sidelines of the street for Wanda. Finally, I saw her. I began to wave. I waved giving glory to God. I had finished the race.

At the end as you cross the finish line, they give medals to hang around your neck. To get one, you had to show them your running bib with your name on it. It proved you had signed up. They had your name written down. It showed that you had registered to run. Now, as you crossed the finish line you could receive your medal.

Isn't that like heaven?

Don't you have to register with God?

Doesn't God have to have your name written down in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Don't you have to finish the race of life?

Then, as you complete the race for eternal life, can you receive the reward of heaven.

That is my plan. I plan on finishing the race of life. I have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He has written my name down. I plan on finishing the race.

I'M READY TO ROLL!

Actually I'm ready to run. All my training is done. I completed my last 2 mile run early Thursday morning. Now it is time to rest and relax. The hard work comes Saturday morning.

The race starts with around 21,000 other runners at EverBank Stadium where the Jaguars play. It should be cool but not cool enough when we start at 8:30 AM. They start with a cannon shot and the race is on. After several moments where the crowd ahead slowly begins to move, then finally I will begin to move too. I am not a seeded runner so I'm back a little in the crowd.

Hopefully the walkers will be back a little farther so I won't have to weave through them like I did last year. That isn't fun.

We will run a almost a mile and cross the Main Street Bridge. It is a draw bridge and has metal grates which are somewhat dangerous especially if you slip. That isn't good. It seems every year someone ahead or behind me falls on this bridge. Ouch!

Then it is on toward San Marco and we run back by the St. John's River again and through the old historic houses. Some of them are huge mansions. It is a beautiful part of the run.

Then it is back towards Atlantic Blvd. towards St. Nicholas with a turn back towards the river again. Could it be that is why it is called The River Run? After running through historic St. Nicholas, we head back toward Atlantic Blvd and on to the Hart Bridge. It is one of the largest and longest of the seven bridges of Jacksonville. On the day of the River Run they call it the "Heartbreak Bridge". Oh, does it ever feel that way. Many people are not able to make the long, upward pull to the top. It is rough!

The Hart Bridge is the last mile of the 9.3 mile run. By the time you pull yourself up the Hart Bridge, you're almost spent, but then it is all downhill. That really helps.

I am excited about this year's run. I'm hoping to beat last year's time. I'm hoping to run it in just over 90 minutes. We'll see how it goes on Saturday.

FINAL TRAINING

This is the last week of training for the 15K Gate River Run. I am on the down side and headed for the home stretch. I ran 4 miles yesterday over the Acosta and Main St. bridges. The good news is that I felt great and was ready to run more.

This has been a 3 month training process for me. I have actually run for a number of years, and I ran the River Run last year. This is my 6th run.

For a 62 year old, I feel like I have done fairly well. I haven't lost the weight that I was hoping to lose, but I can say that I have lost weight and turned fat into muscle. The bad news is that I still have too much fat to lose.

I hope to keep this schedule going, and lose the other 15 pounds. That is my goal.

What have I gained?

I feel better. I am stronger. I have lost weight.

We only have one body. We don't get another until we get to heaven. So, my thought is to try to take as good of care of the one body that I have. Running helps.

Do I love to run?

No!

Then why do I run?

I run because it is the fastest way I know to get exercise.

I have two more short runs before the 15K. I am on the down side. Yea!

THE BEGINNING AND THE END

U.S. 1 runs through Jacksonville, Fl, going North and South. I saw where it begins and ends on our resent motorcycle trip to Key West.

We were walking toward the downtown after parking our motorcycles. After walking a few blocks I saw a sign where U.S. 1 ends. I stopped to take a picture.

After enjoying downtown Key West, we headed back toward our motorcycles. Then I saw another sign. This one read, "Beginning of U.S. 1. It was right across the street from the sign that said end of U.S 1.

The signs were across the street from each other. U.S 1 began and ended at the same spot. Well, I know that the highway ended hundreds of miles from there, but you could see the beginning and end on the same block.

Here is the point: God really is the beginning and the end. It all starts and stops with Him.

He is Alpa and Omega, The Beginning and The End. He is the start and the finish.

TRIP TO KEY WEST

Wanda and I took a few days off this week to ride "Big Red" to the Florida Keys with several friends. We rode about 1300 miles and had a fabulous time. There is just something about motorcycle riding that helps me get things off my mind. It is exhilarating!

We drove to Seffner, Fl, with our friends Jim and Judy Woodford and stayed with our good friends Terry and Nadine Wallace. Terry and Nadine are the best hosts. They have a beautiful B&B. Their friends, Dan and Janet, joined us for the ride from there to Key West. Now that is the Southernmost tip of Florida and I believe the U.S. The water was spectacular and the weather was beautiful. We rode in the rain on our ride to Seffner, but from there the weather was perfect!

What is there to see in Key West?

What about gorgeous sunsets?

What about beautiful water?

What about delicious key lime pie?

The Southern most point of the USA?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

And the best part is enjoying friends. We laughed and had a ball. We took a trip on a glass bottom boat and saw a corral reef with beautiful colored fish and all kinds of underwater sights.

My, God created an incredible world that shows His glory!

Does your bottom get sore riding that many miles?

Yes!

Is it worth it?

Yes!

Will we do it again?

Yes, but the next ride will be North.

Riding "Big Red" is a fun way to see the USA!