it's a God thing

every so often something comes along to remind me that God is in control.
today's example:
my back has been killing me lately (this isn't anything new, i've had issues for years, but lately it's been unbearable) so wednesday i broke down and decided to finally find a chiropractor here in massachusetts. i got on the blue cross blue shield website and found a promising choice- a practice that has three board certified chiropractors and that is less than a mile from my apartment. however, when i called their voicemail said they were closed until friday. doubts immediately filled my mind - what kind of business (besides small family owned dry cleaners and restaurants) just closes in the middle of the week? i left a message with my name and number but then decided i would call another chiropractor that was actually open. however, things got super super busy at work and i never got around to looking up another chiropractor. this morning i got up, showered, packed a lunch, caught the early train into work, visited the emergency department and did some work for them, decided i really just didn't want to be in the office (i had a ton to get done and figured i'd be much more productive without the distractions of the office- besides, it's been a long week) so i ran to the train station and barely caught the last morning train back home so i could work remote. during my train ride home the chiropractor that i had completely forgotten about called (seriously, i had to ask them the name of the doctor and what their address was) and said they had appointments available for today. had i not decided at the last minute to work remote i never would've been able to go. but, see, God knew all along and had the situation completely under control. thanks, God. glad you know best.
side note: i was moderately worried about an office that has last minute appointments but i actually really liked the guy and my back feels much much better. so does my ankle. definitely a successful visit and i will be going back.

memorial day brunch

note: the pictures for the next three posts were all stolen from angela. :)

it's time to meet my friends.
disclaimer: this post sounded good in my head a few hours ago, but i got tired so comprehensive thoughts are eluding me right now.

this is rachel. she's eating a delicious scone made by nicole. rachel works as a nanny in wellesley taking care of three little girls.

this is angela (blond) and nicole (brunette). angela is from california and is currently working on her masters. nicole is from washington and will start her masters in biblical counseling in the fall in north carolina at southeastern.

she's so pretty!!

group shot graciously taken by angela's mom. not the best as we are looking directly into the sun. the joke is that whenever someone says "let's take a group pic" we all just get in a line. it is a good thing we don't have more friends or we wouldn't all fit.

me, ben, eduardo, nicole, angela, rachel, randall

eduardo is responsible for the next set of pictures. consequently, that just made me realize he doesn't have a cameo. eduardo goes to yale and is getting his masters in divinity. he also does some part time preaching at our church.

this is ben. ben works at starbucks and is going to plant a church.

this is me. you know me. i work for dell.

candid laugh from nicole.

randall does not promote shirtlessness. and, in case you were wondering, this is the appropriate shirtless distance apart for two men to be when conversing.

this is randall and rachel. they will be getting married in california on july 24th. randall currently works in the financial aid office at boston baptist college. eventually randall and rachel will move to pakistan and be missionaries.

God has provided me with such a great group of Christian friends.

memorial day church bbq

i love this face:
wanna race?

mal was being sweet and brought me a brownie then sat in my lap to eat it

these next two pictures are two of the best ever. hannah's face is priceless! whit kept stealing the ice out of hannah's cup, sucking on it, then spitting it out and putting it back in hannah's cup/

"oh, no, you didn't!!"

this picture is completely josh (pastor's youngest son). he is 100% all boy. rough, rowdy, and out of control (but sweet when he wants to be).

the sawyers (shown here with angela) are our small group leaders. i am incredibly blessed to have them in my life. they not only open their home to college and career kids every sunday, mrs. sawyer also cooks for us every week.

the sawyers and nicole

pastor, nicole, and kim (pastor's wife). once again, i am incredibly blessed. i have a pastor who is unashamed to boldly preach the Bible. not easy to find up here in boston.

angela and nicole:

nicole and eduardo

last small group bbq

this is one of my favorite pictures ever of nicole, angela, and rachel:



yes, i'm a picture ruiner:

this may be the only picture ever taken where noone is making a face:

oh, amber, how i love her, the one person who makes more faces than i do:

Boston's Run to Remember

After weeks of training today was finally race day. It was my first half marathon and Allison's first ever race. It was a beautiful day to run in Boston (seriously could not have asked for better weather).

Allie and I before the race (after a year and a half of friendship this is our first picture together). Bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to go. Side note: we picked our outfits totally independent of each other. that we both went with Nike tops and bottoms and wore green was just a coincidence. Another side note: 5436 was my apartment number freshman year of college.


Some (I'll spare you all the details) race stats courtesy of my amazing new watch:
Distance: 13.31 miles
Elevation gain: 915 feet
Calories burned: 1535
Time: 1:54:58
Fastest full mile: 7:48 (mile 13)
Slowest full mile: 9:13 (mile 1- explanation: there were lots of people)
Average pace: 8:37


Post-race. Still smiling is a good thing...

Then we went to the Annual Metro West Baptist Church Memorial Day Picnic. Food + Friends + Fun = good times.

Afterwards, the rest of the day was pretty much spent like this:

Please note the milk AND the chips in her hand.

whit kept the goggles on longer than mal did (all of about ten seconds).

she has such a cute little tushie.

Mine and Allison's post-race treat: Grilled Peeps!

Many thanks to Allison for introducing me to this delicacy.

Note: lesson learned - only grill one at a time

The master griller

YUM!

my new toy

in honor of the half marathon i'm doing tomorrow i bought a garmin forerunner 110 w. okay, maybe i just really wanted one. i'm incredibly super excited!!!

i don't so much care about the heart rate monitor portion but it is a nice to have. i can put in my height, weight, age, fitness level and it will calculate my calorie burn for me based off of all the combined factors.

what i do i care about is the gps and the timing capabilities. no more wondering how far i've gone or having to get in my car or on my bike to map new routes since the gps tracks my distance. and it stops running when i stop running (e.g. red lights) so the timing is more accurate. it can produce a total time (both running and stopped), time per split (you can set the distance you want your splits to be and it will automatically track), average time of splits, etc. etc. the memory will store 180 hours worth of workouts but i can download it all to my computer and track my training that way.there is pretty much nothing this watch can't do (excpet maybe run for me).

did i mention i'm sssuuupppeeerrrr excited?

Psalm 103 (New International Version)

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.