Meet Christina Weiss Lurie - Professional Sports · PDF fileMeet Christina Weiss Lurie...

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“PREEMIE” PROMOTIONAL ISSUE Meet Christina Weiss Lurie Powerful, Productive, & Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s NFL Philadelphia Eagles ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ NBA Alumni, Wayman & Regina Tisdale Home Plate with the Atlanta Braves’ Terry & Cathy Pendleton Part I: Inside the life of a pro sports wife ESPN’s Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado of ABC’s The Bachelor are hooked as mates PLUS: PGA Tour Wives, and more! Special Series: Home Plate with the Atlanta Braves’ Terry & Cathy Pendleton Pro Sports Wives Awarded National Holiday! Our hearts and prayers go to Katrina victims. Visit www.prosportswives.com for relief efforts.

Transcript of Meet Christina Weiss Lurie - Professional Sports · PDF fileMeet Christina Weiss Lurie...

Page 1: Meet Christina Weiss Lurie - Professional Sports · PDF fileMeet Christina Weiss Lurie Powerful, Productive, and Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s Philadelphia Eagles 6 5 Philanthropy

“PREEMIE” PROMOTIONAL ISSUE

Meet Christina Weiss LuriePowerful, Productive, & Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s NFL Philadelphia Eagles

‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ NBA Alumni, Wayman & Regina Tisdale

Home Plate with the Atlanta Braves’ Terry & Cathy Pendleton

Part I: Inside the life of a pro sports wife

ESPN’s Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado of ABC’s The Bachelor are hooked as mates

PLUS: PGA Tour Wives, and more!

Special Series:

Home Plate with the Atlanta Braves’ Terry & Cathy Pendleton

Pro Sports Wives Awarded National Holiday!

Our hearts and prayers go to Katrina victims.

Visit www.prosportswives.com for relief efforts.

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Page 2: Meet Christina Weiss Lurie - Professional Sports · PDF fileMeet Christina Weiss Lurie Powerful, Productive, and Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s Philadelphia Eagles 6 5 Philanthropy

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Page 3: Meet Christina Weiss Lurie - Professional Sports · PDF fileMeet Christina Weiss Lurie Powerful, Productive, and Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s Philadelphia Eagles 6 5 Philanthropy

Founder, Publisher, & Editor In ChiefGena James Pitts

Associate Publisher & Editor at LargeMichael A. Pitts

Managing Editor & Creative DirectorAngela Shipp

Assistant Editor & Deputy Art DirectorLori Willard

Editor, Sports Psychologist, Director of WellnessDiana McNab

Contributing WritersJacqueline Barnett, Terri Stephens, Diana McNab, Ellen Peel

PhotographerJohn Haigwood, Haigwood Studios

Contributing PhotographersWilliam Boyce, Alton Forthe, Mark Hill/Atlanta Braves, Edwin J. Mahan, Craig Sjodin/ABC, Tisway Productions, Diana Udel/Broadcast Quality

Production ManagerKevin Morrison

IT System Control ConsultantGerald D. Goings, Sr., Comp-u-Nection

Creative ConsultantsDino Ianniello, ThincFactoryKelly McCowen, Williams Printing/RR DonnellyBrian Foster, BrianFoster.comTodd Nollner, Graphic South & Sull Graphics

Advertising and Marketing ConsultantsHazel King and Tene Webber

Executive Assistant to the PublishersEmily Turner

InternJennifer Garrett

Board of AdvisorsJerry Sommer, President, Trenchant Business Services; Bobbie R. Morris, Executive Director, Volunteer Houston County; Diana McNab, L.L.C., Sports Psychologist/Life Coach; Ellen Peel, President, The Billfi sh Foundation

Our mission is to provide resources to educate and inform wives of professional athletes and coaches, and assist them in becoming successful helpmates. Together, the Professional Sports Wives Association and the Professional Sports Wives Magazine provide sports wives with information on how to support their spouse’s career and image, enhance their family’s quality of life, and secure success in their personal development.

Contents10 On the Cover: Meet Christina Weiss Lurie Powerful, Productive, and Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s Philadelphia Eagles

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5 Philanthropy Wives, players, and their favorite charities PLUS: Pro Sports Wives Awarded Special Holiday

6 Ain’t No Stoppin’ NBA Alumni Wayman Tisdale

has slam dunked his way to the top of the Billboard music charts!

8 ESPN’s Byron Velvick

and Mary Delgado got the ultimate hook-up on ABC’s

The Bachelor and are enjoying real life after reality TV

9 Home Plate Married for 20 years, faith and commitment keeps Terry and Cathy Pendleton and their family together!

12 Billfi shingThe best kept secret in sports

reels in athletes

14 Part I of our Special Series: Inside the life of a Sports Wife

16 Struggle to Juggle: Organize Your Family & Life!

2005 PROMOTIONAL ISSUE

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Tisway Productions, www.waymantisdale.com

Edwin J. Mahan

Alton Forthe. www.bigfi shtools.com

Courtesy of Cathy and Terry Pendleton9

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© 2005 Professional Sports Wives MagazinePitts & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

The reproduction in whole or in part of our cover and contents are fully protected by copyright, and cannot be reproduced without written permission from the publishers. All materials submitted to Professional Sports Wives Magazine become the property of Professional Sports Wives Magazine and Pitts & Associates, Inc., and can be used without compensation to the submitter. All such materials may be edited for clarity and space.

Pro Sports Wives Magazine is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November by Pitts & Associates, Inc., and is the offi cial publication of the Professional Sports Wives Association, a members only, 501(c)(3) not-for-profi t organization that includes members from each professional sport, including but not limited to the:

• National Football League (NFL)• Major League Baseball (MLB) and its affi liate minor league baseball• National Basketball Association (NBA)• National Hockey League (NHL)• Professional Golf Association (PGA)• National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)• Major League Soccer (MLS), among other professional sports

FOR ADVERTISING and INQUIRIES: Contact [email protected] or Phone: (770) 619-0383Fax: (770) 619-5777www.prosportswives.com

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices to: Pro Sports Wives Magazine, 3528 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

The opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers of the Professional Sports Wives Magazine, the members of the Professional Sports Wives Association, the sports teams, owners, players, the various players associations and their staff, the leagues, and advertisers who are represented in this publication.

Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for content of all advertisements. Information published in Professional Sports Wives Magazine is the opinion of the sourced authors. Personal decisions regarding information published in this magazine should be made after consultation with the reader’s professional advisors.

The accuracy and completeness of the information provided, and the opinions stated herein are not guaranteed or warranted to produce any particular results on behalf of the parties who list their services or seek services via this publication. The publishers, board of directors, offi cers, members, authors of Pro Sports Wives Magazine and its subsidiaries utterly disclaim any form of guaranty or warranty with respect to the authenticity, character, integrity, work, ethic, or fi nancial soundness of any of the individuals or entities that are made public throughout the pages of this publication, nor shall be made liable for any loss or profi t or any commercial or personal damage that may result from the mutual contacting, employing, or entering into contract of any one party, via any of the information herein presented.

4 Pro Sports Wives Magazine

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our premiere issue of the Professional Sports Wives Magazine, our exclusive publication of the Professional Sports Wives Association. In the professional sports entertainment industry, we are a family! We share many of the same goals and dreams, the grief of loss and defeat, and the euphoria of victories, and life-changing milestones. Our goal is to create a publication that is fi lled with abundance of cheer, rich with life-changing resources and self-empowering information from experts, and up-close and personal articles from peers. As a 12-year NFL veteran sports wife with 20 years of marriage, I know too well the many roles we play and endure. As pro sports wives, we are challenged with the multi-tasked roles of being a: helpmate; best friend; lover; companion; homemaker; hostess; seasonal single parent and head of household; receptionist; secretary; household manager; personal assistant; bookkeeper; fi nance director; comptroller; loan repayment offi cer; prayer partner; at-home trainer; coach; psychologist; motivator; spokesperson; and...whew...groupie terminator! Did I cover everything? My heartfelt thanks go to Jeffrey and Christina Lurie of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles and the many NFL team owners; the Atlanta Braves, Major League Baseball and their Alumni Association; the leagues; front offi ce executives and staff members; the players associations; and the players and their wives who have lent me their trust and support. My heartfelt love and appreciation for my husband, Michael Pitts, who provided me with the opportunity to experience life as a sports wife; my love to our children, Michael Jr. and Phia, and my family; to my right-hand assistant, Angela Shipp, who has worked tirelessly; our staff; consultants; friends; and especially Pastors Crefl o and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International in Atlanta for providing the spiritual inspiration to present you with a publication designed especially for you! From our hearts to yours,

Gena James PittsFounder, Publisher, Editor in Chief

Mike Pitts, formerly with the Atlanta Falcons (1983-87), Philadelphia Eagles (1987-1992), and the New England Patriots (1992-1994)

Gena James Pitts

John Haigwood, Haigwood Studios

David Silverman

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Atlanta Braves Assist YMCA

The children of the Carver Community on the South side of Atlanta have a new place to play ball thanks to the generosity of Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones, Brian Jordan, Mike Hampton, John Smoltz, the Atlanta Braves Foundation, and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. Players, children, and YMCA representatives broke ground in April on the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy, an eight-acre signature youth sports complex. The players each contributed $75,000 for fi elds at the park in the Villages at Carver Family YMCA. The Braves Foundation contributed $500,000 to the Academy. In addition to four baseball fi elds named after their all-star donors, the sports complex will have two pavilions, batting cages and a playground. Jones said he contributes to programs like this in the newly renovated neighborhood near Turner Field to give kids the same opportunities he had growing up. “I have been fortunate enough to be where I am today because of special people who have touched my life. This gives me one opportunity to say thank you,” said Jones.

The kids of the redeveloped Carver community will be able to participate in previously unavailable after school and summer programs provided by the Metro Atlanta YMCA and the Butler Street YMCA. While brushing up on their baseball, softball, or t-ball skills, the children can also take advantage of academic enrichment and homework assistance. “The Braves Baseball Academy will provide thousands of young people the opportunity to learn and enjoy the game of baseball, while also building self-esteem and encouraging academic achievement,” said Terry McGuirk, Atlanta Braves chairman and president. – Jennifer Garrett

PGA Tour Wives Donate to Children’s Healthcare

At the 2005 BellSouth Classic, PSWM caught up with PGA TOUR Wives Association members at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Golf in the Garden fund-raiser. Honorary Chair Kim Johnson, wife of Zach Johnson, was on hand to talk about the Association’s projects and causes.

Kim noted that Association members work with children through Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and other fund raising projects of individual wives’ foundations. They also sell cookbooks and beanie babies to raise money for the Association’s charities. Michelle Riley, wife of Chris Riley, told us that the Association “is very important to me” and that her participation shows she supports her husband as a wife, mother, and friend. BellSouth and BellSouth Pioneers also used the Classic to encourage donations of new and used golf clubs, balls, and tees to send to men and women serving in the U.S. military.

Philanthropy

Pro Sports Wives Recognized with National HolidayLong ignored and always in the background, pro sports wives will now have our day of national recognition. Chase’s Calendar of Events, the standard reference guide for holidays, events, anniversaries, and observance information, has awarded the Professional Sports Wives Association with Pro Sports Wives Day beginning February 11, 2006. This national day of observance will politely recognize sports wives across the country for our public service in the estimated $213 billion-dollar professional sports entertainment industry. Unknown to the public, pro sports wives play behind the scenes as silent partners to the millions of pro athletes, in multi-tasked domestic and business-related roles that allows them to focus on their careers, and create the feeling of being a winner within us all. For information and details on other special events visit www.prosportswives.com. Chase’s Calendar of Events is published by McGraw-Hill.

fe-’lan-thr -pè e Giving back to communities

Braves chairman and president Terry McGuirk, along with David Homrich, Metro Atlanta YMCA Board Chair; Braves players Brian Jordan, Chipper Jones, and Mike Hampton (not pictured: John Smoltz); and Fred L. Bradley, President & CEO, Metro Atlanta YMCA, break ground at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy at the Villages of Carver YMCA.

September/October 2005 Preemie 5

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hile in the twilight of his NBA career, and without a pink slip, Wayman Tisdale walked off the court and closed the door on his stellar 12 year career. No longer feeling fulfi lled and satisfi ed, the former power forward, who played with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns, returned to his

fi rst love of music, and to his bass guitar that he learned how to play in his youth. “I loved playing in the NBA, but it wasn’t my purpose in life,” explains Tisdale. After having a spat with an NBA coach about his music, the ‘Big Man’ told the coach, “God gave me two gifts. Don’t get jealous of me; you just dis me on what I’m doing on the court.” Constantly teased by his teammates for playing his guitar every moment that he could, Tisdale has the last laugh. He has achieved great success, with four CDs consistently landing in Billboard’s Top 10 contemporary jazz charts, including his Face to Face CD going all the way to No. 1.

His latest Top 10 CD, Hang Time, is a balanced mix of soulful, smooth urban, old school, and cool R&B. “I’m stuck in that ‘70’s type of groove,” Tisdale says with a laugh. “I feel like it’s my duty to keep the old-schoolers in the loop for today’s listeners.” With his new style of groove, Tisdale says, “I’m not playing bass. I try to make it (the bass guitar) sound more like a singer. I don’t think it’s been done this way before,” he said. Hang Time has become Tisdale’s fastest selling CD, coming in on the Billboard charts at Number 3, and staying in the Top 10 by the end of 2004. Tisdale got his fi rst break when his friend Flip Kirby took a homemade demo to Motown Records. He was uniquely signed sight-unseen to a contract by Motown Records’ music executive, Steve McKeffer. “The fi rst time they heard all of my music was the night of my (CD) release party. Until then, they had never seen me or knew who I was,” explains Tisdale. “They said that they had never heard anyone play bass like that before.” Making his debut last year with Rendezvous Entertainment, an independent record company co-founded by composer and

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Ain’t No Stoppin’

Wayman Tisdale

Courtesy of Regina and Wayman Tisdale

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ale

saxophone star Dave Koz, Tisdale’s latest and sixth CD, ‘Hang Time’, has launched him with home court advantage working alongside with the Grammy nominated Koz, and onto the charts among jazz veterans like David Sanborn, Kenny G, Joe Sample, and George Benson. Tisdale got his start in music from being in the band at church. His dad, the Rev. Louis Tisdale, bought three guitars for his three sons, including Wayman. “He wanted one of his sons to play bass for him at church,” Tisdale reminisced. He remembers his brothers “beating each other up with their guitars” instead of practicing. To the contrary, Tisdale practiced and played his guitar all the time. He discovered his gift of being able to play the bass guitar all by ear. As if he were an intern, Tisdale practiced his new craft constantly, and learned the music business and picked up the tricks of the trade three years after he retired from basketball. From the critical acclaim of the famous modern jazz musicians who are now among his peers, Tisdale has made a successful transition from the world of sports to the world of music in a single bound. So, how did he do it? “I invested in Wayman with my money”, Tisdale explained. “I invested in myself and in my music, while people (music fans) were trying to fi gure out if they liked me (and my style of music),” he said. “I knew I liked me; so I invested in myself when we went on tour. I would pay for the band, the buses, and the venue. Had I not done that — had I waited on someone else to do it — it would not have gotten done,” Tisdale explained. He continued, “it was important for me to be seen, while I gained a fan base. It was the best thing that I could have done!” While in the NBA, Tisdale would play in small concert venues, and go on a six-week concert tour annually after playing a 100 game season. He would take off only two weeks in between to rest. “My wife and kids and even my mother would get on the bus with me, and tour night-in and night-out during the summer,” said Tisdale. “I thank God for his talents,” said Tisdale’s wife, Regina, “as well as Him

giving Wayman the drive to achieve at two diffi cult careers. I think it’s exciting. I’m glad that he has something that he loves (to do), and to follow up his basketball career,” Regina says. At fi rst, his family and his fans didn’t understand why he would suddenly retire and stop the NBA paychecks to pursue his music career. “There are so many uncertainties, and this was something totally new for me to deal with,” Regina said. “The only thing familiar was the groupies,” she laughs. “It took time,” he explained. “I told them that this is going to take time. I told them that they would not understand it now, but that this side (my music career) will bring me longevity. I can do this forever and not worry about injuries or getting cut.” He reminded them, “My career is building.” However, just like in sports, the pink slip could come at anytime. Tisdale was released from Motown’s MoJack records after several years while his career was building. Wallowing in a wilderness of doubt but still fi xed with a slow-boil of determination, the rebound came when he suddenly got a call from the Dave Koz. The call came while he was riding on his tractor, mowing the grass on his 20 acre estate in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Dave Koz called me after hearing my music and invited me to go on (the 2004 Friends summer) tour with him,” Tisdale said, beaming his huge trademark smile and adding, “I didn’t even know that he knew me and had heard my music”. The most memorable moment of realizing his dream to become a successful jazz musician was when he sat next to and played with music icon Stevie Wonder during a benefi t for 9-11 at the Forum. The stadium was packed with music fans. Besides Tisdale, no one is enjoying the transition to music from pro sports more than his wife, Regina, and their four children. Married for 18 years, Regina works with Tisdale in their management company. “She’s very involved with a lot of stuff that I do,” says Tisdale. “She’s great,” he said. “She’s my best friend and my biggest fan,” he brags.

September/October 2005 Preemie 7

He’s at the top of his new game on Billboard’s Music Charts BY GENA JAMES PITTS

Constantly teased by his teammates for playing his guitar every moment that he could, Tisdale had the last laugh, having achieved success with four CDs consistently landing in Billboard’s Top 10 contemporary jazz charts, including his Face to Face CD going all the way to No. 1.

Quick to remember his August 1st anniversary, Tisdale boasts that he is every bit of the family man, helping Regina with the kids around the house daily. “I get up every day at 6:30 a.m. to get my 14-year-old son, Wayman, off to school.” After working in the studio all day Tisdale brags, “I pick the kids up from school! Regina takes our daughter, Gabrielle, 10, who plays the piano and writes music with dad, to school. Our 16 year-old, Tiffany, drives herself to school.” The couple also has a 21-year-old daughter, Danielle, who is a senior in college, and who recently interned at People magazine. Danielle wrote lyrics on her dad’s Face to Face album and on his inspirational record, 21 days. Tisdale has labeled his last four chart-topping CD’s in basketball terms. “I have always toyed with the basketball terminology because I can, and I always have had two careers,” he said. And just as he coined his chart-topping CD’s, Tisdale is fl ying high in his dream as a Power Forward, is In the Zone of his new music career, and is enjoying the Hang Time of success.

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illions of Americans watched a love story unfold between reality TV’s hot new couple, Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado of ABC’s The Bachelor.

Velvick, a Pro Bass Angler and ESPN anchor, and Delgado, a real estate agent, are the second successful couple to emerge from the reality dating show. So far they have survived the pressure of the media, crazed fans, and demanding schedules. We were fi rst introduced to the Latin-American native, Maribel “Mary” Delgado, on season three of The Bachelor, and saw her heart broken by Bob Guiney when she was not chosen as his love interest. When producers fi rst contacted her about returning to the show again she turned them down fl at; but after several phone calls and some serious persuading, the producers managed to convince her to come back for a second chance at fi nding true love. Byron Velvick’s stint on The Bachelor was simply fate. He didn’t watch the show

and had never auditioned or even applied. Velvick, 40, handsome as a movie star, with long locks of blonde hair and bronze skin, was referred to the show’s producers by several of his friends, who were huge fans of the show. The rest is history. Bachelor Velvick wooed Mary, 37, for four-and-a-half weeks before offering her the show’s fi nal rose. He proposed in Spanish to Mary, a Tampa, Florida native, live — on national TV in front of her parents and millions of viewers. Mary says, “We fell in love!” So much in love that Byron has moved to Mary’s hometown. “He couldn’t see tearing me away from my family,” she says. The couple commutes with their busy schedules from their new lake-front home in Florida to their Tampa Bay home as they make plans for a wedding. After the spotlight is off, the pressure to stay together begins for most celebrity couples. We asked Mary how they deal with the media pressure. “We are together because we love each other, and not to please anyone

catches soulmate Mary Delgado on ABC’s The Bachelor

ESPN’s Byron Velvick

By Lori Willard

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else,” said Mary. “You have to be true to yourself… be honest…you can’t give in to the pressures of the outside world.” The people closest to Byron and Mary have been very supportive. Mary’s co-workers have gotten a kick out of all of the media buzz that has surrounded her and their offi ce. They have been very supportive of her and Byron’s relationship. Mary’s peers have all offered their encouragement and have protected her privacy from crazed fans. The wives of other Pro Bass Anglers have welcomed Mary into the ‘sorority’ as a fellow ‘wife in waiting,’ and have treated her with kindness and support. To keep their love alive, it probably helps that Mary loves to fi sh with Byron. Mary said that many times Byron will be ready to come in for the day and she will insist on, “just one more cast.” Since his stint on The Bachelor, Velvick has become the new anchor on ESPN Bass Center and is enjoying the popularity of pro bass fi shing emerging as a popular sport. As the angling season concluded this spring, Velvick focused his attention on attending numerous charitable events, working with sponsors on promotional events, planning a wedding, and living a happy life with Mary. Sorry, it doesn’t look like their wedding will be televised. After several phone calls from the producers of The Bachelor, Byron and Mary have decided to keep their wedding off prime time TV. Ph

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HomePlate With the Atlanta Braves’

Terry and Cathy Pendleton

By Angela Shipp

athy Pendleton was there long before her husband, Terry, hit his fi rst home run in the majors, when he retired as a player, and when he started coaching with

the Atlanta Braves. Together for over 20 years, Cathy, 43, and Terry, 44, met when they were high school students in Oxnard, California. They dated on and off for nine years before marrying in 1984. Faith, commitment to each other, and their three kids have kept them together while enduring one trade, fi ve free-agent

moves, and a transition from playing to

coaching in the Major League.

For Cathy, one of the most memorable

moments in Terry’s career was when

he retired in 1998. “It really spoke to

my heart. He was ready to become the

husband and the father that he wanted

and needed to be, and to take care of

all the things that have been pushed

aside because of baseball,” says Cathy.

Since signing with the Atlanta Braves

as the hitting coach in 2001, Terry, a

former third baseman for the Braves,

has helped the club reach its highest

team batting average in the league.

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Proud of her husband’s career accomplishments, Cathy hopes that her “contribution to his success has allowed him to do his job without too much stress on the home-front.” Despite the travel and the long baseball season, she takes her role as ‘single’ parent seriously. She prefers to do without a nanny and housekeeper, and cleans her multi-level, Duluth, Georgia home by herself. “I try to keep our abnormal life as normal as it can be with Terry still being in baseball,” says Cathy. She adds, “I still clean our house, do the dishes, cook, take and pick up the children from school and activities, take them to doctor and dentist appointments, do the grocery shopping, take care of the house, the dogs, the birds, the fi sh, pick up the dry cleaning, and did I mention the ironing and the laundry?” From their marriage, to handling money, the Pendleton’s try to set an example for their three children, Stephanie, 14, Terry, 13, and Trinity, 3, who the couple calls their ‘surprise.’

Winning on and off the fi eld

How do they keep things fair and balanced? Terry is a hands-on father despite the grueling baseball travel schedule. When his schedule allows he makes a point to attend the childrens’ doctor visits and he goes out of his way to make it home for special events. Cathy notes that even with his career in major league baseball Terry’s commitment to his family makes him no different than a typical loving dad and husband. They rely on their faith in God to see them through diffi cult times and to help them make decisions. “I relieve stress by being alone, praying, crying out to the Lord, and venting — especially when I feel wronged,” says Cathy. “If Terry is facing a diffi cult decision or problem at work she encourages him to pray and focus on the Lord instead of the problem, and she allows him to fi gure it out on his own unless he asks for her input.

In the November issue of PSWM, the Pendletons discuss the transition to the second phase of Terry’s career, and confesses their commitment to their religious faith and values.

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She’s powerful, productive, and the silent partner to husband Jeffrey’s NFL Philadelphia Eagles

Christina Weiss Lurie

Forward by Gena James Pitts

Co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Christina Weiss Lurie is not a football widow with a lot of time on her hands. She has carved out a niche for herself behind the scenes of one of the most successful football franchises. Equipped with a degree in theatre and history of architecture from Yale, mother of two and a talented fi lm producer, Christina is the perfect silent partner. PSWM had a rare opportunity to meet Christina and talk with her:

PSWM: So, Christina, I read an article that described you as not necessarily a ‘football widow.’ What do you think that means? What is a football widow, and how are you NOT one?

Christina: Well, I assume that the term a football widow means that you stay at home and are not involved in your husband’s football world.

When Jeffrey came to me, and mentioned that he was interested in buying a sports team, I said, ‘That’s great, but I’m going to have fi gure out where I fi t in and make it into a partnership for the two of us.’ Neither of us had owned a sports team before buying the Eagles so I don’t think

we had a ‘clue’ what we were getting into. But it’s been an amazing ten-year adventure and an unbelievably positive one. And it’s been a real partnership. I don’t get involved on the football front, but everything else — everything that has to do with the culture of the team, the environment in which we work, making all of the different departments feel that they are part of the same organization, in addition to building Eagles Youth Partnership and Go Green recycling efforts — that’s how I am involved.

We knew we needed a new stadium and a new practice facility. Having studied architecture in college, this was an area where I could get involved and bring my strengths to the table.

PSWM: And speaking of culture, when entering the NovaCare Complex it’s striking to see pictures of three very distinct images: one of Martin Luther King, Jr.; the second of Mother Teresa; and the third, a physician, Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine. I was struck that there is a sense of humanitarian and a sense of humanism that is important to this organization.

Christina: Obviously, athletes are often kids’ heroes. With the Eagles, we can and are a catalyst for change when it comes to kids and helping them make choices in our community. But in reality, there are so many heroes out there. We wanted the players to realize that.

PSWM: And why did you choose those three?

Christina: Jeffrey chose them. He felt strongly that they represented many different forms of heroism; and not to say that we don’t want to make it a rotating gallery. We would like to pick the next three heroes, and we will!

PSWM: In what ways do you feel that you are a positive infl uence to Jeffrey’s life?

Christina: Well, I’m defi nitely not a wife who sits at home or a football widow. From day one, Jeffrey understood that a good marriage is a partnership. Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m glued to his hip and that I’m going to only focus on football — not at all. But I will hear his interests and his passion and I will try to help him go after those. He does

10 Pro Sports Wives Magazine

Edwin J. Mahan

By Jacqueline Barnett

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September/October 2005 Preemie 11

the same for me. Obviously football takes precedence, but I also do many other things.

PSWM: It seems like it’s been a decade for the Eagles...what was it like to go to the Super Bowl this year, and the expectation of it all?

Christina: We have been to the NFC Championship Game four times — and it took us four times to win it. We never gave up — even with the critics out there saying that ‘you’ve been there and you won’t be able to get there next year,’ — we don’t listen to them. We have a wonderful team; we have great coaches; and you have to believe in yourself. And, yes you need luck, and you need to not have too many injuries. We always thought we would be back there every year — and we have been — and fi nally we won the Championship! And the same thing with the Super Bowl, and there is no doubt in my mind that we have as good of a shot as any other team to play in Detroit (at the Super Bowl) next year. Having had the experience of playing in the Super Bowl, I’m sure that will undoubtedly be helpful next year.

PSWM: But, what did you feel? It had to be an exhausting experience (at the Super Bowl)?

Christina: Christina: No. I went down there and I decided that I was going to enjoy every part of the Super Bowl experience — we were in Jacksonville and we were playing in the Super Bowl which is the ultimate goal when you have a football team. And yes, it would have been fabulous to win but, I am really proud of our organization andour players, and I believe that we willbe there again.

PSWM: On a more personal note, a woman who is involved with and married to athletes, coaches, executives, or team owners can lose herself because of the spotlight on her husband. How would you encourage women or wives not to get lost in what can be perceived as the bubble of power?

Christina: I think you have to really

know yourself and the different stages

“Just because your husband is playing on a sports team or is

otherwise involved in the sports world doesn’t mean that you have to give

yourself up to that world.” – Christina Weiss Lurie

of your life. Your needs and your goals change in time. You have to stay true to yourself and decide what is important to you in this sports world and environment in which you live. And you have to know what is important to the kids; know what’s important for you; and what’s important for your husband; and…

PSWM: In that order?

Christina: No….I think they are all equally important! It’s just (a matter of) juggling them in as good a manner as possible. But I think you have to be satisfi ed with your own life and fi nd out what best works for you. Go after your dream, otherwise, nothing else can work. Just because your husband is playing on a sports team or is otherwise involved in the sports world doesn’t mean that you have to give yourself up to that world. That worked for me but is not always possible. And yes, you have to make concessions; that’s obvious. But go after your interests, and your goals, and pursue those interests just as much as your partner’s. And at certain times, you have to be the one who is more supportive; and at other times, it will be reversed. Fame is not important!

PSWM: What’s fame anyway?

Christina: It’s a very ephemeral aspect. You can have an unbelievable career one year; and the next, something happens, and it’s gone. So know what you want to do after your sports career is over — that’s important!

PSWM: How do you think that the NFL in general equips players and families to transition to KNOW what they want to do after professional sports?

Christina: There are a lot of programs out there. Some have to do with furthering one’s education, others with developing

new job qualifi cations and opportunities. It’s a matter of taking advantage of those programs and not waiting until the last minute to get involved and all of a sudden, your career is over…and you think ‘what am I going to do?’ You should parallel your sports career and fi gure out your other interests. There are a lot of opportunities out there to pursue and obtaining wise fi nancial advice is also key! We keep hearing these horror stories about athletes giving their money to people and the next day, you fi nd out that you there is no money left!

PSWM: I know you are involved with the Starlight Starbright Foundation, and they are going to honor (Steven) Spielberg. It must be a joy to be involved in that project. Why are you attracted to helping chronicially-ill children?

Christina: When I was still living in LA, I was approached by the people who were starting Starbright and they asked me to sit on their board. Then, we got Spielberg involved as our Chairman. It’s an amazing foundation because it really ties together several different aspects. By merging entertainment, medicine and technology, Starbright allows kids to remain kids as they go through traumatic treatments in really depressing environments like hospitals. Obviously there is no one like Spielberg on the entertainment side. The Starbright Network ties kids in different hospitals into a network. It links them up so that they can communicate and share their experiences, frustrations, pain, hopes and at the same time be kids and play and be entertained. It also allows the medical world to understand that when they (kids) fi nd time to be kids, and feel joy, they need less medication, and cope with pain in a different way, often times resulting in far happier outcomes.

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Building A Sportfishing Conservation Legacy

The Billfish Foundation • 800-438-8245, Ext. 106www.billfish.org

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ame day has arrived. The deep blue fi eld should be right, the cheerleaders are on board, captain and crew are ready. But the star

athlete will not arrive until he or she is ready, and the star’s entrance will be spectacular with an explosion of sound and fury. The team moves to the playing fi eld not by bus or jet, but on a state-of-the-art sportfi shing “battlewagon.” As the boat leaves the dock, conversation in the cockpit strains to be heard above the massive, supercharged engines. The vessel runs like a thoroughbred with grace and power across the expansive watery fi eld. Captain and crew — pros in their own right — survey and assess telltale watery signs

that might indicate where and when the great ocean athlete will rise to challenge this whole team. The captain’s skill and instincts must be in top form if the star is to be engaged. The athlete in the fi ghting chair will face directly the power and fi ghting ability of the champion. The mate will close the event with quick and precise moves that will make or break the contest. Just about the time one’s concentration might begin to drift, it will suddenly be blown away as the star bursts onto the fi eld with tremendous speed and athletic prowess. The competition begins! The crew moves as a choreographed team, each working quickly with purpose and precision! Who is this star? Perhaps a blue marlin, a black marlin, a striped marlin, a white marlin, a sailfi sh, or a spearfi sh.

Or if it were at night, it would more likely be that great gladiator from the dark depths — a swordfi sh. These super athletes are billfi sh, apex predators like eagles and tigers. But today it is a grand blue marlin that has come forth to test this billfi shing team. The contest is heating up with the athlete in the chair leveraging his 180 pounds against a fi sh four times his size. The Captain must be on top of every dive and move by this big blue female. The mate stands ready to grab the leader wire if the angler tames the beauty. The team is fully engaged with family and friends cheering. For those who have not been billfi shing — the sight is like no other. The grand aquatic creature leaps through the air, massive head and bill fl ashing back and forth a full ten feet above the surface. Then she

Billfi shing (marlin, sailfi sh, and spearfi sh) reels in athletes

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12 Pro Sports Wives Magazine

By Ellen PeelPresident, TBF

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dives for the infi nite blue azure depths, stripping hundreds of yards of line off the reel at unbelievable speed while the angler, rod and reel in hand, seems a bit stunned and spellbound by the strength and beauty of the star athlete. On some days such a grand marlin will throw the hook, break the line and fl ash out of sight in a second, leaving all on board disappointed but charged and determined to fi nd another match. Today the star is hooked tight. The captain at the helm backs his ship down toward the fi sh. The angler cranks on the reel as fast as he or she can, lowering and raising the rod in rhythm, trying to keep any additional line from spooling off, allowing no slack to form that might give the star the advantage. But the marlin is off again pulling another hundred yards off and leaping continuously, or “greyhounding” across the horizon well behind the stern. Time passes as the angler pumps and cranks, fi ghting for control in what seems to be an eternity. Finally the angler has regained the lost line and the captain has expertly maneuvered the boat, fi rst running with the grand fi sh, then again in reverse until the fi sh can

be brought closer and is alongside the boat. There the champion blue marlin looks up at the team through a giant blue eye as the mate tags the fi sh with a conservation tag from The Billfi sh Foundation while photos are snapped of the fi sh still in the water. Next the fi sh is quickly evaluated for fatigue. If she is exhausted the crew will immediately resuscitate the magnifi cent fi sh, gently guiding it alongside the boat as water streams across the gills providing needed oxygen. Finally, this big blue beauty is released to swim away and await another challenge in the future. The tagging data is sent to The Billfi sh Foundation where it is added to that of thousands of other anglers. This data gathered from tagging and recapturing billfi sh is used by scientists to improve our understanding of billfi sh growth and migratory patterns — data used to promote the good management and conservation of billfi sh in the world’s oceans. Winning in this game is measured by the sense of exhilaration reached by all during the interaction with one of mother nature’s most beautiful athletes on the planet — a billfi sh!

Billfi shing – The best kept secret sport with a mission

There’s a new game in town on a new playing fi eld that’s not in an arena, dome, on a course or turf. It’s the deep, blue oceanic fi eld fi lled with marlin, sailfi sh, and spearfi sh, collectively called billfi sh. It’s where guys like Greg Norman, Curtis Strange, Don Shula, Jimmy Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have met some of their toughest opponents. And it’s where musicians like Alan Jackson and celebrities from other fi elds of entertainment meet to challenge each other. This year, billfi shing has made it’s debut as a new off-season team challenge for pro athletes, where regardless of one’s profi le or star power on board, these billfi sh have the home fi eld advantage. Past legends like Ernest Hemingway and Zane Grey are but just two giants who come to mind when one thinks about billfi shing legends. Decades ago, the goal was to catch the grandest of the wild superstars and kill them for world records and photos. But today, the challenge is to maximize one’s angling skills with the ‘reel stars’ and release them for another day’s challenge. The anglers who release billfi sh back into the ocean are ‘conservation record heroes,’ who are building a responsible legacy. A non-profi t charity organization, The Billfi sh Foundation’s mission is to conserve billfi sh worldwide through research, education, and advocacy for responsible fi shery management. The Foundation has the world’s largest private and independent billfi sh database and funds independent research. The research aids in the search for constructive solutions to complex conservation and management challenges. The Billfi sh Foundation also has a fi rst class youth education program to help pass the torch – or in this case the rod – to the next generation of anglers, pro athletes, fi shery scientists, lawyers, musicians, economists, managers, educators, and others who value the ocean, its creatures, and the ecosystems. Responsible interaction with billfi sh is important because their populations are overfi shed. Overfi shing has occurred because they are captured as incidental catch in high seas vessels searching for food fi sh. Most anglers, captains and mates want to help ensure there will be great billfi sh in the water for future generations to challenge; most are members of The Billfi sh Foundation.

Be a part of this new sports team, and join The Billfi sh Foundation. Call (800) 438-8247, Ext. 106, or visit

www.billfi sh.org. for details.

September/October 2005 Preemie 13

Gone Fishin’!Off season challenge bringing athletes and alumni together for charity

Stay hooked up with the Professional Sports Wives Association (PSWA) and The Billfi sh Foundation (TBF) for details of the First Annual Sports Celebrity Billfi sh WeekendTM February 2006 in Miami, Florida. Learn and challenge your angling skills at this super event, co-hosted by PSWA and TBF, while supporting billfi sh conservation and the PSWA’s other community based charities for families and children. Contact The BillFish Foundation at (800) 438-8247, Ext. 108, 101, or 106, or Lori Willard at PSWA at (770) 619-0383, Ext. 30 for details.

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14 Pro Sports Wives Magazine

s the life of a ‘sports wife’ so different from anyone else’s life? This is the question I asked myself when I sat down to write this article. My fi rst response was…’No.’ We all go through phases and stages of a

long-term committed relationship. Then I thought again—more deeply, and many questions came to my mind. It seems to me that sports is a mirroring of the microcosm of society. Everything in the sports world comes quicker, faster, harder, and bigger. It is almost as if one year in the professional sports world can be compared to fi ve years in the real world. You live and die by the sports seasons, your points, your records, your achievements and ultimately your worth. The money is bigger, but so is the risk — the risk of injury or even death, the risk of failure, approval, and a sense of belonging. The stakes are higher! Your husband lives and breathes in the celebrity limelight. His every thought, word, and action is noticed somewhere. There is no real privacy and your home must remain an ‘inner sanctuary’ for rest and recovery. It seems as if the role of a sports wife is to constantly feed, clean, care for, and keep the house quiet for pre-game naps. Everyone’s schedule revolves around preparation for the game, the game itself and recovery from the game. Your family’s personal needs, along with your own, are always secondary. How many ‘superstars’ can one household hold? Whose game do you watch — your son’s, your daughter’s or your husband’s? Some of us attend all three. It is a sacrifi ce of love, a commitment to the ‘now.’ It is saving for the future knowing that the athlete’s career time line is so short! There is no yesterday — only today and tomorrow. There are large expanses of alone time when your husband is on the road traveling and performing his sport.

You are defi nitely a single mom during the season — 100% independent, trustworthy and competent — or else? You hire the lawyers, accountants, agents, insurance salesmen, etc. You are the administrative assistant to your own family corporation. You learn how to pack up your life when you are traded and like a gypsy start your life all over again. You learn to have a few close girlfriends, but not too many, since you or them might not be around long because of trades. You learn to trust your instincts about neighbors and friends and when to say yes and when to say no. You live a private life in the public eye. Everyone seems to know more about your life than you do. Fans and groupies are a menace and a reality. Over the season you become the father and the mother (a man-woman) who takes out the garbage, mows the lawn and goes to PTA meetings. You counsel homework sessions, make school projects, and wipe up the tears from life’s disappointments. You feed the dog and care for the cat only to make everything seem casual and normal. You learn how to meet people quickly, ask for help and advice, and learn to read city maps impeccably. You often vacation with your kids alone and spend more time with your in-laws and parents than you ever wanted or expected. Extended family from three generations ago want sports tickets and ‘great seats’ for free. You learn to run the ‘ticket counter’ for your family. Perks include free restaurant meals, great seats at the night clubs and shows, deals on cars and refrigerators, and living next to another player and his family, often in a nice neighborhood. You are the wife of a celebrity. Your identity is not your own, but both of you now. You never thought taking on a last name would mean so much! Your husband seems to always be gone or at home too much. It is feast or famine on the schedule. Once you fi nally

get how to be alone down pat, he arrives home for three months of summer with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Your spouse is so used to being programmed that he does not know how to lead a constructive, schedule-free and productive life. Fear and lack of respect seeps in — on both sides! Communication is strained and the double standards of the road still live on! “Do I call or not call?” How close do you become with friends and what are the trade secrets versus common knowledge? You get together with other wives to watch games, go for lunch, and do group childcare outings. You become an extended family and learn to truly rely on each other. You go through each other’s highs and lows, deaths and baptisms. The bonding is unbelievable! So, is the professional sports wife so pampered, bejeweled, rich and happy? No! What you see is not what you get…she is probably the most independent, self-suffi cient woman you have ever met. She knows how to do it all…and she does. The problem lies in when your husband/athlete returns home to contribute to the family…there is often not much left for him to do. You have to re-delegate the roles and make sure everyone is playing their part.

Tips for the Professional Sports Wife

The stress and strain on the marital relationship is inevitable…no matter how close you are. You seem to be living separate lives. The key is to be honest and real. Do not pretend things are great if they are not. Be authentic with each other. Ask questions, make requests and discuss your problems. Don’t wait until the season is over and then dump the whole year onto his lap with anger and resentment. That’s not

Inside the life of a pro sports wifeSpecial Series

By Diana McNab, L.L.C.

I

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fair! He is an adult, too, and needs to live in the real world with real life issues every day. You, like other sports wives, try to overprotect and over control your husband and children. Relax. You were put on this earth for a reason. You have a purpose with special skills and talents. The key is to stay positive. Do not get involved in the team’s politics or things that are out of your control. Let your husband play his own game and stand-up for himself. There is an old saying that a “player can be traded because of the negative energy of the wife!” If you are too high-maintenance for your organization—look out! It is best to surrender into your supportive role; stay focused on your job and be consistent and positive. I could go on forever and I promise there will be future articles. Being a Professional Sports Wife is wonderful,

but it is not for the weak of heart or a dependent arm piece. The wife of an athlete is just as important to your ‘at-home’ team as the player is…and maybe you are the leader off the fi eld more than you think.

Here are some fun work and life Balance Tips to get you started on your own Optimal Living Plan to help you maintain inner balance despite your busy schedule.

Dehydration and the lack of circulation are the number one causes of aging! So, follow the formula below to determine how much you should drink: Divide your body weight by two to determine how many ounces of water you should drink daily. (e.g., 120 lbs. / 2 oz. = 60 oz. of water per day)

Every 90 minutes get up out of your chair and walk to a water cooler for a drink or go outside for a quick walk.

Remember that your stomach is the size of your fi st…so… One meal = Two fi stfulsOne snack = One fi stful Eat smaller portions every three to fi ve hours working from the new food pyramid.

Keep your diet low in acid (caffeine, nicotine, salts, alcohol, chemicals, preservatives and white fl our) and high in pH (berries, melons, whole grains, veggies, lean protein, low-fat yogurt, etc). Acid stores body fat!

Do not skip meals or your body will go into starvation mode, store body fat, and eat protein from your muscles. Eat smaller portions every three to fi ve hours.

Take vitamins/minerals daily. • Anti-oxidants—A, B, C, D, E• Fish oil (Omega 3 and 6)• Flax seed oil if constipated• Greens—wheat germ grass, blue algae• Calcium & folic acid

Walk! Walk! Walk! Raise your metabolism as often as you can during the day! Take breaks, go out for lunch, walk to and from work as often as possible, and stretch major muscle groups morning and night!

Ask yourself if you feel good about the foods and drinks that enter your mouth. Remember…only you are 100% responsible for the choices you make!

In order to live the optimal life you need to take total responsibility for your thoughts, words and actions! And if you do…amazing things will happen!

Be well!

Work/Life Balance Tips

Diana McNab’s

Upcoming Features in our Special Series on living the life of a sports wife:

• From Hero to Zero: Surviving the Retirement Years!

• Relationship Skills and Strategies for Everyone

• An In-Depth Look at the Roles of Pro Sports Wives

• ‘20’s to 50’s’ - Growing Through the Years as a Pro Sports Wife

September/October 2005 Preemie 15

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16 Pro Sports Wives Magazine

SimplifyingSilence the internal clutter and listen to what your heart is telling you.

List the main areas of your life, i.e., family, career, fi nances, personal development, and spirituality. Under each category write several things that are vital for wholeness and peace — a quality of life for which you yearn.

Strive to simplify your schedule to allow for more free-fl owing time.

Set healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life, and learn the art of saying “no” gracefully.

Hire out jobs you can’t do, don’t want to do, or that are diffi cult to do. Remember, you don’t have to do it all yourself.

TravelKeep a “packing checklist” so you don’t have to remember everything to bring on trips.

Group similar things together such as basic clothing, special clothing (beachwear, ski wear), and equipment (camera, cell phone charger). Save the

Struggle Juggle

Theto

Glitz and glamour. This is the image the general public has of the lives of professional athletes and their families. As the wife of an athlete or executive in pro sports, you know the story to be different. Your life is hectic whether you clean your own house or you hire help. Running a household essentially by yourself can run it’s toll on your mind and body. We asked Terri Stephens, professional organizer and founder of Real Order Professional Organizing, to offer advice that will help you stay sane in your struggle to juggle.

checklist on your computer so it can be easily revised as your needs change.Buy duplicates of toiletries you take on every trip and keep a bag packed that’s ready to go at all times.

Pack an emergency medical kit and store it under the car seat. Include bandages, baby wipes, alcohol, tweezers, sunscreen, and remedies for poison ivy, pain, and upset stomach.

Organizing Kids’ RoomsIn kids’ closets, install adjustable shelving, drawers, and rods that grow with them. Use lots of hooks and provide plenty of space to hang their most used clothing so it’s visible and easily accessible. Store out-of-season clothing under the bed or on top shelves in clear storage containers.

Since kids need ample fl oor space to play, make use of vertical wall space for storage. Hang sturdy shelves, wall bins, and clear plastic wall pockets at the appropriate height for children.

Label everything you can. For younger children who can’t read, take photos of the objects instead. Once a drawer has

a label that says “socks” and a storage container is labeled “dolls,” they become the offi cial homes for those items and are more likely to fi nd their way back. Kids love color so use it to help them get and stay organized. Color-coded storage areas, drawers, and other containers are a creative way of “labeling” your kids’ storage system. Pick colors that are their favorites and colors that have meaning to them. Whatever system you use, remember to keep your kids involved in the process.

Kids’ Papers and KeepsakesDesignate a place where your children can have their own “in” and “out” baskets. Each day keep current on what has come in that day.

Set up a “holding fi le” for each child to keep potential keepsakes organized. At least twice a year go though the fi le and save only the very best — to be put into scrapbooks or saved in large envelopes, clearly labeled, with your child’s name and the year.

Keepsakes that are large or bulky may be kept in a treasure box — a cedar

By Terri Stephens

Terri Stephens offers customized organizational solutions in homes, home offi ces, and small offi ces.

She helps clients create harmony out of chaos by

setting up organized systems and teaches them the

practice of being organized.

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September/October 2005 Preemie 17

chest, trunk, or under-bed storage container works well.

Personal PossessionsBe ruthless with clutter and purge the excess. Sort the items into piles labeled throw away, give away, sell, and keep.

To keep clutter from reappearing, commit to the In/Out Rule. For every item you bring into your home, get rid of a similar item, whether it is cloth-ing, kitchen gadgets or magazines.

Create a space for everything in your home and offi ce. Then spend a few minutes each day putting things back where they belong, and give up piling things up — forever.

Paper ManagementSimplify bill paying. Have statements delivered online and set up a bill paying system through your bank

or service such as CheckFree(www.checkfree.com).

Stop receiving credit card and direct marketing offers by calling the Opt-Out Hotline at 1-888-567-8688. To have your name removed from direct-mail marketing lists, contact the Direct Marketing Association at www.dmaconsumers.org.

FIND ADDITIONAL TIPS and advice from Terri Stephens in our November issue. Stephens is a professional organizer and founder of Real Order Professional Organizing in Atlanta, Georgia. Stephens helps individuals in homes and small offi ces create more effi cient use of space, increase productivity by setting boundaries, and change habits that drain time and energy. She publishes articles on organizing and serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers. She may be reached at 770-396-2026 or visited online at www.therealorder.com.

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For all your mortgage lending needs

Tina MusselwhiteCapital Mortgage & Financial Group, Inc.

770.605.3743 • [email protected]

New Beginnings TRAP INC.is a tax exempt organization under section

501 (c) (3). All donations made to this charity are 100% tax deductible.

Please mail donations to:P.O. Box 879 Suwanee GA 30024.

“I feel that the working class of this country are forgotten about. In many cases they make too much money to be eligible for “low income benefi ts” but are living paycheck to paycheck and would have a hard time saving money to buy a home. By giving them the opportunity to own a home it is our way of saying thank you for all you do.”

– Shanae Hall, Co-Founder and wife of Cory Hall

Helping Hurricane Katrina Victims and the working class fi nd affordable housing

Along with providing low and moderate wage-earners an opportunity to own a home, New Beginnings will also offer:

• Closing Cost Assistance• Down Payment Assistance• Home Ownership Preparation

• Credit Counseling• Money Management Seminars• And Much More!

“I feel a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to the housing problems that plague this country. I want to send a message to everyone that it doesn’t matter if you are a professional athelete, doctor, or lawyer, it takes the entire community to lift a community.”

– Cory Hall, Founder and former safety of the Atlanta Falcons (2003-2004) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1999-2002)

555 North Point Center East, 4th Floor Alpharetta GA 30022

[email protected] • www.nbtrap.org

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Visit www.prosportswives.com or call 770.619.0383

Did you enjoy this copyof ?

Did you enjoy this copyof

“PREEMIE” PROMOTIONAL ISSUE

MeetChristina Weiss LuriePowerful, Productive, & Silent Partner to husband Jeffrey’s NFL Philadelphia Eagles

‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ NBA Alumni, Wayman & Regina TisdaleHome Plate with the Atlanta Braves’Terry & Cathy Pendleton

Part I: Inside the life of a pro sports wifeESPN’s Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado of ABC’s The Bachelor are hooked as mates

PLUS: PGA Tour Wives, and more!

Special Series:

Home Plate with the Atlanta Braves’Terry & Cathy Pendleton

Pro Sports Wives Awarded National Holiday!

Join the Professional Sports Wives Association, a national association of sports wives in all professional sports

Enjoy a variety of events*• Lunch and Learn Seminars• Annual conferences• Charity events• Wives, Family, and Friends Cruise• Wives spa vacations• One year (4 issues) subscription to Professional Sports Wives Magazine

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One year (4 issues) is just $19.95!

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