A little Jazzercise dream

When God put the dream in my heart to offer Jazzercise classes to Cru women at our office in Orlando, I could never have envisioned all the sweat, new friends, laughter, healthy Jazzercise babies born and healthier women.

That was 10 years ago: March 6, 2006.

So, from an ocean and 16 hours ahead, I’m celebrating and remembering all of you friends who have been a part of this dream. And a huge thank you to Eileen and Jess (& Zumba Kathy) for continuing to offer great classes!

Enjoy a little glimpse of Jazzercise at our Cru office over the years.

Workouts in East Main. At least we weren’t confined in that TINY east main north room. Oh, who remembers that?

Anyone remember why we were outside? Maybe no conference room available that day? Oh, remember how we’d have to bounce back and forth between rooms? Or, find out last minute there wasn’t a room for us?

Junior Jazzercise–getting the Cru kids moving, along with their moms. Holy cow, they’ve all grown up since then!

The beginning of a team! God moved Kristina and Betsy to certify as instructors, too.

Feb. 1, 2010. A big second part of the dream–we have an official room and a Grand Opening. Thank you Cru leadership for creating a multipurpose room that we could use after hours!

Betsy married and moves away (and continues to teach Jazzercise) and we then welcomed Jess & Eileen as certified instructors! We had Chastity for a time before she moved. Then, we said goodbye to Kristina when she moved to Colorado. I just grin as I think of how God brought each Cru missionary/Jazzercise instructor at the right time, and how He’s created such a community of friends amongst the women who work out together. It makes an office of 1,000 people sure seem a lot smaller.

And more fun kids’ events.

Lord-willing, here’s to many more years of dancing together and healthy living. And, maybe, another Jazzercise instructor…in about 15 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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speaking at MOPS today…about being brave

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a handful of hours, I get to speak at MOPS about being brave. I’m excited and nervous and anticipating what God has. Would you join me in praying that the women would see Jesus…and that we’d have a laughter-and-sweat-filled journey in the hour together?

I’ve only been to this MOPS once. But the leader, Jane, quickly became a dear friend. The kind that, if she lived next door, I’d find lots of reasons to knock. She knew I taught Jazzercise and so asked if I’d be one of their monthly speakers during 2015 — their year with a theme of “Be Brave.” I get 30 minutes to talk and then we get 30 minutes to dance. (I’m pretty sure we have sound system but not sure about a mic. Mom, thanks for birthing me with an outside voice. Again, it comes in handy.)

So I get an hour and I already have dry-mouth thinking about how I’ll talk too fast and, at times, try too hard to be funny as I tell about my unlikely journey to become a certified fitness instructor and God’s sense of humor in it all. How fun it will be to be to witness some women risking a bit, on the edge of their comfort zone as they put on runners (workout shoes) and we dance and sweat…and, before they know it, they’ve worked out for the first time since before kids.

A daily food chart for baby and family

Healthy Living Fair 2012

What a great time! We saw about 250 people come out and peruse 20 tables. Everything from soccer to Jazzercise to our community garden to dealing with stress. We even offered a drawing for 10-minute chair massages which brought out folks who might not have visited the Fair, I’m pretty sure.

For only the 2nd time we’ve done this, I’m excited! And tired…now, to rest up a bit.

The handout we gave at the Fair, encouraging our missionaries to write down a small step they wanted to take for a healthier 2012.