Guess Who Else is Going on the Bicycle Tour?

Niquee!

Here's Niquee showing off her new wheels!

You Go Girl!

Her husband is joining us also.

It's gonna be fun, fun, fun!

Happy Belated Birthday to My Little Sister Plainoldkristi!

Good news! Plainoldkristi's daughter came out of her surgery wonderfully and is now recovering at home amongst all the really cool gifts she received for being a damsel in distress, all the while banging on a metal bowl with a metal spoon whenever she needs someone to come heed her requests.

Now on to the birthday girl - June 20th.

A Photograph of Plainoldkristi at age 6

Plainoldkristi is my shortest sister, but do not let that fool you she is a short package of dynamite. Her creativity and energy never ceases to amaze me. When she does anything she does it in a big way! Put her in charge of something and expect to be amazed.

Over the last few years Plainoldkristi has faced a few battles, one being Graves disease. She showed nothing but optimism and faith throughout the entire ordeal of treatment, and continues with this same optimism and faith even today. Many people do not realize it but during this period of time Plainoldkristi was deathly ill, yet she did not complain! I am not just saying this - it is the truth. What an example.

Kristi has always been extremely loyal to those she loves, and stands fervently for all that she believes in. In school she always got on the bus before me, so she was my loyally little seat saver. Thanks lil sis.

She's adventurous and not afraid to try new things. She's definitely a leader, and has been extremely influential in many peoples' lives. For example, she has influenced me to take up bike riding and I'm glad she did.

Love you sissy and hope your birthday was special - Meboo (this is what Kristi nicknamed me when she was little)

Attack of Appendicitis!

Today is PlainoldKristi's birthday and what a day she is having. Her youngest daughter who has been attending youth camp this week started having a lot of pain last night - the diagnosis was appendicitis. So at this moment PlainoldKristi is on her way to the hospital where her daughter was transferred to have her daughter's appendix removed. Be sure to say a prayer for her and her daughter.

The Greatest Mother Ever!

On June 14, 1945, the greatest mom on earth was born. That mom belongs to me and my one brother and four sisters. We are so proud of her.

My mother is the perfect example to not only me and my five siblings, but also to a church full of people. She is always there to listen, and advise. Growing up I remember her picking me up from school and my friends all telling me how pretty my mommy was. I was so proud of her and I still am.

My mom is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and pastor's wife. She can put together a meal faster than anyone I know, and always seems to have plenty for everyone even if a few extra mouths show up. She's the best at bathing and feeding babies, babysitting, listening, cooking, advising, counseling, cleaning house, gardening, being a pastor's wife, taking care of my dad....the list goes on and on. How does she do it (never complaining at all!)? I have no idea!

Above is a picture of the home that my mother was born in. She was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but was born into a home of hardworking parents who taught her to work hard, to live a pure and honest life, and to cherish family and friends.

Here is a picture of my mom and her sisters. They were the beauty queens of the community. My mom is the one with the scarf wrapped around her neck.

This is another picture of my mother in her teens. She is the one with the dark colored shirt on.

Happy birthday mama - you are the greatest ever and I love you so much!

Happy Birthday to My Big Sister!

My big sister and me in 1983 (my sister is the one with the pony tail)

Today is my big sister's birthday. She is two years and four months older than me and has always been my idol. Growing up, in my eyes, she was the authority on any subject and knew more than anyone else I knew. If she said it, then it was so. She was always so sophisticated, mature, and beautiful. Regardless, she tolerated my unsophisticated methods of decorating the room we shared and my immature ways. She prepared me for every stage of my youth - 1st grade, middle school, high school, etc. We would lie in bed at night and she would tell me these wonderful stories both real and fiction about school and life in general. When she got her first job she always bought me things - a new shirt, a new swimsuit. She paved the road for me by being a wonderful example to follow.

Today, she is still sophiscated, mature, and beautiful, along with patient, kind, and loving. I do her husband's accounting for his business, and while I am working she always brings me these wonderful things to eat and sample. I just love it. She is the mother of four precious children, and a fabulous artist.

I love you big sis and hope that your birthday is lovely - you deserve it!

Going Salt & Pepper, Gray, Silver, or White!

The other day at work a client gave me a very nice compliment. She said, "I love your hair." I assumed that she was talking about the fact that my hair is long and curly. She then went on to say, "You have inspired me to go salt & pepper." I wasn't expecting that. Yes indeed, my hair is going salt & pepper. All along my hair line at my temples my hair is getting natural gray highlights. I haven't really given it much thought - it's just me growing older naturally. A few more gray hairs, and a few more wrinkles. It is a part of life.

Going salt & pepper, gray, silver, or white is liberating and beautiful. Below is a picture of my beautiful 80 year old mother-in-law who has been gray since her thirties. She has never felt the need to dye her hair and why should she - her hair is lovely!. Although I do not have a current picture of my mother available to post, she has beautiful gray/brown hair - brown hair with magnificent swirls of gray throughout her hair. What wonderful examples - beautiful women not afraid of aging but instead embracing the years that God has blessed them with.

My mother-in-law and daughter

Which Bike?

On Saturday, Plainoldkristi, her husband, and I went for a twenty mile bike ride on the levee beginning at the Audubon Zoo. It was quite a challenge for me, but seemed to be no effort at all for Plainoldkristi and her husband. Nonetheless, I did it. The hardest part was the sore bottom. Bicycle seats are just not comfortable! On the trail I was amazed at all the different people biking. Old people, young people, overweight people, skinny people, people with really long beards, bike teams in really cool uniforms biking in single file, and people biking in skirts (that would have to be me and plainoldkristi).

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Next we went to GNO (a wonderful bicycle store) and got prices on the bicycle pictured above. It is the one I really want for our tour. It is a Cannondale Touring 1. For about $500 less, I can get the Cannondale Touring 2. Decisions, decisions! I left with a bicycle helment - and a water bottle - something I really needed for now since my sister is allowing me to use her bicycle to get started on.

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Afterwards, Plainoldkristi and her husband treated me to lunch. We tried this really great little Lebanese restaurant on Carolton Avenue. The food was delicious! We had so much fun. I'm really loving this biking stuff! Thanks for inspiring me Plainoldkristi and husband.
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PS - Should I get the Cannondale Touring 1 with all the upgrades or should I get the Cannondale Touring 2 just not quite as good? Any pros out there with advice for me?

Conquering Fears

I have always been a bit of a “scaredy cat”. When I was little I slept with my sister, and throughout the night if she got up to use the bathroom I would follow her, sit on the edge of the tub, wait until she was finished, and then I would follow her back to bed. I was afraid of the dark and did not like to be alone. Now, I am no longer afraid of the dark, but I have other fears to overcome.

The most recent is being able to ride my bike on the edge of the road and not be terrified that someone is going to run over me in their vehicle. Every time someone passes me on the road while I am riding my bike, I cringe until they pass. Sometimes I hurry and get all the way off the road.

I also cycle down this stretch of road with a bayou running alongside of it. The bayou is full of snakes and some alligators. I am afraid that I might run over a snake with my bike or meet an alligator on the road. Just this morning while walking with my walking buddy, we came across a very alive cotton mouth in the middle of the road. We were not sure if we would be able to go around it, but a car came by just in time and ran over it. We still made a very large space between it and us.

Nonetheless, I refuse to give in to my fears. I will conquer them! My fears will not dictate my life! What about you? Do you have some crazy fears to conquer? How do you do it?