Fun Times @ The Shoe Box Derby 5K

The Shoe Box Derby 5K was a big hit! We had so much fun Saturday morning--even if we did have to get up at 5:30. LOL! Tanna took Kate to his parents' house the night before so she could spend the night with them--which really worked out well because I'm not sure how much she would have enjoyed getting up that early. Anyway, we got up, loaded up and headed up 85 to the Gwinnett Braves Stadium for the big event.


Shoe Box Drop-Off! Here are Mindaugas and Jogile working the Operation Christmas Child collection. They received OCC shoe boxes several years ago when they were growing up in Lithuania.


Wall of shoe boxes being built--every shoe box represents a child that will receive that gift as well as the Good News of Christ.


If you turned in at least 10 shoe boxes, you received a certificate of appreciation. I think it is signed by a baseball player, but I am not sure. Cool!


It was a little chilly when we first arrived, so Robin and I wore jackets. Here we are with Chopper, the Gwinnett Braves mascot.


I wasn't planning on participating in the actual 5K because I thought I would have Kate with me that morning (spending the night at Halmoni and Halabaji's was a last-minute thing). I had registered Tanna, Robin and Steven for the 5K--and I thought all I would be doing was cheering from the sidelines. Unfortunately, though, Steven has injured his shoulder (and possibly more) and was unable to participate. So I ran in his place. (And by ran, I mean walked.) Here are Robin and me practicing our starting poses. hahaha I was cracking up because I was one of the only participants not wearing running/athletic clothing. Oh well ...


Here I am with Jessica--she worked in the OCC office last year.


Tanna and me in front of the stadium. I looked and looked for my OCC hat to wear that morning and could not find it anywhere! Of course, I came across it first thing Sunday morning.


Getting his playlist all set ...


There he goes ... Tanna ran the whole way and finished in about 23 minutes (I think). His goal was to finish in less than 30, so he did well.


@ the two-mile mark. I made five signs--one for each half-mile--but this was the only one we saw along the course.


We finished!


Robin and Steven after the race


Tanna and his mom--notice Kate having a blast in the bounce house.


Thanks again, Halmoni, for watching Kate!


Phil from the Southeast OCC office--Phil does what I used to do when I worked for OCC full-time. Hi, Phil! Yay shoe boxes!