Kick Off to Great Strides 2011

This is Alicia speaking on behalf of Team Sam for Great Strides 2011:

I am 37 years old.

In most families, other milestones like “sweet 16” and “over the hill 50” are important markers. But in our family, the number 37 never leaves the forefront of our mind. Why?

The median predicted age of survival for those with Cystic Fibrosis is 37.

Samantha’s median age life expectancy is the age I am right now.

My cousin died of Cystic Fibrosis at 2 months old. In the span of one generation, research has come so far that the life expectancy is now 37. As wonderful as that is, I know what 37 years feels like and I do not feel like I am at the end of my life. In many ways, it is just beginning.

When Samantha reaches age 37, I want her to feel the same way!

From now on, when you hear the number 37, I want you to remember Samantha who spends hours a day taking medicines and doing treatments so that she can extend her life little by little. You can help her and the 30,000 other Americans with this disease by giving to our Great Strides fundraiser!

In a little twist to our Great Strides fundraising and in honor of the age 37, I am asking that you donate $37. Obviously, we will accept any dollar amount, but as a reminder of this age and what it means to Samantha’s life, I am asking for a specific number this year! This money will go towards finding new medicines and new treatments that improve each CFer’s daily life and extend this median life expectancy. Do you have $37? It will not be wasted!

To donate right now, click on the following link:

LIVING BEYOND AGE 37

Any donation will be appreciated!

For more info about Samantha's Cystic Fibrosis, visit our CF Blog, Great Strides for Team Sam!

Winter Weight Off

Over at 5 Minutes for Moms, Janice has started a series called Winter Weight Off.  For me, this would best be described as "WinterS Weight Off" since my weight has accumulated over many years!  I need to lose more pounds than I would ever want to admit, but I know that the weight I have now is from poor food and exercise choices of my past.  I can't undo those decisions, but I can make healthy choices today, meal by meal. With that in mind, I have joined up with the Winter Weight Off and look forward to everything Janice is going to share! I can't wait to learn.  In addition to this, you can expect to see posts very soon that will share the various tools I am using to make this weight come off!

Favorite Super Bowl Commercials

Was it just me or were most of the commercials a bust this year?  Hello, marketing group at Doritos, what were you thinking? Even though I found myself saying, "that wasn't funny" over and over, I did see a few I truly enjoyed...

Everyone passed this one around before Super Bowl Sunday, but it's still really good, so I'll post it too! Notice only Volkswagen and Bridgestone got my vote this year!

Super Bowl XLV: I've Picked a Team!!

Yesterday I wrote what a challenge I have picking a team for the Big Game.  Today, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, posted the "Steelers Use Super Bowl Stardom to Help Support CF Foundation", and VOILA my team is picked.  Evidently, the Steelers are long time supporters of the CF foundation.  That's one thing the Steelers and I have in common! 

Super Bowl XLV

Sunday is Super Bowl 45.  And while I'll always be happy to watch pro-football, there are a few things about this Super Bowl that disappoint...

1. The Cowboys are hosting it, and I STILL haven't been to a game inside the new stadium
2. The Cowboys are hosting it, but they aren't in it!
3. The Cowboys are hosting it, and the NFC team is the Packers!
4. The Cowboys are hosting it, and the AFC team is the Steelers!

Give me a break!!!  I don't even know who I want to lose more! 

There better be some good commercials!

Blizzard 2011

Newscasters have been calling it the Blizzard of Twenty-Eleven!  This storm has ravaged much of the U.S., but Northern Illinois was hit with the "blizzard warning", and it didn't disappoint.  We received at least 18 inches in the span of about 12 hours.  Thankfully, everyone I know is safe and sound.  We didn't even lose power, and we have an experience of a lifetime.  We're enjoying the final hours of a "Snow Day" for Dad, the kids, and almost everyone!!!  As I type this, I'm listening to Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant being interviewed on K-LOVE, watching my kids play in the snow (yes, it's 23 degrees) and feeling sorry for my husband as he shovels a very long driveway.  I have over 100 hundred pictures from this snow event, but let me summarize it with this one taken from my front door...

2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Team

I've always enjoyed a good siesta, and now I've become one! This is the scripture memory team brought together by Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries. After reading about it at Stephanie's Mommy Brain this system sounded like a great fit for me!  Two verses per month seems like a very tangible goal and I like that I get to pick which verses I want to memorize.  At the end of 2011, I'll be able to know what God was teaching me based on these 24 verses! 

We post our verses as a comment on Beth Moore's blog every 1st and 15th. My January verses were Hebrews 4:12-13...

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

My verses for February will be 1 John 2:15-16...

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 

Click here if you want to find out how to join in!