Friends,   

Wow!  We had a fun and educational week last week.  Alison did an awesome presentation on the benefits of fasting with MS.

Itā€™s really encouraging that research is showing evidence that fasting kills off unhealthy cells and stimulates healthy stem cells within our own body.  Interesting research happening!  Itā€™s also interesting that Alison showed us how we can give this a gentle try to see if we make any improvements (which sheā€™s very confident we will).  If you werenā€™t able to make it to the presentation or you want to listen to it again, you can go to this link (Click Here).  Alison was nice enough to record it and share it with us.  Nice job Alison and thanks for the awesome presentation!

Linda will be leading another fun alcohol ink group again this Friday.  Thanks Linda!  Hereā€™s a message from Linda: 

Please join us this Friday for another fun alcohol ink art group! We will meet around 11:45 in the breakroom,  newcomers welcome! 

The first dance evening is Wednesday evening this week at Marquette University @ 6:45PM.  Hopefully youā€™ll be able to make it there and start getting ready for the event on October 20th.

I love it when get together as often as we do and help each other in as many ways we do.  When I look at this group and see the friendships that have been built and the progress people have made; itā€™s evident to me that this truly is Godā€™s plan for all us.  Itā€™s amazing what happens when we open our minds, open our hearts and allow God into our lives. 

We have a group of people (volunteers and friends with MS) that have offered to volunteer some time to give thanks, listen, share and have fun.  This could be a time we can pray and do whatever God calls us to do as we get together separate from our exercise. 

Wednesday of this week at 11:30, weā€™ll be starting this group.  Thereā€™s no agenda, no expectations, weā€™re just going to get together, open our minds, open our hearts and allow God to work with us.  Sound like fun?  Please join us!  

Weā€™ll meet in the lunchroom from 11:30 to 12:30 or so. Please plan your ride and exercise accordingly if youā€™re interested.  If youā€™re uncomfortable with it, thatā€™s understandable and no worries.  We donā€™t know where itā€™s going to go anyway. 

Last week on our bike ride, we got a little wet.  Al was a good sport in the rain as he said ā€œBring it on!ā€

It didnā€™t rain too much and we had a fun ride after all even though Al jumped off his trike going down a hill.  Youā€™ll have to ask him about that.  We also had some friendly conversations with the local law enforcement.  All in a fun dayā€™s ride!

Letā€™s ride again Friday morning @ 7:00am while we still have the weather for it.  Weā€™re into October now so the weather could turn on us any week.  We meet at Nettesheim Park on the SE corner of Hwy SS and Oak Street in Pewaukee.  If you would like to ride a tandem or a trike, please let me know ahead of time so we bring one for you.  I hope youā€™ll join us!  We will not ride if itā€™s raining.

We all need to ā€œJust Keep Movingā€!  It doesnā€™t matter where we start.  We can start with laughing which is great exercise in itself.  Other than that, we start with the body parts that will move and keep moving them as much as we can.  Let them rest and then move them again.

I know there are still many of us going through other life challenges in addition to our challenges with MS.  Letā€™s stick together, keep our chins up and keep sharing our journey.  Better days are ahead.  For those of you who havenā€™t been able to make it by us on Wednesdays and Fridays lately, please know you are missed and in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope youā€™re able to make it back soon!

I hope youā€™ll join us both Wednesday and Friday again this week.   Rememberā€¦consistency is key.  With MS, it takes a lot of consistent effort every day to make small improvements.  Yes, itā€™s frustrating so be patient and consistent and youā€™ll be amazed how your quality of life will continue to improve.  Itā€™s been about 17 years of exercising just about every day for me and Iā€™m still making improvements (encouragement, love, support, nutrition and proper rest help immensely too).  It takes time so please be patient.  It sure is better than MS getting worse.  I really donā€™t know what my life would be like if I didnā€™t do this (nor do I want to find out).  Iā€™m so thankful you are all joining me on this journey of making progress with our MS and quality of lifeā€¦THANK YOU!  Weā€™ll continue to learn togetherā€¦thereā€™s so much power in the love and support we all share with each other.

In the past, Iā€™ve been telling you to bring a friend.  Unfortunately, weā€™re going to need to start a waiting list for new people.  Please feel free to continue to share your experience and what weā€™re doing together.  Let me know of anyone who would like to join us.  Iā€™ll communicate with these people through e-mail or phone and help them any way I can.  When we have room for them to join us, Iā€™ll encourage them to do that.  If youā€™ve joined us in the past, please continue to join us.

We are here to help you and anyone with MSā€¦no strings attached (well maybe an occasional story about the progress youā€™re making, smile, high five or a hug).  I remember how challenging life used to be when my MS was bad.  I get great joy sharing what Iā€™ve learned and feel blessed with the progress Iā€™ve made.  I hope you make progress in some way too!

Place:Ā  W228N791 Westmound Dr.
Waukesha, WI

When:Ā  Wednesday morning from 9:30am ā€“ 12:30pm (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)
Friday morning from 9:30 ā€“ 12:30pmĀ  (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)

Dan Erschen