What did you call me?!

Here we are, it's Friday again!!! Yay!! It's been a long, stressful kind of week but we've made it.

The day is winding down and I am heading into my last class of the day. Amen.

My final class started with a senior boy calling my by my first name then realizing what he had just said added my last name very quickly before fixing everything calling me by the name he is supposed to use. It went something like this....Hey, Lynn....Spies....Mrs. Spies! I was trying not to laugh as he was embarrassed by what he had just let slipped. Honestly, I was thankful he had not called me something else!! It could have been a lot worse.

My dance team girls typically call my Lynn or Mom when they think it's funny and at practice! In school, it has to be Mrs. Spies or they get the "eye" from me!

I asked the student who unintentionally called me by my first name "what he heck?". He replied that he didn't want to get me confused by the "other Mrs. Spies!". It was then that I realized that there soon would be another "Mrs. Spies"! Two in fact!!! And it made me smile. 😃  How fun and exciting is that?!

So as this week closes I'm thankful I was not called something else, which I'm sure I've been called before by a student but sometimes kids deserve it the hassle we give them. And if you are going to call me a nasty name, then to me it means I'm doing my job.

It's almost the weekend!!!!

The view from under the bus

Most everyone has heard the term "thrown under the bus". It's a phrase used when someone lets someone else take the fall or blame for something. And the person "under the bus" may or may not have done or been involved with whatever they've been "thrown under" for. And often times you don't know you're being thrown under the "bus" until are are under the bus!

I was "thrown under the bus" yesterday and I felt like I was still laying under "the bus" when today started. And it's not a good feeling. But it is what it is.

And despite that "under the bus" feeling this has made me step back and look at things more closely and from several aspects. It's made me realize that maybe things that I take for granted are just that, taken for granted and not appreciated like they should be. It has also made me realize how passionate I am about some things. How I'm identified by things that I've done for a long time and are routine. It is who I am. What I do, not work for because, for me, it's not work, it's a passion.

The feelings I've had for the past 24+ hours are a whole range of emotions, good, bad and otherwise. Not being informed hurts. The repercussions this will have with kids-hurts. The 20+years of work, my own personal time and money that I've invested-hurts. You see the things I do because I am passionate about it are not for the paycheck or recognition. (I like to fly under the radar). It's because I want to make a difference. I don't want accolades, I want the kids to learn life long skills. What it means to be part of a team. It's all about life. So this bus feeling that could turn into a reality and a life changing event now have me stunned and soul searching. It's also shown me who really cares, big time.

So as today progresses I'm trying to crawl out from under this proverbial bus, dust myself off and straighten my crown. THEN I'm digging my heels in and subtly fighting a good and fair fight but my intent is to let them know that we are small but mighty. That we affect and leave a mark with people we touch. We do things for the good. And that we are tough and a class act that cares about a lot of other people, not just us. Which is more than I can say about other coaches and sports....but I won't get into that because that's not how we do things.

Yesterday is over and the bus has now since pulled away but now we fight a good fight for the future.

Flawsome!!

This would be how I feel most days! A cross between my mistakes, which 99.9% of the time are done by accident (or lack of thinking, aka stupidity) and that feeling of being awesome when I made it through another day without screwing up too badly or hurting anyone! Flawsome!!

Yep, I make mistakes! Several a day! I am human. I'm far from perfect but at least I try. No one is perfect, as much as some people think they are! But I hope I learn from my mistakes and move on. 

For example, a couple of my mistakes from yesterday, remember to always take gloves to a tennis match when it is less than 50-degrees outside and there are gale force winds! Dang, it was cold and it took me a while to warm up when I got home!

Another mistake from yesterday-doing a workout after not eating very much. It was an aerobic workout (because it was too cold and windy outside-see above) with hand-held weights.-lots and lots of lifting!  I was sweating bullets and felt kind of weak halfway through. Well, I realized my calorie intake may have been lacking for the day. But on the awesome side, I have muscles aching and burning today because of my workout! Yes!!

Life is a series of mistakes, live and learn but I don't let that get me down. Just always remember you are awesome...or in order to save time, flawsome!

Positive thought of the day: Have a Awe/Flaw-some day!

They should know!

I have to post this picture for the reason that my three kids will know what it means and why I am posting it!

This is the universal sign in sign language for "I love you". And I used this with my kids all the time when they were younger. I never wanted to be "that" mom. Although there have been those times when, mainly my daughter, has tried to calm me down or reel me in if I was on a tiraid! No one ever calms down when told to calm down, it usually makes things worse!)

But this was our way of saying "I love you" without saying it out loud and embarrassing my kids! I loved it and still do. Now when they leave and I am standing on the sidewalk as they drive down the driveway I am waving but I still do the "I love you" sign. I'm not sure if they see me doing this still as they drive off, but I'm still standing there doing this just like when they were little and heading to school or leaving for whatever reason!

Positive thought of the day (yes another one!): Tell the people you love that you do love them. No one is guaranteed to be here at the end of the day or if we will ever see each other again.  

Appreciate what you've got

I'm on a negative purging rampage! I'm saying that in the most positive way I can! I've taken to blocking, deleting, removing anyone or thing that is a pain in my butt, negative or just BS in my life or on social medias. Social media is supposed to be for entertainment. But it is more like a soap opera and a lot of BS more than anything else. People say things or air their problems or dirty laundry on social media. It seems that hiding behind a keyboard and the screen of your computer or cell phone people say things that they normally would not in public to anyone's face (unless they are idiots). It is an utter waste of time. And I admit I've wasted a lot of time in my life on social media. But last night I cleaned out and got rid of a lot of trash, baggage, negative BS. Goodbye!

And then there are those things or people or happenings that bring life back into focus. I try to always think of this:

I will admit some days I would not wake up with much around me. Sad but true. And then there are other days that I would be surrounded by everything but the kitchen sink!! 

But what brought me back into focus this week is when I heard the news of a friend's daughter  who is dealing with the loss of their first born who was stillborn. My heart aches for this couple and their extended family. I can't help but go back to the memories of losing my first born in a miscarriage. I saw that tiny baby and there are days and times of the year and holidays that I still think about that child. And honestly, until recently the whole issue of losing a child at birth or before was kept pretty hush hush! It's now talked about and there is a lot more support out there. No parent should ever have to bury a child and one of the worse feelings in the world is coming home from the hospital without your baby. 

There is even a month dedicated to the awareness of those who have lost a child in any way before or at birth. But this has made me step back and realize once again how blessed I am for what I have and the people who are around me that love and support me. I'm grateful for the negatives or those who bring nothing but BS into life, they make me stronger and make me appreciate the good and what I do have. 

So today, maybe a little more than normal I am grateful for what I have, what I have had and what I have learned. And for those people around me who love and support me regardless!

Positive thought of the day: Thank you for reading. 

The healing powers of sweat

Whether I realize it or not I've always been about being physically active. As a high schooler while most of my friends were dating and doing whatever else they were doing my two best friends and I would be doing any combination of the following,  playing tennis, going to the movies, going to high school sporting events and/or going out for pizza as our Friday or Saturday night fun. We were pretty harmless and doing nothing illegal! I got pretty good at tennis and I enjoyed it.

I decided about seven years ago to do something about being healthy around the first of the new year. I ordered the Zumba DVDs I'd seen on tv and on Super Bowl Sunday when I was home alone I broke out my first Zumba DVD and worked out. I loved it and was hooked. I've taken to running and walking. I've done a few 5K's too.  In addition, I workout on the treadmill and I've always looking for a way to get a good sweat going. Last night I took off after having one of my favorite meals at a restaurant on a walk/run workout. I felt like I needed to work off the half meal I had eaten! And I did! I've wanted to add to my route another mile or so to push myself and get more of a workout. Well over 3-1/2 miles later and I was sweating and smiling. The stress and BS of the day were gone and I was sweating as I'd ran some of it but mostly power walked the rest. Man that felt good. And afterwards, I ran some errands before heading home to call it a night. I was still sweaty but I felt good.

This morning I was awake at 5 a.m. so I got up, did a few chores and popped a workout DVD in the DVR. I had thought about going back outside for a couple of miles but things need to get changed up every so often. I'm happy to be off of my treadmill. I have a love-hate relationship with the thing! I love the fact that is is right in my house. But on the flipside it seems to mock me and I can't use not being able to get to the treadmill as an excuse, not to workout. I like the opportunity to be able to jump on it for 20 minutes and I'm sweating. I can watch whatever is on TV or call someone to pass the time. But I like to be outside and get the fresh air. How nice is it to enjoy nature, even when I have to bundle up!

So I worked out this a.m. and again I had a good sweat going. It felt good. I've eaten and snacked healthy which I also help me feel good.

So we'll see if I go out for a powerwalk, later on, today, but regardless I've gotten my sweat in for today and I feel good!!! It's amazing how much better you feel after sweating and the pain and burn you have the next day sometimes is always a reminder that you did something and you are doing it for YOU!

Positive thought of the day: do something for YOU!

When Mother Nature does not play nice

I have always had a love-hate fascination with the weather. I think I got this from my dad who loved weather and weather watching and predicting and everything that involved the weather. He had a knack for it and used the farmers almanac faithfully as well. He lived off the land as a farmer and was at the mercy of the weather his entire life. It could make or break his livelyhood. I also think my dad's love of the weather and mine as well rubbed off on my eldest son who has a degree in meteorology and honestly, and not just because I'm his mom, I think he knows his stuff and does a great job of forecasting   : )

But Mother Nature seems a little off course lately. We had a week or two of beautiful weather in early March with temps in the 50-70 degree range and we were all thinking spring was here to stay! (I know we should know better!) Then things got chilly and we woke up to the ground white with snow on Sunday. And now we could be doing a tornado-snow dance later today into tomorrow after yesterday was in the 60's. What the heck? Yes, there is thundersnow-it's a cool thing to experience if you haven't ever. And yes I remember a snowstorm in early April as a kid that kept me home from school for four days (I was a happy 4th grader!). But as an adult who likes to get outside and exercise daily this back and forth, thing drives me a bit crazy. I'm glad to be off the treadmill and back outside. I like the sweat I get from being outside, I can adjust what I wear when I'm outside so I do get a good sweat. But this one day upper 60's and the next day the temp dropping to the 30's and we end up with a cold rain that turns to snow is not what I signed up for or asked for! But then again no one asked me!  That taste of spring we had was enough to make me happy with the warmer temps and spring and summer days to come. It definitely was a teaser!

I will admit that fall is my favorite season. I love the warm days and chilly evenings. I love the colors. And honestly, I don't mind winter and the snow either. It is what it is, we have no control over the weather and why complain about it, just be prepared and go along for the ride.

But what I love-hate about the weather is the severe weather. I grew up where the farmland is more flat than were I live now. I could see for miles from the farm I grew up on. So I've had the experience of seeing funnel clouds turn into tornados in the distance or approaching. It's a thrill but yet a fearful experience. I would always lag behind to stay with my dad when he would yell for us to head to the basement when things got bad weather-wise. I've had my share of personal experiences with severe weather. One time while at home with just my brother the clouds got dark and ominous and we, being responsible farm kids, headed to the barn to shut the big outside hay loft doors, winds could life the barn room and we did not want that to happen. The wind was so strong and fierce as I attempted to bring the door down and latch it shut that as I hung on to the door the wind lifted the door and me off the hay bales I was standing on. My brother grabbed my ankles and pulled me and the door back down. We got things closed up and thanks to our quick thinking saved the barn roof. It was an experience that I have not forgotten. And there have been many times I've heard the tornadic sounds that is best described as a freight train noise overhead. It is a scary feeling and you are at the mercy of nature. I've watched hail destroy what looked to be a bumper crop while just a mile down the road there was no hail damage and the fields are left untouched. Mother Nature is sometimes wicked and cruel. But you have to respect her and let her do what she wants to do.

So today we will ride out another wacky and wild weather day from what the forecasters are saying. It sounds like we will have snow again and lots of cold rain. But we always need the moisture and spring is about rain for the land. I just would like to have some nice weather over the weekend and let things warm up a bit. But springtime in Iowa always means every changing weather, wind and temperatures that flucuate constantly! It's life and its the seasons and I would not want it any other way. Besides, like I said we are just along for the ride and we have no control over what Mother Nature decides to "bless" us with!

Positive thought of the day: I love the every changing seasons. I think I would go a little nuts if I lived some place that constantly had the same weather....unless of course it involved an ocean and a beach and sunshine! : )