No Jury Duty For Me

My time finally came this week to be summoned for jury duty. I had let my boss know I'd be out and she's actually the one that picked up on it being grand jury duty which means you have a mandatory amount of time you serve, no matter what, if picked. I decided to think on the bright side that I wouldn't be chosen and...it worked!

I got down there bright and early on Tuesday and sat in the courtroom for a couple of hours waiting for the role call. I made quick friends with the girl and guy I sat with as we anxiously awaited our fate, hehehe. I was nervous because half the people on the role didn't even show up! I was so sure I'd be chosen. This is the luck I tend to have. At any rate, they chose two different groups of 25 people and I escaped. YEEEEEES! You serve for two weeks solid from 10am - 5pm so I'm thrilled to be free. The best part? I'm clear of any jury duty possibilities for the next six years. NICE! Our poor friend had his name chosen very last on the second group so we shed a tear for him...and then celebrated in our freedom. :P

Remember Who You Are

Finally, after several busy weekends, I was able to go back to church on Sunday. It's amazing how crazy life gets and, before you know it, a month has passed. I'd definitely been in a bit of a funk recently and I know some of that is attributed to the lack of going. I just get so much out of my time at church, be it teaching or worship, and it really affects me when I'm not in that community for too long. At any rate, the message this week was just awesome and exactly what I needed to hear.

I go most frequently to Redeemer but I'm also actively searching elsewhere to find a true church home. I believe so deeply in Tim Keller's vision and teaching but I don't connect with the church as a whole. I'm very emotionally driven when it comes to church and I'm not someone who just goes on Sunday to feel better about myself. I want to go and find a place where I can really get involved and where I'm passionate about that. I also don't believe that going to church makes you anymore of a christian than standing in a garage makes you a car. Church and fellowship groups are for nourishment, in my opinion. Just like you feed your body the nutrients it needs to perform, you have to feed yourself spiritually as well which is what keeps you sharpened, growing, and challenged. I do also believe that church is a discipline as well, though. I mean, do I honestly feel like going every week? No, but I remember that I need to be "fed" and it's essential to keeping my spirit refreshed and alive. That's how I know this funk I'd been in had a bit to do with not going. Every person is different but I know when I'm spiritually "starved" just like I know when I haven't gotten proper nourishment before a long run.

Anyway, Tim Keller wasn't there this past Sunday but the message was terrific, nonetheless. It was focused around the concept of remembering who we are...and to stop comparing our lives and ourselves to others. The pastor gave some very relevant examples from his own life experiences and I identified totally with everything he said. For years, all I did was put every ounce of self-worth into other people and things. I'd find my purpose in what others said about me and I'd create my self-image through the eyes of others, not myself...and certainly not god. I'd remain in a consistent rut of disappointment and heartache. I couldn't often see the bright side and I'd usually allow myself to wallow, thinking I'll never be good enough anyway so what does it even matter. I've put a great deal of work and effort into changing many patterns in my life and these thoughts are exactly what I started with. Hearing this intelligent, seemingly poised pastor tell details of his own battles with this stuff was pretty grounding. You realize you're not alone in these battles and you also realize something even more crucial - it's ok to be human and stumble. The point of his message on Sunday was to remember just how amazing you are because god created you. I look at myself and realize I have wonderful things to offer, I'm blessed beyond measure, and I'm needed, right here and now as I am. I am good enough. I am better than good enough. I am a gift.

It was so refreshing to hear his words of wisdom and to remember who I am. It shook me out of every part of the funk I'd been in and I felt so light afterward. There is absolutely nothing to worry about when I know that my entire life is in god's hands. I just need to 'be' and to remember what a treasure I am; to remember that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" as so beautifully stated in Psalm. That, my friends, is truth.

Side note: Happy birthday to my amazing and incredible mom! I love and miss that woman to pieces.

New York Cycle Club

I'm very excited to say that I FINALLY attended my first NY Cycle Club meeting last week. They hold them monthly and the past two dates I've been unavailable when they've been scheduled. I've really been anxious to check them out and see what the community is like. Those things can sometimes be a little unnerving because you kind of resort back to being in high school with the whole is anyone going to like me? mentality. I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised when I walked in. My friend came with me though so I had someone to talk to in case the people were awful, hehe.

We were greeted by two completely warm women who made us feel so welcome! A gal who had walked in behind me overheard me saying I was new and so on and it was her first meeting, as well! It's fun because they hold their meetings in a little Irish pub so we all got a beer and sat down together to chat. She was SO sweet and really down to earth. I got so excited talking to her about cycling and hearing about what her goals are, etc. It seems like she's after the same kind of stuff I am in terms of being on the bike and that really made me happy! We met a bunch of other club members and stayed for the guest speaker who was an orthopedist. It was really cool to hear him touch on subjects like over-training and ways to keep your joints healthy, etc.

Overall, the club seems like something I'd absolutely love and I can't wait to go out on my first ride with them. I wish my schedule allowed for more flexibility since they do neat rides during the week day but I'll just have to settle for heading out on the first Saturday morning I'm able. All I know is I'm totally excited and hope I'll get to meet even more great people!

Farewell, Sweet Dalton...

I haven't been able to spend much time writing recently so this is a delayed post - sad all the same, though. A week ago, my parents had to make the tough decision of putting their dog, Dalton, to sleep. My mom was just heartbroken and I'm so sad for her. Dalton was her friend and he'd been a companion to her for years. My sweet mom is so sensitive and compassionate so things like this really affect her deeply, more than most.

The way mom came about "acquiring" Dalton is pretty funny. He was my ex-boyfriend, Patrick's, dog and he was the first dog mom could even tolerate. She'd always been a cat person and, when I started dating Patrick a million years ago, he came as a package deal with Dalton. So, we all had to get used to dog hair and slobber, hehe. I'd bring Dalton around every so often and mom definitely wasn't a fan at first. Over time though, she grew to love that dog enough to where our family even got our own black lab in the summer of '99. Anyway, after Patrick and I broke up, he came into a few situations where it was too tough for him to care for Dalton anymore so, long story short, mom took him in. After seven years, it was like mom had had Dalton since he was a puppy.

Needless to say, he was definitely a family member and the loss is really tough on mom. She's doing a little better and time is the only thing that will help. For now, she's concentrating on how lucky she was to own such a sweet and loyal dog. He lived a great life in his 15 years and we were all blessed by the happiness he offered our family. He will surely be missed and we'll always love that boy:

Comfort Takes Time

Honestly, Monday already? Good grief, it's like I was just in this office. Sigh. Enough "complaining". I will myself to have a tremendous Monday/week full of nothing but good things. Yay, positivity! :P

Aside from it flying by, I had the best weekend. I have to come right out of the gate with saying I had an amazing bike ride on Saturday morning. I'd been wanting to go for a long ride for several weekends now but I've either been out of town or the weather hasn't cooperated. Finally, Saturday morning proved to be perfect for a ride. I got out there and did 30 miles which felt absolutely awesome. Since I'm still rather timid in traffic, I did five loops of Central Park and really worked hard. Going up Harlem Hill (and Cat Hill for that matter!) five times isn't exactly easy but I kicked my own butt and powered through. I'm pretty much completely confident on the bike now and I basically just need a bit more time to feel totally comfortable on the street. I'm way better at dodging people and getting around them but NY traffic outside of the park is a different ballgame. I just can't wait until I AM stronger in that area so I can head into NJ or elsewhere for long rides away from cars. At any rate, it's taken time to get comfortable but it was another small victory for me. I was thrilled to feel so strong and secure.

The rest of the weekend was great with a very fun day/night out with friends after my bike ride. We attempted to have a fun touristy day and do things in the city we'd never done before but it didn't quite work out the way we planned. We had a lovely tour of 10th Avenue complete with a tire shop and plenty of graffiti, though. I crack up just thinking about it, hahaha. We did stroll through The Highline though which was neat and ended at Dos Caminos in Meatpacking. Afterward, it was off to check out SPiN which is a new pingpong (yes, I said pingpong) bar in Flatiron. This place was SO cool and different. I swear, NY is just so fun when you stop to realize just how many amazing and unique things there are to do here.

Sunday was full of cleaning and cooking. I felt like such a housewife, tee hee. I also got to catch up a bunch on the Tour and it continues to surprise. I swear, I'm making it my goal to go chase it in France next year! Anyway, it's officially week two of cooking for my client and things are going extremely well. I've been very happy with my dishes so far and he's been impressed and satisfied as well. It's a lot of work but it's something I really love which allows me to put my entire heart and soul into it. What a true blessing! I really thank god for hidden opportunity that's revealed through consistent faith and trust in his perfect plan. Once you're able to truly let go and believe, such incredible things begin to happen. It's just awesome.

That was my weekend and I look forward to some fun plans this week as well! :)

4th of July and Phish

I went home to Atlanta this past weekend to see Phish and it was awesome. When Brant had originally told me they were playing over 4th of July, I thought there was no way we'd get tickets. Not only did we get tickets, but a group of 15 of us did! This was a few months ago so Brant and I had been counting down up to the very day of the show. :) What a fun day we had, too!

We started at Fado to watch the world cup (which was awesome!) and then he took me to lunch at Fatt Matt's which I'd never been to before. We split a rack of ribs but I swear, I could've eaten the whole thing. SO GOOD:

Afterward, we went for beers at Park Tavern and then it was finally time to meet the crew for the show. It was so fun being a tourist in my own city for the day! :) Not to mention, I miss Brant so much and it was just priceless seeing Phish together again after all this time:

I've never seen Phish play so amazing, ever. They blew my mind and I'm SO glad I was able to go. We went on the 3rd and, after seeing the setlist on the 4th, I'm psyched because our show was far better. I swear, those guys are an instrumental inspiration, seriously. I could watch them play for hours.

The rest of the weekend was awesome, too. Brant brought me home on Sunday morning and I headed straight out to see Tally and Dave briefly and to visit with Erica and Gianna. Erica and I had some adult time, hehe, at her pool while Gia had lunch and then we went back to play with her. She's growing like a weed and her sweet personality is shining through so much already! She's obsessed with books and "reading" right now. She literally went over to the bookshelf and got out several to show us:

She's darling. I loved visiting with them and the time is always just too short. :( Afterward, we had a cookout at home and I just loved spending the rest of the weekend with mom, dad, and Allison. Grace stopped by to show us Israel photos and it was just so nice to get that visit in, too. Overall, it was a perfect weekend home and I can't wait to go back in September. :) 

Oh, To Be Young Again...

This post is completely dedicated to my beautiful niece, Elizabeth. Over the weekend, Allison and I were lucky enough to head upstate and be a part of her high school graduation party. She also just turned 18 so it was wonderful sorta celebrating both. My sister and brother-in-law had it catered and the weather held out for a nearly perfect afternoon!

I loved being a part of this special time for Ellie because graduation is really one of the only times in life, based on your circumstances, where you "officially" enter adulthood. It's like you're standing at the edge of an entirely new world and it's full of endless possibility. Of course these moments can happen at any age in life, but something about turning 18 and finishing high school is unmatched. I think at that age you really begin to grasp what true pride feels like and what it means to accomplish something great. Ellie is extremely smart, strong, and motivated. I've been so proud to watch her grow up and to see the woman she's becoming. I enjoyed meeting her friends over the weekend and seeing even more into her life, even if it made me feel OLD. Ha! Isn't she just beautiful (as is the whole family!):

Ellie will head off to SUNY Purchase in the fall and I'm incredibly excited for her. The whole world is at her fingertips and I know she'll accomplish anything in this world that she desires. I love her dearly and I'm one lucky aunt. :)