I first off need to apologize for not keeping up with my blog at the end of the challenge. I finished up the challenge last week, and ended up losing about 12 pounds. That is a pretty good number for me, but I really like how much energy I have lately and also I feel great about how my diet has been. The 24 Day Challenge does not end after 24 days. It is a way to get on the right track with eating right and also being able to look at the food you are eating and know if it is good or bad for you.
I recently also just took part in the Dam to Dam 20K race. My goal was to finished in under 2 hours and also not to stop along the way. I achieved both goals and had a great time running! Its amazing to see how inspiring it can be to be running with 8,000 other people and also have people cheering you on along the way. That is really what kept me going and made me want to achieve my goals. I will be honest that I did cheat on my diet Saturday after the race as I had my first Mountain Dew in about a month to celebrate me finishing. I know Mountain Dew seems like an odd way to celebrate finishing a race, but that is just what I wanted after the race.
I ended up having so much fun during the race that I have decided to start training for a Marathon. The Marathon that I am going to register for is the Des Moines Marathon and it takes place at the end of October. I am excited for the challenge of training for an actual marathon and will begin training next week. Since the 20K on Saturday I have been experiencing pain in my knees and hips. I am going to take a few more days off to try to recover, then will hopefully start to run and lift normally again. I am excited to get back to lifting, as I have not really lifted since I started training for the 20K.
I really hope to continue blogging about my training and also about things that work for me when running and things that do not. My hope is to inspire others to get into running because I have found that it really is a great stress reliever and something you can feel really proud of!
Until next time...
Monday, June 4, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Day 5 of the 24 Day Challenge
Well the challenge has been going pretty well for me. I have been being very religious with the diet and am training for a half marathon, so am exercising daily as well. I feel better then the past, and that is really all that matters. I am looking for more food options, because I have been eating pretty much eggs or oatmeal for breakfast, almonds and fruit for my snacks, salads for lunch, and then chicken with a side at night for supper. That pretty much sums up my food choices right now, and I am always looking for something new to try. I have always been a picky eater, but I am willing to give things a shot to switch things up a bit. If anyone has any ideas please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you have tried before.
I am having one problem with the challenge however. I seem to be losing my wind when I am running a lot easier now then in the past. I have been doing some research and trying to figure out if it has anything to do with the cleanse phase of the challenge, but have not found anything. I have been getting a little bored with running as well lately, so that is more then likely what the problem is, but I am going to try to push through that and keep running a lot.
One thing I am amazed by on this challenge is the fact that the Advocare Spark drink has completely curbed my craving for sodas and other sugary energy drinks. I used to be a 2 to 3 bottle a day soda drinker, and then add in a Rockstar Energy drink as well. I went cold turkey on those when the challenge started and the Spark drink has made me stop thinking about the unhealthy drinks completely.
This weekend will be a real test as far as sticking to the diet, but I know I can do it. I tend to eat out a lot on the weekends, and also am going home for Mother's Day, so family dinners will be a little challenging, but I am going to bring a few things I can eat as well.
If you are interested in trying this 24 Day Challenge or just have some general questions about it, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Hope everyone has a great Mother's Day weekend!
Until Next Time..
I am having one problem with the challenge however. I seem to be losing my wind when I am running a lot easier now then in the past. I have been doing some research and trying to figure out if it has anything to do with the cleanse phase of the challenge, but have not found anything. I have been getting a little bored with running as well lately, so that is more then likely what the problem is, but I am going to try to push through that and keep running a lot.
One thing I am amazed by on this challenge is the fact that the Advocare Spark drink has completely curbed my craving for sodas and other sugary energy drinks. I used to be a 2 to 3 bottle a day soda drinker, and then add in a Rockstar Energy drink as well. I went cold turkey on those when the challenge started and the Spark drink has made me stop thinking about the unhealthy drinks completely.
This weekend will be a real test as far as sticking to the diet, but I know I can do it. I tend to eat out a lot on the weekends, and also am going home for Mother's Day, so family dinners will be a little challenging, but I am going to bring a few things I can eat as well.
If you are interested in trying this 24 Day Challenge or just have some general questions about it, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Hope everyone has a great Mother's Day weekend!
Until Next Time..
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Day 3 of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge
It has been three days since I started my Advocare 24 Day Challenge, and I can honestly tell you I am feeling great and having fun doing it. The challenge has been a little frustrating, as I am used to getting a soda or energy drink whenever I want too, but Advocare Spark has been putting those cravings to rest pretty easily.
I have not weighed myself since I started, and I am excited to see how much I lose by Day 10 and also am really excited to continue the eating clean diet full of fruits, vegetables, and also non-processed meat.
Some people get a little nervous to try these types of things out, but it has not been like other diet plans I have tried. Obviously there are no fast food trips, certain types of bread, and also no stops for a late night snack or anything like that. The diet plan is really a way to get you off of the food that is out there that is making our society obese and causing all kinds of problems in our bodies. The plan is to learn how to eat correctly and also continue this eating plan for the rest of your life.
The only real struggles I have had are not having any type of soda or sugary drink. I have been drinking a ton of water and have a Spark once or twice a day so that is really helping me out. I travel quite a bit for work, and therefore have eaten out when on the road before, so I am learning to pack a lunch, or go to a place that has natural salads and things like that. I am a pretty picky eater, and have found plenty of options as far as combinations of food and things like that.
So as you can see so far I am very pleased with the first three days and am really looking forward to the next step in the challenge.
I am heading out to eat for my birthday tonight, and it will be a challenge to get a healthy item off of the menu, but I am determined not to let myself cheat on this challenge at all.
I will catch up with you all soon.
Until next time...
I have not weighed myself since I started, and I am excited to see how much I lose by Day 10 and also am really excited to continue the eating clean diet full of fruits, vegetables, and also non-processed meat.
Some people get a little nervous to try these types of things out, but it has not been like other diet plans I have tried. Obviously there are no fast food trips, certain types of bread, and also no stops for a late night snack or anything like that. The diet plan is really a way to get you off of the food that is out there that is making our society obese and causing all kinds of problems in our bodies. The plan is to learn how to eat correctly and also continue this eating plan for the rest of your life.
The only real struggles I have had are not having any type of soda or sugary drink. I have been drinking a ton of water and have a Spark once or twice a day so that is really helping me out. I travel quite a bit for work, and therefore have eaten out when on the road before, so I am learning to pack a lunch, or go to a place that has natural salads and things like that. I am a pretty picky eater, and have found plenty of options as far as combinations of food and things like that.
So as you can see so far I am very pleased with the first three days and am really looking forward to the next step in the challenge.
I am heading out to eat for my birthday tonight, and it will be a challenge to get a healthy item off of the menu, but I am determined not to let myself cheat on this challenge at all.
I will catch up with you all soon.
Until next time...
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Advocare 24 Day Challenge
Its been so long since I have blogged, and I wanted to post a few words about an upcoming challenge that I am starting.
Tomorrow (May 7th) I will be starting the Advocare 24 day challenge. For those of you who do not know, Advocare is a company that sells wellness products, and they sell all different types of things. I have been a member of Advocare for over a year and a half, and their products always seem to give me the results I am looking for. The 24 day challenge is something that Advocare came up with, that deals with cleansing your body, as well as getting back on a healthy diet to give you more energy and feel better.
The first 10 days are the cleansing days. There is an herbal cleanse that deals with fiber drinks and a few different sets of pills as well. The next 14 days after that are the Max days. These days teach you how to eat healthy and clean and also are the days that are supposed to show you the most results.
I have tried the Herbal Cleanse before, but have never done all 24 days. I am going to really try to complete this challenge, because I have heard so many great things about it that I really want to give it a shot. In order to keep at something, I usually need to document things and also be able to see results so I have decided that I am going to try to post a blog each night to show myself and also anyone else that is interested in potentially doing this what I am struggling with and also what I am finding helps cravings and all that good stuff out.
If you are interested in the 24 Day Challenge, I will copy a link that you can click on to read what it is all about, and I will also copy my Advocare website below as well. Please feel free to ask any questions you want to about the company, or just about some of their products. I have taken quite a few of their products, so if you have any questions I would love to answer them for you.
Advocare 24 Day Challenge Website
My Personal Advocare Website
Hope everyone is enjoying the month of May and that this post finds you in great health.
Until next time...
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
You Can Find Me in Saint Louie - ROCKCHALK
Well I haven't blogged in a pretty long time, so I figured I would let you all know what I did the past week or so.
This year I wanted to do some things that I have never really done before. I guess you could call it a "bucket list" of some sort. I kind of started to think about this during my time in the Dominican, and when I got back to the states I figured what better year then this year to do things I never have. I decided I wanted to start running and figured what better way to make myself do that then register for a half marathon. My ultimate goal is to run a full marathon, but figured I better start with a half and work myself up. The 20k is in June here in Des Moines so I have been training for that and I am loving it. During training the program I am doing it recommends that I take part in some 5k's and things like that, so I am also registered for the AIDS 5K here in Des Moines as well. My brother, Adam, is running in the AIDS run as well, so it should be a good run for a great cause and I can't wait for this summer. I am excited to see how I do during the half marathon and am ready to see what I can do.
As many of you know and as I have stated in a previous post, I am a die hard Kansas Jayhawk fan. I have loved watching them this year, and many know I would give anything to see them in person. I have gone to a few games over the years when they have played at ISU, but it just isn't the same as seeing them in a game either at Allen Fieldhouse, or some kind of tournament. It all started during the Big 12 Tournament this year in Kansas City. I was thinking about heading down to watch them, but I ended up not going. Then they received a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were placed in the Midwest Region. To cut this story short, they made it to regional finals in Saint Louis. The minute they won the game against NC State, I was online looking at tickets for the Regional final against North Carolina. I was willing to spend a pretty large amount of money to see this game, and ended up finding a great deal on tickets.
I was all prepared to drive the 6 hour drive alone, when I called my mom to see what she thought. Needless to say, she said her and my dad wanted to come with so I was pumped. We purchased the tickets Saturday night and Sunday morning I picked them up and we were headed to Saint Louis.
The drive there felt like it took 2 hours because I was so excited. We pulled into the parking ramp and when I got out of my car my legs started shaking because I was so excited (I am aware this is pretty embarrassing). The atmosphere down there was unlike anything I had seen. There were tons of Kansas fans, and quite a few North Carolina fans, all chanting and all that good stuff.
The game was close through out, and in the final minutes Kansas pulled away and got the big win for a trip to the Final Four. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so grateful that I could share it with my parents. I have always wanted to hear the "Rockchalk Jayhawk" chant in person, and it gave me chills to take part in the chant during the final minutes. My family is obviously huge fans of the game, so it was an incredible experience for all of us. It was also really nice to be able to go nuts during the game and actually have people around you who do not care. Usually I am in my apartment throwing things and screaming until I have no voice left.
I am extremely excited about this Saturday's Final Four game, and I do realize that not matter what I do for the game, it will not live up to being there live, but I am still really excited. I will more then likely watch the game at my apartment with all the windows closed to hide the noise that I make during the games. My bracket is doing great this year as well. In the ESPN bracket challenge I am in the 96th percentile, which means that there is only 4 percent of the 6 million brackets entered that are better then me. Obviously I have picked Kansas to win it for as long as I can remember filling out a bracket, so I have them taking down Kentucky in the National Championship. Either way I am pretty happy that I got to experience the game to go to the Final Four, and also am pretty proud of how this years team has performed. No one expected them to be this successful this year, and they have been very fun to watch.
Other then that my life is pretty much the same. Just working a ton and trying to train for this half marathon I signed up for.
Hopefully this message finds you in great health and also having a great start to the Spring season. I am looking forward to catching up with you all again soon.
Until next time...
This year I wanted to do some things that I have never really done before. I guess you could call it a "bucket list" of some sort. I kind of started to think about this during my time in the Dominican, and when I got back to the states I figured what better year then this year to do things I never have. I decided I wanted to start running and figured what better way to make myself do that then register for a half marathon. My ultimate goal is to run a full marathon, but figured I better start with a half and work myself up. The 20k is in June here in Des Moines so I have been training for that and I am loving it. During training the program I am doing it recommends that I take part in some 5k's and things like that, so I am also registered for the AIDS 5K here in Des Moines as well. My brother, Adam, is running in the AIDS run as well, so it should be a good run for a great cause and I can't wait for this summer. I am excited to see how I do during the half marathon and am ready to see what I can do.
As many of you know and as I have stated in a previous post, I am a die hard Kansas Jayhawk fan. I have loved watching them this year, and many know I would give anything to see them in person. I have gone to a few games over the years when they have played at ISU, but it just isn't the same as seeing them in a game either at Allen Fieldhouse, or some kind of tournament. It all started during the Big 12 Tournament this year in Kansas City. I was thinking about heading down to watch them, but I ended up not going. Then they received a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were placed in the Midwest Region. To cut this story short, they made it to regional finals in Saint Louis. The minute they won the game against NC State, I was online looking at tickets for the Regional final against North Carolina. I was willing to spend a pretty large amount of money to see this game, and ended up finding a great deal on tickets.
I was all prepared to drive the 6 hour drive alone, when I called my mom to see what she thought. Needless to say, she said her and my dad wanted to come with so I was pumped. We purchased the tickets Saturday night and Sunday morning I picked them up and we were headed to Saint Louis.
The drive there felt like it took 2 hours because I was so excited. We pulled into the parking ramp and when I got out of my car my legs started shaking because I was so excited (I am aware this is pretty embarrassing). The atmosphere down there was unlike anything I had seen. There were tons of Kansas fans, and quite a few North Carolina fans, all chanting and all that good stuff.
The game was close through out, and in the final minutes Kansas pulled away and got the big win for a trip to the Final Four. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so grateful that I could share it with my parents. I have always wanted to hear the "Rockchalk Jayhawk" chant in person, and it gave me chills to take part in the chant during the final minutes. My family is obviously huge fans of the game, so it was an incredible experience for all of us. It was also really nice to be able to go nuts during the game and actually have people around you who do not care. Usually I am in my apartment throwing things and screaming until I have no voice left.
I am extremely excited about this Saturday's Final Four game, and I do realize that not matter what I do for the game, it will not live up to being there live, but I am still really excited. I will more then likely watch the game at my apartment with all the windows closed to hide the noise that I make during the games. My bracket is doing great this year as well. In the ESPN bracket challenge I am in the 96th percentile, which means that there is only 4 percent of the 6 million brackets entered that are better then me. Obviously I have picked Kansas to win it for as long as I can remember filling out a bracket, so I have them taking down Kentucky in the National Championship. Either way I am pretty happy that I got to experience the game to go to the Final Four, and also am pretty proud of how this years team has performed. No one expected them to be this successful this year, and they have been very fun to watch.
Other then that my life is pretty much the same. Just working a ton and trying to train for this half marathon I signed up for.
Hopefully this message finds you in great health and also having a great start to the Spring season. I am looking forward to catching up with you all again soon.
Until next time...
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Past Few Weeks and Weeks to Come
I haven't written in a while, and wanted to get a few things out about what has been going on in my life as well as what is coming up in the next few weeks.
When I think back a few weeks ago, I think of all the emotions that I was having when I got back from the Dominican. As I wrote in the last blog, I was feeling guilty just to be back in the states. In talking to a few folks, I found this was normal and honestly it took me about two weeks to finally feel comfortable being back and doing my job regularly and all of those types of things. It is crazy how much one week away can change a person that much. All is well now, but I will never forgot what that week was like.
As I have been thinking the past few days on what all I need to write in this blog, a few different things have crossed my mind. One was that I need to send out a HUGE thank you to the Project 52 family and everyone reading this blog. Your comments on Facebook and Twitter, and also in person are greatly appreciated and do not go unnoticed. I honestly started this because I wanted to let people know what was going on and also to hopefully get people to think about going on trips in the future with Project 52. I also wanted to give something for my family to read to let them know what I was going through and feeling during this life changing trip. The blog got bigger then I expected and am so grateful that I could share with everyone what all went on down in the Dominican. I also want to thank everyone for their support when I was sick last week. From an email I got it sounded like there were a few people from the team sick, and I am hoping that everyone is back to normal finally.
Another topic I wanted to bring up was Kony 2012. I have watched the video as I am sure most of you have (I will link it up below if you have not and want to take a look at it). As with every movement these days, there are those who support it fully and also those who say it is a bunch of nonsense and is a waste of time. I have done some research and also have looked at a ton of articles on it, and I actually do feel like this is a good thing. I know many will disagree, but lets be honest here. Joseph Kony is a bad man who does terrible things to people. He needs to be brought to justice, and honestly I do not have any idea what the best way to do that is. I just think that social media is changing the world and that can be good and bad. I also think that it is a great thing that young people all over America are standing up for something they believe in that has to do with global peace. It is not often anymore you see people care about something this globally. It seems as if younger people seem to care more about missing an episode of Jersey Shore then they do about what is going on in the world, so when something like this comes about and people care deeply about it that makes me happy. Enough about Kony, I just wanted to put that out there and let people know what I thought.
Now on to some great news. It's MARCH! As many of you know, I grew up in a family that breathes basketball. From an early age I have loved the game and that is why March is the best time of year for me. The NCAA Tourney is upon us and I have a feeling this year it is going to be a great tourney. The thing that makes me the most excited is the passion that the players have during this time of year. Each possession is critical and they leave it all on the floor. As many of you also know, I have an obsession with the Kansas Jayhawks. I think this years team is special, and from the looks of it, they might not run into any mid-major teams so that is a good thing as well. I wanted to share a video with you about one of the players who I have the utmost respect for is Thomas Robinson. I will also add the link to the video ESPN did on him about losing both of his Grandparents and Mother all within the same month. He has come back this year better then ever and I could not be happier for him.
That is about all I have as of right now. My goal was to throw a blog out there every Sunday, so I may try to get on that schedule because I actually really enjoy writing this way. The next few weeks will consist of a ton of basketball, a ton of work (my territory expanded so I have a lot more road trips coming up), and also a ton of studying for the GMAT. If all goes according to plan I will be heading back to school this fall at the University of Iowa to get my Masters in Business Administration/Marketing. There are a lot of things I need to do before then so I am praying that it all works out.
Thanks everyone for continuing to read my blog, and I hope this message finds everyone doing great!
Kony 2012 Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
Thomas Robinson Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ-kMt8HDME
Until next time...
When I think back a few weeks ago, I think of all the emotions that I was having when I got back from the Dominican. As I wrote in the last blog, I was feeling guilty just to be back in the states. In talking to a few folks, I found this was normal and honestly it took me about two weeks to finally feel comfortable being back and doing my job regularly and all of those types of things. It is crazy how much one week away can change a person that much. All is well now, but I will never forgot what that week was like.
As I have been thinking the past few days on what all I need to write in this blog, a few different things have crossed my mind. One was that I need to send out a HUGE thank you to the Project 52 family and everyone reading this blog. Your comments on Facebook and Twitter, and also in person are greatly appreciated and do not go unnoticed. I honestly started this because I wanted to let people know what was going on and also to hopefully get people to think about going on trips in the future with Project 52. I also wanted to give something for my family to read to let them know what I was going through and feeling during this life changing trip. The blog got bigger then I expected and am so grateful that I could share with everyone what all went on down in the Dominican. I also want to thank everyone for their support when I was sick last week. From an email I got it sounded like there were a few people from the team sick, and I am hoping that everyone is back to normal finally.
Another topic I wanted to bring up was Kony 2012. I have watched the video as I am sure most of you have (I will link it up below if you have not and want to take a look at it). As with every movement these days, there are those who support it fully and also those who say it is a bunch of nonsense and is a waste of time. I have done some research and also have looked at a ton of articles on it, and I actually do feel like this is a good thing. I know many will disagree, but lets be honest here. Joseph Kony is a bad man who does terrible things to people. He needs to be brought to justice, and honestly I do not have any idea what the best way to do that is. I just think that social media is changing the world and that can be good and bad. I also think that it is a great thing that young people all over America are standing up for something they believe in that has to do with global peace. It is not often anymore you see people care about something this globally. It seems as if younger people seem to care more about missing an episode of Jersey Shore then they do about what is going on in the world, so when something like this comes about and people care deeply about it that makes me happy. Enough about Kony, I just wanted to put that out there and let people know what I thought.
Now on to some great news. It's MARCH! As many of you know, I grew up in a family that breathes basketball. From an early age I have loved the game and that is why March is the best time of year for me. The NCAA Tourney is upon us and I have a feeling this year it is going to be a great tourney. The thing that makes me the most excited is the passion that the players have during this time of year. Each possession is critical and they leave it all on the floor. As many of you also know, I have an obsession with the Kansas Jayhawks. I think this years team is special, and from the looks of it, they might not run into any mid-major teams so that is a good thing as well. I wanted to share a video with you about one of the players who I have the utmost respect for is Thomas Robinson. I will also add the link to the video ESPN did on him about losing both of his Grandparents and Mother all within the same month. He has come back this year better then ever and I could not be happier for him.
That is about all I have as of right now. My goal was to throw a blog out there every Sunday, so I may try to get on that schedule because I actually really enjoy writing this way. The next few weeks will consist of a ton of basketball, a ton of work (my territory expanded so I have a lot more road trips coming up), and also a ton of studying for the GMAT. If all goes according to plan I will be heading back to school this fall at the University of Iowa to get my Masters in Business Administration/Marketing. There are a lot of things I need to do before then so I am praying that it all works out.
Thanks everyone for continuing to read my blog, and I hope this message finds everyone doing great!
Kony 2012 Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
Thomas Robinson Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ-kMt8HDME
Until next time...
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thoughts on the trip
I am writing this tonight in my apartment, which obviously means we got home safe and sound last night. Our flight from Atlanta to Des Moines was delayed a half hour, but no other problems.
I tried to think of everything I wanted to write last night on the plane. I came to the conclusion that there really are no words for all of the experiences and memories I made this past 8 days. At our final meeting of the trip, the question was asked what our favorite part of the trip was, and also what we will leave in the Dominican and what we will take back with us. My favorite part of the trip was changing people's lives for the better. With the gym dedication, hundreds of kids will be able to go to the gym as a safe place to go to get off the streets. Building the house changed Juanitto's life in thousands of ways. His daughter is expecting a child, and now will have a safe place to raise the child. Then I had to think what I would leave in the Dominican. I stated that I would leave my selfishness there. I take so many things for granted, and also am way to materialistic then I need to be. I am going to work hard to correct that about myself. I then stated that what I took away from the Dominican was a new perspective on life. I have the best family a person could ask for, great friends that support me in all kinds of different ways, and also a new found faith and belief that God has a plan for me and I need to be thankful each and every day for that.
On the plane I also thought about all the people who helped me pay for the trip and also all the people who went on the trip. Everyone grew so close to each other, that it was really hard to leave them last night. I just want to say thank you to my family for helping me out, and also thank you to everyone who went on the trip for all the memories.
Today has been a challenging day. During our last meeting in the Dominican we talked about how hard it is to go back to regular life after a trip like this. It made me feel guilty that this morning that I went to Wal-Mart and got to drive there in my new car to pick up food for the week and everything else I needed. If I could go back to the Dominican I would do it in a heartbeat. The people there are so caring and grateful for what they have that it's easy to love it there.
Our last day was spent at the resort on the ocean. It was a great time to get to know everyone better, and relax and have a good time. Memories were definitely made and it was great to be able to do that our last day.
That about wraps my thoughts up on the trip. I am not sure how many people actually read this blog, but if you have and you have questions or want to know anything, don't hesitate to contact me. I am planning on going back every year, and would seriously encourage everyone to go. It will change your life, and you will have the time of your life.
I am going to continue to try to blog every now and then. I have no idea what topics about, or how often I will do it, but it is a pretty cool way to get my thoughts out and I am enjoying it. I will definitely have more to say about the trip, but it honestly has not even set in yet I don't think.
I have added all my pictures to my Facebook account, so if you are reading this and you are not able to see them, send me out a friend request and I will accept it. I think I got some pretty good ones that sum up the trip pretty well.
I hope you all have a great week, and I will hopefully be able to catch up with everyone soon. Thanks again for all the support while our team was there.
Until next time...
The house at the beginning of the week
After the house was completed
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Final Day of Work
Today we finished Juanitto's house. I know I said I would post a picture, but my computer does not work very well down here. It was a very hard day, but the end result was definitely worth it.
Today we mixed concrete, finished the roof, painted, and did electrical work to finish up the house. It was another long day, as we didn't get home until about 7 P.M.
This day has been pretty crazy for everyone. We dedicated the house to Juanitto and he is honestly the nicest, most grateful guy you could ever meet. He is a very hard worker and loved his new house. We put on a dedication for the family and invited all the neighbors and it was a great time to rejoice and hang out as well.
This trip has been amazing for me. It has been great to hang out and work hard with some of my best friends and also try to change other people's lives for the better. I really cannot put in to words how I feel right now. It has been great to be here and honestly I want to do more work before I come home. I know I will be back, and I have many memories to share with everyone when I get home.
This morning at devotion we talked about Staying Strong. Today's passage was about being even stronger with someone by your side. Pastor Jon asked for examples and Wayne spoke up about Treye's visitation. He mentioned that at the visitation there was a man who went up to see Treye and Wayne was standing there. The man could broke down when Wayne put his arm around him and couldn't say a word because he was crying so hard. Wayne said he put his arm around him and he felt strength just by being around the man who cared so much for Treye that he couldn't even say a word cuz he was so sad.
After Wayne finished with the story he looked right at me and said, "That great man was your dad, Mike." Immediately I started tearing up and thought about that day. It was a hard day, but we all got stronger because of it and it has changed our lives.
This trip has made me realize that all I need in life are family, friends, and faith and I will be good.
I am planning on doing a summary of the trip hopefully on Sunday, but the people who have been here before have said that it takes about 2 weeks to actually get back to real world life.
I also just wanted to thank everyone who is reading this blog. Everyone appreciates all of your support and prayers and we cannot wait to tell everyone all about it.
Tomorrow is our day at the resort for a little rest and relaxation. It should be a good time to get to know each other better and also have a little fun as well.
I will catch up with all of you again Sunday hopefully!
Until next time...
Today we mixed concrete, finished the roof, painted, and did electrical work to finish up the house. It was another long day, as we didn't get home until about 7 P.M.
This day has been pretty crazy for everyone. We dedicated the house to Juanitto and he is honestly the nicest, most grateful guy you could ever meet. He is a very hard worker and loved his new house. We put on a dedication for the family and invited all the neighbors and it was a great time to rejoice and hang out as well.
This trip has been amazing for me. It has been great to hang out and work hard with some of my best friends and also try to change other people's lives for the better. I really cannot put in to words how I feel right now. It has been great to be here and honestly I want to do more work before I come home. I know I will be back, and I have many memories to share with everyone when I get home.
This morning at devotion we talked about Staying Strong. Today's passage was about being even stronger with someone by your side. Pastor Jon asked for examples and Wayne spoke up about Treye's visitation. He mentioned that at the visitation there was a man who went up to see Treye and Wayne was standing there. The man could broke down when Wayne put his arm around him and couldn't say a word because he was crying so hard. Wayne said he put his arm around him and he felt strength just by being around the man who cared so much for Treye that he couldn't even say a word cuz he was so sad.
After Wayne finished with the story he looked right at me and said, "That great man was your dad, Mike." Immediately I started tearing up and thought about that day. It was a hard day, but we all got stronger because of it and it has changed our lives.
This trip has made me realize that all I need in life are family, friends, and faith and I will be good.
I am planning on doing a summary of the trip hopefully on Sunday, but the people who have been here before have said that it takes about 2 weeks to actually get back to real world life.
I also just wanted to thank everyone who is reading this blog. Everyone appreciates all of your support and prayers and we cannot wait to tell everyone all about it.
Tomorrow is our day at the resort for a little rest and relaxation. It should be a good time to get to know each other better and also have a little fun as well.
I will catch up with all of you again Sunday hopefully!
Until next time...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A Day at the Farm and Rat Hunt Day 2
I apologize for my spelling on this post because I am writing this on my iPod. The keyboard is really small and I have some pretty big thumbs.
Yesterday was an action packed day. We went to Christian's family farm which was about 2 hours away. When we were there we got to see oxyn plow a field, ride horses, and had a meal there as well. The meat of choice there was goat so that was a pretty weird experience. Chicken fighting is also very big here, so we got to see some chickens fighting as well. None were killed though it was just a practice fight. After that we made the long trek back home and most people slept.
Last night we spotted another mouse running around when we went to bed. It was not the same one, but it is getting easier to sleep with them because I have been so tired. We are still trying to figure out how to catch/kill them, but it's not working.
Today was the longest day we have had here. We had to lay the floor in the whole house today so that meant a whole day of making/carrying cement. They do everything by hand so it is extremely hard work to do. I mixed cement for a while, then carried cement for a while, and also leveled out floors which involves pounding down a 50 pound steel beem with a steel square on the bottom. I have a weird feeling that my back will not be right in the morning.
Today we worked from 8 until 1230 and then 230 until 7. When you take into account the sun and the long hours, it was a very long day. It is all totally worth it though when you see the smiles on the faces on all the people here.
There was one more person sick today, so hopefully everyone can stay healthy from here on out. Tomorrow is our last day of work here, then it's off to the resort to celebrate the trip and also Matt's golden birthday.
This trip has flown by, and I can't wait until next year. We already have an idea of what we are going to do and it sounds pretty awesome.
I will try to blog tomorrow and try to put up a picture of the finished house as well. Hope everyone in the states is having a great week. Be thankful for what you have and keep us in your prayers as we finish out this trip.
Until next time....
Yesterday was an action packed day. We went to Christian's family farm which was about 2 hours away. When we were there we got to see oxyn plow a field, ride horses, and had a meal there as well. The meat of choice there was goat so that was a pretty weird experience. Chicken fighting is also very big here, so we got to see some chickens fighting as well. None were killed though it was just a practice fight. After that we made the long trek back home and most people slept.
Last night we spotted another mouse running around when we went to bed. It was not the same one, but it is getting easier to sleep with them because I have been so tired. We are still trying to figure out how to catch/kill them, but it's not working.
Today was the longest day we have had here. We had to lay the floor in the whole house today so that meant a whole day of making/carrying cement. They do everything by hand so it is extremely hard work to do. I mixed cement for a while, then carried cement for a while, and also leveled out floors which involves pounding down a 50 pound steel beem with a steel square on the bottom. I have a weird feeling that my back will not be right in the morning.
Today we worked from 8 until 1230 and then 230 until 7. When you take into account the sun and the long hours, it was a very long day. It is all totally worth it though when you see the smiles on the faces on all the people here.
There was one more person sick today, so hopefully everyone can stay healthy from here on out. Tomorrow is our last day of work here, then it's off to the resort to celebrate the trip and also Matt's golden birthday.
This trip has flown by, and I can't wait until next year. We already have an idea of what we are going to do and it sounds pretty awesome.
I will try to blog tomorrow and try to put up a picture of the finished house as well. Hope everyone in the states is having a great week. Be thankful for what you have and keep us in your prayers as we finish out this trip.
Until next time....
Monday, February 20, 2012
First Official Day of Work
Today marked our first whole day of work on Juanitto's house. We have been there before, but only spent a few hours there moving dirt. It was Tyler, Ryley, Matt, and also my job to move dirt from a dirt pile to an area in the house to raise the floor up. I am not kidding you when I say that we hauled over 125 wheel barrels of dirt today. The wheel barrels here are not in the best shape and kind of hard to run. It is only 8:35 here right now and we are all thinking about heading to bed soon.
The house is moving along great. Juanitto is a man who works at the school we are staying at and has two girls he has raised all by himself. He is a great person who deserves what we are building for him. Some people on the team laid brick while others made re-rods and got them ready. I bent rods some of the day as well. It was extremely hot here today and there are a few members of the team who are sick. Hopefully they will all be good to go by tomorrow.
Last night we had a game night with all of us. The main game we played was Catch Phrase. It was boys vs. girls and it got really heated. We were down by a lot in the last game and came back to win and we were all going nuts. Then we played 3 games of Spoons and I would just like to thank my DeBerg side of the family for all the games of Spoons we used to play. I ended up winning two out of the three games.
Overall today was a great day. I am exhausted and ready for bed, but it was definitely worth it. I am gaining more and more appreciation for my life each and every day. I love it here and am planning on coming back each year for as long as I am able.
One thing I did want to share before I head to bed. We are working on building a house, and the older lady who lives right next to him in a pretty beat up house. She came up to each of us and shook our hands and said how grateful she was that we were doing this for her neighbor. She also said that we could come into her house any time to get out of the sun.
That got me thinking about things back home. If someone builds a house next to anyone back home, most of the time the neighbor is jealous or mad at them because they have a new house and have something better. I think that is the main thing I will take back from this trip. I need to appreciate what I have instead of being envious of what others have that I don't. I am blessed with good health and a great family and that is all that really matters.
Until next time...
The house is moving along great. Juanitto is a man who works at the school we are staying at and has two girls he has raised all by himself. He is a great person who deserves what we are building for him. Some people on the team laid brick while others made re-rods and got them ready. I bent rods some of the day as well. It was extremely hot here today and there are a few members of the team who are sick. Hopefully they will all be good to go by tomorrow.
Last night we had a game night with all of us. The main game we played was Catch Phrase. It was boys vs. girls and it got really heated. We were down by a lot in the last game and came back to win and we were all going nuts. Then we played 3 games of Spoons and I would just like to thank my DeBerg side of the family for all the games of Spoons we used to play. I ended up winning two out of the three games.
Overall today was a great day. I am exhausted and ready for bed, but it was definitely worth it. I am gaining more and more appreciation for my life each and every day. I love it here and am planning on coming back each year for as long as I am able.
One thing I did want to share before I head to bed. We are working on building a house, and the older lady who lives right next to him in a pretty beat up house. She came up to each of us and shook our hands and said how grateful she was that we were doing this for her neighbor. She also said that we could come into her house any time to get out of the sun.
That got me thinking about things back home. If someone builds a house next to anyone back home, most of the time the neighbor is jealous or mad at them because they have a new house and have something better. I think that is the main thing I will take back from this trip. I need to appreciate what I have instead of being envious of what others have that I don't. I am blessed with good health and a great family and that is all that really matters.
Until next time...
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Rat Hunt and Treye's Dedication
I'm going to start this one off wishing Treye a happy 24th birthday. I miss him every day and its hard to believe the impact and legacy he has on so many people.
Last night we had a little bit of a rodent problem in our camp room. There is a pretty decent sized rat running around our room and it was very hard to sleep. Matt saw him the first night, and we were on the lookout last night and the rat ended up coming out for all of us to see. Needless to say it was pretty hard to sleep last night knowing that a rat could be climbing on me at any time.
Today was a pretty emotional day. We first off went to church and got to experience a Dominican Service. They had a pastor that spoke in Spanish and then an English pastor would translate what he was saying. There were a lot of songs and it was an awesome experience.
After the service we had to decorate thr gym and get all the chairs set up. The dedicaton was a pretty sweet way to honor Treye. There were about 75 people there and most of them had no idea who Treye even was. That was when I really realized what kind of legacy Treye left. His grandparents Wayne and Joyce each spoke, and then Matt spoke as well. They all did a great job and the even went very smooth. It was a time to reflect and also honor Treye and that is exactly what we did.
Today has been a roller coaster. Each time Treye's name gets brought up I can't help but think of the great memories we all had with him, and then think about the tragic night he was taken from us. It is safe to say though that all of his friends and family have come together so much more because of this and its great to have such an awesome support group. Matt said it well today when he stated that Treye's legacy will continue to live on through the gym that was built in his memory and help kids in the Dominican change their lives and become better people.
Christian, our leader for the trip, said it best. "I don't care how much you know, until I know how much you care." That quote sums up the Dominican people to me. They care so much for their families and community and thats how it should be. I truly believe every person in the states should have to come down here and serve. Life would be appreciated so much more if they did.
Tomorrow is all about building a house for a family down here. It is going to be tough work, but I couldn't be more excited.
Until next time...
Last night we had a little bit of a rodent problem in our camp room. There is a pretty decent sized rat running around our room and it was very hard to sleep. Matt saw him the first night, and we were on the lookout last night and the rat ended up coming out for all of us to see. Needless to say it was pretty hard to sleep last night knowing that a rat could be climbing on me at any time.
Today was a pretty emotional day. We first off went to church and got to experience a Dominican Service. They had a pastor that spoke in Spanish and then an English pastor would translate what he was saying. There were a lot of songs and it was an awesome experience.
After the service we had to decorate thr gym and get all the chairs set up. The dedicaton was a pretty sweet way to honor Treye. There were about 75 people there and most of them had no idea who Treye even was. That was when I really realized what kind of legacy Treye left. His grandparents Wayne and Joyce each spoke, and then Matt spoke as well. They all did a great job and the even went very smooth. It was a time to reflect and also honor Treye and that is exactly what we did.
Today has been a roller coaster. Each time Treye's name gets brought up I can't help but think of the great memories we all had with him, and then think about the tragic night he was taken from us. It is safe to say though that all of his friends and family have come together so much more because of this and its great to have such an awesome support group. Matt said it well today when he stated that Treye's legacy will continue to live on through the gym that was built in his memory and help kids in the Dominican change their lives and become better people.
Christian, our leader for the trip, said it best. "I don't care how much you know, until I know how much you care." That quote sums up the Dominican people to me. They care so much for their families and community and thats how it should be. I truly believe every person in the states should have to come down here and serve. Life would be appreciated so much more if they did.
Tomorrow is all about building a house for a family down here. It is going to be tough work, but I couldn't be more excited.
Until next time...
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Day 1 and 2 in the Dominican
Yesterday we arrived here in the Dominican Republic. Our flights went very smooth and getting through customs was not problem at all. Everyone was extremely excited to get to our camp and to finally see what this trip was going to be about.
Friday-When our flights arrived in the Dominican, we all got on a bus and headed to camp. The drive was about an hour and a half, and it was quite an experience. In the Dominican they do not have any traffic laws so its every vehicle for themselves. Horns are not an accessory here they are needed. When we got to camp we met all of the leaders and they are awesome! We had our first meal and the food here is great. Everything is fresh and taste great. We took a tour of the camp and all those types of good things.
Saturday- Today has been quite the experience for me. It started with our morning devotions and breakfast. The morning is time to reflect and also journal what we experience.
After breakfast we all went to the Gym to put the floor down and finish it up for the dedication that we have tomorrow (Sunday). It should be a pretty emotional event and I am really looking forward to it.
After Lunch we went to the house we are adding on too and layed bricks and dirt. Before this we took a walk through the community and it is something that I can't even put into words. The Dominican people are so grateful for even just shaking their hands. We had candy to give away and all the children loved us. We even played a traveling basketball team and had a good time with them.
Today has been so unreal to me. Walking through the community makes you really think about your life. I am so blessed with an amazing family and friends that sometimes I just take things for granted. The Dominican people are so friendly and appreciate everything that we do for them.
I have been here for a day and a half and this trip is already more then I expected. Everyone is doing great and having a great time! I have been trying to take a lot of pictures to add to this blog, but won't be able to put those up until I get back home.
The devotion theme for the week is Getting Strong, Staying Strong! Pastor Jon is doing a great job of leading the devotions and I am really enjoying everything this trip is offering to me.
Treye's Grandma Joyce wrote us all a letter that I thought was interesting. This gym cost 52,000 dollars and we are dedicating the gym in Treye's name on the day he turns 24. There are 24 people who are on this mission trip and dedication.
These numbers all are not a coincidence. This all has happened for a reason and each day I am here I am realizing more and more that its God's plan.
I will continue to try to do this each day I can get WiFi for everyone reading and also to keep a journal for myself to read for years to come.
Until next time!
Friday-When our flights arrived in the Dominican, we all got on a bus and headed to camp. The drive was about an hour and a half, and it was quite an experience. In the Dominican they do not have any traffic laws so its every vehicle for themselves. Horns are not an accessory here they are needed. When we got to camp we met all of the leaders and they are awesome! We had our first meal and the food here is great. Everything is fresh and taste great. We took a tour of the camp and all those types of good things.
Saturday- Today has been quite the experience for me. It started with our morning devotions and breakfast. The morning is time to reflect and also journal what we experience.
After breakfast we all went to the Gym to put the floor down and finish it up for the dedication that we have tomorrow (Sunday). It should be a pretty emotional event and I am really looking forward to it.
After Lunch we went to the house we are adding on too and layed bricks and dirt. Before this we took a walk through the community and it is something that I can't even put into words. The Dominican people are so grateful for even just shaking their hands. We had candy to give away and all the children loved us. We even played a traveling basketball team and had a good time with them.
Today has been so unreal to me. Walking through the community makes you really think about your life. I am so blessed with an amazing family and friends that sometimes I just take things for granted. The Dominican people are so friendly and appreciate everything that we do for them.
I have been here for a day and a half and this trip is already more then I expected. Everyone is doing great and having a great time! I have been trying to take a lot of pictures to add to this blog, but won't be able to put those up until I get back home.
The devotion theme for the week is Getting Strong, Staying Strong! Pastor Jon is doing a great job of leading the devotions and I am really enjoying everything this trip is offering to me.
Treye's Grandma Joyce wrote us all a letter that I thought was interesting. This gym cost 52,000 dollars and we are dedicating the gym in Treye's name on the day he turns 24. There are 24 people who are on this mission trip and dedication.
These numbers all are not a coincidence. This all has happened for a reason and each day I am here I am realizing more and more that its God's plan.
I will continue to try to do this each day I can get WiFi for everyone reading and also to keep a journal for myself to read for years to come.
Until next time!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Dominican
I figured I would start a blog to update you all on the Mission Trip I will be taking to the Dominican Republic with Project 52.
Project 52 is an organization that was started in honor of one of my best friends who was killed trying to break up a fight. His name was Treye Blythe and he has touched more lives then anyone could have imagined. I have attached the organization's website so take a look at it.
www.p52.org
I will try to log onto my computer every night to update what we did and what I experienced each day to keep everyone in the loop. If allowed I will also post pictures and things like that.
I am new to this blogging thing, so be patient with me and hopefully we can all have some fun with this. The title of the blog comes from one of Jay-Z's best albums calls the Life and Times of Shawn Carter. I am looking for a better name so if anyone has any ideas shoot them out to me.
Feel free to comment on anything I say and also tell your friends about this blog.
I am looking forward to blogging on a regular basis about all kinds of topics.
Have a good Day!
The new Treye Blythe Project 52 Gymnasium
Treye's football picture
Project 52 is an organization that was started in honor of one of my best friends who was killed trying to break up a fight. His name was Treye Blythe and he has touched more lives then anyone could have imagined. I have attached the organization's website so take a look at it.
www.p52.org
I will try to log onto my computer every night to update what we did and what I experienced each day to keep everyone in the loop. If allowed I will also post pictures and things like that.
I am new to this blogging thing, so be patient with me and hopefully we can all have some fun with this. The title of the blog comes from one of Jay-Z's best albums calls the Life and Times of Shawn Carter. I am looking for a better name so if anyone has any ideas shoot them out to me.
Feel free to comment on anything I say and also tell your friends about this blog.
I am looking forward to blogging on a regular basis about all kinds of topics.
Have a good Day!
The new Treye Blythe Project 52 Gymnasium
Treye's football picture
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