MS in Wonderland

Alice-

"Well, after this I should think nothing of falling down stairs."

I was so excited about my new blog and then I fell into a hole. A deep dark hole. Help, someone get me out. I'm stuck! Ever feel like Alice? You know, Alice in Wonderland? This Wonderland is far out!

My Wonderland is Multiple Sclerosis but it could be with any big challenge. Wandering around wondering where am I, who am I? One minute feeling immense joy and blessings and the next, sinking into despair. Despair because you don't understand why your body is rebelling, despair because of unmet expectations, and sometimes despair for no apparent reason.  

Alice - 

"It would be so nice if something made sense for a change."

One minute in Wonderland I'm reading a devotional or something that inspires me with a big nod of the head and a big Amen! The next minute I find myself sinking and falling back into that dark place. My Dad says to honor that dark place and accept it. That accepting it isn't giving into it. Once you accept it, it can open up a place for something else. That sits well with me.

Alice-

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!"

Most mornings when I awake, my legs flail around with spasticity and I know right away, I'm still in Wonderland, but I'm grateful for another day. Some mornings I wake up and my legs are calm and I wonder, is this the morning I will awake from this dream and I have my body back? I move my legs purposefully to the side of the bed and slowly arise, and move my feet to see if my leg is back. Will I walk without a limp? Will I be different? And then I find myself in Wonderland again. Sometimes it makes me smile and chuckle a little.

Alice-

"Curiouser and curiouser!"

I recently went to see my adorable niece in the play Alice in Wonderland. I found myself lost in the drama for a moment. And then my little niece said "Goodnight Alice." And I was so grateful to be watching her and sharing that moment.

So yeah, here I am, in Wonderland. Maybe you're in a Wonderland too. It's okay. Accept it.

Team Marj @ Large 29 Gifts Launch a Huge Success!

The Team Marj @ Large kickoff party was a big success! We only had about 31 folks there (out of about 80 teammates) but it was a great group! This will be Team Marj @ Large's 7th year participating in the Bike MS Atlanta Ride. We're committed to riding hard and having fun for a good cause, raising money to fight Multiple Sclerosis. Tonight, we had this Potluck Cookout for launching the month going into the ride and more importantly to launch our partnership with 29 Gifts. Begining Monday, August 15, the 29 Gifts site will make donating to Team Marj @ Large their cause for the month. WE ARE SO, SO EXCITED!!!!

We already had a few folks participating in the 29 Day Giving Challenge but we're encouraging our whole team to participate on some level during this month. Last night, the reception was great! Everyone loved the idea.

So far, we've had 23 folks sign up to participate on some level. Ten people purchased a signed copy of Cami's book.Thirteen Committed to the full 29 Gifts in 29 Days.Seven signed up to gift at least once in next next 29 days and 3 committed to getting 29 smiles in 29 days! Pretty good results for a launch. I'm expecting more. The sign up sheets in the picture were full by the end of the night! This is going to be fun! 

Won't you join us from August 15 - through the ride ending September 18? Join us in our month of giving: 29 Days of giving in 29 Days, or 1 day of giving in 29 days, or 29 smiles in 29 days! How about making your one day of giving to our team:  make a small donation, or offer up a prayer or sign up to volunteer. No gift is too small. Together we're making a difference.

I Love the enthusiasm from my team. We are pumped to give and make this the best ride yet! We'll be wearing our 29 Gift buttons with pride.

Sign up Team Marj @ Large or Donate

Join The Team Marj @ Large Facebook Fan Page

Visit the Team Marj @ Large Website

Visit the 29 Gifts Website

Join us! 

Super Excited About My New Blog Design

Now that my blog design is done, I will begin posting more regularly. I'm excited silly about the design. It's fun and quirky and represents a lot of important things to me.

1. Everyone knows, pink represents breast cancer. Well, guess what orange represents? Yep, it's the color the MS Society chose to represent the cause of Multiple Sclerosis.

2. The lady on the bike is taken from the Team Marj @ Large bike logo. She represents everyone working towards a cure. Everyone riding, walking, volunteering, researching, advocating, fundraising, donating, praying, etc.

3. The mountain represents so many things. One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 17:20. It says, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith, as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will ever be impossible for you." (NIV)

4.  My husband and I have always shared a love of the outdoors represented by the entire scene and the three flowers by the lake represent our children.

5. The winding path represents life's journey.

6. Last but not least, my faith is represented in multiple ways. Can you guess some of those ways?