I've been finding it hard to update my blog these days. The reason is that I have nothing too exciting to tell you about. The house hasn't sold, I'm still saving up money for the camper.... I'm in that dull area of waiting for next steps to come to fruition.
I did make one decision. I am going to further my education and become a certified trainer of Compassionate Touch (eldercare massage). I leave for my first training mid November in Springfield, MO and then the final training is at the end of November in Orlando, FL. By the first of December I will be qualified to be a massage instructor, and then can hopefully start booking seminars at massage schools nationwide. That is the plan. With any luck, I can get some experience under my belt here in WI, and can at the very least, schedule a few national seminars over the summer so we can head out on the road.
In the meantime, I found it too impossible to give up Bravo. So for all you who were so impressed with me, see, I'm only human too... HOWEVER, instead of being glued to the TV 24/7, I went ahead and joined Meg's Tae Kwon Do class, which we go to three times a week. This way, we're moving and learning a wonderful skill during prime-time instead of obsessing over what Gordon Ramsey will say or do next!
Thats about it: Tae Kwon Do, less TV, Compassionate Touch Trainer
Boring, but positive... right?!
Amy & Megan
Supergirlz- Megan & Amy!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Power of Words
Recently it has come into the question the wisdom of blogging all my thoughts and feelings as I chase my dream of living life to its fullest. The questions have been posed to me, "What do I really need" and "What am I afraid of?"
My answer to what I really need is simply, peace. Peace with my choices, peace with my outcomes. Peace in my here and now, and peace with the fact that I still have a whole future in front of me! With the help of God and the bible and a couple different podcasts that I listen to, I'm very near a peaceful existence. I have realized, through blogging after all, that life as I know it is pretty darn good! Now, of course I still have a few very specific people and circumstances that I practice forgiveness with and I'm obviously excluding my moments of family-related craziness, but for the most part, I'm good. What I've experienced in this life is so nothing compared to what some others have to contend with, so truly, come-what-may, I'm good.
Harder to deal with is "What am I afraid of?". My original answer to this question was, negative judgment. Guess what that answer was met with? Can you say, "God dishes out, what you have to learn most"????? Geez Louise! Well, as I sat with my "big girl pants" on I did hear one message louder than any other. This person said, "If you want it so bad, MAKE it happen!". That one stuck with me. Those words have played over and over in my head. What can I do to MAKE it happen? Isn't this at odds with the concept of trusting that God will provide what is needed to work for His glory?
Well, as always, the answers showed up in their own time and it was up to me to recognize and appreciate them for what they are... The weekend before my little lecture went down, I went to Milwaukee for a friends wedding (Congrats Nicole!) and who did I get re-acquainted with? Rodney, an old friend from my GMR days who just happens to still work at GMR doing their RV building and maintenance. Rodney was nice enough to give me all sorts of advice as to what type of vehicle would be best for us and then offered to be involved in the purchase of the RV to ensure its quality, AND to put us through RV-training to kick off our adventure when it happens! Is getting re-aquainted with Rodney a gift from God? I think so! (Rodney, if you happen to read this, know you are totally appreciated and DON"T get a big head about me saying you're a gift from God!)
Next, Dr. Jeff (owner of Waupaca Wellness Center) sat down and talked to me on his own accord. He said, "Amy, this is an incredible opportunity for you and your daughter, don't wait, figure out financially how your going to make this happen!" This inspired me to visit the Compassionate Touch website, the technique I use in my Eldercare work. From there I emailed Ann Catlin, the owner, regarding furthering my education, who in turn called me to encourage me to apply for the Teacher Training program and offered a payment plan that I can afford to help me complete my training. This is not only an EXCELLENT local opportunity, but would give me the ability to set up and teach Level One training courses throughout the USA!
As far as the houses go, I'm still praying on them. But behind, the scenes, things are definitely moving again in a positive direction - no matter where I end up!
So what's the moral of the story? Like in Massage Therapy, the work (words) may make you hurt a little bit, but that's not always a bad thing. Even the most painful experience can move you in a positive direction.
(As a sidenote - I love you Uncle Ernie...)
My answer to what I really need is simply, peace. Peace with my choices, peace with my outcomes. Peace in my here and now, and peace with the fact that I still have a whole future in front of me! With the help of God and the bible and a couple different podcasts that I listen to, I'm very near a peaceful existence. I have realized, through blogging after all, that life as I know it is pretty darn good! Now, of course I still have a few very specific people and circumstances that I practice forgiveness with and I'm obviously excluding my moments of family-related craziness, but for the most part, I'm good. What I've experienced in this life is so nothing compared to what some others have to contend with, so truly, come-what-may, I'm good.
Harder to deal with is "What am I afraid of?". My original answer to this question was, negative judgment. Guess what that answer was met with? Can you say, "God dishes out, what you have to learn most"????? Geez Louise! Well, as I sat with my "big girl pants" on I did hear one message louder than any other. This person said, "If you want it so bad, MAKE it happen!". That one stuck with me. Those words have played over and over in my head. What can I do to MAKE it happen? Isn't this at odds with the concept of trusting that God will provide what is needed to work for His glory?
Well, as always, the answers showed up in their own time and it was up to me to recognize and appreciate them for what they are... The weekend before my little lecture went down, I went to Milwaukee for a friends wedding (Congrats Nicole!) and who did I get re-acquainted with? Rodney, an old friend from my GMR days who just happens to still work at GMR doing their RV building and maintenance. Rodney was nice enough to give me all sorts of advice as to what type of vehicle would be best for us and then offered to be involved in the purchase of the RV to ensure its quality, AND to put us through RV-training to kick off our adventure when it happens! Is getting re-aquainted with Rodney a gift from God? I think so! (Rodney, if you happen to read this, know you are totally appreciated and DON"T get a big head about me saying you're a gift from God!)
Next, Dr. Jeff (owner of Waupaca Wellness Center) sat down and talked to me on his own accord. He said, "Amy, this is an incredible opportunity for you and your daughter, don't wait, figure out financially how your going to make this happen!" This inspired me to visit the Compassionate Touch website, the technique I use in my Eldercare work. From there I emailed Ann Catlin, the owner, regarding furthering my education, who in turn called me to encourage me to apply for the Teacher Training program and offered a payment plan that I can afford to help me complete my training. This is not only an EXCELLENT local opportunity, but would give me the ability to set up and teach Level One training courses throughout the USA!
As far as the houses go, I'm still praying on them. But behind, the scenes, things are definitely moving again in a positive direction - no matter where I end up!
So what's the moral of the story? Like in Massage Therapy, the work (words) may make you hurt a little bit, but that's not always a bad thing. Even the most painful experience can move you in a positive direction.
(As a sidenote - I love you Uncle Ernie...)
Monday, August 30, 2010
SupergirlzOTR: Hard Reality
SupergirlzOTR: Hard Reality: "Last week was filled with lots of lessons in reality. It seems I've been confusing the concepts 'Simplifying' with 'Following your Heart'. ..."
Hard Reality
Last week was filled with lots of lessons in reality. It seems I've been confusing the concepts "Simplifying" with "Following your Heart".
My first lesson in reality was that selling everything, buying an RV and hitting the road does not jive with the concept of simplifying. As I've been mentally preparing for this adventure, what has smacked me clear in the face is that my life is already very simple. Yes, I have my share of problems, responsibilities and time constraints that drive us all crazy, but the truth is I have my systems in place to deal with all of those things positively. We live in the small, conservative town that I grew up in. We have a small, energy efficient home. Our neighborhood is awesome, complete with families we love all around us. We have a wonderful school filled with old friends and acquaintances giving Meg an education that I trust. I love my job, the space I work in and especially the people I work with. I have a strong client base that I care very much about and supports Megan and me financially. As I've been evaluating the reality of my life, the truth is that I love it. I'm happy.... So, in response to my sisters question, "What are you running away from?" the answer is "NOTHING!" The issue with this happy realization is that it's giving me a small coronary as I consider giving it all up.
So what am I doing? Why am I doing this? I'll admit that before the weekend, I was seriously considering taking my house off the market and quietly disappearing from this blog. This adventure is scary! I'm leaving everything safe. I'm taking my daughter with me into the big scary world! Sacrificing security for uncertainty and adventure. Is this really being a good mom? Don't I have an obligation to stay exactly where I am in this stable existence? Maybe? I honestly don't know....
What I do know is this: In this life so far, I've been put through the wringer and come out on the other end very blessed. I have learned so much in my time here in Waupaca. The most touching part of everything (besides raising Megan) has been my time spent with Hospice. These people, in their last days of life, have taught me what is important in these moments of health and vibrance. They speak of love, of family, of their passions. Some are happy and content, some are achingly hearwrenched, but they all speak of the same things. They are the reason I closed the spa to focus on being a better mother. They are the reason I ran my first 5k to use my body to it's fullest potential. They are the reason that I know, when it's me lying there, that I will either be celebrating and reliving my experiences or telling the kind girl spending a half hour with me not to waste another minute on anything mundane or joyless.
As it turns out, simplifying is not the right term at all. Instead, it has become a question of goals, quality of life and deciding whats the healthiest and most beneficial choice for my family.... I don't know what the term is and I don't know the right answer. The only thing I can do is pray and have faith that God will lay out the plan. From there, it's up to me to follow it, despite the naysayers and fears.
My first lesson in reality was that selling everything, buying an RV and hitting the road does not jive with the concept of simplifying. As I've been mentally preparing for this adventure, what has smacked me clear in the face is that my life is already very simple. Yes, I have my share of problems, responsibilities and time constraints that drive us all crazy, but the truth is I have my systems in place to deal with all of those things positively. We live in the small, conservative town that I grew up in. We have a small, energy efficient home. Our neighborhood is awesome, complete with families we love all around us. We have a wonderful school filled with old friends and acquaintances giving Meg an education that I trust. I love my job, the space I work in and especially the people I work with. I have a strong client base that I care very much about and supports Megan and me financially. As I've been evaluating the reality of my life, the truth is that I love it. I'm happy.... So, in response to my sisters question, "What are you running away from?" the answer is "NOTHING!" The issue with this happy realization is that it's giving me a small coronary as I consider giving it all up.
So what am I doing? Why am I doing this? I'll admit that before the weekend, I was seriously considering taking my house off the market and quietly disappearing from this blog. This adventure is scary! I'm leaving everything safe. I'm taking my daughter with me into the big scary world! Sacrificing security for uncertainty and adventure. Is this really being a good mom? Don't I have an obligation to stay exactly where I am in this stable existence? Maybe? I honestly don't know....
What I do know is this: In this life so far, I've been put through the wringer and come out on the other end very blessed. I have learned so much in my time here in Waupaca. The most touching part of everything (besides raising Megan) has been my time spent with Hospice. These people, in their last days of life, have taught me what is important in these moments of health and vibrance. They speak of love, of family, of their passions. Some are happy and content, some are achingly hearwrenched, but they all speak of the same things. They are the reason I closed the spa to focus on being a better mother. They are the reason I ran my first 5k to use my body to it's fullest potential. They are the reason that I know, when it's me lying there, that I will either be celebrating and reliving my experiences or telling the kind girl spending a half hour with me not to waste another minute on anything mundane or joyless.
As it turns out, simplifying is not the right term at all. Instead, it has become a question of goals, quality of life and deciding whats the healthiest and most beneficial choice for my family.... I don't know what the term is and I don't know the right answer. The only thing I can do is pray and have faith that God will lay out the plan. From there, it's up to me to follow it, despite the naysayers and fears.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Baby Steps
Good Morning!
We had a very successful rummage sale and a BIG THANK YOU to Julie, Ian and Lori for helping out. I think we officially have a down payment for whatever type of camper ends up being right for us!!! We sold lots, but the garage still has lots in it from the spa and it's time for round 2 of going through the house so I think we'll rummage sale it again on Labor Day weekend.
Our house looks totally different. Our Realtor, LaDonna Sonntag, came in and staged the living room in preparation of our first showing. We worked EXTREMELY hard to make everything perfect for it and then I spent the day working and fantasizing about which camper I would choose to buy when the offer came in. Just when I was ready for the big news, the LaDonna called to tell me that they never showed! UGH!!! Oh well, at least the house looks great and we are enjoying it as we prepare to say goodbye....
I cut our land-line service yesterday and the next big step is the HUGE decision to keep or discontinue Dish Network service. Clearly, this is a no-brianer as OF COURSE it's the right thing for anyone to do... BUT, as my sister says, I'm a TV addict. I LOVE Rachel Zoe, Housewives, Greys, Survivor, Big Brother, Top Chef, House, Bones and on and on and on. I freely admit that I can easily (and very happily) waste an entire day watching the Keeping up with the Kardashians marathon and come out on the other end very relaxed and fulfilled. Megan will spend that entire time playing in the neighborhood with friends, checking in occasionally for lunch and snacks. TV is my vice. I love my couch and my TV and my days of not getting out of jammies in the name of pure laziness. I fully understand and comprehend the problem with all the above statements, but it's undeniably true. This decision, which will save us $60 a month, give us more quality time together, make me healthier and more productive is a HARDER decision than putting the house on the market!
Well, like the title of this post, it's all about baby steps. As I sit here this morning, my goal is to have service off by the end of the week.
Wish me luck!
Amy
We had a very successful rummage sale and a BIG THANK YOU to Julie, Ian and Lori for helping out. I think we officially have a down payment for whatever type of camper ends up being right for us!!! We sold lots, but the garage still has lots in it from the spa and it's time for round 2 of going through the house so I think we'll rummage sale it again on Labor Day weekend.
Our house looks totally different. Our Realtor, LaDonna Sonntag, came in and staged the living room in preparation of our first showing. We worked EXTREMELY hard to make everything perfect for it and then I spent the day working and fantasizing about which camper I would choose to buy when the offer came in. Just when I was ready for the big news, the LaDonna called to tell me that they never showed! UGH!!! Oh well, at least the house looks great and we are enjoying it as we prepare to say goodbye....
I cut our land-line service yesterday and the next big step is the HUGE decision to keep or discontinue Dish Network service. Clearly, this is a no-brianer as OF COURSE it's the right thing for anyone to do... BUT, as my sister says, I'm a TV addict. I LOVE Rachel Zoe, Housewives, Greys, Survivor, Big Brother, Top Chef, House, Bones and on and on and on. I freely admit that I can easily (and very happily) waste an entire day watching the Keeping up with the Kardashians marathon and come out on the other end very relaxed and fulfilled. Megan will spend that entire time playing in the neighborhood with friends, checking in occasionally for lunch and snacks. TV is my vice. I love my couch and my TV and my days of not getting out of jammies in the name of pure laziness. I fully understand and comprehend the problem with all the above statements, but it's undeniably true. This decision, which will save us $60 a month, give us more quality time together, make me healthier and more productive is a HARDER decision than putting the house on the market!
Well, like the title of this post, it's all about baby steps. As I sit here this morning, my goal is to have service off by the end of the week.
Wish me luck!
Amy
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Downsizing
Hi Everyone!
First, I'd like to thank everyone for all the amazing support you've shown in our new endeavor! We have lots of ideas for our future and, besides putting our home up for sale, the first idea coming to fruition is this Blog! You asked to be able to follow the process and now you can! So, here we go!!!
As of Monday, 8/9/10, the For Sale sign went up. That means that now, we have to start going through all our STUFF, and believe me, I didn't realize how much there was! Posting a few pics to give you an idea... I'm going to have a rummage sale next weekend for starters, but that's really just to clear space in the garage to store all the unnecessary stuff in the house! All the money we make will go toward our new RV. We haven't decided what we're going to get yet, and if we get something we tow, we'll have to get a different car as well (my Ford Freestyle only tows 2000 lbs).
Wish us luck, please join/follow our blog and, most of all, we'd LOVE to hear from you!
Be Well
Amy & Meg
First, I'd like to thank everyone for all the amazing support you've shown in our new endeavor! We have lots of ideas for our future and, besides putting our home up for sale, the first idea coming to fruition is this Blog! You asked to be able to follow the process and now you can! So, here we go!!!
As of Monday, 8/9/10, the For Sale sign went up. That means that now, we have to start going through all our STUFF, and believe me, I didn't realize how much there was! Posting a few pics to give you an idea... I'm going to have a rummage sale next weekend for starters, but that's really just to clear space in the garage to store all the unnecessary stuff in the house! All the money we make will go toward our new RV. We haven't decided what we're going to get yet, and if we get something we tow, we'll have to get a different car as well (my Ford Freestyle only tows 2000 lbs).
Wish us luck, please join/follow our blog and, most of all, we'd LOVE to hear from you!
Be Well
Amy & Meg
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