Since Wednesday night the past 3-1/2 days have flown by. Having everyone home is absolutely wonderful! I now know how my mom and dad felt about having us come home when the kids were little. They loved having us come home. Being the youngest my parents were retired and had time to get ready and prepare before we would go home. I have to sneak in the time to get things done and ready but all those late nights and early mornings are so worth it.
From setting a third wedding date to going out to eat Wednesday night to the games, the food, the fun, the football, the farm visit, the Christmas decorating and mini-Christmas Friday and Saturday, it truly was a great weekend.
Everyone has left and I am left with some leftovers, pictures of the weekend and tons of great memories! It was everything I'd hoped for and more! Thank you to my family for everything!
So as everyone heads back to their lives and we finish up the leftovers and I pick up, put away, wash and put back life I have great memories of my family and I am reminded how truely blessed I am. We are not a perfect family. But we have fun. We are not a high maintenance family. We just enjoy the simple things and make great memories along the way. Oh, and we eat some pretty good food!
This is our last Thanksgiving before changes come to our family in the next year. Next year at this time two of the three kids will have spouses and our third wedding will be right around the coroner. We've had an exciting year and we have so very much to be thankful for. And next year promises to be even better and bring us all together several times to celebrate! I can't wait!
Tomorrow Monday will roll around and will life resume, and I have new memories of this past weekend and I am reminded again how blessed I am.
Positive thought of the day: Mother Nature cooperated and decided to wait until everyone got home before she coated everything with ice and is holding off until tomorrow before she brings us more winter weather-thank you!!
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
The most wonderful time of the year!
The holidays, regardless of which holiday it is, takes on a whole different meaning when you become an adult. And I'm going to come right out and say this but more so if you are female than male-because if you are male then it makes no difference from being a kid to an adult! (Just my perspective here!) You see as an adult, and female, you are left with most, if not all, of the work it takes to pull off any holiday-in most cases.
I used to love Easter and the 4th of July. More so the 4th of July because it is basically eating grilled food, no set menu for that holiday and you can eat outside-no formal decorations. You don't have to clean the house within an inch of it's life. No rules to follow. You can go watch a parade or fireworks. Everyone seems to have a variety of holiday traditions when it comes to the 4th of July-anything goes.
Rules and guidelines are a little tighter when it comes to Easter and Thanksgiving. Easter=ham. Thanksgiving=turkey. Yes people play with the rules here but there are more "traditions when it comes to these two holidays as opposed to 4th of July or any of the other "less important" holidays. And Christmas...well we all know that gig. Christmas tradition in some families go a long way back. For some it is a recipe passed down from generation to generation. Then there is the gift giving thing...another traditional rule that we are told or led to believe that we must follow-we've got the whole Santa Clause thing going here.
But honestly right now, this week is my favorite time of year...the week of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving it's self. I love the prep, to a point. (having very little help makes it stressful, but in the end it is all good as long as I'm not too tired to enjoy it). Then there is the tradition of gathering together for a meal. A traditional meal, but it is still good! And the best part-is everyone who can be there. All the people gathered around the table is wonderful.
The Thanksgiving days of years past is long gone...family members who are no longer with us are missed. My parents used to come over a day or two early to attend grandparent's day at school with my kids when they were in elementary school and then they would be there to help celebrate, and to entertain the kids or set the table or make a dish-I loved every minute of that. I vividly remember having 20 or more people around my table to take part in a Thanksgiving meal...the best of times. Lots of great conversations happened there!
Now the number of people who gather around my table is smaller in number. But regardless of who can or cannot be there it is always wonderful to have all who can be there there! And it is okay to miss those who can not be there. It is part of life. I love the noise and banter that will come with the arrival of everyone starting tonight and reach capacity Wednesday night when all the kids and their significant others will be home. And I can't wait. This is what I've been planning for, thinking about and looking forward to for weeks. It will be a crazy busy time and there will be lots of food made and eaten. There will be fun to be had. But best of all- the memories. The wonderful memories of Thanksgiving 2015 will be tucked in my heart a week from now! No longer is my family that little group of 5 who could not get home back to my hometown back in the early 1990s because of a day-before-Thanksgiving snowstorm that left me at the grocery store buying a last minute turkey and all the fixings the night before Thanksgiving. And on that Thanksgiving day 20-plus years ago the five of us enjoyed our own turkey dinner and what would start to become a tradition-Thanksgiving at our house. Since then for Thanksgiving and any other holiday that included food, family and friends we've opened our home to others. No one should be alone on a holiday. I always like to think that if one of my kids where alone and unable to get home for a holiday someone would open their home and welcome them in for a meal and some "family" time.
So as I start the 47 layer jello salad (it's not really 47 layers but it feels like it, thanks to my mother in-laws recipe!) and make the little smokies wrapped in biscuits (a favorite of my father in-law) and life is discussed-I have a feeling that college graduations, jobs, sports and four up coming weddings will be a constant thread of the conversations, it will be wonderful and I can't wait. The new memories will be great! Because to be honest everyday should be a day of thanksgiving...except we'd all be sick and tired of turkey and weight about 300 lbs!
Oh and while we try to sandwich in a Christmas celebration in this weekend too, and eat more (good, I hope) food and make more fun memories I hope I remember to take pictures, lots of pictures with my camera and not just in my mind!
Positive thought of the day: Thankful for all I am blessed with. And the fact that Mother Nature decided to deliver our first snow of the season LAST Friday and not this week. I'm thankful for the seasons and for the little things in life! I hope you are too!
I used to love Easter and the 4th of July. More so the 4th of July because it is basically eating grilled food, no set menu for that holiday and you can eat outside-no formal decorations. You don't have to clean the house within an inch of it's life. No rules to follow. You can go watch a parade or fireworks. Everyone seems to have a variety of holiday traditions when it comes to the 4th of July-anything goes.
Rules and guidelines are a little tighter when it comes to Easter and Thanksgiving. Easter=ham. Thanksgiving=turkey. Yes people play with the rules here but there are more "traditions when it comes to these two holidays as opposed to 4th of July or any of the other "less important" holidays. And Christmas...well we all know that gig. Christmas tradition in some families go a long way back. For some it is a recipe passed down from generation to generation. Then there is the gift giving thing...another traditional rule that we are told or led to believe that we must follow-we've got the whole Santa Clause thing going here.
But honestly right now, this week is my favorite time of year...the week of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving it's self. I love the prep, to a point. (having very little help makes it stressful, but in the end it is all good as long as I'm not too tired to enjoy it). Then there is the tradition of gathering together for a meal. A traditional meal, but it is still good! And the best part-is everyone who can be there. All the people gathered around the table is wonderful.
The Thanksgiving days of years past is long gone...family members who are no longer with us are missed. My parents used to come over a day or two early to attend grandparent's day at school with my kids when they were in elementary school and then they would be there to help celebrate, and to entertain the kids or set the table or make a dish-I loved every minute of that. I vividly remember having 20 or more people around my table to take part in a Thanksgiving meal...the best of times. Lots of great conversations happened there!
Now the number of people who gather around my table is smaller in number. But regardless of who can or cannot be there it is always wonderful to have all who can be there there! And it is okay to miss those who can not be there. It is part of life. I love the noise and banter that will come with the arrival of everyone starting tonight and reach capacity Wednesday night when all the kids and their significant others will be home. And I can't wait. This is what I've been planning for, thinking about and looking forward to for weeks. It will be a crazy busy time and there will be lots of food made and eaten. There will be fun to be had. But best of all- the memories. The wonderful memories of Thanksgiving 2015 will be tucked in my heart a week from now! No longer is my family that little group of 5 who could not get home back to my hometown back in the early 1990s because of a day-before-Thanksgiving snowstorm that left me at the grocery store buying a last minute turkey and all the fixings the night before Thanksgiving. And on that Thanksgiving day 20-plus years ago the five of us enjoyed our own turkey dinner and what would start to become a tradition-Thanksgiving at our house. Since then for Thanksgiving and any other holiday that included food, family and friends we've opened our home to others. No one should be alone on a holiday. I always like to think that if one of my kids where alone and unable to get home for a holiday someone would open their home and welcome them in for a meal and some "family" time.
So as I start the 47 layer jello salad (it's not really 47 layers but it feels like it, thanks to my mother in-laws recipe!) and make the little smokies wrapped in biscuits (a favorite of my father in-law) and life is discussed-I have a feeling that college graduations, jobs, sports and four up coming weddings will be a constant thread of the conversations, it will be wonderful and I can't wait. The new memories will be great! Because to be honest everyday should be a day of thanksgiving...except we'd all be sick and tired of turkey and weight about 300 lbs!
Oh and while we try to sandwich in a Christmas celebration in this weekend too, and eat more (good, I hope) food and make more fun memories I hope I remember to take pictures, lots of pictures with my camera and not just in my mind!
Positive thought of the day: Thankful for all I am blessed with. And the fact that Mother Nature decided to deliver our first snow of the season LAST Friday and not this week. I'm thankful for the seasons and for the little things in life! I hope you are too!
Friday, November 20, 2015
Until you've walked a mile
I think the saying goes something like "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes". This is sound advice and often times if you try to understand this concept it is with good intentions but not yet not fully knowing what it is like. But actually doing this is a while different ballgame-pun intended.
I recently had to "fill in" for my husband as Activites/Athletic Director. I happily did so, but I was a tad bit nervous about something going wrong. Any and everyone was gone for a girls basketball jamboree. This included normal basketball workers/volunteers/helpers and administration-I had the "B" team coming in-this included me! So if the building burnt down or the basketballs were not aired up correctly-it was all on me!
Now I know there is a lot of work long before an actual event that goes into setting up and planning. I've hosted holidays, I'm a mom and a coach. There is lots of work before hand getting ready. But getting things set up, and dealing with last minute things is always a challenge. Lots of footsteps and making decisions when needed are part of the game. And last night was no exception. A check list was helpful. Keeping track of who needed to be where or what was supposed to happen when, was a constant for me.
There were a few moments of panic...one involving ticket taking money-then I remembered, I have "the keys," meaning a master key to the whole place-problem solved!! There was an unfortunate incident of a dropped video camera by someone else, I fixed that by getting another camera. But I am not sure the dropped camera can be fixed-I'm gonna try. And a final thing on my part-I was in charge of playing the National Anthem over the sound system from off my phone...I've done it before. But guess who must have accidently deleted it off of her phone-ME!!! I frantically ran up to my office grabbed my laptop praying all the way down to the gym that I still had the song on my laptop. Yes I did-whew!
Officials got paid and fed. Coaches and workers got their free meal tickets. Players played. Basketballs had air in them and the fire alarm did not go off so the building did NOT burn down. Clean up was fairly quick other than I forgot something in my office three times and that requires three doors and locks to get through! Oh and I think I forgot to mention that in addition to doing the AD job I was also photographer for the newspaper covering four of the six teams playing. So I had to take pictures at all three half-games. It was a busy evening and I finally got something to eat and drink around 9 p.m. But all was good in the end. My intent was to never judge the duties of an AD-I KNOW the time and work it takes. But if anyone ever wants to judge someone's work duties/job then they need to DO that person's job, literally. I had no surprises in the "AD" duties. It was more the apprehension of "what if" something went wrong. But all is good in the kingdom. People got their first taste of basketball and I lived to tell, or in this case write about my adventures! All I can say is try doing someone else's job, just once! It is a learning and I'd bet an humbling experience.
Positive thought of the day: Our first blast of winter is on it's way. So I guess regardless if I'm ready or not for snow and cold, it is coming. Just a reminder that we are not in charge but merely along for the ride. Be safe and enjoy!
I recently had to "fill in" for my husband as Activites/Athletic Director. I happily did so, but I was a tad bit nervous about something going wrong. Any and everyone was gone for a girls basketball jamboree. This included normal basketball workers/volunteers/helpers and administration-I had the "B" team coming in-this included me! So if the building burnt down or the basketballs were not aired up correctly-it was all on me!
Now I know there is a lot of work long before an actual event that goes into setting up and planning. I've hosted holidays, I'm a mom and a coach. There is lots of work before hand getting ready. But getting things set up, and dealing with last minute things is always a challenge. Lots of footsteps and making decisions when needed are part of the game. And last night was no exception. A check list was helpful. Keeping track of who needed to be where or what was supposed to happen when, was a constant for me.
There were a few moments of panic...one involving ticket taking money-then I remembered, I have "the keys," meaning a master key to the whole place-problem solved!! There was an unfortunate incident of a dropped video camera by someone else, I fixed that by getting another camera. But I am not sure the dropped camera can be fixed-I'm gonna try. And a final thing on my part-I was in charge of playing the National Anthem over the sound system from off my phone...I've done it before. But guess who must have accidently deleted it off of her phone-ME!!! I frantically ran up to my office grabbed my laptop praying all the way down to the gym that I still had the song on my laptop. Yes I did-whew!
Officials got paid and fed. Coaches and workers got their free meal tickets. Players played. Basketballs had air in them and the fire alarm did not go off so the building did NOT burn down. Clean up was fairly quick other than I forgot something in my office three times and that requires three doors and locks to get through! Oh and I think I forgot to mention that in addition to doing the AD job I was also photographer for the newspaper covering four of the six teams playing. So I had to take pictures at all three half-games. It was a busy evening and I finally got something to eat and drink around 9 p.m. But all was good in the end. My intent was to never judge the duties of an AD-I KNOW the time and work it takes. But if anyone ever wants to judge someone's work duties/job then they need to DO that person's job, literally. I had no surprises in the "AD" duties. It was more the apprehension of "what if" something went wrong. But all is good in the kingdom. People got their first taste of basketball and I lived to tell, or in this case write about my adventures! All I can say is try doing someone else's job, just once! It is a learning and I'd bet an humbling experience.
Positive thought of the day: Our first blast of winter is on it's way. So I guess regardless if I'm ready or not for snow and cold, it is coming. Just a reminder that we are not in charge but merely along for the ride. Be safe and enjoy!
Friday, November 13, 2015
Things that go bump in the night!
I will be the first to admit and leave when it comes to scary things. This world is bad enough in reality without making things even more scary!! So when it comes to scary movies or television shows I will walk out without a second thought or in the blink of an eye. Anyone who knows me very well knows this about me. I happily admit this!!
So as our high school drama department is putting on the fall "show" Waling Dead" I have absolutely no desire to see it, nor babysit kids who are watching it, or waste my time going to it (I know, that's kind of harsh but it's how I feel!). So when my principal came to me asking if I was going to the production before he could finish his question I was shaking my head "NO!". Then he asked if I would stay with any students who's parents were not letting them attend and I replied "absolutely!". Me and the rest of my chicken friends will hang out in the library, happily! We are safe from the zombies and the sun is shining and things are happy and cheery!!
I blame my "fear" of the unknown and scary things on my older siblings. Apparently is is a tried and true rule that you scare your youngest siblings-thanks a lot you guys. And yet I don't see myself as a chicken! I was willing to go out looking for a missing 10-year old in the early morning hours a couple of weeks ago which involved walking through back yards, looking in drainage pipes to find that child in the dark. No second thoughts about something coming out or after me, I was in mom mode and I would have kick the a$$ (to the best of my abilities) of anything that came out at me or after me-if this had happened. Or I would have taken off running like a girl, which I am!
I guess it all boils down to I don't like to be scared. And there are a lot of bad things going on in the world right now. And I know this stuff is not real but I sure don't want to spend my relaxed leisure time dealing with this garbage.
So I will hang out and miss the "production" and listen to people's take and opinion of it afterwards. I hope it is a success, but I'm not gonna see it. Not my thing. IF one of my kids would be in it, I would be brave, but they are not and I'm good with staying in the dark...so to speak!!
Positive thought of the day: I'd rather believe in angels than zombies. After all I've got two special angels in heaven looking after me every day!
So as our high school drama department is putting on the fall "show" Waling Dead" I have absolutely no desire to see it, nor babysit kids who are watching it, or waste my time going to it (I know, that's kind of harsh but it's how I feel!). So when my principal came to me asking if I was going to the production before he could finish his question I was shaking my head "NO!". Then he asked if I would stay with any students who's parents were not letting them attend and I replied "absolutely!". Me and the rest of my chicken friends will hang out in the library, happily! We are safe from the zombies and the sun is shining and things are happy and cheery!!
I blame my "fear" of the unknown and scary things on my older siblings. Apparently is is a tried and true rule that you scare your youngest siblings-thanks a lot you guys. And yet I don't see myself as a chicken! I was willing to go out looking for a missing 10-year old in the early morning hours a couple of weeks ago which involved walking through back yards, looking in drainage pipes to find that child in the dark. No second thoughts about something coming out or after me, I was in mom mode and I would have kick the a$$ (to the best of my abilities) of anything that came out at me or after me-if this had happened. Or I would have taken off running like a girl, which I am!
I guess it all boils down to I don't like to be scared. And there are a lot of bad things going on in the world right now. And I know this stuff is not real but I sure don't want to spend my relaxed leisure time dealing with this garbage.
So I will hang out and miss the "production" and listen to people's take and opinion of it afterwards. I hope it is a success, but I'm not gonna see it. Not my thing. IF one of my kids would be in it, I would be brave, but they are not and I'm good with staying in the dark...so to speak!!
Positive thought of the day: I'd rather believe in angels than zombies. After all I've got two special angels in heaven looking after me every day!
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