Dates out with Dad

Last week, Randy drew inspiration from one of our speakers who talked about taking his daughter out for a special date. On two separate nights, he treated Evan and Jo Jo to a "Date out with Dad." This was such a treat because, although our lives are simpler here on this YWAM base, we are quite busy and don't have much quality times with our kids right now. So, Evan chose a little restaurant down by the water where he could have his favorite: pizza and Sprite, and even a rootbeer float for dessert--"a big one, Mom!" The two of them walked along the waterfront, with Daddy taking photos of Evan and Evan of Daddy. When I asked Evan what his highlight of the evening was, it was the rootbeer float and seeing a turtle in the surf at sunset. Where did Josiah choose to go for his date? You guessed it--the same pizza place. He, too, went for the rootbeer float and filled up his love tank as well as his tummy with wonderful memories made with Daddy. Jo Jo's favorite part was the large rootbeer float made with cookies and cream ice cream. The boys both returned beaming from their nights out with Dad and the treat of having had pop with dinner. We hope you enjoy the pictures as much as the guys enjoyed taking them!

Incredible Ironman

On Saturday, October 10th, Randy and I were able to tag-team on security with our YWAM base for the Ironman Competition here in Kona. It was a staggering race in what was expected of the contestants, in the sheer length of the thing (2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking to the other side of the Big Island, and a whole marathon running), and in the number of volunteers needed to pull this off. Of the 2000 volunteers, 500 were from our organization. Our job was to stand at the finish line and keep back the crowd so that the runners could finish the marathon without people hindering them (especially those pesky photographers). Of course, for me especially, this was a front-row seat to cheering loudly for those who were hearing “You are an Ironman” over the loudspeaker. Our shift was later in the afternoon, but we arose early as a family to walk down to the starting point and snag a seat on the sea wall for the big swim. We were flanked by far-traveling folks with t-shirts bearing the name of their loved one in the race. Above us, a military transporter plane dropped skydivers with colored smoke trailing off in curly-cue designs. As the boys watched the flying fish launching in front of us, helicopters circled above. One of our team leaders was assigned to be on a surfboard, literally inching alongside a slower finisher who had recently received a new heart. (Sadly, he missed the deadline by eight seconds and was out of the race.) There were many reflections for us and our boys on the power of encouragement, endurance, discipline, and various scriptures on running the race and being surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.” The Ironman Race was a special memory and definite privilege for our family.