Walking together

Today Stella and I can say that we have walked the entire Scott Pierson Trail. It is an urban trail which begins East of the Allenmore Golf Course and parallels Highway 16 all the way across the Narrows Bridge. Recently, we have spent a lot of time walking various trails throughout the area and have enjoyed every minute of it. Most of our children and their spouses either run, bike, go to the gym, or work out in some way. Stella faithfully walks on a treadmill, but there are times when we go out walking together. Our contribution to fitness. Not only does it have health benefits, but it gives us the opportunity to spend quality time together. I have always enjoyed driving places with Stella by my side. I just love being with her and taking in the scenery. Walking together has added another dimension to that experience. As we walk, we spend a lot of time talking, enjoying nature, and just being with each other. We're also able to see a lot of things which we would normally miss in driving by. These are some of the places we have enjoyed walking. Bring on the Sound to Narrows! 5K that is.

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Tubbs Hill, Coeur d'Alene


Ruston Way


Narrows Bridge



Scott Pierson Trail



We just love walking with each other

Ten women

Today was Mother's Day; and what a wonderful day it was! Matt and his family were in town for the Tacoma Marathon. Matt had planned for a long time to run this marathon, but he hurt his back moving a piano, which threw his training schedule off, and made it impossible for him to run the marathon. However, he did run the 10K race with Gina. Although it was very easy for Matt (he ended up running to our house from the finish line), he enjoyed the very rare opportunity of running with Gina in a race.

With Matt's family visiting us, and Travis & Jaqui staying with us for a while, it was great to have the entire family here in town at the same time. It gave me a chance to ponder the importance of the women in my life. There are ten of them. A mom who trained me up in the way I should be. She was always there for me and sacrificed everything for me and my siblings. A wife who is, along with the gospel, the best thing that has ever happened to me, and to whom I owe everything. I can't imagine my life without her. It seems that we have been best friends as long as I can remember, even though it has only been 33 years. Four daughters-in-law, who are perfect complements to our sons. I love them as much as I love my sons, and consider them to be as my own daughters. I also appreciate the fact that I can enjoy them as grown women and didn't have to deal with them through those emotional teenage years. Finally, there are four grand-daughters, who are the cutest and most enjoyable girls in the world (at least to me). They are so sweet and innocent, and I hope and pray they will remain that way. With the parents they have, they have as good a chance as anybody.

The joy of the day was tempered, however, in the fact that dad went in to the hospital with congestive heart failure. That is a condition in which the heart is not pumping out enough blood as the body needs. Although he will most likely make it through this, it will only worsen with time. He has lived a good life, and he is one of the great ones to whom I owe everything.