RIP Chad Rogers

On Monday July 22, 2013 Chad left his home (Liberty, MO) around 8:30pm to go for a run. It would be the last time he would see his wife and son for Chad never returned from his run. Family, friends, volunteers and local law enforcement searched for 4 consecutive days for signs of Chad. On Friday July 26 Chads body was found not far from home. Authorities have not released cause of death and I don't want to speculate here. My hope is that God wraps his loving arms around Chads' family, friends and fellow runners during this difficult time.

As a runner, this event frightens me. I pray Chad did not lose his life to foul play. Chad was a dedicated runner and I'm certain he wouldn't want his death to scare runners from enjoying running out on the roads and trails. I didn't know Chad personally but if you are a runner you know all runners feel a sense of community with other runners no matter where you live. In this case, it touches closer to home for I grew up in KC. I have been to Liberty, MO many times for cross country and track meets as well as CC camp at William Jewell College while I was a high school student. I was lucky enough to call many Liberty runners friends. I still live and run in the KC area. I was touched by the overwhelming amount of support the community provided Chads family. While I was not able to participate in the search for Chad I shared the info as much as possible and prayed for his safe return. Now it's time to pray for strength for his family and friends as they mourn and celebrate the life of a husband, father, son, friend, fellow runner taken too soon.

Run with the Angels Chad!

Volunteering

Have I mentioned that volunteering is a blessing? When I am in a depressive mood nothing helps more than assisting others whether it's humans or four legged furry friends! It's a gift I cherish. Thank you American Red Cross and Wayside Waifs for enriching my life!

Prayers for Prescott Arizona Fire Department

Please take a moment to remember the brave firefighters lost in the line of duty June 30, 2013 fighting wildfires in Arizona. Pray that the many other firefighters who continue to battle the wildfires remain safe. And keep those who lost a loved one in your thoughts and prayers that they may remain strong during such a difficult time.

Nineteen elite firefighters died battling a fast-moving wildfire Sunday just west of Phoenix Arizona.The lost firefighters were members of a "hotshot" crew, who specialize in attacking wildfires like the Yarnell Hill Fire. The elite firefighters often hike for miles into the wilderness with chain saws and backpacks filled with heavy gear to build lines of protection between people and fires. They remove brush, trees and anything that might burn in the direction of homes and cities.

An estimated 200 homes were destroyed in the country's worst wildfire disaster in at least 30 years, officials said. Gusting winds and dry grass fed the blaze as it tore through the communities of Yarnell and Glen Isla about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix. It has burned more than 2,000 acres and is uncontained, fire officials said. According to news stories Mike Reichling, Arizona State Forestry Division spokesman, said the 19 firefighters were found in an area that also had 19 fire shelters deployed. Some of them were found inside their shelters, which are tent-like structures meant to shield firefighters from flames and heat. They are typically used as a last resort. It is still unclear what caused the incident. Reichling said federal firefighting help is on the way and that the number of firefighters on the scene will reach 400.

This undated picture provided courtesy of KPHO-TV/CBS-5-AZ.COM shows the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshot crew of Prescott, Arizona. (Photo: KPHO-TV/CBS-5-AZ.COM AFP/Getty Images)

Did you know that approximately 69% of firefighters in the United States are volunteers? Pray that these brave men and women stay safe each and every day that they put their life on the line to save a family, a home, a pet, etc. Thank you for your service!

                            

Depression Lies....

Depression is a condition that lies to us about ourselves in an effort to sustain its own existence. It generally can be defeated and most often does pass.

I was diagnosed with depression and PTSD earlier this year. I don't know about you but I have my share of good days and bad. I seem to be having more bad days than good these days. I still struggle with nightmares from my fire last year which prevents me from sleeping some nights even though I know the likelihood of another fire is remote (Yeah I have to convince myself of that since I experienced 2 fires within 10 days of each other last year. Surely I won't experience a 3rd!). Like many of you who are reading this blog, I have personal issues which makes life a challenge at times. I don't want to air my dirty laundry here so I won't go in to details but I will say on my bad days I really struggle. When I'm struggling I either hide or I get on the internet and look for information to help get me through it. Admittedly, some days it's easier just to hide.  However, here is some information I found on the following blog that I found helpful:  http://www.thechangeblog.com/depression-lies/.

When depression hits, it hijacks your thoughts and feelings. It whispers seductive lies into your ears; lies that gradually start sounding like the truth. I know how that feels, because I struggle with it too. If on the other hand, you knew the lies depression commonly uses, then you can ignore or replace them with your own inner truth. And every time you do that, you have healed a little bit. So, here are some common ‘depression deceptions’ to watch out for:

1. It’s a chemical condition. So I can’t really do anything about it right? Wrong.

Yes your brain is made up of electrical impulses and chemical substances that change a million times in a day and make up your thoughts and/or emotions. And yes, often times, severe clinical depression requires medications. In fact, they can be essential and life saving in some situations. But, and listen to this very closely, even when they work well, medications alone don’t keep you from getting depressed again. What they do, is give you enough relief to then work on your self, and change the things in your mind and life, so that hopefully, you don’t feel that depressed again.

In fact, some forms of therapy, such as Mindfulness based cognitive therapy, has been shown to be even better than medications at lowering the risk of relapse (as long as you’ve gotten over the worst hump). The human mind is very powerful but much of it is amenable to change. It’s a tough process, but so worth the effort.

2. Anyone with my childhood/job/marriage/health/finances would be depressed!

Each of us lives in our own heads and so we only can feel our own pain. Yes we can empathize with others, but we can't fully feel anyone else's joy or pain as intimately as we can feel our own. This can lead us to feel trapped by the pain of our own life circumstances.

I used to feel this way as well. My depression would tell me “Your mom committed suicide and your dad is a narcissist. It’s not possible for you to ever be happy”. The worst part was, I believed it for a long time.

Since then, I have been fortunate to feel my own strengths, to learn about the brain, to read books and meet amazing people who have overcome great odds, proving to me over and over again that the human spirit is greater than the sum of past events.

You have great inner strength and wisdom within you. Whatever may have happened in your past is only one part of you. Don’t let it dictate your whole life.

3. I’ve tried everything. Nothing works for me.

Do you feel like you have tried every single thing to help yourself? And nothing is working? If that’s the case, maybe you’re trying too hard. Sometimes chasing happiness makes it more…..elusive, like a butterfly that will only come and softly sit on your shoulder when you can simply be in it’s presence without chasing it.

Try just surrounding yourself with people who seem genuinely happy. Not the Polly Anna kind of superficial happy. But the folks that exude a sense of deep contentment and peace from within. Don’t compare or force happiness to come to you. Just be in its presence.

4. I’ll be happier once I lose weight/get a raise/buy a home…

I wasted lots of my time in my 20’s hoping that if I just worked desperately toward achieving this or that, I would live happily ever after. Well, I did achieve most of those things, and it did make me feel excited briefly, but soon I had gone back to my usual state of mind. Feeling confused, I would replace it with another “goal” and chase after that, hoping that this time, the happiness would be deeper and long lasting.

And one day I was explaining this theory to a close friend, and she said simply “What’s wrong with now? Why not just be happy now?”

It blew me away. Because she wasn’t telling me to not reach for my goals, but rather that I was missing out on the possibility of NOW.

This very moment is alive with possibility. Whenever you begin to worry about the future or connect your happiness to some elusive goal, take a moment to bring your awareness back to this moment. Use your senses to really see, hear, smell and touch your immediate surroundings. And think of one thing you are grateful for today. Maybe it’s your morning cup of coffee, the hug your son gave you or that your friend called to share a joke. Whatever it is, if you truly loved it, spend a few moments being genuinely thankful that you had that TODAY.

5. I’ve screwed up a lot. I hate myself. I’m not worthy of happiness.

This is a tough one, because when we don’t love ourselves, that’s where the work must start. No foundation, no building.

Whatever you may have done in the past, it’s gone. That moment can never come back.
However, every new breath you take now is a new chance at life.  It’s totally fresh and alive for you to shape as you like. And if this one doesn’t do it, that’s fine, your next breath is again a fresh possibility. And the next. And the next.

Until you take your last breath, you have millions of moments to start over and become the person you want to be. It’s up to you what you do with each one.

6. Most of my life is okay, except for that one ‘X’ thing

I once read a story that goes something like this.

A professor puts up a big white board with a black dot on it, and then asks his students to describe what they see.

Most of them come close to scrutinize the board and blurt out the answer excitedly “The black dot! There is a black dot on it!”

Finally, the professor says “It’s interesting that most of you didn’t notice the whole white board in front of you, but rather chose to focus on that one small black dot”

This is what happens when we focus solely on the negative things. I’m not saying your difficulties are just dot sized. Not at all. All I’m saying is: Don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful expanse of white in your life. Because it’s there.

Psychiatrist Kavetha Sundaramoorthy is the author of the above blog material. Again that blog address is http://www.thechangeblog.com/depression-lies/. Good resource to check out!

I don't know about those of you reading this blog but I have believed probably all 6 lies at one time or another. I have to constantly remind myself that they are lies. Life isn't easy but each day presents a new experience, a new opportunity. It's hard some days to not focus on the past or the negative. I am glad to be able to find resources on the internet that remind me to be positive and live each day to the fullest. It's not easy especially when you are stuck in a state of depression. I am not alone though and that is what helps me keep moving.

Here are some other resources about depression and people who are coping with it daily that I have found useful:

http://wilwheaton.net/2012/09/depression-lies/
http://thebloggess.com/2012/04/depression-lies/

For those dealing with serious depression or other mental disorder, suicide may be a concern. About one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. That means if you think about your 10 favorite people in the whole world two of them could be at risk of suicide. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the warning signs and to know how to get help for yourself or others. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide call 800-273-TALK, or click here for resources. The National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline also offers a chat. You can sign in as an anonymous guest. These hotlines are crisis hotlines so you don't necessarily need to be suicidal to call. If you are in crisis and just need to talk to someone it is a useful resource. I know, I have utilized it to talk through a crisis. I am not one to ask for help but sometimes we all need a little help. These hotlines are confidential so if you are struggling but don't feel like you can reach out to a friend or family member please contact the hotline via either phone, chat or email. Sometimes just talking can help get you through a critical moment.

I'll end today's blog with this poem I ran across while doing a search about depression. I think it sums up depression pretty good:

Depleted, defeated,
Unloved and mistreated-
Depression distorts vision
Through glasses that
Alter what we see and think
And are certainly not
Rose colored or pink. Dark, stark
And off our own mark-
It drives us to our beds
(Maybe see about some meds?)
The shadows will pass
Like flatulent gas.

Depression lies-
And darkens our skies.
Whispering our secret doubts
About ourselves
Pulling old shames down
From the shelves.
It tells us that
Tomorrow
Will never come.
That we do not deserve
To be a whole one.

Through the tears
And beyond the fears-
We must all realize
That depression lies.

~David A. Reinstein, LCSW

Praying for Oklahoma

On Monday May20, 2013 the nation watched as the town of Moore, Oklahoma was devastated by a deadly tornado. Here are just a few of the pictures media and others caught that day:

I am not currenlty in Oklahoma as a volunteer with the Red Cross. The pictures showing Red Cross volunteers are from their local chapter. I have updated my status so that I can deploy if they need additional volunteers.

GOD BLESS TEACHERS... a teacher in Moore, Oklahoma finds one of the students in his class, that he thought he'd lost in Monday's tornado.

From the Moore Community Shelter in Moore, OK. Pictures from damaged areas.

And please don't forget about all the lost pets! Pets are family too!

One thing we know for sure and that is in time of need Americans pull together to help each other out. That has certainly happened this week for those affected not just in Oklahoma but Texas, Missouri and other states where dangerous storms passed through this week. The media focus was primarily on Oklahoma because of the mass casualties including young students who parished while at school where there was no reinforced tornado shelter available. Rather than focus on blame, most Americans chose to open their hearts and wallets to help.

Although Kansas City was not affected directly by the severe weather on Monday other than some hail and high winds, Kansas Citians rose to the challenge to help those affected elsewhere. Numerous efforts began to collect money, bottled water and donations. One particular event included a telethon. KMBC Channel 9 (Kansas City) and H&R Block teamed up to host a telethon from 5-10:30pm Tuesday May 22, 2013 to benefit the victims affected by tornados in Oklahoma and Texas. The telethon was set up at H&R Blocks call center to raise money for the Red Cross specifically to assist those impacted by the tornados in Oklahoma and Texas. Way to go Kansas City for raising over $46,000 for the relief efforts! That number will actually climb once the mail-in donations are recieved. Folks could donate by credit card the night of the telethon or mail in a check. I joined fellow Red Cross volunteers as well as H&R Block employees to help man the phones during the telethon. We recieved well over 800 calls! Callers wanted to help in anyway they could and they certainly did that! Donations ranged from $10 to $1000. Every donation is appreciated. The calls came from all over Kansas City including Lenexa, Overland Park, Bonner Springs to name a few from the Kansas side and of course Kansas City, Sedalia, Maryville, Blue Springs, etc from the Missouri side. Thank you Kansas City!                                         

Here are some of my fellow Red Cross Volunteers in action at the telethon:

Linda Leach and I partner up on Thursday evenings to provide DAT coverage for KC. DATs respond to local emergencies such as fires, floods and yes... tornados!

Sherri Odell is one of our amazing volunteers that does everything from Logisitics to DAT to media relations! You may have caught her interview live from the telethon during the 9pm KMBC Channel 9 newscast.

If you look closely you can see Darren Ashlock under the Free Sign.

I did my best to avoid the cameras but I hear that some of my friends spotted me on the news anyway. Oh well, at least they caught my good side (backside)! :)  Have I mentioned how proud I am to be a Red Cross Volunteer?

Didn't catch the telethon and still want to make a donation? You still can! People who wish to make a donation can support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can visit the Red Cross facebook page for more information.

Currently, there many opportunties in the Kansas City area to help including a water bottle drive hosted by KCTV5 as well as an upcoming Royals game where donations will be accepted.

                         

"Take 5 to Care: Helping Oklahoma" launched at noon Tuesday. You can take your bottled water to their studio at 4500 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Fairway, KS until midnight Wednesday May 22, 2013.

                                  

Royals Charities will support local relief efforts for Moore, Okla., with a $10,000 donation to Heart to Heart International. In addition, the Royals will host fundraising efforts during the home series against Angels, May 23-26. All in-stadium fundraising will be directed to the American Red Cross. How to help: http://atmlb.com/10TFKOx.

Before making a donation please verify the organization is valid. Unfortunately with disasters comes thiefs, thugs and scammers. For official information from Moore Oklahoma, please visit their Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/cityofmoore. Please check with officials before volunteering or sending any donations.

And please if you haven't done so already and you live in tornado alley... please download the tornado app from the Red Cross. It's one of many useful resources during bad weather!

Be safe!



Volunteering at Fur Ball... Wayside Waifs annual charity event!

Not only do I volunteer for the Red Cross but I volunteer for Wayside Waifs. I mostly spend time with the cats but occasionally will cross over to the dog side to play with the puppies or take a dog or two out on a walk. Tonight was the annual fund raising event for Wayside Waifs. Fur Ball is Wayside Waifs largest fundraiser, raising funds that directly support life saving programs and services. Featuring a different theme each year, guests enjoy live entertainment, gourmet dinner, 18 hosted bars, amazing silent and live auctions, 100% of the proceeds from this event save thousands of abandoned, abused and homeless animals. Thank you to all of you who donated! The theme for this years Fur Ball was Bone-anza. Here some pics from the event: 

Surrounded by cuteness at the Fur Ball!

Free Kitten Kisses at the Kitten Corral!

I took the opportunity to snuggle with a kitty before I was needed at my station!

And not to be outdone by the kittens, there were free puppy hugs at the Puppy Lounge!

    

One of the items in the silent auction is this jewelry box. Wouldn't your cats or dogs bling look good in this box?

More auction items:

 

A tour of the Gala:

A peek inside the dinning area. It was a packed house!

Gary Lezak was our emcee again this year. Great Job Gary!!!

Our social media team hard at work behind the scenes. Great Job Amy and Lisa!

What a great night for Wayside Waifs, more than $470,000 was raised for the animals, AWESOME!!!

I am very fortune to be able to volunteer for 2 great organizations! Volunteering has been such a blessing for me!!! I can't wait to see what opportunities volunteering offers me in the future!