Hey Soul Sister

So it dawned on me that I think the reason I am struggling to start recapping China is that I have some business to take care of first. Before any of China will make sense, I have to introduce my dear friend April. Now anyone who will make the long haul from the US to Guam just to see us earns the designation "dear friend." But April became that long before. To be sure, we are an unlikely friendship. There is so much about our life paths that is drastically different. For one, April is 20 years older than I am and has a daughter only five years younger than me. My resume has an MA somewhere on it (she sat with my parents in the audience of my graduation) while her credentials and wisdom stem from a rich diversity of life experiences. Oh, and I don't know if you noticed, but she's black and I am white. On paper, we don't really fit the traditional mold of friendship. And yet there is some unexplainable reason why she was hand-picked to enter my life when and how she did... "at The Cross," as she likes to say.

I first met April when I started my new job at the Red Cross in San Diego. I was the PR person and she was the outreach coordinator on our development team. Our computer stations were side by side. I was a newly married navy wife of a junior office and her husband was a retired navy chief. As I maneuvered my new role as a military spouse and young professional, April quickly became a voice of wisdom and experience where my same early-twenties-something friends couldn't be. She coached me on speaking engagements and relationships and office politics (of which there were plenty). She knew San Diego really well, tipping me off to salons and grocery stores and restaurants I should try. Oh, and she had a crazy knack for attracting free stuff, which was a huge asset, not only to our fundraising team, but also to our social lives!

April managed to get us free tickets to absolutely everything. We went to Broadway shows, Padres games (behind the dugout), Chargers games, and concerts... all without paying a dime. Since her job was to be out in the community, she was always getting invited to fancy dinners, art shows, sporting events, and interesting speakers that we accompanied her to see. We had a blast, and somehow the money for the organization kept rolling in because April is an amazing salesperson. "I could sell ice to an Eskimo," she likes to say (and she totally could!).

One of the first days I met April, she handed me a stack of 100 poems she had written that she wanted to publish into a book one day. Spoken word poetry is a gift of hers. Three years later, I spent a summer working to help her edit her poems into one complete volume called Utter Magic, which she self-published and, against all odds, has sold over 1,000 copies. It was a glorious team effort that I enjoyed every minute of working on, even after reading each poem for what seemed like the hundredth time. Every time I finished another draft, I felt inspired to write my own poems, to hear my own voice, to express myself in a powerful way like she does. At times I have turned to April's poems when my own words were not adequate.

April has some sort of unexplainable supernatural psychic abilities. There are a zillion crazy things that have happened... dreams, meditations, premonitions... too many to brush off as yet another amazing coincidence. One example was that April gave me a journal for my 24th birthday present. I went home that night and wrote about how wonderful my birthday was and how blessed I was to have so many amazing people in my life. The very next day I got a phone call that my grandmother was in the hospital... and the prognosis was not good. Over the next weeks and months I poured my heart out between the pages of that journal as I wrestled with saying goodbye to her amid Nick's upcoming graduation, orders to move, orders to stay, grad school decisions, new bosses, and friends moving away. It was a crazy time, and somehow April knew I'd need a place to write my way through all the changes. (This came full circle in China, by the way, when we learned that your animal year... 12th, 24th, 36th, etc., is not one of good fortune, which is why the Chinese are on guard and lean on extra sources of luck and well being that year).

If none of this has convinced you that April is an awesome person to know, then just watch this YouTube video of her dancing on the Ellen Show.

She was asked to come up on stage and warm up the audience. She had no idea they were filming and would actually air her performance on the show minutes later! It has almost 35,000 hits on YouTube, and my favorite part is the first comment from a total stranger, rated with 159 votes, "For some reason I want her to be my best friend." I love reading that and feeling so proud that for me, she already is.

So good a friend, in fact, that she flew all the way out to Guam, and at her request, we went to China together. China had been on her vision board for the past seven years. She didn't have a specific reason or know why, and she'd never traveled that far from home before. I told her if she came out that I would go with her. Everything came together very easily... amazing airfare, the tour package, dates & timing, etc. And so we went.

But before we left, I took her on a tour of the island so she could experience our beautiful paradise home.

 Inarajan Pools - April's happy place

 Asan Beach Overlook

 Snorkeling at Gab Gab

We had a blast! And yet, the real adventure was just beginning...

The Fresh Factor: No-Brainer Avocados

I am in that writer bind where I have more stories and pictures to share than I have capacity to organize them. So instead of China, here's a Fresh Factor filler. On Avocados :) China coming soon... I hope!

Memorial Day 2012

After spending the past week with my dear friend April on Guam and in China, I have so many thoughts and pictures and stories I want to share with you. But before I do that, I want to recognize this incredibly important holiday we find ourselves in the middle of... Memorial Day.

This weekend is important to me personally for a number of reasons. Exactly 11 years ago, I stood before a crowd of thousands in Houston, TX to deliver the Valedictorian address I prepared for my high school classmates. I had a brand new super hot boyfriend (named Nick!) I had been dating less than a week. We had no idea at that point what the future would hold, but we knew enough to trust the future would be good.

Exactly 7 years ago this weekend, that boyfriend (turned fiance!) walked across a stage and shook hands with President George H.W. Bush as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. It was a glorious day for all of us who had witnessed four years of collective hard work from him and his classmates. And it meant Nick and I were officially in the Two Percent Club. Academy legend has it that only two percent of the couples who are together at Induction Day are still together at Commissioning Day four years later. You better believe that is one milestone I will be forever proud of.

Five years ago on Memorial Day weekend, the world as I knew it changed forever when my grandmother Bea lost her short but intense journey with pancreatic cancer. I got the difficult phone call from my mom in Florida. Even though I'd had a chance to say goodbye in person and knew her departure was imminent, I was devastated. No one in my personal inner circle had been taken so permanently before that day. I could not imagine walking an earth where she no longer did. I trudged forward so hurt, lost, and aching. My little heart just didn't know what to do. Nothing had changed in my day to day life across the country, and yet, it seemed everything was different. We went to her memorial service in Florida a week later and, as tears streamed down our faces, we sung our hearts out to Eternal Father Strong to Save, also known as the Navy Hymn, which she had personally requested be sung that day.

Despite all these powerful Memorial Day memories and the fact that this weekend comes every year, I consider this to be only my second true Memorial Day. I say that because this time last year was the first time I had ever personally witnessed the suffering of friends who, unlike me, never had a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones. I guess that's why Memorial Day feels so different now. There are names and faces of those who never returned, and of those who returned but were never the same. Those who were once so familiar are now but a memory. My heart aches for their families and the insurmountable adjustments they were forced to make having to walk this earth, one step and one breath at a time, learning how to live here without their hero.

And so this Memorial Day weekend, amid the sorrow I find a strange sense of joy in taking a long pause to honor and remember those for whom the echo of taps still resonates. Today we dedicated the flowers at our church to brothers Brendan Looney and Clay Hunt. In their honor and the honor of our nation's other valiant souls, I joined in as the soprano in a four-part a capella harmony of Eternal Father Strong to Save. I so appreciate my grandmother's dying wish of having that song played at her service. Somehow it helps me to weave together the intense emotions of grief too many families must be feeling with the notes that plea for God's protection for those still serving.

Having just returned from a country that is most certainly not free, where the opinions and ideas on this very blog are completely inaccessible, this year I find myself all the more grateful to live in the land of the free, the home of the brave. Unfortunately freedom has come at a tremendous cost, which is why the rituals of remembrance are so important for every American to participate in, in any way whether big or small.

Just last month our Philippines service team visited the American Cemetery in Manila, home to 35,000 burial sites of American and Allied troops from WWII. Many of the remains, marked with a cross, are of soldiers and sailors whose names are "known but to God." As I looked out over the rows of crosses planted in pristine fields of bright green grass, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the physical demonstration of sacrifice before my eyes. In a moment of hopelessness, I turned to my journal wondering how to make sense of all these lives lost, all these families in pain. What can I possibly do to make this better?

I thought of all those eyes looking down on me from upper realms. I thought, what might they want from me, from us?

"Live so my sacrifice is worth it," I heard them say.

I believe there are simple but intentional things all Americans can do to serve our country that don't involve joining the military. We can serve by seeking out quality American made products instead of cheap bargains made in China, every penny a vote toward American jobs and a stronger economy. We can serve by actively helping out our fellow military and veteran families, the 1% of Americans who have been personally affected by 11 years at war. We can serve by choosing to strive for our personal best at home, at our jobs, in our relationships, for our environment. We can stay healthy and remove burdens from our healthcare systems. We can stay out of trouble and remove burdens from our criminal justice sectors. We can support nonprofits and volunteer and pick up trash and recycle. There are so many ways to incorporate serving and bettering our country into our everyday lives.

Make no mistake. The onus is on you and on me to shun complacency and take action. I believe Travis Manion has stated this best: "If not me, then who?"

Oh hear us when we cry to Thee for those in peril on the sea.

The notes of the Navy Hymn ring in my soul today. Once again I feel those valiant eyes looking down upon us. It is our job, dear friends, to live in such a way that makes their sacrifice worth it. It is a tall order, but none so encompassing as what each of them has already given... everything.

The Fresh Factor: A Trip to Agat Market

Adventures in Guam produce shopping at Agat Market :)

Paleo Link Farm

Portobella Pizzas... our favorite Friday night dinner

So this post is primarily for, ahem, me. But maybe there's something for you here too. During these last eight months of Paleo cooking, I have discovered some awesome Paleo recipes (and some not so awesome recipes). Most of them came from searches I did for the ingredients I had on hand or a recipe I wanted to try paleocized (my mom came up with that word). I've had a number of friends ask me for recipes recently, so I figured it was time to finally compile these all into somewhere a little more formal than my Firefox history. So if you are Paleo, or just trying to cut out processed foods, try them! They are all awesome (for real... I did not post any recipes that are not awesome).

Also, I will continue to update this page as I get more awesome recipes, so this may be a good one for paleo friends to bookmark. Cheers!

Dinner

Ready for "Spaghetti" hey hey hey

Spaghetti Squash Casserole -This recipe by Eat, Play, Paleo is definitely part of our weekly rotation. I love it because you can really use whatever veggies you have in the fridge. I use Paul Newman's Marinara to glue everything together. The sauce isn't exactly paleo since it has sugar, but it's pretty close. Makes delicious lunch leftovers the next day (unless you live with a food monster who severely inhibits the prospect of having leftovers).

Budget Friendly Balsamic Mustard Chicken and Oven Roasted Veggies - This is an Everyday Paleo recipe that is pretty good, but even better is the side dish... brussel sprouts and bacon were just made for each other.

Stuffed Peppers - You won't miss the rice and the cheese in this one! I discovered this when I was trying to figure out how to use the ground bison I bought at the commissary. You could definitely use ground anything, but the mix of ground sausage and ground bison is really satisfying.

I also have combined some of the ingredients from the stuffed peppers into the spaghetti squash casserole (pine nuts... yum!).

"Spaghetti" in Creamy Tomato Sauce -  Another one of Sarah Frogoso's recipes. She definitely has a knack for this kind of cooking. This one's particularly quick to whip up if you use sausage that's already cooked.

Porbobello Mushroom and Sausage Pizzas - This is not the exact recipe I make (from a magazine), but it's close. I de-stem and clean the mushrooms, brush the base with olive oil and minced garlic, top with a spoonful of marinara, and load the pizza face with pepperoni, sausage bits, tomatoes, peppers, etc. I sprinkle a dash of dried oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper (for Mr. Spicy). As you can see from the picture above (compared to the one at the recipe link), our version has way more veggies and way less cheese. I bake the pizzas at 400 for 15 minutes (I don't prebake the mushrooms before loading them with toppings). I make 8 pizzas for the two of us and cross my fingers we have leftovers. It's rare.

Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Pesto - This recipe is definitely more involved, but the pesto is really awesome. The leftovers are great as a dressing for salads and meats.

Paleo Tacos with Cabbage Slaw - I'm not a big fan of using lettuce to replace a tortilla, but the recipe here tastes really good. When we do Mexican, we usually just make fajitas like usual (meat, seasoning, peppers, onions & mushrooms) but toss the cooked ingredients in a bowl and eat it with a fork. Put enough guacamole on there and you won't miss the tortilla.

Lemony Herb Grilled Tuna - Okay yes, I am posting one of my own recipes here... it's pretty basic. We eat a lot of seafood since we can get fish so fresh. Pair any grilled or baked fish with a mango salsa (alas my fave recipe is not online, it's from my favorite cookbook) and you've got a meal that's not just healthy, it's also dinner party worthy.

Pork and Pepper Stir Fry - Swap out the brown sugar in the marinade with a little honey. I used dried ginger since that's all I had and it was delish.

Paleo Mediterranean Chicken 

Marinaded Grilled Chicken - 10 different marinade recipes on this link

Crockpot Recipes
I use the crockpot at least once a week because of weeknight meetings at church. I am very picky about my crockpot recipes because I do not like how so many of the dishes come out tasting like stew. Ew. These are a few that have made the cut and are now officially on repeat.


Salsa Pork Chops - This is one of Nick's favorites! Super easy and makes the house smell amazing.

Crock Pot Super Garlic Chicken Legs - In my opinion, the best Paleo recipes are the ones that are not Paleo but just happen to be. This one is no exception. The chicken falls off the bone.

Mesquite BBQ Pork Tenderloin - This one's great because pork tenderloin comes frozen here, so I can keep it in the freezer until I need it, thaw it the night before, and it gets me through one more day of not having to go to the store :)

Slow Cooked Chili - This one has beans. And cheese. The paleo police would argue it's not paleo... but close enough.

Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops - Care of Paleo Parents

Spicy Shrimp in Coconut Milk - Aaaamazing!! And so easy :) I used one can of rotel + habaneros and one fresh tomato to make the base a little spicier. YUM!!

Link to homemade salad dressings

Side Dishes
Sweet Potato Casserole - I made this at Christmas and it was amazing.

Brussel Spouts and Bacon - From the chicken recipe above. Awesome side dish. Use any leftover bacon in your breakfast scramble the next day.

Roasted Veggies - Also good with a splash of balsamic vinegar added just before baking. Anything goes here... peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash of all varieties. If it's a veggie, roast it.

Broccoli or Zucchini Fritters - These. Are. Incredible. Love this blog PaleOMG.

Breakfast
We mostly eat egg whites with a meat (steak or sausage) and a bunch of veggies scrambled in. My friend Jen blogs a lot of her paleo recipes and has some GREAT breakfast choices, especially if you are just getting started.

How to Do Breakfast Paleo Style (+ helpful tips) - This is a great place to start! Jen has a lot of good coaching for people who are new to paleo.

Breakfast Scramble with Salsa 

Omelet Muffins - These egg cupcakes are super simple to make and easy to grab in the mornings.

Egg and Sausage Bake - We have been making this casserole recipe from the Unrefined Kitchen weekly for breakfast.  Nick loves it because he doesn't have to cook in the mornings.

Snacks and Desserts
Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies - Bakergal went through the trouble of trying six different Paleo chocolate chip cookie recipes. Once she found her favorite, she made FIFTEEN different batches trying to perfect the ingredient ratio. What results are some of the most delicious cookies you will ever eat, paleo or not. Trust me. Substitution recommendation: I didn't have macadamia nut oil for a while and I used coconut oil and they were still awesome. I also use Bob Red Mill's almond flour since it's what we have, even though the recipe specifically says not to.

Paleo Avocado Veggie Dip - Great for dipping cut up cucumbers, pepper strips, and carrot sticks. Tastes like guacamole, but smoother so it stays on your veggie a lot easier. Your guests won't even notice the lack of crackers/chips if you set out a plate of this.


Paleo Pumpkin Muffins - I always double this recipe. Doubled it makes 18 muffins, so I freeze a dozen of them and pull them out as needed. They are ready to eat after about 30 minutes at room temp. These are delish and totally fill that craving for something doughy. 

Paleo Pumpkin Pie - Not only does this taste fantastic, it is super simple to whip together. Pumpkin is no longer just for fall. We don't have fall anyways, so yeah...

Nutty Cookies - Another Everyday Paleo recipe (just buy the book!) that's been on repeat since October. These things are sooo good, and awesome to have ready to grab before leaving the house, much like you might a granola bar (which I am now aware have tons of sugar and preservatives... ick).

Perfect Paleo Vanilla Cake - I made this Pretty in Primal for Bible study this week and non-paleo people said it was really good! It's a little spongy because of the egg, but served with fruit or a coconut milk-based topping and it's, well, perfect :)

Paleo Berry Crumble - Delish! We totally cheat and serve this with vanilla ice cream :)

Paleo Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins - delish! Great comfort treats on fall and winter days.

Any favorite paleo recipes to share? Link to them in the comments please. Awesome recipes only!

We are the Church

 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." 1 Cor. 12:27

Growing up, I remember as early as second grade singing a hymn that went very simply:

I am the church

You are the church

We are the church together

All who follow Jesus

All around the world

Yes, we're the church together!

The whole point of the song, as the verses continue, is that church is not merely a building. Rather, the church references the people involved. It doesn't matter where they come together, it's the different spiritual gifts that combine to create a community, an extended family led by God the father, saved by Christ the son, unified in faith by the Holy Spirit.

"Who's the king of the jungle?"

Despite being a church member for the past 20 years or so, the words of this hymn have never rung so true as during the past five months. Our beloved leader, Pastor Jeff, departed in December after being the pastor on Guam for 9 years, leaving our church here to be run by a shell of a staff (including moi) and a team of exceptionally dedicated volunteers (everyone else). In retaliation for him leaving, I am posting the goofiest picture of him I can find (thank you gorilla-motions song from jungle-themed Vacation Bible School).

Throughout this period of transition as we seek our new pastor, the pendulum of our abilities as a church people has swung back and forth in my mind. I have stood in awe of the Sunday morning services our church has put together. I have teared up listening to the sermons written by inspired lay pastors who somehow create time during their workweeks as lawyers, active duty military, university professors, and businessmen to listen to God's message in the scriptures and relate it so personally to the interworkings of our lives. I savor every doughy morsel of homemade communion bread, prepared lovingly and unceremoniously each week by a navy spouse. I belt out the harmonies to familiar hymns and worship songs that make my soul feel renewed, energized and at home. I memorize Bible verses alongside our youth during Confirmation and Sunday School. I marvel at all we are able to accomplish with our spiritual gifts as the body of Christ.

Oh, how I wish this were the end of the post! (insert long, dramatic sigh...)

Other times I get a glimpse of why God needed to take things into his own hands and come down into this painfully fallen world to show even his most devoted followers the Way (while we were still sinners...). Try as we might, we have so many flaws. Sometimes our Sunday services seem so disjointed, they can be painful to sit through. And as a former public speaking coach, it's all I can do not to boastfully extend free consulting services (!) to some of the volunteer speakers. Sometimes the music... it just doesn't come together. The hymns are boring or unmelodious and even the worship leaders hit their share of wrong notes (I can say this because I myself am completely guilty!). We leave long, awkward pauses in places that used to flow so smoothly. Some Sundays it seems like the only thing we do right is pass the peace.

As a people, we have all of the gifts to create flawless church services as we reliably did just a few months ago, but we are now painfully aware of how valuable it was to have a leader to organize us all. Metaphorically, it's like taking a peek of the disaster our lives would quickly become without the Holy Spirit's persistent guidance and direction. Our new pastor can't get here soon enough!

Nitpick as I might about the ins and outs of the weekly service (and under the circumstances I try really hard not to!), it has been during this same transition time that our team of 19 church members (out of a congregation of 190 - that's 10%!) went out into the world to care for those in need at an orphanage in Manila (and it took three church-supported fundraisers to get us there). Every Tuesday morning I meet with a group of a dozen or so women for intensive Bible studies on topics as far reaching as Roman history to the apocalypse to meditation. My faith (and my understanding of God) has grown tremendously from being part of this group of spiritual leaders. That's in addition to at least two other Bible studies going on churchwide throughout the week. And you may recall our church created a mural of the entire world from paint and supplies and time donated by our members (and a special visitor) in just five days.

Putting the books of the Bible in order

In two weeks on Pentecost, nine of our youth will stand before the congregation and become confirmed adult members, having memorized the Apostles Creed, the 10 Commandments, the books of the Bible (in order!), the Lord's Prayer, the 23rd Psalm, and a dozen other verses of scripture. Thanks to the program's leadership by a church member who stepped in, their ability to explain the tenets and sacraments of the Christian faith is almost mind-boggling. The current members of our youth group are transforming into the future leaders of the church... and the world... right before our very eyes. Despite our tendency to run around like lost sheep at times, the things our church... the people... have been able to accomplish without a pastor seems, at times, supernatural.

"In this world you will have trouble,
But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:3

I believe it's that brush with the supernatural that keeps us, the fallen church, coming back in faith. I think back to this time last year, suffering through pneumonia and facing the funerals of two grandparents days apart on the other side of the world.  I didn't know if it would be physically possible to get there in time. Pastor Jeff encouraged me to go be with my family. My Bible study prayed for my health, my decision, and the ensuing travel. Hours later, the Space-A flight schedules aligned almost, well, supernaturally and carried me from Guam straight into the arms of my sister on the West Coast. She accompanied me the rest of the journey to Florida, where I was reunited with my extended family, and later that week with Nick's extended family in New Jersey. Both memorial services were held in churches. Surrounded by people. Being present among so many people I love in the midst of our pain and celebration was so healing. And healing was exactly what we broken people needed as the permanent eternal change (as well as the temporary earthly change) began to take hold of our hearts.

I am so aware now more than ever about the role the church body plays in our lives, our community, and our world. I am grateful for the members of our church who continue to give and teach and pray even when, at times, it seems we are running on fumes. Somehow (supernaturally, perhaps) we keep on, not only running, but staying the course. And I have the utmost faith that this rickety era in our church's inability to conduct perfect services will one day be something its members look back and laugh about with our awesome new pastor. "Remember that Sunday when there were two sermons? Hahaha!" (Yes, this really happened.)

It's times like this that I must so faithfully remember... or rather, am so painfully reminded... that I am the church... you are the church....

And for better or for worse, we are the church together. May God help us all. That, after all, may just be the whole point.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

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For my family... Remembering Shoopa and MomMom this week... forever in our hearts.

Nick's Island!

There have been so many times I have asked Nick to write a guest post about all the awesome stuff he does out here (yes, in addition to the stuff I write about that we do together), but he's always declined... until now! His brother Matt came out last month (right between my Manila and San Diego trips). I was a little travel weary so I opted out of many of their exhausting adventures. But it was great to have Matt out here. Enjoy Nick's Island! I certainly do :)

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So, for once, I am going to hijack Peytsisland and try my hand at blogging.  In mid April, my younger brother Matt made his way out to Guam from Austin, TX.  Back in December, I decided to burn a few frequent flier miles on Matt’s ticket as a Christmas present. Okay, so it was more than a few… but that’s okay because I flew almost 200K miles last year.  We both worked it out to get some time off from work, and proceeded to make the absolute most of our five days together. 

I feel like Peyton and I lead a fairly active lifestyle, and a weekend that contains scuba diving, hiking, snorkeling, golf, and a couple of workouts is more of the norm than the exception.  That being said, I think that the universe was completely unprepared for the whirlwind that occurred when the Roberts boys got together and had five days of free reign on Guam. 

Day 1

The first morning, Matt and I went scuba diving at Gab Gab.  While Matt didn’t complete a formal certification course, he did read the instruction book on the way out.  In the same way, I am not a certified instructor, but I did feel very comfortable with both of our abilities and competence  levels.  We discussed all of the aspects of diving and then I had him setup his gear.  We got in the water and did some skills work.  He did everything as instructed and totally rocked the skills portion, so we ventured out a bit further and dove along a wall at about 35 feet.  On his first dive ever, Matt came face to face with a green sea turtle, had total control of his buoyancy, and surfaced after 50 minutes with 800 psi of air remaining in his tank.  For you non-divers out there, that is quite impressive for a first timer.  

In the afternoon of day one, Peyton joined us to snorkel the entire 1.5 mile length of the Callahan Bank breakwater on the ocean side of Apra Harbor.

Matt was obsessed with these sea cucumbers. 

It just so happened that one of the usual neighborhood parties was going on the first night.  Due to the unique situation of living on a tiny island, everyone is pretty much always available to hang out, BBQ, and have a few drinks.  Matt made me laugh when he said, “this is just like college, except that everyone has a nice house, money, and there is plenty of more expensive beer.”

DAY 2: Day 2 began with a hike to Pagat caves.  

After Pagat, we headed out to the impressive ocean cliffs on the Northeast side of the island.

 After leaving Pagat caves, we headed to Talafofo caves for some spelunking in larger caverns.  For some perspective, yes, that is Matt climbing down a rope in the middle of the frame.

After leaving Talafofo caves, we drove around the South side of the island with an obligatory stop at the old Spanish fort.

Followed by a hike to the top of Guam’s highest point, Mount Lam Lam.

DAY 3: Day three consisted of paddle boarding and swimming in and around the cliffs and caves of the Orote peninsula.

 

Cave free diving.  Look ma, no tanks.

Cliff jumping!  Like a good big brother, I went first to make sure it was safe.  Actually, I went first to get this picture, otherwise I would definitely have sent Matt first.

 Paddle boarding along the awesome cliffs.

After paddling for a few hours, we pulled onto a tropical beach to rest for a few minutes.  While beachcombing, I noticed something metal and slightly out of place protruding about an inch from the sand.  I gently dug up some of the sand around the object in question to discover these WWII vintage Japanese hand grenades.   Having worked around explosives, I wasn’t too nervous.  I mean, if 70 years of being battered by the sun, sea, and occasional typhoon hadn’t set them off, I didn’t think that some careful excavation would.  Regardless, we didn’t take them home as a souvenir. 

Following a few minutes of rest, we headed North to Gun Beach for an afternoon dive. 

This picture cracks me up.  Matt gave an enthusiastic double “okay” when I showed him that we were at 101 feet.

 

Still obsessed with sea cucumbers…

 

After the dive, we just had to cram one more thing in the day, so we went snorkeling at the Fish Eye marine park.

DAY 4: Another dive in the morning.  This time at Gab Gab II where Matt got to feed the Giant Trevally with a package of pepperoni.  We saw two more sea turtles, bringing the total to four turtles in three dives!  To put this in context, for the first four months and about 20 dives that Peyt and I did on Guam, we didn’t see a single sea turtle…  

After diving, we headed up to Haputo for some more hiking and snorkeling.

DAY 5:

On our final day, Matt and I did the Xterra off road triathlon mountain biking course on the backside of Nimitz hill.  15 miles of rough and rugged terrain in the heat and humidity.  I think that I almost killed Matt with this one, but he pushed through like a trooper.

 

 

I pulled a screen capture off of my helmet cam video of one of Matt’s wipeouts that I got on film. 

 Over the handlebars he goes.  Ouch!           

After mountain biking, we crammed in one more dive.  This time to a Japanese WWII seaplane that lies upside down in about 90 feet of water.  The visibility wasn’t very good, so I didn’t bother to snap a pic.

 

  Our final activity was a short hike to a crashed WWII Corsair fighter about a mile from our house.

So, like I said, we crammed about as much as humanly possible into 5 days of exploring on land, water, and underwater.  It was far and away the best quality time that my brother and I had spent together in over ten years and I am so glad that we had the opportunity to make it happen. 

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 Thanks Nick for being my first guest post! And thanks Matt for coming out to see us. Hope you have recovered from the nonstop adventuring :)

The Fresh Factor: Farm Fresh Eggs!

I had fresh eggs for breakfast this morning. It is remarkable how much more delicious they are. And kind of awesome knowing what a happy life the chickens are leading here on Guam running around together in a big backyard. Many thanks to Mike for the gift of freshness. Read more about chickens and eggs in our Q&A at the Guam Guide.