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The biggest leap I have made is the decision to become a single mom. After much thought, consideration and effort (counseling), my ex and I are simply better as parents than spouses. It has been a long, introspective, scary, exhilarating journey to get to the point that I know I will be okay and that my beautiful vibrant son will be better off with a happy solo mama, than a miserable married one.

This was timely...my husband and I just found out we have the option to move to a new country (don't know which yet!) or stay put here in Daegu S. Korea. It's a tough choice...and we have to decide by tonight!

The biggest leap I have taken thus far is joining a playgroup in the community I live in. My husband's job moved us over two thousand miles away from the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and our entire family to the scorching deserts of Las Vegas, where we knew noone. Joining this playgroup has been so rewarding as I have met some wonderful ladies. So glad I took that little leap!

Last month I submitted a photo to a photo contest. Not really expecting to win. And I won! The grand prize. It makes me think it is time to put more energy into work that fills my soul. A big leap will be to go away from the job/company I've been at for almost 22 years and do something different. Maybe I will find the courage for that change sometime.

Based on the journey my life has taken as of late, I'd say that every day I'm faced with a big leap of just getting out of bed. Some days it's just to go through the motions...and some days, I actually feel like myself again.
xoxo.

My biggest leap............I ran a marathon!
I still can't believe it!
But, I trained, I worked hard......and I did it!

My most recent "leap" was to let go of the past and look to the future for what can be.

My most recent leap was a small one- talking in front of my son's Pre-K class yesterday for "Heart Month." I'm a pacemaker/defibrillator nurse and Ryan's teacher asked me to speak to the kids. I talked about the basics of eating healthy foods, the importance of exercise/being active (in general, how to keep their little hearts healthy) and discussed what I do as a nurse. At the end I asked if there were any questions. Here are a couple of the "questions": "The heart is RED!"
"I don't smoke!" (Thank heavens for that! These kids were 4 and 5 years old.)
"I like to run."
I eventually got one actual question, which was "How tough is the heart?" A pretty good question from a 4 year old in the crowd (which then led into a discussion about the heart being a muscle that is so amazing, it works all the time without us having to think about it!) It was a wonderful hour spent with my son in HIS world. And a leap for someone who doesn't necessarily thrive on lots of public speaking. Thanks for the quote, Ali. :)

I am trying to take a leap and move to a different city for a job for my husband. Congrats on the baby!! So excited for you, our little girly is due in May
Kari b

My most recent act of courage. For me that was taking my 4 year old to her first day of kindy. It was nerve wracking and horrible to have to spend the day without her. It was good to have the courage to see ut through though.

Hi Ali,
No, I can't go to Italy this year-- but I love the other two prizes! My most recent leap was starting a webpage to serve as a support group for family members of the 2/505th Airborne Rangers who are now serving in Iraq. My son is a 1st Lieutenant in charge of 36 men, and I contacted all of the parents and wives to offer encouragement, share information and have someone to talk to during a long, hard year. My other son served 2 tours in Iraq and we had no one to talk to then. It makes me feel good knowing I can help these other families!

My most recent big leap...taking my daughter to preschool! This was a little unplanned and unexpected, but has been a blessing!

Emotional leaps scare me to death. Ironically, if you ask anyone who knows me, they will likely say I'm extremely secure and have no problem speaking my mind. The truth is, even though I come across confident, the thought of ruffling feathers and having people think less of me makes me sick to my stomach.
As a public school teacher, I am faced daily with situations in which I can speak my mind or just keep the peace. Sometimes the energy it takes to battle stubborn colleagues and clueless administration is enough to keep me quiet. However, this week I just couldn't sit by - I had to leap. Since September I've watched one of my students constantly struggle and be denied services he deserves from our school's child study team. The son of a single mom unaware of her rights, this boy made it to eighth grade without the support he so desperately needed. I could no longer sit quietly and accept the frequent dismissals by the CST and administration. I dug my feet in, provided his mother with a clear, understandable version of her rights, and refused to back down. Because I lept, that boy is now classified and getting the services he needs and deserves.
Although my week was made by this victory, it could be even sweeter with the Stacy Julian "Library of Memories" class. I recently took on the job of family archivist and having been sorting through thousands of family photos dating back to 1910! I'm completely overwhelmed about how to organize them, so this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the chance, Ali!!!

Today, I am taking a leap of faith (and courage) and trusting that the way my fifteen year-old son feels about me now (or says he feels, at least) is not how he will always feel. He is becoming more independent every day, and isn't this what I've always hoped for him? So now, I just have to trust that while he distances himself now, he will come back when he's ready. But it sure is hard. It's taking a great deal of courage to believe in myself and trust that I am a good parent who is doing the right things day to day.

My beautiful girl started school today, I am so used to having her around, was a big leap for me to start letting go a little!

My biggest ongoing leap is homeschooling my boys. Totally worth it. What a difference it has made in our lives.
Thanks for a chance to win.

I am trying to write a book and have found writing some everyday incredibly challenging, currently impossible.

My big leap was to join a mothers group for the first time. I am new to the neighborhood and have a new baby, so this was a chance to get out a and meet new people.

Great contest! Biggest leap would be being a mommy to my 17 month old son, you give up a lot but it is SO WORTH IT!

I hope I'm not too late! My biggest leap was the change in job from Corporate Controller having a dozen people reporting to me and high power politics to working for the Catholic Church and ministering to children and families! No money, but lots of fun and other rewards!