Just Jana

Forecast for this Saturday is Sunny 80 degrees! Good thing! Wilsonville Kiwanis is hosting it's fifth annual Kids Fun Run at Memorial Park on Saturday, July 26 starting at 10am. This year their estimating almost 500 kids to be running. It gets better each year!

I was able to volunteer last year and it was an amazing experience to see all those kids participating and have the time of their lives. It was definitely a warm one, but thanks to the many sponsorships and donations from local businessness and services, it was a success. The Tualatin Valley Fire Department sprayed the crowds last year with the fire truck hose, Albertson's donated all the BBQ food and drink (and been a 3 year Major Sponsor for this event), West Coast Bank and Wilsonville Auto Care provided the lanyards and medalions, Jay Puppo of State Farm Insurance (creator of the Fun Run) and of course, Parker Johnstone's Wilsonville Honda (also a 3 year Major Sponsor) played significant roles in the overall excellence of this event. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers that surround the track as each child passed by giving them praise as they make their laps, and finally finished.

This year, much of the advertising has been translated into Spanish. And the registration was made free to all kids. A an exciting first. There will be some new additions to this years festivities including a tent where children will be able to check their health stats, get finger printed, and also a dry inflatable for those not desiring to have their kids get wet! :) Plus, with the fantasic crew planning this year's event (special thanks to 5 Point Media, Nan Scott Design Studio, Portland Reign Photography, Donna Bane, Gary Wappes and Eric Evans of Edward Jones), Kiwanis was able to recieve donations online via the website and paypal. Millions of thanks to the exisiting Major Sponsors and some of the newcomer sponsors; 106.7 K-Hits, and Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. Should be fantastic! See you on the track!

If you want to volunteer, click on the link to sign up!

http://www.kidsfunrun.org/

Every day, our integrity is on the line.

While driving to a client's house in Happy Valley this morning I was listening to 97.1; the Dr. Doug and Skippy (?) show...or something like that. Mind you, I don't listen to radio that often as I prefer my Ipod. Anyways, the topic of discussion was about a guy who was married for 16 years, but had been having an affair (many or one--was not clarified) for the past 9, and had now recently had an epiphany, and wanted to be only with his loving wife and kids. The announcer then asked if he should tell his wife or take it to the grave. Many callers called in and wanted more specifics about the situation...ie. whether his mistress(es) dumped him or he her, etc, the ages of the kids etc. Children of these situations even called in. It was very interesting. I even found myself thinking, he shouldn't tell. Why? Because if he did, I'm betting a 99% of a divorce. But, would that be fair? Fair to his wife and children? If he was truely repentent, he would have to tell her, right? And what ever happens, happens. But, then i felt bad for the wife. She's the one who would be devestated (and of course the children) by the truth of the situation. Then I thought, well is it the same if if had only happen one or two times, as opposed to 9 years? Mind you, that many of the callers (including children of these situations and close relatives) said not to tell. Because it had destroyed their families. They said that if he was truly sorry, and would not do it again and be faithful, to not say anything and that was his burden to bare.

So, after the show ended...and of course they posted a poll on their website, it made me think about where I stood as a person. Not because of the infidelity aspects, but the whole honesty issue. And originally I thought that he should not tell because he was trying to save the marriage. But, then I realized, it didn't matter. He already committed the error. If he truely wanted to make ammends, he would have to tell. And sadly, she would probably leave him. I think that that is the right thing to do...or is it?

Or should we just not get ourselves into these prediciaments in the first place. And when we see ourselves falling, that we go to our loved ones and tell them and get help. I think it's selfish for us to believe that what we do on a daily basis or behind closed doors, does not affect anyone else. Unfortunately, I'm just as guilty.

Wow. Can I say I went to bed thinking about that movie. Dreamt about that movie, and woke up thinking about that movie. Great show. Left an impression on me. Was a dark, heavier type movie. Will have to go online to see how much historical validity there was in the overall plot of the movie. But, I definitely liked it.

I saw Stop Loss a few nights ago and liked that movie too. I'd have to say, that as Americans I feel that we need to step in occasionally and help other countries citizens when it comes to human rights issues. I know we don't have all the facts and often times there are a lot of underlying politics, money and trade issues at hand, but I think we shouldn't wait around for everyone in a country to die before we step in. Notwithstanding, after viewing this movie, and having lived for 14 months in a 3rd world country (and knowing 1st hand how it affected me); I can't help but side with the soldiers who get caught in the mess of being stop lossed. Especially by forcing the the soliders who know that by returning to something so ugly could ruin them (mentally and/or physcially) in the long run or kill them; I'd just have to say, that's effed up!! And I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. They volunteer themselves and then they are forced back into it? How is that remotely fair? If there was a legitamit reason for the war to be going on-a serious reason, maybe like another Hitler tryin to kill off everyone not white...I could see a stop loss. But for oil or something like that? I know I don't have all the information and surrounding facts regarding every war, but I do believe that a lot of innocent people die or our ruined because of the power of a few. And, I do believe that if we put soliders into these types of predicaments and spend oodles and oodles of money on military, then we better gosh darn spend the money to take care of them (mentally/physically) upon there return. They fight our wars, what do we do for them???

My husband and I were talking today. We having been living separately for the last 2 months. But our relationship has been getting closer, and more interpersonal understanding has been exchanged, than in the past 2 years. We didn't separate over scandalous, financial, abusive issues. But issues over core values that have changed in each of us because we have grown apart. We love each other and want to stay together but can't understand how we've come to this reality in our marriage. Unfortuantely, these core issues (such as parenting, wanting kids, religion, ethical boundaries) are issues that are not so easily up for debate sense we each feel so strongly about them. IN the beginning they were the same/more similar, and now not so much. How do you bring them back to the middle? Without sacrificing your individuality or the realationship?