Oh Canada!!!

Yahoo!!! Finished the Seattle Rock-n-Roll yesterday! It was a lot of fun! 28,000 people...I had a 2 mile walk just to get to the starting line, a really hilly course-perfect weather- overcast-upper 50's and a band at every mile! Yes...a band at every mile! The course took us on the I-90 bridge (across Lake Washington), on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, on the Aurora Bridge and through downtown Seattle. It was so great to see Jay and the girls at miles 9, 14, 22 with their signs=). The girls put on one of the signs-"run like Big Foot is chasing you!"...a lot of the runners got a kick out of that!= )

Friday-At the Sport Expo waiting in line to pick up my race bib

The girls and I at the Sport Expo...it was packed!

At mile 9 of the race...

1/2 Marathoners and Full were on the same route up to mile 9

The I-90 Bridge over Lake Washington...runners ran in the "express lanes" in the center...it was a little windy on that bridge!

The Alaskan Way Viaduct out to the Aurora Bridge over Lake Union onto Aurora with a turn-around.

Mile 15 on the lower deck- out to the Aurora Bridge and back to upper deck.

Mile 22 on the upper

From Aurora Avenue after mile 20 you could see the top of the Space needle nestled in amongst the downtown buidlings! Almost finished!!!!

Runners finished at the north end of Safeco Field...Seahawk territory ;)!

The medals were the coolest medals I have ever gotten from a race!!!!

Jay and I are running a marathon in a little over 3 months in October in VICTORIA, CANADA! Yes...Jay is going to do 26.2! It's a 10-10-10 race. He turns 40 on October 6th...so why not celebrate with a marathon!=) "Oh Canada"!!!

I can't wait to run that one with Jay!=)

So here's a question for you...do you want to Rock-n-Roll with us next year on June 11, 2011? Jay was thinking of signing up for the 1/2 marathon and we are thinking that it would be really cool and fun to get a whole bunch of people together to run the race! It would be so great...you could start running now to prepare! I might do the Full again- but the 1/2 and Full take the same route for the first 9 miles...=)! Come on...YOU CAN DO IT!!! It would be blast to run together! Seriously...think about it!

Thanks so much for the prayers!!! We thank God for you!

Running In His Footsteps-

Jay, Vicki, Hannah, Gracie
1 Cor. 9:25

Where has the time gone?

Hi Family & Friends!=)

It's been awhile since we've posted a blog!

Let's get you up to date on what's been happening with the Schillings!!!

First. . . Hannah turned 12 last Sunday!=) We can't believe she is going to be in 7th grade next school year...where has the time gone?! We celebrated her B-day on Saturday. Every year she and Jay go fishing on her b-day at a friend's pond/mini lake and this year was no exception. It was a cold and wet morning- but they had a blast! Hannah caught 3 fish-Jay caught 1...but who's keeping score ;) !

Second. . . The Seattle Rock-n-Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is on Saturday! Want to drive through the course? Check out the link below...click on marathon course and it will show a video of the course. Obviously...it's a lot faster driving the course-than running it...(yikes!) =)

http://seattle.competitor.com/features/rock-n-roll-sea-course-preview/

Third. . . We do have some sad news =( . . . As you may have heard, we had to say good-bye to our sweet 14 year old Golden Retriever- Ben- last week. He was such a great dog and we are missing him terribly! He was just like a member of our family. We got Ben before we had the girls...so Ben has been around since day 1 of the girl's lives. He lived a good, long life.


The girls and Ben at one of our favorite vacation spots- Leavenworth, Washington

Hananh and Gracie (5 &3) at our previous house





















The girls with Ben and his buddy Neeko=)

Last winter...Ben playing with the girls in the snow=)




Every morning Ben would sit with me when I'd do my Bible Study.
He loved chewing on his ball=).

Lastly...some thoughts that keep going through our minds!

God has been so good to us! We are so grateful for our family, friends and church!!! We've been encouraged so much by the sacrifices people in our church have made to serve Jesus- it overwhelmes us with gratitude! I just want to say a huge thank you to all the people that serve with Jay- you make his job such a joy and blessing! God is using you to encourage, challenge and grow my husband in Christ! We thank God for you and pray you will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus!!!

And to Jay's parents and family...I am so grateful for your love and encouragement=)! Jay comes from such a loving and caring family...the girls and I are benefactors of your faithfulness to him...thank you=)! You are a blessing to us all!!! We love you dearly=)


Well... this has been a long blog!!! Prayers needed and wanted for Saturday...The Rock-n-Roll is 2 days away!!!!

Running In His Footsteps-


Jay, Vicki, Hannah and Gracie =)
1 Corinthians 9:25

From the eye of Hannah

You've heard a little from Gracie in a previous post. Well now it's Hannah's turn! Hannah is one great photographer! If you read the blog on the Canadian Geese- you saw a few pictures of the goslings and their parents. Hannah took those pictures!=) We thought today...we'd pass the "blog baton" off to Hannah...



"Hi! My name is Hannah and I am 12 years old. I love memorizing verses- which led me to getting the Timothy Award in Awana. My dad teaches me piano-he is a great teacher! I love biking while my dad and mom run. I enjoy watching wildlife of every sort. I also love to go fishing with my dad on my birthday every year. An interesting fact about me that most people don't know is that I have been bitten by a snake! It was merely a water snake- but it bit me as I was trying to pick it up- on my birthday. I don't think that was a very nice birthday present!!

There are a lot of things I like to do- but, something I really love to do is take pictures!!!


I first started taking pictures when I was 7 years old. I entered a picture in the Spring Fair and got first place! I was so surprised! I entitled it "Spider on the Rose". It was a picture of a spider on a rose. I've loved taking pictures ever sense! Some of the things I really like to take pictures of are landscapes and animals. I love using my talents and abilities to honor and glorify the Lord through the pictures I take. Here are just some of my photos- I hope you enjoy them!"


This is Mt. Rainier













A Marmot at Mt. Rainier

A Frog in a newly bloomed rose in our yard.















Lighthouse on San Juan Island, Washington. We went here for vacation last summer.
















A wildflower by the river near our house.
















One of the baby goslings. I took this yesterday!
















"I have a lot more pictures...these are just some of them. I am thankful that the Lord has given me this ability so I can share it with others! I hope you liked them!"

In His Footsteps-
Hannah Schilling
Jeremiah 29:11

Rock 'N Roll...here we come!!!

That's right. . . 3 weeks to go before Vicki races in the Seattle Rock 'N Roll! That's only 21 days!!! Truly I am proud of my wife! She has prepared so diligently (see last post) and I know she's doing everything possible to get ready for the BIG race!

Today, Saturday, June 5th, she ran an incredible 22 miles! What a beautiful day it was today in Orting, So. Prairie and all along the way! There were lots of runners and cyclists on the trail today but through it all, Vicki remained focused and stuck it out! Way to go Sweeite....we're proud of you and know you'll do great on race day!



Running In His Footsteps!

Jay, Vicki, Hannah and Grace

P.S. - Hannah took this picture from along the trail! So many beautiful wildflowers!

Following the Leader

It seems like it's been forever since one of us has written on our family blog! The rain continues to fall although today we have a slight break from the storms! We have been contemplating inventing a new product for running. We would call them "the webbed road-runner", not just for your ordinary rainy days...but specifically for those crazy, unpredictable, drenching, windy Northwest Springs! Oh well, if it rains on the day of my marathon- I can't say I haven't trained in it! =) A couple of weeks ago I ran 18 miles in the rain and wind- and actually- it wasn't too bad- as long as I kept moving=)! Saturday I have a 20 miler...I am really hoping for dry weather!

Speaking of webbed feet...we have 2 Canadian Geese and their 7 goslings living in a pond behind our house. We have loved watching them! They are so cute!!! Everyday we go and visit them. We view somewhat from a distance because the parents are very protective! Have you ever seen a Canadian Goose hiss at you? It's kinda freaky!

It's been fun to see how the goslings swim. They always swim with one parent in the front and one in the back, and they will follow wherever the parents lead.

Did you know that the parents of goslings loose their flight feathers during the breeding process and are unable to fly until the goslings get their flight feathers? This allows the parents to be with their goslings 24/7- to protect them, teach them and care for them. They are so committed!

Canadian Geese mate for life and they can live up to 20 years!!!

I've given Jay the official title "Guardian of the Goslings". A couple of weeks ago Jay chased down some boys that were throwing rocks at the geese and their babies and told them to leave the geese alone. They haven't been back since! Ha!

I guess one of the reasons I like to watch the geese is because they are so faithful to one another. The parents faithfully lead and the goslings faithfully follow. I love to watch how the male and female work together to care for the goslings....they even take turns sleeping- so that one is always on guard. I saw the male go up against a red tale hawk a few days ago- the red tale hawk didn't have a chance. It was an awesome sight!!!

I think God is watchful of us- even more than the Canadian Geese are of their goslings. He protects, feeds, cares, trains and likes to be with us. Maybe that's why I like watching those geese so much...it reminds me of the care God has for us and His faithfulness to our family. He's our family's Leader- and all we want to do is follow.

Well, that's it for today=)! Thanks for running along side of us! Keep on course!

Running in His Footsteps-

Jay, Vicki, Hannah and Gracie=)
Joshua 24:15