FFF the Third

Yesterday brought an afternoon trying to recreate the culinary joy that is flammekueche (tarte flambée) and an evening of good friends walking in the door, bringing a couple of special couple announcements. Congratulations, Carol and Satbir and Carrie and Nick! Vive l'amour, and Foreign Film Fridays!

Orange Crocs go to the Zoo

My niece Margaret and I went to the zoo yesterday - it was the first of the "2007 Mee-Bee Days." I'm hoping to be able to spend at least one day with each nephew and niece this summer. I did it last year, and it really was fun (at least for me!). It's hard when there are so many kids to have just a little one-on-one time, but this seems to work.

I really enjoy being an aunt, if you can't tell. I'm blessed to have this time to spend with my family, so I'm trying not to take it for granted! Enjoy the pictures!

*sniff*

I'm kind of starting to miss my kids! I've been finishing up thank-you notes, and I included a little letter to each child, which stirred up so many memories. I feel so far away from school, though it's barely been two weeks. This group of kids will always mean something special to me, since they were my first class. I can't believe that what once were just names on a piece of paper are now (for me) pages and pages of personality. I am so grateful for my decision to become a preschool teacher.

Feelin' Set-sy

I've recently been commissioned to touch up the sets for [BIG] Photo, one of the premier photography studios in Louisville. Here is a link to some of the finished products; I hope to post some samples of their professional-quality photos later on in the summer.

psyc6h0

We're back and still walking after Biking the Bluegrass to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Again, many thanks to everyone who donated - not just those of you who gave money, but also everyone who said prayers for our safety and offered words of encouragement. The weather was perfect (overcast and cool), and the routes we took were beautiful. Saturday was tough; I wasn't prepared for the hills, and I think we brought too much in our panniers. I almost made my goal of not having to stop, but one mile from the finish line, I had to walk my bike up the remainder of a hill. Ouch! But Sunday, I made it through all the hills without stopping, and increased my average speed to 13 mph from 11 mph.

I've uploaded some photos to my gallery. The captions should help explain more of the details of our trip and our stay at Centre.

We'll probably do this again next year in addition to the Old Kentucky Home bike tour this September. Anyone interested in joining us? We'll need to start training now - I sure wasn't prepared for the degree of difficulty the course presented. We'll be better prepared next time!

Celebrating Bonmom

June 3rd is the one-year anniversary of the death of my grandmother, Margaret. We called her "Bonmom," which sounds a little like "bonne" mom; "good" mom. And she certainly was that. She religiously hosted Sunday dinners at her home in the Highlands, even after she could no longer eat regular food. She loved her family (yes, all blue million of us), watching tennis and basketball (she always filled out her brackets), Food Network, and God.

After she died, we found passages she marked in her Bible. Three were read at her funeral, and they epitomized the way Bonmom lived:

Wisdom 3: 1-3: "But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace."

Romans 12: 17-21: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, 'Vengence is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' Rather, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...' Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good."

Luke 6: 35-38: "But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back...Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you...For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

Bonmom was someone who walked the walk. By example, she showed everyone around her how to love and forgive. She didn't preach or complain. She simply took these verses to heart, and daily found ways to live in understanding and forgiveness.

I truly think she was happy and content with the choices she made. And what better way is there to live than a peaceful life without regret?

Biking the Bluegrass

Watch out, Danville! We're returning to our alma mater, Centre College, this weekend as part of the MS 150 Bike the Bluegrass, to benefit Multiple Sclerosis. We've got our packets, new gloves, a new shifter (for Eric), new bike shorts (for me - yuck), and lots of support from family and friends. Thanks! It will be 56.6 miles on Saturday and 54.9 miles on Sunday. Wish us luck!