Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

She was quite simply a warm, energetic, fun-loving woman. This was the impression left on my heart as I walked away from my morning at Panera with Wendy Wiese. She’s the sort of gal who has clearly trained her brain to see the good in everything.

Wendy is the wife of Ted Wiese and the mom to two high-achieving, intelligent and athletic kids– Luke and Annie. She’s pictured above with Luke. I have known her son for some time now as our boys are long-time buddies. It was only recently that I decided to finally reach out and learn more about the mom he’s pretty crazy about. Getting to know her a bit more left me smiling.

Incredibly fit and filled with life, she is a woman of vigor who aspires to do positive things for others. As her children are both now in college, Wendy decided, for example, to go back to school to get her nursing degree. How cool is that? This Notre Dame grad, who hails originally from the Muncie area, is so filled with positive energy that I left her feeling like my battery had been recharged. I mean, Panera’s pretty tasty latte also helped, ha?

Here’s the thing. What spurred me to reach out to Wendy is the fact that this is the year I really discovered life is so incredibly short. I’m a slow learner. I had my own health scare early this year, and it has me feeling grateful and noticing so much more the little blessings and the phenomenal humans all around me. When I heard that Wendy (who I have always wanted to get to know more) was dealing with her own health challenges, well, I suppose I just didn’t want to waste any more time. Perhaps I also figured that I could encourage her and let her know in person that I care and that I am praying for her physical, mental and emotional healing!

Wendy is a force to be reckoned with, and a fierce woman of faith. She truly doesn’t need me or anyone to cheer her up. She’ll greet the day today, and then she’ll do the same tomorrow with her beautiful smile in tact. Thank you, Wendy, for taking the time to visit with me. You are a passionate, joyful and very impressive woman who is filled with Jesus! Those just happen to be my favorite kind of girls. Keep doing you, because you make the world a better place by being in it.

Mark Twain penned the famous quote, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try and cheer somebody else up.” How filled with wisdom is that? In those words you will find the lesson and truth of my morning with Wendy Wiese. It’s a pleasure to call her friend. Her husband, children, family and friends are all incredibly blessed to have such a woman in their lives.