God has a strange way of using people as His voice, a strange way of getting His message across. OK God – I hear ya, loud and clear. Slow down. Don’t take life for granted. There’s no such thing as invincible. You must make time for yourself. I realize this all now more than ever. My dear, dear friend Monika suffered from a stroke a few weeks ago. How. Scary. This girl is young, vibrant, spunky, in impeccable shape and always on the go. No signs of illness. No signs of fatigue. Just a typical Thursday for her, and her whole life was changed. Her energy is contagious. She’s amazing, inspirational, loving, kind and God knew what he was doing when he put her in my life. I need Monika. She teaches Zumba at the studio five times a week. I need her smile, I need her work out, I need her pestering me when I don’t come, I need her daily text messages. My life wouldn’t be quite as complete without her in it. I also guarantee the way that I feel about her is the exact same way that so many others feel about her, too. Monika has had an amazingly inspiring weight loss journey through diet and exercise well beyond the journey I took almost four years ago. The news of her illness hit me like a ton of bricks. It could’ve been me. It very easily could’ve been me. That’s all that I kept thinking at first. If it can happen to her, it can happen to me. She’s got three beautiful children and a loving husband. Her support system is huge and extends through her church and our community. She will be fine. She will be great. She is Monika. And quoting her, “She’s got this!” The strong-willed girl came home from the hospital in less than a week. Her left side of her brain has been affected – her speech and her memory. She is fighting to get back to her old self, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she will. Last Wednesday, we hosted a zumbathon and we all gathered at the extremely HOT Boys & Girls Club to “Shake what our Monika gave us!” The event in itself was inspiring. So many Monika fans showed up to dance and give her support. We were even blessed with her presence for a bit! We are continuing with our classes until she returns. We are doing it for Monika. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning has never been easy, but I’ve now got a little different outlook on it. I’m alive, I’m well, and I can do this. I get out of bed and I go shake it for Monika! Here are some pictures that Diana was nice enough to take at our event. I’m working on a Shutterfly book for Monika!
Monika sharing hugs w/ her husband Andy in the background:
Janie, Ali and me – Ali is Monika’s precious daughter who I am lucky enough to have in class this year!
Here we are when we started – notice our nice clean, dry shirts!
Wowza! Little bit of sweat action has begun…
Me and Janie cutting up – I love this girl! we have way too much fun together!
Here is our dedicated 5 am zumba crew. They see me at my best and still love me (no make up and drenched in sweat!):
Channeling our inner gansta!
Janie, Diana, and me – yes, that would be sweat all over my shirt – I smelled delicious!
True friends aren’t afraid to hug your sweaty back!
Our instructors that lead us that night – they did an amazing job! Love them all! 
And this was the crew that stuck it out til the end – there were lots and lots more, but these were the final ones still standing at the end!
Please keep Monika in your prayers! If you read this and you’re from El Campo and you’d like to help her out with medical expenses, there is an account open at First State Bank of Louise in El Campo. There’s a dinner coming up on the 11th of October, too and tickets are available at the studio:) They’re also having a garage sale for her on Nov. 3rd.
Since I wrote this post last week, Monika has returned to Zumba for our 5 a.m. classes. She teaches the first 30 minutes of each class – I’m telling y’all – the girl is a walking miracle. Life is so precious – don’t take it for granted!
