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Run Beyond the Finish Line
January 28, 2008 My son just approached me and said, "Mom you should write about your marathon . Tell moms how they can run beyond the finish line and try something new that will make them smile too." Even a nine year old gets it! I was inspired one year ago by my sister to do what I thought was the impossible for me-run a 1/2 Marathon! But, she had such a big smile on her face and a sense of confidence that I knew it was something I wanted to experience. I signed up not knowing if I could make the long run. But, I set up a training schedule and day after day I followed the program. I put trust in the journey and kept my eye on the prize. The prize of crossing the line in one piece! My kids watched me each day get out on the road and try my best. On the day of the race when I crossed the line, I felt like I did when I gave birth to my three kids. I had tears of joy, tears of relief, tears for having courage to put myself out on the line. I showed myself and my family how you can set a goal, make a plan and integrate each step you take into your life. In the end I learned I can run beyond the finish line and beyond what I thought I could do. My son said after the race, "Mom you are the coolest!" My daughter said, "We are so proud of you!" They saw what it took to get to the line and the joy of victory to RUN BEYOND the line! May my kids learn we set up our own lines. How far can we really go? Beyond if we even try! As the kids grow so can mom too! Nobody has it all together but together we have it all! JOIN BTBS TEAM MOM next January as we take the race by storm!!! Email us and get running!
Athletics is No Longer Beyond My Reach
 The miracle of BTBS is crossing the starting line at age 47 for a half marathon! Wow! You see it IS a miracle since I was always "last picked" in gym class, believing somehow that athletic accomplishments were beyond me. Listening to others rather than the voice that screamed inside, I can do this. When I decided to start marathon running I could barely put one foot in front of the other, gasping for air, awkward and weak. Maybe the old voices were right, maybe this was beyond me. But I persevered, lacing my sneakers and getting out there, and eventually 1 mile became two became 5 became 13.1! Tears poured down my face just seeing the finish line in the distance, I was going to make it, and finish the half marathon...I am an athlete the new voice screams! And I have the medal to prove it.
Terry Nolan
Author and My Amazing Sister!!
A Chance to Inspire
 November 5, 2007
I had a dream trip to Costa Rica last winter. It was our first trip really alone since our honeymoon 15 years ago! We were on top of a mountain with our charming guide overlooking a breath taking site of the ocean! (Our guide is in the picture on top of that very mountain~!) I asked him what was his dream in life. He said some day he would like to visit the United States. But, he went on to tell us all the obstacles that he would have to overcome. There were more challenges then most of us can imagine and he did not think it would happen for a long time . I looked in his eyes and saw possibility! I knew we are so blessed in the USA, that I told him I would go home and make a few calls. I knew some how we had the means to empower him and in return his dream would come true. He looked with disbelief and said, OK! In less then a year, with the generous support of his American boss in Costa Rica , he made his first trip to the U.S. ! In a few weeks we will reunite with him as he makes a second trip! No grass is growing under his feet! He is so joyful and so grateful that the world has opened up for him and he now can see anything is possible. I have no doubt he will go on and inspire others to live their dream. Going beyond what anyone thinks is possible is a dream come true for all of us! I encourage you to look for those unexpected opportunities to inspire and empower others to pursue a passion. In that way we all keep moving beyond our bus stops and making this a better world! Did I mention his name is JOY and what joy he has brought to all of us!
Finding A Balance
 Life was full of good times over the summer! The kids had camps, day trips, and time with friends and family! Our time with our exchange student from Hong Kong was special too. After two summers she has truly become part of our family!
One of the highlights was an ambitious trip to the U.K. to visit family. What were we thinking when we decided to take three kids to the UK? The first few days were tough getting adjusted to the time change, food differences, and sticker shock! We did four days in London with a lot of walking! More then my suburban kids are used to! But, we all settled in to a new routine of touring.
My husband and I kept an eye on our intentions! One intention was of course to enjoy our family who lives over there! The other was to instill adventure and excitement for travel in our kids. When the kid's said they loved learning about other cultures, we knew in the end we got everything we intended. I mentioned to my husband to keep this in mind when the credit card bill came in the mail!
It felt good when we got home to our creature comforts! We realized going beyond is an amazing experience and coming back to the bus stop can feel just as good! So somewhere find balance in your life between the bus stop and going beyond it! Oh, what a ride it can be!
Stopping Points
 We all have stopping points! For some of us we start a project and then stop. Or we workout for a few weeks then quit if we don't have fast results. Some people stop right away and some actually make it almost to the end but stop when they think it is getting too hard or they have done just enough.
What causes these stopping points in each of us? Is it fear, distrust, lack of commitment, self-doubt, discomfort, or laziness? What if we push past those natural sopping points? What could we actually achieve? How would it feel?
I know one quote that recently got me past my stopping point. "The Joy of Self Discipline or the Pain of Regret? Which will it be?"
I started a new fitness program 3 months ago as a personal challenge. I wanted to see if the claims for success in the program were going to be true for me. I started the program and found it to be very hard. But, each day I pushed play and kept going with a little bit of trust. I made it to about 3/4 of the way through the three months and my natural stopping point kicked in big time! I was ready to quit and make a million excuses why I was done! The most convincing was--well I look better then when I started! But, I had to ask myself if I achieved the goals I started out with on day 1. I knew I had not gotten there.
So, I reached out for support, dug deep inside, and convinced myself to push past this point. If I could get past my stopping point this one time, then I will be able to do anything. I made it to all 90 days of the program. The feeling was excitement, satisfaction, pride and most of all freedom. Freedom that I could break through my stopping point and take it to the finish line. It really ended up not to be about getting fit (Yes, I am in the best shape of my life as a result of trusting and having determination) but, it ended up to be about breaking through my natural stopping point. This was a much larger life lesson!
So, I challenge you today to consider your natural stopping point and determine ways to push past them. You will find going past your stopping point is going Beyond the Bus Stop and what a thrill it will be for you!
Some Summer Fun
 June 19, 2007
I always look forward to summer, the warm weather, no schedules, and spending time with the kids more! Well, it is not even the first week and the kids are already fighting, my work still piles up, the weather is now just plain hot, and I feel I need to spend more time with the kids! So, a week into it and I am already feeling overwhelmed, unorganized, and wondering if there will ever be enough time! So, I face the rest of the summer with my eyes wide open, my body exhausted, and my desire for the kids to get along! TIME FOR A GAME PLAN! I usually am good with game plans but, I am at a lost where to start with this plan! The factors involved are forever changing, kids staying up late at night, a dog running through my office, kids asking what we are doing next, and not understanding why mom is on the computer or working this summer. I hear one of my kids mumble, "Is this what you do when we are at school? We thought you had fun while we were gone all day!!" This is what I need some fun but most importantly show my kids I can have fun with them! So, I look at my calendar and figure out when am I going to do this! Well, I think a day off for fun should be a priority this summer. Some good old-fashioned summer fun! I am not going to wait until that one week of vacation to do it. I need to schedule it now and more often then not. Summer will be over in a blink of an eye, the kids will be back at school, and I will end up looking back and thinking summers used to be fun......what happened? GAME ON! Summer fun is now going on the calendar........so we all can go beyond our daily routines and enjoy summer fun together, building memories as a family!
Pajama Inspired
 May 13, 2007
I am often asked where the idea for Beyond the Bus Stop came from. I am reminded this Mother's Day that it was revealed to me when I was in the daily routine with my three young kids. I was talking to a friend about the bus stop and the funny things that happened there. She mentioned she wears her Pajamas to the bus stop. I am sure to this day that I gave her a very puzzled look. She tried to reassure me by stating, "I do have clothes for Beyond the Bus Stop! " The light bulb went off and I realized there is life to the bus stop and there is another world beyond the bus stop! It seemed so intriguing to me that we even needed special clothes for it!
It was that moment I was inspired to do something with this idea and the creative and inspiring journey began. If I had not been stuck at my own bus stop, I would never have recognized this path. It has been one great ride always reaching beyond my comfort zone and seeing what else I can find there.
In the midst of the journey, I have discovered that the bus stop is so unique for each person. Beyond the Bus Stop has become universal because it represents so many things! These include responsibility, fear, comfort, routine, obstacles, physical limitations, age, race, weight, and the list keeps growing as other's share their experiences. It is exciting to see people embrace their own bus stop and go beyond it! Have you gone there lately?
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