Blogger is being difficult but here are the pictures. I can't add titles right now. I'll try later.
If we want to do the memory book again, I need you all to start the process now or soon so that you can get the memories to me by Dec 1st. You can refer back to the book from last year for ideas. Any drawings, pictures are wonderful. If you are going to email the memories, please send them as a Microsoft Word file with the pictures/drawings already in place where you want them...it saves a lot of time. Let me know if you have any questions.
-Anne
State Championship 2A Boys
Washougal's Dylan Croeni placed #4 overall for the State - he's a Junior.
There hasn't been much running lately. Tom came down with a sinus infection and ended up really sick most of the week. I felt sick to my stomach clear through last Wednesday but then finally hit the pavement on Thursday only to find both knees sore and tired. Oh well, it was nice a cool and felt great to be outside!
Okay, so what else have we been up to lately? Here’s a few highlights:
Hayden has his first loose tooth and is very excited! His school did a science fair and said that any grade could enter so he decided to do a project. I helped him pick something based on some homework he had enjoyed that involved doing surveys and making charts. He did a great job and learned a lot. Turns out he won first place for the 1st grade! Kudos Hayden!
Tom and I went to the Marine Corp Dental Ball last night. We hadn’t planned on going but the pressure came on and at the last minute Tom bought tickets. I didn’t have anything to wear, I borrowed something last year, and shopping is really tricky with the limited options here, not to mention if you want something that isn’t sleeveless! Finally, after much searching, two days before the ball I miraculously found a dress at an obscure little store off base. Of course it was sleeveless and I couldn’t find anything go with it so I came up with the crazy plan to make something myself, in one day. I went to the Japanese fabric store, found matching black satin and then found an idea online for a little “bolero shrug.” I managed to make it and was actually surprised with the results. Now I know I have an option when my girls hit prom age! I know I look so comfortable taking these pictures...but I wanted to show off the dress because it was such a miracle I found one here, I'll work on my "modeling" skills next year!
Alyssa is really beginning to do well at gymnastics and is enjoying it a lot. She’s learning a lot of great physical skills plus the idea of following directions and taking turns. Danica is a natural and has been asked to join an “advanced preschool” gymnastics class. I’m really proud of her and excited. 
Danica and Alyssa are the best of friends and it’s fantastic. They play together all day and love it. Hayden had the day off school Friday so we went to this great in door playground for the first time. Everyone had a blast and it was so fun watching the girls do everything together!! They are more like twins all the time. Danica’s shoe size is only one bigger than Alyssa’s and they can wear the same shirts!
Due to Veteran's day there is no school or work on Tuesday, Wed, and Thurs of this week so we are looking at going camping or something fun. The weather has cooled down a bit and you won't have to put up with me whining about it anymore. It should be gorgeous from here on through March, it almost makes up for how bad it was...almost!
The primary program is next Sunday and I am so excited to be done with it because I am the chorister and have tried so hard all year to teach the kids the songs. I can't wait to just do whatever we want and sing some fun Christmas stuff. The stress of leading the music during sacrament meeting has me nervous already...oh well, we have enough wild kids that I am sure no one pay attention to anything else!
That's all for today, have a great day!
We hope you have a fantastic day full of tons of fun! You are such a pretty girl and so much fun! We miss you a ton and can't wait to see you again!
Love,
Uncle Tom, Aunt Tracey, Hayden, Danica and Alyssa
Happy 3rd Birthday, Melia! I love you and am sending you happy thoughts from Norway!
Thanks for all the well wishes on the promotion. It feels very good to move to the next step in my career.
Here it is. I'm so proud of my husband. He is amazing in more ways than I can count. The Army is dang lucky to have him and so am I.
First I get to take off Mike's Captain Rank and replace it with Major Rank. I've just done this and now we are listening to Mike's new responsibilities.
I get to give him a hug and kiss.
Oath of Office
Our good friend, Vince, standing between Mike and myself. Our other good friend, Jason, on the very end. The kids? Sitting in the van two parking spots away. We kept the sickies out of the pics. They will all thank us later.
Wa-Wa was baptized 49 years ago, November 5, 1960. I can remember sitting in their bed in Berkeley and having him tell us that he was going to be baptized that afternoon. It was a real shock to all!
When I was looking for some things of Tom's from his mission, I came across his testimony---or feelings about the Church that he wrote for Lexi in 1991, about a year and a half before he died. I thought you might all enjoy reading it.....
As you know, when I met Kay-Kay, my exposure to the beliefs of the Mormons became more intense. I still was not convinced that it, the Mormon doctrine, was the full truth, nor was I really interested in what one’s religious beliefs were. But there was one thing that did make an impression on me—Kay Kay’s devout belief and full confidence that the teachings of the LDS church were the Truth. She truly lived the principles every moment of her life. She was never over-bearing, never disgusted with my various ways of life that were certainly not hers, never critical of others. She was and is a very wise person. Outstanding in every respect. You might guess that I love this wonderful woman with all my heart. Kay Kay put up with me for 22 years before I finally was able to come to grips with what was important in life.
What caused me to suddenly join the Church? I am not completely sure even to this day which is about 32 years later. I do know that I have never been happier, more content with life, and feel that I know what life here on earth is all about, feel that there must have been a life before we came to this earth. “Life” may be the wrong word—that there was an existence before we came to be born, may be a better way of putting it. That there must be something after this life---I cannot believe that after one dies that there is nothing or that we just sit around in the clouds playing our harps! I am convinced that there is eternal progression---I cannot say how all this will take place—nor do I think anyone else can either. I do not think we have to know the details. I do firmly believe that there are certain “rules” that must be followed—certain progressive steps that we must perform in this life, for there is no other period of time to do this for ourselves. These steps are things such as baptism and confirmation—learning to live in accordance with sound principles taught to us by latter day prophets—I can’t accept that the days of prophets were limited to one period of time and then taken away forever from the people of this earth. I believe that we must live by certain sound rules or principles that are taught to us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—rules such as –tithing, a very sound principle if looked at with an overall view—Tithing has been taught way back before the present Church was organized. It is a method of not only obtaining funds to operate an organization, but a lesson in self-discipline, a lesson in sharing, a lesson in humility, a lesson of conviction in the truthfulness of the direction given us by our Heavenly Father. The Word of Wisdom—who can argue that this is not the best way of living a healthful life? What can be said against it? Sure some have to give up certain habits that are difficult for some to do—but who can really find fault with the elimination of unhealthful habits such as smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea. These are the common things that one thinks of as “The Word of Wisdom”—there are others as well and they all make good sense. I smoked for a long time—gave it up on a doctor’s advice long before it had been generally accepted that smoking is injurious to our health. Drinking alcoholic beverages? Yes, I did drink some on social occasions. Certainly never missed it when I gave it up—saved money as well!! Coffee and tea? I try to drink caffeine-free coffee as well as tea—but I don’t make a fetish about it. I am convinced that the “word of Wisdom” is truly a “word” of “wisdom” and no one can truly argue against it. I do not believe that I will be assigned to purgatory for having a cup of coffee and tea on occasion!
I never had actually prayed in my life before I met Kay-Kay. Prayer did not mean a thing to me—I had never been taught that prayer was a necessary part of life. I had been taught to say thank you when someone did something nice for you. But I had never been exposed to the greatest “thank-you”that we should constantly have in mind—the thanks for our very life that we have here on earth, the thanks for the many experiences that we are privileged to have every hour of every day that we are living. Who should we thank? I think that our Heavenly Father must have terrific patience with the many on Earth that ignore him, that do not recognize his ever presence in everything we do. I know through every fiber in my body that our Heavenly Father has looked out after me, that He is the one responsible for everything that I have obtained in this life. That He is responsible for my very life.
“Fasting”---a strong principle of the Gospel—closely tied in with prayer—A difficult principle for me to have accepted, but certainly a true principle if applied properly. There is no one, I believe, who likes to eat more than I do. I like my three square meals a day—every day--. But again, even though at the present time I cannot say that I truly live the fasting principle due to my medication, I do have to admit that one who fasts properly is repaid a thousand fold. Why is this so? I have seen it work, both through others who have fasted—and prayed—for special blessings at time of particular need and likewise myself at various times in my life when I have received positive answers to problems that faced me in life. I do strongly believe in fasting and prayer.
Another matter which I wish to express my strong belief in is the priesthood and its “super-natural” powers. As you know, I was very close to “checking out” a couple of years ago. As I lay in the emergency room at the hospital at 2 AM that Sunday morning, your father(Dick) and Bishop Spencer (Daines) laid their hands on my head and anointed me with consecrated oil and gave me a blessing. A blessing which I will never forget. The words used were beautiful—I don’t remember the words verbatim—Neither your father nor Spencer Daines are the best speakers but the words spoken that night and the feeling of peace and comfort are beyond any earthly description. Where did this power come from? I know they came from our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, His Son and through the mouths of those two who administered to me that night. I have seen this happen on many occasions—I have experienced this myself as I laid my hands on the heads of various people who believed and gave them blessings which I myself could not give---and, therefore came only “through “ me. The power of the priesthood is a miracle. I know of no other church that has this to give its worthy members. I strongly believe in this and have not the slightest doubt about its true power. Can I prove it? You bet I can by personal experience!!!! These like many other gospel principles are difficult to prove to anyone investigating the truthfulness of the Gospel. I think a person must show faith in the experiences of others if they have not had such experiences themselves. This is difficult I am sure because I doubt whether I would have truly accepted the stories that I know personally are true and real now. I only hope that others are smarter and don’t let time pass by without taking positive action. I know that I regret now having accepted the principles much earlier than I did—my life as well as my immediate family would have been enriched a great deal.
Experiences in Temple work. As you know the ordinances performed in the various temples around the world are extremely sacred, and we don’t talk about them in great detail. Suffice it is to say that not only can a worthier member perform work for himself or herself but can perform ordinances for the dead, so that they may be given the gifts and blessings that are obtainable at the temples and that they were unable to obtain when they were living---or, in fact, those who have had the opportunity but failed to exercise them for themselves, either by not being members of the Church or being members in name only, and not worthy of temple attendance. I have taken great interest in this phase of the Gospel in the last few years. I have seen to it that Temple ordinances have been performed for members of my family, that is, my father and mother and my brother and sisters. Also for many, many other ancestors for whom I have been able to submit names and the necessary information for Temple work to be done for them. The beautiful part of the Gospel, in my opinion is that they, the ancestors, can accept or reject these blessings. It is then, their responsibility, not mine, as to whether they wish to have “Eternal Life”.
I am sure that many people, including my dear grandchildren, wonder why I spend hours at the computer, preparing names of our ancestors so that work can be performed for them in the Temples of the Church. I look at it this way----I believe, and I would feel re-miss if I did not try to do things here that they failed to do or did not have the opportunity to do when they were living in this life.
I have rambled on here with no particular order of things in mind, only what has popped into this mind of mine. I am glad that you asked me to write some things down as to how I feel about the teachings of the Church. You can see that I bounce around from one thing to another and do not get into the deep philosophical discussions about Church doctrine. I leave that for others to ponder. I readily admit I do not have a good knowledge of the scriptures but I accept things others say if they make good sense to me. As in any organization there are those that believe they know all the answers. The Church is no exception. But I strongly believe in free agency, and I will accept when I feel like accepting and reject from my mind philosophies of others who I really don’t believe know much more than I do!!
....as you can see Wa-Wa was a very special person...and had a very pragmatic philosophy of life which I think we have inherited!!!
Love,
Mom
Ok. My talk is on Sunday - and I would love to share some cultural family traditions from the Stinchfield/Duker side of the familly. If you have time, please share...
Thanks,
Adina
Okay, so you're probably sick of hearing about our marathon now, but I found this article and thought it was interesting. Of course my parents were dismayed when they heard about my experience and couldn't believe I didn't just stop running. They were genuinely worried about me. I have been wondering if I was insane and really not smart and would I have stopped had we been around anyone who spoke English so I could have figured out another way back to the finish line besides simply running there...now I am not trying to compare myself to Kara Goucher, but it was nice to know I wasn't alone in this. Apparently, Kara Goucher, an up and coming great runner who ran the NYC marathon in 2:25 last year, also has a problem with throwing up when she is running... here is an exert from her interview:
You said you had been suffering and I read that you were nauseous. Did you get ill yesterday? That is, did you throw up?
KG: Yeah I actually did a few times during the race. But I just kind of kept it in my mouth and spit it out. I cramped really bad the last couple of miles and I think it’s because I really was unable to get any of my fluids in. From about 10 miles on, I wasn’t able to take in anything. Every time I tried to take it, I just couldn’t hold it down. So that’s the biggest thing I learned: I need to toughen up my stomach. I think that cost me quite a bit at the end of the race yesterday. I just was dying. I had no energy source left, you know?
Yeah, I know Kara, thanks for sharing your story and making me feel better! I still think the severity of my sickness was likely a virus or after effects of being sea sick but who knows...maybe I just need to toughen up my stomach as well!
In another article just recently after the world championships marathon, where she took 10th place with a time of 2:27 she said:
"My legs felt great, and I felt really relaxed," Goucher said. "It was great to have a loop course where my husband and coach could yell at me. The pace felt comfortable, and it felt like practice."
Goucher did have some problems midway through the race, but managed to maintain her pace.
"I had a lot of problems keeping my fluids down," Goucher said. "After the second personal fluid station, I started throwing up what I took in. I would start taking it, and then a mile later, I`d throw up."
So there you have it...I guess it happens...and I"m not crazy to have kept going, she did it too!
It has come to my attention that a sweet and simple account of the marathon may be all that is wanted by most readers, and my long and gory details are too much. So here it is, you can skip the full account if this is enough info for you. If you've already read the full account, just blur out the other details and remember that this is take home message:
Hooray!!! We finished our first marathon! It was awesome, a beautiful course with awesome ocean views and mountain scenery. The weather was perfect, not too hot and just misty rain here and there. At one point we were going up some steep hills along the coast and the breeze was at our back pushing us up, it was great! Much to my surprise, and pleasure, my knee didn't hurt at all and we felt well trained and ready. It was long, and hard and around mile 18 we found ourselves wondering why anybody ever wants to do it again but we kept at it. We finished close to our goal and are so happy to be done!!!
During our training we ran together for our long runs every week and have decided to keep doing that just for fun. We've looked into a few half marathons on other surrounding island and found a few in February and March- should be fun!
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