Pushing for a Cause

Earlier this year, I was inspired by what Marine Corps Sergeant Enrique Trevino set out to do.  To raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, he decided he was going to do 1 million pushups in 2012.  You can read about him and watch a video here. 

Now if you aren't aware, 1 million pushups is no small feat.  This works out to be over 2700 push ups a day.  Well, I don't know about you, but I've never purposefully done a million of ANYTHING in a year, so naturally, I was intrigued by Sgt Trevino.  I followed him on Facebook, applauded his successes and encouraged him through struggles.  It has been fun to follow.  Anyway, he is finishing up his last 500 pushups and will be streaming it live somewhere tonight.  If you are interested, you can donate to the Wounded Warrior Project.  It is a fantastic nonprofit organization that is working with wounded vets in all capacities...from job searching to rehabilitation.

In a not-so-similar and very uninspiring feat, I decided to set a slightly smaller goal of 30,000 pushups this year, and started in April 2012.  This works out to approximately 110 per day.  I wholly sympathize with Sgt. Trevino.  It was the most annoying thing I have ever done.  I was sidelined for a month due to a softball injury but despite my innate laziness, I was able to finish the final 200 pushups today.  Kind of fun to set a goal and finish it, regardless of how small it is.  I think people are often overwhelmed with goals, because they are either unattainable, or they lack the motivation to complete them.  This has been a good lesson in setting AND achieving goals.

For 2013, I'm shooting for 75,000 pushups and 75,000 situps.

The below pictures are from my tracking chart that I set up.  I colored each day's pushups with a highlighter and cycled through 5 different colors.  It would stare at me all day at work and remind me to get off my butt and do some pushups.  It was also a humble reminder that Sgt. Trevino's tracking chart, if he had one, would be over 25 times the size of mine.

So folks, as the new year approaches, find a goal and stick with it.

A Time to Weep...

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;"

Perhaps the thought of losing a child doesn't get much attention in my head because the event would be so horrific that I wouldn't know how to function.

I feel extraordinarily blessed at this point in my life with 3 beautiful children, and I cannot comprehend the pain that the families involved in this morning's events are experiencing.  My heart aches as yours does.  I am comforted as I read a passage of scripture that is on my mind today.  I hope I don't lose any readers at this point just because I am bringing up a scripture that you may not believe in.  Please read on.  There will not be any lasting damage :-)

There may not be a more beautiful passage of scripture in the Book of Mormon than 3rd Nephi Chapter 17.  For those that are unaware, the Book of Mormon is considered scripture by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and, along with the Bible, it testifies of Jesus Christ.  In this specific chapter, the resurrected Jesus Christ is visiting the "other sheep" on the American Continent.

You can read the whole chapter here, but I just want to post part of it.

Starting with verse 19:

19: And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

20: And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

21: And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22: And when he had done this he wept again;

23: And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

24: And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

 

The love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us is infinite and perfect, despite our minimal understanding of it.  I know that He is keenly aware of the families affected by today's tragedy and is caring for these little ones right now.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  May we move past this day with more love in our hearts and kindness to others.

 

Beautiful Music to soothe your soul.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday!

234 years ago on November 10, 1775, delegates from the Continental Congress met in a bar called Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. After, I'm sure, several pints, followed by numerous alcohol induced brawls, they decided to form what is now known as the United States Marine Corps. Marines have been brawling in bars around the world ever since.

You would be hard pressed to find an organization with more camaraderie and pride in their traditions that the Marines. Every year, each Marine Unit organizes their own Birthday Ball. There is a ceremonial cake cutting where the youngest and oldest Marines present are recognized. This represents the passing on of knowledge and tradition to the younger generation. There is usually a guest speaker, and of course dinner and dancing. It's a great time to get together and celebrate the honor of being a Marine. Incidentally, I've spent most of my Marine Corps Balls organizing the rides for the inebriated Marines.

 

Marines are known by several names: Devil Dog (given to us by the Germans from the word "Teufel Hunden"), Leatherneck (Marines wore a leather strap around their necks during the Revelutionary War to protect from sword wounds), and jarhead (used the describe the high and tight cut that most Marines sport.

Evolution of Marine recruiting posters.

 

 

 

The biggest question that I get from people is "Why did you join the Marines instead of one of the other services?" I've spent a lot of time pondering this question and have come to one conclusion. Have you SEEN our commercials? They are, by FAR, the coolest of all the services. We get to battle dragons and still look the best in our uniforms. Needless to say, I never even saw a dragon during my tenure let alone had the chance to slay one. I did look good in my uniform though ('DID' being the operative word). In all seriousness, I joined the Marines because if I was ever going to be sent into combat, I wanted to go with the best.

So, if you know a Marine, make a point to wish him or her "Happy Birthday" every November 10th. You will make their day.

 

If this doesn't make you want to join up, I don't know what will.

 

 

 

Here's the Dragon one. Well... it was cool in the 90's.

 

 

 

 And the Best!!!