Friends,
Brrr…it’s cold out
I’m sorry we needed to close last Friday. As it turned out, it was the right thing to do. The snow kept coming and got deeper as the day went on. It was nice knowing everyone was safe for the most part.
It’s going to be cold again this week. It looks like it will be -3 tomorrow morning and get up to 11 degrees by the afternoon. That’s not too bad. We will be open tomorrow and Friday for those of us willing to brave the weather. Please dress warm and be safe if you decide to come. Once you’re in the building, we’ll make sure you’re warm. 😊
CPR / AED Training
We have 9 people going through training for CPR /AED. This was a very good class led by our certified trainer Rick Heldt. You can feel confident while you’re at the gym that we’re here for you and trained to be able to help you in a tough situation. Let’s hope we never need to use it.
A huge THANK YOU goes out to all who volunteered to go through this training and engaged in it. A huge THANK YOU also goes out to Ricky for leading us through this training…nice job! You sure are gifted with your knowledge and training abilities.
Updating contact information
Laura sent out a couple e-mails in order to get our contact directory updated. We need you to respond. We will not put you in the directory if you don’t respond. We don’t want to be passing anyone’s contact information along without your permission.
If you want to be included in our contact directory and have access to the directory, please respond to Laura’s e-mail even if your contact information didn’t change. If you didn’t receive Laura’s e-mail, please send her an e-mail and let her know. twokuks@gmail.com
Thanks for cooperating!
Fairy Food (Sponge Candy)
We have a really good friend, Shennan Helbig who has been making homemade Ghiradelli Chocolate fairy food for years as a fund raiser for MS initiatives. Shennan is offering her homemade candies, which are really good by the way, to us. She would like them to be used to benefit the National MS Society and us at MS-Just Keep Moving.
If you’d like to order some bags of this candy to treat yourself or to gift it for Valentines Day, please put your order on the sign up sheet at the gym or let Bonnie know. You can e-mail Bonnie @bonnie.erschen@gmail.com
Shennan does this out of the kindness of her heart and supplies all the ingredients as well as time and love to make the candy. Thank you so much Shennan!
Day of Endurance 2024
Who’s ready to engage in our journey to get to the Day of Endurance 2024? Now that we have experienced the first one and had so much fun, I hope you’ll engage in it again this year. Yes, it will consist of a picnic again this year too.
We will be kicking off our journey next Friday with me sharing my story of living with MS. I know, many of you have heard it many times but some new people have not. I will be sharing the progress I’m still making after training for and doing what I did on the Day of Endurance Journey last year. I’m thankful I’m still making progress.
Please show up from 11:00 – noon on Friday to learn what the Day of Endurance journey is all about, how it will work, how you will benefit, get questions answered, etc. We’ll be working hard toward this from now until August 24th. It’ll be an active and fun journey with our friends with MS, volunteers, family and friends.
Bowling Tournament – We need bowlers!
We are having our first annual MS-Just Keep Moving bowling tournament on February 24 / 25th. It’s going to be fun! We have good number of bowlers signed up already and room for lots more. Please consider bowling with us and inviting your family and friends. THANK YOU to all who are bowling and volunteering!
For more information, please contact Bob Brandemuehl @ bandebeagles@wi.rr.com
No Regrets Mens Conference
An opportunity for the men of MS-Just Keep Moving. Please join us on Saturday, February 3, 2024 to watch “Livestream” (on the BIG TV) the No Regrets Men’s Conference. The event starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 1:00 PM.
The event will feature group worship, compelling messages from leading pastors and teachers, testimonies of how other men have done it and seminars on topics that will encourage and inspire you. Take advantage of this day and fellowship with other men who will be renewed, challenged, and propelled to become the men of courage God intends you to be.
Here is a link to the event – No Regrets Men’s Conference – No Regrets Men’s Conference (noregretsconference.org)
There is no cost to attend the event, but if you would like lunch, we’ll be chipping in $10.00. Please let Cal or Larry know if you plan to attend.
Cardio and Balance Programs
These classes are aimed to get everyone exercising together. I like that word “together” 😊. We’ll need help from volunteers before and after the cardio class on Wednesday to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
Wednesdays 10-10:30am: Cardio exercise
Location: in the big room using aerobic equipment in front of big TV
Pick your favorite piece of equipment to use, bring a water bottle, and arrive a few minutes early to get the equipment set up to your height.
10:30 – 11:45am Tai Chi led by Ricky
Fridays: Balance training and Core strengthening and Spin Classes
9:30am – 10:00am: Spin Class in front room led by Mike Beiermeister starting this Friday January 5, 2024. Bikes are limited so this will be first come first served.
10-10:30 am: seated balance class
10:30 – 11am: standing balance class
Pick the class / classes you feel most able and comfortable participating in. We will have chairs set up to sit on and/or use for balance support.
Email Kate at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday Morning Bike Ride
It’s going to be too cold this Friday…no ride. Let’s work hard indoors all winter so we’re ready to ride again in the spring.
I did check on the bike trail before the big snow storm. It’s not ready for us to ride…yet. Let’s think spring 😊
Educational Sessions
Friday, January 19th 11:00am – Noon. 2024 Day of Endurance journey kickoff. I will tell my story about living with MS and share how we will be enjoying the journey to the Day of Endurance on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Saturday, February 3rd 8:00am – 1:00 pm. No Regrets Men’s Conference live streamed from the gym
Friday, February 23, 2024 11:0am – Noon. Meg Walker who is a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor exercises which help our core strength, bladder issues, etc. Meg will be here to teach us some of these exercises
Future topics could include: emotional health, nutrition, yoga, tai chi, wellness topics, safe use of gym equipment for your body, best exercise for you and more. What topics would you like to see? Please let Joan, Traci, Ricky or Dan know
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together from 9:00am – noon on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym. I hope you’ll join us!
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Prayer Group We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday @ 11:00am.
I just love the way we share, pray and laugh together while we witness prayers being answered weekly. It’s truly amazing!
Thanks goes to God and to everyone that joins us. Let’s get together to share, listen, talk, give thanks, and pray however God leads us.
MS-Just Keep Caring – Our Caregivers support group will be the first and third Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30am. The next one will be this Friday, January 19, 2024. If you’re a caregiver of someone you love with MS, please join us and share your experience of caring for your loved one. This has been very helpful for many. Thanks to all who participate!
Our Facebook page is private. That means you’ll need to join if you want access to all our fun and progress. We’re now up to 465 members. That’s awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709
Our Facebook page is very active and fun. Lots of people are doing more and sharing their journey on Facebook. Feel free to join, post and share your experiences and comments.
There were some awesome pictures, videos and comments shared again this past week. Thank you to all who are sharing!
Thai Massage with Ricky Heldt
Ricky will be here Wednesday and Friday doing Thai Massage.
Many continue making great progress with chronic pain relief, range of motion, walking better and a new sense of hope when Ricky works with them. Please keep in mind that consistency is key. Not only with Ricky…with exercise too. We need consistency to realize the benefits long term. We want you to have long term benefits and relief.
Ricky has a sign up board based on first come first serve. You can pick the time slot that works for you. I highly encourage you to take advantage of Ricky’s Thai Massages each day and sign up for your time slot as soon as you get there.
Reiki with Linda Linda will be here on Fridays doing Reiki. Many people say Linda’s Reiki work is “magical”. We’re thankful for Linda sharing her gifts and talents with us. Feel free to let Linda know you’d like to do Reiki with her. She also has a sign up sheet.
Inspirational Humor with Adam Wollert
We’ll be having our inspirational humor zoom call with Adam again next Tuesday. Adam is a gift to all of us. Thanks to all who joined us today!
Please join us if you can.
Tuesdays @ 1:30PM
Here’s the link to join us…I hope you do!
Join Zoom Meeting with this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9431389152?pwd=bWlYbFNaazVnM1M1cWxWMitlODdXUT09
Meeting ID: 943 138 9152
Passcode: 3qP2hu
Phone: 1-312-626-6799
Let’s reach out
I encourage you to share a smile and encouragement with someone. Perhaps you could call someone that you have not talked with for a while just to say hi and see how they are doing. We all could use a little extra love and encouragement.
MS is tough. Let’s have faith, remain calm, be flexible, help each other and learn as much as we can about the challenges of each day as we make good choices.
Let’s keep moving, loving and smiling 😊
In God We Trust…we are in good hands.
Dan
P.S. As you know, we got a lot of snow this past weekend. I went out to Naga-Waukee Park where we had our Day of Endurance event. The trees were beautiful!
It was -4 degrees and the lake wasn’t quite frozen yet. While it was cold to be out there, it sure was beautiful with the steam coming off the lake at sunset.
This little deer was trying to stay warm. I wanted to take him home with me.
Here’s a picnic table near the area we will be having our Day of Endurance in August. I won’t be able to take a picture like that in August.
These doves were trying to stay warm too.
The snow was a little too heavy for our pine trees in our backyard.
This red breasted woodpecker seemed to like the cold weather.
These two little birds were trying to stay warm.
The snow sure made some great photo opportunities. Certainly, God’s beauty in so many ways.
I even found some ice cycles.
For those who can’t get out and enjoy nature due your challenges with MS…my heart is with you. You are with me every time I’m out there. I enjoy being out there and I also enjoy sharing with you. I know how hard it is not to be able to get out and enjoy nature. Let’s enjoy nature and God’s beauty together this way.