Team Orphans Blog

Rebecca

October 15, 2018

Ironman Chattanooga adventure started the morning we were supposed to leave….. I was heading out in the rain to deliver Clara Cookies to the last couple stores before we packed up the van….

Thankfully no one was injured, but we had to rent a van for our trip. That meant we didn’t have a bike rack. So inside our rental van we had my bike, Storm, Tom, me, and all our stuff!!!

Storm slept next to me when I was driving and Tom got the whole back seat. (He didn’t mind) and don’t worry, Storm has a seat belt.

We rented a house up on Lookout Mountain with a wonderful view

and had lots of fun with my Mom and Dad, my sister Kathryn, son Andre, nephew Stephen, and friends Kristin, Kelly, and Sara

We spent a couple hours at beautiful Rock City with the pups

My favorite picture of Kristin and me before the Ironman start!!! This was our second race together ( and we’re planning Ironman Maryland together next year Sept. 28)

Race day we started with a time trial bike start (The swim was cancelled because of e coli more than 20 times above the safe level.) The best part was that we got an extra hour and a half of sleep and didn’t have to wake up at 4 am!

My favorite part of the bike is always seeing my family and Storm on the sidelines for quick hugs and puppy snuggles. Then Daddy yells, “GO BECCA!!!” as I head off.

The bike was 116 miles of ALL HILLS!!!! Unbelievably, I had my fastest times yet and the hours went by faster than I thought. I spent many hours praying for all my friends and family. On to the marathon- and once again……almost all hills….

By the time I see my family at mile 13 of the run, I have to sit down and snuggle for a few more minutes!!

When I’m done with a 5 minute snuggle/refuel stop, I do the happy dance and keep on going!

(this is actually my Kristin impersonation)

Kristin stops to snuggle her pup, Malekai, too!!! So cool to have our dogs on the sidelines. Much needed pet therapy

After 13 more miles of HILLS, I finally reached the finish line!!!

Very happy to be done and overwhelmed that I more than reached my fundraising goal for Team Orphans. We raised $28,268 this year for adoption grants!

It was fun to have our middle son, Andre, at the race this year. This was back at the finish line later that night watching for Kristin to finish.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, donated, ran the Cookie 5K, volunteered at the Kids Run, baked Clara Cookies, and so much more. It’s a team effort to raise that much money. I just got these pictures yesterday of the latest kids home with the money we raised this year!!! ORPHANS NO MORE!!!! These pictures make it all worth it! See ya next year.

Runners, A Baseball Pitcher, and a Therapy Dog

Rebecca

August 7, 2018

It’s always fun for me to read about all the different people who join our Virtual Ironman each year. This time, we have runners, a baseball player, and a therapy dog.

Regina Argo “I am a wife, mother of 2 boys 5 yrs and 10 yrs and we have a horse, 2 dogs, 2 barn cats, and a turtle. I love to be moving everyday. Running is my hobby and love to enjoy it. I don’t do it to win a competition, but to just have fun. Being healthy is my goal, and I love to encourage others to do the same!” Regina is from Hastings, Michigan.

Stephen Manley is a rising 8th grader in Clay, Alablama who also loves Clara Cookies! Stephen is an honor student and baseball player (the pitcher in the picture above) who logs his virtual ironman miles running at baseball practice, walking/running the dog, riding his bike, and swimming in a neighbor’s pool. Stephen’s mom teaches students with disabilities, and Stephen volunteered one day a week this summer helping her elementary students on fun summer field trips. They explored a cave, swam at a lake, hiked a nature trail, visited a splash pad, and went to the movies. Stephen is excited to be able to see his Aunt Rebecca in the Chattanooga Ironman in September.

Lynne Lentz

“August 9th, 2013 I became a runner. Not all at once, and I wouldn’t have called myself a runner then, but that was the day it all began. I never wanted to be a runner. I didn’t seek it, I didn’t wish for it, I didn’t plan it. But God had a higher plan! A friend was trying the Couch to 5k app, so I did too. Not long after, she quit but I was hooked! God kept driving me to keep at it – quitting wasn’t an option. On my 42nd birthday, just two months after starting, I ran my first 5k. It was the most amazing gift!!!

Running was and is an answer to prayer. I was bound up in a downward spiral of food addiction and bulimia. God didn’t take away the disease, but He added running so that there wasn’t as much room for it to thrive anymore. I can’t eat poorly when I’m training. And I’m always training for something.

I’ve now logged thousands of miles and Rebecca is helping me train for my 4th marathon. I’ve met so many wonderful people along the way who have encouraged me, motivated me, and held me up when I put myself down. The running, the friendships, and the accomplishments are here to stay.”

Storm, the Therapy Dog

We all have a calling in life, and Storm has found his- making people happy!! Storm is a 90 pound Australian Shepherd, a therapy dog, and his mom’s running partner every morning….. well, for a mile or two…. if it’s not too hot. When Storm’s at work, he’s visiting retirement homes making the residents smile and tutoring kids at school in math and reading. He’s a great motivator!!! Wouldn’t you have learned multiplication tables faster in 3rd grade with a big, fluffy dog at your side? Every morning, Storm’s day starts with a run- shorter ones in the hot summer, but longer ones in the snowy, Michigan winter. Then he sleeps for many hours while his mom runs the Clara Cookie business, trains for Ironman races, and directs Team Orphans. A couple afternoons a week, Storm gets on his vest and heads to one of his jobs. Oh course, making people happy is very exhausting, so he comes home and sleeps until time for supper and his evening walk. What a life!!!!!! Storm doesn’t care much about the Virtual Ironman t shirt and medal, but he’s looking forward to a big bone when he finishes his 140.6 miles in September!!!! And he can’t wait to watch his Mamma race in Chattanooga on Sept. 30. He waits for many long hours on the sidelines for snuggles when she bikes and runs by. In his opinion, the race is WAY TOO LONG!

Meet our Team Orphans Virtual Ironman Team

Rebecca

August 1, 2018

I’d like to introduce you to some of our 2018 Virtual Ironman Team Members from around the country! Each member made a donation to get on the team in the Spring, and then committed to exercising 140.6 miles or more before September 30.

Rosalie Clark is a wife, mom, and grandma who has made exercise a priority in her day. Using Beachbody on Demand, she endeavors to stay fit to keep up with her six granddaughters and grandsons, ages 3 through 10 years! She is glad for the accountability through the Virtual Iroman to persevere in her exercise regime. A couple times a month she enjoys baking Clara Cookies with Rebecca and her team. Rosalie and her husband clean several homes and offices. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano and making greeting cards. She and her husband are active members at Ada Bible Church. Rosalie is from Ada, Michigan.

Cathie Rosado and family from Landisville, Pennsylvania:

“It is summer time and the kids are out of school. It is becoming all too easy for them to slide into a habit of excessive hours in front of the TV and computer. With the recent sale of a small family business that monopolized many of our summer weekends we seem to have more “free” time. The family business involved a fair amount of physical labor which kept me in decent shape, but with that now gone I need to find a plan B. I started looking into local gyms and found one that would be ideal for our family but it’s a little on the pricey side. While contemplating joining, another idea popped back in my head which I recalled hearing about back in February at a Brittany’s Hope Volunteer and Donor appreciation dinner. I brought up the website for Team Orphans and started looking around for that virtual thing I sort of remembered. There it was, the Virtual Ironman. The accountant in me did the quick math. If we did about 1.5 miles per day we could actually accomplish it. Now for the real question. Could a 5, 7, 9, and 12 year old really do it? I opted for a test drive and took the kids to the high school track a few blocks from our house. In under an hour they exceeded the 1.5 miles with a combo of walking and running. They seemed genuinely interested in doing it so why not, let’s go for it. The track makes it easy for me to keep track of the distance each child is going and allows them to go at their own speed while still being within my sight. Bringing bikes into the mix is helping them rack up miles faster and keeps 7 year old Joshua engaged. The kids are also learning a great life lesson about how to break a really big goal into little bite size pieces that you attack every day. When I get home from work they are excited to head to the track. Who would have thought a non-runner, not particularly athletic family would sign up for such a seemingly large challenge. Of course there is the added bonus that behind it is a great cause. Adoption is close to our hearts. Lydia, Caleb, Joshua, and Nathaniel have an older sister, Mila, and older brother, Navo who were adopted into our family and are presently serving in the Marines and Navy.”

Cori Eagan is a 37 year old woman who has always been very athletic and active. She says, “I became particularly focused on my health when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. Since then, I view diet and exercise in a completely new way. Food is my fuel and exercise is my body’s way of detoxing, energizing, focusing and optimizing health. This challenge was a great way to not only stay motivated in my own personal exercise goals but to make a difference in a child’s life at the same time. What a great opportunity! Thanks for letting me be a part of it.” Cori is from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Beth Nagel

“My husband, Rich and I adopted 3 biological siblings from the Foster Care system in 2014. When I’m not running, you might find me tending to our flock of 30 chickens, digging and planting in the vegetable garden, singing at the top of my lungs while running the lawn mower, herding one of our 4 cats, or playing with the dog. I first became interested in running in 2017 after a 107 pound weight loss. I wanted to try something more physically challenging than walking. Now I am working to compete my first marathon in order to raise monies that will help provide education on the effects of trauma in adopted children to child welfare professionals.” Beth and her family also live in Michigan.

More team members to come…………

Clara Cookies Update- Mostly Pictures

Rebecca

January 7, 2018

WOW! What an exciting ride! Clara Cookies is now 20 months old, we’ve sold almost 30,000 cookies, and we’ve donated $3,000 in PROFITS to Team Orphans adoption grants!!! Here’s our beginning of 2018 COOKIE REVIEW- mostly pictures!

We’re so blessed to have ALL VOLUNTEER BAKERS! We have a crew of about 8 that come one a regular basis, but we’ve loved having others come to help out for a day- We especially love when students come and help! Our volunteer base is growing. Let us know if you’d like to be added to the volunteer baker email list. You can come as often as works for you. We usually bake on Monday mornings, but in the late spring and summer the schedule will vary.

Diane, I know you do’t like your picture taken, but you look so cute in your hair net!!!!

Barb loves the peanut butter- No snitching!!!! : )

Love that smile, Sue!!! We have so much fun baking together!

Mary is our dry ingredient Queen!!!

Hunter and Dylan were SO CUTE wanting to do our dishes!!!!!! It is a pretty cool dishwasher. We all wish we had one like it at home!

This is SO cool- Rosie (in yellow) is an adult with special needs who volunteered with us. She’s helping us raise money for adoption grants for kids with special needs too!

One of my favorite parts of the Clara Cookie business is going to speak to school groups and youth groups, telling them about Team Orphans and watching as they excitedly help with our sticker labels. Every cookie package has a front and back sticker- so almost 60,000 stickers have been put on by VOLUNTEERS! We’ve had over 500 students help us in 2017- school classes and clubs, youth groups, a girl scout group, a Robotics group, and next week a 4H group! We also have students and adults who work on labels at home in their own time. It’s an easy way to volunteer.

We started 2017 with a nice WZZM 13 interview!

We’ve had lots of Clara Cookie booths to sample and sell cookies this year- Grand Rapids Women’s Expo, Hudsonville Eagle 5K, Fifth Third Riverbank Run, Grand Rapids Triathlon, Rockford Farmer’s Market, Grandville Blueberry Festival, Grand Rapids Marathon Expo, Jenison Expo, Northview HS Craft Show, Rockford HS Craft Show, and the MSU Making in in Michigan Food Show in Lansing.

Volunteers like Jamie, come and help out for a 1- 2 hour shift.

Speaking of MSU, One of the highlights of the year was that Clara Cookies won the Director’s Award at the Lansing Food Show this year!!! Pretty exciting with hundreds of Michigan Food Companies there. They came and took video of us baking and we blessed them with free cookies!

Here’s the video they put together for us! Thank you, MSU!!!!

And to end the year, along with baking hundreds of Clara Cookies for Christmas orders, Wood TV 8 came out to do a story on us.

Another fun day with video!!! They did a great story on us- thank you, Wood TV 8, for the free marketing!! We got a lot of online orders that day from new customers. Because we donate all our profits, we don’t spend any money on marketing. We appreciate free marketing! Watch the story here:

Rockford business gives back to orphans with special needs

Clara Cookies make a great fundraiser for your school, club, or church group. We partnered with the Interact Club at Rockford High School selling cookies at lunch the last two weeks before Christmas break and raised $334 for their well digging project in Nigeria. (For fundraisers, we still make our profit for Team Orphans. They make the profit the stores usually make.)

Clara Cookies are being sold in about 30 locations in West Michigan and well sell cookies online that ship all over the country.

Baker Beanery (inside Baker Book House on 28th an East Paris) is still our top seller with Rockford Ace Hardware and Hastings Ace Hardware coming in second.

Our newest stores are Bill and Paul’s Sporthaus in Cascade and Country Dairy in New Era, Michigan. We’re looking for new stores. If you have any ideas, email me at rebecca@claracookies.com.

We are excited to launch into 2018 and see what’s in store. Our new cookie flavor will be…..drum roll….. orange cranberry. We’re praying for continued, steady growth in stores, cookie sales, and volunteers. If you haven’t already, check out our website at www.claracookies.com.

Blessings,

Rebecca- “the Iron Girl” “the cookie lady” and “the one that’s always smiling” (well, most of the time)

Fun Fact- When I’m not swimming, biking, running, eating, baking cookies, or delivering cookies, guess what I’m doing?

A. Sleeping 8 – 9 hours each night

B. Going to jobs with my therapy dog, Storm

C. Coloring

D. All of the above ; )

A Better Bike

Rebecca

August 28, 2017

Sheryll Poel has been a dear friend of mine for many years! Our friendship started in 1992 when I came up to Calvin College from my home in Alabama. My sister, Kathryn, and I attended Sheryll’s church, and she and several other ladies in the church took us under their wings as “college moms”- bringing flowers and treats during exam time, and having us over for Sunday dinners. Sheryll and I have stayed in touch over the years. She and her husband, Bob, have been faithful Team Orphans supporters every year of my Ironman races. Sheryll is a prayer warrior for me and sends me more encouraging emails and cards than anyone else in my life!!! She is also a cookie baker each summer for our Team Orphans Cookie 5K. More than 20 years later, and she’s still giving and giving!

Sheryll sent me this CUTE picture a few weeks ago about her new bike!!! She took her maiden voyage just a few hours after it was delivered. The fun part, is that although Sheryll lives in Cascade, her adventure all began in Rockford where I live and run and bike. While Sheryll was in Rockford, a stranger let her sit on her trike, and she realized how much safer she was that close to the ground. She had been having trouble with balance on her regular upright bike, and her boys were starting to get worried about her. Sheryll soon tried a trike for herself in the parking lot at West Michigan Bike and Fitness on E. Paris & 28th–a few easy lessons with the brakes & gears. The new trike found a new home. She stayed in her neighborhood for a few days, then ventured onto the nearby bike-paths. Her knees and feet have responded so well, she’s made it a daily habit: 20-30 minutes a day!!!! GO SHERYLL!!!! You are an inspiration!

A 22 Mile Run in Pictures

Rebecca

August 24, 2017

Lynne Lentz and I ran 22 miles yesterday, and thankfully she brought her camera!! We took a new route and found all kinds of interesting things along the way……

Not far into our journey, this guy decided he wanted to join us!

I think we were starting to get hungry…. this fungus reminded us of a big head of lettuce…

Now this was very inspiring!!! It’s made of yarn and attached to a tree right on the trail!

I think we’re really getting hungry now- this totally looks like a giant PIZZA CRUST!!!! A few miles later we stopped in a pizza place for bathrooms and water refills. Oh the smell……

Now why was this outside by the trail? It looks like a coffee table from someone’s cottage. Many coats of varnish….. Oh, it feels good to sit down…….

Yes, these are pigs with wings…..??????

We saw this a lot!!! If bikers are going to have trouble with these hills, I think we are too!

Is this hops???? Growing on the trail???

Now this is downright insulting!!! We’re already going SLOW!!!!

Putting wild flowers in my hair…..at least if you’re going to hurt this much, you should look CUTE!

“Awe!! You can do it!! Only a few miles left!!!!”

I’m not sure what was better at the end… this…

or this…..

I went back afterwards and got a pizza!!!!

Four Years Ago Today…….

Rebecca

August 11, 2017

As Lynne and I were running our 20 miler yesterday, she mentioned something amazing, “ It was exactly four years ago today that I went on my first run.” WOW!!!!! She has since completed numerous 5Ks and 10Ks, 3 half marathons, 3 Riverbank Runs, and is now training for her second marathon.

But she certainly didn’t start with marathons. On her first run four years ago, she ran 60 seconds, walked 90 seconds, and did this for 20 minutes. Oh my! Has she come a long way??? Lynne has learned what many of us try to teach our kids- persistence, dedication, and hard work really pays off!!! (We hope our kids are watching and learning.)

Lynne and I met in a Ladies Bible Study about 5 years ago. I was training for an Ironman and talking about running. She thought I was a little crazy at the time, but has now joined the ranks of people who have learned to love running too. Maybe it’s not the actual exercise that we love, but the chance to go outside in all kinds of weather and enjoy God’s beautiful world in a way people indoors just can’t. Maybe it’s the chance to get away from our jobs, our kids, our pressures, and just “BE” for a little while. But Lynne and I are hooked, so we join up every week for our long runs. We both have races the same weekend in September and run about the same pace. She loves to plan our routes with killer hills, but thankfully sets out water bottles along the route so we can refill along the way. We’ve shared hundreds of miles of great bonding, interesting conversations, and sharing cold water and Gu gels together. She loves my constant chatter that distracts both of us from the pain. I especially love telling her funny stories, making her laugh as we run up a hill.

I’ve learned to love Lynne as I’ve seen her love and dedication for God, her family, her friends, her horse, and of course… running.

All Creatures Great and Small

Rebecca

June 21, 2017

I remember with great fondness lying in bed at night as a child while my mom read the stories of James Harriot, the famous English veterinarian. “All Creatures Great and Small” was the first of his many books that captured my heart and developed in me a great love for animals. My mom and I laughed together and cried together as we experienced the adventures of all God’s creatures.

A few years ago, I heard about a lady who, before walking outside every day, says, “OK, God, just bless me with something!” I’ve prayed this short prayer many times before runs and bikes in the great outdoors. I’ve seen deer, baby raccoons, herons, a mother duck with ducklings, and even a turkey that almost knocked me off my bike.

Today, Lynne and I headed out for an 11 mile run in the country close to Greenville. I forgot to ask God to bless me, but He did anyway!!! About 6 miles into our run, Lynne needed to stop and lean against a mail box to get some stones out of her shoe. We didn’t realize that we were very close to a wren’s next until she jumped down on a branch next to us and started squawking at the top of her lungs. Wow, can that little bird make a huge noise!!! She was fearlessly protecting her little ones and it delighted my soul!

(not the actual wren we saw today, but a great close up)

Only a few miles later, we spotted one of God’s GREAT creatures- a bald eagle! We first saw the nest high in the tree with two young ones, heads not white yet, standing on the edge. Then we saw the mom or dad in a nearby tree peering down into a little lake, hoping to find some yummy lunch. It was breathtaking to say the least! From the smallest of little birds, to the great eagle, both were doing what they were meant to do, taking care of their young.

( again, we didn’t have a great camera with us running, so this is close….)

All of my long runs with Lynne are fun. We’re both training for a marathon in September, so we’re on the same schedule of a long run ( that gets longer and longer) each week. But today, was especially delightful!!! 11 miles of lovely company, great conversation, and two creatures, great and small.

(this is the actual tree we saw!! Thanks, Lynne, for the pic!)

Amazing Team Orphans Women

Rebecca

June 18, 2017

Meet Mary Walinder! She currently lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and when she isn’t training she is working for HP’s user group for a digital printing technology called Dscoop! But every morning, she is at the gym for her daily workout, and now that the summer sunshine is here, she enjoys taking her dog for a walk a few times a day while working from home! And on occasion she will take a walk in the evening with her neighbors! When I asked her about what one of her biggest motivators is in her training, she replied, “I love my FitBit and the weekly challenges because it keeps me motivated to keep moving”. Mary is a truly motivated athlete, and someone who thinks of everyone in her training. In fact, the person who took this picture deserves much needed credit- Denny Gillen. Denny was a wonderful Team Orphans athlete that raised over $30,000 for the organization. However, just this last year he passed away… He lived a life that was fulfilling and wholesome and his contributions to the Team Orphans organization will never go unnoticed. Each Virtual Ironman competitor are tremendous athletes that deserve so many accolades. So keep working hard, and having fun, and like Mary proclaimed to me, “Let’s all hit our goal in this Virtual Ironman!”

Just look at this teammate bonding! Pictured below is Lynn Benson, with her triathlon partner, daughter Sarah, and her kids. Just last year Lynn and her teammate trained and did the Luddington sprint triathlon, AND Reeds like sprint triathlon together! The athleticism doesn’t stop with just her though… All three of her children did the Rockford kids triathlon- with her youngest, Abby, being only two years old! WOW, “Amazing” runs in the Benson household! So you wouldn’t be too surprised if I told you that Lynn was also a Physical Education teacher as well! Today, Lynn is currently training by completing another Double Ironman with the Team Orphans virtual event- We’re all rooting for you Lynn! In Lynn’s free time, when she isn’t sweating it out with her athletically amazing family, she is a volunteer cookie baker for Clara Cookies! I’d say Lynn Benson is the perfect training partner- Just look at those happy smiles!

Two Sisters- Separated by Miles, But Working Together

Rebecca

May 8, 2017

Rosalie and Rita are two of our new Virtual Ironman Members this year! Rosalie lives in Michigan while Rita lives in Florida. They decided to work together on the Team Orphans Virtual Ironman this year!

Sister 1 Rosalie Clark, in Ada, Michigan, and her husband, Keith have been married for 41 years. Rosalie home educated their 4 children and provided daycare for around 25 kids over 15 years. Currently, she enjoys spending time with their 12 grandchildren who live nearby. She calls it “Crazy fun” as the grandkids are 9 years to 2 years!

Her love for children makes Rosalie thrilled to support Team Orphans in her first Virtual Ironman. After reading her Bible, she pushes PLAY on her workout DVD’s at the start of most mornings. She is excited to do the Virtual Ironman with her sister, Rita, in Florida. The sisters talk almost every day – encouraging each other in their workouts, continuing in their house cleaning businesses, and persevering in their walks with Jesus Christ.

(Rosalie is also one of our volunteer Clara Cookie bakers!)

Sister 2 Rita Moeckel lives in Bradenton, Florida. “I was excited to learn about the Virtual Ironman opportunity, supporting Team Orphans. It was great that my dear sister, Rosalie, in Michigan, and I could participate even though 1200 miles separate us. We each use DVD workouts for our exercise, but this challenge will push us to the next level. Phone calls and texts connect us, so we can spur on each other, not only in our physical exercise but also in our minds and hearts. A verse states, “…physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.” Rosalie and I memorize scripture to keep our aging minds sharp and our hearts listening to God.

I am a wife of 31 years, mother of four grown children, one granddaughter, 30 piano students and 10 homes which I clean and maintain. My life revolves around the calendar and clock, but I’m making time for this Virtual Ironman, knowing that it is supporting a greater good in helping orphans.”

Would you like to join our Virtual Ironman? More information and sign up here:

https://www.teamorphans.com/virtualiron/ Already on the Virtual Ironman team? Email me some info about yourself for our next blog! rebecca@teamorphans.com

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