In Memory of "Judy" Pong Sun

My mom and my sister.

My family, my friends, my heroes.

My mom lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005.


This Sunday is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Northwest Ohio

In Memory of my mom, Judy Pong Sun -I am part of a team my sister organized and raising money for the cause.....I will be sleepin in on race day-not able to travel to be there in person this time, but my sister and friends will be there. I joined the team and am supporting the cause. I am almost to my fundraising goal, can you help?

$5 or $10 or $20 will get me there.....

I also support this cause in honor of my friend, Marilyn who is a breast cancer survivor.

She will be there on race day.


Go here to make a tax deductible donation

https://www. kintera. org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=281697&lis=0&kntae281697=022CB3C3337C407D9928828FFD7D73EF

Click Here to Donate

The Power To Choose

Image via Wikipedia

The heat is on! As the calendar turns to summer, it is easy to fall into the trap of complaining about the heat, especially here in Arizona. I wonder what would happen if we all took up a challenge to give thanks for the heat? The fact is that there is no perfect place to live and I know that I wouldn’t trade summers here for winters back east. I can still remember the bone-chilling cold and having to scrape ice off the windshields and sidewalks. I don’t miss any of that. This year, let’s make an effort to focus on the blessings of living in this place rather than focusing on the scorching heat. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 tells us:

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (emphasis added).


This is a great reminder of the CHOICE we face every day, every moment. The Truth is that our troubles (and the summer heat) won’t last forever. No matter what our circumstances or situation, it will not last forever. We get to CHOOSE what we focus on. The fact is, there will be trouble and suffering in our lives. Jesus told us this. At times, the trouble and suffering are enormous. However, the fact is also that there are a great many blessings and gifts in life to be thankful for as well. Because God gave us a brain and the ability to think, we are free to CHOOSE what we focus on. Paul wrote “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. “ What we look at and focus on is a choice!

I have learned that if I look for things to criticize, gripe and complain (i.e., whine) about, I will find them. Alternatively, if I look for blessings and gifts to be grateful for and enjoy, I will find those as well. It is a daily, conscious choice to focus on being thankful for the blessings in my life. To me, it is like changing the channel. If something I do not like comes on the television, I have the ability to change the channel or shut the TV off. It is the same with my thoughts. I must begin by paying attention to my thoughts. Often, I am guilty of rushing through life, running from one activity or task to the next, so busy, that I don’t even notice my thoughts. By focusing my attention, I can notice if there are thoughts that need to be changed. When I pay attention to my thoughts, I can then make a CHOICE to do something differently if necessary.

With summer vacation upon us, school getting out, and Bible studies taking a break, our tendency can be to let connection and fellowship take a back seat. This summer, why not make a choice to do something different to stay connected. Perhaps you can schedule a coffee date or a play date. Or maybe invite a friend to lunch or choose a book to read and discuss. Become aware of what you focus on. Talk about spiritual things-ask your friends what God is doing in their lives and how you can pray for them. Stretch out of your comfort zone and do something different. It is only when we stretch and challenge ourselves that growth can take place. The Bible says:

By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Remember, God gave us the ability to make choices. So make a good one today. Start by being thankful for what you do have. If you woke up this morning, you have something to be grateful for!



Lena Wright is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor and a Certified Professional Coach. Her passion is helping women be all that God created them to be. She can be reached through her website at www.LenaWright.com where you can obtain a free subscription to her Healthy Communication e-Bulletin.


Got a question for the coach? Email Lena@LenaWright.com

Focus On Wellness by Lena Wright

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to a young church where conflict, strife, division and sexual misconduct were going on. I love how God does not ‘mince words’. Re-read the verses above and you’ll see that it is pretty direct and straightforward. The Truth is that God sacrificed His only Son to save us. Those of us that have heard and accepted this gift have received the Holy Spirit and are born anew. This means that our bodies do not belong to us. We need to evaluate how we are doing at being good stewards in regard to our physical being. Are we taking care of our bodies? Are we honoring God with our bodies?

Here are some tips on how to do just that:

1) Get moving. Take a walk. You can do this at the mall, the YMCA or a local gym or right in your own neighborhood. Take a Tai Chi or Pilate’s class. Gentle, slow moving stretching is good for your muscles and your mood. Park further out from the store when you’re running errands or shopping and walk the extra steps. Our bodies were created to move and often we don’t move them enough. It’s about movement more than it is about exercise. Physical activity is a great stress reliever, plus it helps us to sleep better and improves our mood. So, get moving!

2) Rest. While movement, activity and exercise are great ways to burn off stress, it is also important to get enough rest. Our bodies refresh and rejuvenate while we sleep and when we short change ourselves in this department we make life harder than it needs to be, emotionally, physically and mentally. Some studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep tend to be heavier and sicker than those who do get their zzz’s. Besides, if God rested on the seventh day, I think that us humans might need to rest too.

3) Eat right. This can be a particularly challenging task. I’m not suggesting that you deprive yourself but rather that you are mindful of what you are putting in to your body. Be aware of how caffeine, alcohol and sugar affect you and your mood. I encourage you to do a three day experiment where you write down everything you eat and pay attention to how you feel, both physically and emotionally. You may be surprised to learn that what you put into your body not only affects your physical health but also your mental and emotional well being.

How To Keep Stress At Bay This Holiday Season

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It’s that time of year again-the twelfth month of the year. When our thoughts turn to Christmases past and our calendar and to do list often become jam packed. There are cookies to bake, parties to plan and attend, gifts to buy, houses to decorate and so much more to do. Here are some tips for managing stress during December.

Plan Ahead

Take some time to think about what sort of Christmas you would like to have. Imagine that it is January and you a pleased with the way your holiday went. What will have happened? What will you have done? Where will you have gone? Who will you have spent time with? Is there anything you will not have done? Really use your imagination and picture the details of what matters to you. Taking the time to do this will help you to decide what to do and what to let go of this year. Then you can use a calendar to plan your activities like baking, shopping, social events, gift wrapping and so on.

Another area of stress that often comes up this time of year is finances. A sure fire way to add stress to your holiday is to overspend and use credit to buy gifts and other items that you can’t really afford. Plan ahead by making a list, creating a budget that is workable for your family and then stick to it. It’s important to talk about this area with your family and decide together what is workable. It's important to take time to really listen to each person’s point of view and then discuss all of your options. Perhaps you can draw names, rather than buying gifts for everyone in the family. Or maybe gifts can be just for the kids. You could do a cookie or ornament exchange. Set a price limit on the gifts that you will exchange and stick to it. Some families choose not to exchange gifts but simply to spend time together. There are many things you can do for free like drive around and look at lights, go window shopping, cook dinner together, watch classic Christmas movies together, or go caroling. The real meaning of Christmas is not about money and flashy gifts.

Be Realistic

It amazes me how often that we think and believe that because the calendar changed to December that our imperfect family will suddenly become perfect and that everything will be ideal and no one will disagree about anything. If your family is not perfect (and none of them are) don’t expect that to change this month! Relationships that are difficult or tense the rest of the year will continue to be so and perhaps even become a bit more challenging due to stress and spending more time together. Remember that you can create a warm holiday feeling by your attitude and your actions; however you cannot change other people. You must decide what is important to you and focus on doing the right thing. Other people will respond however they are going to respond and that is not your responsibility. Your responsibility is your behavior, your decisions, your actions.

It’s also important to set limits. It’s not realistic to say yes to every event that you may get invited to this month. Or to feel like you have to host the perfect party or celebration. I give you permission to say no to some activities this month. And you’re not allowed to feel guilty for saying no. First and foremost you must focus on your priorities and then go from there. Real life is full of limits and it is important to remember that in order to help keep stress at bay, especially this time of the year.

Take Care of Your Body

This is often the first thing to go by the wayside when the calendar turns to December and I think it’s a big mistake. Movement, activity and exercise are great ways to burn off stress. It’s also important to get enough rest a minimum of 8 hours per night. Our bodies refresh and rejuvenate while we sleep and when we short change ourselves in this department we make life harder than it needs to be. Some studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep tend to be heavier and sicker than those who do get their zzz’s.

Get moving. Take a walk. If it’s too cold where you live, you can do this at the mall, the YMCA or a local gym. Take a Tai Chi or Pilate’s class. Gentle, slow moving stretching is good for your muscles and your mood. Park further out from the store when you’re running errands or shopping and walk the extra steps. Our bodies were created to move and often we don’t move them enough. It’s about movement more than it is about exercise. Physical activity is a great stress reliever, plus it helps us to sleep better and improves our mood. So, get moving!

Eat right. This time of year this is a particularly challenging task. I’m not suggesting that you deprive yourself but rather that you are mindful of what you are putting in to your body. Be aware of how caffeine, alcohol and sugar affect you and your mood. I encourage you to do a three day experiment where you write down everything you eat and pay attention to how you feel, both physically and emotionally. You may be surprised to learn that what you put into your body not only affects your physical health but also your mental and emotional well being.

Focus on What Really Matters

Decide what is important to you. Think about what the holidays mean to you. What will make it meaningful to you? It’s important to balance our attention on the true meaning of Christmas rather than on the bright lights and shiny presents. Take some time to reflect on what the holiday means to you, your family and the world at large.

One way to focus on what really matters is to help others. There is nothing like giving or helping someone else to get our focus off of ‘what’s wrong’ with our holiday and to gain some perspective on the blessings and abundance in our lives. You can help others buy buying a gift, serving a meal or working at a homeless shelter, domestic violence safe house or child crisis nursery. You can donate food to a local food bank or buy a gift for a child through the Angel Tree program. You can also adopt a family through your church or community.

Remember that you are responsible for your behavior and actions. As an adult, you get to plan ahead and decide what type of holiday celebration you want. As you give some thought to what really matters to you, you will gain increased confidence in communicating what you want and need to others. This is an important skill for healthy relationships all year long. If you find that you are having difficulty coming up with your priorities, saying no or communicating your needs and wants, then seek support. Find an objective third party to help you sort it out. This could be a friend or co-worker, a member of the clergy or a counselor. Sometimes, all we need is someone objective to help us sort it out so that we can see the situation a bit more clearly.

Remember to maintain your sense of humor during stressful times too. Humor is a great stress reliever and there are many health benefits to laughter. Look for the humor in situations and you will find it. Life and relationships with people are full of opportunities to laugh.

Merry Christmas!



Lena Wright is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor and a Certified Professional Coach. Her passion is helping women be all that God created them to be. She can be reached through her website at http://www.lenawright.com/ where you can obtain a free subscription to her Healthy Communication e-Bulletin.

God Speaks!

God Speaks BillBoards

Some new billboards are getting attention in Cleveland. Some reported seeing one or two messages, but the newspaper listed all of them. Here's a list of all variations of the "God Speaks" billboards. The billboards are a simple black background with white text. No fine print or sponsoring organization is included. These are awesome...enjoy.

Let's meet at my house Sunday before the game. -God

C'mon over and bring the kids. -God

What part of "Thou Shalt Not..." didn't you understand? -God

We need to talk. -God

Keep using my name in vain, I'll make rush hour longer. -God

Loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage. -God

That "Love Thy Neighbor" thing... I meant it. -God

I love you and you and you and you and... -God

Will the road you're on get you to my place? -God

Follow me. -God

Big bang theory, you've got to be kidding. -God

My way is the highway. -God

Need directions? -God

You think it's hot here? -God

Have you read my #1 best seller? There will be a test. -God

Do you have any idea where you're going? -God

(And my personal favorite...)

Don't make me come down there. -God


Received from Paul Calvert.

The Gift of Journaling

As I write this, I am in Nashville for the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference. (http://www.aacc.net/) This year’s conference theme is No Greater Love. I have attended this conference once before and learned that this is a great opportunity for refreshment and renewal. I will meet new friends and colleagues. I will also reconnect with old friends and with God while participating in training seminars on topics of interest to me that will help me serve my clients better. I will gain required continuing education hours and a renewed focus on why I do what I do. I’m looking forward to the conference starting.

The Opryland Resort (www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordopryland/index.cfm) is an amazing place-the setting is serene and so beautiful. There are nine acres of gardens INSIDE! There’s a river running through the property too. My room is comfortable and fully equipped with all that I need including high speed internet access. The spa and fitness center are great too. Everyone I’ve met has been helpful and friendly-southern hospitality is a reality and it is alive and well here in Nashville.

This year, I chose to come in to town a few days before the conference started. In my heart, I knew that a few days of quiet time and relaxation away from home would be good for me. And indeed, it has been, already. Isn’t it amazing that our hearts know what we need. If only we’d stop to listen more often.

My first evening here, I wandered around the resort just looking at everything and noticing the changes made since my last trip here in 2003. I had a great workout at the fitness center and enjoyed window shopping in some of the great shops here.

This morning, I spent some time reading God’s Word. This is something that is important to me because it helps to keep me focused and provides an opportunity for God to speak to me. In addition, I have kept a prayer journal off and on since 2003. This is not something I write in every day, nor is it something that includes all prayers I have prayed. I pray for others and I pray for my own needs. I also record things that I am grateful for.

Today, I took time to re-read my entire prayer journal. The entries are written in my messy handwriting and my heartfelt prayers for issues that were important to me over the past four years brought back a lot of memories, both good and bad. Much has changed in my life and in me over that timeframe. What really brought me to my knees was the long list of answered prayers. I was awestruck and humbled by this list of answered prayers. Not every prayer was answered, nor were all of the answers the answers I prayed for-the way I wanted things to work out-but the prayers were answered nonetheless. God is so kind and merciful and I am so impatient and-well-sometimes, just plain whiny. I imagine a loving parent becoming tired and frustrated with the whining and repeated questions of a pre-schooler. One of the scenes I imagine is that of a road trip, with a tired child in the back seat asking ‘are we there yet?’ over and over. How often I have prayed like that-asking the same thing over and over! Thank goodness God is the perfect parent and that He has ultimate patience and unending love for someone like me!

This experience has reinforced for me the gift of journaling. Keeping a journal is a gift I give myself. It allows me the opportunity to look back and see progress as well as areas where I’m stuck. Sometimes, I get to see how far I’ve come or grown. Other times, I see themes or patterns that I may want to address differently because they keep coming up and may be holding me back. It always brings back memories of people and places-situations in my life from years gone by. Seeing, in black and white, answered prayers is a reminder that God is intimately involved in our lives-He cares about the details. I find it very comforting and reassuring.

I want to give you permission to start journaling. Often, people are under the mistaken impression that there is a right way to journal or some unwritten rule that says you must write in it every day. Nonsense! There is no wrong way to journal. You can write or type. Get a note book or go shopping for a journal that is pretty or represents your personality. If you choose to purchase a journal-you can get one with lined pages or blank pages. You can write or doodle or draw. You can use poetry or songs to express yourself. You can write as if you are writing a letter to a friend. You can write in incomplete sentences with incorrect grammar and spelling. You can make a list.

I keep my prayer journal and I keep another journal in the nightstand next to my bed for those nights when insomnia hits. I’ve found that when I can’t sleep in the middle of the night, pulling out this journal and just writing whatever is on my mind helps me let go of it and fall asleep. I haven’t written in this journal in a very long time, because I rarely suffer from insomnia since changing the way I take care of my physical being-but it’s there just in case.

So again, I’m giving you permission to start journaling-do it in a way that works for you. And if your journaling reveals that you have some issues where you are stuck-by all means, seek a counselor or coach to help you get unstuck. Sometimes, all we need is an outside party to give us some feedback and then we can make the changes we need to make.

Happy journaling!

Lena Wright is the founder and President of Connections Wellness Center and a Certified Professional Coach and a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor. Her passion is helping women find peace and contentment so they may enjoy healthy relationships and be all that God has created them to be. She can be reached through her website at http://www.connectionswellnesscenter.com/.

© 2007 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to http://www.connectionswellnesscenter.com/.

Spending time with God

My, this has been a BUSY week! I spent last week traveling-went to Nashville for a conference and this week, I have been super busy playing 'catch up' from the time away. Both at home and in the office....personally and professionally. There is just so much to do!

It's been an interesting week-lots to do, lots of emotional ups and downs. I think part of it is the 'let down' after a great conference. Those things are generally high energy and motivational and inspiring. This one was all those things and more-because it was a Christian counseling conference. So in addition to all the usual stuff-this conference was filled with praise and worship-the spirit of God was very present and very real. There's just something special about worshipping with 7000 people that's hard to put into words. I also treated this trip as a bit of a personal retreat-I took my journal and my Bible and really focused on spending time with God. I spent a lot of time alone, just thinking, writing, praying and reading. It's something that I don't get to do in as much depth as I would like in the 'busy-ness' of every day life. It's unfortunate, in some ways that I have to go to such extremes to get refreshed and renewed. And yet, at the same time, I am so grateful to have opportunities like that.

While I was away, I vowed to make my time with God a priority, even at home in the 'busy-ness'. And sadly, as I look back over this week-I see how much I let it slip by-and I see missed opportunities too. I did make time with God a priority-I did get to a women's Bible study at church that I almost blew off-because I was so busy and so tired. I'm so glad I went-it was refreshing and renewing-and fun. :-) It's funny-ironic, I guess. I get busy, so I make choices and let my time with God fall to the bottom of the to do list; and I feel more tired and irritable. When I make the choice and sometimes the sacrifice that is required-(say like going to a Bible study when I'm tired) even though it takes more time and the easier choice would be to skip it-when I go, and invest the time and energy-I get renewed and recharged. I feel better and am then able to help others more. It's seems like it wouldn't work that way, but I find more often than not, it does.

I'd love to hear from you-about the things that refresh/recharge/renew your energy. How do you nurture yourself? What do you struggle with in these areas?

A friend sent me this video-which really moved me and made me think. It beautifully illustrates part of what I'm talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA Maybe your story is not so dramatic or painful as the one depicted-or maybe it is more so. Either way, it doesn't matter. Jesus is there, pulling for you-no matter what. I am so awed and humbled my the reminder.

Until next time!

Lena

www.ConnectionsWellnessCenter.com