Grateful....

It's been awhile....I could use the reminder....

I'm grateful for:

1. Friends. I have the best friends in the world. I have been blessed with an amazing group of "old friends" who have stuck by me. I am awed at God's goodness in providing me with such a good group of friends in DC, too.

2. Family. It was so good to see them last week. I forget how lucky I am. And even luckier with all the amazing extended fam, too. God is good.

3. Health. I did a really, REALLY hard race on Saturday. (Again, details to come...) I was amazed at how much our bodies can do--even when our minds don't want to!

4. Wealth. I'm not rich. In fact, more often than not, I'm just getting by. But I am RICH. BIG TIME. Way richer than like 98% of the world. It is so humbling. And such a huge responsibility to be a good steward.

5. Time. It's flying by. It's so precious. I don't have enough of it. But I'm loving every minute of spending it this summer so far. Just lucky, I guess--except I don't believe in luck! ;)

Let the games begin...

So I'm in Alabama right this second. Birmingham, to be exact. Flew in last nite (not on an ark quite yet--crazy rain in metro DC). Went out to dinner down in Southside with Sarah. We had a nice dinner, checked into our hotel, got up early this morning went to the YMCA for a workout--then headed over to the B'ham Jefferson Conv. Center for the AETC conference. We'll be here until tomorrow about 5:30 pm. I'm hoping to get to see Deacy and Bryan and the new baby--we're having dinner with Dallas and Rusty tonite. I'm also hoping to get a glimpse of Jennifer Kinard! We'll see! It's all very ambitious!

It's been a crazy 2-3 weeks of travel for me--hence the extra slacking on the blog. However, I do have some fun things to report...

1. Time at home was FABULOUS. It was so good to see everybody. I missed Amy and John and the girls--but hopefully, I'll get to go see just them soon. I had the extra special treats of seeing Heather numerous times, and getting my daddy all to myself on Father's Day.

2. Work is going GREAT. I still love it. I keep wondering if the other shoe is gonna drop---I think it's been THAT long since I've loved getting up everyday! It's great. Praise the Lord!

3. Flying--I've been flying all over the place the last couple of months....and I'm doing okay. I'm still not a great flyer--but it's not too bad!

4. Finished (barely) my first REAL triathlon on Saturday. More to come in separate post.

5. Looing forward to a fabulous summer--already well underway. Heading to the beach next weekend...figuring out a trip to NYC--and another bigger better beach trip! Wahoooo!!!!

Good times. Looking forward to good weather again. Hanging in there. Let me know what's going on!

Fun, random shot for you....Welcome to the gun show!!!! :) From the Manassas tri...

ARKANSAS

Here I am in Hot Springs. Stayed with Heather and Chad and Ella and Isabel last nite. So much fun. I got to see my mom and Parker again yesterday before they took off for a wedding in Texas. It has been a fabulous week and weekend so far. My dad stayed home, so I'm going home tonite to spend the nite with him and tomorrow for Father's Day before I head back to DC via Southwest at 2:40. Some fun things I've done:

1. Got to take Sarah (my boss) home for dinner to meet the fam and to hang out with Heather and Chad. Now she's wondering how she ever lived life fully as a yankee! ;)
2. Have gotten to get some good food--LaHacienda, Facci's, mom's cooking....so bad for my training...but oh so good!
3. Parker--that boy is so much fun. And so tall. I'm amazed at who he's growing into.
4. Going shopping with Heather today. I know I miss her all the time--but I forget how much until I see her.
5. Father's Day--so glad I'll get to be with my dad. And just us. Such a neat blessing.

Home again...

I'm in Hot Springs at this very moment!!! I'm here for work--the HSTI conference, as a matter of fact! Having a great time. Have gotten to spend alot of time with my boss, Sarah--and as it turns out, I really like her as a person, too! Not just a boss! Have gotten to see my family and will spend time with them tonite, too. Have seen Heather and Chad and the babies--and am hoping to see Amy and John and theirs, too. We'll see. But overall, it's good to be home.

Sooo tired....

I can barely move. I'm so sleepy. I wish I could say it's b/c I kicked butt in my first tri of the season....alas, mostly it's just b/c I didn't sleep a wink the nite before (Saturday) and had to get up at 4 am for the race....and then after, instead of taking a nap, I went to the pool! Oh, and now I'm working summer hours at work (7 to 5--but get off at noon on Friday's!). So my commute isn't as long due to traffic, but I have to get up extra early!

So this weekend was fun....Friday--celebrated Jeannie's b-day. Happy Birthday!!! Dinner w/ Anne and Susan Mc at Loriol Plaza. Saturday--spent the day in the house then met Lisa and Jessica in Old Town for dinner (spaghetti carbo load) and ice cream (no excuse). Sunday morning, tri at 6am (made it despite the beltway being closed). Then on to the pool and a bbq at the Dawson house. Not too shabby a weekend!

Home Sweet Home...

I thought some of you who have never seen where I live (my fam, obviously) might like to see a pic or two.... It's nothing special, but it's all mine!!! Well actually, that's not true--it's all Scott's (my landlord). But here are a few pics. It's small and cozy, but not too bad!

Bedroom

And living room!

It's like an IKEA showroom! Only not as nice!! :)

I just realized in this picture that my bed isn't made...see the pillows!!! Oh no!

My bike! Prepped for storage with the front wheel off...

I'll add pics of the yard and front of the house soon!

OBX

So....the Outer Banks is sweet. We had absolutely gorgeous weather and a great time! Amy P. James came up from Fayetteville, Shauna, Anne and I joined her from DC. It was hot and sunny--not a cloud in the sky the whole time until we left. We didn't do anything even remotely related to Kitty Hawk--sad but true. But we all got tans!!!

One nite at sunset before dinner.

Working on the tans....

The view from our condo.

Not everyone has gotten me their pics yet (hint, hint, girls...) so these are all I have for now!

Fun things we did:

1. Dune jumping. I don't have the pics but you can see them on amykjames.epoynm.com

2. Eating out. We had alot of great food--best crablegs I've had in years! And bbq, too! Twice!

3. Shopping--thankfully, there wasn't much! :)

4. Laying at the pool drinking daquiris--at 11:30 am!!! Shauna was so excited she even did pool tricks!

5. Getting to hang with 3 of my greatest friends and having no traffic at all on the way home!! Wahoo!!!

Oh..and we did stop to see the Gravedigger....