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            I just wanted to express my gratitude for the great gift you have provided to my family. Focus has been an extraordinary tool to help us guide my direction in life and that of my child. I know that the training and tools are wonderful. I need to continue my use of them.

            I know (perhaps not) that I can trust my son, Alexander, to be part of your program. He has an incredible gift that I did not know the extent of till now.

            Muchas gracias—

                  Sergio O.

Posted on June 24th, 2008 by Jeni
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Dear Cross Creek,

            Deciding to send our child to your program was one of the hardest decisions of our life. But through everything you have to offer our child and us with Discover and Focus, it has changed our lives. We now know there is new hope, dreams and growth. The process has been  amazing. As a divorced couple we are on separates roads in life but now realize there is a bridge that still connects us and tha is over our three children that we love with all our hearts. The bridge gets stronger and stronger everyday with the help of this program. We are grateful for everything and know we are growing everyday as individually and as a family.      

Love always

Ron S.

Karry S.

Posted on June 24th, 2008 by Jeni
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    To whom is may concern;

            I want to thank you for having this type of self awareness training. I have a nephew in the program and I saw the way he went downhill fast. After being in a Christian school since kinder garden through high school and parents that really showed up for things. I can honestly say that when my sister told me what you offer at the schools, I was excited that because of their commitment to their son they were taking a stand that was for him to grow and develop and allowing him to go far and trust god to handle the outcome of this situation. Using you school I really believe from the bottom of my heart that Dillon will live a much more enriched  life, not so self absorbed. I all so want to take this time to thank you for the difference you have and in my family. My kids and I PAID THE FULL PRICE for you seminars because we are a very close family and wanted to encourage Dillon, by showing our love and support. by doing the workshop we were showing him we are all standing together as a family for him. But what you showed us through this training was so much more than I could have even imagined. As a result my adult children and I have to see each other for the first time—as we really are—and I have mended our own issues and are one our way to completely mend our each other’s issues. So what was for Dillon really became about us and we learned to be there for him and in all our relationships.

Thank you!

Ray R.

Posted on June 24th, 2008 by Jeni
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Coach Eddie has really assisted me a lot when it comes to life.  When I think about what I do in track; how I act and respond is a reflection of my life.  If I do poorly and just give up, or if my intentions are not pure and I barely put in any effort, I will fail.  However, if I do track with a purpose and passion really striving for excellence, I will meet a new goal each time.  It is just like life.

            I have talked to Coach Eddie at times when I have been struggling.  One thing that Coach Eddie has taught me is to give others a chance.  There was one point during the season when I had control come up and I was getting frustrated because it was clear who really put forth effort into track and who didn’t.  I felt that we were wasting our time helping those people who were not trying hard enough.  After talking to my coach I learned to understand that everyone deserves a chance, whether it be in track, the program or life in general. 

            When I put this lesson in perspective of what it would be like if Mr. Eddie didn’t help me, or if my therapist only helped girls who were doing really well, then those who were struggling would not get helped at all.  I think this is a huge part of Cross Creek where we get a second chance, or third or fourth.  No one gave up on me, so I have to remember where I came from.  I am not best at my event and I still have a lot of work to do.

            Another big thing I learned from Coach Eddie and our entire team is that I am 100% capable of having a lot of fun while being clean.  Some of my best and funniest memories are at track.  My nick name was “pig pen” because after every practice I would be covered with dirt, usually from the shot put.  I laughed a lot and realized how much fun I can have just by being myself.

            I have had a lot of discussions with Coach Eddie about my mindset, which is a huge factor in both track and life.  Having a negative mindset, bringing my issues and crap into the ring (shot put) and being “out of the zone” are all things that hold me back from throwing far.  Just like in life, our mindset is the basis of our actions.  If our mindset is negative and impure so are our actions.

            I also learned that it doesn’t matter if I place last or throw not so hot, as long as I do my best.  I went to Region Track and Field Meet and my hard work paid off.  I qualified for State and came in fourth place.  At State I didn’t do so well and placed 14^th.  I did my best and I beat my personal record.  I threw 26’ and 4 ¾ “.  It was awesome that I made it to state after my first time ever doing this!

            I have really learned a lot this season and I am grateful for this opportunity.  Track is something that I would have never done at home and now I want to keep working at it.  I have a new passion for track and field, and it has helped a lot in my program in adjusting to life outside the walls of Cross Creek.

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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Since I was level two I have wanted to run track.  I began going to on-grounds during the last year’s track season and I was good friends with most of the guys on the team.  I looked up to them and they inspired me to do track.

            In December I got level four and went to off-grounds running club.  We ran road runs every Saturday and Sunday and I loved it.  A road run in about a three and a half mile run on average usually out in the hills.  My first run I had to walk but that was the only time I ever did not finish a race. 

            I learned that running, like most everything else that I do, is completely mental.  If I tell myself that I can do it then I can accomplish it.  I thought that there was a zero percent chance of me to qualify for State.  I had not qualified when I went to Region Track Meet but I ended up running my best and qualified for two events, one of which was my first time running.

            I stayed positive, worked hard and stuck it through.  It got hard.  The practices were grueling and most of the time I felt like I was going to fall apart.  However, I kept working with a positive attitude and I earned my spot in the Utah State Championship Track and Field Meet.

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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Coming down the home stretch, that last 100 meters of the race and you push yourself to 100%.  You come in and hand the baton off or just come in and hear that you got your personal best.  That is worth it!

            Throughout the season I wanted to quit and give up a bunch of times but I kept going.  Track was a lot of fun.  I learned that we run as a team or we don’t run at all.  We are one of the most united teams I know, both boys and girls.  We are all there for each other, push each other and we don’t give up on one another.

            A lot has changed since the beginning of the season.  I am a lot faster now and I am happy for all the team members because they did their best.  Go to State or not, we put 100% effort into what we did.

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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The biggest thing I learned through track is that it is not all about winning; it is about doing my best.  My personal best for throwing discus is 101’ 7”.  At State I threw 82 feet.  Of course I was ticked for a little bit but then I thought to myself, “Nadya, you qualified for State!”  I have only been throwing discus for two months and made it to State.  That was a huge accomplishment for me.

            The practices were hard sometimes and I wanted to quit but I never did.  How I performed at track would definitely be a reflection of how I performed in my life.  If I gave up as soon as something got hard, then imagine what I would have done at home when I didn’t want to do something that I didn’t like. 

When I knew that my Dad was coming to watch me at State, I was so worried about looking good for him, but in reality he didn’t care how far I threw.  He was just happy with how I did.  I also learned that I am not less than boys because of how well they did in an event compared to how well I did.  We were all a track family and we were there to support and love each other the whole time.

The two days that I was at State was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had.  Coach Eddie is one of the best coaches I could have ever asked for and State was a learning experience for the entire team.  I will never forget my coaches, the team and the parents who came to the meets to support us.  The sweat, the tears (yes, some of us cried at those practices), the friendships, the joking around, the laughing, the food etc. will all be part of me forever.

I cannot wait for the next track team to have as much fun as we did.  I ended up getting 10^th place out of all the 2A school girls at State, and 3^rd place at Region.  That is good enough for me!

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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It is not about winning or losing.  It is about having fun and striving to be the best athlete you can be.  Of course, winning is fun but it has nothing to do with your overall performance as a runner. 

            I have a few examples of this.  I beat my personal record in the long jump.  Now how is that not cool?  I jumped 17’ 6” which was really great for me.  Another good example is the 4×400 relay.  It was the first time we ran it as a team and we got third place.  I was so proud of myself and the team.

            Another thought is this.  Don’t listen to the spectator.  He does not matter.  If you are doing what you need to do and going as hard and as fast as you can, then that is the only thing that matters.  Theodor Roosevelt once said:”It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out where the strong stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marked with dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat…for those who have had to fight for it, life has truly a flavor the protected shall never know.”

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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Cross Creek employees could not be happier about the great job our students did this season in 2A track.  9 of them ended up the year going to state. Yippee. Several have written something about their track experience. BE SURE you read what they have to say!! –Administration

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Jeni
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