March 26, 2008

I just got back from the National Product show and it was awesome! I love spending time with David’s family and being in an environment that is somewhat outside my norm. It was a nice relief NOT working this evening as I have been working late every night for over a week.

Last week I was unable to write a full journal update because I discovered a large grant was due on the 24th. In that time period I doubted my ability to write a thorough and enticing grant proposal; which is essentially like a very detailed business proposal.

During that week long challenge, I spent the first half researching, contacting helpful sources, reading the requirements and trying to figure out how to manifest my vision onto paper.  On Thursday night I contacted one of the board members to express my anxiety: I was mentally exhausted, I wanted to spend the Easter weekend not working, I thought there was a minimal chance we would be awarded the grant…most of all, I was in a head lock, for as in any challenge, your strengths and more importantly your weaknesses, start revealing itself to you.  

I wasn’t prepared to provide statistical information on school budgets, city populations, socioeconomically disadvantaged children and its correlation with poor health. I wasn’t ready to  provide a detailed budget, precise time lines and exact project players. I wasn’t equipped to write a full project proposal  factoring the need, the operation design, the commitment and capacity, the evaluation plan and the itemized financial plan.  I thought, believed and was willing to concede on Thursday evening that I was NOT primed for this moment in time.

I had the choice to walk away and say ‘next time’ – or I had the choice to give it all I had while simultaneously surrendering this immense challenge over to God.

On Thursday, I had a choice to either have faith – or not.

I chose faith. I prayed and I requested that God work through me if this was his will....As any endeavor in life, you must take risks and choose the harder path, for in order to grow, like a muscle, you will need to be challenged.

In this writing process, I knew it would be similar to my journal entries and any project that required intense focus. I knew that once I begun - if the project was 'right' and 'in flow' with my internal spirit, words will start cascading out of me. While writing, I started seeing a lot of holes in the organization I was forming, however, by tackling each question head on, I was able to dig deep, and find the answer.

On Monday afternoon when I sealed the documents and mailed it off – there was an extreme sense of achievement coupled with exhaustion. I admit that I need to relish that moment in time longer than 5 minutes before I set off towards my next goal….but, I know in confidence, that without surrendering my power and especially my ego over to God, I could not have done this on my own. I needed vision to guide me – a vision illuminated only by faith.

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HERE IS AN EXCERPT OF THAT PROPOSAL. I AM SO EXCITED TO BEGIN OUR “TRI(Y!)-FITNESS 4 KIDS” PROGRAM LATER THIS FALL. WE WILL FOCUS ON BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND HOST AN ANNUAL CHARITY MINI-TRIATHALON FOR KIDS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS IS A SUBPROGRAM UNDER THE FWB ORGANIZATION.

Fitness without Borders (FW is requesting $_______ for “TRI(y!)-Fitness 4 kids”, a three year collaborative community program which focuses on education, activity and leadership. Our goal is to create healthy interventions at a young age in an effort to halt continued growth of unhealthy habits and poor, academic performance.

“TRY” - Fitness - for - kids sends a unique, proactive message to our community role models including parents, teachers, principals and pastors to be leading examples. Besides utilizing ‘3’ as the instructive number in our fitness programs, our name also insists that everyone become healthy role models and ‘try fitness’ for the kids.

Our Three Initiatives target the following three modules:

Journal Pictures: March 25, 2008

Easter Sunday with the kids.

Check out the Apple of my Eye! LOL!

Daniel (David's younger brother) rocking out on stage! They are sooo awesome!