the slow fade

today i ran across some words i had written in my journal...."press on, put on, abide, endure, resist, flee, trust, believe, rest, choose kindness, forgive.....then rinse & repeat...". for the past month i have been thinking about the process of the "slow fade"....that subtle process that moves us away from where we should be. what triggers the slow fade....i am sure it is different for each of us...but, i think, most often it begins with how we choose to spend our time....who we choose to listen to....and the choices we make when we think it doesn't really matter...this time. maybe it's starting your day with a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast or skipping a work-out because it is raining.....not having enough time to pray and be still each day....our choices usually always reflect what we believe....and our beliefs directly affect how we care for ourselves...physically, emotionally & spiritually. if you are not at peace chances are you are somewhere on the slippery slope of the slow fade......just something to think about...

...2 steps forward and 1 step back....

.....8 years ago brad and i climbed the south sister....the last part of the climb was in very loose rock and required a slow steady foot that moved two steps forward and one step back. it was a slow and painstaking way to climb. i feel as tho i am climbing this same way on my journey to fitness....why does it feel like the knowledge and progress i have gained can give way at anytime to a setback? thinking back to the south sister...i did not get frustrated with the last part of the climb...in fact, it became the most exhilarating and rewarding aspect of the climb. why? my eyes were not focused on my feet, but, on the mountain top....although the progress was slow...i could see that there was progress....looking back over my shoulder i could see how far i had come and with anticipation look forward to where i was going. growth and understanding seem to happen in the hardest part of the journey....i need to remember to take my eyes off my feet and lift them to the mountain top. now...that sounds nice, but, in reality there is no end to our fitness journey....no mountain top to stand on...that is, for good....as nike promotes on its t-shirt...there is no finish line. there's the rub. i desire the accomplishment of finishing something i started...the world seems to recognize, respect and reward courage, capability, strength, discipline....all characteristics of someone who has arrived at the end of their fitness journey....i am learning that to try to live under the pressure of arriving is not what i truly desire....my flesh may crave it but my soul and my spirit would rather live in the dependence of someone bigger than myself. when i recognize my own weakness and inadequacies it gives me the opportunity to trust more of myself in God. so....2 steps forward and 1 step back is not such a bad place to be....as long as i keep my eyes off my feet and focused on the One who gives "strength to the weak and rest to the weary" ....i will be okay....
so...how is your journey going....i really am interested in hearing about it...

Women's Fitness Camp is On!

hey girls....or guys who will send their girls!!

Place of Joy Fitness Camp for women of all ages is set to go! Camp beings Friday night at 6:30pm, OCT.21st and ends Saturday night, Oct. 22nd, at 8:30 pm.....14 hours of fitness fun is planned for you....and some time to sleep too! Professional trainer and owner of Encore Fitness, Tracy Gannaway, will be teaching workshops and Jenn Danna, Graduate of OSU with a degree in Exercise Science will be teaching movement classes and giving mini-nutrition talks.  Three great meals & snacks will be provided for you as well as free time activities! The Challenge Course will be available to those who are ready to take on the Giant Swing!!  Cost is only $70 and if you like you can extend your stay through Sunday for $20. Registration will be available on the Camp Tapawingo website soon, but, if you want to get signed up now....message me on facebook or e-mail me at janekschmidt1@aol.com. It's gonna be great!

...mercies are new every morning...

...so many mornings i wake with the thought of a new beginning...a fresh start...brand new mercy for the day....and then... i face the scale! do i step on it ....or walk on by and trust that my choices the day before were good enough. everyone must decide for themselves the value of measuring their fitness by the scale. for me i have spent far too much emotionally energy being caught up in the power of the scale. when i step on the scale there are two possible outcomes...i am either filled with worry, guilt and shame....or glee, pride and accomplishment. neither are a good option. so...instead, i choose to walk into this day with a grateful and thankful heart, lips quick to praise my Heavenly Father, a mind centered on Truth and my will surrendered to the need of a Savior.....

Women's Fitness Camp Date is Set!

hey all...i am so excited to share that plans for our women's fitness camp are coming together! mark your calendar for OCTOBER 21,22 & 23!!!  schedule & details will be posted soon as well as a link for you to register, but, for now, just mark your calendar and be thinking about attending. i am so happy to have Tracy Gannaway, Personal Trainer and Owner of Encore Fitness as a workshop leader. lots of activities are planned and designed to meet you at your current fitness level and encourage you to increase your level of fitness.. physically, spiritually and emotionally.  girls, we are all so much more alike than we are different........this camp is met for all ages, sizes & shapes....so, wherever you are on your journey to fitness....let's meet up and walk a few steps together!!

so are you?

...i am doing something i thought i would never do....post a blog.....you see, i really hate to write....but, i love lower case letters and run-on sentences...so...bear with me. i have an idea. if you already know me you know that i am not a fitness trainer but i have access to a really great camp and connections to people smarter than me. the idea to create and host fitness camps at tapawingo has been a dream of mine for some time and this blog is to test the waters to find out who might be interested. so, are you?