37th Never Looked So Good

Our good friends Ben, Julie and Owen Mangrum just flew out from Tacoma to spend Marathon weekend with us here in Boston. That's right - Tacoma's own Ben Mangrum was going to compete in the world's longest running, most famous Marathon. For all you non-runners, that's 26.2 grueling miles and in Boston we have a 4 mile section near the end called "Heartbreak Hill". I think you get it.


Mangrum is a gifted runner and entered into the race ranked 74th overall. 74th out of 26,000 runners. I'm not kidding - 26,000 runners. We were full of anticipation and spent the weekend mapping and jogging parts of the course and eating lots of pasta.

The morning of the race arrived full of anticipation. Ben and I got up at 5:15 am. He took a bus to the start of the course and I rode my bike to work. His race was starting 26 miles away, but the finish line was right in front of my Starbucks. Abby, Julie, and Owen found a place along the race to cheer him on. The race started at 10 and Ben was off. I signed up for a service that would text me as Ben crossed major checkpoints. And as Ben reached the end I took my lunch break and pushed my way through the crowds to see him driving past a Venezulan runner to hit the finish line with a time of 2:27:44. That means he ran all 26.2 miles at a pace of 5 minutes 40 seconds per mile! He finished 37th overall - that's 37th out of 26,000 - and beat a number of "elite" runners. WAY TO GO BEN!

Ben meditated on the verse, "The Lord is my refuge and strength," as he ran.

Ben was a super runner but Julie was a super mother, carefully tending to Owen all weekend. She cooked, washed dishes and marched all around the city checking out the highlights like the Freedom Trail and the swan boats. Owen had a blast singing at the top of his lungs and putting on his mommy's sun glasses as he toured around Beantown. Sadly, he may have partied too hard. On the trip home he had a couple of vomiting episodes. We hope he recovers soon.



For those of you tracking other super stars here in Boston - Abby has begun training for her new job with BU. She will working with a program addressing gang violence. I am so proud of her as God continues to give her new opportunities to serve new groups of people. This job also will give her tuition remission. This is a huge gift from God. A year's tuition is $36k. That means not only will she be paid for her position, we will get a big coupon from the University towards her education. I am so amazed watching her here. She works so hard as she continually gives herself to her dream of improving the health of populations in need.

Abby makes sure Owen knows to "say no" to gang violence.

And for those of you tracking celebrity sitings in my little Starbucks - Kara Goucher stopped in two days before running the marathon. She was the top ranked American female and nearly won the race. In the last stretch she was passed and finished 3rd. It was only her 2nd marathon ever. She'll be back, and hopefully back to my Starbucks.

Kara Goucher - professional runner and satisfied customer of Newbury Starbucks.

We are so glad the Mangrums came out to see us. We felt very encouraged by their visit. The time went by too fast. Our tiny apartment seems so much quieter without Owen's heartfelt rendition of "Old MacDonald" bouncing off the walls. Ee-ii-ee-ii-ee-ii.

Dinah's buckeye visit

Visitor #2: check! Dinah Frey spent last Saturday through Thursday with us and we had a great time. She came to check out SIT, a world learning graduate institute in Vermont that she might attend this Fall (!!), but mostly she just kept us in line.

(Dinah's also a cross county and track coach in CA)

We toured Boston, scarfed an original Boston creme pie (empty above) at the Omni Parker Hotel, and celebrated Easter together.
I dragged Dinah to class where she proceeded to instruct our group how to solve an economics problem (well, she wanted to), she volunteered preparing meals for families with HIV with Tim and his employees, and she explored with a map (and watches) on her own.

On Wednesday we took the day off, rented a car, and drove to Brattleboro Vermont. We passed Belchertown and I think Hattleboro and Rattleboro on the way...different area of the country! While she was touring her new campus, Tim and I climbed this hill for a view.

Then we searched for just the right Sugar Shack (or house) that makes its own Vermont maple syrup.

Harlow's Sugar House it was.

Finally we drove to a nearby (of many) covered bridge.

It will be nice to have our buckeye friend on this coast for a year if it ends up happening!!

The adventures of Guest Group #3 have already begun...

How great

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

99 percent

Job status: approved and posted online, which means I think I'm hired. I have a tentative start date, a new salary on the horizon (that covers tuition!), a human subjects training certification to do, and two meetings to attend. While I haven't signed any papers, this is looking solid!! Thank you Jesus! He who calls equips! I'm gonna need it but I'll take it. Youth gang violence prevention, here I come.

Best way to study...

...is in a thunderstorm! Talk about April showers being on time. I totally forgot about lightning and thunder until today. Even mild, it adds a new dimension to lots of rain! Cozyin' on up with some reading, bean soup, Annie Hall and a husband. Not bad.

Results.

we are slowly plugging away at what feels like monotony every day...work, work, read, read, work, study, read, sleep. Eat. That's about it. Sometimes we mix it up by eating WITH other people besides ourselves, those are special moments. Then back to working and reading. I miss PLAY!

But we are seeing results, on both our parts. Tim had El Presidente of Starbucks North America tour his store today, with Tim's boss, her boss, her boss, and maybe one other level boss. Lots of bossing. But lots of liking! Tim worked really hard to get his store in fantastic order and he knew his numbers and facts! Talk about crossing T's and dotting I's - Tim is TI. He's been doing that his whole life! Anyway it feels good for him to get some positive results!! No where downhill from here, but a nice breather.

I feel about the same, with putting in too much time on unending projects still not finished, but getting some great feedback on drafts along the way. At least I'm enjoying what I'm learning enough to be tolerating the time it takes! And in some cases investing more and more. And I got to play with soda and sugar and food coloring with middle school students yesterday to do a nutrition lesson with them and talk about the effects of added sugar in sweetened drinks we all like/love. Progress indeed, results, and rewards! The mountain is doable.

What makes it less doable at times is MISSING EVERYONE! When your life is just work and read and eat, you get lonely for friends and family to provide needed relief and comfort and motivation! Spring is going to be really hard because it's my favorite season in Tacoma...I can even smell the air. I'm having to distract myself from looking at everyone's blogs multiple times to see all the fun things they are doing. Major distraction and sadness! Luckily things will start to pickup here, and if we can create time to get away and explore, it will be better in no time! Anyway it's weird how all the constant busyness makes us miss and think of people even more.

Also we can't wait for all of our coming visitors!! Dinah and Ben and Julie and Owen are all coming within the next few weeks and we are so excited! That's what I call motivation. More exciting posts to come once our life becomes exciting again. Peace!

Job hooplah update

Well guys, keep the prayers coming (for peace and surrender!) for my full-time job opportunity starting in May (tuition remission!?). It would be another research assistant position in the same department I am in now (networking works!), helping with some current community interventions related to youth violence, homelessness, domestic violence and maybe hunger. BUT it turns out there are a lot more hoops to run through, and it's NOT guaranteed. It's still possible, just a little nervous.

Keep praying for N and Roxie, N's slowly stabilizing and now needs prayer for his feet and a bladder infection.

Praises for mom's third skin cancer test, came back negative this time!

I'm a bit overwhelmed with work-and school-loads, but they will even out eventually. We miss you all!

Geoff turns Boston upside down

Our time with Geoff has come to an end. Our minds are blown and our faces melted. We nearly burned Boston to the ground. It will take quite awhile to recover. Here are our top 10 memories:

10. Cannolis in the North End. Fabulous ricotta-filled chocolate shell pastries. We knew where to get them, too, once we were given service. The popular pastry shops had lines down the sidewalks since it was the first 55 degree day we've had all winter (everyone was out). But our secret place had no line and the best cannolis in town.

9. Settlers of Catan. Geoff was a quick learner, fierce competitor and side-swiping winner of the longest road.

8. Sprinting down the sidewalk to catch the bus (or run for cover from the weather). Also fake sprinting. "Geoff! Here it comes! Go! Go! Go!" when there wasn't a bus at all. Also, running through a massive random snowstorm that hit the day after our 60 degree weekend.

7. Photography lessons from a pro. Helping me get a better handle on photo techniques. The second half of the album pics are from a day trip to Rockport on the North Shore of MA with Geoff's old camera he let me borrow. Thanks! We also enjoyed a fantastic photo exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts.

6. Orinoco. The best Venezuelan food ever. The best food in our neighborhood. Tasty dining and great celebratory fellowship with our generous brother.

5. Listening to music until the wee morning hours. More and more music. Including some live Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall and an open mic at Club Passim.

4. JFK Museum. More concurrence that the Ormsbees/Opels resemble Jackie O.

3. The ice dancer. Roxie, we can't believe it but we actually saw him skating again when we showed Geoff the Commons! Remember that dramatic guy we were talking about? Check him OUT!

2. Deep talks over coffee. Lots and lots of coffee, lots and lots of good talks.

1. Geoff!!! What a guy, hard working, generous, and all around cool. Welcome back anytime.

Enjoy our slideshow on the side toolbar, and see Geoff's pics here.

Adventures with guest #1.

Stay tuned for the adventures with Geoff. We are majorly adventuring.

prayer requests

Hi friends, please keep your prayers going for our friends the Daggetts. Nathanael cracked his sternum earlier this week and has been pretty immobile and in lots of pain. Plus his mom and Roxie have been putting in lots of extra help and service to take care of him in such a fragile state. It's exhausting for them and they are kind of on the edge of being pushed over the top, except for God's continued and abundant grace!! Thankfully N's dad is coming today to help, but keep beefing up those prayers! They need God's miracles daily.

Also pray for Joanie and Josh and their job situations for the future, as well as Joanie's recovery from this continued illness to her nervous system. Her joints are really sore and she gets very tired easily, and her body needs to respond positively to the antibody transfusions.

Finally, Stephanie's hip is also bothering her more and more each day and she has to go through surgery on the 23rd and be out of commission for 5-6 weeks...talk about a change in pace and opportunity for forced relaxation....pray for little pain leading up to the surgery and after!