Justin and Kristin

Haitian Love

It's been a few months since our family was moved to the Haitian ward here in Boston (this brought on because both Justin and I speak french; but the story is actually a lot more complicated - but a bit too complicated, as well as spiritual, to write all down here).The past months in our new ward have presented us with a few challenges and yes, some major adjustments, but lately I have been overwhelmed by the "amazing" of our experience - or rather the AMAZING of the Haitian people. Of course we are all human. We are all imperfect people. We all have areas to improve upon and change. All we can really do is just daily try to be better, but despite the imperfectness of us all, these people show near perfection in the areas of life that I think truly matter most! Christ-like love.

I have been overwhelmed by the love and warmth of the Haitian people. Never before have I felt so accepted and welcomed completely by every single person in a ward. If there are divisions or cliques there, I am oblivious to them. They genuinely seem to care about each and every person. They are concerned truly about everyone's well being. There is no pretense, no "fashion-show" no popularity contest, no flaunting of "greater" sprituality or knowledge, no judgment. They are thoughtful, giving, selfless, forthright, and loving. They are the kind of people that when you miss a day of church 6 different people, some of whom you don't really even know their name yet, call you to make sure you are ok! Where near strangers buy Christmas gifts for your children! Where "random" people will just sit down and join your family in the chapel. Everyone greets you with a smile and truly wants to know how you are doing! They act as if we have been in their ward all along. We feel a part of the "family." This warmth and acceptance came at the perfect time in my life. What a welcome gift from God in our lives. Any of the challenges or struggles that we may face with this change of wards is made up every week by the true Christ-like love of the wonderful people!

I wish we all could be a little more like these new friends of mine and show true Christ-like love to everyone no matter who they are at all times, thinking not of ourselves but always of others. They are my example.

"Runners Are Wild"

Since the beginning of the year we've managed to get two races in already! Yes we've been busy! :) It's turned out that these races have been key in kick starting my butt back into "training" mode. Not that I have a ton of races planned or anything officially, but it's good to have some bit of specific running "expectations." That way I don't just always go out the door with a big question mark hanging over my head as far as distance or speed (though that had it's enjoyment for awhile as well). 

The first race (in honor of the new year) we did as a family with strollers and all. Nothing like trying to run a race pushing a double stroller half the way, not to mention into coastal head winds! We had a blast though, which is most important! We even managed to finish respectably given our "stroller" challenge (How's 7:08 min miles for 4 miles?)! Really I don't know how many more races we'll be able to do with the strollers! These kids are getting so heavy!

I thinks it's kind of funny though. Everyone at the starting line was trying to make sure they were in front of us. I even heard one guy say there was no way he was going to get stuck behind us! I remember passing him even before we even hit mile one, and he became just one of the 705 people we finished in FRONT of! I think we placed like 65th overall! So there! :) We're no wussie jogggers her folks! We're hard core runners! We're wild!! :)

It was a beautiful day. Sunny and crisp! A great way to ring in a new year!

 

Next was a trail race.

My first official trail race. Now this wasn't some ultra marathonish, up a major mountain, extreme hard-core trail race, but even in it's "novice" trail race-ism it still completely kicked my butt! A "hilly and challenging course" with both single and double tracks.  Heaven's to Betsy!  I thought I was going to have a heart-attack the entire race! Here's an image of one of the many short steep hills.

There were some long steep hills, and some of these short steep ones. No I did not walk. Not once. That is what I'm most proud of. The single track lasted a few miles and was challenging. There was virtually no passing unless someone in front of you was kind of enough to step aside for a moment. Around mile 2 a few people did just that. I'm sure they were a little less than please to see that I was a girl. The single track puts a lot of pressure on you not only keep up with the guy in front of you but more so not to hold up the guy behind. It really challenged and pushed my limits.

There were definitely more than a few curse words spewn from my mouth as I pushed my body beyond what I thought it was capable of.

"Runners are wild....running is anything but civilized. Just look at the faces of the first five guys [or girls] to cross the line at any 10k. Not exactly the kind of expression you can wear to a dinner party." -PearlIzumi

I rest my case.

Not the most attractive photo of me. The spit that I didn't have enough breath to launch further than the front of my shirt. The panting exhale of my breathing. The tension in my body. And the pain and exhaustion all over my face.

The look of a woman running the last .25 miles to her FIRST-place OVERALL women finish! 

Though I don't expect to keep this overall winning standard I seem to have set for myself, it was a fun and exhilarating - not to mention, agonizing and excruciating, start to the year!

 

I have to mention that Justin kept up amazingly well, and finished third in his age division - the best he's ever done - even despite the two dry-heaving spells he had along the way! So dignified!

Yep running is definitely ANYTHING but civilized! Part of the reason I love it so much!

Bullet Points to End the Year

I'm not feeling inspired to post much or many details about all the festivities in December so I'm going to give it to you bullet point format.

"Crazy" Uncle Nick (as my kids call him) comes back into town, much to the joy of our household!

Intense - I mean INTENSE gingerbread house making endeavors which overtook our kitchen for two days! It was like a gingerbread house explosion in there! We were very proud of our results!

 

Delicious Christmas Eve tradition of Fondue with our friends. Olivia, whom I met on my mission in Belgium, can truly appreciate the fondue and brought a light and luscious buche de noel - one of my all time favorite Christmas traditions from my mission.

Christmas Eve snugglies with the cutest and smooshiest children alive!!!!

 

Christmas morning was relaxing and fun. Everyone enjoyed unwrapping their presents!

 

And we finally gave our kids the rocking Eeyore that Justin made when I was pregnant with SAGE! It has moved with us to be stored from CO to NC to UT and finally here in MA, just hiding and biding its time until the time was right! The original rocking horse was made by my dad before I was born. My mom redesigned it into Eeyore with her artistic perfection and Justin did all the cutting and assembling. The paint and embellishing was a team effort! (Somebody's toe is bound to get crushed under the thing I just know it.)

 

A relaxing Christmas afternoon with our dearest friends.

 

Another fun photo shoot with the bro. For more from this shoot click HERE.

 

Though we were far from the entire family even just having Nick here helped everything feel complete, along with friends who for all intents and purposes are our family here.

 

It was a fabulous Christmas holiday! We hope everyone else had a great season as well.

Now on to 2012...wait. I thought it was still 2010. I'm getting old.