After a nice, albeit short, break in PA this past weekend, I returned for a couple days of work and am now getting ready to go to Mexico. I am excited about the trip and was up late last night finishing the "little things" packing. However, I was jerked out of bed at 4:45 this morning by something wrong in my stomach. I don't feel right quite yet, even though I spent the majority of an hour in the bathroom (too much information, scott, come on). Anyhow, we are leaving in about 2 hours, so I ask for your prayers for our group for safety and good work and a shared spirit of service. Also that my stomach would start to feel better very soon. Ugh. I don't feel good at all right now. I am not sure if a 10 hour van ride is the right prescription for what I have either...
Anyhow, I will write more at another time. Just know that I had a great time in PA visiting family and spending time with Janine and the kids (who have been there for a while). I miss them terribly when we are apart and highly anticipate their return in 9 days.
Off to Mexico I go.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
quick report
My mind has been in a million different places.
First thing:
Shirley finished school last week. I can't even begin to say how proud I am of her for the hard work that she has put in since beginning school here last year. She has improved dramatically in so many areas and continues to work hard to improve. She is such a smart girl who loves to read, even taking time to read to her brothers quite often. Now she is getting into summer mode, enjoying being at home with Mami and the boys, spending time with them. Mami continues to work with her in math, though, but she has been good about working without much complaint.
Shirley also lost her first tooth here in the U.S. the other day. She was so proud of losing it, showing us immediately after it fell out as she brushed her teeth for bed. She got a nice visit from the tooth fairy for her first one with us; I thought about pulling out some of my own for the generosity shown by the tooth fairy. Anyhow, she will most likely lose another one in the next couple weeks; the dentist said it would be a summer for her losing teeth. She's going to be rich.
She also had her 10th birthday earlier this week. After a full day of fun with Mami and some time with Tio Pepe', we ended up going out for dinner at a steak house (her choice) with some friends. It was a good time for everyone, visiting and celebrating her birthday. Her summer has been quite adventurous so far, and will continue to be so as Janine and the kids prepare for a trip back to PA for a while.
The boys have been doing great. The biggest thing about them is how much they have grown lately. It seems that both Juan and Andres have sprouted about three more inches just in recent weeks. I am not sure that it is necessarily true, but it certainly seems to be so. It has been fun to see them growing in so many ways and developing new skills all the time. They have fun wrestling each other and playing as much as possible. Every time I wake them on Saturday I ask what they want to do that day. Inevitably, Juan answers, "Play." That's all he wants to do. Play. I always tell them that it sounds like a good idea. I can't believe that they will be going to pre-school in the fall. They are growing so quickly.
For me, work continues. It hasn't been an overly busy summer so far, but it has been busy enough. With the economy slacking somewhat, I am very happy to have had steady work and to have had strong support from our boss in making sure that we are able to stay busy. I know that survey is not my ultimate goal, and that I have been less than thrilled about it before, but I am grateful for it now, for the chance to provide for our family on a regular basis.
I continue to get ready for the Mexico trip, which is now just four weeks away. I am anticipating a wonderful trip, full of hard work and good times. Our friends Josh and Becky have been diligently working hard to prepare our team and have been doing a fantastic job getting us all ready. Tomorrow we will work as a team in doing some things around our condo complex; I will like being close to home to work, as I am sure that Janine and the kids will join us in the fun on what looks to be the hottest day of the year so far.
But that will follow the running of another 5K. My 4th race and 3rd 5K of the year. This comes one week after running a 10K down Emigration Canyon. I can't really explain what has happened, why I have started running...and really why I have enjoyed running. But I do. It has become a time for me to get good exercise in a relatively short time (usually I run for about 25 minutes, 50 on Saturdays) and to clear my mind of much of the nonsense that compiles throughout the week. It is refreshing for me, and has been good for my stress level. In the seven weeks that I have been running I have dropped 15 pounds, too, which is an added bonus. I am grateful to have the support of a few friends who have been running the races with me, challenging me in the training, and just overall having fun with me in doing all of this. Plus there is the friendly competition that we have with each other, which helps push us to our limits (and sometimes past our limits) for sure. It has been fun.
Anyhow, I have been absent for a while, but it is not for a lack of things to say or with any intention to not fill readers in on what has been going on. I have just lost track of time, really, getting caught up in the busyness of reality, specifically summers. There is actually a ton of things going on in my mind, but I will have to find the time and words to share them. For now, just play by play news.
The news of Tim Russert has touched me in an odd way. I stayed up late with him and Tom Brokaw on election night in 2000, sitting in an apartment in Glennallen, AK, awaiting news of a winner, only to go to bed without a new president-elect. I was 24, just beginning to care about a lot of thing in the socio-political spectrum, and found someone who I believed I could listen to, who could speak to the people and be entertaining at the same time. I have enjoyed Tim Russert in the 8 years since. I will miss him.
Go Celtics.
First thing:
Shirley finished school last week. I can't even begin to say how proud I am of her for the hard work that she has put in since beginning school here last year. She has improved dramatically in so many areas and continues to work hard to improve. She is such a smart girl who loves to read, even taking time to read to her brothers quite often. Now she is getting into summer mode, enjoying being at home with Mami and the boys, spending time with them. Mami continues to work with her in math, though, but she has been good about working without much complaint.
Shirley also lost her first tooth here in the U.S. the other day. She was so proud of losing it, showing us immediately after it fell out as she brushed her teeth for bed. She got a nice visit from the tooth fairy for her first one with us; I thought about pulling out some of my own for the generosity shown by the tooth fairy. Anyhow, she will most likely lose another one in the next couple weeks; the dentist said it would be a summer for her losing teeth. She's going to be rich.
She also had her 10th birthday earlier this week. After a full day of fun with Mami and some time with Tio Pepe', we ended up going out for dinner at a steak house (her choice) with some friends. It was a good time for everyone, visiting and celebrating her birthday. Her summer has been quite adventurous so far, and will continue to be so as Janine and the kids prepare for a trip back to PA for a while.
The boys have been doing great. The biggest thing about them is how much they have grown lately. It seems that both Juan and Andres have sprouted about three more inches just in recent weeks. I am not sure that it is necessarily true, but it certainly seems to be so. It has been fun to see them growing in so many ways and developing new skills all the time. They have fun wrestling each other and playing as much as possible. Every time I wake them on Saturday I ask what they want to do that day. Inevitably, Juan answers, "Play." That's all he wants to do. Play. I always tell them that it sounds like a good idea. I can't believe that they will be going to pre-school in the fall. They are growing so quickly.
For me, work continues. It hasn't been an overly busy summer so far, but it has been busy enough. With the economy slacking somewhat, I am very happy to have had steady work and to have had strong support from our boss in making sure that we are able to stay busy. I know that survey is not my ultimate goal, and that I have been less than thrilled about it before, but I am grateful for it now, for the chance to provide for our family on a regular basis.
I continue to get ready for the Mexico trip, which is now just four weeks away. I am anticipating a wonderful trip, full of hard work and good times. Our friends Josh and Becky have been diligently working hard to prepare our team and have been doing a fantastic job getting us all ready. Tomorrow we will work as a team in doing some things around our condo complex; I will like being close to home to work, as I am sure that Janine and the kids will join us in the fun on what looks to be the hottest day of the year so far.
But that will follow the running of another 5K. My 4th race and 3rd 5K of the year. This comes one week after running a 10K down Emigration Canyon. I can't really explain what has happened, why I have started running...and really why I have enjoyed running. But I do. It has become a time for me to get good exercise in a relatively short time (usually I run for about 25 minutes, 50 on Saturdays) and to clear my mind of much of the nonsense that compiles throughout the week. It is refreshing for me, and has been good for my stress level. In the seven weeks that I have been running I have dropped 15 pounds, too, which is an added bonus. I am grateful to have the support of a few friends who have been running the races with me, challenging me in the training, and just overall having fun with me in doing all of this. Plus there is the friendly competition that we have with each other, which helps push us to our limits (and sometimes past our limits) for sure. It has been fun.
Anyhow, I have been absent for a while, but it is not for a lack of things to say or with any intention to not fill readers in on what has been going on. I have just lost track of time, really, getting caught up in the busyness of reality, specifically summers. There is actually a ton of things going on in my mind, but I will have to find the time and words to share them. For now, just play by play news.
The news of Tim Russert has touched me in an odd way. I stayed up late with him and Tom Brokaw on election night in 2000, sitting in an apartment in Glennallen, AK, awaiting news of a winner, only to go to bed without a new president-elect. I was 24, just beginning to care about a lot of thing in the socio-political spectrum, and found someone who I believed I could listen to, who could speak to the people and be entertaining at the same time. I have enjoyed Tim Russert in the 8 years since. I will miss him.
Go Celtics.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Fun for the Whole Family
Is it really May 11?
Things have been going well. I really can't believe how good the kids have been lately. Sure, they have there moments, but so do I, but overall they have been doing great. The boys are getting so good at going to the potty, letting us know when they need to go and often times doing it all by themselves. Andres even has his little habit of getting out of bed at night (of course when he should be settling down and I catch him playing) of telling me that he has to go before going to sleep. They are both growing up so quickly, which is only made more evident whenever we look at pictures from a year ago.
Shirley is doing well, too. She went out last night to an Arena Football game with some friends. She was out later than normal, but that was okay. She sounded like she had a great time hanging out with some of our friends and some other kids from the neighborhood/church that went with them. She has been doing better with school and with just being a helpful daughter to us in our day to day lives. She is very excited right now because she only has five days of medicine (for her dormant TB) left! She has been so good about taking her medicine every day for the last nine months...of course it helps that we put it in ice cream, but even so, we are proud of her for sticking to it and getting it done. And she has been volunteering to read to the boys a lot, too, which is always helpful, especially when either Mami or Papi is busy with something (meetings, out with friends, etc.).
The weather has been beautiful lately, too, which has afforded us the chance to get out and go to the farm and the zoo and for walks. We hit the zoo two weeks ago on a Monday (I only worked half a day) and then we were able to walk around the farm last night. It was such a gorgeous night and the boys enjoyed being out and seeing the animals. There were even some performers singing songs and dancing on the stage at the farm; the boys enjoyed watching and performing their own little dances at the same time. It was quite fun and funny.
And, if you saw on Janine's blog, I am running. I ran my first 5K three weeks ago and posted a time of 31:50. I was pleased that, in the shape that I was in, I finished under 35:00. But a strange thing happened while I was running: I hated it. I hated the feeling of not being able to move my legs faster, that 6 year old kids were doing circles around me, that the side of my stomach felt like it was going to rip open...I hated it. And then I hit the chute at the end. There were tons of people cheering us on in a general sense, and then I heard my name being yelled.
"Yeah! Go Scott!"
I turned to see my friend Aaron, having just finished his 25 mile bike ride, cheering me on. I pumped my fist, started drifting right as I was doing so, and bumped into some guy in my wayward running. But I got pumped up and found my second wind in the last 23 yards. And I felt rubbery and weak as I crossed the line.
But I felt good. And then I didn't hate it. I kind of liked it.
So I started running a loop around our neighborhood. My friend Tom GPSed it and found it was 2.8 miles. So a few of us started running it, suffering through the chill of the morning, the heat of the afternoon or the swallowing of the bugs that flit around at night, 2.8 miles and a hill that tries to hurt us all. And it has been good.
My friends Tom, Josh and Josiah have been running, too. And we are competitive, so we keep times and compare. It has been fun. And now I need a new pair of shoes.
We ran yesterday. We ran in the Komen Race For The Cure. 17,000 people signed up. It was crowded, to say the least. There was a sea of people that covered the width of a street and the length of about six blocks. It was amazing to see, pink ribbons, dedications, people of all different backgrounds and stories who came together to support the fight against breast cancer. Janine and the kids did a one mile walk, along with Jill, Becky, Rickie and Erica, all decked out in their Sportsman's Warehouse sponsored neon green t-shirts: it was a lot of fun.
And in three weeks time I went from a 31:50 to a 26:25. And I think I am hooked. I find myself wanting to run even now as I sip my coffee and write. We have already been talking about the next race and about the possibility of a 10K at some point. I feel like a real nerd when I talk about times and training and the next race, but in many ways I am glad to have found something to do, something relatively easy, to stay in shape. It has been good.
I should note, that I think that even worse than the Krust Buster and its functions is the fact that people actually buy the Krust Buster instead of just cutting the crust off themselves. That is an even more hideous aspect of the whole thing.
AND, one of the things that Andres says that I think is hilarious is the question "Daddy, are you a man?"
I answer back, "Yes, Andres, I am a man. Are you?"
"Daddy, I'm a man!"
He's a funny guy. Sometimes you can hear Juancho in the background saying, "No you're not, you're just a boy."
COMING SOON: EQUALITY IN SERVICE
Things have been going well. I really can't believe how good the kids have been lately. Sure, they have there moments, but so do I, but overall they have been doing great. The boys are getting so good at going to the potty, letting us know when they need to go and often times doing it all by themselves. Andres even has his little habit of getting out of bed at night (of course when he should be settling down and I catch him playing) of telling me that he has to go before going to sleep. They are both growing up so quickly, which is only made more evident whenever we look at pictures from a year ago.
Shirley is doing well, too. She went out last night to an Arena Football game with some friends. She was out later than normal, but that was okay. She sounded like she had a great time hanging out with some of our friends and some other kids from the neighborhood/church that went with them. She has been doing better with school and with just being a helpful daughter to us in our day to day lives. She is very excited right now because she only has five days of medicine (for her dormant TB) left! She has been so good about taking her medicine every day for the last nine months...of course it helps that we put it in ice cream, but even so, we are proud of her for sticking to it and getting it done. And she has been volunteering to read to the boys a lot, too, which is always helpful, especially when either Mami or Papi is busy with something (meetings, out with friends, etc.).
The weather has been beautiful lately, too, which has afforded us the chance to get out and go to the farm and the zoo and for walks. We hit the zoo two weeks ago on a Monday (I only worked half a day) and then we were able to walk around the farm last night. It was such a gorgeous night and the boys enjoyed being out and seeing the animals. There were even some performers singing songs and dancing on the stage at the farm; the boys enjoyed watching and performing their own little dances at the same time. It was quite fun and funny.
And, if you saw on Janine's blog, I am running. I ran my first 5K three weeks ago and posted a time of 31:50. I was pleased that, in the shape that I was in, I finished under 35:00. But a strange thing happened while I was running: I hated it. I hated the feeling of not being able to move my legs faster, that 6 year old kids were doing circles around me, that the side of my stomach felt like it was going to rip open...I hated it. And then I hit the chute at the end. There were tons of people cheering us on in a general sense, and then I heard my name being yelled.
"Yeah! Go Scott!"
I turned to see my friend Aaron, having just finished his 25 mile bike ride, cheering me on. I pumped my fist, started drifting right as I was doing so, and bumped into some guy in my wayward running. But I got pumped up and found my second wind in the last 23 yards. And I felt rubbery and weak as I crossed the line.
But I felt good. And then I didn't hate it. I kind of liked it.
So I started running a loop around our neighborhood. My friend Tom GPSed it and found it was 2.8 miles. So a few of us started running it, suffering through the chill of the morning, the heat of the afternoon or the swallowing of the bugs that flit around at night, 2.8 miles and a hill that tries to hurt us all. And it has been good.
My friends Tom, Josh and Josiah have been running, too. And we are competitive, so we keep times and compare. It has been fun. And now I need a new pair of shoes.
We ran yesterday. We ran in the Komen Race For The Cure. 17,000 people signed up. It was crowded, to say the least. There was a sea of people that covered the width of a street and the length of about six blocks. It was amazing to see, pink ribbons, dedications, people of all different backgrounds and stories who came together to support the fight against breast cancer. Janine and the kids did a one mile walk, along with Jill, Becky, Rickie and Erica, all decked out in their Sportsman's Warehouse sponsored neon green t-shirts: it was a lot of fun.
And in three weeks time I went from a 31:50 to a 26:25. And I think I am hooked. I find myself wanting to run even now as I sip my coffee and write. We have already been talking about the next race and about the possibility of a 10K at some point. I feel like a real nerd when I talk about times and training and the next race, but in many ways I am glad to have found something to do, something relatively easy, to stay in shape. It has been good.
I should note, that I think that even worse than the Krust Buster and its functions is the fact that people actually buy the Krust Buster instead of just cutting the crust off themselves. That is an even more hideous aspect of the whole thing.
AND, one of the things that Andres says that I think is hilarious is the question "Daddy, are you a man?"
I answer back, "Yes, Andres, I am a man. Are you?"
"Daddy, I'm a man!"
He's a funny guy. Sometimes you can hear Juancho in the background saying, "No you're not, you're just a boy."
COMING SOON: EQUALITY IN SERVICE
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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