On being "Presbyterian"...

Most everyone knows it has taken me a long time to find a chuch here in the metro area. I have had such a hard time finding somewhere to replace my "home" at Fellowship North in North Little Rock. It took a long time for FN to feel like home--and I've had a really difficult time letting go of my need to find somewhere just like it here. There isn't anything just like it. Truth is, after being gone almost a year, probably the way I "remember" FN isn't truly anything like what it REALLY is, anyway. Absense makes the heart grow fonder and has a way of erasing the "bad" memories. After lots of hopping around, lot's of TV Sunday mornings, lots of no-church-at-all Sunday's, I have found a church that is nothing like FN--but I'm going to commit to becoming a regular worshipper there anyway.

I've been going to church there off and on all summer with my friend, Anne. She is a long-time member of 4th Presbyterian in Bethesda. 4th is an EPC church--evangelical pres.--so they don't have some of the "deal-breaker" issues like homosexual pastors; women elders; etc...that the other branches of Pres. churches have. However, let's face it...I was raised a combo of Assembly of God and Baptist...there are some things that are just plain freaky to me!! They baptize babies--they sprinkle, not dunk--there's the whole pre-destination issue. There are the things that are very "high church"--liturgical and stuffy...and some things that I just plain don't understand. Then there are some things I've been missing in a Bible church: big, beautiful choir in robes with REAL sopranos; a TRUE "call to worship" and benendiction before and after the service; congregational readings and praying the Lord's prayer together; hearing "announcements" and prayer requests; an opening prayer so long and complete that you have to fight to pay attention....these are good things. Things that I've missed by being in a Bible church so long.

It's good to know that God resides in both places--a place where you can wear shorts and a t-shirt or in a place where you would feel out of place in anything less than dress pants. God is in the hymns and in the worship choruses...the places where you can dance and raise your hands, and the places where you would be quite out of place moving at all...in the long prayers or the short....in the high and in the low....in the places where people stand in reverant amazement at His holiness and in the places where people dance and sing in awe of His grace. I am lucky to have both kinds of places--one at home, and now, another-also at home.

You know you are from Arkansas when....

This is hysterical....and true!

Here are some ways to know if you're a true Arkansan...

1. You can properly pronounce "Ouachita. "
2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.
3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.
4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade.
5. Stores don't have "bags," they have "sacks."
6. You've seen people wear bib overalls at a wedding or a funeral.
7. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.
8. You measure distance in minutes.
9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.
10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.
11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.
12. Someone you know has used a football and/or hunting schedule to plan their wedding date. 13. You have known someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist.
14. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the same store. 15. A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew Cab is.
16. You know everything goes better with Ranch.
17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.
18. You actually get these jokes and are "fixin' " to send them to your friends.

Finally:
19. you are 100% Arkie if you have ever had this conversation: "You wanna coke?" "Yeah." "What kind?" "DrPepper."

Ode to a life well lived...

Happy Birthday, Anne! Although she will never read this (because she hates the computer and therefore doesn't use much email/internet much) I'd like to wish my friend Anne a very happy birthday! Yesterday was her birthday, and Nancy, Jeannie and I gave her a surprise birthday party! It was tricky because I had to get Anne to leave Bible study early (which she did not want to do!) and keep a secret about why (which is soooo hard for me when it's something fun!)! We left after the first portion of BSF and went to the Four Provinces of Ireland (cute little rest./bar in Falls Church) where 20 or so of Anne's closest friends had braved the freezing cold and rain to drive all the way into VA (most were from MD or DC) to wait unknowingly for anywhere from .5 to 1.5 hours for us to arrive! It is a true testament to how well she is loved! Anne was truly surprised, and a bit shell shocked for probably 30 minutes. There were beautiful flowers, balloons, presents, some shepherd's pie and a roomfull of people there to celebrate a life. I am humbled by great friendships in my life...of which Anne is one. Events always make me reflective...but mostly, I am reminded of the truest of all friendships...my friendship with the One that laid His life down for mine. "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:10. I am so lucky to have many to help me up.

Funniest thing ever...

So Saturday (prior to the AL/TN game: 7 and 0 BABY!!! Roll Tide!!!) I talk to Parker on the phone. And he had some big news to share with me. We are all into "racing" right now...and it is VERY important to him that I know he's faster than me....which of course, he is....but anyway....he says to me (spelled phoenetically to represent his precious 5 year old lisp): "CeeCee, I was in a wace wast week. It was a whole mile wong.....I came in furst pwace--except for 2 boys who came in fwont of me. I wan it in 10 minutes and 2 seconds--dat is way fasta than you!" I've been beaming all weekend. Dat's wight, baby boy....dat is way fasta dan me. I am so proud of you! And coming in first (except for those 2 boys in front of you!!) ---you go, boy!!! I love that child.

Great love is this...

Parker after he got his 3-wheeler for Christmas

Great love...it comes in many sizes, many packages, many desguises. One thing I know for sure--when it comes to Parker, there is no hiding it, no denying it--I am flat out, unabashedly, unashamedly IN LOVE with this boy. It's kind of scary how much he is on my mind. He's not even MINE!!! I can't imagine having one of my own and loving it more than him! Regardless, it's his weekend with his daddy, so I know I'll get to talk to him alot--which is always fun and I always look forward to. Besides, Alabama has a big game, and Parker is hysterical to talk football with. The best thing about it all is realizing this...if I love Parker THIS much...how much better off am I to be loved by my Heavenly Father? It's even more than I can possibly love Parker. David said in Psalm 147:11-"...the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." I hope that Parker delights in how much he is loved. I know I do.

My boys...

Darren and Shelton

Those are my boys. Darren and Shel and me and Virginia....we all worked together for just short of a year and they became my first real friends in this city besides Shauna and Kim. It was an intense year (right, fellas??), but a whole heck of alot of fun. My boys have recently both moved onto greener pastures--CONGRATS TO YOU BOTH ON THE GREAT NEW JOBS! I have moved onto a new contract (even tho it appears I'll be going back to the old one in a few months--so Vi and I will be re-united!). Everyone is all separated. It's sad. And beautiful. God is good and He showed me great kindness in giving me real friends at work. Kim, Virginia, Penny, Darren, Shelton, and now Lisa. It's not the same now that we are all split up and the boys are gone, but I treasure them and am grateful for their friendship. Take care, fellas.....cause "you're walkin' over, but you're limpin' back!" ;)

Babble on, grasshopper....

So...this week has been relatively uneventful for the most part. Monday nite was Bible study; Tuesday nite was a short run, followed by a visit with Shauna and Law and Order: SVU; Wed. nite was a trip to the tri store to return unused wetsuits, pick up a friend at airport, dinner in Adams-Morgan (DC) and watching "Lost." Drove home in the leftover U2 traffic and pouted about not going myself. So---Lost---what a show! I desperately need some resolution there. It's killing me. I digress... Tonite, I'm going for a run and dinner with my friend Melissa. Melissa is a young friend (I feel like an old lady saying that)...but she is only 22 ish (maybe 23 at the most...) Regardless, she is precious and fun and always acts shocked that I'm 31--which is the real reason I'm friends with her! JK! The real reason is her heart for the Lord. I wish at 22 I would have had such a passion for the Lord. So anyway...this weekend is going to be raining likely....but I see a bike ride, church, a bbq and a serious football game in my future. ROLL Tide! Whatever your weekend brings, have a good one and good luck. Cause if you ain't an Alabama fan...you're gonna need it! (wink, wink, Chad!)

6 and 0 BABY!!!!

ROLLTIDEROLL!!!!! 6 AND OH!!!! #5 in the nation (even tho everyone agrees it should be higher!), Alabama's Crimson Tide faces Tennessee this weekend in Tuscaloosa. My heart bleeds crimson and white...but my head knows that the Vols are tough. And let's face it...Ole Miss ain't--usually, anyway. We're coming off a hard win last week, that should have been a blowout. Regardless, just a few words for the Tide...Roll on, guys. Thanks for the restored glory we've glimpsed so far this year. We are a storied team with an incredible past and we've suffered the last few year as we've languished in mediocrity. This year has been fun. Thanks. Rama Jama Yellowhammer....give 'em hell, Alabama!!!

Me and Dallas at the Ole Miss game in T'town last year.

Change of plans....

Well, lot's has occurred since my last post! Namely, I missed my tri on Saturday morning and went to NJ/NYC for the weekend instead! Missing the race was really sad for me, however, the make-up (free trip to NYC) was nice! By Friday, everyone had to cancel their participation in the race on Saturday morning for various reasons and my precious friend Nancy (see pic from my first tri) had agreed to get up at zero past dark to go with me. I was super bummed about doing the race alone...but loving Nancy for going with me! But then, about 10pm Friday nite after the "Lite the Nite" walk (we were volunteering for Michelle--see b-day girl below) Anne and I were having a drink (I was carbo-loading, thank you!) and we figured out a BRILLIANT plan to make both the race AND the trip to NYC (she had to visit a friend "in town"--thus the need to go to NYC in the first place!). By 1 am, Anne had arrived at my place, stuff packed, bike loaded, ready to nap and head south for a tri at 4 am!!! I was giddy!!! Then...the alarm went off. At 4. Did I mention the AM part?? It's amazing how the cold, darkness of 4 am can seep into your bones and zap all of your motivation and hope for a race that you've longed for!! To make a long story short, I woke Anne up--she agreed that it was early AND dark and sleep is good--we decided to bail on the race and hit NJ early instead.

We headed to NJ about noon. Beautiful day for a ride. We got lost in Baltimore trying to find Taco Bell (yes, baltimore is only 40 miles away)...stopped at a fun roadside veggie stand....made it to Linda's parents about 5:30. Had a great dinner, chilled with the family and friends and kiddos, went to bed by 11. Got up Sunday morning and got ready for church and headed to the Big Apple to attend Redeemer Presbyterian at 10:30 am. We got lost a time or two...and we paid $29 to park--but otherwise, church was awesome and worth every penny! It was a communion Sunday, which is always neat in a new place...but in New York??!! God is there! We went to Central Park, Neil's diner for lunch, took the subway to grand central station, shoe shopped (did I mention I was with Anne??) and tooled around the city like it was no big deal. We even DROVE thru Times Square. I had a few moments of redneck reflection.....it is amazing to me that I now live closer to NYC than my folks do to Memphis. CRAZY. I also ate a few words....seems at some point in time I said that people from NY were mean/rude....that couldn't have been further from the truth this time. We literally had people stop to speak, offer directions, and just be generally kind and polite. It was awesome. Seems it was so much fun we're going back very soon to spend a longer time. I can't wait!

Sitting in Central Park.

On the street outside church and parking garage.

Going back for more....

Here we go again...I have my final triathlon for the year (season is pretty darn near over) on Saturday in Waynesboro, VA. That's down near Charlottesville where the University is. I hear that it's absolutely gorgeous, so I'm VERY excited about seeing the leaves and stuff since we will be in the mountains! However, I'm NOT so excited that it is freaking freezing cold here and part of the race requires that you swim in a lake at 9 am!!! AND to add insult to injury...I have an injury! I have a broken hamstring!!! Okay, it's not really "broken," but it really hurts! And I have a super sore throat. I'm in a pitiful state, I tell you! I don't know exactly where I lost it, but I can't find my motivation....but I'm hoping my competetive spirit will kick in today or tomorrow and carry me thru! It would probably help if I worked out one day this week....hehehe.... You should check out the website for this race: www.set-upinc.com . The race is in the Virginia triathlon series and its the Shernando Lake race. It is in the same series of races that got me started doing this--the Bath Co. race I went with Anne to back in June. The need to know info for my race on Saturday is as follows: swim 1/2 mile; bike 19 miles; run 5k (3.1 miles)--participants--Me and Anne for the whole race; friends Kim and Jon doing a relay--their first tri!!! You GO FELLAS!!! Lodging in Staunton, VA (pronounced stan-ton--if you care--I don't, but people keep correcting me!). This one is gonna be a doozy. It's a really long bike portion. The swim is in the lake so it is liable to be REALLY cold! Pray for sun!!! Regardless, I am so excited. I am a triathlete. I am a swimmer. I am a biker. I am not a runner, but I can run. Who woulda thought 5 months ago that I would be on my 3rd triathlon. I can't WAIT to get "bonzai" across my butt!!!! (see previous posts regarding "bonzai")

This is the race that got it all started...gave me the bug--the Bath Co. tri. Our race Saturday should look alot like this...

Wish me luck! Say a prayer! I'm melancholy about the end of the season (although the Kona Ironman is on Saturday!!!) but so excited that I got "a season." I can't wait till the spring!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....YOU BELONG IN A ZOO...YOU LOOOOOOOKKKKK LIKE A MONKEY.....AND YOU SMELL LIKE ONE, TOO!!!!! :)

Happy b-day to my October peeps, Michelle and Anne!!! Hope you have great ones!

Anne and Michelle at Michelle's b-day dinner.

Home is where the heart is....

This is Sonny Road...the road that leads to my parents house in Curtis. I took this picture after a long run early one morning when I was home in July. The difference between "home" at home and home in DC are startling. Things like: dirt roads (that aren't due to construction), traffic jams, sounds that don't include sirens or horns honking. Now that I've been in DC for awile, I find myself wondering when (not if) I'll go back. Probably not for a year or two at the earliest, but someday, for sure. In the meantime, the metro area isn't so bad...except for the metro in flu season..ick.

The Beach....

So, after the tri on Saturday, we headed off for the beach. We drove thru Ocean City, MD and on into Bethany Beach, DE. Above is actually the beach across the street from our 2nd hotel...where I had an INCREDIBLE quiet time Sunday morning. Church on the beach all by your lonesome!!! Nothing like it! Anyway, we got to the beach about 1:30 ish--and actually ON the beach about 2:30 ish. Now--those reading this who know me know how much I value a tan. Hmmph....actually, VALUE isn't quite as appropriate as LOVE AND CHERISH. And let's face it...I live in the NE. Pretty beach days are at a premium right now. So by 2:30 I was REALLY READY to be on the beach for my possible last burn of the year!!! It was gorgeous weather--perfect, really. We had a nice 3+ hours, during which we decided we were just going to stay rather than drive all the way home. Needless to say, Anne and I were tired and a bit sore, so the prospect of 4+ hours in the car wasn't all that attractive anyway. We watched a wedding on the beach--complete with cheesy 80's music--lost Anne's mom for an hour or so--got stared at while walking around because of the numbers written in sharpie on both legs and arms (go figure!)--fought off Nita's advice on how to air out your armpits on the beach so you DON'T have to wear deodorant! ( I tried to explain to Nita that I had JUST completed a triathlon and every one should be greatful that I'm not into airing out my pits!)--napped--and just generally relaxed. We went back to the hotel, unloaded the car/bikes for the HUNDREDTH time. Went to a nice dinner. Went to bed. Woke up at 5:30 --headed to the beach for "church". Layed out with Anne from 9:30-11:30. Headed to Rehoeboth for lunch. Walked on the boardwalk. Came back to the metro area a triathlete. :) All in all, a pretty good weekend.

SHE'S ALIVE!!! part deaux....

Okay, back to the race. Our pre-race meeting was held at 8:40 am...so we had that much time to set up the transition area, (which was not arranged by number as it usually is, so Anne and I got to set up together, which was fun!) put on our wetsuits, cap, goggles, etc...go to the bathroom, get to the start line, etc... The transition area (or TA as it is known) is the place where come back to at the end of each leg of the race--so you rack your bike there and lay out the assorted gear you will need during the race. It's also the place where you strip out of the wetsuit, change clothes, etc....doesn't sound like much, but trust me....the set up of the TA can make or break your race! AND...the faster you are in the TA, the better your race time! So it's kind of a big deal. So, we get done there, head over to the swim start. The water was cold. Really cold, but honestly not as cold as I had thought it would be. Here is me checking out the water temp of the bay....not too bad...but still pretty darn cold!

We started the swim in waves--3 minute increments grouped by a combo of age/sex. I was in the 3rd wave and Anne was in the 5th wave. At 9:06, I started my very first tri! It's always a shock to enter cold water...especially with a huge group of people....I started out walking...but as soon as I got up to my boobs in the water, my feet were sinking in the muck, so I laid out and started to head-up freestyle (this is NOT an official stroke, mind you!) Immediately, I got kicked right in the face, took in a LARGE quantity of salt water and spent the next 3-4 minutes struggling for breath and trying not to choke. I'm convinced that every race, no matter the water type, how many people, how cold, etc...that is just the way it's going to get started. Grant you, salt water is worse to inhale into your lungs...but pretty much any water in your lungs stinks all the way around! :) I maintained my composure and concentrated on not drowning, smoothing out my stroke, staying off the girl in front of me, remembering that I can swim.....after a few minutes, I leveled out. And I had a decent swim....17 minutes and some odd seconds (I know it says 18 on the results page...but trust me, I timed it perfectly!) All in all, not a bad swim. And the water....God's faithfulness in even tiny, insignificant things....what a blessing. Beautiful, warm sunshine and a bay like glass. Awesome.

Here is the end of the swim...we had to swim around those big orange bouys...staying to the outside. Out of the water, into the TA I went. I ripped off my wetsuit, changed into my bike shorts, t-shirt and tennis shoes, grabbed my bike, and ran onto the bike course for a 15+mile ride thru the beautiful coastal bays region of MD. It was awe-inspiring. But I have to say, the bike was the worst part of the race. Totally a mental challenge for me. I kept telling myself--"Okay, if I get to that tree up there and don't see a red bike, I'm gonna get off and walk for a minute!" Of course, I NEVER would have walked it and didn't...but by the end of the bike leg, I was TOTALLY READY to get off my bike. I know now that the bike portion of the race is what I need to spend some serious training time on....

So finally, after over an hour, I'm off the bike, back into the TA--change shorts, take a sip of drink, and I'm on my run. Let me describe the beginning of the run. I use the word "run" loosely. BY the time you get off your bike, you just cannot anticipate the level of jello-like substance that your legs have become. So instead of running, think shuffle-like trudge. But only for the first 2 miles or so, until the numbness wears off. :) The run was GORGEOUS. And I ran the vast majority of it. I ran the entire first 14 minutes, walked a couple, ran a couple, walked one, etc... Passed my girl Anne (actually, I didn't PASS her, like go around her....I passed her as in the run was out and back...i was headed out, she was headed back) and got a big hug and finally made it to the halfway point and turned around, headed back for the home stretch! Now...let me explain....at this point, I really, really had to pee. I'm not sure why...maybe it was nerves, maybe it was bad luck, or maybe it was the 3 bottles of gatorade I had just downed, plus 3 or 4 glasses of water along the run route...regardless, I had to go. It is NO FUN to run when you have to tinkle. About this time, an old guy--maybe 50-60...in a blue speedo runs up to me. He starts giving me instruction on how to run..."put your arms down....breathe with me.....pick up your pace a bit..." all very un-invited like...but for some reason, I OBEY. It was all quite comical...and all I can think is, "dude, please go away." After 5 minutes or so of him barking at me...I finally say, "you know, I REALLY need to go to the bathroom." At this point, the speedo'd run-nazi (as I like to think of him) gives me a great gift...."check it out," he says, "there's a porta-potty right there!" I'm off like a bolt of lightning! And it took me just enough time that I lost him!!! With about 1/2 mile left in my run, I see my precious friend Anne walking towards me on the course....keep in mind, she had just completed the same race, only much faster....she came back to RE-RUN the last 1/2 mile with me. Good thing, too...cause I was all ready to walk it in!!! :) We walked for a minute, then finished strong with a few rounds of "Father Abraham had many sons" to trot by... It wasn't long before I heard the announcer at the finish line saying...."And here comes #337, Christy Rogers from Alexandria, VA!! Christy's an Alabma fan (my shirt)--so Roll Tide! Great job, Christy, you make it look so easy!" It's a moment I will never forget.

Here I am about to cross the finish line....only seconds away from being a triathlete!

And then, in just over 2 hours, after months of training and preparation, it was over. Just like that.

The rest of the day (to be covered fully in the next post) was spent in kind of a cloud of endorphins. I was high as a kite...without a drug one in my system. All-in-all, a pretty sweet deal.

So yesterday a friend sent me a link to another race being held in Charlottesville, VA, Oct. 15......hmmmmmm.....I think I might like it.....Bonzai, baby.

SHE'S ALIVE!!!!

me and Anne setting up in the trasition area before the race...

Anne and I in front of the bay where we swam...notice the smooth water--TOTAL answer to prayer! (p.s. I wore a Bama shirt ALL DAY LONG--in and after the race--musta worked, cause Bama beat the tar out of FL!!!)

Yes...it's all veeerrrryyyy sexy, I know! We LOVE wearing wetsuits!

PART 1...

Whew. I made it. It's over. Fi-neet-ay. WAHOO!!!! It was awesome!!!! It was beautiful!!! It was HARD!!! Saturday, October 1, 2005, I became a REAL triathlete! At approximately 11:15 am, I crossed the finish line at the 6th Annual Osprey-Sprint Triathlon in Ocean City, Maryland. This was one of the most fun road trips ever...why I will explain in detail...capped off with 2 beach days and a bit of personal accomplishment! I didn't come in last in any category! In fact, you can see the results of the race at http://www.lmsports.com/osprey05.htm --I would be fairly near the bottom of the page--but not the very bottom!!!! :)

Here's the story: My friend Anne, her mom-Nita, and myself left for the race early on Friday. I left work about 11 am--good thing, too. Our plan was to be on the road by noon at the latest...we were pulling out of town at a cool 2:08 pm. We had a nice ride there...absolutely gorgeous weather. Lots of fun conversation--lots of "mom" time. Of course, my mom wouldn't be allowed to go with me on one of my race trips--don't get me wrong, I LOVE my mother--adore her--but I want her to continue to love me, too. Going with me on a trip where I'm a freaking maniac isn't going to help our relationship any. Get what I'm saying?? At one point, somebody (Nita or Anne) said, "Maybe next year your mom can come too and we can all go together!" I'm like, "Sure! That sounds like fun!" "while in my head thinking...yeah, right!" Not long after, I'm on the phone with my mom when Nita says, "Pass me the phone! Let me talk to your mom!" Convienantly, I lost service about that time. :) Things that make you go hhmmmmmm." So anyway we get to Ocean City Friday nite, go to packet pick-up at Salvatore's Italian Restaraunt--eat a kickin' spaghetti dinner and head to the ho-tel (joke to come). By the time we get to the hotel, I'm a tad bit ready for a minute of alone time. Anne and I are nervous and tired and mom'd out. Plus, poor Anne was sick--snotty nose, stuffed up, headache, the works. I ran to the store, Nita gave us massages, we watched tv--went to bed.

Saturday morning was glorious. It's been quite cold here at nite and early morning for a couple of weeks now....Friday nite included. But Saturday morning was perfect....not chilly--just right. Now, the night before, we had a lengthy discussion about what time we should leave for the race. Being the early bird I am, and wanting to get there early to prepare, I really wanted to leave by 6:30. The girls wanted to sleep in a bit more, but were very kind to agree to leave early since it was my first race. We pulled away from the curb at a cool 7:06 am. Are you sensing a trend?? :) So....in the car Saturday morning....Anne and I were nerve balls---not the best company, no doubt. All we want to do is crank the music, get into the zone, chill, and not puke. Nita, on the other hand, is feeling chatty. After several minutes of motherly advice on how to drive, which lane to be in, what music was appropriate, did we want something to eat, are we sure we don't want anything to eat, how to avoid deer in the road, what about coffee?, are we REALLY sure we don't want something to eat, we should really have something to eat, etc...Anne spoke up and explained that really we didn't want to talk, we were very, very late (and lost--we had to turn around and go an extra 30 miles b/c we went to the wrong place to begin with---did I mention that we HAD to be there by 8 am for body-marking???). Poor Nita....we were so ugly on Saturday morning and she took it like a trooper! So finally, we get there. 8:07 am. Just in time to set up, get marked and get on with it....

Part 2--THE RACE--on it's way!