Resolution Road

Who am I?  Well I haven't done a blog post in 3 years so clearly not a blogger.  But I've had to ask myself that question the past few months.  Am I the same person during this pandemic that I was before it?  Is my focus still the same?  Am I only 'all the things I say I believe or am I actually all the things I do.'  I've had the privilege of living in a great country, with a great family, and relatively problem free life. I chose at an early age to follow Christ because of the message of love, and the message of Jesus to reach out to those in need. I never take for granted that I was born into a country that is relatively safe for me and gives me the freedom to follow Christ.  I am also very aware that although I'm grateful and love that I have the Freedom to worship, America was founded on the ideals of the "American Dream".  Most of those ideals are positive, but it also teaches that we are owed our individual rights above those of oth...

First, I feel I need to address the fact that all of my articles seem to deal with the same issues each year.  I don't know if that means I'm just like everyone else who struggles with the same things through out their life, or if it just means that I'm a mess.  Which leads me to my current topic.  My mess, and for that matter, the fact that I'm feeling pretty massive at the moment.  Cue the flashback to the moment I realized the core of my issue.  It was the mid 2000's (I think), and I was watching Oprah. Man did I love her show.  That particular day her guest was an author.  An author of a book called "Does this Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?".  At the time I was disappointed because given a day off to watch my favorite talk show host, I was hoping for any major Hollywood guest.  I was even hoping for a Dr. Phil or Dr. Oz appearance to brighten my day.  BUT, it's Oprah and I stuck it out.  Basically to make a long episode short, t...

I recently read this most humorous and somewhat depressing quote.  "When you're 20, you care what everyone thinks.  When you're 40, you stop caring what everyone thinks.  When you're 60, you realize no one was ever thinking about you in the first place."  I turned 40 in 2016 and when I read this, I thought wow, the part about the 20's and 40's was spot on. I cared so much what other people thought of me when I was younger and now it seems, I'm content to be me and let those that aren't, go by the wayside. Over the years I've had my share of personal growth, acceptance and quite frankly a fair amount of counseling. All leading me to the conclusion that 'I am who I am".  That's all great, so where does the depressing part kick in? Um..."nobody is thinking about me in the first place"?!  Am I going to realize someday that the things I say, do, or worse yet, post, don't mean anything to anyone.  As I pondered this idea,...

It's 2016 and I've really had to contemplate, what my resolutions would be this year.  As I think about what a crazy end of year 2015 was, and how 2016 is starting out, I've decided that I'm going to choose the subject that seems to resonate with me the most. To make it my goal, to become the best version of me, I can. This one, will be hard to measure, but it means the most to me, so I'm willing to do my best. My first goal of the year, is to give to others, to the best of my ability, with all my heart.  This means to stop making rash judgments of other people/situations, and to look inward and see how I can change. You know, judge less. Love more. This is a voting year, and I think we all agree, that we have already seen some crazy politics and opinions. Just scroll down your news feed on Facebook, and it won't take you long to see what people's opinions and judgements are. Everyone has their opinions and thoughts about who the best candidate is. I do! Wh...

I had quite a shock the other day when I met with Tracy Medd, the Christian Ed Pastor at my church. We were just visiting and I was explaining to her how the past year had gone for me. 2014 was an overall good year. I was able to meet many of my goals, including financial, physical and spiritual. But it was the spiritual goals that we were discussing most. In the last year I had completed the Beth Moore study, "Breaking Free".  That study single handedly changed the direction of my life.  In past articles I've discussed how my hope needs to be found in God, how I get upset when my relationships with people don't translate etc. etc.  The Breaking Free devotional helped me to realize that I can't please everyone, that not everyone will like me and that's ok. That I can't fix everyone and that my need to, to make myself feel better was really selfish.  That truly my hope does need to be found in Christ. BUT I was never able to give a word to that definition. ...

The alarm goes off at 6:00am and my first thought is "What did I get myself into?!" I know I've trained for months, drank tons of water, ate a massive plate of pasta the night before and got plenty of sleep, yet, a quick moment of fear passes over me. 7:00am Jill comes over and I feel a bit more calm. We eat some candy and then get dropped off at the race. 8:00am the race starts, music playing, ear buds in and we're off. Don't worry, I won't give the moment to moment recap but I will say we finished the race at 10:22am. A time of 2 hours, 20 minutes and 35 seconds.  Our goal had been to finish the race, running or walking and we made it running the whole way. We were very happy with this. It was so cool to run the last lap in Lambeau Field. When we crossed the finish line, I actually shed a fear tears.  It's been months of training and hard work and it was something I was never sure I'd be able to do. As cheesy as this may sound, crossing the finish li...

I thought it was about time for a little update on the goals.  I never really did share any of my other goals for 2014 and I haven't given any details about the progress on my previous goal.  So, for the previous goal of running and training for the half marathon, here's where I'm at:  I have signed up for the Cellcom, in Green Bay, at the end of May. I have been training since my last article. I was completely unaware of how fast the race booked up and found out they were sold out way back in February. Thankfully there are friends, and Craig's List and I was able to secure a spot in the race. One of the many benefits of training for the marathon is that I've been able to lose 25lbs. Mostly through a beginners half marathon training schedule and also a low carb diet. My sister introduced me to this amazing workout in Howard called Bod-e Bootcamp. Wow!!! It's all about muscle confusion and some pretty intense workouts. I absolutely loved it! I went for a week an...

My first thought when deciding what to write for my first blog of 2014, was to recap last years goals and group them into successes and failures. You know the popular phrase: "Think about how far you have gotten.  Not about how far you still have to go." That sounds so good and yet the the message of a new year, tells us that we are NOT supposed to think this way.  It's message really tells us to look forward by making resolutions, goals and life changes. To "keep your eye on the prize." To take your vision and dreams, making them attainable goals. And so, I will look forward not back. No recaps, no funny failure stories, only the new year, new beginnings and new resolutions. With that I present my first goal of 2014:  1.  Run a half marathon. - My friend Jill and I were hoping to run a marathon in Florida this year. The race was already booked by the time we tried to sign up.  It has now become a goal of ours for the new year. So I am still going to get myself...

There are certain desires that all of us have. The desire to be loved, respected, and treated with kindness.  Mother Teresa said "The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved." I have to say, I just love people.  I know that sounds corny, but I do.  I love them.  I'm drawn to people and have a desire to get to know them.  I want to be involved in their lives.  I have a huge heart for teenagers and young people.  I love people who have less and I have a huge desire to help people in any way I can.  I've already talked about Camp Daniel and my love for people with disabilities. I'm so glad that God gave me a heart for people. In this pursuit to help   love,  I've developed some amazing friendships.  I'd like to say I've changed lives and made a difference but I wouldn't say that.  I just know that I've been able to get to know and try with whatever gifts God has given me, to serve them in wha...

This run will hopefully help with two of my  resolutions!

Well what am I at now? I think resolution #4. You have seen all of my posts about Camp Daniel and I'm sure you now know how much I love it and support it. It was at the end of camp last year, week four, that I had decided life needed to change.  Tony Piantine is one of my biggest mentors and at camp he had asked me if I could be more involved with the Booster Club. He spoke into my life and encouraged me that God had big things in store for my life. I knew that if I was going to help with camp more, I needed to free up some time.  My job last year required long hours!!! Full-time 7:00-6:00pm. I knew that as I drove to work the Monday after camp, that I did not want to be there anymore. I felt life was too short to continue working that many hours. I needed a part-time job. I heard of a job opening at Ferrellgas and applied. So on March 4th 2013, I started my new part-time job. My hours are usually 8:00am-2:30pm with a day off during the week.  Perfect!!! I love the girls ...

I'm not even sure how to start this so I'm just going to I guess. It's week four at Camp Daniel and I'm able to be here the whole week! This week has been amazing! Every year I come to camp, my life changes. I now just come to expect it instead of being surprised by it. What has  made the biggest impact on me this year? It is just how incredible the young people at camp are. The counselors 25 and under are giving up weeks of their summer to serve selflessly and lovingly. How many people their age do that? I'm so proud of the growth I have seen. It's inspiring and challenges me daily to love with all that I am.

One thing I have learned these last 7 months is that I've sorely overestimated my ability to 'press on'. Resolution #3- Lighten up, Press On, Let it go, No Worries, I've got this. - Yeah, something like that.  I had a catchy phrase at one point and can't remember it.  I'm staring at the book I bought two months ago, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff", and that's the only phrase that comes to my mind now.  So let's address that.  The book... haven't even read one line.  Skimming through it though, leads me to believe it will be perfect for me. You know how some people just have self destructive tendencies.  Yes, I'm one of them.  I'm Jane from the movie '27 Dresses'.  I have a hard time saying no to people.  I want to please everyone and will go to any lengths possible to do so.  Usually to my own detriment. I love people and I love to make them happy but I'm constantly concerned I'm not doing enough or I'm doi...

Resolution #2- Get involved as much as I can with Camp Daniel and the booster club. Camp Daniel is a camp for people with disabilities. It's a place where people with disabilities can spend a week of fun and get to hear the message that God loves them and has amazing plans for their lives. Everyone who goes to Camp has their lives changed. It's an incredible place. Right now Camp is being held at Lake Helen until the grounds at Camp Daniel are completed. Money needs to be raised in order for that to happen. That is how the booster club was formed. Tony has asked me to be in charge and we've had two successful banquets. This year I'm able to go to a couple days, each of the 4 weeks of camp to get others involved. I will be there the entire 4th week. This morning I head to one of my favorite places in the world. 

At the beginning of the year, like so many people, I came up with a list of resolutions.  At the top of the list, was to create a blog so I could document my success and failures.  Well it is now July 9th and I'm just getting to it.  You decide...failure??  Well it is still 2013 and no time like the present to start.  I'm hoping to have fun writing about my accomplishments and lack there of.  Starting 6 months after I should, kind of defines my personality.  I'm a bit of a procrastinator.  Changing that is NOT actually one of my resolutions this year.   So, here we go blog world.  I'm going to give you a try. Resolution #1-Starts right now