Inspiration or Cheese - You Decide

1) Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin Robbins.
2) If you dont like the way you were born, try being born again.
3) There are some searches that cant be found by Google.
4) Prayer - the best wireless connection.
5) Life is Gods gift to us - What we do with it is our gift to God.
6) Hybrid Christians run on truth and love.
7) Jesus is my prozac.
8) God answers knee-mail.
9) In the dark? Follow the son!
10) Under the same management for over 2000 years.
11) If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
12) Dont give up! Moses was once a basket case!
13) If God seems far away, guess who moved?
14) God does not forget the sinner, he forgets the sin.
15) Gossip the Gospel.

Who Should I Vote For In November?

So I took one of those Internet quizzes that asks you a bunch of questions and then tells you which candidate you best align with in order to assist you in your decision making. I took the test and my results are listed below which of course begs the question: who should I vote for in November? I tell people all the time that I'm a moderate and no one ever believes me. Maybe the results of this silly quiz will convince someone that I'm telling the truth.

72% John McCain
72% Barack Obama
69% Hillary Clinton
67% Chris Dodd
65% John Edwards
63% Joe Biden
63% Bill Richardson
60% Mitt Romney
59% Mike Huckabee
58% Rudy Giuliani
52% Dennis Kucinich
51% Fred Thompson
50% Mike Gravel
40% Tom Tancredo
35% Ron Paul

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Florida Triathlon Pictures

So I don't have any clever title for this entry. Just got my pictures from my triathlon in Florida a couple weekends ago and these are the highlights. This was the first time my dad has been to a triathlon and seen me compete in one so it was really fun. He said he thought he could do one too :) Triathlon's are addicting and exciting!

This was in the transition area, first thing in the morning getting everything set up. I'm showing off my number. You get your number marked on both arms and front of your leg. Your age goes on your calf.

Heading into the ocean for the 1/4 mile swim. With Hurricane Bonnie off the coast, the waves were 2-5 feet. It was AWESOME! I'm on the left side in the black and red suit.

Running through the sand after the swim was tough. I'm headed back to the transition area to change and get ready for...

...the 11.1 mile bike ride.

I borrowed this bike from a friend of mine. It was just a little too big for me, so Dad and I hammered down the seat post until it was almost level with the top bar. It was also totally rusted and we had to tie on the water bottle cage. But it rolled so it was a blessing.

This is at the end of the 3.1 mile run. I turned the corner and am heading to the finish line.

Sprinting to the finish line. I remember in high school my basketball coach would always tell us to finish strong no matter what. So that's what I'm doing. Not the best picture - but hey I've been working hard for one hour and thirty-eight minutes :)

Crossing the finish line. I'm done!

Enjoying the post-race food. Yummy!

Family

My cousin Lori and I in Montana last summer. We had so much fun together - me the thirty-one year old and her the thirteen year old.

Fun In The Sunshine State

This past weekend I headed south to Florida for a little R&R with my dad and stepmom. Dad picked me up at the airport on Wednesday night and we drove to Sarasota for a business meeting the next day. That meeting consisted of sailing on the above 43 foot catamaran for a couple of hours. I love my dad's job :)

Then we headed back home and I got ready for a triathlon on Saturday. My dad was able to come out and watch the race which was really fun for me to have him there. It was my first open water swim as well and took place in the ocean with 2-4 foot swells from Hurricane Bertha. It was so fun! I did end up losing my goggles though which was sad. But I finished the race and Dad was inspired to maybe do one himself. We'll see :) Dad took pictures and I'll post those once I get them.

Saturday night we had a barbecue at the house and I had invited lots of friends I hadn't seen in a several years. It was really fun to catch up with them and see all their kids and hear their stories. So great. Then on Sunday we went to church at my old church that I haven't been to in like six years. There was a rush of memories as soon as we walked in the door so that was a bit overwhelming. There were familiar faces although I've forgotten many names, but still it was great to worship there again. Even Dad was overwhelmed with memories especially ones of when Mom was alive standing in the hallway and in the service. It was a neat time.

Then I flew home back to DC and enjoyed sitting next to a really nice (and really good looking) guy on the plane. That never happens. I didn't get his name but it was a fun flight :)

Fourth Celebrations

Fourth of July found me doing lots of fun things for the weekend. On Friday, I hung out with my friend Renee most of the day then took in the fireworks near the Capitol building with a group of friends. Saturday I headed to Harper's Ferry, WV for some tubing. Awesome time! Sunday found me hanging with small children at Sunday School, lunch with my friends Jen and Clinton and wrapping up the weekend with "All Shook Up", a musical based around Elvis songs at a dinner theater in Maryland. All in all a good time.

Girls At The Movies

Chasity, a girl I don't remember, me, Renee

This is a picture of some of the girls that went to opening night of "Sex and the City" movie. It was an interesting night with LOTS of women all dressed up in heels and flirty outfits. Overall a good time.

Birthday Celebration

For my birthday this past year, I really wanted to go hang out at the National Arboretum. So my friends all met there and we ended up having a scavenger hunt race around the gardens looking for certain plants and stuff. It was a blast! Then we headed to a random Caribbean restaurant for food which was super fun too. All in all, it was a great birthday. Thanks friends!

Christy, Anne, Katie and Jen. They were in one car - I was in another and we raced all over. So much fun!

My team had to take a picture climbing these giant columns. Jeff, Renee, me, and Greg.

A bonsai tree started the year I was born - 1976. Love it!

Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Owen, Amber, Katlyn, me, Dennis, Brandt


I went camping with some friends for the weekend and it was amazing. This is our third or fourth year going and its always such a blast. We ended up camping on some property of one of my friends friends :) so although we pitched our tents on the grass, we were right next door to a cottage and on the river where we could fish, sail, kayak and swim. It was pretty awesome and all just an hour from DC!

Here are two pictures of sunset one night. We kayaked over to the other side of the property and the pictures were taken by two friends who walked over. I'll post more later.

New Job

It has been one month since I started my new job and it has been going swimmingly. For those of you that don't know I am working at my church, National Community Church (www.theaterchurch.com) and I love it. The people are so much fun to work with and I'm laughing on a regular basis everyday. It's awesome. I am the office manager so I'm the lead admin person, overseeing the maintenance staff and doing staff event planning and lots of other stuff. It's a good time.

Old School

Yesterday my radio was stolen out of my car. Yes another theft. Thankfully this time, they didn't break anything so it won't cost me any additional money besides the replacement of my radio. Which by the way was a tape player as well. So someone in my neighborhood decided to go old school and pimp their ride with a tape player. I wish them all the best.

The only tape that was stolen was the one that happened to be in the tape player at the time. It was a mixed tape made by an old boyfriend of mine from waaaaay back. He's married now with a kid, so it's probably for the best that it was stolen. I couldn't really throw it out or give it back to him.

Thought Provoking

click here

A Taste of Brazil

More to follow but I wanted to give you something to chew on. I'm chewing a firefly larvae. It was a little sweet, a little creamy, and a little nutty. It's been feeding on a palm tree nut after all.



And drinking from a water vine chopped down by a machete. The clearest, purest, yummiest water ever.



I love the jungle!

Last Day On The Job

Today is my last day at Blackboard. It has been quite a year (or rather almost 15 months). As I started the job, I wasn't that enthusiastic about what was ahead. During my time here, the job wasn't exactly something that allowed me to use my passions, but I was successful at it and I enjoyed the people I was working with which made the days fun. Now I'm headed off on a new adventure. I have no idea what awaits me at the church as I've never been full-time ministry before, but I think I'll learn alot and grow a lot. I already know I like most of the people there. And those I don't know yet, I'm looking forward to meeting and building a friendship with.

Yesterday some of my fellow Blackboarders took me out to lunch which was a nice way to celebrate the end of my time here. We had Italian which was so yummy.



Then Christy wanted a work picture of the two of us so here we are standing in front of the company logo.



I started off my last day at Blackboard with a trip to the dentist which is always super exciting and I will end it by packing for my trip to Brazil that leaves tomorrow. I will be incommunicado for the next 10 days, but when I get back, I'll be sure to have some pictures and stories to share with you.

My New Bike

Click here for all the specs!

As I mentioned in my previous post, the tri season is here and so if I'm really serious about doing some big time races, I needed to get on the ball and get a new bike. Last night, my friend Christy and I went to a bike store just to look. And I walked out an hour later with this beauty :) The price was fantastic - big time sale, so I couldn't pass it up.

This is my first road bike as I have only had a mountain bike for the past seven years and have been using that in the few tris I've done so far. My dad bought me the mountain bike in 2000 for Christmas and when I told him I had bought a new bike, he asked me if I was still going to ride the bike he bought me. Of course I said yes. I'll keep that bike as long as I can not just for sentimental reasons, but also because it's a great bike. Maybe I'll do some offroading triathlon sometime or adventure racing with it!

Here's to a fun and healthy summer.

New Month, New Job

So as I like to keep things interesting, I have decided to change jobs. So this Thursday is my last day at my current position. Then I leave for Brazil and South Beach Miami for 10 days. On my return I will start in my new position as office manager (or Director of Operations as I like to call it) at my church. This is a very different and crazy kind of move and I'm both looking forward to it and a little nervous about the switch.

I'm sure I'll post more on it as time permits.

Tri Season 2008 Is Here

It's that time of year again - when athletes around the world are oiling up their bike chains, putting on body glide and testing out their goggles. Yes - it's tri season 2008.

And I kicked it off yesterday with a mini tri and several friends and a roommate. I haven't been training very much, but I have decided that I want to try an Olympic distance (1500m swim or .93 miles, 24.8 mile bike, and 6.2 mile run) the end of this year. There's one in Annapolis September 7 and seeing as how that's my mom's birthday I think that would be a great way to celebrate her birthday. Of course that kind of distance requires that I start some serious training and that I buy some new equipment - like a road bike. Thus far the triathlons I have done have been on my mountain bike with road slicks put on which has helped, but still I don't get very far very fast.

The race yesterday was a lot of fun even if it was pretty small (250yd swim, 4 mile bike, 1.4 mile run). I hadn't done much training for the event but it was a great way to get me motivated to start training more seriously for the rest of the season. There were 8 girls who went out for the race yesterday. My roommate Anne, friends Christy and Jill, and a couple other girls I don't know really well and some I met for the first time. Everyone did really great and we all went out to Cracker Barrel afterward and ate a big ole breakfast. Then I went home and crashed for a couple hours in the afternoon and am still tired today.

Here's to a great season. If you want to think about trying a tri - I totally encourage you to do it. Find something really small in your area and give it a try. You may find yourself addicted and on your way to a super cool healthy lifestyle.

My Birthday

Last Saturday was my 32nd birthday and I had such a fun day. It started with a regular monthly brunch with a couple of friends. It just happened to land on my birthday this year which was great.

Then I picked up my friend Greg from the metro and we met a group of other friends and roommates at the National Arboretum. I've never been and have wanted to go. The weather started off a bit cloudy, but the sun came out and it was gorgeous. Christy, Anne and Katie came up with a scavenger hunt for us so we broke into two teams and drove around the grounds looking for crazy things like a crocus, a cherry blossom tree, a reptile and a black squirrel. It was a lot of fun. Then we walked around the bonsai trees and I found one that was started the year I was born! How fun is that.

Then we headed to H street to grab a bite to eat and something to drink. We ended up in this great Caribbean restaurant. Rum punch, plantains, oxtail, rice and beans...it was so yummy and the staff were awesome.

Then back to the house for a super chill time of presents, pizza, cake, talking and watching the Bee Movie. My friend Josh came over and hung out with us girls. Such a great and relaxing day.

I can't wait to get back to the Arboretum - it was so beautiful.

Thanks to Christy and Anne for the planning and thanks to all my friends for enjoying the day with me.

He Said Bonjour, She Started Crying

So for all of my bluff and bravada about lots of things, one thing that I am scared of is speaking a foreign language. I know its crazy. But I get really nervous about sounding and looking like an idiot that I don't want to open my mouth. I freeze and I can't think of anything to say or do.

Now there have been times in my life when I have had no problem. Mainly when I'm traveling and have no choice. Then I don't care. But thinking about meeting up with a group of French speakers here in DC and trying to talk with them freaks me out a bit.

And yet if I want to get into the Foreign Service, I should have and need to get my act together and start to parle francaise (speak French).

The impetus behind this new surege of attention to French happened last night. I met up with a friend of mine - actually we have only met once before on February 5, 2007. C and I were the only two people to pass the Foreign Service Orals together last year at our location and so we have this crazy little connection. He received the call from the State Department and has been in DC the past month for the orientation training.

We met up last night and he was really pushing for me to get moving with my language training and to try and get hired as soon as possible. This is the only thing that can improve my score and possibly get me hired before October. If not, then I have to take the test again in July (which I'm going to do anyway) and try for next year to get "the call".

But that doesn't change the fact that I'm nervous and a bit scared of speaking French. Even though I know it is something I have to do, its a bit nervewracking. But hey, I've got to chase the lion and face my fears.

Thanks C for your encouragement, your belief in me and your willingness to challenge me to get out there and cahse the french speaking lions. Here's to the Foreign Service and cheers to you for blazing the trail!

Facing Fears

My church has small groups on a semester system. They run for 12 weeks three times a year and provide a start and stop point for people to jump in and out which is helpful with the large college age population that attends the church.

This spring semester I have been leading a small group using curriculum written by my pastor, Mark Batterson. It's called "Chase the Lion" and is based on his book "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day". We have covered topics related to Taking Risks and Seizing Opportunities. This week we covered Facing Fears and I like to incorporate a practical application to the lesson that we are studying.

This week, I challenged the small group to step out and face their fear of talking about religion and faith with people. I provided each person with a questionnaire and we headed out to Union Station (train station and major tourist destination in Washington, DC near the Capitol building). Each person had to talk to two people and ask them the following questions:

What is your faith/religious background (if you have one)?
What words come to mind when you think about Jesus?
What comes to mind when you think about Christians?
How often do you attend church?
What is the reason you go / don't go?
What would it take for a church to reach you / others?
In your opinion, what do you think it takes for a person to go to Heaven when they die?

It was such a great experience for all of us as we found a way to approach a topic that can be scary in a non-threatening way. Most of us found that we wanted to continue the conversations and ask more probing questions. It was a great introduction to evangelism and a great way to see that we can initiate a conversation about faith in a simple and easy way.

Here's to more conversations!