Words of Faith Alpher

Well, what is there to say...it is FINISHED!! Did my first, hopefully of many, Triathlons. In Santa Cruz California and oh what an experience it was. Penni, a National Race Director and friend, inspired me to do the race. "oh...of course you could do it Faith...I'll send you an email with all the information. And make SURE you train...it will help in the race." Boy oh boy I should REALLY listened to those words.

Let's get right to the point. I really should of done it with friends. With people. A bunch of people who could of helped cheer me on AND stay with me when the currents were whisking me away. (those waves were a bear and my wetsuit needed a rear alignment) Don't get me wrong. It certainly did the job, however when you're adrenaline is pumping, I think the suit feels your anxiety. Plus 'training' more would of helped!

So, I digress, I RAN into the ocean, cause that's what you're supposed to do, right? Right. Hmmm, I guess I should of planned for that wave coming towards me. I'm thinking...now what do they do on TV? Jump? Go under the waves? Fight the waves? By the time I realized what I SHOULD of done, it knocked me down like a Jerry Springer guest. BAM!!!!!!!!! Somehow everyone was already swimming and I was floating backwards. "Are you OK?" said a swimmer? "Oh, yeah, I'm cool". I totally lied. Then I got up again...BAM..."dang it" I thought. Maybe this is why black folks ain't swimming in the ocean. (still getting knocked down by the man) ha ha I was up again...the next wave was merciful. It allowed me to do a jump with some dignity. So, the swim began...

The first time I stuck my head in the ocean I completely freaked out...murky, seaweed and the theme to 'Jaws' was playing in my head. But hey, I knew I was safe...after all he would bite the perky butt life guard first. Right? After all, I had on a full wetsuit, he couldn't even see me in the water. Don't get me wrong...the perky butt life guard was wonderful!! Let's call her, Granada. She was my angel. She talked and encouraged me the WHOLE way...wouldn't of finished without her.

"Are you OK?" said Granada? Let's be honest, I was getting MAJOR motion sickness. "You gonna make it?" She was concerned, I guess I was turning white. (shade of grey?) "Awww yeah...work it work it" I responded trying to keep my sense of humor in the middle of the ocean. As I was doing my abnormal free style strokes, without putting my head in the water, my stomach began to turn...turn...turn. Let's just say I felt myself getting 'sick' The waves...the currents going back and forth...back and forth.. splish splash....splash...waves tossing to and fro. I turned to Granada, "ummm, if I get sick will you pull me from the race?" "Well, I might have to." Said Granada. Let's just say she was to my right, I turned my head to the left...and swam and did what I needed to do in order to relieve my stomach. I SWAM...laughed...SWAM...got sick...coughed...SICK...SWAM...SWAM SOME MORE...laughed...got sick again. She didn't quite know what the heck was happening as she floated several feet to the right of me on her surf board. (long pause) Laughter..."oh my gosh...I can't believe that just happened". Says Granada as she giggled. But hey, I felt a whole lot better.

Finished the swimming portion, ran to my bike, my son ran in the ocean to greet me. "Oh my gosh, you have your jeans on buddy!!" (where was my husband? always a mom, right?) I scooted past him, and ripped off my wetsuit while running. (after all that's what I saw them doing on TV in Hawaii at an Iron Man Competition.) Got to the transition area, wetsuit off, threw on T- shirt, cycle sneakers and jumped on bike. Peddled 13.1 miles of gorgeous, serene beauty on West Cliff Drive. The Ocean. The waves I just battled, along with a picturesque view you could only see while peddling your way BACK to the transition area. And ALL OF SANTA CRUZ, so it felt like, Fire Chiefs, people on bikes, joggers, pedestrians, tourists and the nicest towns people of Santa Cruz along with a Police Officer on a motorcycle, all cheering me to the finish line. (did I mention he was BEHIND me for quite some time?) Uh hum...

Finished the ride, threw bike down, changed my shoes, ran for 3.1 miles, made my way to the finish line with roars, cheers, screams, chants...thanks to Team Semper Fi. LOVE THOSE MARINE'S!! Rounded the final corner, heard the kids screaming, "mommy...mommy...run...run...run faster...the man with one leg already beat you!!" Geeish, did they HAVE to stay THAT? I felt a cry coming on...my feet were burning...I was struggling...somehow the ground felt like bricks...but then I remembered something I read..'the race is not given to the swift or strong but to he who endures to the end....' I floated...I had energy...a last minute kick came over me...tears were streaming down my face and I ran across the finish line with everything I had. Whew...

There will be struggles...heartache and you might even get sick along the way. But hang in there...stay with it. Get friends to help you out. Reach out to someone. There's a bunch of people ready to cheer you on AND see you across the finish line. GO FOR IT!! Yes, like Hezekiah Walker says, "I'll make it...I'll make it!!"

NEXT race. Check it out!)
http://www.seejanerun.com/t-See-Jane-Tri.aspx

Well, it's been a while since I've LAST written and I'm noticing that I will ONLY write IF I have something to say :~) I'm not at reading 'fluff' well, unless it's purposeful fluff...so I digress...

Wanted to make SURE to encourage those going through a hard time. Seems everywhere you turn there's wonderful people struggling with hard times. However, I'm learing that you don't HAVE to have money to help people. You can help someone by simply being kind. A smile. A kind word. A laugh? (well, don't just start laughing if something isn't funny...now THAT would be weird) But I think you know what I mean? Surprise yourself...do something good...be silly...be goofy...MAKE someone laugh today! (but, ya know, be legal!)

So, there I was finishing up Zumba class and my teacher needed to change the MODE and tempo of the music. So she put on Otis Redding, I've been loving you too, DANG BABY!! Let me tell you something, the song started, and about 10 seconds I was on the floor, whooo, it was THAT good! On the floor, like a oh baby, come on now sorta thing...(are you following me here?) I screamed like a school girl at a jupe joint...fell out...my Zumba teacher went with it, came over and started fanning me! ha ha (think when James Brown used to go down and somebody was helping him up!) It was AWESOME...it was crazy, funny, the class started cheering (which was unexpected), she helped me up and we went back to the cool down...ahh...awesome!

My point? It was fun!! THAT'S THE POINT...silly...fun and oh so funny. It was the blues baby that felt soooo good. After class I thanked her and she said she laughed so hard afterwards. And ALL I could think about was...aww man...hope my arm pits were shaved! ha ha

See made you laugh...all the best to you and yours. Laugh today. Find the funny in the day and if you're REALLY having a hard time. Hopefully THIS will cheer you up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvW2aO7eWMM

Grace & Peace!
Faith

Ever feel like your on the cusp of something BIG? Something good? Something GOOD that you feel like is JUST ABOUT to take place? Well, that's how I am feeling about my career

I think the LAST TIME I felt this way and KNEW that a change was in the air was when I was in South Africa at a Reconciliation Conference with Covenant Church of Pittsburgh. I was having a GREAT time and someone was 'led' to inform me that they felt like good things were about to happen. Of course at the time I THOUGHT it was my career, however God had better plans and I was to marry my best friend, Daniel. Daniel Alpher. Now, I gotta tell you...I was NOT dating Daniel and the story is a rather lengthy one that I won't bother boring with you now, BUT the point is this...I was on the cusp of something great THEN and now.

The now? Timing...it's ALL about timing. I absolutely LOVE doing my show and encouraging people, empowering folks to change to be the VERY best that they can be...without hesitation or reservation. Freedom...experiencing true freedom!

MY hope is that I would get a chance to do what I LOVE doing...and to do it soon. Umm...like now? (smile) Performing my One Woman Show, 'Through the Eyes of Faith'. Keep showing how much fun it is to show how perseverance can get you through any situation. And of course my all time favorite part is showing my Wedding Reception...which will ever be known as an Urban United Nations Conference! Jewish Dancing, Irish Blessings and a good old fashion Soul Train Line! ha ha (that's probably one of the highlights of the show!)

So, timing! It's ALL about timing...my prayer for you AND yours is that you would LUNCH at a timely hour. That I would launch at a timely hour...and that WE would work to our fullest potential, empowering, encouraging and constantly engaging positivity and GOOD to the world!!

Launch? Engaged....

Faith

Building character...learning to lean on a power that is WAY higher than I...and gaining strength endurance and a passion for my purpose...daily!

Stay encouraged! Blessings to you AND your family! Looking forward to sharing MORE with you very VERY soon!

Faith

OMGOSH...are you kidding me?  We just had dessert and my taste buds are going CRAZY!!  Have you EVER tried a Carmel Apple Tart?  WOW...how good was that?  :>>:>>:>>

Is it me or have you ever heard of Omaha Steaks?  My mom sent me a care package with a TON of food.  (thanks Mom!)  My only rememberance of Omaha Steaks was hearing about it on Kathy Lee & Regis!  (I know Kelly is there now, HOWEVER Kathy said it first! )  Anyway, they gave them away as a parting gift.  (I thought this stuff clearly must be cheap!  )  Boy was I wrong.  Yo...those Carmel Apple Tarts were magical.    Don't tell my kids, but I JUST went in the kitchen and snuck a few more. 

Now, I will try to duplicate what I just ate!  IF you find ANY recipes...please please pass them along. 

OK, OK, NO MORE TALK ABOUT FOOD.  I'm still looking for the dang gone SPELL CHECK!! UGH...:>>:XX