Desert Adventures Part Two

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

Zion 

Gooseberry Mesa

2:21 time
259 out of 789 total runners

25 of 108 age division (30-39)

126 of 517 all female
12 miles total
1034 ft. in total elevation

{ The sunrise cast a beautiful glow. }

When we left base camp to drive to the start lines it was pitch black outside. The flip side of this are the night skies and ability to see all the stars. Simply incredible. Addi and I slept amazing this second night staying plenty warm and dry. 

Again, we had to drive a little over an hour to the start line which for locals, looks bizarre seeing a line of headlights literally miles long as we all follow one after another. In order to get to the "parking lot" the second morning we had to drive on a very bumpy road for about a mile then pull into a low laying cactus, dirt cattle field to park our beat up rental. Thank goodness it stopped raining or we'd never even get past the beginning of the dirt road! 

This was the first time we were able to see the beginning of the sunrise and it didn't disappoint. The colors in Zion were again amazing. Completely different canyon than Bryce both in size, elevation and the surface I ran on. Some loose sand but mainly rippled gritty rock that was rolling on the top of a "flat" canyon. Looks are deceiving from a distance. I was surprised how much green was in the desert. This particular trail had lots of cactus and what looked to be pine trees. The path we took had the runners along the edge for half of the race. I was shocked how many were brave enough to sit on the ledge to get that epic photo shot. The Mommy in me wanted to reach out my arm and tell the adults to stay back.

Desert Adventures Part One

A year ago, I was doing my wifely duties of vacuuming up other people's messes when I jammed my two little toes into the recliner grossly breaking a little piggy. It took two doctors and a nurse to convince me to stop running for awhile until the break healed or I'd have a disfigured toe for the rest of my life. This meant deferring my registration for the Grand Circle Trailfest until this year. 

I've been training hard to accomplish this goal of three races in three days. Intense trail runs alone in the hills with my thoughts running wild and prayers being sent to the One who created the beauty surrounding Whatcom County. There is no lack of trails around here or others who love the trails as much as I do. I even managed to get Charlie to tag along on some flatter runs while pedaling beside me for miles. Training is challenging, mental and time consuming when juggling four littles. 

But, it was so worth the wait and dedication to stay focused and push
through the moments where training got hard. 

Addison's school had a few days off of school and she gladly jumped at the opportunity to join Mom in Kanab, Utah. We packed strategically knowing there were no wash machines for the immediate wash of weathered running clothes. Sleeping bags, air mattresses, multiple shoes and race day attire were jammed into a suitcase with about twenty large Ziploc bags ready to seal in the stench of my adventures. Addi and I flew into Las Vegas, then drove through some breathtaking country to get to our base camp where four hundred tents were set up and ready for runners.

{ Weekend cans at base camp. "Thou shall cover thy turd with sawdust." }

We quickly immersed ourselves with camp life, the S'mores Station and dinner haul. I absolutely loved having our oldest tag along with me, but I'm guessing she was thinking differently when desert storm released her fiery with the most insane thunder and lightening I've ever experienced. As a reminder, we are sleeping in tents, on the ground which was shaking violently and rain that pierced the one rain shield between us and God's sweet precipitation. Needless to say, we only got four hours of sleep before a rude early morning wake-up call and first race start for the weekend. 

I can't say great things about the food provided but I'm grateful we didn't have to worry entirely about it. The coffee looked like the mud we walked through and options of flavors were slim. Everything about my running usual's were thrown out the window. 

We drove a little over an hour to get to the parking lot where shuttles then brought us to the start line. Addison waited in the dry car until all the runners had been shuttled away then carefully delivered to wait for Mom to cross the first finish line. I was a little nervous for her being alone but making friends with the race director and finding other spectators gave me the ease I needed while she waited. 

Bryce Canyon (State #8)
2:57 time

266 out of 796 total runners

31 of 102 in my age division (30-39)

138 of 519 all female

13.1 miles total

2350 ft. in elevation change

{ Can you call that coffee? }

 { State #8 }

Grandma Haak a.k.a. Chips & Dip Grandma

I never fought such eternal jealously than I did the morning Grandma Haak passed away. 

9.8.2018

Tears of anger and jealousy that Grandma was in the presence of Jesus and with my sister; myself still waiting my turn. A tangible reminder of how much I miss my sister. Tears watching the family grieve and knowing I had to tell the kids yet another grandparent had passed away. 

Tears hearing Mom say she was an orphan now that her parents had all passed away. 

{ Sunday Staple Grandma Recipes }

Nothing about loosing a grandparent is easy. 

Grandma Haak has lived around the corner since shortly after we moved to our current home. The kids and I would often walk, ride or run by Grandma's and send a wave to the second floor balcony patio which was watched faithfully to see all the traffic and business that Grandma followed daily. She knew the routine of particular cars, names of those walking by and if not, would try to figure them out by playing Dutch Bingo. She understood the patterns of neighbors and always had things to say about her dirty windows or the cotton that was stuck in the screens. And never did you ask about the creek because she always had something to say about the flow of water, critters that stopped by or logs that were jammed up by the bridge. A wealth of information she was. 

So much knowledge that years ago when I went running by, pony tail in place and hair out of my way, Grandma thought she knew how one should wear their hair when out running.

"Today, there was a gal that went running by with her hair in a pony tail swooshing side to side and such a mess. She should have taken better care of her hair than like that. It was so unkept."

Ummm... what color shorts was she wearing?

"Black ones with a colored top."

Yeah, Grandma. Be nice. That was me. 

Many of my girlfriends still give me a hard time about that unkept pony tail and remind me to keep it in place so Grandma doesn't have more to say of the messy running hair!

When Grandma was first diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, all the greats and grands put our effort together to create a quilt to keep Grandma warm during treatments and at home. With Grandpa gone she had no one at home to snuggle up to or rub her back when not feeling well. This quilt was a gem. 

Hand prints, verses and so much love in one comforting quilt. 

It wasn't much earlier that I had just shaved Gigi's hair due to hair loss from her cancer treatments. Grandma Haak was next and one I was most nervous about. I was surprised by Grandma's strength and fighting spirit during her four year battle with cancer. It really wasn't until this past year that her health became much more obvious and the struggle to be independent a daily battle. 

Grandma always had a stash of Juice Boxes chilled ready for visitors which Charlie used as a reason to say hi. Often other neighbor kids would stop in to say hi as well which always brought Grandma such joy. These visits will be missed greatly. 

The Grandma's that were incredibly involved in the lives of our children both physically and through prayer now gone ... the void is quite large. 

Golden

14 on the 14th.

A golden birthday. 

I can still remember the feeling of seeing Addison for the first time ... numb from the arms down due to an emergency c-section. The nurse and Tim had to help hold my arms in place to hold her for the first time. Not how I imagined it would be but it was indeed perfection resting in my arms. 

Addison has been our sweet joy from day one. We are often taken back by her maturity, wisdom, responsibility and also her goofiness that randomly makes an appearance. Organized, structured and routine in her studying habits and dailies. Never do I need to tell her to make her bed; she just does it. 

God has given our oldest the gift of a creative eye and skill that we pray someday will be used to bless others. It already has many times over. 

Her heart is for others overflowing with compassion and understanding when she sees an emotional need. 

It was my job to bring some golden cheer to her classroom on Friday and to celebrate with Addi ... 

regardless if she wanted it or not! So, with gold bedazzled cupcakes, 14 gold balloons, a jar of golden wrapped candy and a golden colored drink, Nana and I, along with the little helper, brought the celebration to school. 

First Day of School

 { 8th grade at Ebenezer Christian School }

The changes that have occurred from first grade to eighth grade can't be numbered. There are simply too many. Addison was enrolled at home for school with the support through Mp3 for seven years. They were good years. School years where she expanded her knowledge, but also found herself bored because her mind needed more challenge, more knowledge and socialization I was not capable of giving. This year marks Addison's second year at ECS ... I still view her with the adorable short bob, missing teeth and quiet spirit that held many in suspense to when she'd find her voice. She's found it. Addison continues to be organized, motivated, extremely artistic and thoroughly enjoying the friendships she's established. It also helps that she has little brother to pick on now that he's in the same middle school building.

 { 5th grade at Ebenezer Christian School }

Chuckles. You will always have your Mama's heart melting with every smile. God has given this Man Cub an incredibly compassionate, sensitive and tender heart for those he sees in need. There is never a night where he doesn't say "I love you" and still requests his parental's to tuck him in at night. I love that and pray it never changes. This year marks Charlie's third year at ECS with established friendships and schedules he has learned to love. Charlie is all boy watching wrestling, getting dirty, playing sports and the latest, following his Daddy's footsteps, has really taking a liking to barbershop. Kid can sing and play the guitar from his father's natural gifting's. Charlie tries to be as organized as his big sister but he's boy. Some things don't pass down in the line of siblings. As for pushing buttons, he does that best with Myriam.

{ 1st grade at Fisher Elementary School }

This girl. It's been a hard summer. I won't sugar coat the struggles we've been dealing with that have resulted in many days in tears. BUT, we have had an amazingly surprising, prayer-filled start to her first grade that has already earned rewards to Edaline Dairy for treats. Myriam works tirelessly to keep herself regulated, choosing good choices and remembering all that she needs to do in the classroom setting. She had no nerves going into this year. When she went to meet her teacher, her aide from last year was spotted making Myriam run into the ELRC with mega hugs for her favorite person, Mrs. Karb. The transition to school this year has gone without fuss (well, just once so far but compared to years past it's a wash) and we are beyond proud of Myriam for working this hard. Her favorite part of school so far have been the compliment circles at the end of the day: “I just wanted to compliment everyone for everything: everyone worked hard, played nicely at recess, lined up quietly, and I just think this is the best class at the best school.  
I’m happy to be here.”
Bug, if you can keep that attitude up throughout the year, you are going to leap miles ahead. Mommy and Daddy will prayerfully guide you through this year so you can have others say to you, 
"We are so happy YOU we're here in our classroom."

As for Baylee ... well, she'll be entering Mommy's School of Potty Training soon making this 
house a diaper free zone. 

Here's to a great year of education, packed lunches, homework and number two pencil zones. 

Summer's Highlights

Addison, all summer long, has been busy in her bullet journal doodling, drawing, creating and her niche, painting. This was her hand painted canvas she made for Tim on Father's Day this year that was inspired from her favorite picture of the two of them on the Washington State Ferry. I'm astonished and amazed by the attention to details Addison was able to display in her painting. 

She could have entered one of hundreds of sketches she's drawn, but she chose this painting to enter into the Northwest Washington Fair. By oops, I entered her into the 15-18 age category when really she should have been in the 11-14 age group ... as seen by the abundance of ribbons, the age didn't matter. 

God has given this child an ability to capture emotion, joy, details, relationships and thoughts onto a simple piece of paper. As parents, we want to do everything possible to encourage Addi to run with the gifting God has given her and use it somehow to bless those around her. 

She's already moved on to the next commissioned art piece ... stay tuned!

Funny as this may be, our sweet Myriam struggled to stay afloat this summer with the heat wave and smoke intake. The girl would fall asleep from vacation overload anywhere she landed - mid sentence, conversation, snack time and as the above, post shower when drying off. One evening, when I was making dinner, I walked into the living room and found Myriam chin-up resting on the back of the couch and her body dangling off the bottom. The most bizarre, awkward position to sleep in possible. 

On the flip-side, when she's not sleeping the girl is on fire, go speed, creating life and
always keeping it interesting. 

Boys Only Hiking Adventures

{ Mason, Charlie, Uncle Ryan & Kalen. }

This past Christmas Grandpa Doug gifted each grandson a hiking backpack with the
promise of taking them all on an overnight trip.
Charlie was so excited and prepared for this backpacking overnight. Tim helped get his pack all set up with protein snacks, cushion to sleep on, cool gadgets and, bonus, Mom's old trail runners that fit the Man Cub to perfection. The pack was ready a couple days before and the hiker was up two hours before Grandpa Doug picked him up. Excited, giddy, ready to explore and spend quality time with his cousins.
Thankfully, the smoke hadn't settled too much but still cast haze and pink sunrises from a distance. The boys had a great time! Games of hide and seek, swimming and attempts at becoming a photographer filled Charlie's time at Lake Ann.
He's now ready to start planning the next years trip with Tim.
Thank you Grandpa Doug for the gift of quality time and investing into our Man Cub.

{ Views on the way to the campsite. }

{ Exploring the grounds. }

{ I can't imagine what the truck smelled like on the way back from hot, sweaty feet. }