Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Finally a small break in the rainy weather and I was able to go out for a 6 mile run. Funny how people always say it’s addicting, but I actually feel that way, at least at this point in my life. I get a build up of anxiety in my chest that I can really only combat with good exercise and most particularly running.

I ran from the house down along the Anini Beach Coast line to the end of the road and back. I got rained on off and on and had a few of those happy moments where I break in to a big smile and feel so grateful for the good I have.

When I got back, the girls had packed up their bags as requested and it only took us an hour to load up the jeep. I cleaned the house up a bit and we headed out. We drove straight over to the new house in Princeville that Harrell’s had reserved for all of us. It’s a bigger home and in a great neighborhood with a small clubhouse, pool, and tennis court. The kids hit the pool immediately and I started roasting some sweet potatoes for the troops that were in flight on their way here. I swam with the kiddies for just a bit, in the rain, and then Lijah and I headed back to the house.

Harrell’s, Wilsons, and a few family-to-be’s showed up around 4 pm It was great to have them arrive and to start this portion of our family vacation together. We had candied yams, Hawaiian chicken in broth, roasted asparagus and mushrooms, and coconut sweet rice. It turned out well I thought and I’m realizing how odd it is that I enjoy cooking as much as I do. Really, a Collings Man that loves to cook? For dessert, I made peanut butter cookie bars topped with ice cream, fried bananas (plantains) and caramel. LOL.

We all swam at the pool for a bit and it was great to have our little Kennedy here to join the clan. She is braver in the water than Lijah, but I think he is still scarred from his two near drownings in Panama in 2010. I love my little family and wouldn’t rather be anywhere else then here with them.