TGIF(Trust-Gratitude-Inspiration-Friday)

We went to the Colorado Rapids game last night with my soon to be son-in-law, Chris and my family. 

I saw this tweet from Chris that he had posted earlier during the day and I thought this was a wonderful intention that we could use not just on the 4th of July, but any day. 

Before the game started Chris, Laura and Adam set up shop giving away red, white and blue beads to the fans arriving for the game.  They were giving the beads away for free to anyone that wanted them and they asked for people to make an optional donation to the fire fighter relief fund that is being managed by the Red Cross.  By the time we headed into the game, they had collected $225.00 for the relief fund.  

Unfortunately, our state has numerous wildfires that are raging across the state.  Last week 19 firefighters lost their lives in Arizona fighting a wildfire.  This was the greatest loss of life of firefighter's since September, 11, 2001. 

This is a cause that matters greatly to Chris.  Chris and Laura are getting married next week and they have set up a special charity registry where all of the money that is raised will be donated  to the Red Cross. 

Please click here if you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross and support the efforts of the firefighter's and provide needed assistance to the families that have been displaced by these terrible fires. 

I am so grateful to Chris and Laura for thinking of others, to cast a beautiful ripple effect in wake of this ongoing tragedy. 

So get out there and make a difference, inspire someone! 

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Being Present

Oh how I love to watch this story unfold.

Falling in love, finding love.

This story began earlier this year as I was participating in an online writing class.

It began with a simple post from another participant commenting that she was being "Dunzied"(distracted) by a small dog that had been abandoned in Lodi, California.

I watched in amazement as the power of community unfolded to transport Bella from California to Vancouver, Canada to begin her new life.

Art was even imitating life.  Hollywood was making a movie called Finding Bella.

Please take the time to read about how Jenn and BellyBelle, the magical dog found each other and found love by clicking here. 

I particularly love this passage from her post:

"You know that feeling when you’re holding someone you love so deeply and you don’t want the moment to pass, ever, even though your leg may be falling asleep and your lower back is screaming? Yes, that feeling."


This moment occurred for me on July 8, 2001 at the finish line of the Calgary Marathon.  I was able to hug my dear friend Kelly after running 26.2 miles in her honor. It was a stolen moment, a moment we weren't supposed to have.  Her doctors had given up on her in January.  She wasn't expected to live that long. Kelly had a different idea.  She wasn't ready to give up.

I leaned over to hug her and I held her and I held her and I held her.  I have no idea how long I hugged her for.  I did not want the moment to pass.  We never said a word to each other as we embraced.  I knew I would start crying if I did.  It was a perfect moment, a healing moment in my life.  I was completely present with this person that I loved so deeply.  I still get goosebumps when I think about that precious moment we shared.   I will treasure that memory for the rest of my life.

Go give that person, your special someone that you love deeply a hug. let your leg fall asleep and let your lower back scream for you to stop.

Then don't stop.  Keep holding on, deeply, fully with all that you have. ♥

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Making strong offers

I got home today and saw a large package sitting on the front porch.  It was the first batch of rocks(500) from the Kim Mailhot, aka The Rock Fairy.

I hope you can see the picture of the note that Kim enclosed, but if you can't see it clearly, it states:

A donation of 

500 Custom Rock My World rocks for

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

"Blood Cancer Freedom Fighters"

Let's rock this fight !

Warmly, 

Kim Mailhot

                                                                                            aka The Rock Fairy

I am participating in an online writing class that is being taught by Patti Digh and one of Patti's mantra's that she lives by is to make strong offers in the world. 

Kim is making her strong offer in the world, sharing her time and talent in support of Cassandra's Woman of the year campaign and in support of The Leukemia and Lymphoma's Society's vision that we can create a world without cancer. 

I don't know how many hours Kim and her Rock Fairy assistant's worked on crafting these rocks for us. 

I do know that this was a heartfelt donation of many hours of loving kindness.  I do hope someday that I get to meet Kim in person.  How awesome that will be for me!

Love Echoes

"Love is the answer to every question baby!"~Kim Mailhot

Now there is a strong offer in the world!

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Trust Gratitude Inspiration Friday #7

Today I am trusting that I will find my way to discover what I am supposed to do next in my career.

Today I am grateful for the unflinching support my wife has provided during this time of transistion.

Today I am inspired by the relentless efforts of the Rocky Mountain Chapter in their efforts to find a cure for blood cancers.

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Trust Gratitude Inspiration Friday #4

I had the honor of sharing just a bit of Kelly's story at the Denver Light the Night corporate kickoff meeting yesterday.

This was the largest turnout that the Rocky Mountain Chapters has ever had.  There were approxmiately 180 people in attendance and many movers and shakers in the Denver community.

We were treated to an inspirational speech by the featured guest speaker, Meg Brown.  Meg is a former NCAA basketball player at the University of Texas and is also the author of a book, Dancing with the Enemy. 

Meg is a non-Hodgkin's  Lymphoma survivor.  She shared her top six things to help you cope with any crisis in your life.

1. Expertise ~ When times are tough, you need the knowledge, experience, judgment, guidance of professionals who have the tools to help you make it.


2. Positive attitude ~ When times are tough, the bad is obvious. You have to find the good. With positive attitude comes the ability to laugh. Laughter is medicine.

3. Love ~ When times are tough, let yourself be sustained by the affection and concern which comes your way from the people who care about you.

4. Faith ~ When times are tough, faith is your one constant. Faith lets you talk, cry, laugh. Faith is your peace, your comfort, your strength.

5. Exercise ~ When times are tough, you can still get your butt out of bed. Exercise short circuits self-pity, takes your focus off the problem, and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

6. Luck ~ When times are tough, you can do everything right, but you might not have the luck.

I was inspired to witness her humility and gratitude as she shared her story as she wondered aloud, why me, why was I the lucky one.

Meg walked a 1/2 marathon with Team in Training and mentioned that she totally loved Team in Training.

When I was given the opportunity to talk, I looked to see where Meg had moved to in the room and I said to her, "Meg, Team in Training, 17 events.  I've got your back".

I then shared Kelly's story and as many times before when I spoke about Kelly, any fear that I might have about public speaking disappeared.

I was standing for Kelly's life and the love that lives on in my heart  for her every day. My voice didn't waver, there were no tears. 

I was so grateful to have the opportunity to share her story and just let Kelly's voice inspire the people in the audience.

I bought two of Meg's books that she was selling and donating a portion of the proceeds to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

I bought one of the books for my friend, Brittany(9 year AML surviivor) who is graduating from college next Wednesday.  Something her doctors never said she would do.  I love it when doctors are wrong.

I shook Meg's hand and thanked her for sharing her story and I asked her if I could give her a hug as well.  She said sure, "I love hugs".   I have learned to love hugging. 

I left the meeting feeling inspired, hopeful, grateful.

What inspired you today?

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Trust Gratitude Inspiration Friday #3

Twenty seven years ago today, Sue and I got married in a little tiny Baptist Church in Littleton Colorado.

Sue and I went to a resturant today called The Melting Pot and as we were over on that end of town, decided to go see the church where we got married.

Desert at the Melting Pot

Amazingly, the church is still there and even more amazing is the pastor that married us still serves at that church and we had a nice chat with him.

We flew out to San Francisco for our honeymoon.  Sue's brother Rick, drove us to the airport and offered to buy us a drink as we waited for our plane.  Rick didn't have any money so Sue and I bought the drinks :)

We got in to late to pick up our rental car so I hailed a pink cab which marked the very first road trip of our marriage as Sue giggled all the way from the airport to our hotel at Union Square. 

After a wonderful honeymoon, we returned home to begin our lives together with my dog Erin(an advowed cat hater) and Sue's cat Shasta.

Twenty seven years later, we live together with our children, Laura and Adam, our dogs, Harley, Rocky and Kansas and one very unhappy and mean grey cat, Paws.

A couple of months ago, Sue received a champion of excellence award for her volunteer work with Colorado Youth at Risk.

I had written Casey the following day and asked her if she would send me the acknowledgement she read for Sue.

Sue likes to tell this story that I was crying as Casey read this. 

If there was only one thing I would want people to know about this person, is that she gives of herself more than any other person I have ever met.

Her heart, passion, and commitment to love, relationships, community and to Colorado Youth at Risk amazes me.  Each time I speak with her I am left with an overwhelming sense of just how deep her dedication goes.  With over 480 hours of volunteer in just 2009 alone- which equates to nearly 3 months of full time work with us, you can begin to see just what an incredible person she is.

This wonderful lady is a person that is limitless with her own personal growth and with her growth in Colorado Youth at Risk.  In the short year that I have known her, I have seen her find her own personal voice and become even more of a leader than she already was.  She is one of our few volunteers that coaches youth and trains mentors.  She has had two mentees, one of which is a Daniel's scholar and the other is well on her way to becoming a nurse.  And if this wasn't enough, she has been a community coach, group leader, and is the first ever Mentor Enrollment Team manager.  It is in large part because of her, that we have more mentors at this time for our upcoming programs, than we have ever had before.

Not only is she in my own personal circle of champions, but in Colorado Youth at Risk's as well.

Sue, 27 years later I am so grateful to you for our lives together, for the inspiration you bring to my life, the commitment, trust and love you share with Laura and Adam and me.

I love you and I am so honored to be your husband, friend and partner in life.

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Trust Gratitude Inpiration Friday

 I love this thought from Brene Brown.  She has a recurring post on Friday's about Trust, Gratitude and Inspiration.

Quick shout out to one of my bloggy and Team in Training Friends, Courtney, who is also blogging on Friday's about inspiration.

I have decided to follow their lead so my Friday's posts will be about Trust, Gratitude and Inspiration.

I attended the Leukemia Cup Regatta kickoff meeting on Friday.

I know absolutely nothing about sailing and it was quite the eye opening education.

The images I have of sailing were of President Kennedy sailing in an idyllic setting.  Memories of the Camelot era in our country.

Gary Jobson was the keynote speaker at the event.  He gave us a fascinating glimpse into the sport sailing.  

Gary followed an inspiring story that was told by Preston Wilson, the Rocky Mountain Chapter's boy of the year in 2009.  Preston is seven years old and he was a tough act to follow.

The part of Preston's story that really reasonated with me was when he said, "the cancer fight didn't end for me, when I was declared to be in remission.  I am up here fighting for all of the other kids, who are undergoing treatment".

 Seven years old.

Preston's Mom told us, that "Cancer was a beautiful gift to our family, disguised in some very ugly wrapping paper".

Kelly's mom also talked about cancer being a gift.  Kelly chose her cancer, lived her life focusing on the gifts, no matter how ugly the gift was wrapped.

Seeing so many people that live a life of trust and gratitude during the cancer journey.

Inspired...

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