FABULOUS believes she can impact her world...and does (even via a widget!)

I'm so excited about my new widget (look to your right)! Actually I'm excited that I even HAVE a widget. OK, truthfully I just like SAYING (and apparently typing) widget. It's just one of those words that's really fun to say over and over. Widget widget widget widget WIDGET! Ha ha!

Anywho...please take a chance to click on said widget for Compassion International. I can't say enough about these folks and what they're doing for the poor in developing nations around the world. And, maybe you can consider finding an adorable kiddo that you and/or your family can sponsor. I know I know...sponsorship sounds kind of like a scary commitment. But, we're talking just $38 a month to help your sponsored child receive food, clothing, education, and other things to help his or her family cover their needs. Plus you get to communicate with your new friend. You can write a letter or send one digitally through the Compassion website. You'll also get regularly updated pictures and information on how your sponsored child is growing, developing, and maturing. But, the biggest thing your partnership with Compassion does for these kids is to provide them with solid programs and teaching that help them learn who Jesus is and how much He loves them. Talk about a huge return on an itty bitty investment. Better than anything on Wall Street!

In becoming FABULOUS I want to start believing I can impact my world and then actually start doing something about it. One way I can do that is to use my blog-o-sphere voice to let everyone know about some people who are making a true difference and how we can support them. So, I will be adding more to the "Some Things I Believe In..." gadget but I had to start with Compassion. Jeremy and I have been sponsoring  little Alejandro in El Salvador for about six years now and it's been such a source of joy in our lives. You'd be hard pressed to find a more fiscally-responsible charitable organization. They've received very high commendations from those who watch for that sort of thing and an unusually high percentage of the money you send them goes directly to help those who need it. Oh, and something really cool, you can request a child with the same exact birthdate as your son/daughter, niece/nephew, etc. It's a real way to be Jesus to a child, a family, and a community. Please take some time to learn more!! And, have a FABULOUS weekend!

Learning to see the bananas

Vision at 91.5 WCIC is always a fun time. The people, the excitement, the phones ringing, the chatter...and the food. Our fall fundraiser was record-breaking financially and healthy-habit crushing in other ways. But, it was not without it's moments of insight and growth in areas other than my waistline. A good and longtime friend of the radio station stopped by on the final day, after the big celebration. This friend is a true inspiration. He has turned his life around and lost over 200 pounds. He's done it with the help of surgery and and a painstaking, long process of learning all over exactly how to eat. Day by day for the past couple years he's had to overcome the strong urge to say, "What the heck...I'm just gonna eat what I want to today!" And, with each week and month the pounds have slowly melted away. Melted away...I've always disliked that wording. It makes it sounds so effortless. The reality is the pounds have been ripped away with determination, sacrifice, and LOADS of hard work. I'm in awe of my friend. And, he taught me something on Friday afternoon. When I asked how the journey's coming along he said it was going well. But, he admitted to giving in a little to weakness over the past couple of days. Right away, I thought it my duty to warn him about the plethora of tempting treats that lurked in our station break room. He assured me he had already looked in there and knew to stay away and avoid the almost irresistible pull of the cookies, cakes, breads, candies, and chips. But, he said, "I was really excited that the first thing I saw were the bananas." Now, that's impressive. I'm not sure I was even aware of the...bananas! After years of just eating whatever sounded good at the time, this friend has relearned decades old habits. He's trained himself to find the healthy among the horrible (but oh so tasty) choices. Kudos to my FABULOUS friend. And, thank you for the challenge. I want to follow in his footsteps. I'm going to learn to see the bananas!

FABULOUS understands healthy habits are crucial!!!

In my striving to become FABULOUS the things I want most to do are to follow God fiercely, absolutely cherish my family, believe I can make a difference in the world...and make it! But, none of this can be done truly well if I'm dealing with a body that is fat, flabby, out of shape, and unhealthy. It's not a vanity thing..it's a health thing. I have got to get my weight under control. And, I believe it will happen day by day...bite by bite. My good friend, Katie Post, is helping me train for the Jingle Bell 5-K run coming up in early December. She can get me to push myself in ways I never imagined possible. But, she can't make me choose healthier foods. No one can. Especially NOT my husband. One sure way to start a fight in the Tracey house is too raise one's eyebrows as I reach for the candy bar "hidden" on the top shelf of the tallest cabinet. Just get it down for me, and no one gets hurt! :) The out-of-whack-eating train has got to come to a stop. If I want to see results that will ensure a healthy me when Alyssa's 40, I have to do the hard work!! But, it's Vision week. During 91.5 WCIC's fall fundraiser we get to visit and laugh with colleagues and volunteers we don't normally see. And, we do it all over some really YUMMY food. Cakes, pies, pizzas, breadsticks, and cookies crowd every inch of counter space in the kitchen and you'd think I was determined to cram some of each into my mouth and tummy. But, I can't! I just can't do it. So...could you pray for me this week? Yes, please pray for the financial need of the radio station and the lives that God is changing through the music and programming. And, yes, please THANK GOD for the generous donations of food and drink from so many kind local businesses. But, then, could you also pray that I will realize that just because it's THERE doesn't mean I have to eat it? THANK YOU so much. Now...to occupy myself with something other than food!

Have a FABULOUS day!!!