First Solo Flight

By: Flight Instructor Bob Garity

Simon says, "Turn me loose!" And we did. Congratulations to David Simon who has been chomping at the bit to complete his First Solo Flight. Weather conditions at JYO (Leesburg Executive Airport) this morning were ideal and David became "one" with his Diamond Star. His confident smile was evidence that he thoroughly enjoyed his 1st experience as "Pilot in Command."

**Photo is not the exact plane David used but is an example of the Diamond DA40 that he regularly uses.

Pyramid Art Show

Fairfax High School had their Pyramid Art Show on March 23rd. It's an opportunity for students to showcase a portfolio of work. I will say, I was impressed. Art was NEVER my forte. I love art, I was just never any good at it myself. The portfolios that the high school students had looked professional; every kind of media you can imagine was put to use. The perspectives and point of views including the "green" projects and quality social messages reminded me that high school student are beginning to think like adults (despite the crazy hormones).


Since we don't have a high school student yet, we wouldn't have even known about this fabulous art show had our 6th grader not been invited to participate! Yes, you heard me correctly, our 6th grader was invited to submit a drawing to display at the art show. In what I would say is a community event (disguising a very smooth marketing strategy), the high school invites all the elementary and middle schools to bring a collection of pieces. It increases art awareness and encourages the students to continue taking art classes as they rise to the next school. Colin's elementary school selected 6 pieces to display at the art show and his was one of them! Congratulations Colin!
The whole family went to the art show and proudly supported Colin in his debut as an artist! It was a blast.

My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself

Susanna Foth Aughtmon ROCKS!
I know that's not how Book Blog Reviews are supposed to start and I don't care.
I love to read.
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Magazines, Newspapers, Blogs, Biographies, and really, I'll even read the back of a hairspray can while waiting for my kids to get out of the bathtub (I don't want book pages or my Kindle to get wet). But, as much as I love a crime novel or a sweet story, I have never experienced an author that resonates with my spirit and soul as much as Sue does. I feel like I know her; I feel like we're friends! And the truth be told, even though I know her dad, and she used to go to my church (before I did), and I read her blog faithfully, and I saw her speak once, and I met her once for like 5 minutes, and I have girlfriends that know her (and I am kinda jealous), I don't know her in person the way most people think of knowing someone. But let me tell you, Sue lets it all hang out. She is transparent in a way that most people can't imagine. She communicates about REAL life and REAL relationship with Jesus like Nobody's Business. Her writing is amazing and conversational. She's brave enough to put things on paper that the rest of us try to pretend we don't think about let alone do.
Sue's first book, All I need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans, was awesome and her newest book, My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself, is even better. As you guessed from the title, this book is about 23 of the lies we tell ourselves (and let the biggest Liar confirm for us); my favorites were 2, 15, 16, 18, 21, & 22. No I am not telling you what they are because you need to get the book. What I will say is: This book is GOOD. Good like: I laugh & cry every time I pick it up (because I am in harmony with the highs and lows), I am sucked in immediately, I can't put it down, I am letting my kids stare at the TV and eat Oreos for dinner kind of good.
If you are a woman, Christ-follower, mother, church planter, sister, daughter, teacher, volunteer, chocolate lover, jewelry lover, bargain shopper, dreamer, independent thinker, tired supergirl, or ever told a lie to yourself or someone else...I'll stop, that covers all of you, You Need To Buy and Read This Book. I guarantee you'll like it.

* Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
**This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing. ---The FCC makes me put that on here, but I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT ANYWAY!

The Year of the Marathon

David and I have recently decided that we need to start picking something from our 'Bucket Lists' to focus on each year. I know, we have 4 kids and therefore VERY little free time, but if I don't want the bucket to be overflowing in 30 years, I need to find time to do some of them. Consequently, this year is going to be the Year of the Marathon!
I have wanted to run a marathon since my early 20s. I have run a half-marathon and several other medium length races but never a marathon. I started training once about 6 or 7 years ago and had an injury that put a stop to that. And, before I knew it 2 more kids and a few more years had come and gone. But the marathon fever is still there- and if Oprah can do it, I am SURE I can (of course I won't have a coach, a chef, an assistant, a staff, and I do have 4 kids...). Right?!
I started looking at marathon options in December and trying to decide which one I would run. I don't like running in the cold or rain, so I was hesitant to consider anything here in DC. When I started looking at warmer destinations, I immediately thought of San Diego and Hawaii. I turned 35 a few weeks ago and since 35 is a milestone year of sorts, I strongly considered running in Honolulu since I was born there. It could be great fun and definitely cool to tie such a significant accomplishment to my birthplace. Unfortunately, David informed me that the dates conflicted with one of his biggest projects of the year- I didn't want to go without him and the kids and I also don't want to put this off any longer- 26.2 miles isn't gonna get easier as my body gets older.
I decided ultimately that it was more important to have my friends and family around than to have great weather so on Wednesday, I registered for the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon which will be on Sunday, October 31st. Guess what, when I checked the website, I discovered that this is the 35th Anniversary of the Marine Corps Marathon---so we'll commemorate our 35 years together. I Like it!
Now, if I could just make time to go get my new running shoes and if I could figure out a way to have my kids enjoy 2 hours in the double jogger, the training plan would be easy (ok not easy, but easier). That might not happen soon, in the meantime, me and the treadmill have regular dates!

Miracles

According to dictionary.com, the definition of the word Miracle is:

mir·a·cle [mir-uh-kuhl]

–noun

1.	an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

2.	such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.

3.	a wonder; marvel.

4.	a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality

Pastor Mark Batterson has recently challenged the congregation at National Community Church to take time during the season between Easter and Pentecost (May 23, 2010) to fast and pray for miracles.

I have firmly believed in miracles for as long as I can remember. But I fully acknowledge that we often forget to believe that God is miraculous except when we find ourselves in crisis (personally, professionally, financially, relationally, or by association to someone we care deeply for who is in crisis). Yet, he performs miracles in our lives and circumstances every day whether we acknowledge them or view them as miracles.

I am thrilled to remind myself that big or small, there are many things in my life that exist by divine appointment and intervention and there could or should be a few more. Now, I am not talking about treating God like a genie that grants wishes. I am talking about supplicating the desires of your heart, knowing that God is omnipotent, and then submitting those desires to His perfect will.

I look foorward to sharing this journey with other NCCers (especially my ladies small group) as we seek God for amazing things personally and corporately.