Body Prop & Ring Junction

Kristie and I are continuing to make our way around the gym. This post will feature footage of the body prop and ring junction.

The body prop and I are not good friends. I can get my body in position, hold it, and move a few steps. I need to get my feet higher.

The ring junction and I are becoming fast friends. It has four rings. Our goal is to go back and forth as many times as possible before our hands scream for release. Kristie and I have good form and momentum. I am proud of our work on the ring junction. (Coach is too!)

We are also working on the cargo net. Kristie is a beast and can climb over the net. Me? Not so much. I can get my right arm over and I have the bruises to prove it. We will keep working on it. Kristie doesn’t put up with my lame excuses…Until next time keep ninjasizing!

Just Be Near

Just be near. When I am sad I just want someone to be near. Hold my hand or hub me. Let me cry. Just be there. No advice. No suggestions. No problem-solving.

I have written about this before. Below is my repost. Sarah Philpott’s Hold Me and Hug Me is a beautiful piece about just being near. Keila Ochoa’s Be Near post is also very lovely. When others are grieving, sad, or just need a friend be near.

Do you want children?  When are you having children?  Nope, we are going to have a Dalmatian farm.  One Dalmatian has the energy of at least 10 dogs or more…  Our hands will be full then.  Maybe we won’t think about the family that we have always wanted. We are struggling with infertility and had one miscarriage three miscarriages.  Maybe that is the more appropriate response.  Who has the strength or courage to say that?  Let me lay my greatest weakness, downfall, and failure before you and cringe while you offer well-meaning but hurtful advice.  Do you remember when my mom died, and you weren’t sure what to say?  Do you remember being there and being my friend?  Listening to me?  Being a shoulder for me to cry on?  That is still what I need from you now. If you have lost someone, then you know some of the same pain I have.  At least with a death, there is a resolution.  With infertility and miscarriage(s) the pain lingers and resurfaces.  Oftentimes a solution seems far off, the journey weary, and loneliness abounds.    We posted articles about infertility and miscarriages, because we wanted to raise awareness.  Be aware of what is happening, be sensitive, and continue to be our friends.  We need you.

Beginning of School Gym Update

As I am starting the new school year, I am trying to maintain balance. I am trying to exercise more. How will I be ready for American Ninja Warrior if I don’t?!? Last summer I rocked the exercise. When I got pregnant and miscarried, all that hard work went out the window. I was not interested in exercising or as a result feeling better. This year I have to feel better and exercise is part of the solution.

The ultimate goal is to win American Ninja Warrior. Right now I am focusing on the specifics. Below are my goals and current reality. I am ahead of the game from last year. I am hoping to keep it up.

Goal	Reality
Go to the gym 2-3 times a week	Going to the gym 1-2 times a week
Walk the girls twice a week	Walking 0-1 times a week
20 minutes yoga sessions 2-3 times a week	Doing yoga 0-1 times a week

Letter to Self

Letters to Self

At the beginning of the school year students write a letter to themselves that is returned on the last day of school. This was an activity done specifically for Communication Skills students. When the district eliminated Communication Skills as required elective for 10^th graders, I was saddened. However, “Letter to Self” is so valuable and fun, I now do it with all my classes.

Students write a four paragraph letter about whatever they want. They seal their letters, and I keep them secure until the last day of school. Some of the topic suggestions are:

• Who do you admire most?
• What would you want to change in your life?
• What is your biggest fear?
• List your feelings about the future, work during the next five years, retirement, graduation, marriage, or divorce.
• $$$Money$$$...send yourself a buck…just in case you need it.

As I am involved in many sequels, I typically write about book sequels. I predict what the next book will be about. What will happen to Character X? What will the next title be? Is this the end?

This year I am reminding myself of my goals. When I read my letter at the end I can reflect if I have met my goals. I also left summer goals for myself too.

Dear Reader join us in writing a letter to yourself. In May I will read mine and remind you to find and read yours. I am attaching the full directions at the bottom of this post. Happy Writing!

A Letter to Yourself Write a letter to yourself, at least four paragraphs long.  Think carefully about what you want to include in this letter.  Fold it in half, seal it with tape or by stapling, and put your name, class period, and date on the outside.  I will save this letter until the end of the year when I will return it to you.  It should be interesting to you to see if and how you have changed over this school year. Some Suggested Contents: What would you want to change in your life? List your feelings about the future, work during the next five years, retirement, graduation, marriage, or divorce. List the names of two people you love or loved.  Discuss the relationships you have or had with these individuals. Tell yourself to keep in touch with a friend(s) . . . name them, and describe them and your relationship. Describe your personality and physical appearance. What song that you listen to now makes you feel relaxed, at peace, or energetic and excited.  Talk about the artist/group and why you like them. $$$$$MONEY$$$$$ send yourself a buck . . . just in case you need it. Make a list of enjoyable recreational activities that you are currently engaged in. Whom do you most admire?  Describe this person and give reasons why you admire him/her. What has happened to you this summer, this year, this week that seems very important to you now? What is your favorite expression(s)?  How do these give some clue about who you are and what you think about your world? What is your biggest fear?  Why? Make a list of items you would like to acquire or experiences you would like to have and give reasons why. Make a list of people whom you know now that you think will have drifted away.  Tell why your friendships may fade away. Make a list of people who you feel will still be close friends of yours in five years.  Why are these people extra close to you?

Bearing the Burden

God’s design is that women would bear children. It also means that we bear the hormones and the physical loss of our children. Our bodies go through physical and mental torture.

One time I got really frustrated with Coach. I said what do you do? Pregnancy only affects my body! (I am sure I screamed those words…) The distress was evident on his face. He worried immensely about me during our pregnancies. How can he keep my stress down? What can he do to help? He also worried when I got sick. Every miscarriage has been accompanied by a cold. He bared many invisible burdens, burdens I was oblivious to.

Over the summer Coach decided to get a tattoo. (The ribbon is the pregnancy and infant loss ribbon joined to make a heart. The footsteps represent our children: one unknown and two girls.) He wanted to get this tattoo to help carry some of the burden of our loss. What a kind, gentle, loving soul I married. Blessed be the Lord.