great aloha walk

hubby, kahi, lua, and i took part in another great aloha run this morning... aside from a few blisters, i'm actually feeling better than i anticipated. as is the usual routine (our first gar was in 1997), we dropped off our littlest one at tutu & papa's house early in the morning, then drove down to the aloha stadium. we hopped on a shuttle that took us downtown, and we had our first encounter with the long line of port-a-potties... (the office building we usually go to was not allowing public access to their restrooms this year)... yes, even this is part of the whole experience... haha

by the time we made it to aloha tower, the masses were just beginning to move. my first order of business was making sure to pass by the usual spot where tutu, papa, & tolu sit and wait so they can wave at us and cheer us on. we were able to see them, and in fact, i got a hug from tolu and a honi from papa... (tutu was quite comfy in her walker/chair a ways back from the road we were on).

early on, i also saw officer matt lum, a buddy from our byu-hawaii days, and soon after, lua and i got roses from watanabe florists! they were handing them out for free! then, about three-quarters of the way, lua was thrilled to see lina girl, a classmate of mine from the third grade, up close and personal! lua gave her rose to lina and thought it was cool that pipi said hi to us too.

it was not too long after we figured out that lua's timing chip had fallen off of her shoe. we attempted to trace our steps back a little bit, but quickly surrendered to the impending fatigue and trudged forward. unfortunately she won't have an official ending time, but we began and ended together, so she'll at least know her finish time!

soon we got a call from kahi saying that she was done! a bit later we got a call from hubby saying he was done too! when lua & i finally walked across the finish line, we were greeted by my older brother, who was working as a first aid volunteer inside the stadium (not 'cause we needed first aid, but he happened to be posted right there!) we did our usual trek to collect water, bananas--and this year, donuts--and collect our "finisher" t-shirts. a relatively quick trip to our car, and we were on our way to pick up tolu and get home to rest!!!

i have to say that some of my favorite parts of the annual gar include seeing all the many volunteers--especially the school bands! just when i'm questioning myself as to why i'm doing this again, i hear a familiar tune or feel a fast beat and i'm re-energized. i also enjoy reading the backs of people's t-shirts... my favorite this year: "i'm with kaiser permanente...that's why you're reading the back of my shirt" (something like that). i also thought that one family was quite clever with their children's shirts stenciled like athletic jerseys complete with their family name emblazoned across the top and numbered by birth order--01 through 06... and of course mom & dad were rockin' their numbers--00--on the backs of their t-shirts as well.

another family bonding event over... i think i need another nap! :)

be still, my soul

hymn #124 be still, my soul...apparently one of the hymns the gracious brother archuleta sang at an impromptu fireside while here in hawaii... it was "top secret" so we didn't get to go, but the blessed youth of one particular ward got to meet and mingle with this talented young man.

david archuleta & my lovely niece kai