Philippians 4:13

If there was ever anyone with a self-defeatist attitude in the world, it was me, yesterday on our 40-mile training ride. Cycling is a sport unlike many others, where there isn't much of an opportunity for conversation, and you spend a lot of time alone with your thoughts. Sometimes far too alone with your thoughts. Yesterday, pretty much from the get-go of our four-hour training ride starting in Sherborn, through Walpole, and down to Foxborough and around back to Sherborn, I had already defeated myself. I felt like I should be riding faster, feeling less pain, sweating less (not completely dissimilar to that feeling back in 9th grade of having been utterly defeated on a Geometry exam). I was cursing the sweat dripping down my face and soaking through my CamelBak (although it was upwards of 94 degrees outside). I felt discouraged already in mile two or three, with so many more ahead of me. And to make things worse, I was fully aware of my mistake from the beginning: I wasn't trusting the Lord to give me strength--I was trying to rely on my own mind and body for the energy I needed to make it through the day. What I should have been doing is giving the ride up to the Lord and asking Him to carry me through.

Every time I started to ask the Lord to encourage me, I would glance up ahead at Paul or the other couple we were riding with, and I wouldn't see them--they had gone out of view. And then I would defeat myself again, and ask why it even mattered that I try to keep up. I knew this was the wrong attitude, yet I couldn't help it.

Thinking ahead to this coming Saturday, when we will ride 84 miles in the name of curing cancer, I must arm myself with the perfect truth of Philippians 4:13. I know that He will give me strength, and I also know that this ride will not be easy. It is not supposed to be easy, but He will carry me through and send a breeze at my back. When I suffer through this grueling physical endeavor on Saturday, I will remember my dad who suffered through 18 months of cancer, and I will remember my Lord who suffered for me on the cross.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
--Philippians 4:13

I Will Never Wear Prada

Last night Helen and I went to see The Devil Wears Prada. As soon as the main character, Andrea, mentioned she went to J-School (journalism) at Northwestern, I started thinking, this could be me. This could have been my life. Not really, but play along with me for a minute. Ever since I was about 10 years old, I remember knowing that I wanted to be a writer, editor, and work in publications somehow. Which is what led me to pursue a degree in journalism--magazine publishing to be precise--after undergrad. About midway through my 12-month program, I remember knowing that I was somehow different than my peers. Everyone--the men, the women, everyone--was aspiring to move from Chicago to New York, get a low-paying, coffee-making grunt-work job at a high-profile fashion or culture magazine, and spend the next five to umpteen years as a overworked, underpayed slave to the industry, sacrificing their personal life on the way. I knew I didn't want that. And so although The Devil Wears Prada was a highly entertaining movie about a young woman who eventually rights the wrongs she has made along the way, she is trapped for a time in having sold her soul to the Devil... Andrea made me so glad I chose differently for my life.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

We had really high hopes of driving down to Hingham to Wompatuck State Park this morning to get in a good training ride for the PMC. As of now (9:28am), it doesn't look like that is going to happen. I woke up at 7:50 this morning and drew the curtain to find... soggy streets, drizzle sliding down car windows.. and that translates to a not-fun-slippery-soaked bike ride. On one hand, I know it could very well be this rainy (or worse) on August 5, but on the other hand, I don't want to suffer my way through a Saturday morning on the trails. I think we will "wait it out" and I will go get to work on a sewing project I've been putting off for months.

Update: The rain subsided long enough for us to get a 12-miler in... After tearing the house apart looking for the foot pedal and cord to my sewing machine (which we now believe the trusty cleaning ladies threw in the garbage), we decided to kill two birds with one stone, and bike out to Davis Square to replace my sewing machine parts. We did get stuck in the rain somewhere in Somerville, but it actually felt refreshing.

Baby Mac

We haven't told Steve and Won yet, but we're calling their baby Baby Mac (for McIntosh, his last name). Here are a few pictures from Won's shower this past weekend. We can't wait to meet him. Above is Won & Sol.


Christina & Betty

Won & Ran

The famous baby-hat-maker (company to be named shortly) with the Mom-to-Be!
Won, we wish you all the best in the last month of pregnancy! You're up next!

Orinoco

Last night we tried a new restaurant I read about in the Improper Bostonian's Best of Boston issue. It's Venezuelan food, which I'd never had, and was so yummy! It's called Orinoco, and it's in the South End. We brought Nicole with us, which added to the fun, since we hadn't seen her in a while. We feasted (an understatement) on empanadas with shredded beef, plantains with cheese, arepas (corn pocket sandwiches!) with shredded chicken and avocado, and I had for my entree Pabellon Criollo (shredded beef, black beans, white rice, and plantains). I was so full I could only have one bite of the molten chocolate cake (Torta Fluida) we ordered for dessert... I cannot wait to take everyone I know to my new favorite spot.

Park City, Utah

We just returned from five days in Park City, Utah. You may be thinking, Utah, why? We love it there. It's a relatively undiscovered, quaint yet civilized town in the mountains. Here is a shot of Main Street. We spent the week lounging, eating, chasing our niece & nephew, and catching up on quality time with my sister Julie, brother-in-law Pat, mom, step-dad, and the little ones.


We went to the Olympic Park--site of the 2002 Winter Games. I got bullied by Paul and my cousin into riding the Zip Line--suspended what seemed like a million feet off the ground, but it was so thrilling that I decided next year I'm going to do the ski jumping into the swimming pool (see picture).


Jack & Uncle Paul at the 4th of July parade on Main Street. The kids had a blast ("More horsies, mommy!") but were wiped afterward.


Lucy's 2nd birthday! She actually helped me bake the cupcakes.


Julie & Lucy. Very cute girls.


Here I am on the luge track. I'm such a luger!

Corban Arrives!

Congratulations to Alvin & Wendy on the birth of Corban Mitchell (6.5 lbs, 2 weeks early)! It was so gracious of him to wait until after the barbeque yesterday... what a Southern gentleman. You are going to be amazing parents, and Corban is truly blessed to have you. We are so happy to be sharing this joyous time with you! See you when we get back. We can't wait to meet him. Alvin, you may still be able to get in some father-son Red Sox games!