Headlines: Miss Puerto Rico runs the San Francisco Marathon!

Hi!! It's been such a long journey - these last two months. I said I wasn't going to do anything but get through school, my half-marathon training, and minimal housework and then i would post again. So this is evidence that I did it! I checked on line today and yes, folks, I am through with school! I got my grades and this little nerd managed to keep her 4.0 GPA and get her degree supa-magna-hypa cum laude. (I made that up, really.) But wait, there's more. Let me tell you about my other accomplishment - I ran the San Francisco Marathon - the half marathon - this past Sunday. And I finished 1766th out of 3859 runners who ran the 1st half. Not bad for this athletically challenged girl who got hit on the head with her own fly ball as she ran frantically towards first base. (They called me out, the nerve!)

Let me tell you a little about my trip. No, let me tell you about the highlight of my trip. It wasn't running on the Golden Gate Bridge, or driving through the Pacific Coastal Highway and soaking in all that scenery. It wasn't riding the cable cars or feeding the pigeons. It was sitting at church, crying through every prayer, and being so happy to worship with fellow Christians, thousands of miles away from home but feeling like I was at home. The Sabbath before my race, I hopped on the bus and made it to the San Francisco Central SDA Church. I was spiritually hungry, feeling so different from my traveling companions who don't have a relationship with God. The church building was beautiful - all the dark wood, rafters, stone, the pulpit. The people were so warm and friendly and thoughtful. The sermon was inspiring and I soaked it in like a runner gulping down water at the end of the race. I left that building whole again, spiritually (and physically) fed. That's what got me through the race with strength and a smile. It wasn't the months of training I had endured. Training does help, but it's the connection with God that makes these accomplishments so worthwhile. If you're ever in San Francisco, check out the church there. To me, it was the highlight of my traveling journey.

I will be writing more now. So check me out from time to time. And write back, okay? I'm ready to delve into this blogger world and make new friends!