Eric's Current Role Models

Slipstream Sports was created for those cyclists wanting to race "clean" and what a good example that is for our youth.  Eric was thrilled with the chance meeting of Christian Vande Velde, the 5th place finisher of this year's Tour de France,  and Martijn Maaskant, on the street in Paris after the race.  Eric was sad that he had just changed out of his beloved Slipstream jersey he had worn to watch the race, so he didn't get signatures.  Eric will be rooting Christian on in the Olympics for sure!  Click on the title above to read more about this cool team.

She's back!

A wonderful time in France was had by all. Sarah has a new family that she loves to pieces, and vice versa. Above you see her with her French mom Marie Helene, and sisters Klervi, 15, and Sterrenn, 13. Her brother Yoann, 21, was away playing his Celtic pipes with a musical group that travels around Brittany performing at various venues.

Eric experienced the "Best Day of My Life" which included watching the Tour de France front row on the Champs Elysee by the Arc de Triomphe and then meeting Christian Vande Velde and Martijn Maaskant of the Team Chipotle. What a fun day!

Welcome Evelyn Grace!

Our newest family member is a sweet blessing straight from God! Congrats to Kate & Matt!

Cousin Eric is quite taken with his new cousin, Evelyn!  She is just precious!

Sarah's Weekly Email

This letter finds me in my last week of training in St. Brieuc. I'm feeling a little nostalgic thinking that we will leave in less than one week. It seems like I just arrived yesterday! I had a good long weekend for the national holiday on the 14 (not sure if I translated that sentence correctly). On Friday we had a half day of school and after, I went to the store. I bought jeans and a hat. Saturday was a bit sad for me, my sisters left for their father's for 14 days and I will not see them before I leave. Saturday night, I helped with a light and sound show which was very interesting, with three other trainees. After the show, there were fireworks. Sunday, I stayed at home until the evening, then we went to my friend Marie Helene's house and after we went to see Yoann play in the Fest Nox, which is a festival in Breton. It was a lot of fun and we danced from 8 o'clock until 1 o'clock in the morning! On Monday, the weather was very nice and we went to the beach, and then we ate at the house of another friend of Marie Helene (the two friends also have trainees) and then we went to the official fireworks of St. Brieuc. I am anxious to see everybody, but at the same time, I wish the training period wasn't almost finished!

A Sarah Update (very minimal!)

While we received only a two liner, Grandma & Grandpa S shared the following message they received:
Coucou!
Je suis très contente ici!!! Je m'entend bien avec ma famille d'accueil, et j'aime bien l'école et tout les profs! Je pense que le temps sont passé trop vite!! J'espère que vous allez bien en Indiana! Mes messages sont devenues plus et plus court avec chaque semaine, car je ne veux pas passer beaucoup de temps sur l'ordinateur! Je préfère d'être avec ma famille ici, car le temps que j'ai avec eux est limitée! Mais je pense à vous souvent, et j'ai beaucoup de choses à vous dire quand je reviendrai aux États Unis! Je vous aime beaucoup!!!
Translated:
Cuckoo! I am very content here!!! I m' hears well with my d' family; reception, and j' like l' school and all Profs! I think that time passed too quickly!! J' hope that you go well to Indiana! My messages became more and shorter with each week, because I do not want to spend much time on l' computer! I prefer d' to be with my family here, because time that j' have with them is limited! But I think of you often, and j' have many things to say to you when I will return to the United States! I love you much!!!

Sounds as if she is well adjusted and having a great experience. She visited Normandy last weekend, and said she took lots of photos. Hope you all are having a great week!

Sarah's town:

From the tour's webpage:

"With a population of 47,000, Saint-Brieuc lies in the most privileged of settings: a bay where the tides are the fifth largest in the world, and which has been classified as nature reserve. It is the leading scallop fishing zone in France. Renewing with its maritime vocation, Saint-Brieuc has renovated and extended Légué harbor, with great economic and commercial success, not to mention the ever-growing popularity of leisure sailing. 4th largest job basin in Brittany, Saint-Brieuc strives to develop fields of excellence: the Ploufragan Zoopôle (biotechnologies and animal health care), the Véhipôle (automobiles and the roads of tomorrow), the Batipôle (building construction). As for culture, the Art Rock festival has been held for 25 years and draws 35,000 spectators. In sports, sailing holds center stage, with yachtsman Yann Eliès leading the way, as well as Saint-Brieuc Côtes-d’Armor Volley-Ball, which plays in the French first division. Not to forget young local talents emerging in BMX, tennis and boxing. "

"Le Tour" Bike Race will be in Sarah's Town Sunday!

Eric has always followed the Tour de France Bike Race, and this year it ends Stage2 in St. Brieuc! On Sunday, click the above title and you can see the live video from Sarah''s town. We havent heard from her this week, so we assume she is having a great time!
Happy 4th to all of you!