The occasional regular, but not explicityly expected update

The following is a subtle and short list of recent happens, events, scenarios, and experiences that I have had the great pleasure in acquainting recently;

Spent a week in California with extended Family
Half Ironman race is one week away
Just discovered Mousse for my hair
Received a raise for being a manny (male nanny)
Improved on my swimming - Feeling more and more comfortable in water
Realized Jordan Sparks sings that song love being a battlefield
Learned how to make a quick and simple yet surprisingly good fruit crisp
Was reminded that I STILL don't understand what a pun is
Dressed up for work on a Friday
Spent 10+ minutes shopping for a wedding present - most I have ever done
Left store with cheap artistic solution
Now have less than a day to complete it
Finally finished buying birthday presents for brothers ( July 30th and August 27th)
Ran in the rain!
Took my shirt off
Showed off my hair chest to other runners
Realized my heart rate monitor strap looks like a bra from behind
Was hit in the eye by a water balloon thrown by roommate in second floor.
Balloon did not pop
Eye still hurts
Was so bored at work that I spent an entire morning watching movie trailers and youtube videos
Morning ended with a redundant and transparent attempt to share life by listing recent events
on blog page.


Thanks for reading!

Sunset Hike on Mt. Si

I decided halfway through the day that I wanted to see the sunset from Mount Si. As being in my nature I still decided to go when nobody wanted to come with.

I thought I would post some of the photos from the hike. They are quite wonderful

Dissapearing

My little cousin Mikayla was in town yesterday. It was absolutely without a doubt a beautiful day. We went to greenlake and walked around a bit, sat on a bench and just chatted for a couple hours.

She asked me a interesting question during that time, "would you rather be able to fly or become invisible?"

I quickly replied that I would want to fly - without a second thought I passed the conversation off as another reason why I love her.

I was thinking about that question last night, as I layed on my bed getting ready for sleep. Above my bed is a world map, its filled with tacks, each one marking a place I want...will visit next year.

What's it look like to disappear? Try leaving to travel the world for a few years. Am I discontent with my life? Am I trying to escape something? Am I skipping out on responsibility, and I tucking tail and running. Am I being a terrible friend/son/brother? These questions ran through my head last night, and in deed today.

No

Sometimes you have to leave to gain perspective. I intend to leave with the intention of coming back, that must say something.

I try to disappear. Yes. But I do it for the sake of what my family, my friends, my life needs - an adventure to invigorate my soul, my faith, my belief that the Lord has so much more for me. Life abundant.

After all if you can't see me, that's when you dream, you imagine, you pray, you believe in the same adventure.

The Next Year of My Life

Its Tuesday morning. I woke up at six this morning and ran eight miles. First time in my life I ran that much. Funny thing is, yesterday I swam a mile then ran four. Hmm kind of funny behavior.

Well! Sunday my most excellent roommate Brian Bauer competed in the Coure d'alaine Ironman! And well the bug kind of bit me. So I'm currently signed up for next years race! I really don't think the reality of this commitment has hit me. Which is a good thing, because I don't think I would have made the decision to do it, if it had. I am really excited though. Now I have a reason to get into shape, and tap that inner strength. I mean what better time than your 20's right? Well the whole thing cost around 600$ so I better pony up and do this right.

In the meantime I just signed up for an Olympic Race at the end of July! So that is on my plate right now (hence I ran eight miles this morning). Kind of a big decision in life, and I know it will be a great one!

Here's to a year of swimming, biking and running!

Family - An expression of Jesus

Our house just threw a Barbecue for all of our families. In all there was roughly 40-50 people in our house. It was absolutely wonderful. The event gave me an opportunity to edit together a video which I've posted on my facebook. Feel free to partake in some viewing. All-in-all it was a splendid day and I found myself in my room listening to Mr. Heath relaxing after the party.

In walks Philip Herron and we sit for a few minutes, both having the same thing on our mind. The silence (or lack there of, of our verbal speech) was broken by a simple yet profound "that was amazing"

We both felt a deep joy for the day and what it meant. So much more than an opportunity to eat well cooked food, but one to impart back into the people who raised and loved us, who continue to love us! The reality was all too clear that our families were very appreciative of the event and were thrilled at how great sons they had. I ventured to ask how many other sons in their mid-twenties may have done the same thing. The answer was all too fast "not too many".

I couldn't help but think of the joy we had brought to our parents how proud they were of us. Luckily Phil was there to correct me.

That day, the planning, the mere idea of sharing what we do and have with our parents would not have come to fruition in the manner it did, without the presence of Christ in our lives.

What I take away from that day is a testament to how great a Savior I have, that he laid upon my heart the things that truely matter.

Porch Family BBQ - 2009 from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.

A week overseas

I just returned from China - for the second time

I was over there for the company I work for. Our new product was in first production and I oversaw the QA (quality assessment) for the line. Needless to say everything was paid for. I just wanted to throw out some amazing highlights of what happend on the trip and what the time away did for my life.

First:

1. I watched the movie Bolt on the plane ride over and back from China. SUCH a sweet movie, totally recommend it
2. I had a Chinese foot massage the first night there. Definitely a highlight of the country.
3. I stayed up 30 hours to avoid jet lag when I got home, as a result I had some amazing conversations in the San Fran airport while I was in layover.
4. Lastly and most importantly I finished the book The Shack on a taxi ride from Hong Kong International airport to ShenZhen proper.

The taxi ride was so great! First off the book is unbelievable. One of the better books I have ever read. As macho as I am, I couldn't help tear up throughout the book. [clarification: tearing up isn't crying. Its like manly tears, or something like that]. But regardless, I was in a van full of Chinese businessmen, none of which spoke english. So when I tried to explain why I was enjoying a book that brought me tears, well it just didn't work out. I think they believe Americans, or at least young tall, odd looking americans, enjoy self-inflicted agony or something.

Ahh but I am getting off point. If you haven't read the book, I strongly encourage you to. It has helped define my relationship to the Trinity, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It gives a much more personable approach to it. It couldn't have come at a better time to. I've been going through a rough tiff with some stuff in life and loved that God gave me what He did through this book.

I got alot of perspective on situations and relationships back here in the states from my time in China. I'm excited to move forward now because I'm no longer living in anxiety and confusion over certain things. But I've found freedom and contentness within them.

And to think I was nervous to go back to China. Praise be to God

Closing the door on Boston

For the past few weeks I've had to deliberate and struggle through one of the more difficult decisions in my life. I have been given the unique chance to pursue a PhD program in Engineering at the University of Northeastern in Boston. Not only given the chance - but to actually be paid to do it, ultimately leaving Boston in six years with no loans and a PhD in structural engineering under my belt.

Struggling with this decision might be an understatement.

I consulted friends, family, mentors, myself, and God. For the longest time I really had no idea what choice I would make. I knew God would provide and take care of me either way. I couldn't feel his hand guiding me in particular direction. So I take this decision as a matter of faith.

Faith in my future, in my career, more importantly to the character Christ is developing within me.

The lord has given me a gift with science, I know this. I've been given a degree in physics, the chance to work for NASA, and now a full ride for a PhD in engineering. All paths that would lead to a stable and prosperous future. Financially life would be alright.

But I have grown up with my mother. A teacher. She has been and done so much for me, and I have turned out alright. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't want that security. I want my life to be about faith. Trust. Choice. Love. Freedom. I want to live for Christ without anything else in the way.

Looking through this lens. I realized engineering was only on the table because I needed to stabilize my future, to prepare myself for it. No. I want to live in the moment, in faith and trust. I will look to the future, but never with my priorities before the lords.

This weekend gave me so much about why I am happy in Seattle. Why I love it here. Why I am not ready to leave, not just yet. In the very least I would be drawn away from it for anything less than what God has given me through passion. Engineering was not it.

I am in love with Jesus, and look forward to this moment, the next, and the one in which he reveals the next step, the next choice, the next path, the next part - to my amazing journey of faith and trust.

I will be enacting that journey here in Seattle. Or until God moves my passion for Him in another direction -

thank you :)