Reality Rally

"Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top -- it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others -- it rises from your heart."

- Junko Tabei after becoming the first woman to climb Everest in 1975

“On March 30th 2008 I received the knock at the door that every military family fears. A Marine in dress blues and Navy chaplain delivered the news that my husband, LTCol William Hall, had died of his injuries after his vehicle was struck by an IED.

“I spent the following year in a cloud of doubt and uncertainty. As I navigated, my new way of life, I questioned my faith. I found myself at odds with God and struggling to comprehend the meaning of such a loss.  In 2009,  I set out on a journey to find my faith again. I traveled to Italy, France, Egypt, and Jerusalem. It was in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, where I contemplated the depths of grief and the journey ahead of me. As I let my body absorb its warmth and alkalinity, I knew I could not physically get any lower than this point. A lifetime of memories washed over me like a monsoon of emotions. I missed him dearly. All the things we would not do together ever again, all the milestones he would miss, all the challenges we would never face. The first day of kindergarten for Gladys, teaching Xavier to drive, missing Xander’s graduation and Tia’s wedding day…all were gone.

“Six years later, I would challenge myself to climb Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro.

Soaring above the rippling tea plantations and low hills of northeastern Tanzania,  Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It stands an impressive 19,341 feet tall over the Tanzanian plains. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, meaning it is not part of a mountain range (such as Mount Everest and the Himalayas).”

These are the words of Xiomara Hall, whose story we are privileged to feature on the blog today. Chef Xiomara Hall is the chef and owner of Tropical BBQ catering services. Her food has been nationally acclaimed by Lifetime television’s Supermarket Superstar. Her fusion of rich Caribbean flavors and traditional smokehouse meats have earned her numerous awards, including: Best in Barbecue in Inland Empire magazine 2013. featured Chef for Kroger  magazine, winner of Dia de Paella at Frangipani Winery 2014, featured Chef for the E Magazine for Female Executives, and Reality Rally Celebrity Chef. Xiomara is also a Gold Star wife who uses her celebrity chef status to help with causes such as TAPS, Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Research Institute, Rancho Damacitas and Oak Grove Center for Education & Arts.

But Xiomara is more than a skilled cook. When it came to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, she did just what she set her mind to. 19,341 feet, conquered. Each step a challenge, but also a step closer to healing. This is a must-read--a testimony so powerful that she has been featured in E- Magazine. Click on the link below and scroll to pages 59-67 to unlock the full story.

http://issuu.com/nafelosangeles/docs/e_magazine_december_2015_issue__

Xiomara not only pulled herself out of the depths of her despair, but has made a life for herself and her family by overcoming that desperate news so many of our military families hear. She shows that there can be a light at the end of those dark tunnels. She looked for that light and found it, and even discovered a whole new light from the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. She is an inspiration and an example of how it is possible to climb out of despair and to the top.

This holiday season, you may be experiencing heartache as you mourn the loss and absence of loved ones at your dinner table. Xiomara encourages us all to take heart--healing is only a mindset away.

- Taryn Murphy