Almost May already?!?!

Gosh, where it the time going? We have already been in Hawaii almost half a year. Six whole months!! It sure doesn't feel like it but it's definitely going faster than I expected. I'll admit, I wasn't too happy last month and a few prior to that, but Hawaii is now growing on me.. Just like Oklahoma did after a while. Sometimes I just sit outside and am in awe of how beautiful this place is.  And while the beauty is a perfect reminder of how awesome God is, I still find myself longing to be stateside at times. I know I don't have island fever yet, I just miss simple things, like normal time zones, winter-spring weather, and Hobby Lobby lol. I miss some of these things and as they may sound petty, some people will probably laugh with jealousy of me being here on this tropical heaven.  Yet I will be jealous of those who may be still getting snow and freezing weather! (I am from Jersey...)

One thing I am feeling wonderful about is my running. I have slowly found my love to run again, and not be in pain. While its been humid, rainy, and super windy here currently, a treadmill run sometimes is all I am in need of to just de-stress and feel like a rockstar. My goals are being reachable and I love that! With the 10k that Tim and I completed this month, I decided to sign up for one next month. Not just a 10k, but a 15k instead. I didn't put the numbers together while signing u's up--realizing now it's 9.3 miles. That's almost a HALF!!! I am trying to train as much as I can but lately it seems my farthest is the 4 mile zone.. I need to be running at 6-8 miles but every time I push myself to that level-the lower discs in my back aren't happy! And I fear of being back to when I was training for the OKC half marathon. I don't ever want to feel that way again. So I been taking it slowly and if I have to walk at this 15k, then I know running long distances isn't for me. Maybe I'm meant to be a short distance runner only? I shall soon see. 

Mason has been doing better also. Tim and I enrolled him in a city league and even though he's the oldest on this current team, he's been doing better. I swear he is a natural athlete. Anything that includes a ball, he's a rockstar at! I can only pray that this leads him to some scholarships or the major leagues!!

Maddie is doing well also. Little miss popularity. She's also going to be starting a summer enrichment program here for violin. That will begin middle of June till middle of July. The kids' summers here are short. They get out June 3rd and go back end of July. We are also thrilled to say that my parents will be visiting the first week in June! That will be an awesome time and we have big plans for them while they are going to be here. It will be nice to be around some family again. 

And my main squeeze-Tim. He's been doing a lot of traveling right now and so when he's traveling, he's sending pics of what he's up to. Helicopter rides, tours, dinners, etc. rough job huh? He's finally getting the hang of working with civilians and is already thinking about what it will be like if and when he becomes one lol! I've heard that too much! So when it happens, I'll be just as in shock as everyone else...

Until next time...

Ford Bridge 10k

I signed Tim and I up for our first 10k here on the island. It's the Ford Bridge Run, which takes place at Pearl Harbor. The bridge is approximately 4,672 feet long and it's an actual drawbridge, that was used for warships to pass through during Pearl Harbor. From this bridge, you can see the USS Arizona Memorial. 

In the morning, I was feeling pumped. I had a cup of coffee, (as I do before every morning run), or I pity those around me. We arrived at the bridge where there was around 3,000 runners, walkers, and joggers. I couldn't believe the turnout.

On the sides of the road were people warming up, doing crazy sprints, and all kinds of yoga-looking stretches. As for Tim and I, we just wanted a selfie before the race. We weren't doing it to win lol. Just our present to ourselves. 

(This pic doesn't show even 1/2 the ppl)

All went well up until mile 3 for me. I had a side stitch, probably from my gum chewing, and it was already warm and humid out. I don't do well with those two issues of weather. At one point, an older man ran in front of me, and he had on this pink t-shirt with Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me". I tried to follow him as long as I could, until it didn't seem too noticeable, but that verse motivated me. Not enough to pick up the pace but enough to NOT STOP. It was a little jolt that I needed. All kinds of runners were out there today. Even kids, although not mine. They were sound asleep while we were breaking our sweat!

Once we were done, we grabbed some water and headed to breakfast just Tim and me❤️. 

(Yup I was in pain here....hey if your still pretty looking after, you didn't push hard enough, lol) 

Until the next one!!! Muah!