Running around Guam

A few more items got crossed off the Guam bucket list this week.  First item: Paddleboarding.  When Abe and I came out to Guam to check it out last summer, I spent an afternoon paddleboarding and loved it.  I knew it was something I wanted to do when we came back.  The price of buying a new board shocked and frightened me when we got here.  I have been trying to make friends with paddleboarders ever since.  Last week it all came to fruition.  My friend Jenny hooked us up with some boards and we had a great time.  Sierra and Addie were able to give it a try too and they were naturals.  While we were out on the water, I saw a blacktip reef shark swim right under my board.  These sharks aren't very big or dangerous, for that I was grateful.  This ranks right up there with ideal ways to spend a warm sunny day, luckily that is about all we have here.

Loving the paddleboarding

A few of us taking the kiddos out for a spin.

Sierra looking like a pro.

 This week we also sent our friend, Mairenda, off to BYU-Hawaii.  We have really enjoyed getting to know her.  She lives near-by and comes over often.  When we heard her story we were anxious to try to help her.  Mairenda grew up in Pohnpei, one of six children.  Her father passed away when she was six.  After taking a few classes at a community college on Palau, she came here and works cleaning houses so she can send some money home to her family in Pohnpei.  She lives in a house with 16 others which has no electricity or indoor plumbing.  Abe has worked with her through the admission process.  We haven't sent any kids off the college yet, but it felt like we did this week.  Good thing we have Facebook to keep in touch and help her get settled at school.  I don't know there is one single reason we came to Guam, but if there was it might be Mairenda.  We are so thankful our paths crossed.  Getting to know her has been such a blessing.

Mairenda with the crew

Mairenda's send-off party

Mairenda in front of her house with Kaoline.

Another Guam Bucket list item: Guam Perimeter Relay.  Running on Guam has helped me meet some amazing ladies.  There are lots of runners here and I was able to hook up with a great team.  The relay was much shorter than Hood-to-Coast, but still made me wish I had trained harder.  The race doesn't actually go around the whole perimeter of the island, it is more of a diameter/southern half perimeter route.   The hills and heat made me glad the finish came when it did.  The ten of us covered 48.6 miles in 6:10:08, that is a 7:37 mile average.  Not bad for a bunch of moms all well into our 30's, with 29 kids between us.  We were hoping we would win, but a group of tiny young things took the title from us.  After having such a great time, we weren't too heart broken.  This will go down as one of my great Guam memories!

Handing off after my first leg, just as the sun is coming up

Nice race vehicle- only on Guam

Most of the team posing for a photo at Jeff's.

The scenery was of course beautiful!

Most of the crew

A few of my awesome teammates, check out the view!

Sprinting for the finish!

I know I look like a dork.  What is a girl to do after wearing a hat for several hours and two sweaty runs when they say "hats off for the photo?"

After-race fun.

Parting shot- sunset from our front door.

Guam Made Even Better!

Lucky for us, Grandma and Grandpa were able to stay for ten days.  We thoroughly enjoyed showing them Guam and tried to give them a taste of our life here.  Everything from our church and ridiculously priced grocery stores to beautiful beaches and the wonders of the underwater world.  Inarajan pools were a big hit and the kids always have a good time there.  We are hoping Bugs will get the courage to jump off the high dive (for lack of a better description) before we leave.  For now, he is content to be a cheerleader.  He was a little disappointed when Grandma lost her courage and backed out.  To her credit, she did climb up to the view point- no easy task.

Can you see why I love it here?

Isaac working on his back flip.  A picture from the other directions showing the throng of Japanese tourists watching him would have been even better.

Grandpa taking the plunge.

Bugs building his courage jumping off the side.

Living on the southern part of the island, we don't often venture to the northern part.   There is a beautiful, long beach up there called Ritidian.  Having Grandma and Grandpa here was the perfect excuse to head up there and check it out.  Many of the beaches here are narrow, not much sand.  Before coming to Guam the beaches we frequented were the Oregon beaches where the is sand is plentiful.  Ritidian reminded us of the beaches back home, except for the fact it is April and 85 degrees.   Anyway, there was lots of sand and miles of beautiful beaches to comb.  We'll be back.

View of Ritidian from above.

Grandma and Grandpa enjoying the beach.

Addie working on her handstand.  She says it is harder when the water won't hold still.

Bugs sent back to retrieve the snorkel gear.

 Initially we had planned to show Grandma and Grandpa a lot of the WWII sites here on Guam.  As it turned out, we spent our time learning to crochet, working on sewing projects and school tutoring, but those are good things to do when grandparents visit so it wasn't all bad.  We will have to make it to the historical sites another time.  Our last stop with Abe's folks was the Asan Beach overlook.  This beach was one of the major war battle sites and offers great perspective.  I guess this view will have to do for now.

Asan Bay overlook

David loved playing shadow to Grandpa, the other David Smith, while they were here.  He was a little upset to learn he didn't get to sleep with him every night, but was happy to have a few naps together.  When it was time to say good-bye, Bugs even ran inside and gave Grandpa his highly prized "square" (blanket) to take for when they couldn't nap together.  Grandpa offered him his islander hat.  I think these two have many happy reunions in the future. 

David Smith X 2

Before I sign off I have to share good news--Addie saw a sea turtle!!  She has been on a quest since we got here and we just haven't been out snorkeling as much lately.  We went out on Saturday and while we were watching all the fish, I was thinking how wonderful it is to be able to show her all this when she started making noise (imagine talking with your mouth duck-taped shut... yeah that is what is sounds like).  Right below us was a sea turtle, we were both so excited.  Sierra got to see one with Abe a few weeks ago, so we are all set.   Addie's next quest- dolphins!

Memorable Day

A lot has happened since I wrote last.  We had our first (and likely only) guests. Abe's parents came to stay and we loved taking them around our island.  One of the fun things about showing a place to others is that you get to see it through their eyes.  I fell in love with Guam all over again while they were here and really enjoyed getting to introduce them to this tropical paradise we call home. 

At the airport.  A friend from Yap made the leis and hat for them. 

We had a great time while they were here.  One of the first things we did was to take Grandpa and Grandma out to snorkel.  They quickly got the hang of it and enjoyed all there is to see underwater.  Then, early Saturday morning we headed to the beach for a Easter sunrise devotional.  Being in such a beautiful place and remembering the life of our Savior will be a wonderful memory for me. 

Sunrise on the beach

Their visit was planned around Addie's eighth birthday.  Grandma was a huge help at the party and it was fun to be able to have her here for it.  Turning eight is a big deal in our family and in our church because that is when a person can get baptized.  Addie wanted a rainbow party because of a church song about them we sang at her baptism.  I was thrilled the cake turned out and that it was still in one piece when the party rolled around.

The birthday girl is ready to celebrate!

Partiers with the aprons Grandma helped make.

THE rainbow cake!

Easter was a big day for us.  Not only did we get to celebrate the most miraculous event ever, Isaac and Savannah received their patriarchal blessings.

Suzy and Isaac with Patriarch Gittens

Addie has been anticipating her baptism for a long time.  We were so excited when we found out her eighth birthday would fall on Easter.  After moving to Guam and learning people were able to be baptized in the ocean, she knew what she wanted- a baptism on her birthday, on Easter, and in the ocean.  All went as planned.  It was a beautiful day and she was surrounded with her family and friends.

A great day for all of us!

I love this picture, Abe walking out with his little girl.

Even with stinging eyes, look at her smile!

An awesome friend volunteered to make Addie's cake for her baptism.  It turned out perfect!  Thanks Paij!

The night before Addie was baptized I took her down to the beach for a little photo shoot.  I really wanted to capture this sweet girl and this memorable event.
 

Sunset we saw as we were finishing up.

Surf's Up

It feels like life has gotten into more of a routine.  We are getting used to, but hopefully not taking for granted, island life.  As a matter of fact the other day someone said something about summer and I had to stop and think about what season it really is.  It seems like after all this fabulous weather, we should be hitting fall, but then I remembered if we were in the states we would not be enjoying balmy weather we are spoiled with right now.   I hear Guam is heading into summer now too.  Their summer runs from March to September when the rainy season starts.  I have loved the weather here thus far, but locals tell me the really hot stuff (the island rarely sees 90 degrees) is around the corner, we'll see how we do. 

The kids continue to take surf lessons and are really improving.  I love to sit and watch them, especially Bugs.  We talked Suzy into giving it a shot too.  Although if she was asked she might say she didn't have much a of a choice.  I figure if you spend a year on an island, surfing is something you have to try.  The three younger kids all love it and Bugs is quite a hit with the Japanese tourists and his hamming it up does not disappoint.

Addie riding the waves like a pro!

This girl LOVES to surf!

The tongue shows his he is into it

Recently Abe was gone off-island for a week.  The kids and I packed a picnic and headed to the beach to watch the sunset.  It is always interesting to see what will get their attention when we get there.  This night it was the hermit crabs for sure.  Right away they set to trapping as many as they could.  While someone was given the task of keeping track of them, the rest of the kids set to constructing contraptions to contain them.  By the time they were done, I think they had 37 of them.  When we let them go, it was quite a sight to see them all scatter.

Sunset at Dadi Beach

One of the crab holding pens

The crab pit

This last week we had a real treat, two little angels came to stay while their parents went on a dive trip to Palau.  It was so fun to have them over, we all loved it.   The only hard part was when my kids were fighting over to got to help them or carry them or sleep by them.  One night while my girls were helping them with the bath, they told our visitors when they finished washing there would be a surprise, meaning the jets in the tub.  When they turned them on, they all got a surprise, the bubbles multiplied and soon everyone was covered in suds.  They loved it.  The only hard part was  getting all the bubbles off.

Abe didn't think the bath picture was appropriate, so here is one with everyone clothed.

One thing that has been so great about living here is the opportunities to serve and do missionary work.  Issac goes out teaching with the missionaries ...a lot.  Last week he guessed he went to about twenty lessons.  He has given a talk at the last two baptisms.  What a great opportunity for him to experience what a mission is like.  The best part is, he is eager to go and calls the elders to arrange the times.  He loves it.  Since so many people that live here do not speak English as their first language, he is trying to learn Pompeian and doing a decent job of it too. 

(Future) Elder Smith with the Talisay Ward missionaries.  On the far left is Reed Guisinger, he leaves for his mission to Japan in one week.

Blissfully warm

Greetings-I know it has been a while.  Life continues to be blissfully warm here on Guam.  While Suzy and I were laying on the beach the other day, I looked over at her and commented how this is what we are going to miss when we are back in Washington, particularly in March.  There is so much we love about living here, fabulous weather year-round, great friends and beautiful beaches to name a few.  We love to run down the beach for a hour of snorkeling or to watch the sunset.  Sadly, one cannot have it all.  We have spent much time trying to decide if we will stay on-island an additional year or head back to the mainland, still not a hundred percent sure.  There is a lot we miss about life in states.  Being able to buy fresh produce and groceries without having to spend a small fortune, is something we are all looking forward to.

Beach combing before sunset

We couldn't let February 14th sneak by without celebrating Valentine's Day.  I love traditions.  By moving here and essentially living out of a suitcase for a year, there have been some things we had to let go, but we were able to still celebrate heart day in most of our usual fashion.  Decorations of hearts all around, heart shaped food and homemade Valentines to name a few.  Abe usually sends his daughters flowers and a sweet note telling them how wonderful they are.  The prices of the already wilting flowers at our grocery store was comical.  With a price tag of $60 for four roses and $45 for a spray of carnations, we decided to pass on that and opted for a bouquet of fresh plumerias picked from the side of the road.  I wish I had taken a picture of those.

My Valentine!

Heart-Shaped Pizza- Valentine's Day Tradition

I recently ran in a half marathon.  It was a very Guam event.  For starters it was called the "Hafa Marathon."  Do you remember that the customary greeting here is "Hafa Adai." This island gets going early, gun went off at 4:45am, so much for sleeping in here.  The finisher's medal doubles as a bottle opener (I'm sure mine will get lots of use) and my friend who won was awarded among other things a  carabao bank (similar to a piggy bank, but shaped like a carabao).  Of course, it finshed up on the beach. Great race!

Notice the bottle opener!

Dinner on the lawn in February- yes please!

Last weekend left us all on a spiritual high.  Elder Russel M. Nelson and three other general authorities came to visit Guam.  We had a special stake conference where we got to hear from all of them.  Isaac and Savannah got to attend a youth fireside and participate in a youth choir that sang at two meetings.  One of the songs they performed was written just for this occasion.  Abe had the privilege of being one of the drivers for the visiting authorities.  He had the opportunity to spend the whole weekend with them and show them around the island as well as make sure they made it to all their meetings.  He was the driver for Elder Callister and his wife and got to spend some time getting to know them better.  It was a really neat experience for all of us.

Isn't my husband handsome?

Lastly, Isaac and I had a  fun dive yesterday.  Gun Beach was a new place for us to try.  We saw a spotted ray, jellyfish, and the biggest turtle I have seen yet.  Watching the jellyfish move very was interesting.  I also got to hold a puffer fish.  I am happy to report now that I have been diving a few times, I am getting better at not freaking out about being sixty feet underwater.  Not all the way there yet, but making progress. 

Definitely need to work on my underwater smile.

I heeded Marlin's advice and marveled from a distance.

Big old grandpa turtle