Another step - baby steps perhaps, but steps nonetheless!! Vote for me! :o)

The Continuation of Personal Growth . . .

My last blog post was about personal growth through various things such as writing more, as well as branching out into some areas that I have longed to explore; namely acting/modeling.

Obviously I am shooting against odds here. For one I am short, not exactly classic "model material", but, oh, how I love to be in front of the camera. It is so much fun! And acting, well, that is something I have always had fun with, but I am not a spring chicken anymore.

What is obvious is that I have insecurities and certainly wonder, at times, if this is all just a stupid notion I should put to rest.

Then again, what do I want to teach my children, by example. If you are scared or the odds are against you, give up, turn tail and run back to the safe place? No . . . make that a hell no! I want everything the world has to offer for my kids and part of offering that to them is to start by showing them.

Lastly, I hope to be able to, not only pursue personal growth and set an example for my kids, but I hope to be able to make a difference. In what way, I really am not sure . . . but I hope that opportunities will be presented to me where I can make a difference by being different.

In light of all of that rambling, here are just a few shots from my recent photo shoot.

(OH - unabashedly - if you have any suggestions for me of places to go or people to talk to or want to forward my stuff on - feel free!)

Posting

I have been delinquent in my posts.

I was reminded of my blog the other day from a very complimentary friend (thank you Erin) and so I came here to read a little of what I wrote. I realized, again, just how much I love to write and just how much I allow life to get in the way of doing the things I love.

Being a stay-at-home mom to two kids is incredibly time consuming. I love the fact that Paul is willing to work so hard to keep me at home. Being able to be completely available to my kids, and my husband, is invaluable. I know how much I appreciated having my mom around as I was growing up. She always had time to take care of me when I was sick, be around for every school function, sports games . . . I know that offered a great sense of security for me as I was growing up and I am delighted to be able to offer that to my children as well. I sometimes reflect on all the little things I would miss if I wasn't around. Children grow and change so quickly! There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see Annabeth learn something new - how precious it is to me to be here to experience it with her!

All of that to say, one of the things that I am coming to realize (really just over the last week or so) is that part of taking care of my family, is taking care of myself and making time to do things that I love to do. This can be a bit challenging at times, being on one income, but I can be creative :o) In addition to that, part of being a good parent is leading by example. If I say to my kids, 'you can do anything you set your mind to' but don't show them that, why should they believe me?

Writing - I love to write! To sit down and start typing is such a natural place for me to be. It requires no effort, gives monumental awards and costs nothing. May be one of these days I will figure out a way to make some money doing this thing that I love to do so much!

Acting - here is one that has my nerves in a bit of knot. I used to love to act/sing when I was younger. Through a series of life happenings, from becoming a mom to being told so many times that to pursue something of this nature was selfish, I put this love on a back burner. Actually I don't think it even stayed on the "stove", I just put it away. However, a friend of ours landed a commercial gig and I said to Paul, 'that would be so much fun!' He encouraged me to pursue it. In the course of a couple of weeks I have received mountains of advice from various friends in the business (or connected to the business). A dear friend who has offered to do a photo shoot for free for me (I pay her in coffee:o) and I got an invite to be a sit in model at an art college for a photography class! To say I am thrilled is an understatement.

These little things have fed my personal soul in ways I had completely forgotten to feel and the resounding results are impressive. I have been far more encouraging and patient with my family and given the amount of third grade homework we plow through each night, this is an amazing feat! The patience that is! And, I have realized, and been told, that it is not selfish to pursue and use the talents that God has given me. He delights in how he made me and who he made me to be and that includes far more than just being a stay-at-home mom/wife (although that is more than a full time job!).

So - thank you to all of you who have had a part in encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone or to just sit back down in front of the computer and write again.


Here's to more blog posts, expanding my sense of self and being a better mom and wife.

Praying for Maren

This is the site for a dear little girl. She is only 2, but in a fight for her life.
I grew up with her dad, Jeremy and have met his lovely wife Emily on a few occasions. They are a beautiful family. Please join me in prayer and supporting this little girl and her family and post this blog site to yours to spread the word.

http://www.prayingformaren.blogspot.com/

Fox News Broadcast about Nathan running for Papa

Take a moment to check out this link, pretty touching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUi8zqYKudE

Cheers!
Lynn

The Twilight Craze

I have been sucked in. Into what you ask? The Twilight craze.

I did not put much interest into the the book series and subsequent movie, Twilight, as I thought it was just the latest teen fiction. While it is aimed at the teenage audience, I do believe that it has captured far more than that, including myself. A co-worker of my husband's lent me the first book and I inhaled it in less than a day! Followed in quick succession by the next three; finishing all four in four days (I am going to start over and read a bit slower this time). Meyer's is an excellent writer! The way that she weaves the story, taking you through the realistic paces of life that we can all relate to and pulling us into the unrealistic, yet often longed for in the deep recesses of our hearts. She makes this transition seamless, enthralling and utterly brings both facets to life.

I also watched the movie, last night and was delighted with how well they were able to portray such a fabulous piece of literature in a two hour time frame. In my humble opinion, books are ALWAYS better than the movies, the details that books contain can never be captured on film, but it is always interesting to see the characters take on 'life' outside of my own mind. I did not picture Bella's dad with a mustache.

I have been talking with Paul, he has been equally as sucked in as myself, although he has only seen the movie at this point, he plans to read the books. I have never been one to find myself totally wrapped up in a story, especially one with romantic leanings. Why? Quite frankly because I have never seen them as realistic, instead a reminder of something that can never be obtained and this represented a certain amount of bitterness for me within my own personal life. To be drawn is, as I have, is a bit of a shock! I attribute this to the fact that I am now within a relationship that offers a majority of "dream come true" aspects. Perfect, no, but definitely much more than I had ever hoped for. So I can find myself drawn into the non-reality of a fantasy relationship more now, because it does not bring out just negativity and bitterness.

My personal relationship aside, I decided to come here and reason out a little of why I think there is this "Twilight Craze" or "Edward Craze". While I am sure that there are many a young, and not so young, girl out there who is simply "in love" with the actor representing Edward I think it is deeper than that. I think that, in all of us (but I'll speak for just the females here as I represent that race), there is a longing for THE true love of our life. A love that can not be swayed, can not be threatened, an all encompassing, undiluted, consuming love. A love that could indeed stand the tests of time, even if that time were infinite.

Here we have the average girl, who falls in love with the "knight in shining armor" who is truly and exactly that, (except he happens to be a vampire). He offers her all of himself, he is enthralled, completely entranced by her. He is devoted to her, unswayed by the attractions of other females to him. He loves her to the point of dying for her. . . .

I don't really have any sort of conclusion for this combination of thoughts, just that I think this type of love story touches a nerve, a nerve that is connected to a deep longing, a deep desire that many of us posses.

Here's to a damn good read and a story that certainly impacted me in an unexpected way.

Cheers to Stephenie Meyer!

Nathan runs again!!

I have been sending this out to local news stations and newspapers. I am SO very proud of my son, Nathan, for doing this and am trying to get the word out. Not only for him, but also for what and who he is running for. When we give them the time and space to express themselves, children can really amaze, humble and teach us some incredible lessons.

This is for you Nathan - I love you!

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Below is an article that was written last year about my son, Nathan Jacobs, by Phil Newman at the YMCA. Last year we reached out to several organizations with news of this story, but made very little progress, making it no further than the Y. This year I am trying to start earlier in an attempt to spread the word. Not only of my son, who is doing a very good deed for someone he dearly loves, but also raising awareness for those who have suffered tragic accidents, like my father and can no longer use their legs (in my dad’s case, arms as well). Nathan ran it last year and, as soon as he heard the announcement in school this year he asked me to sign him up again. "Mom, I want to run for Papa again."



My son’s determination to do this for his Papa is not only an inspiration to my family and I, especially my dad (Papa), but I feel it can also be an inspiration to other kids his age, younger and older, as well as folks in my dad’s situation. They will know, as my dad knows, that weeks, months, even years after a life altering accident they are not forgotten. There is at least one little 7-year-old boy, with a very big heart, who is choosing to use his legs to share a message of hope. He did it last year and, as soon as he heard the announcement in school this year he asked me to sign him up again.



I really appreciate your taking the time to read this note and the story that follows and I do hope that you will chose to use what resources you have to help Nathan spread his message of hope.



Thank you so much. I do hope that we hear from you soon.



Sincerely,

Lynn Nelson (Nathan’s mom)

and

Nathan Jacobs





1st Grader Nathan Jacobs Dedicates Kids Marathon to Ailing ‘Papa’



Naturally, Nathan Jacobs, who will turn 7 on April 23, is excited about his birthday. But he’s also stoked about what will happen two days later, when he runs the last of his 26.2 miles in the YMCA Country Music Kids Marathon as a dedication to his grandfather, “Papa,” who was seriously injured just over one year ago and lost the use of his legs.



Nathan, a 1st grader at Our Savior Lutheran Academy in Nashville, is part of the eight-member “Papa’s Team” that is running the kids’ marathon. The team members will join 3,100 other boys and girls to complete their final mile on the evening of Friday, April 25, downtown.



Papa’s Team is running in support and appreciation of Nathan’s grandfather, Jim Childs. On April 4, 2007, Jim suffered a tragic, freak accident. He fell approximately 250 feet over a sheer embankment while picking up his car at the service station. A piece of money flew out of his wallet and when he grabbed for it, he went over the unguarded embankment. Before the accident, he was a very successful pathologist. He had been the director of a lab for 30 years, was extremely active in his community and his church, and biked more than 1,000 miles a year (he biked to work each day). As a result of the accident, Jim is now a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic, still involved in massive amounts of therapy.



When the gym teacher at Nathan’s school sent out an announcement saying that the school would be putting a team together for the kids’ marathon, Lynn Nelson (Nathan’s mom), explained to Nathan what a marathon was. “He was very excited about the idea as he loves to be physically active.”



Later, Nathan surprised his mom with these words: “Mom, I want to run for Papa, because he can’t run anymore.” Papa’s Team was born, and the group will even wear special T-shirts at the April 25 event.



Although Jim and his wife of 30-plus years, Rose Anne, live in Kittanning, Pa. (just north of Pittsburgh), Nathan and his Papa “have always had a very special bond,” Lynn says. 

“We moved to Nashville when my son was two, and up until that point he saw my dad on a daily basis, even accompanying him to work and meals at the hospital. The accident has been very hard for him; it is extremely hard for him to see Papa in chair. He desperately wants Papa to be able to play with him again. It is very touching to see him and his Papa together now. He jumped right in with my mom, my husband and me (I am in physical therapy and my mom is a nurse) to learn how to put Papa’s braces on, give Papa a drink, etc.”



Nathan is running for the grandfather who can’t move his legs, running for a man who used run and race his grandson, but who is now trying to rebuild his life in a wheelchair.



Phil Newman
VP-Communications & Mission Awareness
YMCA of Middle Tennessee
(615) 259-9622 - office
(615) 347-5163 - mobile
Our mission: A worldwide charitable fellowship united by a common loyalty to Jesus Christ for the purpose of helping persons grow in spirit, mind and body.
"We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities."
www.ymcamidtn.org