A new year; a new path ... at least that is my hope.

1.20.11

I won't lie – 2010 was a tough year ... tough in good ways – for our company, we had an unbelievable boom in business ... we were almost TOO busy and struggled to get responsibilities distributed and tasks achieved. We finish the year triumphant AND exhausted! A great problem to have, indeed!

But tough in bad ways, too – personally my family took a real hit as both my grandmother and my father (mother and son) were diagnosed with cancer. When your loved ones are faced with a terminal illness, it takes a toll on everything in your life. In the blink of an eye, your world turns upside down and you have to struggle and fight and persevere to find your new definition of "fine" ...

But a new year brings the new opportunity to re-examine who you are, where you are, and where you want to go ...

I want to take something out of this journey – a journey that seems so dark and desolate – and I want to find something good, something light. I want to channel all this adrenaline and heart ache and sadness into something positive. I choose to find a lighter, more hopeful path.

So in 2011, we are adding to our fundraising efforts for the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent. And we are specifically raising money for the oncology department – what a great way to turn a negative experience into a positive!

We are planning a huge festival of sorts for the entire family to be held on Saturday, September 24! There will be something for everyone – softball, kickball, cornhole, sand volleyball, face painting, even bounce houses for the little kiddos! There will also be food & beverages, a silent auction and raffle prizes throughout the day.

Cancer is a family fight – and Reindeer is, without a doubt, my second family ... I believe this event will be a very fitting tribute to ALL families currently battling the disease. And personally, it will help me shed some light on this path I continue down.

We should remind ourselves at each new year – and all year long – that where life leads you – whatever the path, whatever the challenge – we all have the same choice: walk aimlessly in the dark or push ahead and find some light.

I hope 2011 is very bright for us all.