Beyond My Wildest Imagination

Our season opener sold out to 3200 fans at our new bout facility!!  I never in a million years would have thought this would happen.  Previous to this, our record for season opener was just over 1100 people.  We almost tripled that number and turned 800 more people away.

Many people were responsible for making this night successful and I send a huge thank you to all of them.

This monumental event has been an inspiration for me to work harder, skate harder, and believe in myself and my teammates at all times no matter what stands in our way. 

I have never stuck with anything in my life as long as I have stuck with derby (besides family that is).  I am very proud that I have stuck with it.  I am also very proud of the woman derby has helped me become.  It has made me a better wife, mother and friend.  I hope my kids understand what it means to me to finish what I have started and that they will admire me for it one day, rather than resent the time it takes away from them.  They sacrifice much for me to do this, but I know this lesson of life will teach them that success takes perseverance, hard work, sacrifice and dedication.  When they learn this lesson, I think they will fully understand why I do this, and hopefully I will be an inspiration to them instead of just their mom.

BIG NEWS!!!!

Omaha Rollergirls vs. Fox Cityz Foxz

We are playing our first game at the Mid-America Center!!!

So excited and thrilled that our league has accomplished this huge step!

Don't miss it!

Baby Gorilla Takes First Steps

I believe in evolution and creation.  How can you not believe in evolution after watching the video?

What is Love?

What better day to write about love than Valentine's Day?  What is love really?  Is it that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you're around your sweetheart?  Um, no.  That is lust, twitterpated, whatever you want to call it, but NOT love.  Actually love is not a FEELING at all.  It is an action.

My favorite bible verse and one I wholeheartedly believe is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Love lasts forever, through ALL things.

Show your sweetheart how much you love them every day starting at breakfast! Happy love day!

Making the Switch

I made what was for me a major decision last week.  I decided to become vegetarian.  To be more specific I am aiming for ovo-lacto vegetarian because I feel like I can't say no to eggs and cheese (I could go without milk though), at least at this point.  Also I feel baby steps make it easier to make change permanent.  I decided to make this change for many different reasons including health, animal welfare, weight, environment, and money.  There are more reasons but overall I just feel it is the right thing to do.

I did eat a few bites of chicken last Tuesday but since then I have had no beef, pork or chicken.  I ate shrimp over the weekend since my husband and I went to Red Lobster for date night.  I could go pescatarian, but I do eventually want to ease out of eating fish as well.

My family isn't changing their diet with me, nor would I force them to do such a thing.  I actually think it will bring more quality family time to meal preparation.  I try to make meals for the week on Sunday, and this past Sunday my husband and I spent about an hour in the kitchen making 3 meals, 2 of those meals having vegetarian and non-veg variations.  He made sloppy joes and I made lentil soup (which was very tasty!).  We made chili, regular in a large crock pot and veg in a small crock pot.  The veg version of this was also very tasty, even my husband said so, and he is a meat and potatoes kind of guy.  We made ham/bean soup and before I put the ham in, I took some of the beans out to use in a concoction I haven't named yet.  It had 15 different kinds of beans, vegetable broth, veggies, and quinoa.  It turned out okay, but needed something.  I will get good at this with practice.

I have already had the question, "How are you going to get your protein?"  This question surprisingly came from a nurse.  I have done my reading, and I know I can replace protein if I am eating the right foods and food combinations.  I also know a bigger concern than protein is iron so I am making sure I am eating enough foods containing iron as well.  I informed the nurse that I will eat beans and other high protein foods to make sure I get what my body needs.  I am not being stupid about this.

I have already noticed a boost in my energy level and I can't wait to see the additional effects as my body accepts this change.  I also am excited to see results through weight loss.  I would appreciate advice, delicious recipes, and any other information that would be helpful and supportive of my lifestyle change.

Another Reason Nebraska is Behind

School vouchers or education vouchers are certificates issued by the government which can be applied toward tuition at a private school or reimburse home schooling expenses, rather than at the public school to which their child is assigned.  Under non-voucher education systems citizens who currently pay for private schooling are still taxed for public schools, therefore they are funding both public and private schools simultaneously. Vouchers are intended to allow citizens to spend their taxes toward the education of their choice without using a direct tax credit or deduction. Controversy surrounds whether this may undermine the public education system in areas where parents have the option of both public and private schools, and increase burden on the public education system as its funding and enrollment is threatened.  Source:  Wikipedia

This is my predicament.  There are no voucher or charter school programs in Nebraska.  Nebraska is 1 of only 9 states that do not have these programs.  I am stuck paying for private school and paying education taxes and get NO credit for tuition, not even on my tax returns!!!!  I pay for private school because the government funded schools, AKA public schools, failed to provide my child with a safe and secure learning environment.

There is a group in Nebraska trying to get voucher or charter programs in Nebraska.  Their website can be found here.  http://nebraskansforschoolchoice.org/

If you support this, please take the time to write to your senators, governors, superintendents, etc.  We need to support parents whose children don't fit inside the box of public education.