Spring Projects

12 week Challenge Essay

As a high school athlete, I thought I was strong. I played two varsity sports and two other recreational sports. Through my adventures and challenges I accumulated a variety of scars that I wore as badges of honor; showing that this girl could be tough. Little did I know how tough life could be and what real strength was.

Six years later I learned to be mentally strong when I was confined to a bed for three months while trying to avoid the premature birth of my second daughter. I had to learn to be still when I’m naturally as calm as a kid with ADD on a sugar high.

Eight years later I learned to be spiritually strong when I held my tiny, beautiful, premature baby boy who passed away a few hours after he was born.  I had to learn to rely on my faith, my husband and my family when my heart was shattered into a million pieces and I had a strong urge to put myself into a permanent chocolate coma.

Ten years later I learned to be emotionally strong when we adopted an amazing, kind and loving five year old boy out of the foster system and I learned to feed, clothe, educate, entertain and love four kids, ages 7,6,5 and 4. And then I started my own business.

Now I am 31 and being “strong” has taken on a whole new meaning to me. Six months ago I realized that if I want this body to last, I couldn’t go on putting my physical needs last. To keep going like I was, was like expecting a Ferrari to maintain itself while driving constantly at 100 mph… through a sandstorm…running on cheap gas…and never changing the oil.  I made a goal to give my entire family a health overhaul.

This challenge has played a huge part in motivating me to once again push through my own mental and emotional limits and become physically strong again. The first time I met with my trainer he handed me a 25lb dumbbell and said “You look strong enough to handle this.” Besides managing to not drop it and break my foot, I couldn’t do a whole lot with it, but in my head I keep thinking, “He said I was strong and he’s a trainer so I MUST be.” (A trainer would never lie!) Twelve weeks later I have made some major lifestyle changes for my family. Rather than sitting on the sidelines while my kids play soccer, I’m coaching their teams playing hard WITH them. I’ve also made a strict no “non-food” (if you can’t pronounce it, it’s not a food) items-allowed-in-the-pantry rule and have doubled our daily fruit and vegetable servings (who knew I could actually like the squash)! I’m trying new sports like archery and snowshoeing.  I can also run two miles farther than my best high school distance and can lift 25% more weight.  When I run, I have a posse of kids on bikes and rollerblades to escort me.  I am also down to my high school weight (40 lbs lower than my highest non-preggo weight) and have my 10 yr old trying to borrow my shirts! I never dreamed that at 31 I would be in the best shape of my life.

Six months ago when I looked at myself, I focused on the damage from a C-section, two back surgeries, and four pregnancies. Now, when I look at myself I have some of that old pride come back. I AM strong; this girl is tough. These scars are in fact, badges of honor; showing my dedication to my family and my love of adventure. They are not marks of my weakness, but proof of my strength. 

The Way it is

Trying to clean my house during spring break is like trying to do yard work during a hurricane.

New Ride

People keep being shocked that I ride a street bike and I have four kids. I keep getting reactions implying that I'm a bad mom because I'm doing something risky. I gear up EVERY time I ride, helmet, jacket, boots and gloves. I am an incredibly safe driver. It is other people who drive stupidly make the road unsafe for me. With gas prices, bikes are becoming more and more popular. Look twice, share the road and don't judge when I can put my kids through college with the gas money I save doing something I love.

Small victory

Proud of myself. I'm a chicken when it comes to confrontation but when a lady was getting on my case when I was a linesman for my 10yr old's soccer game, I handed her the flag and told her (very nicely) she could do it herself or quit complaining. :)