Heroes

One of my very dear friends, Kaylene, and her husband Ajay, serve in the Air Force, flying in the B1-Bomber (a ridiculously wicked cool aircraft). Last year they were stationed in the Middle East. I recently found out about an award that Kaylene and her fellow crew members will be receiving in November for aid that they provided to our troops. Glad we have people like Kaylene and Ajay over there serving our country. Regardless of how you feel about why we are over there and whether or not we should be, we need to thank the men and women who are willing to lay down their lives to serve our country. I'm proud of you girl, and thank you.

From the article:
"Kaylene Giri and three crewmates aboard Bone 23 answered the call for immediate air support from U.S. ground forces under attack from more than 200 Taliban troops.

The B-1 Bomber crew suggested using a 500-pound bomb. The crew accomplished three bomb runs within 30 minutes that slowed the enemy attack and allowed coalition forces to regroup, according to the National Aeronautic Association in Washington, D.C.

"The distinctive accomplishments of the Bone 23 crew reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force," the association stated in a press release.

The association announced it will present the 2008 Mackay Trophy to the Bone 23 crew during the NAA Fall Awards Banquet Nov. 2 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va. The association describes the trophy as one of the most important awards in the Air Force.

"We were just doing the exact same job that we do every day," said Giri, a weapons service officer based at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

Giri, 28, stressed crewmembers work as a unit.

"You cannot break a link in that chain," she said. "Not one person can do everything that is required. You've got to have everybody work together."

Also serving with her in the unit were Major Norman Shelton, 1st Lt. Boyd Smith and Capt. Louis Heidema. "

Completely Done

Awesome song that we sung at church today. I love the phrase "What you complete is completely done". God doesn't do anything half-heartedly. What overwhelming reassurance.

I am so thankful for our worship leaders who spend so much time and effort to put together song lists that allow us to focus on God and meditate on what He has done for us, giving Him the glory.

Completely Done
Words by Jonathon Baird, Ryan Baird, and Rich Gunderlock

What reason have I to doubt
Why would I dwell in fear
When all I have known is grace
My future in Christ is clear
My sins have been paid in full
There’s no condemnation here
I live in the good of this
My Father has brought me near
I’m leaving my fears behind me now

The old is gone, the new has come
What You complete is completely done
We’re heirs with Christ, the victory won
What You complete is completely done

I don’t know what lies ahead
What if I fail again
You are my confidence
You’ll keep me to the end

I’m leaving my fears behind me now

Nephewisms

Phone call from John Michael:

JM: "Hi Sissa! Sissa, are you an astronaut!?

Me: "No, I'm not, but I work with the astronauts. They are my friends"

JM: " Are you an astronaut? I am going to fly to Saturn. Okay, bye, I love you!"

Phone call from John Michael to my mom (who had surgery yesterday):

JM: "Hi Nana. I'm comin' to Arizona to take care of you 'cause you're gonna have a big owie on your belly".

Awww....what a cutie. And those sentences are pretty much verbatim, he talks SO well!

Clear Lake International Triathlon

The lack of posts has been due to the fact that life has been extremely busy- work, sleep, and training. Training for...the Clear Lake International Triathlon, Olympic Distance! (0.93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run).

Yesterday Lisa and I, along with some of our friends/co-workers, participated in this event. Big thanks to my roomies and my friend Jana, who is visiting (and took the pictures), for coming out to cheer us on.

Barry, me, Lisa, Scott, Sunni pre-race

I did better than I planned on the swim and bike (I had set "worst-case time goals" that I would be happy with and beat those).

That's me in the white cap at the end of the swim


Coming in from the bike

The run was brutal, it was really hot (in the 90s and humid) and I just do not run well in those conditions, so it wasn't the 10k time I was hoping for, but 1hr 11 minutes wasn't bad for the amount of walking I did...the first mile I ran was in 9min! Getting off of a bike going 17mph and starting to run completely screws up your sense of speed, so I definitely went much faster at first than I normally would have.

Starting the run

Still, my goal was to complete the tri in 3hrs 30 min and I did it in 3 hrs 28 min, so I am happy with the overall results. It was my first time transitioning with bike shoes too, so I know I can improve in that area. I am also excited to start some speed work training in my swim and I know I can improve in the bike (I think some weights and spin classes are in order :) ).

Chatting afterwards...I ran most of the time with that towel on my head and dumped ice water on it at every water station. Best idea ever :)

So I ended my tri season on a good note. While there are several available tris left in the season, I am refocusing my training efforts to prepare for my first half-marathon, the San Antonio Rock and Roll half-marathon in November. I am also registered for the Houston half-marathon in January. I plan to do several Olympic distance tris next year and am currently waiting to see how the Nov half-marathon goes to see where I should plan my first Half-Iron distance! Yep, you read right, Lisa and I are going to step up to the Half-Iron distance at some point (a Half-Iron is 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run)...its just determining first if I can handle that much running at once and then picking the best time to do one...

Best training/running/tri buddy ever, Lisa!

I was thinking while on the bike yesterday, how amazing it is that I can do these races. Some people with my disease are in constant pain and battling health instability all the time. I have been very blessed that the medicines I am on work well for me and that I have an awesome doctor (who still thinks I am crazy for doing this and is still amazed that I am ABLE to do these races). It is God who is sustaining my health through the rigors and stress of training, work, and life in general. I know it may not always be this way, so that makes me extra thankful for this very healthy period, where I can experience being an athlete. The training wasn't problem free, but I am being very careful to rest and pull back when any issues arise (so all you worryers, STOP WORRYING! :) ). So, I'll praise Him now for the privilege to participate in triathlons and half-marathons, and by His grace, I will praise Him still, if that privilege ever goes away.

Tris rock!!!!!

Hospitality #4

A much belated post...a couple of weeks ago we had our Mexican food-themed hospitality #4 event

The Shys, Hurds, Pam's parents, and Claire's sister and brother

Musings on Jeremiah

I'm currently in the middle of studying Jeremiah. I read chapter 27 the other day and was particularly blown away, old lesson, different angle...here are a few of my thoughts on it...

Jeremiah 27- Quick summary- Judah is strategizing to overthrow the rule of Babylon, which they have recently come under. God speaks through Jeremiah and tells the people that it is His WILL that they are under the rule of King Nebudchadnezzar and Babylon and they will be for some time. It won't last forever, but they must not fight back or they will be punished.

How amazing that God reveals a piece of His plan to Judah here. How needed it was as well...His plan was completely OPPOSITE of the people's natural instinct: Big Bad Babylon (Triple B) takes over=people fight back to reclaim their freedom, God says "Nope, stop, it's my will that you are under Triple B's thumb for now. Obey and submit". Whoosh- the sound of every person in Judah gaping at the Lord, "You want us to do WHAT!? How in the world does that accomplish anything!?"...Oh yes, God's grace all over this one- the people NEVER would have thought- "Ooh Triple B has conquered us, let us smile sweetly and offer our services to Triple B." God needed to show His plan to keep His people from getting into trouble (ie the promised punishment if they did not submit to Babylon's rule). He knows just what information we need to know, even though sometimes we can't see the reason or purpose for it. His mercy stretches even further when He tells them it will not be forever...he doesn't give a timeframe, just not forever. Think how we are in the same situation. Let's start big:

1) Big picture- Christ's return- we know its coming, but we don't know when. We are told to wait patiently and trust
2) Smaller picture- Our continual santification and eventual reward of heaven. We don't know when we will die, but we know it's coming, what's coming afterward, and are told to press on and trust
3) Smallest picture- the season of life that we are in. We don't know when the next will begin, we are told to press on and trust.

Nice to see that our God is consistent eh? He revealed a bit of his plan to Judah and told them to press on and trust. He reveals a bit of His plan to us and tells us to press on and trust. And, if read on, God is faithful to Judah, so guess what that means to us? Yep, you guessed it, God will be faithful to us. Love it.

Coldplay!!!!

So my birthday present to myself this year was to buy Coldplay tickets. My roomie Claire is a Coldplay fanatic and she decided to help me celebrate my birthday too ;-). Tickets went on sale on my birthday, so I had been patiently waiting for July 22nd to arrive for five whole months. Whew. It was tough. And then, the BIG NIGHT. Nothing like going to an outdoor concert in Houston at the end of July. Ha. We ran into our friends Adrienne and Allyson. They let you bring in cameras! I had left mine in the car 'cause I figured they wouldn't let me bring it in...so all the pictures are compliments of Allyson. The show was great! I couldn't get over how professional the video was for the big screens they had up, and the energy that Chris Martin (lead singer) has! Holy cow, he must eat like 47 GUs with rocktane or something like that before the show. They started the set with with my favorite song, Violet Hill, so I was pretty excited...very very good show. Great effects and lights. I highly recommend you see them next time they are in town.

Claire, Allyson, and me- prepared with ice cold water and frozen lemonade :)


Ahhh, Coldplay!!!!


Lead singer Chris Martin


"Yellow"