Ya know, you guys are the bestest!!!

I was glancing over my blog today and happen to look at my stats. Know what they are?

12,058!!

My little blog has grown so much in the 1.5 years since I've started it, and I love it with all my heart.

But the real reason I am what I consider a 'success' is you guys. Even when I forget to stop in and give you bloggy love you still faithfully visit me. Even when I am so busy that I go a week without blogging you all still return. You send me support, well wishes, check up on me, and simply make this blogging thing even more fun!

So thank you for being the bestest ever. I really loves you guys!

Have a Heart...

Valentines day is only a week away and some are anxiously awaiting a gift from a loved one, or waiting to give a gift to someone we love and for others it's just a fabricated holiday that should be overlooked. But regardless of what you think of valentines day, I hope you will help my kids make this one special.

Just in case you've never heard of it Jump Rope For Heart is a program ran by the American Heart Association to not only raise money but also inform kids about the dangers of Heart Disease and Stroke. The kids do different heart related activities at school, raise funds and then on Feb. 14th they spend the entire class "jump roping for hearts" :-) I know that since Alex began this program back in Kindergarten 4 years ago I have become more informed and found out things I never knew. Such as:

Isn't heart disease just heart disease, whether it's in a man or a woman?

Not necessarily. We have gaps in our knowledge about the prevention and treatment of heart disease in women. For one thing, women historically haven't been included in scientific research studies to the extent men have.

For example, we now know that just because a woman's arteries appear clear on an angiogram (a picture of the heart), it doesn't mean she's not at risk of heart disease. A study by the National Institutes of Health indicated as many as 3 million women previously diagnosed with healthy arteries could actually have an increased risk of heart attack after all.

This study, called the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE), found among other things that the gold standard test for assessing coronary artery disease — the coronary angiogram — may not spot the more diffuse buildup of plaques that often forms in the smaller coronary arteries of women's hearts.

Is heart disease something only older women should worry about?

No. While heart disease is the leading cause of death for women 65 and older, it's the third-leading cause of death for women 25 to 44 and second-leading cause of death for women 45 to 64. All women, of all ages, should take heart disease seriously.

I've heard something about the connection between depression and heart disease in women. What's that about?

Depression is twice as common in women as in men, and it increases the risk of heart disease by two to three times compared with those who aren't depressed. It's estimated that about one in five women who has a heart attack or is hospitalized with heart failure has evidence of depression. We need to better diagnose and address depression because depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment.

Read more at Mayo Clincic..

I am at high risk, and honestly, if it wasn't for this program I never would have realized that at the age of (almost) 30, I am a candidate for heart disease or stroke!

Heart Disease not only affects women (and men) there are are also children who suffer from congenital and acquired heart diseases. In fact one of my favorite bloggers, has a son who suffers from Kawasaki Disease

Last year Alex raised $500 for Jump Rope for Heart, but this year the added competition of Liberty now being in school made him set his goal to $1000. And of course, in the spirit of good sibling rivalry Liberty has also made her goal $1000. I would love nothing more than to be able to help them reach their goals, and so I am asking for your help.

HERE is Alex's Page and HERE is Liberty's page. All of us would appreciate any help you can offer: reposting, passing on of this message or donations of any amount!

Thank you a million kisses and hugs as Alex and Liberty say!

Grab this button:


<a href="http://serendipitymine.blogspot.com/2008/02/have-heart.html" target="blank"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/SerendipityMine/R6nwQbiWOwI/AAAAAAAAAEA/Dnl_kgzMtsA/s144/SAVE-A-HEART.jpg"></a><br />

A ConfessionandSix Words that Meant the World

I have a confession to make. Or maybe an FYI. Anyway, Prince Charming and I have separated. We have been for a week and one day as of today. We have known since before Christmas that this needed to happen, but were unable financially to do anything. Finally,at the end of January, we were in a place where we could go through with it.

We still talk all day, he still visits both me and the kids, and we are still friends. Divorce is not on the table. We simply both have issues that must be worked out, worked through, moved past, and growing up to do. And some of this just can't happen while we are living under the same roof. At least for me. We are going to go to counseling. We are going to try everything to make it through this. And I believe we will both be better in the end.

So if you have heard me whining about no job, now you know why. And if I am not on here to visit or post, now you know why :-) I really am okay. I miss him. I'm lonely. I'm terrified. But I've had a while to prepare for what's ahead of me. The kids are taking it in stride, trying to figure things out. The hardest part is worrying if I've made the right choice. If this is the path that will help us both in the end. But all I can do is have Faith in myself and my abilities to see my through whatever may come.

There has not been an overwhelming sense of support for me, nor has there been any severe disagreements. Just a mildly worried acceptance. Sometimes that makes it hard, scares me more, and makes me doubt myself. But this weekend, two people said something to me and without knowing what they had done, they gave me an amazing sense of peace, strength and calm.

Somone reminded me to 'Be Yourself'. Something I have been struggling with for a while now. Who I am, who I want to be, who I should be. Somehow those words instantly reminded me of where I wanted to go in my life and draw strength from that.

Another person, who is not an emotional type, said to me "I am proud of you.' And while maybe to others these are just ordinary words, they made me cry and helped restore my faith in myself and in my journey.

So to those people, if you are reading this, Thank you for what you have given me. Thank you for reminding me. And thank you for loving me.

Dear Teachers, Thank you...

Yesterday I told you all about my final career decision. I feel really good about the decision and very excited (alright, I admit it. A little terrified, too.)

Yesterday's video had me thinking about the teachers in my past who have made a difference in my life. I've never really thanked them and many of them are the only reason I survived my turbulent high school years.

So today's post is a thank you to the teachers who gave their all and helped me reach my potential:


My Mom - You were brave enough to take on home schooling me. I was a child who would have driven most mothers to insanity after schools let alone if they had to be with me 24/7. I may harass and tease you about my schooling, but the truth is that I could not have reached my potential in high school had it not been for the foundation you had laid. Thank you for doing what you believed was best for me and the family. Thank you for pioneering and not giving up when you were criticized. Thank you for pushing me to be the best and succeed. And thank you for stressing how important reading was. That is one thing that I owe solely to you. It has been one of the best and most useful assets in my life.

Mr. Houchin (Sr.): You were my Freshman English Teacher and it was your last year teaching. You didn't have to care. You could have laid back and taken it easy, but you didn't. You pushed us. You lit a fire under our arses. You made us spell Sugar and Sincerely so often and repetitively that I could spell them in my sleep. You were the one who began to open a new world of English for me and a new appreciation for literature. Thank you truly and Sincerely :-)

Ms. Clark - As my sophomore English and public speaking teacher, plus my Speech team coach you quickly became more than just another teacher to me. You were a friend, confidant, and example. You are one of the reasons I am inspired to become an English teacher. You were always there to listen and help me through any situation regardless of the decision. You had a passion for reading and literature that you shared with your students. You were kind and helpful but you expected our very best and nothing less was acceptable. Thank you for going beyond the classroom and helping your students on a personal level. You were definitely one of the reason I survived my high school career and didn't fail.

Mr. Olsen - It is hard to type this without getting all teary eyed. As my music teacher, track coach, and musical play director you were an amazing teacher. You made a special effort to know your students as people. As the years went on though you became more of a father figure to me. You genuinely cared about the issues I had in my life during my high school years. You saw my pain and tried to help me work through it. I had felt so lost and alone during points in those years and you helped me see there were people who truly cared about my well being. Thank you from the deepest part of my heart and I miss you, your class and the plays.

Mr. Houchin (Junior) - You are another one who brings tears to my eyes and whom I miss. You started as my Spanish 1 and 2 teacher and then became my guidance counselor. Even before that switch in your career you cared and would ask if there was anything you could do to help us through tough times. You expected a lot from us but you helped us achieve those goals. The year you became our counselor was one of the best things to happen for students. You were willing to do whatever was needed to help us find our way, resolve our conflicts. You cared, not because it was your paycheck, but because it was in your heart. Had it not been for your countless sessions with me, your advice and your concern I honestly don't know if I would have made it through my teen years. You never judged us, you never made us feel like anything less than the most important thing in your day. I hope you know how many lives you touched with a positive impact.

What teacher had the most impact in your life and why?

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P.S.
Yesterday's video was Taylor Mali, a teacher and slam poet. I personally have found his work to be amazing and inspiring. Check out some of his other Videos:

The Impotence of Proofreading

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