Stillness...

Stillness.

Last week my intention with my practice was to create space. It was productive to spend an entire week with the same intention for every practice. So, I decided to do it again this week with my focus being on "stillness."

It’s so important to find stillness when we have such a busy world swirling around us.  This morning’s yoga practice lasted for an hour and a half which is something that rarely happens.  It was so wonderful to just flow through movements while allowing stillness to continuously reside at my core.  

I’ve been on this journey as of late to get back to the basics of the important things in my life.  My spiritual concerns are reaching further and further causing me to forget the very foundation on which I live my life. My yoga practice has followed suit.  In my effort to get better and do more difficult asanas, I seem to have skimmed over the basic foundation of form and purpose of the practice.    

Creating space for growth is a good thing and absolutely necessary to keep moving forward, but we can’t move ahead so quickly that it comes at the expense of forgetting the basics of what is really important.  

The music that accompanied my practice this morning was Sanctuary and it was a perfect fit to bring me to stillness and continue creating space for growth.  

Creating Space...

Hello again!!!

It's been a while so I will just jump right back in where I am today.

Space…

Space to feel, space to breath, space for change, space to grow and even space for fear

My intention this morning was solely to create “Space.” Since beginning a regular yoga practice, I have been running toward the difficult asanas because they look really good, and that proves I am a yogi, right?  Don’t get me wrong, I have also learned so much about how it balances the mind and allows you to settle and take inventory of where you are mentally.  That’s very important to me because it is an integral part of my treatment for Bipolar.  I need this so that I can come to stillness and know what is real and what is perceived in the world of my own mental illness.

However, since really focusing on my practice in anticipation for my upcoming YTT, I have learned so much more about what yoga really is and that what you see is only one dimension of the practice.  

Today’s intention was focused solely on creating space…

Space to feel

Space to breath

Space for change

Space to grow

When we create space, we also create room for fear.  I keep trying to change the subject when fear creeps in, but today I just let it stay for a while.  Fear of change, fear of not knowing what lies ahead, fear of feeling things that are not always good. That’s a little tricky when you are Bipolar because I am unpredictable sometimes and if everything else is the same, I function better and my world runs a little smoother.    

I realized that when I shut out the fear, I am shutting out all the things I want to create space for as well.  So, today, I felt the fear and even created space for it on the mat.  I felt it, let it sink in, breathed through it and let it go.  When I finished, I feel like I have created a little more space for all those things that I want so desperately to make room for because it is only when we do that, will we grow.  

Namaste!

A Heart for God Inside the Body of a Sinner

Summer has been in full swing around our place making for a very busy schedule.  That would explain the absence on the blog over the last few months.  I’ve been trying to put more focus into my daily living and the service of my family so it seems as if the blog was sort of dropped off the list for a while. 

Let me first say that this is off subject from what I normally write about and more out of my comfort zone as it will address my Christian walk and the spiritual journey I am walking daily in hopes of getting closer to my creator. 

Someone posted something the other day that really struck a cord with me.  It wasn’t necessarily the scripture because it was true, but it was the added comment that seemed to knock on my door.  I’m not here to debate the context of the scripture or to get into a heated discussion about how it is applied to our lives today.  I’m simply saying that it affected me in a way that I wanted to address something openly because it seems to have been laying on my heart.  Maybe there is a reason for that and maybe not, but here it goes… 

For a very long time in my adult life, after becoming a Christian, I have hidden in one way or another be it preventing others from knowing about my colorful past or by physically covering myself up to hide what may cause someone else to see me as “less” of a Christian.  Even though there is no ranking system making one person a better Christian than another, I felt ashamed and unworthy of the bonds we can build with each other on a spiritual level.  I understand that only God knows our hearts so it becomes easy for us to judge each other simply by what we see from the outside.  We don’t have the capacity to look inside each other and to know our true intentions so we can sometimes base our opinions off nothing more than how we see each other physically. 

I will be the first to admit that I am far from perfect and have more rough edges than most people you meet on a daily basis, especially those who wear the name of a Christian.  However, that doesn’t keep me from trying daily to live better and get a closer walk with my creator.

2Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 

After reading that post I began to think about my journey throughout this year to stop hiding behind a veil so as not to be seen under too much scrutiny because, after all… I am still a sinner.  One thing I have come to know for sure is that you can only hide for so long.  It’s exhausting because you become a slave to the thoughts and judgement of others rather than focusing solely on how we are seen through the eyes of God.  To help break free from those chains, I have made a conscience effort to stop hiding and be completely open with who I am and where I have come so that I could maybe encourage someone else along the way.  At the very least it would be releasing that burden that bonded me to the idea of judgement from others and how I am perceived because of choices I made before becoming a child of God.   

I am created new in Christ so that old person no longer walks in these shoes. – Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new live.” NIV

Wow!!! I get the same reaction every time I read that and typing it out sends a renewed energy through my entire being.  Really!?!?!  It is possible that someone like me who made some really bad choices far after reaching an age to know better could be forgiven and allowed to live as if it never happened in the eyes of God.  YES!!!  THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!  That is the power of our almighty God.    

We live in a fallen world where our sins are forgiven by our Heavenly Father, but we are not always excused from the consequences of our bad choices here on earth.  Sometimes, the decisions we made have a lasting effect in this realm that cannot be always be undone.  A thief who turns from his ways can repay those he has taken from or a relationship can be ended if it was built in error.  I’m sure I could add to the list fairly easily if I were to spend the time on it.  Then, there is the other side of the coin. There are those sins that cannot be undone in this life.  A murderer will pay for his crime sometimes with his own life through capital punishment or by spending his life behind bars in a prison cell.  If he is converted and forgiven from God, that won’t change the fact that he will spend his natural life right where he is, but it does NOT make him any “less” of a Christian in the eyes of God.  You know what that does make him? A forgiven and loved child of God that will receive his reward just as the rest of us will one day when we wake up on the other side of Heaven. 

You are probably wondering what my point is by now since I seem to be rambling a little.  I will get to it, I promise.  My point is that we are ALL from a line of two fallen people who disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. That makes all of humanity connected through an earthly bond so we are in a sense brothers and sisters alike. So, wouldn’t I go out of my way to bring my sister or brother into a life for God? Don’t we want to see our family living for the creator of this world rather than suffering the fate of not knowing Him?  How can we do that if we are so quick to look down on someone because of what we “think” they may be like because of how they look or dress?  We are not simply born into the fold of God because we are born into this world.  That is a decision that is made by each of us at different points in our lives.  If that were not so then we would all be maturing at the same rate based on how long we have been on the earth and not on how mature our walk is becoming with God. 

Why do we feel it necessary to judge each other because of what we may look like or how we have cared for our body?  The truth is we don’t really know anyone until we know their heart.  Careful in how you pass a blanket judgement, especially as a Christian, because we can cause them to turn away believing they could never be worthy of a life with Christ simply because of past choices they may have made. God has an open door for ALL of us and it does not have an age limit, a weight limit, a past sin quota, a no marks on your body policy or anything of that nature.  

We have to be careful not to put limits on someone by how you see them physically when you have no idea about their heart.  We could so easily turn someone away from the Gospel because we want to look our nose down at people who may not look like what you think a Christian should look like.  I know I don’t look like it and truth be told, I don’t always act like it.  I would love to tell you that I reflect God with every breath I take, but I don’t.  I slip, I fail, I sin and I am not where others may think I should be as a Christian, but God knows my heart.  When I am trying to do better or change, it is important for other Christians and other people in general to allow me to change and see me as who I wish to become.  Seeing them as anything less does not help them get closer to God.  It makes us feel like we will never be good enough to be in your circle, we will never be clean enough to walk the streets representing God in our daily lives.  After all, you have been a Christian for a long time and you pretty much have it honed in and we see you as a leader for us, but when you seem to think you are better than us, we believe you.  You know why? Because you have been a Christian for a long time and rather than question you, we doubt ourselves.  Is that really the result you want from your actions?

Please be careful not to do that!! When I read that comment, I really felt like they were talking directly to me and I know that I sin and fall short of God’s glory, but I try to get better every single day.  It was hurtful because rather than seeing that everyone is in a different stage of their salvation, it seemed like I was being called out because I may have done something when they think I should have known better.   Maybe I haven’t gotten to where you are yet, but that doesn’t mean I am less than you in the eyes of God.  You have made much better decisions in your past than I have, but that still doesn’t make me less. 

I say all this to say that God is NOT just for the clean, pressed pant type person who may “look” the part.  God is a savior for the sinners!! That includes us tattooed, body marked, rough around the edges, crazy people trying to make our way in a fallen world so that we can get to Heaven and live with our King.  God is for ME!!!

It doesn’t matter what I look like, God loves me.  It doesn’t matter that choices I made have a lasting effect on my earthly life, God loves me.  It doesn’t matter who I was before, God loves me.  You know what…he loves me NOW!!  Right here, right now, He loves me just as I am.  That doesn’t mean I don’t have changing to do to my life daily in order to live in His kingdom someday.  It means that He has given me a map to Heaven that leads to a kind of treasure that is far beyond anything I could imagine…I need only to follow the directions. 

So, I stop hiding!  I stop covering up the struggles I face so that you know there is no sin too great to bring to God for forgiveness.  Even as a Christian we will struggle and I know that I fail God daily.  I make the same mistakes again and then I make new ones (I’m gifted that wayJ) but God is there to pick me up again and again never failing to forgive me for stumbling.  I stop covering up my tattoos because it is part of me and God loves ALL of me.  Some people found them offensive saying I defaced my temple and have said as much to me. It was hurtful because you have no idea about my life and who I am as a person. Besides, that same defacing the temple argument could include a lot of things that I am sure we wouldn’t want placed on the list such as smoking, overeating, drinking, ear piercing, make-up, etc. Any number of these things could be considered defacing because it changes or alters the way it looks…just saying! 

We have to put that aside and be concerned with each other’s hearts and if we are doing something against God’s commands then He tells us exactly what to do about it in Matthew 18:15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you…” NIV. 

However, we do have to make sure that we understand it is a Biblical command they are breaking and not because we don’t know they did this before becoming a Christian or because it goes against our personal standards.  God will judge us by Biblical standards and those are the acceptable rules by which to try and help someone see their error. I've reached out to try and see where I offended them and how I could make it right and understand where I erred in my decision, but they have not responded.  All I ask is that you show me the scripture so that I can become more educated and know not to make the same mistakes. When it is scriptural, I am not offended at all and earnestly want to know so that I can do better.  I can't do better until I know better so simply bring it to me in scripture and I will have an open heart to receive it and will apologize publicly if necessary. 

Passing judgement on someone based solely on what you see physically or what we perceive to be true can be a turning point pushing them further away from God.  So, I won’t hide anymore because I don’t want you to think if you are marked (be it ink, a title, a reputation, mental illness, etc.) that God isn’t for you because He is for everyone.  He loves ALL of you too no matter where you came from, no matter what you look like, no matter what decisions you have made, HE LOVES YOU!! There is no reason for me to hide anything because God will still allow me into His fold and will do the same for you.  It is liberating to realize and fully accept that God accepts me because of my faith and obedience.

So, when you see me and you see my tattoos or watch me spiraling because I forgot my medication or you see me quietly sitting in the corner, know that my label hasn’t changed.  I am still a child of the King!!! There is victory in that!

God wants all of us to come to repentance 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 

My hope is to encourage you to know that God loves the sinners and knows the condition of our heart so don’t hide behind the judgment of others. When we have placed our lives before God and live for him through His word, He sees us as His children and not by what we look like on the outside.

I’m not here to debate what would fall onto the list of defacing our bodies.  That is not for me to say.  I’m just saying that we can’t put one person on the “shame” list because they have one of them and leave ourselves off because we have a different one from the list.  I am here to say that no matter what you see on the outside of me, I am still a Christian and God will call me home one day and none of this will matter anyway. I'd be lying to say I wasn't looking forward to that day.  My family means everything and I love them with all that I am, but I want more than anything to go home and live with my King. 

If there is an actual list in the Bible, please do tell me through the scriptures and the context of which it was written and I am more than happy to follow the word of God and try and help others do the same.  My personal feelings about something simply doesn’t matter when it comes to a command in the scripture. If there is a conflict between my feelings and the scripture, the scripture will ALWAYS win because that is from God.

Now that I look back on this past week, I am actually thankful for that thought provoking comment (as hurtful as it was) because it has made me take a much deeper look into the scriptures and dig a little deeper into my heart.  That is what we are to do and when we learn more of what to be from God's word, we get closer to the King.  

Just a note from my heart to yours…

Bipolar and Making a Change: I just can’t seem to get it right...

Bipolar and Making a Change:  I just can’t seem to get it right...  

Wow...so here we go again.  In my attempt to transform into the most authentic version of me, I have dropped the ball somewhere along the way.  Why is it that I do that?

It feels like I put in the effort to change and become the wife I long to be allowing my husband to lead (there is a difference in leading and dominating),  becoming more respectful in my communication, more humble in my spiritual life and more patient in my role as a mother.  While I admit that it does feel like I am trying, the fact is that I am failing miserably.  

I love the idea of living the most beautiful, authentic life possible.  That is what draws me and I know in my heart where my passion lies.  I know what it is that sets my soul on fire to live in a way that brings out the best in me.  For some reason, I can’t pull the curtain back all the way.  Just when it feels like I am making some headway, I face the reality of what is instead of what I want it to be and there is such a divide between the two that I wonder if these two parts will ever join paths.  

Maybe it’s this stupid disease.  I absolutely HATE having bipolar.  Some people will tell you they embrace it, own it and function because of it.  Actually, I don’t know any of those people personally, but I am sure they are out there somewhere.  I genuinely hope that is true for them, but as for me...I HATE it.  It is certainly not because of it that I function at all, it is in spite of it.  When I lose the delicate balance it takes to manage this disease, it robs me of precious time that I feel slipping away and there is nothing I can do about it. Usually, I have a pretty good handle on it with a combination of different things for treatment, but sometimes... it just sucks!

Usually, this is when I can sit in meditation, take inventory of what is and get a baseline on where I am in real time stripping away all that is perception instead of reality.  Yoga usually provides me with that platform and that is one reason I have fallen in love with the practice.  However, that isn’t always the case.  There are seasons such as now that I can’t seem to get a handle on where my head is going.  

In doing my daily Bible study and prayer I read and know that in my head this is meant for everyone, but I just can’t seem to convince my heart that it is also for me.  If you have ever been in love before then you know all too well how it feels when your head and your heart are not connected.  Usually, it is the heart that wins out and all things reasonable flies out the window.  

I keep hearing how we should just keep trying, it’s a new day, always a work in progress.  You could almost insert any number of things in the blank there to symbolize starting over and all the chances we have to do just that.  However, when I keep making strides the other way it feels like I am spinning my wheels and I just can’t seem to get it right.  I’m as lost as I have ever been and seem to just be wandering around trying to figure out where to plant my feet so that I can gain some traction.  

I’ll be the first to admit that I am incredibly lucky to be married to a Christian man who believes that commitment is above all else.  He has said before that over the years we will fall in and out of love, but when we are committed that is what carries us through those times.  Thankfully, he feels that way because I can’t imagine being voluntarily married to someone like me with a mental disease that is capable of distorting reality in such a way as bipolar.  It goes far beyond being broken when I am in a season such as now.  

It’s a hard place to live feeling so unworthy of the air you breath yet I am blessed in such a way that is indescribable.  My amazing family never fails to wrap their arms around me, draw me close and lift me up.  How does that happen?  How does someone like me get to live in a realm of love such as I do and them not see this for what it is?  

Self Discovery: Clearing out the past to make room for a new beginning…

Self Discovery: Clearing out the past to make room for a new beginning…

Wow, looking at this blank page makes it difficult to get started writing this first post documenting my journey of self discovery and letting go of all things that no longer serve as a positive force in my life.  I write in my head when I am running or when I am just about to fall asleep and I always think I will remember them and yet, I forget when I wake up.  

I’ve been through lots of changes in the past 15 years just as most of you, I’m sure.  What I have learned is that our lives go through different seasons and before you know it we are almost best friends with change because that is the one thing that stays the same; everything changes.

Often times I didn’t even know it was happening until I looked around and almost felt like a stranger not recognizing what had become of me because it either happened so gradual that I didn’t notice or so fast that I missed the transition...I’m not sure which! What I do know is that is not how I want to live my life.  I want to live this one life I have been given with intention...specific intention, you know what I mean? It’s too big a gift to simply have it pass by without having experienced the magic it holds for those brave enough to seek it out.  

Shaking off all that no longer serves me and beginning again with a new awareness of who I am and who it is that I want to become is really what this journey is all about for me. Starting over can be an overwhelming thing to do no matter where we are in our life. The idea that we might lose progress on where we have come from and surrender to something completely unknown can be scary. Then again, that is how we grow.  We don’t get better as people without getting uncomfortable and stretching what we perceive to be our limits.  

I met with Cindee (one of my yoga instructors) a couple weeks ago and when I left that session I felt a shift in my direction.  It’s amazing how certain movements of our body release different emotions and that can allow our thoughts to navigate to all the corners of our mind.  Yoga is as much a mindful practice as it is a physical one and during that session I decided to embrace the changing season of my life.  This acceptance lends a hand in building from a foundation of strength and understanding of who I am to become.  

Changing who we are at the core is a work in progress and can only take place when we find the courage to open our heart.  Letting go of all the pain, bad decisions and memories that have happened rather than pretending they never existed has been one of the most challenging things I have ever faced.  It’s much easier to shut that part off, seal that box and forget about it.  The danger in that is that it will eventually open little by little and unless we take the top off completely and clean out the mess, we are left merely mopping up the small leaks that spill out over the years.  All the negative feelings, the bitterness, the anger and hurt that’s been locked away is toxic and will spread to every area of your life no matter how much you think you have it under control.  I’m not consenting to allow that box to take up any more space in my life.  I am ready to begin clearing it out and to do that I have to work through what is inside of it which is exposing and opens me up for judgement.  Just thinking about it is very scary, but the alternative is that I keep hurting in silence. That is too great a burden to bear and I know that I don’t have to keep carrying it around.  

The great thing about wanting a new ending in this life is that we don’t have to wait for an event or for time to pass to allow ourselves a fresh start...we need only to look to God and simply take another breath for the chance to begin a new journey.

It’s hard to explain and all I can say is that it just feels like the time is right to begin uncovering old wounds so that I can let them go allowing me to soar from a place of strength and love. God has surrounded me with the most amazing people and a family dynamic that I never dreamed was possible.  

So, I am embarking on this path of discovery and embracing the beginning of a new season in my life with the intention of gratitude, love and acceptance.  When I can encompass all those things and fill my soul to the brim with God’s word, there will be no room for anything less than the most beautiful life possible.  

It’s time...

Mother's Day: Celebrating Life and Remembering Loss

Mother’s Day...  

Jacob: 10 lbs of absolute, pure joy

There was a time that I longed to be nothing more than a mother.  I absolutely loved being a wife, but still...I wanted so much to be a mom.  My husband and I struggled for years to have a baby and I had began to think that day would never come.  I had even started coming to grip with the fact that maybe God just had other plans for us and I would have to somehow find comfort in that.  

That’s an easy thing to say, but how do you do that?  When you want nothing more than to be the one thing that should come so natural, how do you just accept it isn’t going to happen and not have that affect the very core of who you are as a person?  Women are created for giving birth and being mothers.  It’s what our bodies do naturally and yet it somehow didn’t seem available to me.  How does that happen?

Why was I not allowed to have kids when there are drug addicts, child abusers and horrible women out there having them every single day.  I try to be a good person, I’m nice to others, I give to those in need and certainly I love God...why am I not allowed to have kids?  Those are the kinds of things that go through your mind when you struggle to have the family you so desperately desire.  

We eventually went through fertility treatments and became pregnant with a baby girl.  We were so excited and couldn’t wait to have our life together as a family of three.  Just after we found out Dan was deployed to Macedonia with the military.  When I was 20 weeks along I had gone in for an ultrasound only to find out that our little girl no longer had a heartbeat.  It took about two days for Dan to get home on an emergency leave so that he could be here when I was scheduled to have labor induced and give birth to Kaitlyn knowing she would never take a breath in this world.  My heart was broken in a way that I never even knew was possible.  The pain I felt losing her was far beyond anything I could understand.  It was smothering and took over every single thought that ever crossed my mind. It was all consuming and I couldn't figure out how the world was still turning when I couldn't seem to make time go by. Every single minute of the day revolved around grief and heartache and the days seemed longer than a mere 24 hours. It almost felt like time just stood still.

Despite how it felt, time passed and we readjusted to life as we knew it before and soon enough Jacob came along.  Now that I look back, I couldn’t imagine having it happen any other way because Jacob brings so much joy not only to us, but to everyone around him.  That’s not to say we don’t miss Kaitlyn and wonder what she might have been like as she grew up.  God had a plan and we just couldn’t see it at the time.

It’s hard to see outside of the pain you are going through when something like that happens.  Until you grieve the loss you have felt it can never begin to heal.  You, of course, never forget that you are a mother even though your baby never knew life on this side of Heaven.  The hard part about Mother’s Day when you have gone through something like this is that other people sometimes overlook you.  No doubt they don’t mean to, but it’s hurtful all the same.  

I share all this to say lets not forget to celebrate all the women out there who are mothers in every sense even though they don’t have their children here to hold.  Lets celebrate our own mothers, lets celebrate the women that help us raise our children by loving them, nurturing them and giving them another ally in what can sometimes be a struggling place for our kids.  

We need you...our children need you.  Happy Mother’s Day as we celebrate ALL of you tomorrow!!

Paying it Forward: Honoring a hero of 9/11

Paying it Forward in Honor of a Fallen Hero of 9/11

I don’t need to rehash the horrific event that happened on 9/11 because it still lives fresh in our minds and in our hearts as a day that forever changed the dynamics of our own safety on American soil.  So many lost their lives that day trying to run from burning buildings and others lost theirs running as fast as they could toward the burning buildings to rescue those inside.  Not a single story is told or any news footage shown that doesn’t bring up tears of sadness, waves of anger and moments of pride for those that rushed to help not stopping for a second to think of their own safety.  

Ever heard of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation? Maybe you know what that is all about, but in case you don’t, let me tell you a little about this amazing story.

Stephen Siller was a dedicated firefighter working out of Squad 1 in Brooklyn, NY.  “On September 11, 2001, Stephen had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn.  He was on his way to play golf with his brothers when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers.  When he heard the news, Stephen called his wife, Sally, and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later, and then returned to Squad 1 to get his gear.  Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it was already closed.  So he strapped on 60 lbs. of gear to his back, rushed on foot through gridlocked traffic and ran from the Tunnel to the Towers where he gave up his life while saving others.” You can read more about his story here.

Amazing, right??

This year Sheep Dog has the privilege to be participating in the Tunnel to Towers 5k Walk/Run to help honor those that fell that day in service and to the military and first responders that continue making the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Sheep Dog is also making an effort to raise money that will allow disabled Sheep Dogs to participate in the event all while raising awareness for PTSD.

Recently my husband joined the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance group. This is a fantastic organization that exists solely for the purpose of serving others.  Here is a better description taken from their webpage.

“Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that serves the needs of the men and women serving in our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue and EMS services – a community of people we call “Sheep Dogs.” For members of SDIA, helping others is a way of life. All members of SDIA are current or former military and public safety personnel with an innate desire to serve and protect our nation beyond their call of duty. This continued service gives us a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie. Whether it’s helping local service professionals in a time of need or traveling to assist a community in the wake of a natural disaster, we believe that service does not stop when a shift or tour of duty ends.”  You can also read more about them by clicking here.

Some of you may know our family, but please let me share a little of our background for those that don’t.  

My husband was in the U.S. Army for 23 years and served in three combat tours. He is now retired and working in the corporate world.  However, he continues to serve others through Sheep Dog Impact Assistance.  They have done so much for our family in helping my husband obtain a service dog for his PTSD.  I’ve written posts before about how he struggles with this and also the impact it has on our whole family. If you would like to read more about that you can click this archived post.

Our family is planning to be at the event to help represent Sheep Dog, but please understand the funds raised will NOT be for our family, but will send disabled Sheep Dogs that otherwise would not have an opportunity to participate in this event.  This is just another way Sheep Dog is giving back to those disabled Sheep Dogs that have served in one capacity or the other while honoring a fallen hero of 9/11.  

At the end of the day our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue and EMS service personnel are brother and sisters who make up a family.  They all serve a greater cause than merely providing an income.  They are first responders and defenders of our freedom.  When we give to honor one, we honor them all.

If you would like to donate to the fundraiser, please click here.         .              .