Arcade Fun

After my run, the kids wanted to go to this place in Rohnert Park called Scandia. Lots of fun, especially in the summer when it's warmer! We didn't do any putt-putt golfing or bumper boats because it started to drizzle, so instead we sampled all the games inside. The boys were pretty happy to just shoot guns at moving targets all day, and Ni'ke wanted to play anything that you could ride. Rea discovered Guitar Hero and actually got pretty good!!! I, a product of the 80's, was content to play Skee Ball and mourn the loss of Pac Man, and wonder why the air hockey table wasn't plugged in....

And truly there is nothing better than enjoying a nice meal out with the family.... Gotta love Outback Steakhouse, home of the best King crab legs and now LOBSTER!! Yes, I know I live by the ocean, but dungeness crab has nothing on these guys! Yum!!!!

Survivor: Napa Valley State Park

After completing our 10K yesterday (and Charlie his Half Marathon) we were convinced that we had accidentally signed up for a reality show focused on the survival of the fittest.

Let's just say it was a pretty "rugged" course! We finished, it was fun, we did well, no regrets, but WOW!!!! We had no idea what we were getting into!

And I have to say "You guys are amazing!!!" to Charlie and Angie who chose this as their FIRST race! If you can do this one you can do ANYTHING!!!

So, the "back story", if you will....

Enviro-sports hosted this marathon, so of course it would be in the midst of the ENVIRONMENT where you're all "Grrr, me mountain climber, can do anything!" It was at Bothe Park in Napa Valley in the hills/mountains near Calistoga. Absolutely breath-taking, the vineyards on the drive up were gorgeous and I wish I took more pictures!! But most of the entire course was on HIKING TRAILS!!! Very minimum amounts of flat terrain. Mostly a narrow dirt path, lots of creeks to jump across, lots of fallen trees to climb over or shimmy under, there were tons of tree roots that required the utmost concentration with every step to ensure you didn't roll your ankle and then subsequently roll down a 40 foot ravine. And the MUD! Thank God it didn't actually rain yesterday, but it had rained recently and there were several muddy spots on the trail that you just had to get through or you would, well, just be spending the night out there I guess! Very dense thick woods - Sherwood Forest-like!

And remote.

That was the part that freaked me out a little. People were very spread out on the trail because they stagger-started the marathon-ers first, then the half-ers, then us 10K-ers. There were times when I could hear or see NO ONE in front of me, and no one behind me, and the trail wasn't really marked that well - a few orage ribbons now and then to mark which way to go, but sometimes you couldn't even tell if you were on a trail at ALL!! And did I mention that 1/4 mile in we were already climbing UP!? The first 1/2 to 2/3 of the run was mostly inclines, and then of course the rest of the way was steep down hill!

So needless to say, I'm feeling a little achy this morning! We can't wait till Novemeber 14th - REDEMPTION!!!! Hooray for the Mermaid 10K in San Fran, we love you, you flat, fast course!!! We will shave hunks of minutes off our time and feel strong and accomplished instead of tempted to "vote ourselves off".....

Been Awhile!!!

Hello, Friends and Family!

Yep, it's been a little while since I last posted, so thought I should fix that!

We're in the middle of a gorgeous fall here in Northern California!! I was beginning to wonder after a few weeks of way high temperatures, but there's definitely a little chill in the air now, at least till noon or so. Last evening when we got home from church we could smell one of my favorite smells... somebody lit up their fireplace, gotta love the smell of burning wood!

Fall always puts me in the mood to bake, must be the change in seasons and preparing for a cozy winter with yummy holiday food!! Made a cheesecake this morning, per Rea's request. (A girl after my own heart!) Boy do my girls love to bake with me.... It makes me smile that this will be a tradition in my own family as it was with my own mom - some of my most favorite memories are of baking with my mom and sister and grandmothers, and swapping recipes!

The kids are all enjoying school and have "settled in". The girls' teachers say, "They are such natural students! They just love school!!" And then there's Ma-lak, who is...... a BOY. I've decided that must be it. He doesn't HATE school, he actually loves it, but he just would rather goof off than sit still and do math problems.... He's there for the social aspect!! My social BOY-terfly... :)

We are anxiously awaiting David coming home for Thanksgiving!! Miss that guy... It will be a quick 4 days for him because he goes right back for finals, but the little ones have the ENTIRE week of Thanksgiving off, which is really cool this year. David's waiting on responses from a couple universities in Washington DC - he plans to transfer to law school there in the spring to continue his studies, so lots of neat changes coming this year!! As of right now I will be going with him to move him out, just pinning down some dates and figuring out schedules! Busy busy! Can't wait!

I'm still running and working on preparing for a couple 10K's in the next month. I feel myself getting stronger, but my motivation sure does come and go! Lately I'm asking myself why I enlisted the help of my ex-military man husband to be my personal trainer... Ugh. :) (Thanks, Honey!!!! You're my biggest encourager!!)

My dad has continued to get stronger each day and is recuperating well from his hospitalization last month. He's attending cardiac rehab, and doing pretty good with the healthy diet Mom's enforcing!! He's also officially retired, so he's now a "professional tinker-er"!! Mom is having a routine hernia surgery on November 19th, so we covet your continued prayers for them both as they recover.

God has continued to bless us tremendously as we minister to and work with Generacion Josue (Joshua Generation)in San Jose. What an amazing body of believers! We are so encouraged by their faith and hunger to know Him more and make Him known! Please continue to pray for this congregation as they transition and move forward into all that God has called them to be, as well as safety for us as we travel the four hour round trip, 3-4 times a month!!

Praise report: there was no strike at my hospital earlier this month, which was a real possibility for awhile. Contract negotiations between the nurses' union and the hospital administration are always a very touchy time every 2 years, and it's been something sorta hard to get used to since I moved to California! So grateful for representatives who "go to bat for us" but hate all the politics that are bound to go along with it... There are lots of changes to our new contract which will no doubt affect our work environment, but as always, my gratitude for the wonderful job God has provided me with prevails over all else!

I pray you are all healthy and well and flourishing in the abundant, extravagant love of our Father! How can we pray for you!?!?