Bank robbery? Maybe not......

So I know the blog was lacking over the summer months ....

part of it was the attempted travel to the states this summer,
(if you missed part of that story, click here)

part of it was the apathy of being back in Guam....
instead of at my mom's house,
by the pool,
with a glass of sweet tea in my hand,
and my extended family hanging out around me.

So here is a catch up story that I just have to tell someone...
so I'm basically telling ANYONE that might stumble on the blog
in the history of the planet.

Sometime in August I was heading from the Cup and Saucer (YUM!)
to Harvest to take school paperwork for Michael.

I was coming up to this intersection....

There was a couple of cars in front of me and I was just rolling up....

In a matter of 7 seconds - the following happened.

I heard that tire sound when someone slams on brakes
and my brain waited for the sound of crunching metal.....
'cause I just knew someone was about to be in an accident.

Then I heard a siren ....
which was too quick to respond to an accident

and then noticed movement as I inched closer to the intersection....

cars (not police cars)  had pulled into the intersection and blocked traffic at the corner
where you see the red car in the photo.

Men with big, giant, (maybe illegal?) guns started getting out of cars and out into the road.

Is someone robbing the bank??

What the heck?

Do I try to back up?

Do I ....
what do I do?

And then ....the light turned green and I decided to go through the intersection
and take my chances.

Later that day I checked the news and found NOTHING....

What in the world?

So Guamies.....
if you see me on one of those really bad Guam Super Bowl Commercials next February,
then we will know.....

Harvest cross country - week 2

 Michael's second week of school brought two meets.

Away meet on Monday against Guam High -

Guam High is the Department of Defense High School that Michael would go to if we hadn't decided to send him to private school.  

So, it was a little strange to see so many people that we know on the "other" team.  I don't know how Michael felt, I'm speaking for myself.

ANYWAY.... it wasn't raining this time.

But, it was another mud bath.

The course was mostly in the jungle, so....we only saw the runners at the beginning and the end.

 Left turn here into the jungle ----- >






3 miles later....




the final sprint....

where being 6'2 has it's advantages.....

and your long stride puts you in front.....

(*and I'll forgive the coach just this once for stepping in front of my photo pointing the finish line...

like the big orange cones aren't enough of a clue.......

Just sayin' coach - - -

And it's worth the pain .......

Another win for Harvest boys and girls cross-country

Good job Eagles!!!!

 

Stay tuned for meet 3..... Harvest vs. St. John's  

Rainy Season

It's called rainy season for a reason....

                                                           Just sayin'  

Harvest Cross Country

Michael's first high school cross country meet was the first Friday afternoon of school....

He had been practicing for a couple of weeks with the team, so they jumped right into the schedule.

They ran against Father Duenas.

I was hopeful that after 10 days of rain, it would be a dry day.
The sun had been shining all day - it was looking like a good day for a little race.

In fact, this is a snapshot I took when the team got off the bus at the school.

And THIS is the photo I took as the kids lined up to run.......

So much for a new pack of white socks and new running shoes.....


He finished 3 miles in 22 minutes......
GOOD JOB MICHAEL!!!  

Back to School

Michael started 9th grade a week before his siblings.

We decided to send him to Harvest for high school and we are happy with our decision.

He had a great first week and has already had his first cross country meet.

Isaac started 7th grade,
Zion 5th,
JJ, 3rd
and TC, 2nd
all back at McCool for another McCoolio year!

The girls have been with us now for 8 months -
our longest foster care placement thus far, and they feel like part of our family.
The kiddos certainly ACT like siblings!!
My mom and step-dad will be here next week, so they will get a taste of awesome grandparents for two weeks.

They have court on Friday, so please be in prayer for the judge to make a wise decision.
They have been in the system now for 16 months.  While I know that children spend years in the
system - it is our prayer that the girls will have something permanent to trust in and hold on to in the
coming months.

1 day down, 179 to go!

Happy School Year everyone!

Happy Birthday Zion!!!

Michael and Isaac welcome the creme filling...
(only a few people will remember that)
August 2001

First sports season

Homeschoolin'
2005

Easter

Zion turns 5
August 2006

Christmas play - the little drummer boy

Hawaii - spring 2007

August 2007 - 6th birthday

Zion's baptism

Happy Birthday to my baby boy -
(I just can't believe you are 11, next year, we start counting your birthday's backward.)
I love you Zion!

meanwhile.....on Guam

We jumped back into being on Guam with both feet and have been busy with friends.

Enjoying pool time and beach time and BIRTHDAY fun!

TC was 7 last Thursday and after summer school she picked Chili's for her family lunch date.

Of course, she is our social one - so she told everyone that it was her birthday and watched the kitchen through our entire meal for the employees to come out singing and clapping.
(and then pretended to be embarrassed!)

We postponed the birthday dinner with friends until Friday night and grilled burgers and hotdogs and played in the sprinkler.

Since I can't post photos of the girls - here is one of the photo bomber, ZION!

The next morning was Liberation Day.  Although my experience is limited - I would say it's the biggest event on Guam.  It is the day that the island of Guam was liberated from the rule of the Japanese during WWII.

(*Last year's Liberation Day post can be found here and here)

God Bless America!

Celebrity!
Thankfully, we had just pulled this movie out and watch it.
Yes, the ORIGINAL!  

Local entries 

from the different islands around Guam.

this is not a good shot - but it was a girl
in a bird costume on a man's shoulders
SO COOL!

made from coconut shells!

Military representatives

The floats that squirt water are very popular!
(It's so hot!)

RED HORSE
It's my understanding that the Red Horse Battalion
is similar to the Seabees.

the kids scrambling for candy.....

What a surprise!
They were throwing FRUIT!
This is called a Star Apple
or Star fruit

NavFac and some of the wardroom kiddos!

The last float is always the Liberation Queen

As I stood in the heat and watched the parade,
my mind wandered back 68 years.

I could only try to imagine myself as a 18 year old boy -

who had just graduated high school a little over a month ago....

eager to join the Marines and help my country.

I don't think anyone can prepare themselves for the realities of war.

To be riding in a boat up to the shores of Guam -

bullets and bombs dropping into the water around you

the heat and the humidity;

 dressed in full battle gear

expected to charge up the beach and into the jungle in completely unfamiliar territory

the underdog

on the low ground

with your enemy above you - on high ground and familiar with their surroundings.

I am in awe of this kind of courage -

I don't possess it.

Thank you to our military past and present for your sacrifices
and the courage and willingness to sacrifice on my behalf.

I am grateful.