We're home from Alabama and I can't put into words all the feelings running around in my head.I think it will take some time to absorb it. There isn't one thing I would change except maybe pushing myself to talk to more people. There was so much talent and information to draw from that I could have learned so much more. It feels incredible to be part of such a great body of people, The atmosphere was one of family and a desire to get things done. No job was too big or too small it was just done with no complaint. On a scale of one to ten everyone was there to give it a ten. Always giving it their best.
The Canadian team (our unofficial nickname) was phenomenal . Our demo team, Sifu Edge, Sifu Simpson and Sifu Robertson did us proud. They conducted themselves with grace and passion. Silent River has produced some very well rounded individuals.Mr. Tymchuk was our comic relief and I envy his ability to reach out to people with his curious personality and of course Master Brinker was our beloved leader who always conducts himself with nothing but dignity. IF pride is a sin then I am guilty of it tenfold. I know I have found life long friends in these people, they are truly my family.
Well enough of the mushy stuff I would like to extend a big Hi "youall youall" to everyone else in Alabama and thank you for such a memorial experience . I hope to see you next year same time, same place...
Talk to you all sooner than later,
Linda
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Mind games
I've had a week full of nerves. Going to Alabama without my family has sent me into a spin. This is way out of my comfort zone and I think if I don't go soon my husband is going to kill me. Originally the plan was for us both to go, but he got tangled up at work. I know once I get there I will be fine but oh what my mind can conger up in the middle of the night is amazing.
Some times I can have too much time to think about things.
Anyway I hope to meet some of you down there and those of you I don't I'll let you know what happened.
Linda
Some times I can have too much time to think about things.
Anyway I hope to meet some of you down there and those of you I don't I'll let you know what happened.
Linda
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Living hero # 3 Lisa Freitag
We all have people in our lives that seem ordinary, that is until you take a closer look. We have our outer shells in place to shield ourselves from the harsh reality's of live. One of my favorite pastimes is to try and see behind this protective shell and find the person underneath.In this case I was very pleasantly surprised. I first saw Lisa at our Kwoon teaching my son a lesson in the tiny tigers class. She came across as a harsh task master with a very definite set of rules to follow. It took a few weeks of watching the class before the other side of her became visible. Behind the tough exterior lurked a very soft and caring soul. She really cared about these kids and had nothing but their bet interest at heart.
Over the next decade I came to know her and yes love her. She is not verbal about her childhood and has only ever hinted at her struggles to overcome her past. She is a strong voice in the issue to stop bullying in schools and playgrounds. Her young life was plagued with these issues long before they were recognized by any authorities.As a teenager she struggled with her self image and worth. There was a time she considered herself not worth saving. For us who know her we are glad she struggled on.
She will be the first to tell you that Silent River and Master Jeff Brinker gave her back her drive. She is a living example of what the martial arts can do for your mental well being as well as your physical self.Her strong personality is what makes Silent River such a family oriented School. She has touched hundreds of lives over the years and never expects or asks anything in return. You can depend on her to always have your back.
This draft is a very abbreviated version of her life.If you ever have the privilege , her telling of it could make you cry and yes laugh. She is a very private person and so I have asked her in advance for the right to tell her story.
Thank you Sifu Freitag
Linda
Over the next decade I came to know her and yes love her. She is not verbal about her childhood and has only ever hinted at her struggles to overcome her past. She is a strong voice in the issue to stop bullying in schools and playgrounds. Her young life was plagued with these issues long before they were recognized by any authorities.As a teenager she struggled with her self image and worth. There was a time she considered herself not worth saving. For us who know her we are glad she struggled on.
She will be the first to tell you that Silent River and Master Jeff Brinker gave her back her drive. She is a living example of what the martial arts can do for your mental well being as well as your physical self.Her strong personality is what makes Silent River such a family oriented School. She has touched hundreds of lives over the years and never expects or asks anything in return. You can depend on her to always have your back.
This draft is a very abbreviated version of her life.If you ever have the privilege , her telling of it could make you cry and yes laugh. She is a very private person and so I have asked her in advance for the right to tell her story.
Thank you Sifu Freitag
Linda
Friday, March 13, 2009
Living Hero #2 Susan Fyfe
The following story touched me because of the goals I have set for myself at this age. I love horses but have always had a healthy fear of them too.
Susan did what I strive for. To be able to take charge of a situation and organize a group of people into action. She was able to do this with the passion she had for horses. People recognize this and are inspired to help.
I am a relatively new teacher in Kung Fu and strive to inspire the students to a new passion for the art. Along with the higher black belts in our school Master Brinker demonstrates this passion every time he steps onto the mats. I know I have to find my own way to touch people but with these people as mentors I feel I have an excellent start.
Linda
Reader’s Digest names Alta. woman who saved 100 starving horses 2008 'Rescue Hero'
THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON — When Susan Fyfe took 100 emaciated Arabian horses into her care last spring, all she wanted was to see them nursed back to health.
“I wasn’t doing it for my breeding program, I did it to heal the horses,” said Fyfe, who spearheaded efforts to save the starving herd in central Alberta.
Those efforts have landed Fyfe on the cover of this month’s Reader’s Digest magazine, who named her “Rescue Hero of 2008.”
She was nominated by a friend in Okotoks, Alta., and chosen among thousands of other nominees.
“I feel honoured,” said Fyfe, who owns Keno Hills Stable and Tack Shop in Sherwood Park, east of Edmonton.
She said the rescue mission was a group effort involving nearly 500 volunteers who devoted their time, resources and expertise.
Fyfe took in the animals a week after they had been seized by the SPCA on Feb. 26, 2008 from a farm near Andrew, about 100 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
The horses were supposed to be auctioned the week they were discovered, but the sale was put off when they were deemed too sick and emaciated.
Some of them were so exhausted they couldn’t even lift their heads off the ground, Fyfe said.
The SPCA found 27 horses dead on the ranch, and four more died later.
By July, all the horses had been adopted and are all doing well, Fyfe said.
The two horse owners were charged under the Animal Protection Act and fined. One of the owners, who faced a similar conviction in 2005, is prohibited from owning horses.
Susan did what I strive for. To be able to take charge of a situation and organize a group of people into action. She was able to do this with the passion she had for horses. People recognize this and are inspired to help.
I am a relatively new teacher in Kung Fu and strive to inspire the students to a new passion for the art. Along with the higher black belts in our school Master Brinker demonstrates this passion every time he steps onto the mats. I know I have to find my own way to touch people but with these people as mentors I feel I have an excellent start.
Linda
Reader’s Digest names Alta. woman who saved 100 starving horses 2008 'Rescue Hero'
THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON — When Susan Fyfe took 100 emaciated Arabian horses into her care last spring, all she wanted was to see them nursed back to health.
“I wasn’t doing it for my breeding program, I did it to heal the horses,” said Fyfe, who spearheaded efforts to save the starving herd in central Alberta.
Those efforts have landed Fyfe on the cover of this month’s Reader’s Digest magazine, who named her “Rescue Hero of 2008.”
She was nominated by a friend in Okotoks, Alta., and chosen among thousands of other nominees.
“I feel honoured,” said Fyfe, who owns Keno Hills Stable and Tack Shop in Sherwood Park, east of Edmonton.
She said the rescue mission was a group effort involving nearly 500 volunteers who devoted their time, resources and expertise.
Fyfe took in the animals a week after they had been seized by the SPCA on Feb. 26, 2008 from a farm near Andrew, about 100 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
The horses were supposed to be auctioned the week they were discovered, but the sale was put off when they were deemed too sick and emaciated.
Some of them were so exhausted they couldn’t even lift their heads off the ground, Fyfe said.
The SPCA found 27 horses dead on the ranch, and four more died later.
By July, all the horses had been adopted and are all doing well, Fyfe said.
The two horse owners were charged under the Animal Protection Act and fined. One of the owners, who faced a similar conviction in 2005, is prohibited from owning horses.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Back to reality
I did a little number crunching this week and was both disappointed and happy with the results. I am not near where I should be but a lot further than I have ever been before.My running seems to be my driving force. I'm sure to anyone Else's standard it would be feeble but as a personal goal I feel like it's coming along. Push ups and reps. of a single form is way behind but I will keep pushing on. Missing a day here and there starts to add up. One foot in front of the other....
Push ups: 8500
kilometers walked, biked or run:450
Acts of kindness: 320
books read: three
living hero's documented: one
Linda
Push ups: 8500
kilometers walked, biked or run:450
Acts of kindness: 320
books read: three
living hero's documented: one
Linda
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The best present
My husband and I joined Master Brinker as student members of his UBBT test back in October/2008. The journey together so far has done wonders to bring us closer together. Over the years of our marriage lots of things conspired to get between us. Kids, jobs, different interests and just trying to make a home where everyone was comfortable.We changed and grew sometimes in different directions. Now not all of this was for the worst, change can keep us interesting and a little mysterious as long as we don't get too far afield.
We started out in the ubbt with the "Body for life" program. The common goal kept us on track and added a bond that we had let slip over the years. We finished the initial three month challenge and decided to keep this program as a life change. Most of the time we are on track....most of the time. We both fluctuate around five pounds up or down, but are able to keep the basic principle of the program.
We have three of our four children living at home still. The teenagers seemed to take an interest in the exercise part of the program slowly over the last few months. To both our delight our eighteen year old has decided to return to her Kung Fu training after five years of a break. I would like to think we had a positive influence on her decision.So as I see it the UBBT has indirectly affected her life. She is talking about UBBT 7 for next year already.
The Silent River family are such a great group that they welcomed her back with open arms. Its such a great place for her to expand her mind and test the waters of her adult life. Amanda turns eighteen on the 8th of March. I think her Dad and I are the ones who got the present.
HAPPY DAYS!
Linda
We started out in the ubbt with the "Body for life" program. The common goal kept us on track and added a bond that we had let slip over the years. We finished the initial three month challenge and decided to keep this program as a life change. Most of the time we are on track....most of the time. We both fluctuate around five pounds up or down, but are able to keep the basic principle of the program.
We have three of our four children living at home still. The teenagers seemed to take an interest in the exercise part of the program slowly over the last few months. To both our delight our eighteen year old has decided to return to her Kung Fu training after five years of a break. I would like to think we had a positive influence on her decision.So as I see it the UBBT has indirectly affected her life. She is talking about UBBT 7 for next year already.
The Silent River family are such a great group that they welcomed her back with open arms. Its such a great place for her to expand her mind and test the waters of her adult life. Amanda turns eighteen on the 8th of March. I think her Dad and I are the ones who got the present.
HAPPY DAYS!
Linda
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)