Enjoying life in the midst of the worst economy of our generation

At 5:00am on Thursday, February 19th, the blast of a canon startled me awake. A second canon boom lured me away from my warm bed to my kitchen window only to see what looked like a Texas long horn conducting a marching band on the cobbled street below.

This would be one of almost 100 "Fasnacht" bands that would continue to play on the streets of the Old Town in Luzern for the next week - ceasing only Friday night and Sunday night. Although, I was exhausted at the end of the week - it is really hard to sleep soundly when drums are banging away below your window all night long - the energy I got from the new experience was incredible.

So often in life, we live day in and day out not realizing what is going on in other parts of the world. The experience of Fasnacht reminded me that this world is just as full of wonderful experiences as it is of terrible ones.

Right now, millions of people are experiencing exponential personal debt, they are losing their homes and jobs. The stress is causing the break up of families and a strain on personal health.

When I struggled financially four years ago, I didn't want to tell anyone and I didn't want any help. Then one Sunday in church, I heard about Crown's Biblical Financial study and I decided that it wouldn't hurt to try. The 10-week Bible intensive study opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at money - not as my money, but as God's money.

If you, like me four years ago, are struggling to appreciate life right now because of the immense financial burdens of this collapsed economy, find out if a church near you is putting on a Crown study and sign up. It is just one way of getting back to enjoying life in the worst economy of our generation.

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Tribute to Bob Towne

Last Thursday night, with a heavy heart and tears welling in my eyes, I made a phone call to a dear friend’s mom. “Just tell him that I love him and tell him how much I appreciate everything he has done for me.” I told her how much he had believed in me when others hadn’t and how he took time off of work to coach me in the build up to the 2008 Olympic Trials and then at the trials themselves.

The very next evening Bob Towne died. Bob, also fondly known to the Olympic Training Center athletes as “the babysitter,” had a rare form of cancer that killed his body and took his life in just five short months. I first met Bob when Coach Lee asked him to “babysit” the archers at the OTC while Coach Lee was out of town.

Bob had a very relaxed style of coaching and his love of the sport and the athletes made his babysitting stints very enjoyable for us. Eventually Bob started coming down to the range on a regular basis; he started building us custom finger tabs and was constantly trying to learn more about the BEST technique.

When he wasn’t at the Training Center, he was transferring all of his newly found knowledge to a group of young athletes whom he was mentoring. One of his pupils Anna, a very ambitious and happy eight year old, won every tournament she entered last year.

In 2007, when I was asked to shoot three personal bests in order to stay at the training center, it was Bob who stood by me and told me that I could do it when I was on the brink of throwing in the towel. If he ever doubted me, he never said so and when I did hit the numbers, he was the person I was the most excited to tell.

Eventually, I was asked to leave the training center despite hitting my personal bests. When others had given up on me, Bob agreed to help. We spent three days a week together and his unconditional encouragement despite all the obstacles I was facing was refreshing.

At the end of my phone call with Bob’s mom, she said with a crack in her voice, “When you win that medal, I hope you do it for Bob.” “Without question” I answered. Additional information about Bob on US Archery's site.

'Tis the season

In my 29 years on this earth, I have only spent a handful of Christmases away from Colorado. This year will be my third international Christmas.

1995 - I'm the King!

In 1995, I celebrated Christmas Eve, French-style in Nantes, eating a "Galette Du Roi" cake with little figurines in it and dancing "La Britanique" until midnight when we opened our presents. In 2006, I went to Italy with my mom and attended midnight mass at St. Peter's Basilica following a wonderful Christmas dinner (with live Opera) and a couple ridiculously expensive Limoncellos at the Hassler Hotel at the top of the Spanish steps in Rome.

2006 - St. Peter's Basilica Midnight Mass (View Pics)

This year I'll share Christmas between Switzerland and England. I've throughly enjoyed the traditions associated with Christmas here in Luzern - brass quartets and alp horns, holiday markets, the Klausjagen procession with St. Nicholas, the Schmutzli and the men with cow bells (click here to see a video). In London, I'll take another stroll down Oxford Street and Regent Street to see the lights and if I'm lucky, I'll sneak into midnight mass at St. Paul's Cathedral after a Christmas Eve dinner with close friends.

2008 - My nose blackened by the Schmutzli (View Pics)

But of course, the core of Christmas is truly only about one thing... the birth of Jesus Christ and He was truly only about one thing... dying on the cross to save us. So in spite of all of these traditions, presents and time with family, I will try and remember to take time to be grateful that my sins (many that they are) have been forgiven.

And in doing so I hope that I will remember to keep those less fortunate in my prayers... orphaned children in Sudan, families all over the world that have been left homeless and/or jobless in the wake of the financial crises, those who have lost a loved one this year and will experience their first Christmas without them, the list goes on and on.

That being said, it is with my most heartfelt sincerity that I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and if you are struggling this year as so many are and would like me to pray for you in any way, don't hesitate to email me.

Life Changes...

As it has been a while since I've updated my website or input any blogs, I thought I would use a lazy Saturday morning to get caught up. Life has changed quite a bit for me in the past few months... I got engaged, moved to Switzerland and will start a new job in a week.

Tim and I the night we got engaged (more pics)

My fiance, Tim, proposed at the Beijing Olympics in a paddle boat on Lake HouHai on August 18th. It was a bit of a surprise since besides a 10 month stint of dating in England back in 2001, we hadn't seen or spoken with each other in 7 years until China. Tim was at the Olympics as the head rowing coach for Switzerland and I was there covering Archery for the Olympic News Service.

Among other things, the Olympic spirit runs in our veins... before coaching, Tim was a three time Olympian for Great Britain, winning Gold at the Sydney Olympics and Bronze at the Atlanta Olympics. 

After the Olympics, I returned to California and packed up my stuff, visited my family in Colorado for a couple days, met my nephew (who was 3 months old at the time), and then moved to Luzern, Switzerland. Luzern is absolutely beautiful and I've enjoyed living in Europe again (I lived in France 1995-96 and England 2000-01). 

Luzern, Switzerland (more pics)

The adjustment has been major but I am very blessed to have found a job which starts in Zurich next week. For the past 8 weeks as I've been waiting for my work visa to come through, I've been taking German courses und jetzt - ich kann ein bisschen Deutsch sprechen. 

As for archery... I have been meaning to start shooting for some months now but my equipment has literally been sitting on a boat crossing the ocean. Overall it has probably been a good thing that I haven't been shooting - for starters, I needed to let the tear in my teres minor fully heal which I wasn't able to do last year and secondly, I needed to enjoy it again. 

I have however, been preparing myself physically for the World Indoor Trials in Iowa in January. Tim wrote a training program to build up my strength and fitness which I have been following for about 7 weeks now. I've been cross-training with the erg (indoor rowing machine) and my scores have been steadily getting better week by week. I may even row at the Swiss Indoor Championships in January if I feel like I can get close to my personal best.

Well... that is all for now! Hope you have a great day! To see more pictures check out my website.

Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon - Yay, I finished!

First, I want to thank all the people who helped me raise money for Team Darfur. I don't know the final number but I'm pretty sure that we hit the $2000 goal. Second... my legs hurt soooo bad! But however bad my legs feel, all 5 hours and 20 minutes of running was worth it!

This was the second marathon that I ran (also the second that I was dumb enough to run without training). In 2003, I ran the Boston Marathon in just under 5 hours (4:59). Marathons are challenging and make you push yourself to the limit. Something that surprised me was just how many people ran the marathon. There were all body types and ages.

The highlight of my run (besides seeing all the "Elvi"), was when Jon showed up at mile 20 and ran the last 6 miles with me. I was really happy to see him and he helped me push through the hardest part of the race. One of the other touching parts of the race was how many people were running for someone else. There were people running with pictures of their loved ones on their backs. It felt good to know that I too was running for someone, the children of Darfur.

Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon & other stuff...

Last week I sent out a new enewsletter with pictures from the photo shoot as well information on my plans to run the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon to raise money for Team Darfur. I've decided to use some of the money I made from the Polo Ralph Lauren Photo Shoot to match all donations going into Team Darfur up to $1000 through June 1st (the day of the marathon). So... that means, if you donate $10, I'll give $10, for a total donation of $20. Or, if you can give $50, I'll match it and make it $100. Please consider becoming a "fan" of Team Darfur. The money raised will go to help schools in Sudan.

Press Release on Team Darfur's website: http://www.teamdarfur.org/node/336

Other happenings... I went to the McCain rally yesterday in Stockton at the AG Spanos Jet Center yesterday. I'm so thankful the Spanos' for letting me join them on this trip! I met Senator McCain and got to hear him speak about his time in Vietnam and on the campaign trail. While I was waiting to go to the rally, I also got to meet Norv Turner, the head coach of the Chargers. He has a really great outlook on football and life and it was a privilege to get to talk to him.

I'm still undecided about McCain and Obama. Obama inspires me and McCain has a huge heart for the men and women who protect this country. I guess the key is that eventually I decide who I want to vote for... not voting isn't really an option!

Apart from training for the marathon, working and trying to educate myself about the presidential race, I'm enjoying the beach and I've actually shot a few arrows. I hope you have a great memorial day weekend!

Polo Ralph Lauren Photo Shoot

I have 8 minutes until I have to catch a car that is going to take me to the airport so I can go home to San Diego. I had a blast in New York city. I'm so thankful to the Polo Ralph Lauren crew and Shawn Frack from the USOC for putting it all together.

There were three other athletes for the shoot, Brianna Glenn (athletics), Giuseppe Lanzone (rowing) and Deontay Wilder. We had a blast... Giuseppe even got to be on the Today show this morning (we went as his posse).

I'll write more later, but pictures are up on my facebook page and also at: http://www.pixagogo.com/5702924365.