Monday, November 27, 2006

You Are Chosen

So many kids (of all ages) have been touched in one way or another by divorce. My parents were divorced when I was a baby. I never knew how married couples behaved from close proximity.

Recently at a women's conference at my church I heard a phrase that really struck me, "You were chosen." Regardless of what your parents did or didn't do, regardless of what you look like or even how you feel about yourself - You were chosen! God chose you before you were born. I knew this, of course, but that night I really heard it.

Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to let that reality simmer into my bones. I say it aloud and write it down so that it will become part of my identity.

I felt led to share this reality to my 5th grade, Wednesday night bible study class as well. As I shared briefly my history and the importance of this short phrase, I looked into the faces of 15 boys and girls and saw tears in the eyes of two of those faces.

Divorce is a death in a family and one of the scars left by this death is the thought that somehow we are no longer important. That our lives are broken and not as valuable as before the divorce. Odd, isn't it? Just another way our enemy tries to keep us from victory.

This has further reinforced my passion to instill value and excellence into the kids I teach. "YOU ARE CHOSEN! I choose to be your dance/cheerleading/Sunday School/bible study teacher. I don't have to, I just want to. You are valuable. God formed you individually, and specifically for a purpose. Go for it! Try hard, do your best. Take chances - I'll be there to cheer you on!"

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Warehouse Expansion

Busting at the seams and finally decided to add some space to my "office", a nook in our garage. I have to park in the driveway when my husband is in town, but I now have work space and storage space.



Monday, October 02, 2006

Our First Performance

Our Silver Squad performed for the first time as a team on September 24th at the WSCJA judges training. Way to go girls! Look out, we can only go up from here!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Mini Is Born!

Once again, we are growing and branching out! Liberty Bell Spirit Squad introduces MINI - cheerleading classes for the preschooler. We are so excited to start this "mini" Liberty Bell program. The classes will be fast-paced and fun; right in step with the preschool attention span. Our coaches will travel to area preschools to teach this cheerleading class to 3-5 year olds during their current preschool day.

www.libertybells.net/Mini.htm

Thursday, September 07, 2006

What are you believing for?

A wise man recently asked my husband seriously during a casual conversation, "What are you believing for?" My husband was taken aback slightly and fumbled with an answer. Later as we discussed it together I thought, boy isn't this how many of us fail to achieve our dreams? We forget to keep them at the forefront of our minds.

What are YOU believing for? What are you working toward? What is your next biggest adventure? What changes are you working on in yourself, in your business, in your marriage, in your finances?

We serve a BIG God, why not trust Him and dream big?

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Adding a Dance Team


So, as Liberty Bell Spirit Squad is continually looking to grow and service more of our community, we will add Fuzion Dance Team to our program offering in late Fall 2006! Fuzion will be dance classes offered around the Puget Sound area for BOYS and girls ages 8-14. The style will be a "fusion" of hip hop and team dance styles.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

New Location

I am so excited about the growth in Liberty Bells. The Silver Bells are up and running. They are getting confident and catching the vision of the program. We are adding another location soon in West Seattle. Very exciting!

Getting there

To my Silver Squad cheerleaders. I am so proud of your hard work. I know we are really making progress and I thank you for practicing at home. I was really proud of our last practice and can see the routine coming together nicely. Way to go!

Coach Kindra

Monday, August 14, 2006

Sleep Overs


Recently one of my coaches and I invited our entire competitive squad to sleep over at my house: 15 girls participated. Contrary to what one might think, this was not a hectic emotional mess of a time. IT WAS FUN! I so enjoyed seeing the girls interrelate and was fascinated by their actions. Not having sisters growing up, most of this was completely foreign to me.

All of my years as a cheerleader and some things just don't change. Junk food, videos, nail polish, make-up, dancing, secrets and sleeping bags. Does it get any better than that?

I do love this thing called coaching.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Growth

So, it is time. Time for me to stand in faith FOR REAL for Liberty Bells. Time to grow the business from a hobby to something that is really making a difference in the community. Impacting the lives of hundreds of young people one cheerleading class at a time.

Believe with me. I am going to be pushing hard this summer for additional locations and putting together a better program. It will be a challenge. I am ready. Expect to hear great reports in the months to come. Send me your ideas too, I need all the help and support I can get.

Cheers!

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Sick

I received a phone call late in the morning from the school nurse saying that #3 was in the clinic with a low grade fever. Ugh, this morning and last night he was in my room saying his tummy hurt. I looked him in the eyes, no glassiness; felt his head, normal then hugged him and sent him to bed and then off to school the next morning. A little regret. Did I miss something?

Is he sick? NO. I know that, he knows that, the nurse probably knows that. BUT for one day, my little kiddo would rather be home with mom than at school with buddies. I would be lying if I said I didn't like it. So, I will watch the email and try to "support" my CFO charges from the living room this afternoon while I hold my boy. Hmmm, life doesn't get better than this.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Good Friends

I recently spent an evening with some of my favorite people. It is such a good feeling to be around people who like you because they choose to. I am so grateful to have a handful of people in my life from which I gain so much energy.

Thank you Doug, Dodie, Nina, Travis, Kim, et al!

The boys


Time goes so fast. Here are the boys, can you believe how big they are? Tyler 11, Andrew 8, Spencer 6.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Ending

Last night was the end of something very dear to me. It was my last night as dance teacher for the Kids on a Mission dance team at Christian Faith Center. Wow, how fun it has been to watch the program grow into something that builds and influences kids. How blessed I am to have been used by God in this way. It is sad to walk away.

HOWEVER, my family is relieved to see one thing drop off my plate.

Best wishes to the dance team as they finish a great year. It has been awesome over the last 4 years.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Tattoo!

So, I have been contemplating...
Should I? Shouldn't I? A little cheerleader (Liberty Bell's logo) on the back of my left shoulder. A little nervous, still. Leaning toward the yes-side.

Yikes!

Turning 30

Recently I spent an evening with some close friends to celebrate me turning 30. What an exciting turning of the page. I am relieved to be past the mistakes and bad choices I made in my twenties and excited for the next 10 years as I use my gained wisdom to blaze a new trail! So grateful for the beautiful kids that are the fruit of my last 10 years.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The Director


Here I am playing Director at our competition. Did I really stand like that? Maybe I had to go potty?

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Dreams

Saturday, February 18th was an evening of fruit. For years I had dreamed of a cheerleading program that was life changing for little girls. I had imagined myself standing before a crowd of people and speaking. Saturday my little fledgling cheer program hosted its first cheer competition. How great it was to see my dreams coming true!

What started as 8 girls in January 2005 was grown to 85 girls as of this month with a total of 160 kids coming through our program. Over 200 parents and friends showed up to watch the cheerleaders perform. The "staff" on that night were my close friends, regardless of their interest in cheerleading. How blessed I felt to have that kind of support.

If you have a dream, if you are passionate about something - step out with great courage and make it happen. It is scary. It takes enough courage to be willing to fail. It will cost you financially, emotionally and physically. You will grow and it is worth it!

Don't be content to let life happen around you. Set your vision and ask God for your dreams.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Excellence

How great is it to challenge a young person to excellence in our society? We spend so much time making everything fair for our young people that we have forgotten what joy comes when you work really hard for something and achieve it. How much better is it to stand in the stage wings of life, be a cheerleader to a scared and intimidated young person and watch them achieve something they were sure was not possible? I would rather be a cheerleader!