The Back Dor

We all wonder if God really hears our prayers or if we are just talking in the wind. I know He answers them. We had a small personal miracle occur the other day.

My son is doing an Eagle Project at a local soccer field and he scheduled work to happen in the evening during the week.  He wanted a 5:30 start and work for a few hours each night with it ending with a big push on Saturday. This was planned for the Fourth of July week. Summer in Seattle starts July 5th. It rains and is ugly all they way until the fireworks are over, or so the tale goes in Seattle. This year was no different.

Monday, July 2nd's weather was decent. Not hot, just cloudy and pleasant.
Tuesday, July 3rd's weather was horrible. Torrential downpour. It started about 3pm and wasn't letting up.  The sky was black with no break in the clouds. While I was in my bedroom that afternoon I noticed the rain was so hard it was pouring over the gutters. There was no way we were going to get any work done in this rain. I even called my husband in tears.

Chris had contingency plans: work anyway! So we loaded the car, got down there to mud, mud and more mud and pouring rain. We set up a little rain fly and had to continually dump the little part that would fill with water.  By the time we had everything ready we were soaked. All this time I kept telling the kids to pray. It wasn't working as the rain continued to fall and fall hard.

So I gathered the children under our little fly and prayed a simple but heartfelt prayer.  I was very pointed in our requests.
1. We wanted the rain to stop when the first worker arrived.
2. We only asked that it stop for our little section of Redmond.
3. The rain could come back as soon as we were done.
4. We thanks him for the opportunity our family had to repay LWYSA with this Eagle Project.

He hears!

At 5:30 when Mark showed up, our first worker, the rain stopped.
One little patch of blue sky was over 60 acres south. The rest of the sky was gray as gray can be.
Not ONE rain dropped fell on us while we worked.
When we left at 7:30 I had to turn on my wipers in the van.

I hope my children remember this episode in our family's life for the rest of theirs. He hears and answers our prayers.

Sunset our first night! Dang if this isn't the most beautiful place on earth!

"What a day at the beach! The sun was so bright I could barely ready my twitter feed."
"I know!" she replies, "I wasn't quite sure if Mary posted a pictures of her husband's face or was it a picture of their new baby."
Just in case you really cared about what I'm doing today; Car unpacked, garage cleaned out (still need to do "dad's work bench--but I think I'll make him do that so he can't yell at me that something is in the wrong place), camping gear "stored" for four more weeks and my list is made to replenish what was used!
I make sure that I pack my camping gear so that all it takes is kids loading it into the car and we are off! That way if we have to leave for whatever reason (Mt. Rainier, St. Helens, etc) then we can be out the door in ten minutes! GO BLANDING KIDS! YOU ROCK!

Our little shed with a big hole where our camping gear belongs.

I put all the gear in Rubbermaid containers. I use the big ones for most everything, but have a small one as well. I've marked them all with silver duct tape so I know what is in them. See them stacked so nicely in my garage right now?

Stacked and ready for the next adventure.

I have seven containers right now. Here is the break down:

Box #1
Paper Products: paper plates, plastic wear, bowls, cups, garbage bags, hot cocoa cups, paper towel, assorted zip lock bags, & salt and pepper.
I replenish this as soon as we get home so I don't even have to think about it. Just grab and load.

Box #2
Kitchen Supplies: 2 dish pans, cups, dish rack, big pot, 2 scrubbers and dish soap.
I clean these when we get home and put them right back in. I also replace the scrubbers so they are clean & dry (they are still in their packaging). I have two because one if for my dutch oven and will not have soap in it. Dutch Ovens are porous and your food will taste like soap.

Box #3
Kitchen Supplies: 3 griddles, pot & lid, 2 skillets, 3 cutting boards, roasting sticks, camp cups, table cloths, tin foil and utensils.
Again, I clean these right after we get home and restock. Don't ask why three griddles--I think they go on sale and I buy another just in case. My mom had a tub similar to this one. She called it her kitchen in a box. She wanted to be able to cook just about anything from it--and I can.
I've gotten to the point there I'm using my dutch oven so much that I might just leave most of this stuff home, but I'm chicken. Of course I will need my table cloths, utensils, cutting boards (maybe), tin foil and of course the utensils. 

Box #4
Tools: Newspaper, broom, bugs spray, rain ponchos, sun screen, duct tape, rope, gloves (leather work kind), mallet, hammer, tools (basic screwdriver etc.), hatchet, matches, lighters, propane burner, and a FIRST AID kit.
This one is easy to clean out and replenish. I have two smaller containers--shoe box size--inside this box that hold the bug spray and sunscreen separate. I also slip the two long handled lighters in with the bug spray. I just replace the used newspaper and make sure the lights are OFF and throw in a pack or two of batteries.  And it should be noted that the lighter fluid is always in a ziploc bag.

Label on side of container. This is Box #4 out of 7. If I don't have seven boxes in my trailer then I know I'm missing one!

The top of a box so you can see the wonderful labels. Just sharpie and duct tape; handyman's secret weapon.

Box #5
Oven: Chimney, Lid lifter, Lid rest, Lanterns, flashlights, Lighter fluid, newspaper, long oven gloves.
This is the only small one I have. I would love to add another chimney to this, but I've done so well with one that I might just stick with my one chimney dinners.

Label down the side. I've labeled both sides and the top. The label has everything that is in the box on it.

Box #6:
Bedroom: Air mattresses and pump.
I have four air mattresses and a foot pump as well as a battery operated pump. I camp in style!

Box #7
Tarps & Stakes: It has seven tarps of varying sizes and lots of tent stakes. There is also some rope--you always need rope.
I live in the NorthWET and you can NEVER count on the weather report. In fact for this last camping trip  we left Redmond with rain in the forecast for the whole week ~frown~. We only saw a few sprinkles while we were setting up and only white puffy clouds the rest of the week! We didn't even need to dry out our tents and tarps this year: they were dry when we broke camp!

Two 10 persons tents (boy and girl/parent tents) two dining flies and our propane stove.

My two tents, propane stove, two dining flies are always ready to be thrown in the car and go! Right now they are in the middle of my garage waiting for our next adventure in four weeks. There usual home is in the shed.

Enjoying a morning sunrise on North Head Light House.

We grab these seven boxes, our tents, personal stuff and some food and we are off. Maybe in my next post I will tell how to make cooking while camping EASY and you still have GREAT food!

My husband and I are celebrating our 23rd Valentine's Day together.  Our
first Valentine's Day, back in college, was one where neither of us had
any money and very little time.  Now to be fair and before I get much
further into this story, I wasn't serious about Steve, but I think he was
getting serious with me! I had a late class that day and disaster
struck and I ended up at the Health Center. It was clear on the other
side of the campus from where I parked my scooter. I had to call my
roommate who happened to tell me that Steve was there and he would come
get me.  Long story short: He was there hanging construction paper
hearts over my bed. It was our first heart attack!

Boy I was YOUNG!

One of the heart that was above my bed: I knew he was serious!

One of the hearts that was above my bed: YES I KEPT 'EM

Ever since that Valentine's Day we have heart attacked each other.  The Valentine's Fairy comes during the night and heart attacks the bedroom doors and leaves a balloon and a piece of candy for the occupants, even if they don't have a door (don't ask!) or live on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific (he'll get his when our friends deliver it next week).

What my Valentine's Day Fairy did to my door. We are so blessed to have someone carrying on the tradition.

The boys room without a door. I said, "Don't ask; they're boys."

My daughter's door.

Well, I turned 42 a few weeks back and had publicly stated that I was going to run 42 miles (to Seattle and back) for my birthday.  Well, I sort of did it.

Here is the story:
One day while on a 4 mile run (those are easy now), I couldn't shake the email I got from a friend about a little girl with cancer who had passed away earlier that week.  Here I was celebrating one year remission while a little girl didn't get to celebrate her fourth birthday. I was going to be turning 42 in just weeks. That more than 10 times longer than that little girl got to live. I also was (still am) having a hard time raising money for my next run. I had to do something. I made up my mind to run the Burke-Gilman/Sammamish River Trail for my birthday. It had to be close to 20 miles there and back.  I've run almost every part of it, except the top part and I would like to do it from Marymoor (home) to the end (Gasworks). (I know it isn't the "end" but that is a good "end" in my mind.) That would make 42 or so miles.

Without talking to my husband I posted it. Now it was public and I was stupid ambitious. My husband of course read about it (I didn't want say those words to him) and he told me I was silly.  He didn't say much else (I think he knows better) and just let me go about thinking I was going to pull it off.  He didn't even offer to help me (no water stop etc), but pick me up when I died.  We sort of talked about it, but for the most part he just shrugged it off and never really offered any support.

When it came time to put rubber to the trail, things changed.  The day before my long run we held a family council. (Yes, we hold weekly family council; we have to, we have kids going every which way and if we don't...well, hell breaks loose anyway, I just don't want to see what it would be without it) and the kids brought up a few good points on why I shouldn't run 42 miles the next day.

1. No medical tent at the end of the race.
2. No water stops.
3. No coaches or teammates to push me (or stop me).
4. It was the last day before Kray went off to college and he didn't want to spend it in the ER with his mom.
5. We had promised the kids a day on the town and still hadn't paid it and it had been about three summers.
6. No one wanted to cheer me on or help me.
7. I had already run 26.2 miles and was going to add another 26.2 miles during the year I turn 42 and that added up to MORE than 42 miles.

So I compromised.

I got up at 5 and ran until I hit the detour on the trail. My fear of getting lost (I have a HUGE fear of getting lost) over came me and I called Steve to come get me.  I had spent 2 hours and 30 minutes running and covered 14.3 miles that morning. I truly felt like I could have run another two hours.  I was home before the kids were all up, showered and ready for our day at the EMP.

As I thought about it I decided that during my birthday month, September, I was going to run those 42 miles. So, here is my log so far (and I'm only counting my Saturday long runs):
Sept 5th 14.3 miles
Sept 10th 12.2 miles
Sept 14th 12.2 miles
So I have logged 38 miles already and this Saturday will probably get in another12 miles. So I'll be well over my 42 miles for my birthday month.

But the whole reason I did this was to raise funds for my run in November. I don't want to beg or plead, because I'm awesome and can run so far, do it because of that girl who didn't get to see her fourth birthday.  That's why you should donate, not because I can run, but because she won't ever.

Doreen's donation page

PS: just for fun my log books says that for the year of 2011 I've run over 575 miles!

Some days are harder than others and today is just one of those.  It started about a week ago and I just can't shake this sadness in my heart.

First, you have to know that I had a blood draw on Monday and those always worry me.  I got a call back on Wednesday and although my white blood count is down to a 2.6, the doctor isn't worried and hasn't scheduled a scan. I just have to come in for my next blood draw and exam (two separate appointments). I should be happy about this, but for some reason, I'm just not. I think I'm a little scared.

Well that sacred feeling is the second and third thing I want to talk about.

On Sunday a friend of mine passed away after having an asthma attack. She was only 37 and left four children, the oldest just a year older than my oldest.  This just makes me check on my life even once more.  Then this happened this week...

A "twisted sister" who had four years remission until earlier this year, heard the news that it was back. Now what is so shocking is that earlier this year it came back and so they did a bone marrow transplant and thought they got it, but her test just came back (like last night) and her cancer is back.  I just have one year under my belt.

All this together and my emotions are running hills.  Up one moment (test was OK), down the next (Makala passed), up one (doc doesn't want a scan), down the next (CW's cancer is back), down even further (attend funeral for friend), down even more (argue with family members) and so forth.  Yes, most of them are down.

I just can't seem to get a hold of my emotions and therefore the days get harder and harder. 

For the past few months I have been struggling as to which race to do next. Last fall I did the Women's Nike in San Francisco. This fall, I just don't feel like going back there, so I didn't sign up. I thought I would just keep running like I"m supposed to and it will be all good. But I started making excuses as to why I couldn't run. On crept the weight. I just know I need to get back out there and start running, but without a race as a goal I probably will only do one or two runs a week. Not good enough.

I also have this sitting in my heart: Cancer! Well, actually it is in my blood, and I just can't shake it.

Then I have these two big thing happening within a month of each other: my forty-second birthday and my first birthday.  I need to celebrate in a big way.

So what to do, what to do.
Well for the winter TNT season (I have to run for TNT!) they are doing Honolulu and the Seattle Amica Marathon. I've flipped back and forth for about three weeks and today, I'm proud to announce two things.

1. I'm running in the Seattle Marathon. I want to do it at home Thanksgiving weekend so that my family can cheer me.  There is something cool about hearing your kids voices as you run the "bite-me" miles. It'll be sad not to have Kray there who will be in Hawaii, (so now you know why the choice was hard) but I need to do it at home.
2. For my 42 birthday I'm going to run 42 miles (or at least try). I'm going to run from Marymoor park to Gasworks and then back to Marymoor on Labor Day.  (Steve doesn't even know yet.) I'm going to sell ribbons as a fund raiser and ask my friends to run miles with me. I'm going to sell shirts too. (I've got details to work out.) I'm celebrating my first birthday and my forty-second. My remission date is August 5, 2010, and my real birthday is September 6, 1969.  I sure hope this is a success.

Now why do I do this, because today I read on a fellow TNT teammates facebook that a sweet little girl who would have been four later this month is now in Heaven.  She was diagnosed at 8 months with blood cancer and lost the fight today.  I'm doing this because there is no cure for my cancer. I'm doing this for Paul, Lilli, Mark, Colleen, Frank's dad, Shelley's mom, and more importantly for my kids. Cancer has to be stopped. It takes people's lives and screws them up! It has to be stopped and I can do it one mile at a time.

As soon as my paper work is in, I'll be sending out emails asking for donations one more time. Somebody is going to crack the cancer code and lives will be saved!

So Seattle here I come!

Today I experience a mother's best dream. The world could end tonight and it wouldn't matter. Life was prefect for one brief period. No my doctor didn't announce a cure for my cancer. No my kids weren't perfectly obedient. It was better than that, I know what heaven feels like.
Today as sacrament meeting started, Jason was the loan Priest at the sacrament table. I nudged Steve and he and Kray went and sat by Jason. There were my three young men (yes, Steve is still young). Zach D was a little late coming to the meeting, but Steve waved him off.
Then Matt and Chris passed the sacrament.  So with Mike preparing it, all my Priesthood holders were involved in the sacrament.
As I sat there looking up at my three big guys and my two younger ones passing and Mike next to me, I couldn't have been happier.  I'm sure that they could have turned the lights out and no one would have notice; I was beaming that much. I heard my mom whisper to me that this is what heaven feels like.
I now know what happiness feels like.

2011 Vancouver Marathon homestretch

Last night I was in a rather long check out line at my local grocery store. I picked the "family" check out, so all that I could look at was all the candy and gum. There are no magazines in the "family" check out line. I was bored. I couldn't read about the latest and greatest things happening to important people in the world.

As I was waiting for my groceries to be scanned the father and daughter behind me put their purchases on the belt: three Barbies. The father then asked his daughter if she wanted some candy.

"A Crunch Bar?"
"No."
"Snickers?"
"No."

I was impressed. I usually am the one saying, "NO!" I looked at the father with amazement and told him how impressed I was at her replies. He told me that his family had given up sugar. He had been showing the little girl YouTube videos of "cut men" and all of them said they had given up sugar so he was trying that and he was hoping his children would follow his lead. He wasn't very cut himself and probably need to do more than just cut out sugar, but at least that is a step in the right direction.

The little girl (who was no more than seven) then turned to me and said, "Lady, you need to exercise."

I almost didn't know how to reply. Her father was shocked and was going to say something to her, so I quickly said, "You are right, I haven't run all week. Just eight days ago I ran a marathon and I haven't run at all this week. I do need to exercise."

The father chuckled then and asked his girl if she knew how far a marathon was. She didn't and then he looked at me. I think he didn't know. I let him off the hook and jumped in and told her it was 26.2 miles. She looked at me with big brown eyes. Her dad then told her it was longer than going to the airport. Her eyes got even bigger.

But the little girl is right, I do need to exercise. I need to pick my next race and just start training. Anyone got a good one sometime this fall cuz this lady needs to exercise.