No Worries I'm still here :)

Hello to everyone out there!

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything. Sorry. I guess I have just been busy training for triathlon season! This is after all my first season of trithlons and I must say, I am looking forward to the experience both this upcoming season and in the future. Training, however, is crazy, but enjoyable. I never thought the words "sleep in till 5:30 AM" or "I'm tired, I need to go for a run," would escape but mouth............ I will certainly keep you all posted from time to time about training, or more importantly, the events :)

An interesting thing happened in this light last weekend. I sat down and watched the end of the Ironman World Championship coverage and I was inspired and even thought maybe someday I will be in Hawaii swimming three miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26 miles consecutively. That, however, will be a day a ways off if it comes at all.

On a different subject. Remember last Christmas when I posted about my crazy 48 hour drive to Michigan? Well I did the drive again yesterday.......And it only took about 14 hours! 14 hours is after all the expected time :) I did see several crazy and unfortunate places along the highway people. Be thankful if you live in Houghton, West Michigan, and the NC Triangle area folks. I saw a lot of advertisments for adult entertainmen, and the buildings are right off the highway. Sad! I realize these places are everywhere, including the areas where I have lived but seriously, at least people hide the places from plain view. That shows at least some shame in the practise of objectiving humans being (only acceptable on Mythbusters :) for the satisfaction of shallow, adulteress pressures pursued outside of marriage, for both singles and adults.

I am not sure how Christians, among others, but particularly Christians, can help eliminate these type of places both where they are hidden and in plain sight but it certainly needs to end and outside of government action. Government action will only create outlaws. We don't need outlaws! We need reform, God was going to save Sodom and Gomorraw for just 10 righteous people, lets be sure the Christians of the U.S. live righteously, humbly, and according to the great commission so God may spare our great land. Any suggestions? I would love any ideas.

Jampot!

In my previous post I told you about a portion of my recent trip back to Michigan. Included in this trip I went to the Upper Pennisula of Michigan. If you have never been to the good ole U.P. you need to make plans to visit! There are two foods I never miss when I am in the U.P. The first is the Pasty (pass-tee) and the second is Thimbleberry Jam (If you read this thank you for introducing me to this wonderful treat Deb!)

Thimbleberry Jam comes from the little-known, rare Thimbleberry. Why is this delicious berry so unknown? Because it is very tough to grow, and requires a very specific growing environment. Not only is this true, but the berries themselves do not ship well at all. Needless to say, this jam is difficult top find, not cheap, BUT DELICIOUS!!!!!!

How can you get this jam?

The monks in Eagle River, MI of course!

Check out their website:

Society of St. John


During college I had the privilege of attending their Eastern Orthodox Prayer service on Good Friday and later discussing their traditions, etc. with the monks after the service. It was quite interesting, and an experience I won't forget. In fact I remember speaking to the monks pictured on the page linked above, they are very nice.

If you navigated their website at all you probably noticed the store section of the site. You can purchase Thimbleberry Jam from them. The easiest way to find the jam is to use the search feature. It is delicious! And you will be supporting the monastery!