Last Soccer Game of the Season

Today Emma had her last soccer game of the season.



She loves to be able to throw the ball in.





She is also a great defender.  Check out these action shots:











At the end, we show good sportsmanship by giving the loosers a handshake for a game well played:



Well done my darling!

Silly Kitty

Silly kitty has found new places to hang out and eat:



This is what the baby does to get food.



Hmm, something smells good.



 

An Apostle In Ridgecrest

In September, we had the rare privilege to receive an Apostle in Ridgecrest, Elder Quentin L. Cook.  This is like meeting Peter, James, or John of the New Testament, but even better because he is a living apostle today!

I was amazed at how gracious Elder Cook was.  He was so willing to shake people's hands and he was so kind to everyone.

Elder Cook came for our semi-annual Ridgecrest Stake Conference.  There are several sessions during Stake Conference, and I was grateful to be able to attend most of them.  During the Priesthood Leadership session, he opened it up to questions.  I have to admit that when he did that, I was somewhat disappointed.  What could anyone possibly ask the apostle that he would answer in an unpredictable way?  I don't mean that statement in a non-faith attitude mannerism; I would just expect an apostle to answer questions using the scriptures, quote the living prophet, and in a manner that would encourage and uplift and not demoralize anyone.  And I believe Elder Cook did just that!  Later on, after talking to another local Church leader, I came to realize that one reason Elder Cook had a Q&A session was to learn about us via the questions we asked him.  What better way to learn our concerns and questions than to just ask us what questions we have?

I was told that Elder Cook also was taking notes about us during each session of conference with the intent that his notes about us would be able to help guide him in remarks he could give that would most benefit us.  That is so neat that he would be so focused on our needs to actively be doing things to help us that way!

During the adult session of Stake Conference, Elder Cook gave us an apostolic blessing.  It was really wonderful to have an apostle pronounce blessings upon us.  Here are some of the highlights I took away from the Apostolic blessing:

• For those of us who are doing well, to be generous in our fast offerings and to take care of people


• We will know how to help raise our children in spiritual and moral "enemy territory".  We will find answers and guidance if we ask in prayer.


• We know there is a glorious conclusion in the next life.  Unity will come with families, even for those whose children have strayed.

Among other things Elder Cook told us what he expected Elder Packer to speak about in General Conference based on discussions he had with him, although he asked us not to put on the internet "Elder Cook said Elder Packer will talk about...".  Now that General Conference is over, it did turn out that Elder Packer talked about what Elder Cook predicted, although Elder Packer directed his remarks towards the youth and I had expected him to direct his remarks towards parents.  Yet it still applies.

Elder Cook also said (in my own words) that:

• For the future, family prayer, family scripture study, and Family Home Evening will be essential.


• We are to serve where we are called.  We do not aspire to any calling.


• The atonement covers all unfairness in life.


• Don’t just do enough to get by.  This principle applies to scripture study, prayer, callings, Church attendance, etc...


• Wherever we live, we live in enemy territory.


• Our primary responsibility as leaders is to build faith in Jesus Christ

Before the start of the general session of conference, Elder Cook started in the back of the gym and shook people's hands as he headed up to the stand in the chapel.  Benjamin ran out and was able to shake his hand.

By the end of the Conference, I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to at least shake the apostle's hand.  Before leaving the Church, we talked to some people at the conference, including the Latinos as I was curious as to who had made it and who did not.  As we were heading down the hall to leave, I saw our Stake President and we approached him to tell him what a great conference it was.  Rachel said something to the effect of "I bet you are breathing a sigh of relief!" as simultaneously Elder Cook emerged from the men's restroom to hear her as a member of the High Council said "Not yet...".  Elder Cook had heard it all and said something to the effect of "I always look forward to the close of these kinds of things too".  He graciously shook both Rachel and my hands before proceeding out the building.

So I got to shake an apostle's hand after all!

Meet Our New Kitties: Paqo and Puma

We have two new kitties:  Paqo and Puma.  They love to play.





Ever since Penny, all of our cats have started with a "P" and were Quechua words (except Penny).  Paccha was Quechua for "Earth".  He passed away recently.  Pichi (pronounced "peachy") is Quechua for "armadillo".  We've had Pichi for a while.

Paqo is Quechua for "rain" and Puma is Quechua for "puma", or mountain lion.

Here is Paqo:

[caption id="attachment_914" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Paqo"][/caption]

Here is Puma:

[caption id="attachment_913" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Puma"][/caption]

We can tell them apart even if you can't.

Wagon Wheel

To celebrate the day-off for Columbus Day on Monday, we visited Wagon Wheel.  This is just 10 minutes from Ridgecrest and has some rock formations that are fun for the kids to climb on.

 

Roommates

While attending BYU, my roommate Mike married Rachel's roommate, Evie.  It worked out well for all of us!

Well, I haven't seen Mike and Evie since their wedding in 2001 until this week.  I had business in Monterrey where they now live, so I was able to visit them.  We reminisced old times and got caught up on our current lives.  Mike and Evie also have 3 cute kids; one of which reminded me of my daughter because she just wanted to talk nonstop.

Hopefully it isn't another 10 years before I see them again!



The camera on my phone is not very good, so I appologize for the blurry photos of Evie.

Haircut Before and After

This weekend we got haircuts.  Rachel wanted to do before and after shots.

Henry has magical powers in his hair (much like Rapunzel) that will go away if his hair is cut.  Today he lost those magical powers:(



Here are some of the other before and after shots.  Notice how some have smiles before their haircut and frowns afterwards (and vice-versa).

We're adopting!

... some kittens.



More info to come in the future.

Quick Visit With Aaron & Erika

This week I had business in the Baltimore area.  Since Aaron and Erika recently moved to the area I was able to see them and spend a couple hours with them on both ends of my trip.

They have a nice little apartment, complete with a Wii and fluff.  We played Mario Kart and they fed me dinner.  Last night we played a game called Racko.  I am no good at this game.  We also reconfirmed that Aaron can't sing (sing well that is).

Happy Birthday Bud!

We recently celebrated Benjamin's birthday!





He got lots of great presents!

Paccha Kitty

Yesterday we had to put down our dear kitty Paccha.  It was a sad day that unfortunately coincided with Benjamin's birthday.  Paccha was fine on Thursday but quickly started to act very lazy even for him.  By Sunday we knew something was wrong since he could barely walk and was throwing up bile.  He spent all day and night in the shower.  Monday morning Rachel took him to the vet.  He had kidney failure and he was dying.
At 3pm the vet was letting us bring the kids over to say goodbye to Paccha.  That was pretty bad timing since I was scheduled to brief an SES at 3pm.  There wasn't much chance that the meeting could be rescheduled with an executive.  Yet I knew I needed to be there at the vet's office  for Rachel and the kids.  So I told my division head who was obviously annoyed and told me to get back as soon as I could.
At the vet we were able to say goodbye to Paccha.  Emma was taking it hard and was crying.  Even Benjamin was crying.  The other kids clearly did not understand.  Rachel stayed with Paccha while they put him down and I stayed with the kids out in the front lobby.
Paccha is a Quechua word that means "earth".  His body was going back to the earth that it came from.
Paccha was a great cat.  I remember the day we brought him home from the animal shelter as a kitten.  He was playful and small.  In his early years he would play fetch with bouncy balls and bring it back and pant just like a dog.  He became a fat cat, weighing over 24 lbs.  He terrorized Pichi who put up with him yet constantly felt the need to groom her too.  He let kids hug him.  He licked your hair.  He always sat near people, even if there was a crowd.  He begged to have you brush his hair.
We miss you Paccha!

Training Schedule for 10K Turkey Trot

This is my 10K training schedule.  I'm running a 10K on Thanksgiving day.

Week Date	Week #	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
18 Sept	1	off	3M slow	4x.25M intervals	rest	6M slow	3M slow	6M slow
25 Sept	2	off	4x.25M intervals	3.5M slow	4M tempo	rest	3M slow	7M slow
2 Oct	3	off	5M fartlek	3M slow	6M slow	3M slow	rest	8M slow
9 Oct	4	off	5x.25M intervals	3M slow	4M tempo	rest	2M slow	Run a 5K race
16 Oct	5	off	3M slow	5M fartlek	4M slow	rest	rest	8M slow
23 Oct	6	off	6x.25M intervals	4M slow	5M tempo	rest	3M slow	10K at race pace
30 Oct	7	off	5M slow	5M fartlek	4M slow	6M slow	3M slow	9M slow
6 Nov	8	off	6x.25M intervals	3M slow	6M tempo	rest	3M slow	10M slow
13 Nov	9	off	rest	5M fartlek	6M slow	4M slow	rest	8M slow
20 Nov	10	4x.25M intervals	rest	3M slow	Turkey Trot 10K Race!	eat more turkey	rest	eat more turkey

Legend:

3M = Run 3 miles

4M tempo = Run 4 miles at a sustained pace, a little slower than expected race pace.  It should be a pace you can sustain for the length, but not comfortably.

4x.25M intervals = Run 1 mile at a slow pace.  Then run 1/4 mile at as fast of a pace as I can sustain.  Then run slowly for another 1/4.  Repeat 4 times.  Attempt to sustain the same speed for each interval, otherwise slow down.  End with running 1 mile at a slow pace.

5M fartlek = Run for 1 mile at a slow pace.  Then pick an object ahead and run as fast as possible while sustaining the pace until I get to it.  Then run slowly while you regain your breath.  Repeat.  Run this way for 5 miles, using the last mile to cool down while running a slow pace.