Ouch - I have a broken finger . . .

The embarrassing thing is that I broke it awhile ago and ignored it hoping it would get better . . . it didn't.

When I went to Dr. Oppman he sent me to an orthopedic surgeon who said that it was too complicated for him and I had to go to a hand specialist.

After talking to the hand specialist the surgeon decided to try splinting it for 8 weeks - fun. If that doesn't work, which I really don't have much confidence that it will seeing that the tendon has completely come off the to knuckle, I have to have surgery. YIKES!

How did I do it you're wondering? Well, I can officially say that I have a football injury now.

My friend Judy

So today and every day, I will choose to allow difficult situations, even ones as difficult as this, to make me better.

In particular, I choose to try to love better – love Jesus better and love people better – everyday . . . Judy Gregory

A couple of days ago my good friend Judy had to speak at a funeral . . . her Dad's funeral. I have no idea how she was able to do it, except that she is a person of great strength and courage. What she had to say, especially under the circumstances of his death will be forever etched upon my heart.

Judy, you have had a HUGE impact on my life. Thank you for your leadership, your teaching, your example, and your friendship.

If you want to be inspired today - click here and read the entire message

The 1st Annual Rajski Turkey Bowl

Yes, believe it or not, the Turkey Bowl is just touch football played with a thawed fresh turkey instead of a football.

Bailey making a run with the turkey. Right after this shot she threw the turkey at me unexpectedly and hit me in the face - it was hilarious but I still have a fat lip today from it!

Here's Trent getting ready to launch a turkey pass

Josh is goin for it - tryin to score with the turkey but Taylor is right on him!

And a fun (but sick) time was had by all!

God, in the busy-ness of my day, I sometimes forget to stop to thank You for all that is good in my life. My blessings are many and my heart is filled with gratefulness for the gift of living, for the ability to love and be loved, for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of creation, for sleep and water, for a mind that thinks and a body that feels.

I thank you, too, for those things in my life that are less than I would hope them to be. Things that seem challenging, unfair, or difficult. When my heart feels stretched and empty and pools of tears form in my weary eyes, still I rejoice that you are as near to me as my next breath and that in the midst of turbulence, I am growing and learning. In the silence of my soul, I thank you most of all for your unconditional and eternal love. Amen.
Copyright ©1999-2007 explorefaith.org

Thanksgiving funny

Watch this - it's pretty funny!

Oh Deer!

This is Cody's first deer - an 8 point BUCK - 1 shot - 200 yards away!

He gutted it himself in the field and endured an initiation I can't speak of.

I can't believe my baby was man enough to do that.

Is it possible to be extremely proud and horrified at the same time?

Here's the hunting crew celebrating the first shoot of the season!

They call him "The Shooter" now.

Todd, Cody, Aaron and Trent (pretty sexy camo, huh?)

Does anyone have any good recipes for venison?

The only way you can live the life that God created you to live is with God. At the core of our being nothing works except knowing Him.

Recognize that you were created to live in the presence of God and the more aware you are of His presence in your life the more powerfully you will live your life. Erwin McManus

Update!

I was shocked when I got on my blog and saw how long it's been since I've posted. Here's what's been going on, in no particular order:

On Friday I spent about an hour and a half at JaRoss spa sitting in the relaxation room with a warm herbal neck wrap, baking in the sauna, soaking in the jacuzzi, lounging in the big comfy robe and pampering myself with exotic body scrubs, lotions and hair products. Guess how much I paid for it? NOTHING . . . well, I paid $30 last month for a membership that lasts for a year. I can go in anytime and and the facilities as much as I want and it's free! I love it and it's a great way to relax and recharge. You should do it for yourself!

I've been working on some programs for my coaching practice. Here are some of the programs that I'll be offering for 2008: (Coaching is not for people in crisis, but people who want to get the most out of life)

• Holistic Health - Spa environment with aromatherapy, music & relaxation exercises, concentrating on your mind, body, spirit and soul
• Fitness & Wellness Program - Motivational environment using inspiring images and quotes to stay motivated -focus on building a healthy lifestyle instead of just going on another diet (again)
• Relationship Repair and Rebuild - Working through relational problems and building strength in relationships- couples, parents, family, business
• Teen Program (age 14 - 19 female or male) - Fun and interactive environment using art, photos, music and more to find out who you really are and what’s important to you
• Academic Coaching - A 10 session program for students who want to excel in their school work and figure out what they want to do in college
• Jump Start - A one-time two-hour coaching session designed for women who are tired of letting life just “happen to them.” - A great pick me up!
• Goal Setting - Tired of setting goals and not reaching them? Do you even know what your goals are? Find out what’s important to you and how to get there.
• Relax and Recharge - Come to this 2 hour session to relax, de-stress and refuel. Shift your attitude and perspective so that you can again see life in a happy, joyful positive way. (This is a great Christmas gift for someone special!)

Youth ministry has turned out to be much different than anyone anticipated - Blair and I are slowly working on building trust and rebuilding the ministry - it's going to take some time. In the meantime I feel God has confimred to me that coaching is my passion and the direction that I'm still supposed to be going in. Sometimes it's really hard to balance both jobs.

Family life is good, crazy and never a dull moment. Cody is 14 . . . going on 21 . . . Enough said! There is never a dull moment in our house and I am constantly on my toes reading and researching on how to be an effective parent. I am very grateful to my son that he is inpsiring me to learn so much right now and he's helping fuel my passion to help families work better.

Trent and I just got back from Vegas last week for a business conference that we always go to. It was fun, but we're always ready to leave. We didn't win anything, but had a great time seeing the CORR (championship offroad racing), Louie Anderson, Dick's Last Resort and the Titanic Exhibition.

We had to get all new countertops because the countertops we had were junk. That wasn't fun cuz our kitchen was all tore up again - ughhhh. But now it's almost as good as new and we just have some final things to do.

I'm getting excited for the holidays! We are simplifying this year and spending more money on spending time with people we love rather than buying a bunch of dumb gifts that they won't even use. I can't say what they are, but it's going to be great. We're also going to have Thanksgiving at our house, a Christmas party and maybe even a New Year's Party. Fun times, fun times.

Alright I guess that's it - give me an update on what you've been doing!

Cody's best football moment

Football is now over and Cody's team placed 3rd in the division - not bad! Next year his big rivals (Schmucker and Discovery) will all be together on the Penn field working as a team - everything will change and he's really excited about wearing the Black and Gold.

In a final tribute to his last time wearing the Grissom uniform, I had to post a picture of his best football moment.

This kid from West side's job is to take Cody out so that he can't get to the quarterback. Notice he's about half Cody's size.

Here's what happened 1 split second later after Cody hit him . . .

The kid is KNOCKED OUT - if you zoom in you can see that he is out cold.

He didnt' know what hit him. Cody just hit him and took off after the quarterback (which he did help make the sack). Keep in mind that Cody is bigger than a lot of adults I know - 5' 11" and 180 lbs! The poor kid!

Cody said when the kid got up he said (in a Napoleon Dynamite kind of voice) "dude, that big kid hit me"

There's an internal conflict going on inside me -part of me is like "yeah - that's my son!", and the other part is like "ooohhh - I hope he's ok. I wonder if we need to call and apolotize to his parents?" lol

OUCH!

OUCH! I had dental work done today and my jaw is killing me. This is the start of a long journey I will be on for 2 years! My jaws are shifting, making a severe crossbite that is going to get really bad as I get older, which will not only look bad, but will cause some health problems.

In order to fix it right, I have to have orthodontics to move my jaws back into place. I am not excited, but am happy that in the end the bonus will be that for the first time ever in my life I'll have a beautiful smile! That's what I'll think of through this entire painful and financially exhausting process!

Here's the schedule:

• Today - temporary crown on my back molar to support the orthodontics
• 2 Weeks - Put the permanent crown on
• 4 Week - Another temporary crown on the other back bottom molar
• 6 weeks - Put the permanent crown on
• January 8 - Go in the a.m. and have some of my cosmetic dentistry ground off and removed, in the afternoon go see Dr. Long and have my braces put on.
• January 2010 (are you kidding me?) - HOPEFULLY braces off, straight jaws, straight teeth and trip to Dr. Benefiel to put the veneers back on my front teeth and fill in all of my ugly silver fillings (that's my bonus to myself).

When all is said and done it'll set us back about $12,000 and I'll be 44 years old. Oh well, at least Cody and I can share appointments for awhile!

Pics from my Photography Workshop with Todd and Brad Reed

My first photography workshop

Wow - it was a gorgeous weekend up north along the Lake Michigan coastline.

I had the incredible opportunity to study with 2 of the best photographers EVER - Todd and Brad Reed. They live in Ludington and offer a weekend workshop where you get to go out on location with them and learn about how they see God's creation and how they capture it so beautifully. It was AMAZING and I learned so much.

Check out their photographs here.

It was held at a wonderful bed and breakfast in Ludington called The Cartier

Mansion and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a perfect get away in a charming lake side town. Gary and Sueanne, the owners, are delightful people and Sue ann is an amazing cook. Check out their website here.

Now I want to go back and redo all of my pictures that I've taken and apply the stuff I learned from Todd and Brad!

To see some of my photos I've taken before I took this class, click here. In a couple of days I'll post some that I took over the weekend.

P.S. I did not take the picture shown here at the top, it is one of Todd Reed's famous shots. In the second photo, Brad Reed is on the left and Todd is on the right - they are a father son team.

What a way to end the season!

Wednesday was the last B game of the season and I've never seen that team look so good. We had another show down with Schmucker and Cody played the entire game - I've never seen him play that aggressively!

Here he is #62 forcing a fumble

Look how big Cody is compared to this kid - it's hilarious! He's like a tank!

We were down 13 - 20 and in the last 7 seconds Reese Haithcox scored this amazing touchdown (it was a run of half the football field). That brought the score to 19-20 - YIKES!

Here's our good friend Austin Watson (#40) getting ready to receive the ball and hold it for the kicker. What pressure for a bunch of 8th graders - they had to get this kick to win!

IT"S GOOD! GRISSOM WINS 21 - 20!!!!! (Look at Reese the running back doing a flip - he's right by Cody #62)

The crowd and the team goes CRAZY!!!

Coach K - the Athletic Director and 8th grade football coach

A very happy team! (Look at Cody - isn't he so cute?!)

Airiana says "Good Job Cody"!

Results of the Big Game . . .

Grissom team looking pretty intense before the game starts

We played at the Penn High field under the lights - pretty exciting stuff!

Grissom scores the first touchdown of the night!

Go Guardsman!!

We were lookin' T-O-U-G-H but in the 3rd quarter Schmucker started pulling ahead
Touch down Brad Kitts

Final Score

Schmucker 32 - Grissom 20

It's a sad day! BUT . . .
We have the best cheerleaders!

The big game is tonight!

Well, tonight is the big game - Grissom Middle School vs. Schmucker Middle School. It's at Penn on the big field and the kids get an announcer through the whole game. It's very exciting!

From what I understand Schmucker is tough - they're undefeated. I am hoping for an upset from our boys here at Grissom! I'll let you know!

My prayer today

Today's Daily Word - Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Thank You, God, for children—Your vision of greater good in the world.

Children—what a blessing they are in my life. From their innocence, purity, freedom, and guileless natures, I learn to take one day, one moment, at a time.

Children are my guides through the maze of life’s mysteries. I bless these wonderful miracles in my life, children who are my teachers, my reminders that each moment can be a new beginning.
Wherever they are, whatever they are doing, these young ones are growing, learning, and adapting to the environment in which they live. Giving thanks for all children, I appreciate them as God’s vision for greater good in the world.

“But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.”—Deuteronomy 4:9

From Dailyword.com

Do you ever have one of those days where you have so much to say but you don't know how to get it out of your mouth into a form that anyone can understand?

I'm having one of those days . . . no, I'm having one of those months.

So that's it . . . for now.

If I can just deal with life and allow God to use those dealings to transform me into the right person - the EXPLOSIVE person, the person with GUN POWDER in my veins . . .

Then the noise I make will be worth hearing.

The fire that is seen in my life will scorch the room.

The substance of my life will pierce the hearts of those around me, and where I stand . . .

I will always leave a mark!

(From "FlashBang - How I Got Over Myself" by Mark Steele)

Grissom Wins!

Cody #62 - Defensive End

Cody goin after the Quarterback

T.J. Bayer SCORE!

Jeff Laidig SCORE!

Jamil Davis SCORE!

Today's Daily Word - Saturday, September 15, 2007
Let Go, Let God

I live life inspired, whole, and free. What a comfort it is to know that I can let go and let God lead me in all matters and in all that matters.

What I am releasing is the mistaken belief that I need to direct and control all the various aspects of my life. What I am accepting is the greater good that is emerging and unfolding.

With God leading the way, I am free of all fear and doubt. My trust in God strengthens me with the resolve to live my life fully.

What is in store for me this day and in the days ahead? I may not have all the details just yet, but there is no doubt that the light of God shines brightly in and through me. I am ready and eager to step forward into a life of inspired living.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.”—Jeremiah 29:11-12

From The Daily Word

My New Journey . . .

3 weeks ago I was just minding my own business, winding down the summer and looking forward to working on my Life Coaching practice this fall (which, by the way, is going really well), when out of nowhere – BAM! – God grabs me and points me in an entirely different direction.

Well, it wasn’t exactly an ENTIRELY different direction, it was a path I’ve been on before and thought that God was finished with.

Are you sitting down?! I've agreed to accept the job of Youth Director at Waypoint Community Church in Middlebury. I will be working with some of my favorite people in the whole entire world, Blair and Tracy Carlstrom - Blair is a new pastor there.

I will still be doing my life coaching practice, and I will also do the youth job for one year (it’s a temporary gig). It’s really cool because with my life coaching I am specializing in family and relationship work, so the 2 fit hand in hand. Eventually I'm hoping to incorporate family work into the ministry too.

The beauty of this is that the youth ministry is very important to Waypoint and has been very successful, so I have incredible support. Blair and I will be working together with middle school and high school students to help them connect with God and with each other – it will be focused all around relationship, connection and every day things they are dealing with. Instead of preaching at them, we will raise a topic and ask questions so they can talk it out. I will get to use everything that I learned in coaching school and apply it to youth ministry. Funny how God does things like that! It's so awesome!

My good friend Judy Gregory summed it up for me and really helped give me the confidence to take this on (thanks Judy!):

"Lanette, you belong in youth ministry. You have the passion and the drive. As an AA, you were in the right department, just the wrong position. I think you came away with a whole lot of great memories from the experience, but a few scars too. I just think you needed a little time to heal in between, so that God could redeem it all. Even if you do nothing beyond being yourself, you are going to do and be incredible!"

I am so grateful for this new direction and new journey and can’t wait to see what God is going to do!

Pics from youth group

This is Petey - my new baby cat!

Since my cat Teddy dumped me and moved in at the neighbors house, my incredibly sweet and kind hubby brought me a new baby home last week to take care of.

I LOVE him! He really is a good kitty. I still am heartbroken that Teddy left me, but this is helping me get over the rejection.

My niece Airiana

Look at how ADORABLE my niece Airiana is. She's such a little princess and I LOVE HER!

Awakenings

Switchfoot has a new song and video out that is AWESOME!

Here's a sample of the lyrics that really spoke to me . . .


These dreams started singing to me out of nowhere
And in all my life I don't know if I've ever felt so alive,
Alive

I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want a heart that I know is beating,
It's beating . . .

I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to live like I know what I'm leaving
I want a heart that I know is beating,
It's beating... it's beating...

Check it out!

(Thank you to Amber Cox for showing it on her blog)

This is an AMAZING story about how an "every day person" just like us followed her heart, turned a personal tragedy into something good, and is making a HUGE difference in a place where people have no value at all.


On her first night in India, Becky Douglas lay awake thinking about beggars. As she tossed and turned that night, Douglas prayed. "'I'm just a housewife. Tell me what I should do.' And the thought came to me: 'You can at least look at them. You can at least acknowledge that they're suffering.' And the next day I did."

Six years later, Douglas is a veteran activist fighting to end leprosy in India. The organization she started around her kitchen table now works with 20,000 people who live in 45 leprosy colonies, providing them with microloans, mobile health clinics and schools.

It was the death of her oldest daughter, Amber, that started it all. When Douglas was cleaning out her daughter's dorm room she discovered that Amber had been sending part of her college money to orphans in India. CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY . . .
http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3058