A Memory

Earlier in January one of our weekly challenges was to remember things we had accomplished. I shared one of my achievements that I like to remember.

Today, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite service opportunities! While in high school, I was a part of my high school's chapter of the nation wide non-profit organization Operation Smile. In short, the organization goes into 3rd world countries around the world and gives free surgeries to primarily children, but also adults, with facial deformities. Due to the disfigurement and severity of some of their deformities, they are often shunned from their communities and unable to get adequate nutrition.

As a sophomore I was in the presidency as treasurer. The next year I was asked to be vice president, and then my senior year I was put in as president. It was challenging, but so worth it! I found so much joy in encouraging fellow high school students to make a difference. Because they CAN! I loved it when my people in our club would realize just how much they can do to help raise money for such a worthy cause. 

My senior year, I had the opportunity to go on a medical mission with a team of over 50 doctors, nurses, dentists, and child psychologists to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. There was one other high school student there with me. Our job was to educate the parents on hygiene, burn care, dehydration and nutrition. Often those things are overlooked or parents are unaware how to care of their kids in the way, which often results in the facial deformities getting infected or worse over time.

It was an experience I will never forget! I loved being there, being with the kids, teaching the parents, and being a part of something so much bigger than myself!

Even though I would love to go back and serve more people in other countries in need, I know that while I am home, I still need to look out for others and their needs. And I look forward to that as well!

~What's your favorite service memory?
~Ever been on a service "mission" of sorts?

Thanks, Jerry

First order of business...a tribute is in order.

 

(no, my brother and I don't look like this any more. I promise...see?)

Dear Jerry, 

Thank you for the 23 years of basketball. My family has been along for the ride from Hornacek, Stockton and Malone to Harpring and the more recent CJ Miles and Kyle Korver. We've celebrated with you, cried with you (especially when Stockton retired), and loosened our ties with you. The Utah Jazz won't be the same without you, but we wish you the best of luck with all future endeavors. 

Your Forever Fan, 

Trisha

Well, now that we have the most important item of business out of the way, we can get to our weekly challenge. Oh ya, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! This weeks challenge has a little something to do with that beautiful thing called love. 

Mother Teresa said, "Love cannot remain by itself -- it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service."

Yes, you are still on a health and fitness blog. But part of being healthy is being well, and it's important to work on all aspects of life. That is why this week's challenge is:

to focus on service!

I don't want to set a number of acts you need to do or certain activities...just shift your focus. I think you'll find that when you make an effort to focus on it, more opportunities show up. So get out there and show some love!

~Are you an NBA basketball fan?
~Any special plans for Valentines Day?

Friday's Top Ten

How was your week? It's been a mighty good one for me!

So here are some of the highlights of my week:

1. Donating to the Guadalupe School of Salt Lake City
(The guy stopped me on campus and said "Do you like kids?" and after I looked at him like he was crazy he said "Because if you do, you should donate to give these kids food and clothing!" haha)

 
2. Figuring out you can use a scarf to cover your steering wheel over night while your truck sits out in the cold. Then in the morning, it doesn't feel like it is going to freeze your fingers off! Fabulous

3. Taking my first anatomy test, and pretty much owning it. That's right!

4. Knocking out an almost 5 mile run that felt really good!

5. Eating some delicious oatmeal each morning for breakfast! I guess this is a highlight every week, because it never changes...

6. Sunday dinner with the whole family!

7. The regular Thursday volunteer tutoring at an elementary school down the street from my apartment

8. Finding my mitten snow scraper that I got for Christmas a year ago before the snow came this week. Hallelujah!

9. The "balmy" 40 degree weather we have had the last 2 afternoons. What is this, summer?!

10. Now it's a three day weekend! Okay, it's always a three day weekend since I don't have school on Fridays. But still, that is a highlight that can't be overlooked each week.

~Any fun plans for the weekend?
~What were your highlights of the week?

Make sure bodies are all zipped up...

Sorry if the title freaked you out a bit. BUT, I went to my first anatomy lab this week. It was exciting! As much as that class is time consuming to the extreme, it is something I enjoy learning about and find fascinating. The human body is amazing! Next week...we're working with the human heart!

Anyway. The month is almost over! Can you believe it? How was your week of remembering? While I study for anatomy, I often remember another accomplishment I’m quite proud of: passing the AP Calculus test in high school. Until that class, I had never put so much time into studying for a class. It took a lot of time and effort and brain endurance. In the end, though, it was completely worth it. That’s what keeps me studying some days!

This week also involved a killer spin class…

some volunteer work tutoring at an Elementary school…



some yummy dinner with the sister at Costa Vida...

and some new online yoga! For real. Check it out – some of the shorter classes are free! Those are the one’s I “bought”. You can do it any time, any where, and as many times as you’d like. Pretty spiffy. Have a stellar weekend!

~Growing up did you like dissecting things in school?
~What class have you had to study for more than anything?