PERSIST AND ENDURE

Saturday morning I woke feeling the aches and pains of aging.  My first thought was, "It's Saturday.  I''m gonna drink some tea and go back to bed."  But I had a busy day planned.  So I popped some anti-inflammatory and proceeded with the day.

My morning was all about being a mom - fix breakfast, start the laundry, clean the house, get other people to help me clean the house, go to Hamilton's soccer game.  I persisted through all of this while the anti-inflammatory did it's job.

Half way through Hamilton's game I had to go to a HOBY conference.  A few weeks ago I was asked to be on a service panel and present opportunities for service to the youth at this conference.  There were five other people on the panel all representing service organizations.  My responsibility was to represent Rotary International and it's youth programs.  I arrived as the youth were just coming back in from lunch.  The room filled with happy energy as they entered the room.  An hour was spent on talking about local service opportunities and the global connection rotary has to offer.  When we were finished the youth were given an opportunity to sign up for service.  I think they signed up for everything.  They have 'service fever'.  

While I was sitting on the panel looking out into the faces of these young people it occurred to me that if I had given into the aches and pains of aging I would've missed this moment.  We are in charge of us, I am in charge of me.  As we conquer our tired and selfish nature we open the door to amazing things.

WHAT'S GOIN' ON

Since my blog is supposed to be a journal sort of thing I should probably do more than post the most entertaining pieces of my life. In between visiting mom for her birthday and attending docutah I work...professionally and domestically.  I am also a philanthropical freak, involved in way to many service projects and volunteer opportunities.

Work

Every day I spend as the Director of Public Relations for CMI is an adventure.  My three fold mission is to benefit the students in all that we do, to connect with the community and to generate partnerships that will in turn generate revenue for the CMI and the Communication Degree Program at DSC.  I enjoy this very much.  I grow with every challenge and I am continually enlightened by the energy of the students.  The down side is that I have to interact with people that must be tolerated instead of respected.  

In every working environment we must cross paths with people who lack self esteem and as a result behave in unethical ways.  The people I speak of are supposed to be experienced professionals who should have learned by now to act with respect.  Instead they see only their personal agendas and will do their best to undermine and bulldoze the goodness in others.  In these instances I must hold to my integrity and breath deep.  I must remind myself that God is watching and that karma will always prevail.  

Home

If I say that for the 6th time in the last 10 years I am immersed in a move will you understand?  Yes, once again we move our household from one location to another.  I am mentally, physically and emotionally spent.  I am now determined to stay in this new home or move abroad.  One more move to another St. George location will cause me to completely collapse.  I'm sure that daily meditation and prayer has pulled me through and kept me going.  My forward vision is for 2 weeks from now when I will detox for 2 days with Karamea in Salt Lake.   

Philanthropy - I'll just make a list

• Chair of the International Festival
• Chair of the Lions Roundup Rodeo Breakfast
• Event Coordinator for the Washington County School District Foundation
• VP of Club Services for Red Rock Rotary Club
• PR for Leadership Academy
• PR for DocUtah
• PR for Washington County Fair (thank God we are on hiatus)
• Member of the Dixie Sunshiners who are ambassadors for the St. George Chamber of Commerce

That is currently my life.  And I can still see that it is a beautiful Sunday morning and feel joy in my soul.   

SUPER WHAT?

Oh my aching arm.  Driving up North last weekend I began to realize that I could not hold the steering wheel with my left arm without feeling excruciating pain.  Further into the weekend I could not close the car door with my left hand and I could not lift my arm to fix my hair and put deodorant on my left armpit.  I managed through the weekend and made it home with calming moments of mediation and balancing my energy fields.  But this kind of pain called for drastic measures.  Dr. Bentley...HELP!

When it comes to joint and muscle pain Dr. Mark Bentley is my best friend.  He did the initial diagnosis on Wednesday.  "Your SUPRASPINATUS MUSCLE is inflamed."  My super what?  It's one of the 4 muscles that makes up the rotator cuff.  And it didn't just happen by trauma to the muscle.  It happened over time.

Glorious news!  Anything that happens over time means it will take more time to recover.  

Understand this about me...I would rather prevent pain and illness than endure the process of recovery.  I eat well, I exercise (well sometimes), I take vitamins and minerals.  Basically, I am a health freak.  Low sugar, low salt, low fat.  That's me.  Actually, I don't really like food.  I eat to live and definitely do not live to eat.  Fresh fruit and vegies, honey instead of sugar, water, lots and lots of water...and I love herbal teas sweetened with stevia.  

Enough of that...check this out...

The day I was diagnosed was also the first day of the Washington County Fair.  I was supposed to take it easy and ice my shoulder 3 or 4 times a day.  Really?  K...well that's not happening until Sunday.  

The Fair was exhausting in a satisfying sort of way.  My involvement includes parking with my Red Rock Rotary Club, Representing the Washington County School District Foundation as a board member and doing whatever Wendy, my leader, tells me to do as a member of the Washington County Fair Board.  Hamilton and Asa helped me on Wednesday in the foundation booth.  Ra joined me for parking on Thursday and he did it every night after that while I worked the fair.  The fair parade was so much fun on Saturday morning then Pam Graf and I got the prizes for the baby contest all taken care of.  The highlight of the fair is always the Demolition Derby but that's a-whole-nother blog post and my arm is hurting from all this typing.  

I think it would be best to follow doctors orders and ice my supraspinatus.         

GIFTS FOR THE TRUCKERS

Last week was National Trucker Appreciation week. I took some time on a beautiful St. George afternoon and went out to the Port of Entry. I joined lots of other people in handing out drinks and snacks to the truckers. Dirty, dusty, diesel - but so enriching.

The truck drivers transport everything. Without them what would we possess? How would we perform our day to day activities?

This was a rewarding experience and I met some great people along the way.

FAIR SERVICE

The 2009 Washington County Fair ended last night. I had various assignments and spent most of Wednesday through Saturday filling the responsibilities. The baby contest, foundation for students, ticket taker and gate keeper, parade activities, facebook updates...I am weary just remembering it all.

My place on the Washington County Fair Board is a treasured position. Those serving on the board are filled with charity and selfless love. We give time and energy until we can't give anymore. Wendy, our fearless leader, is wonderful. Her excitement motivates us all to keep going. I have enjoyed 5 years of service and will continue as long as the passion remains.

Over the years I have learned that every kind of person goes to the fair. I have learned the inner workings of a demolition derby. I have felt sweltering heat and been strangled by dust. I have created extraordinary friendships.

Today, I think I slept through church. My body is worn out and my mind is exhausted. Sleep comes easy but I have neglected motherhood this past week and the boys need my attention. Sleep will have to wait just a little longer.