Each Day Is a Gift

It was nice to be with all the families at Elder Takasaki's homecoming.  It made me happy to see hubby back in his element sitting on the stand with me, speaking to the wonderful folks and families in Sp. Fork about missionary work (during the combined RS/Priesthood meeting).  I really miss everyone and everything in our mission.  Today marks the one year anniversary of our arrival in Australia to begin our mission on July 1st.  It's a bittersweet day!  

Got up bright and early to pack up the car,  feed the kids and load up for our long drive to Tucson. Marianne's dad made hotel reservation in Henderson, NV.  I drove the entire way with first stop at Beaver for petrol, lunch at Wendy's.  That stop took an hour and 15 min.  Then we stopped again at a rest stop before Cedar City where Marianne nursed the baby.  Thanks to 80mph freeway speed, we got to Henderson in a little over 7 hours.  Went to dinner at Teriyaki Madness across from the hotel.  We were going to go swimming but the kids (age 5, 2 and 7 months) were pretty tired and the outside temp was 108 so we just hang out in the room.  My back was killing from sitting in the car.

Got up early again to get the kids ready and fed and packed up the car for our next leg of the drive to Tucson.  My back was still achy so I let Marianne drive the first stretch to Kingman.  It was neat to drive through Hoover Dam and reminsced when I ran the Hoover Dam Marathon and Running With Angel Marathon, both at Boulder City around Lake Mead!  Hwy 93 was not as boring as I thought although the mountains and landscapes were quite barren.  After a quick stop at Kingman to fill up the car, I drove the rest of the way with a lunch stop at Wickenburg Burger King and refuel the car, another bathroom stop at a rest stop just past Picacho Peak.   The speed limit range from 45 to 75 mph on a sometimes 2 lanes to 4 lanes hwy so it took a bit longer than yesterday.  So grateful Marianne's car's ac runs well as it was sweltering hot in triple digits the entire trip.  The only mishap we encountered was when I didn't see a shredded tire on the road and ran over it...I couldn't swerve to avoid it...luckily no damage done.  

We got to the house in Marana before Eric got home!  The entire drive took about 8 hours. The kids were so happy to see their toys which have been packed and shipped from Cleveland, OH.  Marianne and I were SO tired!  Thankfully Eric had some left over pizza and fried chicken for us for dinner.  :)  

Woke up with a gaganteous headache.  After breakfast, I started unpacking boxes and set up the kitchen stuff in between feeding and playing with the grandkids.  It was 103 degrees so no running today.

After breakfast, we went to the community swimming pool, mainly stayed in the kids' pool to play with Emi, Devin and Alina.  The pool is 2 ft deep with shade cover and we had the whole place to ourselves.  

Spent the rest of the day, unpacking more boxes, build the office desk and set up the "office" next to the kitchen/dinning area.  Really enjoy playing with the grandkids whose only jobs are eating and playing, and learning to adjust to their new environment.  :)

Ran from the house on Sikiyou to Carefree to Silverbell to the park by Kayote Trail Elementary.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it lead to a trail/bike path.  Ran north for 2.5 miles turned around and south for another mile and got back to the house for 10K in 1:01:36 AP: 9:55.  

It was a nice solo "Freedom 10K" on a flat as pancake route (aside from running down and up couple of hwy tunnels and bridges).  Temp was a nice 82 (quite cool compare to the high of 106 yesterday).  However due to the rain last night and this morning, humidity was 90%, so it was very a muggy run.  There were lotsa dog-walkers, cyclists, insects and a few runners out.  There was a plaque describing the route following the Santa Cruz River and the surrounding mountains and valleys.  I imagine this is a nice place to live and run, just not during the three hot summer months! :)  I sympathize with those living in hot desert places.  

After the sweaty run, I stayed outside the house to weed the patch of backyard for nearly three hours.  My back and legs were screaming for me to stop, take a break, but I was determined to finish the job...it's the OCD in me!

After a nice long cool shower and lunch, I packed my bag (Emi kept hiding my stuff because she wanted me to stay there FOREVER, she didn't want me to leave! :)  Marianne and the kids took me to the airport (an easy 30 min drive).  The airport was rather quiet, not many people travel on the holiday, I guess.  The flight from Tucson to Phoenix was short (40 or so min.).  I had to wait for the valet bag check and walked at least a mile to my connecting flight gate.  The next flight was delayed so I was able to grab dinner before boading.

Landed at 7:45pm in SLC and hubby was there to pick me up.  Went to Smith's to pick up some GU and a few things.  Fireworks were going off everywhere in the valley and in our neighborhood.  If weren't for the fireworks, I would've forgotten that it was 4th of July, much like last year in Australia, it was not much of celebration.  I miss the grandkids already! 

Woke up feeling like I had been hit by a semi-truck, everything hurts, the back, the legs, the arms and fingers...and what's with all these tiny blisters under the skin on my lower legs???  I really didn't want to go for a run especially by myself.  Ate a yogurt and drank some water.  It was 8:52am by the time I got out the door.  Had no idea how many miles I'd be able to run today.  I carried one GU with me so I better run where there's water fountain.  Ran west on the MCT to the light at the freeway, drank at 1600 W fountain on the way out and back.  East to 820 E fountain, drank, continued east to Mitchell Hollow Park, drank and ate Gu (mile 7.5ish), continued east to road into Highland Glen Park (mile 9.5) turned around and drank at fountain and doused myself approx. every 2 miles.  

It was so so so hot!  I was slogging/wogging at a 11-12mm, very pathetic!  When you run alone, you get to think alot.  I thought about how I have done all that I've set out to do on my mission in Australia:  1. Love our missionaries unconditionally.  2.  Point them towards Christ.  3.  Help them see their devine potential.  4.  Bring souls unto Christ through teaching and example.  5.  Support my companion/husband in our sacred call.  I feel that my effort has been acceptable to the Lord.  I just don't know what the Lord would have me do now.  I wish so badly that my husband's health is better and that we can continue to serve the Lord and be useful and contributing members of society.  I know my heart is still in Australia, my perspective of things here is not the same.  When I was there, I missed my family terribly; but now I'm here I still miss them AND my missionaries too!  

Well, last week I signed up for the Timpanogos Marathon on the 19th.  Based on today's snail pace and painful run, I'm NOT ready in any shape or form to run 26.2 in two weeks!!! It is going to be a tough training run! :)