ROC- Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge

 

This past weekend we participated in the Ridiculous Obstacle Course Challenge at the Del Mar fair grounds. This was a 5k race with 18 different obstacles throughout the course. We participated with a large group of people (43 to be exact) that were all wearing similar outfits. Our team was called, "The Victorious Secret." Of course our outfits were pink. The ladies wore pink tank tops with our team names on them and wings on the back, with pink tutus. The men wore lighter pink tops with the team name on them as well. My dad and Marci came with us and hung out with all the grand kids while we ran. We stayed in Chula Vista with them the night before so the drive wasn't as long, and because we love to spend time with Abuelita and Grandpa. :-) As you can see above Kellen was not a very happy camper before the race. But he perked up later.

 Our team mates Crystal and Amber waiting to start the race... and waiting for John and Cassie to show up! :-) Ha ha, as Melinda George says, "That's how we do it." We were so excited to get started!

 Unfortunately Colin and I did not get an "after" photo. I forgot. :-( But they hosed us down before the big finale so I wasn't as "colorful" as I was during the race. Some how we still managed to have green powder stuck under our arms.

 Shelley joined us for the festivities, what a cool chick! I am glad that she is hanging out with us. Maybe next year her beau James will come with us? :-P

Crystal and Russell posing for the pic. Russell signed up last minute so that we could have the largest team! Thanks for doing that by the way, the $30 return (courtesy of Amber donating her return to the Gilliland family) will be put toward the $110 dentist appointment our son has tomorrow to get his molars sealed so he won't get cavities and can keep those baby teeth until they fall out in 9 years.

 

 The girls, wish I would have known Shelley was behind us because I would have grabbed her into the picture. Random shirtless dude, apparently "Photo Bombed" our picture! Ha ha!

At the start of the race they sent us through the horse race starting boxes and then blasted us with some sort of soap cream, I was slightly blinded for a moment. My tutu was covered in soap pretty much the entire race. Once we passed the foam/cream, we were attacked by gorillas and climbed across the monkey bars. For a complete list of the obstacles check out this link: http://www.rocrace.com/sandiego/course.html. My favorite was the GIANT slide towards the end. I am most proud of the tight rope traverse. I made it all the way across, even with the crazy dudes shaking the heck out of it. However, we should have went across the other one behind us because it was shorter. Poor Amber could barely reach, which eventually led to her falling in the mud. The ONLY reason she fell might I add. She's one tough cookie!

 

 

And then you have this cutie waiting after the race with us to check in on her mama and pops. SHE IS SO FREAKIN' CUTE!

Here is my sister finishing up the final rope swing, OWNING it!! All the way across and then a skip through the finish line holding hands with John and Crystal. I am hoping that there are some pictures of that later. :-)

 The aftermath, we don't look too destroyed. They did a number hosing us down so all the colored powder is gone. Our shirts are now tucked in because they hang down to our ankles, but we look pretty good! Thank you Crystal and Cassie for inviting Colin and I to be a part of this! We had a blast! OK Russell, now you have to start thinking of next years theme... ROC 2013 here we come!

April Book Review

Alright, I'm a little behind. I finally finished the book I was reading for the month of April, "The Wealthy Barber." I think it took me so long because I was a little bored. Maybe because the information was starting to become so redundant.

"The Wealthy Barber," is a simple how-to-build-wealth book. It is realistic and tells you straight up that it doesn't happen over night. Some tips that this book discussed that stuck out:

-Pay yourself first... 10% of your income goes straight to a mutual fund/money market account. You don't touch it, you don't even realize it's gone because it is an automatic withdraw whenever you get paid. Down the road 20-30 years, if you are employed the entire time, you have plenty of money to retire wealthy and you really didn't even have to try. Every book I've read, or Dave Ramsey program I've listened to says this is very important to start as soon as you can, they just disagree on when. Oh- and Dave says to do 15%.

-This book also mentions the importance of a Will, a living trust if you have stuff, and insurance-the right kind. Every person has a different need, so make sure you have the kind that is right for you.

-"A dollar saved is two dollars earned." This book talks about living within your means, and the fact that there is a difference between being cheap, and being thrifty. :-) Unfortunately, the chapter on that, is pretty short.

There were a few things I did not like about this book. It overlooked the huge impact that debt can be on a family. And made credit cards sound like no big deal. Some people may have zero debt, and maybe this book is addressing them. However, to assume that and not give any advice on how to eliminate debt just doesn't sound realistic.

This book also said nothing about giving. That just makes me sad. I would assume even the wealthy barber would understand the importance of giving.

In order to really gain insight from this book (or at least for me to remember it) you would have to take extensive notes. And the Dave Ramsey program already does that for me, AND gives me all the forms I need as part of the program. 

All in all, I probably would recommend another book to someone seeking financial advice. It had nothing unique to the book and if I had to choose between giving people this book and any of the other financial books I have read, I would give them any of the other ones over this one.

Since we are currently facilitating another round of Financial Peace University, I am going to read a different topic for the month of May. My next book, which I just bought at the Women's Gathering last Saturday at Sandals Church is called, "Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already there; Trusting Him in Uncertain Times," by Ruth Graham. I am really looking forward to reading this book. Ruth Graham is a pretty amazing woman. She's real, and has had real trials just like most women. She's willing to share how God has changed her life and loved her unconditionally even when she has messed up. I'm sure there will be a book review on this one VERY soon, before the end of the month!