8 Servants For Christ: July 4 - Firecracker Run with Friends

A couple of years ago, Shea and Garrett ran in the annual Firecracker Run in Brownfield, but they only ran 1 mile. This year Shea tackled the 5K run. He has not been doing any training other than just doing all the normal things he does, but he ran the entire thing and received a metal for fifth place in his age division. We are so proud of him!!!!

Some friends of ours from Oklahoma got us started in the Firecracker Run and they are here this week to run in it. Their daughter, Evyn, has never run a 5k race either. Both her and her mom earned a medal as well. Everyone did a great job!!!

Before leaving for the race, however, Shea wanted to set of some of his smoke bombs....on an ant hill...we aren't too fond of ants.

Banner and Ginny sure want to know where that smoke is coming from. Libby is getting used to all out little tricks.

The race is about to start. Where's Waldo?

Still going strong at the 1/4 point.

He's at the half way point and still going strong.

Made it to the 3/4 mark and he is still smiling, I guess that's good.

Mrs. Jenny and Evyn right before that halfway mark, obviously, by Mrs. Jenny's face, they are still going good.

Shea finishing with flying colors.

Daddy was bursting with pride.

Tired boy, proud family.

Evyn coming in and had a really good time.

The lady coming up the road ran the full 5k with a baby stroller. Needless to say she got quite a cheer when she came over the finish line.

The three runners.

Evyn and her medal for third place in her age division.

Mrs. Jenny and her medal for 1st in her age division.

Mother and Daughter.

Dad and Mom surprised Shea with a firecracker run t-shirt. He absolutely loved it!

Shea was so worn out, but he felt really good.

Later some other friends, the Tatums, from another part in Texas came to spend the 4th with us. Garrett, Evyn's little brother, Elijah, and Nate Tatum spent most of the afternoon doing what boys do best...climb.

Evyn loved all the baby animals. Last time she was here Banner was just a new baby and we still had puppies. Now she has kittens to love and Dipstick.

Nate the Cat Hoarder.

Evyn with Dipstick.

We didn't have an amazing stock of fireworks this year, though the boys did get some. But every year we like to get up on the roof and watch the fireworks all around us. We live near lots of small towns so we can see all of their town firework displays and lots of home fireworks.

All of crew on top of the container watching the firework display.

After watching the firework display for a while, we went inside and hung out in Zach's room. We all got into a competition with his weight machine. Evyn would add more weights until the person sitting on the machine couldn't go any further then the next person would try. They entire time we were doing this Zach and Janessa were setting the mood music with the help of a guitar and a mandolin.

Nice face Kole.

Don't make it look so easy. Look how much he is lifting. Each one of those weights are 10lbs.

Here is Zach's limit.

Mrs. Jenny's birthday is tomorrow, so when they were here tonight we held a surprise party for her. I am glad to say that she was adequately surprised.

Janessa made this beautiful cake to celebrate our freedom and the life of a very sweet lady.

After the party we all went outside...now that it was thoroughly dark,and shot off the fireworks that the boys had. Shea had some dragon rockets that rolled...well shot across the ground. But we didn't know that it didn't go straight all of the time. To make a long story short, Dad lit the rocket and there was a lot of kids...and mammas scrambling out of the way of a fiery dragon. No one was hurt...other than a heat attack here and there. Does anyone have a firework story? I would love to hear some.