Kara Casteel- the fundraiser

I realize that I have not blogged in the past 2 months- here is how I have spent my time...

We started Team Kara- "Hustle and Flow" a couple months back and with life as hectic as it is for everyone, I took on the fundraising planning and prep single handed. Ofcourse my type A personality thought, "no sweat! I can do all of this." Actually, if I am being honest, it was probably a way to keep my mind overactive and working toward something to keep my sanity.

This was the first time I have ever done any type of funrraising and boy have I learned a LOT! Mainly, how to do it way different next time.

First of all, you need a team of people in the planning stages. 2 heads are better than one- so many are great!

The next lesson I learned is you have to have money upfront to fund the fundraising. I took so many expenses for granted... paper and ink for flyers, simple supplies that you forget someone has to buy, copies, etc. Boy how it adds up!

What else have I learned? people are genuinely good, without a doubt. When there is a cause, there are people who care and are willing to support the cause. I have started to find that there are many great people that I have not taken the time to know that are amazing and can truly enrich my world.

Every door that shuts leads to another one that opens... I may have lost my job this year due to my medical condition, yet I have gained a wealth of knowledge that I can not put a price on.

The fundraising have been hit and miss the first time around, but I am thankful for the ability to grow from the experience and to develop relationships that I may not have had the opportunity to know without the fundraising platform.

I can not express my thanks and gratitude to every person who spent their time, talents and energy on helping me on my team Kara challenge. Your priceless to me!

sometimes time flies- sometimes it stands still...

As I see Christmas decorations start going up around town before Halloween, I recognize how quickly the seasons change and how fast the world is turning. We now live in a world that is so eager to monopolize on the income that is made by holidays that we tend to not even enjoy our days when they are hear because we are forced to prepare for the next big thing instead.

When I reflect on this year at some points I say "wow, this year is almost over." and some days I wonder if the time could go any slower. My outlook is always based on how I feel at the time.

2010 has most definately been the longest and shortest years ever.
I vow to slow down and remember to enjoy every day for what it is and not look too far into the future for I may miss some of the beauty of today.

October 26th... How are you?