Just a minute of my time...

Celebrating 27 years

Married young and went through more struggles than most, but somehow we made it through!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet hubs!

So proud

This girl set a goal to make a difference in others lives and is following through. Along the way she is learning that sometimes when you do for others, it does for you!

Here is a group of great counselors that want to change kids lives! Showing that they are up for any event, weather or situation Wisconsin and the kids have to bring them!

We got to visit her for a couple days last week and what a transformation in her in just a few weeks, right now its all about the kids!  Her enthusiasm in helping these kids reaching their goals is intoxicating!

 We headed into Madison to check out the city.  While there we met up with my girlfriend Kimmy who just fell in love with both Chelsea and Ben!

While I miss her like crazy not being home for the summer.  I'm so happy and proud of this adventure she has partaken in!

 

31 Strangers

Meet Linda...

 

Stranger  #1

We met at Milts gym and hit it off immediately! We had so much in common our banter just flowed! Within minutes I felt comfortable talking with her. She was just getting back to putting herself first, after raising 4 children - her youngest 15.

We began our conversation with the usual chatter in a gym about exercise, weight loss and running. She used to be a runner and when she realized I had lost weight since running thought maybe she too could run again one day soon.

 She's a teacher also, and that conversation came up once I revealed that I was starting back to school.  She was thrilled and began asking questions about what I wanted to do, offered to give advice on my writing and wants me to share with her class about 31 day project so that she can use it for her theme in class this year.

I wanted to start posting my project and while we have seen each other a few times since our first meeting, she requests I catch her before her work out for a picture....

Oh Joy is where I got the idea of 31 strangers!  You can read more about her in this months Artful blogger, one of my favorite magazines!

Birthday gifts

This year was my nephews 18th birthday and I wanted to do something special with the money I had planned to give him.  After viewing this adorable jar on Laura Vegas's blog I had a plan!

I found the pig (one of his 4H projects) earlier in the year and I picked up the empty jar at Target, my favorite store. And decided the money would do better at decorating the sides than any scrapbook paper I could use to cover it up!

And already I'm thinking of some other upcoming birthdays this will be perfect for!

Happy Birthday to

Me?

Where has the time gone? It seems another year has flown by with more memories to treasure for sure and a new outlook on life that has evolved. Have you heard the saying; feels 50, acts 20, looks 30, must be 40... Well 47 for me...

I'm okay with my age, in fact I feel better now than I have in my 30's!

Looking back through the years...

Uncle Rick, Debbie and Me

Just out of High school  and a bad perm!

Family.... when we were all still together

Reunion with long time friends and friend I've reconnected with!

Eeeek, another high school reunion photo

A recent girlfriend get together with same group from "bad perm photo"

Lots of memories, lots of tears and lots of change. We cannot choose the things that happen in our lives, but we can choose the people we share the journey with and our attitude as we go through life, some of that comes with age and wisdom...

Marathon training

Week 3

Monday (cross day)

• Stairmaster and weight training
• Spin class with Laurie

Tuesday

• off plan, drive to see Chelsea

Wednesday

• 3 mile run at hotel

Thursday

•  off plan coming home from trip

Friday (off day)

• run 5 miles

Saturday

• 5 mile run
• train with Milt

Sunday

• 6 mile run

 

"If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way."

- Lance Armstrong

31 strangers in 31 days

I read about this in my favorite magazine Artful blogger.  It is one of those magazines I read from cover to cover... it is that good!

The other morning I was only a few pages in when I got to reading Oh Joy's blog story and her post on meeting 31 strangers in 31 days grabbed my attention. I didn't get much further as I was heading out to get in my morning run, so out the door I went.

But the whole time running it kept nagging at me that this would be good for me in so many ways.  

1. Push me out of my comfort zone
2. work on my photography
3. sharpen my journaling

And once I finished running a conversation was started with my first stranger.  It was an easy conversation and a life changing one too.  

The rules to my 31 strangers is really there are no rules.  I would like to do it in 31 days, but if that's not possible I'm okay with that.  If I meet more than one person in a day then that too is okay since not everyday am I going to be out in the world.  Oh Joy, where I got the idea from may have more rules if you are a rule follower.

My first stranger... her name is Linda and you can learn more about her as I begin my 31 strangers in 31 days.

Stepping out of the box...

Looking towards the future...

It's funny how a random meeting, a chance of running into someone can take your life in new directions. That is what happened to me  at no other place then Milt's gym.  I went in with a sense of purpose, it was going to be an easy day, a 3 mile run as on schedule for my marathon training. But as I finished my run there was a woman on the elliptical also just finishing and our eyes met. She smiled and mentioned something about my running, to which I replied "yeah why do we do this to ourselves" and so our conversation began.

We talked of putting ourselves first now that our kids have grown. I shared my going back to school and found out she's a teacher. I shared my love of writing, she got a degree in journalism. We shared so much and couldn't stop finding things that connected us.  My half hour run turned into 1 and 1/2 hours at the gym!  I got some great books to read, she shared some insight on writing ideas for me and the list goes on...

In parting I shared with her an article that I had just read that morning about 31 strangers that I had planned to partake in.  Where each day you meet a stranger and take their picture and learn something about them - she was my number 1... now 30 more to go. She loved the idea and plans to use it in her curriculum for teaching.

After sharing Ryan's story and so many other details of our lives she asked me if I'd come to speak in her class. Me? Did you not hear me when I said I'm the quiet child between two outgoing siblings?  Well, think about it at least...

I'm freezing now since I had completely cooled down from my run and the air conditioner was on full blast, but I was amazed at how the right people are placed in your life at the right time.

I'm so inspired right now to write, to learn, to just get out there in the world and meet people!

More about 31 strangers on another post...

Marathon training

Week 2

Monday (cross day)

• One hour training with Milt
• Spin class with Laurie

Tuesday

• 3 mile run (and life changing conversation)

Wednesday

• 5 mile run
• planks

Thursday

• 3 mile run
• planks

Friday (off day)

• spin class with Chrissy

Saturday

• 5 mile run
• planks

Sunday

• 9 mile run

 

Back to school

 

Back to school has been both overwhelming and exciting. I knew it was going to be about writing essays, but two a week!  I guess that is how we improve on something...

I like my professor, I do... although she definitely has no problem sharing her political views and I wonder if any disagreement could affect your grade....

All kidding aside I need to come up with a person to write an essay on and a controversial subject for two projects throughout the summer, along with the projects we receive at each class.  I need to think about this person? Who can I research, who do I want to research... and controversy I hate controversy so this one is going to be different for me for sure.  I want it to be something and someone that I am passionate about.

Along with my school work I began another project.  A project of pictures and people that I will share as I build up the entries. It has already changed me and I can only imagine what the next 31 days will bring.  I really can't wait to share!