Jennifer's Journals: 06/01/2006

My Members Journal- updated with my 'mind set' at 2 weeks out, filled with lots of inspiration and possitive words...and pics from one of my photoshoots at Jr. Nationals!
Every picture makes me proud!
If you aren't a member yet...think about it...for just $11.95 a month you can help me reach my goals and be part of what is next for me:))!! You will also watch my next 8 clients prepare for competition in the fall..what inspiration that is!! You also ensure that my site continues.
To my current members, and those who have been supporting me from the beginning...
YOU have helped me get to where I am now...You are each a gift!! Thank you!!

WOW Photos...
From my 5 hour photo/video shoot on Saturday posted to my members journal!! You will see how I train with these galleries to be posted over the next few weeks! My graditude and appreciation to George Pradel of www.pradelproductions.com and his son Colin for the video footage and Terri Witczak for the AMAZING photos...650 from Terri and another 150 from Colin as well....you guys are unbelievable!!
A HUGE thank you to Jeff and Ann Johnson, owners of Flex Gym in Ottawa, IL for allowing us to use their gym for the day!!! www.flexgymonline.com
Photos from my sister's baby shower from today too!:) She is just adorable!!!
3 weeks 'till the stage for me!!!
Jen;)
Attached -a photo of photographer/ video assistant "Colin" and I just as we were all packing up to go home!

Photoshoot Pics &
Contest Progress Stats
Posted To My Members Journal...

Happy 8th Anniversary Michael...

Thank you for the life we share;
Our home, our children, our priorities in life!

Thank you for supporting my dreams and helping me become who I am.
I am looking forward to our special plans today and tonight...
Now off to the gym while everyone is sleeping so I can get home to spend the day/night with you!
Love,
Me

Summer Time!

Wade helping me eat my tillapia and spinach...this little guy always eats with me..he's gonna be big I tell ya!:)

Yummy:)

Wade, your the best!

The babies coming down the slide!

Dana and Carmella having lots of fun:)

Our two adorable little girls!!! Alyssa and Carmella!

Father's Day...Wade with Daddy checking out the worms for fishing by the river with Michael's family...what a fun time we had!!

Father's Day...Fishing with grandpa! Wade sooo proud after catching a fish;) Thank you grandpa for such a special memory!! What a great way to spend the morning!

Kisses for Wade while he eats:)

Alyssa climbing in the trees on Father's Day..little monkey:)

Father's Day- Wade and my Dad:)

Pink Panther Gallery - 4 weeks out

Pink Panther Gallery- 4 weeks out...

"To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die. "
Author: Clyde Campbell

With a sigh of sadness I tell you of a friend who recently passed away...
After over two years of building an on-line friendship I was notified that my friend and incredibly supportive sponsor passed away.
Evan first e-mailed me after stumbling apon my site looking for fitness information more than 2 years ago.
Over the course of the past 2 and a half years we were in contact several times a week exchanging good news, bad news, our athletic progress and funny jokes...he truely became a friend and I will miss our on -line friendship a lot!
Over the past 2 years;
He was there to help with sponsorship when I took on a night job at Outback Steakhouse last winter when my husband was layed off from work, he sent cd's with inspirational music, a subscription to O magazine since I think the world of Oprah, many sponsorship checks to help with my contest prep., poems on Gallery Day, amazing photography work that he took on his bike rides through New England, my digital camera that I use every day...was bought by him, and encouraging words of support as I prepped last year and this year for competition.
His enthusiasm for life and fun attitude about so many things was not only inspiring and uplifting but gave me the pick- me- up I needed some days to get through some pretty rough things...
I will miss my friend ...but know that as I complete my "Journey to Pro Quality" this year that I am stronger and even more driven having Evan up above cheering me on each step of the way...
In memory of Evan-

http://www.legacy.com/BostonGlobe/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=17964134

Happy Father's Day To All The Great Dad's!!

There Truely Is Nothing More Important
Than How You Make Others Feel....
A client and friend of mine sent me this letter today and I wanted to share it with all of you because it had a tramendous impact on me....
making a diference in people's lives is what I wanted out of my career all along!

"I caught up on your journal…wow, just 4 weeks away – I’m so excited for you.
I truly wish I was able to be there to watch you shine on stage at Team U.
Just thinking of what you have accomplished in the past year that I’ve known you gets me choked up with happiness, pride, and excitement for you all at the same time.

You’re energized optimism, passion, and drive is intoxicating.
Intoxicating in a good way,
meaning that people get pumped or “high on life” per se, just by your actions –
you are so motivating and inspiring.
I’m grateful for bumping into you at the gym last spring.
Although I have very different goals, it is you’re success and your support in others that continually motivates me to hit the gym when I’d rather sulk
that I haven’t made the progress I wanted or I have a long way to go to my goal.

I’m not a very impressionable person, I like to say I march to the beat of my own drum
and do my own thing.
But I have to say, you have left me with a lasting impression of how successful one can be,
that I can and will succeed and to have faith in myself-
I can do it, whatever it is!

Well, I hope you are feeling as great as you are looking, I know it gets tougher each week.
Hang in there, the troops are rallying behind you!"

A little bit of tonight...
After my training (tri's & calves) and taking the kids swimming...

A nap with little Wade:)...words cannot explain the peace and serenity of snuggling your baby's!

And a late night walk to the river/park with the kids;)

4 Weeks and 5 Days...
Yes, the countdown continues:) In less than 5 weeks I will be in New York competing!
I am focused and doing well- my physique is changing daily....
Now that I have ventured into single digits with my body composition, my focus intensifies...things seem within my reach and the top of this moutain I have been climbing over the past 11 months is near.
Yes it has been that long that I have had my eye on this show. After competing 3 times last year a trip to New York for a 4th competition was just too much for my family and myself..hence the decision to make the Team U my entire focus this year's competitive season.

Balencing everything is sometimes very challenging and at times I am resorting to creative measures. Friday night as my hubby and kids ate pizza and we all watched a family movie I rode my spin bike in front of the T.V.- "Eye on the ball"-
Then Saturday after spending the day at my husband's friends' house for their daughter's graduation party and getting home late I was left with a 9:30- 10:30 pm. trip to the gym for back training and to go through some posing. "Eye on the ball"-
Very strict dietary planning at this point as well.."Eye on the ball"-

We have been doing a lot of work on our house which has made my prep. more challenging also, but I now have a count of 7 clients who will be part of "Team Abrams- November 11th"!
Very exciting and I will have a lot of work ahead so getting our studio up and running will make prep for all 7 clients much more convienient for all of us!
We moved our son's room, re-painted his old room (covering the Lion King artwork and painting I did;( My hubby felt bad about painting over my work too...but it's time we had an office together instead of being on seperate levels of the huse when we are both doing computer work late at night. It will be nice to be able to visit while we are each working on our individual projects.
The wood floor looks great after being sanded down. It now needs to be primed and sealed.
To make all of our remodeling very inexpensive we do it all ourselves...and yes my husband usually gets the brunt of it but I am trying very hard to keep making the time to work on our project every opportunity we are bth available to work on it...even if it means training very early or very late...making time for everyone and everything ...and my husband and kids come first...my priorities are obvious even with less than 5 weeks to go!

My members know about the struggles our family has been going through since May...
I will say this.. my husband's family is remarkable! The way they pull together through adversity and how they each share the incredible gift of remaining positive and laughing at life renews my spirit and makes me realize how fortunate I am to have each one of them in my life.
There will be many more ups and downs to come but I am certain of this...
My husband's family will get through it together...and even when the most difficult times arise they will each have the ability to smile, laugh and lift oneanother up!
Remarkable!

I have 2 photophoots on Friday. One at the Jr. Nationals in the a.m. and then another backdrop shoot locally. So I will have more great gallery pics for my members area.
I will also be attending the Friday pre-judging at the Jr. Nationals.
Next Saturday I will be shooting gym footage at "Flex Gym" in Ottawa for my documentary,
www.flexgymonline.com , which I am very much looking forward to.
Of course there is also Father's Day fun in between and my sister's baby shower so I will be on the go non- stop as I fit everything in and we continue our gym renovation work!

Great progress pics posted last night to my members area..I'm pleased- my hamstrings and glutes are the last to be ready for a contest and they are right on target:))
Off to train and take the kids swimming. Then more work on our house and training tonight with my hubby...now that's fun;)
Keep smiling all...it's a beautiful day!!
Jen;)