On My Way

After several days of preparation, Tim and I depart today for Ireland. We will arrive at the Shannon Airport tomorrow morning at 7:30am (about 2:30am our time). Then we hop on a bus to Galway, switch buses, and head to Clifden. I am extremely excited to just get there and relax.

I was able to get some good runs in this week, but my body is definitely dragging. I seem to have good weeks and bad weeks. After a really long run on Saturday, my body was wiped. Although I ran 4.5 miles on Monday and Wednesday of this week, I could definitely tell a difference...my legs were aching and my momentum was lacking. With cross-training in between the runs, my legs are starting to come back to life just in time for some great runs in Ireland. I can't wait for that!!!

Only Two More Days

We leave for Ireland in two days... busy getting ready, doing laundry, packing, choosing which books to bring. I am very picky about what I bring, down to the kind of shampoo and conditioner, so it takes me awhile to pack. And, it is really hard to pack for 60 degree weather in the summer. Stay posted to the blog during my time in Ireland as I will have time to post. Looking forward to relaxation and some great running trails and views.

Click here to learn more about Clifden...our home away from home in Ireland.

Weekends

Oh how I love the weekends. Did you ever realize that it was easier to get out of bed on Saturday morning than it is during the week? This morning I was up at 6:45am to meet Anna to go running. We did a 11 mile run, down the Washington mall, over the Arlington National Cemetery bridge, along the Potomac, onto Theodore Roosevelt island and then turned around and retraced our steps. The run felt great and I am definitely noticing improvement, but my knees have also started to hurt halfway through the run. I am not sure if it is my shoes, the impact of the pavement, or the way I am running. Despite my knees though, my body is still feeling great. And I am finally conquering the Hill on Capitol Hill without much exhaustion at the end.
After coming home and trying to crawl back into bed, Tim instead dragged me to our favorite breakfast place for a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Delicious.
We then spent the rest of the day sitting by our friend's pool. It was a perfectly relaxing day, topped with a barbecue tonight with Tim's office. We had grilled shrimp and great summer salads. But the best part...grilled Krispy Kreme donuts and peaches with icecream. Can anyone tell that I have a bottomless stomach?
Tomorrow is golfing with a couple friend, reading, and packing for Ireland.
Hope you all enjoy your weekends!

Icecream and Ireland

In a week or so, Tim and I fly with Pete and Cate to Ireland. It is a trip that we have been looking forward to for many months. We will meet the rest of the Chapmans in Clifden after flying into Shannon Airport, boarding a bus to Galway and then another bus to Clifden. So...in the days ahead I will be posting on Ireland, where we will be staying, what we will be doing, and my preparations in going.

First, I had full intentions of going on a pre-Ireland diet so that I could eat all the potatoes and drink all the beer possible while over there. As I sit here eating Ben and Jerry's peanut butter cup icecream (I know! So unlike me. What happened?) I am throwing my so-called diet to the wind. In a way aren't our minds already on vacation the week before we actually leave? And, with all this marathon training I have been craving sweets more and more.

Back to Ireland....We will be staying in Clifden, Ireland...otherwise known as the capital of Connemara. We are staying in the Clifden school house, what I have read to be the second oldest building in Clifden, only to the church. From our base at the school house we will have ability to take day trips to all over the West Coast of Ireland. I can't wait to see the rocky shores and the brilliant green hills. I have also been looking up restaurants, and there is supposed to be a good one at Abbeyglen Castle, not far from where we are staying.

I hope to have a chance to post while I am over in Ireland. I have heard there is an Internet cafe in town....so family, stay tuned.

Saturday morning...And a tribute to "fathers"

My husband told me that he wasn't going to read my post on Father's Day because it was going to be too sentimental and mushy. I said, "no its not!" So, I have been thinking all morning about what to say about my dad, my grandfather's, my father-in-law, and the other "father's" in my life without being sentimental. And, Tim was right, I can't do it...I can't talk about the "fathers" in my life without being mushy. Even as I write this I am on the verge of tears.

Dr. Gary Chapman writes in the Five Love Languages, that we receive and express love in different ways, through affirmation, gifts, quality time, acts of service, and physical touch.
I have wonderful examples of "men" in my life. They are all hard working, tremendously gifted, and incredibly loving. And I have come to realize that they all show their love in very different ways.

My dad showed his love by being at every single soccer game, lacrosse game, and track event. He showed his love by rising to the challenge of raising five girls. He showed his love by taking me to the Urgent Care everytime I pretended to break my ankle. He showed his love by waking up every morning at 5am and going to work to put us through college, and to always make us feel that we had everything we wanted and needed. He showed his love by making us the best darn omelets every Saturday morning. And he showed his love by teaching us how to have fun, to have a beer, a burger and maybe some Maryland blue crabs thrown in, to listen to the Temptations, and to laugh.




It is hard for me to really understand how my dad's father showed him love and us love. Most of my memories of Pop Pop are in the pictures, since he passed away from leukemia when I was in eighth grade. One of the hardest things in my life to this day is that my little brother, my husband, and my children will not get to meet one of the greatest men in my life. If Pop Pop were alive today I think that everyone would say, "You are your grandfather's daughter." He was contemplative, he had a quick temper, was a man of the Word, and he had ambition, drive, yet seeked solitude. He walked ten miles a day into town to get the newspaper. And he had the most gracious smile and big loving arms.

I have also had the gift of being extremely close to all of my uncles. They have all been there for me at one point in my life...Giving me what they could, whether it be advice, a hug, a smile, or a person to laugh and play with.

My other grandfather, Bam, is nothing short of amazing. He is a wonderful man who has worked hard his entire life. He has loved everyone of his grandchildren equally and has loved me by showing me grace and forgiveness many times. He is the head of a very large and rowdy family...And he is the incredible silent leader of us all.


My new "father." Geoff, who I sadly don't have a picture of but you can check him out here on his blog, is my father-in-law. He shows me love by putting up with my smart comments, and he shows me love by asking me how I am doing. He shows me love by grabbing the back of my neck with both of his hands (his form of the hug). But mostly, his greatest influence on my life, was the love that he showed to my husband by being a caring and compassionate father, and by raising his children to have a personal relationship with God.

These are some of the fathers in my life and I love them all dearly, and I am thankful for the love that they show me and those around me as well.

For more posts on Father's Day, check out Becca and Bella.

Running Update

I wanted to post a running update. My body felt really good running this week, and I think I am finally getting into the rhythm of running every morning at 5:30am. Here was my break down from the last two weeks:
Monday: Run 4 miles
Tuesday: Cross Train for 45 minutes
Wednesday: Run 4.5 miles
Thursday: Cross Train for 45 minutes
Friday: off
Saturday: Run 10 miles
Sunday: Walk for an hour

This weekend I am planning on doing two long runs. One tomorrow, and one on Sunday with a friend. I have not run with anyone else other than my i-pod in awhile so I am very excited to have a partner on Sunday morning. Hopefully I will get 20 miles in this weekend.

Happy running to everyone!~

Friendship and Calling

Tonight we gathered at a German restaurant down the street, Cafe Berlin. We sat outside on their patio, shielded by bushes, sun umbrellas, and the humming of conversation. We gathered for a monthly meeting, but soon the participants changed, some went home, and some joined from neighboring restaurant patois. Our discussion changed as well.

We started out talking about social justice and the role of government vs. the role of church in eradicating poverty and drug abuse, etc. We then discussed the role of the Gospel in our lives, in the lives of those around us. Questions were asked, "how would you explain the Gospel?" Many subjects were brought up and milled over...Calvinism, which led to depravity, which led to predestination. "Are you a Calvinist?"

Some left, but we stayed, captivated by the conversation and by the sun slowly drifting out of view. Our conversation turned to confession, being honest with God and those around us. Is it better to involve a third person, to confess solely to God? Are we to have relationships with others, people who we can worship with, confess to, and count on? How do we find people we can trust in today's world? Or rather, in DC, where people are always moving away...No one is from here and no one stays here?

Do men crave these kind of relationships more than women? Is it harder for men to find these kind of relationships than women? Our conversation ended with one of us asking, "When was the last time you heard a sermon about relationships?" All of us answered never.

It made me think....If we had more relationships in society in which we held each other accountable (Real relationships,where we were honest,completely honest. Relationships in which we did not feel like we were being judged), then more often, we would be challenged by each other...We would also be challenged by the Gospel...And the Gospel preaches to care for the poor..Therefore, does the answer to eradicating poverty lie in cultivating personal relationships? Not the only answer, but part of it?

These conversations are rare and lovely. We opened up to each other and I found myself being blatantly honest about my views, my opinions, and my desires. We all did. A married couple and two Washington singles ten years plus older, sitting on the patio of a German bistro, drinking Heifewiezen, and dealing with the issues of our time.

"lighter than a puff of air"

I have been reading a lot of posts by bloggers regarding peace, rest, solitude, and silence. I have been therefore thinking a lot about what they are saying. My father-in-law is in the hills of California right now, learning about spiritual disciplines and finding extreme silence and solitude. Is it possible to find that same silence and rest here in DC amidst the traffic, construction, car alarms, police and fire sirens, deadlines, political squawks, etc...? Is that possible?

I think there are two types of peace. There is the peace you find from catching up with an old friend, a large cup of coffee and a good book, a long evening walk, or an afternoon nap. This kind of peace allows our job worries, everyday stress, to slowly creep away for a time, and that is GOOD. But I believe even if we make sure we get enough sleep, eat healthy, maintain healthy relationships, exercise, and de-stress, our heart can still be restless. Therefore, the second kind of peace or rest comes from within, and therefore is transferable to whatever situation we are in. It is "waiting on the Lord" and finding rest in Him.

How do we do that? Psalms gives us a good blueprint. We are not to find peace through worldly desires like fame, wealth, prestige, for they are simply "lighter than a puff of air." Psalm 62:9. They do nothing to tip the scales, but trust in God and a REAL REST in Him tips the scales all the way. Like a cold glass of water after a long run, there are several intentional things I believe we can do to quench the restlessness of our hearts. (a restlessness all humankind experiences) Not only are we to stop worrying about achieving status here on earth, but the meaning of our life is to be found in our relationship with God. We can read his word, seek mentor relationships, and be silent and prayerful.

I love the universality of Psalm 62, for EVERYONE is restless and faces stress sometime in their life. It is where we eventually find peace that differentiates us.

Augustine paraphrased Psalm 62 by saying, "You have made us for Yourself alone and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You."

As I think through this further, I would appreciate your thoughts, words of wisdom, and observances.

Saturday

Just had a wonderful day with Tim and my parents. They came down to DC, a two-hour drive from Havertown, Pennsylvania, for the day to "celebrate" my 25th birthday. It was a great day. I woke up early before they got here to get my ten-mile run in. It was extremely hot and even though I brought a water bottle it was gone in the first ten minutes anyway. I ran to the Lincoln Memorial, across the river to Arlington National Cemetery, along the Potomac to the 14th Street Bridge, across the Bridge to the Jefferson Memorial and back up Capitol Hill towards home. Today I had to take many walk breaks. I am starting to listen to my training guidelines, "walk every two to three miles on long runs." It is hard, I feel like I am disappointing myself and not really get a "real" run in. But I am starting to learn that training for a marathon is all about discipline, steadiness, and listening to your body. So, today, I listened to my body and to the burning of the sun already at 8am this morning, and I opted to walk every couple miles. And it proved to make a huge difference.


After coming home, stretching, getting ready, and putting a pot of coffee on, my parents arrived. My mom brought breakfast, Tim and I provided the OJ and coffee. We had a very slow morning catching up. Then, after my mom and I had finished the last drip of coffee, and Tim and my dad had reached the end of the golf conversation, we headed to Alexandria and to shopping.

Since my dad was here I wanted him to pick out his Father's day present. He picked out a wicker chair for the front porch at home, and Tim and I ended up getting two as well. We also picked up a gallery of frames for one of our living room walls. Now we just need the pictures to go in them...we intend to take a lot in Ireland.

After a cat nap on the couch, and some great conversation, we headed to dinner. We went to the Starfish cafe since my dad and Tim were craving raw-oysters. We had a delightful dinner, great food, and I must say the oysters were some of the best I have had.

And now, after sending my parents off with big hugs and kisses, Tim and I sit in our new wicker chairs listening to the music that Tim has just set up on our porch (he really amazes me with what he can do sometimes) and blogging. Both of us on our laptops, sending eachother links to look at, laughing, smiling, discussing blogs, and getting to learn a little more about eachother, our family, and this great big world we live in.

Birthday Dinner

Last night Tim and I went to one of my (if not the)favorite restaurants in DC- Bistro Bis, located in the Hotel George.

There are many reasons for us to like this restaurant: it is within walking distance, it has a great atmosphere, it is not smoky, and we have always had wonderful meal and conversation in its midst. DC is certainly not the restaurant mecca of the world, but we have our share of great restaurants and Bistro Bis is one of them. I have never left unsatisfied and last night was no different. (although they could have turned up the air conditioner a little more, Tim was, shall I say, a tad bit on the warm side).

We started out with drinks at the bar, Tim with a Summer Ale and I with a bellini. We then were seated and had mussels as the first course. (We skipped our usual cheese plate which is soo fun and amazing since you pick your cheeses from a double sided sheet of paper, categorized by country. Bistro Bis' fromagiere is very good and extremely knowledgeable!) Tim ordered a Pinot Noir from Argentina that was excellent. We then ordered our meal around the wine, I had the quail (which turned out to be the perfect portion) and Tim had the tune steak. We decided to pass on dessert, or should I say, the wine became our dessert!!!

The best part, (besides the wonderful conversation in which I learned something new about Tim), and I stated this before, is that we had a beautiful walk home under the watch of the Capitol lights.

Twenty-Five Years

As if turning 25 wasn't bad enough (I know, 25, not that old, but come on, all things are relative), I googled "twenty-five years old" to see what the results would be, hoping to find commiseration or inspiration, I am not sure which. Instead, I found "Pac-Man turns 25, May 10, 2005." Honestly, how depressing. I thought Pac Man was already in his twenties when I started playing Atari/video games at the age of ten. Seriously, how old did that make him when he married Mrs. Pac Man?

On June 7th, tomorrow, I turn 25. I told my mom this morning that I was over it. And I am, I got all the shock, the regret, the grudges out of me this spring. I have moved on. I already tell people I am 25, I enter 25 when the treadmill asks me my age for heart-rate purposes, and I am starting to feel 25 as well. Who wants to be 24 any more when 25 is the new 21?

But I must admit, it still stings a little. We all picture our lives much differently than they actually turn out (and thank God for that!) To give you a little window into my life, when I was a teenager, I thought that I would conquer the world by age 25. I was going to either become a nun, and save the world of heartache and misery, leftovers, stiff sheets, and brown patches of grass. (I thought this was revolutionary, not saving the poor, but the average American) Or, I was going to be a corporate superstar...make more money than my single, un-attached, and completely sufficient self could handle.

Needless to point out, my desires as a teenager didn't pan out to much. When God placed Tim in my life I realized that I wasn't really all that self-sufficient, and I really wasn't much of a nun either. And I also realized that I could still spend enough money to be happy on a meager government salary.

I am not sure if anyone has said this before, but I see age as a ruler...a way to measure how far we have come (incredibly humbling), and how har we have to go (even more humbling).
So here I am... about a quarter of the way through.

(The painting above is named "Sprouting," I find that very fitting)

Summer Resolutions

I never really make New Year's resolutions, but for some reason I always make Summer Resolutions. I think I find it hard to get motivated about anything during the cold of winter. But summer, now that is a different story. Listed below are some of my summer resolutions:

- Read more, think more about what I read, process it, and write about it
- Finally find that art store downtown, go to it, buy a canvas, and paint
- Continue training for the Marine Corps Marathon even when I get sick of it
- Eat healthier: less soda and caffeine, more water
- Treat myself to something once a week, something that is not for the house, like dish detergent and fabric softener. (I know this really shouldn't be a summer resolution, but I am really bad at buying things for me. I am not talking anything big, just like a new shirt, a new kind of shampoo, or a different flavor coffee)
- Go see at least one show, play, or concert in DC and successfully convince Tim to go with me.

I think these shouldn't be too hard to keep, but when the hours start piling on top of the days, they are always the first to go. And, we'll see about the last one as well!?! Also, with Summer not officially starting until June 21st (Emily's birthday) I have a head start.

Also, check out the Michael Kahn gallery, I am really into boats right now and I love his photography.

Galleries

I just found this website for a fabulous modern art gallery in Maine (who would have thought!!?). I really like the way the paintings blend modernism with soft colors and lines....leaving behind a bit of traditionalism and nostalgia.

Check it out: Greenhut Galleries

Commitment

Not sure if you saw the article about the couple in UK that celebrated
their 80th wedding anniversary today:

"A British husband and wife revealed the secrets of the longest marriage of any living couple on Wednesday as they celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary---don't sleep on an argument, always share a kiss and hold hands before going to bed.

"Percy Arrowsmith, 105, and his 100-year-old wife Florence, were married on June 1, 1925, after meeting at their local church in Hereford, western England, where he sang in the choir and she was a Sunday school teacher."

Read the full article here.

I just think it is absolutely fascinating and encouraging that this couple have been together for 80 years. Rollo May, a theologian from Ohio largely inspired by Soren Kierkegaard said, "The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt but in spite of doubt. " I think that is absolutely true, not only in marriage, but in life as well. For, commitment is only empowering if it is overcoming something.