13.1

I ran the second farthest and second longest I have ever run today. That would be 13.1 miles in 1:52:15 for an 8:34 per mile pace in the Seattle Half-Marathon. The course began at the Seattle Center and then through scenic downtown and Lake Washington. It was a battle finding parking with probably 12,000 participants (for all events). It was 39 degrees during the crowded run. It was beautiful to see the river of people flowing down the street and to be part of the running party, but it was also frustrating at times having to weave in and out of people. I probably ran an extra quarter mile just weaving. It also literally took me five minutes to get to the starting line.

Story time: Because of traffic and parking, I didn't get to pee before the run. I waited in-line, for about five minutes, but then the race started so I had to ignore my bladder. However, my bladder didn't wanted to be ignored so finally after two-miles or eighteen minutes of bladder-jostling, I came to the first water station with four porta-potties and discovered I wasn't the only one with a talking bladder. I was oblivious that there was a line, until someone kindly pointed it out. After waiting a couple minutes, I heard the a brilliant idea from a woman behind me, "you men should go pee in the plants." It didn't cross my mind since we were in downtown Seattle. Low and behold, as I look up, I see some glorious grass-like plants in large concrete planters just waiting to be peed on. So they kindly concealed me and I repaid with a whole lot of watering. By the way, I stopped my watch for this event so my official time was more like 1:55.

I started off training well for this the first six weeks, but the last seven have been lacking. I kept up doing a long run once a week and ran 1:48 at the end, but besides that I only ran one other time per week. Sometimes after being up till 2:00 am working on a paper, it is difficult to find the time. Training is too time-consuming. All that to say that I didn't make my goal of 1:45 so I am a little disappointed. I don't think I will be doing another one for a few years. It wasn't all I expected. Plus, I had to get up at 5:30 am. Oh, there was snow on my car when I left this morning.

I went by myself so that is why the picture is from our balcony. That's the Finisher's Medal around my neck. The bib was on my back.

Our

We spent Thanksgiving at the "Muncie House." An older house in Seattle, full of character that four intriguing couples occupy. One of the guys goes to my school, but we ended up there because Steve and Meredith let us accompany them. Lots of interesting people to talk to and very well cooked food. They even had our names stuck in miniature pears.

Smile

I hope your happy! I think this was the first thing I ever bought Roxy. It makes me smile to see her in it.

Social Advocate

Today I attended The Power of One: Faith and Global Justice Conference. It was a separate thing from school that I just wanted to attend. It was an event to continue to build the movement to bring about justice for hungry and poor people. I want to be more aware of my world, and by my world, I mean our world, and by our world, I mean that of all humanity and creation. Why don't I do more? Why don't we do more? I want to go on, but I will stop for now...

Glimpse

Although I keep meaning to, I haven't posted any reflections on school life. That seems kind of weird because it is such a big part of my life. And, a question I get frequently. Well I'm not going to catch you up now, but here is a glimpse.

In my Counseling Practicum class, I meet with the facilitator once a week for an hour and once a week for two hours with seven other students plus the practicum facilitator and the leader, who is a psychologist. Each week one of us shares a story from our lives and then as a group we interact with that story through reflection, honesty, observations, burden-sharing, silence, encouragement, weeping, questions, tension, insights, and whatever else might come out. It is a difficult and beautiful time. So much more could be said about the class, but it has to be experienced in order to be understood. It is perhaps the most impacting time in school.

Yesterday in practicum, I heard probably the saddest story, as far as a face-to-face story by the one affected, I have ever been told. For confidentiality sake, I can not share it. However, it raised some questions for me today.

What does it look like or how do we bear someone else's burden of sorrow? Paul instructs us to in Galatians and I've seen the benefit of sharing (as in telling others) your burden. But, what does it mean for me, or how do I carry someone else's burden well. Praying for them is a good answer, but there has to be more...

When we hear of someone dying unexpectedly, it makes us realize the frailty of life and that it could be us or someone we love that dies tomorrow. Hopefully it makes us want to live life to the fullest day-to-day and love others well. There is urgency there, but how do we live that way and still act responsibly?

Today I felt so alive. It feels so good to feel, sometimes even if it is sadness. Why?

8 Month Update

In celebration of her eighth month of life Roxy showed us that she can pull herself up to a standing position in her crib. In rereading that sentence, I think "wow, I get excited over the smallest things." At least I wonder if that seems insignificant to most. I think it's the coolest.

The biggest month-in-review news is that Roxy is crawling. It's a whole new world! I was amazed today at her speed. In other news, two more teeth have come through on the top. She likes to yell (sounds like a short high-pitched grunt). It's quite cute. I like to "yell" back. What else? She loves to play with cords/strings. She usually doesn't like to be in her Pack 'N Play. I think she thinks it is prison, but probably just because it means we're not going to be giving her attention. She loves to have our attention.

She is starting to recognize "NO" or at least the tone. Sometimes she wells up with tears though, prefaced with a quiver of the lip. It's so sad, but so cute it makes us laugh. I think she may take after me in the sensitivity category. My Mom (hi, mom) always tells me she only had to raise her voice at me in order to discipline me because I would immediately cry (no spanking for me). Clear evidence our genetics play in to our personality?

Probably the best news, at least for me and Trish, is that Roxy has consistently slept through the night for the last couple of weeks. She usually sleeps 10 pm to 9 am. Its glorious.

Sugar Momma

Announcement: HUGE change in our lives - Trish got a full-time job.

After two face-to-face interviews, three phone interviews, and about a dozen calls from the recruiter, she got a job as an Administrative Assistant at Prudential Financial. She will be working for three sales people in a brand new retirement division satellite office. She starts Nov 14th and will be a commuter. The office is on the 35th floor of an office building downtown. It all kind of just happened so we're just going with the flow.

Most of my classes are at night so we'll find a sitter or a daycare for Roxy when I do have a day class. So you could call me a stay-at-home-dad.

Trish and I have spent almost every waking moment together for a while now so it will be quite a change for us. We're ready.

Google Earth

Okay, this is one of the most awesome, coolest, interesting (or whatever adjective fits) thing I have ever experienced, Google Earth. It is satellite photos of the earth. The clarity is different all over, but here are some examples. It is free to downlaod and well worth it. Explore the world! This first picture is our apt. The place marker is directly on our apt on the 3rd floor.

This is the Bundy's house in St. Charles, MO. The house Trish grew up in. Sorry Dad, Mom, Ken, your houses don't show up.

This one is rumored to be one of Kim Jong Il's palaces. If the picture was bigger you can see his birthdate on his lawn.

Far away

We've had a string of friends come through Seattle the last couple of weeks that we have been fortunate to see. First, it was dinner with Andy Wellens on his way out of the Navy and off to Green Bay. Then we saw the Zember family (Christopher, Krista, and Willow) for about five hours of their nine hour lay over back to Misawa. Willow is six weeks younger than Roxy and her first friend. We enjoyed seeing her all grown-up. Then we saw Laura Parchaman also out-processing from the Navy and on her way back to Texas. Mark Lanker will be here Dec 17-21 for a friends wedding that he will be photographing. Then Curtis Sutton will be visiting in Jan.

I love having friends all over the world. We are so blessed. I hope to keep in touch and seem them all at random intervals. Or regularly if it so works out.

Harvest Party

We had a "Harvest Party" today with the MOSAIC, a student spouse's group. This is the only picture I was able to take, it's not the best pose, but it's real, it's raw.

The last few weeks have been a good season of getting to know our Mars Hill community. We are excited about the friendships being forged and the hope of growing together with them.

Two heads are better than one

There is not much to say, but I just had to post this picture.

Nanny is 100

Happy Birthday Nanny! I know she won't read this, but I had to brag on her. She is the only 100 year old person I know and she is my great-grandmother. She still lives at home in downtown Orlando with sky scrapers rising all around.
She had a birthday party last Saturday, and I was going to go, but I sadly decided it best to stay here in WA. I hear it was great. I hope she felt honored as her numerous family members count it an honor and privelage to still have her here with us.
See Sept 3, 2005 post for a picture.

Friend

Roxy made a new friend today, Jocie. Jocie just turned four months old and is the daughter of a classmate. We had the privelage of watching Jocie while her dad, Sam, was at class and regular Nanny was out of town.

7 Months

Time for another update. Roxy is just getting over a cold and hates the nose-suction-thingamajig. We discovered her third tooth (lower) yesterday. She isn't crawling yet, but she wobbles on all-fours. As you can tell from the picture, she can now sit up well. She doesn't like loud noises and cries at things like loud laughs or group applause. Her favorite syllable is "daa" so I love to hear "daadaadaddadaa." She gets in a few "mamamammaaamma"s too. I'm afraid she is addicted to the pacifier, but we pray she will grow out of it. She doesn't hardly go to sleep without it.

Grandma's Little Angel

Trish's mom has been in town since Friday. I have been busy with school so I haven't had much time to spend with them, but I am so happy that she is able to be with Roxy (her real reason for visiting). They didn't take a single picture so none to post.

Sickness

It has been a while, but the flu has befallen me. Roxy actually got sick first so I think I caught it from her. This was her first sickness and of course it is sad for us to see. They say it is good for babies' immune system development so it is good in that sense alone.

Reality

Another dose of reality from Roxy!

Your Life

From The Healing Path by Dan Allender president of MHGS and one of my professors:

"You are the only you this world will know, and something about your life is meant to make something about God known in a way no one else can do."

Lenny

If you know Lenny from Of Mice and Men, then you know how I feel sometimes about Roxy. Only I control my urges to squeeze her too hard. Do you blame me? Look how cute that bundle of cuteness is!

Engagement Story

We submitted the following for a contest at a Jewelry Store (except for pictures):

We met while serving in the Navy and attending a language school in beautiful Monterey Bay, California. We ended up in the same class to learn Korean. Fate was on our side and after our training we were both assigned to serve a three year tour in Misawa, Japan.

One year later I was deployed to Okinawa, a small island of Japan, and my crew was going to be relieved by my husband's crew. That means that my husband's crew would come down on Friday afternoon and I would leave on Saturday morning. I had been waiting for so long and I only hoped this was the night.

That evening we got dressed up and strolled around Sunset Beach, took in the beautiful scenery together, and then had an amazing dinner accompanied by live soft jazz . We relished every moment because we knew this would be our last time in Okinawa together.

After dinner we went star gazing on a rock wall that lines the coast, and after a quick nap for me, it was time for our next outing! It was about 5 a.m. and we were driving to a surprise location. Every New Year’s Day, many Okinawans flock to high points and other scenic spots around the island to watch the first sunrise of the new year. One of the best spots on the island is at Katsuren Castle. Although is was destroyed in a battle in 1498 the original foundation sits atop of a hill with a gorgeous view of the coast.

After sitting on a blanket and being surprised with my favorite breakfast, a custard filled chocolate dough nut, we watched the unobstructed sun rise from the ocean. In the midst of the romantic setting Paul read me a poem he had written and framed, “Together.” Then he handed me a small photo book. All the pictures were of our favorite times together from the previous years. On each photo was a superimposed letter that spelled out "Will you marry me?" .

Of course I said “YES.” He pulled out a ring and on one knee, slipped it on my finger. Paul did not have enough time to get my “official” engagement ring. So he bought a solitaire cubic zirconia so I could at least have a ring on my finger to show off! It was the day I looking forward to for over 2 years. It was about 7 a.m. when we were finally engaged and my flight left at 11 a.m. It was the most romantic 16 hours we have ever had together! The flight home was sad, but I had a good diversion.

I showed off that ring like it was a 4 carat pink diamond! I was so happy. We were married 41 days later in Hachinohe, Japan. We had our wedding in between our deployment times since our time together was limited. The night we returned from our honeymoon we got the phone call we were dreading, “Paul, you’re leaving tomorrow morning at 9:30. Be ready to go.” So the next morning I said goodbye to my husband for the first time. It was hard to say goodbye, but we realized it was only for a season. Now, two years later, we look back and can laugh about our unfortunate circumstances and intriguing story!