Northern California Swim League
Gold Rush Conference Championships
July 28 - 29, 2007

Those that know our family know that our children are involved many activities, especially sports. They have been a member of the Arden Park Swim Team since last season. It's a recreational swim team in our neighborhood. Our season starts in April and goes until the Swim Championship weekend, which was this past weekend. During the season they practice Monday through Friday; girls for one hour and boys for one and half hours. It's been really good for both their body and their mind. They have come to appreciate hard work and the results it bears.

In Northern California Swim League there are four Conferences, and in each conference there are anywhere from four to six teams. They meet during the regular season for "dual meets" and then at the end of the season every team in the conference meet for the "Swim Championships". Our conference this year was Gold Rush, second highest level for a recreational swim team. Our conference consist of 5 teams, with total of 993 swimmers. Our team had 176 swimmers. Ages span from Under 6 to 18 years old. Each age/sex category competes with each other in same category. During the season each swimmer may swim up to 5 events, but during the championship they are required to swim ALL events (Individual Medley, Backstroke, Short Freestyle, Long Freestyle, Breast Stroke and Butterfly). On top of that each team entered two teams to both Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay.

Rachel was the 1st alternate to the Medley Relay B team, but never got to swim it. However, she was in the Freestyle Relay B team... was the first to swim out of 4 swimmers and placed 7th place in the girls 7-8 100 Yard Freestyle Relay: Her first swim medal ever! Our boys have been in both relay teams all season so it was not a surprise to see them on the team. Jeffrey was on the A team for both relays. His team came in 5th in 11-12 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, and 4th in 11-2 Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay... he was the anchor and swam the freestyle. Christopher was in the B team for the 13-14 Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay and placed 8th, but for his Freestyle Relay he swam up in the 15-18 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Team which placed 7th. Overall it was a wonderful weekend made especially better because their Uncle Curtis came up to watch them as well as take these beautiful pictures (thank you Uncle Curtis!).

In between events we had a lot of down time.
Here's Jeffrey relaxing before his next event

Lizzy LOVES to swim and it shows!

We have to bring things to entertain ourselves between events. Here's Rachel ATTEMPTING to solve the Rubik's Cube.

Lizzy's first event: 100 Yard IM (Individual Medley)
This particular stroke is her butterfly.

Lizzy's second leg of her IM: Backstroke

Christopher swimming his Short Freestyle (50 Yard).

No... the swim cap says "Arden Park Idol"

Rachel is getting ready for her next event.

Waiting at the Ready Bench

Time to get focused

Rachel in her 25 Yard Breaststroke

Although this is not her favorite stroke, she does it very well.

Fortunately all of our children love to swim.
Here's Lizzy getting ready for her event with a smile.

A smile before diving off

Lizzy's Backstroke

Christopher was part of a 13-14 Boys Medley Relay Team. He swam the third leg of the relay, Butterfly Stroke, for the team.

Here as he comes up for a stroke (and a breathe)

Impressive wingspan, huh?

Jeffrey's 50 Yard Breaststroke

Jeffrey's form has improved so much this year.

Here Jeffrey finished off with a 200 Yard Freestyle Relay.

This is Christopher's 200 Yard Freestyle Relay.

But the best event of the day was this...
Christopher was able to finish 7th in the 50 Yard
Breaststroke with 25.63 seconds! His personal best!!

This truly was a wonderful season. Not only were my children getting physically stronger, but they learned so many valuable life's lessons. They worked hard everyday, even those days they really didn't feel like going to practice. They stuck with it through the end and learned to fulfill their responsibilities to the team. For that I am grateful. In the end they were all glad they finished the season successfully.

KAYAMM 2007
(Korean American Youth Adventist Missionary Movement)

My boys, Christopher & Jeffrey, spent two weeks away from home. Christopher went to High School KAYAMM with my niece Taylin from July 8 - 15 at Tecate, Mexico while Jeffrey spend a week at Grandma Song's with my nephew Matthew. Then from July 15 - 22 all four of them went to Jr. KAYAMM at Camp Cedar Falls. Jeffrey & Matthew went as students, while Chris & Taylin went as a volunteer. Chris got a volunteer job as a "take-down crew" which meant after each meeting, he was to put away chairs, tables, etc... He was Pastor Joel's assistant, sort of. In addition to that he was asked to help out with the PT (physical training) in the mornings. We knew that Taylin also wanted to go to Jr. KAYAMM and we (Grandpa Song & me) worked hard to find a job for her; as a keyboard player for the praise band. This KAYAMM has become an important part of our lives for couple of reasons. My dad, Pastor Song, has been very involved with the KAYAMM from the beginning. He is the director of the program. And for the last 2 years SKSDA (Sacramento Korean SDA) church youth pastor has been in charge of the Jr. KAYAMM. KAYAMM program was established in 1996 in order to serve the youth of our church.

In Tecate, Mexico High School students worked hard to paint the school as well as teach VBS to the local children. For Christopher it was an eye-opening experience... to see kids in a different cultural environment. He also got to practice speaking Spanish.

High School KAYAMM group photo

Students Painting School

Some got carried away and ended up with paint on themselves

Don't you just love the way these boys look? Apparently there were no showers... they hosed themselves clean, but ended up with bedheads!

from left to right: Taylin, Stephanie from Loma Linda, Chris and Jasmine from San Diego

They all slept on tile floors of the school

As you can see, there were MANY student volunteers. Infact there were so many KAYAMM students, each volunteer was able to supervise 2 kids!

Jr. KAYAMM started on July 15th at Camp Cedar Falls up in the San Bernardino mountains. I'm more fond of the place because I remember many visits up to the camp during my younger years.

Every morning students started out with PT (physical training) by none other than my son, Christopher. Apparently he was so intense the counselors nicknamed him "14-year old Nazi/Dictator". OUCH!!

Including counselors there were about 100 participants, largest group ever!

They worship together in this chapel several times a day.

They all studied how to become a missionary

Then they all broke into their small groups. My boys tell me that they enjoyed their small group the best. During the whole week they spend time together with their small group and get to know each other more intimately.

Here they line up in front of the dining hall.

They were all assigned tables... by their small groups.

Here's Chris & Jeff with their friend Joanna Kim from San Diego

This year my girls & I went up Sabbath afternoon. We participated in their communion service and observed their activities. I feel very fortunate to have had this experience.

Last night of the camp, my dad "KAYAMM har-ah-buh-ji" delivers his message.

Jr. High KAYAMM Staff

4th of July

San Francisco

This past 4th of July, we met up with Helen's family at San Francisco. Helen had a week off, and since auntie Gina & her son was visiting from Korea she felt it would be good to bring them up and show them the sights and sounds of San Francisco followed by a brief tour of Stanford University and ultimately ending up at our house in Sacramento. So we met up in San Francisco. We had lunch at Lori's Diner at the Ghirardelli Square. It was a 50's diner overlooking the beautiful San Francisco Bay. It was BEAUTIFUL!

In our booth at Lori's Diner

Don't they just look so happy?

The window behind us overlooks the San Francisco Bay

Our Banana Split! So HUGE we all shared.

Group photo at the Ghirardelli Square

Eddie & Jong Hoon hanging around

Kids with Grandma & Auntie Gina in front of Ghirardelli Chocolatier

Mom & Auntie Gina

Auntie Gina & Jong Hoon

We went down towards the pier wanting to ride the cable car. It was temporarily out of service... until the firework is over. Oh well... we took these photos anyhow!

Big kids in the cable car

We found this area overlooking the bay and decided that would be the best spot to watch the fireworks

This was the view from our spot. Beautiful!

Not only did we have a great view, but had the Ghirardelli Square right behind us.

Cousin Jong-Hoon. I hope he enjoyed our celebration!