A new year

Happy New Year!!! If you think I've lost it, you are correct but I lost it a long time ago!! Happy New SCHOOL year! Yep the new school year is officially has officially kicked off....at least day one in in the books. Only 179 days to go!

It was a pretty quiet and uneventful first day.They kids were kind of tired, as were the adults. I think a lot of napping and sleeping in is done during the summer!! I only had a few kids show up in the wrong place on the wrong day....we all forgot several times it was a Tuesday, not a Monday, thus the mix up in the schedule. The freshmen and new students walked around with that scared look on their faces for most of the day. Tomorrow with be better and by the end of the week they will be pros!

But here is a list of typical things I heard or happened today:
-a middle schooler vomited after lunch in the restroom....either it was nerves or school lunch. I'm betting it was lunch!
-I was asked about a million times "is this where I'm suppose to be?"
-I was also asked "When does this period end??"
-"Can I go to the restroom"...a phrase no one has asked me this since the last day of school. I don't miss that!
-"Could you print my schedule...I lost the one the office gave me!" I heard this at least five times!
-"Where is the restroom?" I was asked once!
And these are just a few of the questions or phrases I heard many, many times today!

Overall it was a good day, and as I left school today all I could think was 179 more days to go!!!
If they all go like today did it will be a pretty good year. BUT I work with teenage kids so I know better than to believe that!!! But we are off to a good start....lets hope we stay on this path for a few days, at least!

The last day of summer

Wow, where has the summer went? Talk about crazy busy, that is an understatement!! And it is now all but over.

I have a love hate relationship with summer since working for a school district. I thrive, no I NEED routine and schedule. I need to get up at the same time every day. I need to have reason and purpose to my day. A to-do list is must! I need to accomplish things. It's just who I am, I have no other explanation for it. Weird I know! So having summer off I struggle with not having to be at work every day. I need a reason!

And as much as I get tired and frustrated of things at my work and the politics and the people at times there are those people out there who would give anything to be going back to school/work tomorrow. They can no longer do this for whatever reason be it health, retirement, financial or another job. They are missing the chaos and confusion of these first days of school. The smells of the freshly waxed floors and clean classrooms and hallways-everything looks shiny and new. The new school supplies, clothes and shoes are always fun and exciting. It is exciting, but bittersweet time of year.

I dealt with a variety of emotions as a parent when this time of year rolled around. My first born was rather timid and shy when it came to school but he was a trooper and was off to unpack his backpack and play with his friends on his first day of kindergarten. Yes I wore sun glasses and the tears were falling as I left the building, I could not help it!!

Number two child was closing the back door and heading towards the school building as I put the car in park and yelling "bye mom" on her first day of kindergarten. No I did not let her take herself in on her first day....she was escorted just like her brother had been, even though she thought she could go trucking in on her own. Yes the sunglasses once again covered the tears as I left the building while she too was off to play with her friends on the playground.

Child number three was much like his older brother. Ready but not slamming the car door and heading to the building as I parked the car! He was ready to roll and yes the sunglasses were a blessing to hide behind for a third time. It was my last first day of kindergarten, no more kids at home. The end of a chapter.

As a parent for the first five or six years you are the main adult in your child's life. You are "the person". But sending your child off to school now puts their teacher as another main adult in their life. It's not just you as their parent, it is now their teachers, then coaches....then they graduate and are on to the next chapter of their life.

This year brings new chapters once again. Not only is a new school year but is is a first school year for my son as a teacher. I'm excited for him and I know he is doing what he wants to be doing. His students are lucky to have him as their teacher. Believe in yourself!! You are and will be great.

My daughter is no long Miss but now Mrs as she starts her second year in education. Her job is challenging daily, if not hourly.

My oldest son is about to become a home owner with his soon to be wife, another milestone and new chapter. I don't recall so many changes in such a short time before! But is is exciting!!

So as the summer of 2016 comes to a close I can't help but look back on all the fun and excitement. A month ago tomorrow we celebrated our first wedding-it was fun! And now we have two more heading our way! The moving of kids. The trip to Colorado. The baseball games. The nights or meals in the gazebos. The fun times!

And tomorrow is a new day, new chapter and a new beginning....just like each day is. Make it a good one because we only get one chance at each day.

The blessings each day

Lately I've been having a really hard time seeing the blessings in my life not just ones in general but the daily blessings for that matter.. It seems like for all the wonderful and good things going on there is a dark cloud of some kind that rains on my parade. And you know what I'm tired of it. Sick and tired of it. I know there are rough times in life.

I try to choose to see the glass half full rather than half empty most days. But honestly lately it seems like that damn glass is completely empty, not even half full or empty. I know this is part of a bigger plan and is just life. And we are not in control, just along for the ride. But at some point I'd like to have some smooth, uneventful road to travel on while on this ride. I'm tired and I don't think I'm asking too much here.

I also keep reminding myself (many, many times a day) that God is not going to give me anything that HE and I can't handle together. But I think God must think one or all of the following... A) need a kick in the ass for whatever reason  B)  to learn some life lesson here or C ) I'm a bad ass who can handle all the crap that I seem to be "blessed" with. I'd like to hope it is option C, but honestly I'm approaching things lately with the perspective that it probably is all three. Okay God I get that, I'm trying here, but could you cut me some slack, please.

But when bad things happen to good people, I mean really, really good people, I can't help but wonder why. Or in my case, what the hell is going on here? Why? Why? Why? Now I'm not trying to wish bad things on anyone, good, bad or otherwise. There are only a couple of people in this world that I would not care if a house fell on them and I'm sure there are people in this world who feel the same way about me, it's life. And I hope it is just a couple of people, not a majority.

Some of my greatest blessings:
my family
my friends
the  roof over my head and food on the table
my health (even with the challenges I've been given and I try to take care of this body, it's the only one I get)
I appreciate the ability to see a sunrise and the beauty of nature
I have a job to go to
I have some God given talents and abilities that I try to use to make this world a little bit better
I have aches and pains but I can feel them and I can swing my legs over the side of the bed each day
I am blessed in a million other ways each day...I know this

Have I mentioned my family as one of my blessings...no matter how wacky or how irritated we may get with each other, they are who God has put in our lives, for whatever reason. These are the people we've fought with as a kid or have raised to be great adults or call when we are missing our mom and dad. They are our roots and the people we started with when we came into the world. And no matter what happens or how irritated or annoying or frustrating we may get with them, they are family. So when something happens within my family it hits me too. We are in this together.

A third cancer diagnoses within my circle of family and friends within the past 10 months has me reeling-big time. I literally feel like I've been knocked on my butt. In the past I've gotten back up after getting the news and have been ready to help these loved ones kick some cancer butt. From words of support to prayer, I've been a cheerleader, whether they know it or not I've been in their corner ready to help them fight the fight. But this latest news has me feeling like I'm still sitting on the ground looking up and wondering what is going on. I'm asking what just happened here and WHY?


So as I try to wrap my brain around this latest diagnosis I need to refocus and put my energy back into to the blessings of life and get back on my feet. I need to get the pom poms out and the boxing gloves on ready to help fight this fight-if you mess with one you get the whole kit and kaboodle. And this too is a blessing. This is a life leaning lesson. This is life. We are all in this fight together regardless of what it is we are fighting. And honestly, and this sounds really odd, but this cancer is a blessing in some way, shape and form. It may heal old wounds, or bring people closer together who have drifted apart or it may bring even more memories that someday we will treasure. No one knows what is ahead on this journey. Life is taking the good with the bad blessings (yes there are bad blessings, they are usually called lessons) and making them all part of the big picture and not loosing perspective but seeing the blessings.

Keeping in check

The past three weeks have been crazy busy. And to be honest I don't feel like I had much of a summer, but that's life. It is better than having too much time on my hands, which I hate. Too much sleep and too much time on my hands is not good, at least for me it is not.

It amazes me how quick things can change...one minute you are celebrating a life event, a milestone and the next minute God gives us a challenge or test that makes you double check life. It has been a reminder to appreciate what you have and maybe rethink your priorities.

I helped celebrate a life milestone for my sister last weekend. The event and celebration were amazing. It brought back tons of memories from my childhood, and to say I was proud and happy for my sister is an understatement. It was the celebration of my sister and her commitment, that made it worth the trip.

But God gave my family a check of reality (again, for the second time this year) this past week and it has put things in perspective, but I thought we had them in perspective. Reality sucks sometimes. No matter what I do the phrase "why do bad things happen to good people?" keeps coming to mind for me.

I am trying to find faith and comfort in the fact that God has this. Putting it in his hands. But it has been in his hands all along. I know that he does not give us anything that HE and I can handle together. "Have faith," I keep telling myself. But I swing from panic to prayer to anger back to keeping the faith. I wish I could turn back time to a week ago, but time marches on.

Sometimes we are given news that literally knocks us on our butt. For the second time this year, I find myself picking myself up off the ground and trying to grasp the news.

But for now, I will wait and see what tests tell us and what God has planned for our lives. It seems like life is far from dull and routine lately and why it's like that I don't have all the answers. But it's life and whatever it is God is trying to tell us I'm going to try to pay attention so I understand or at least get the message.

Appreciate the moments, not matter how big or small they are. Life goes by fast and changes in the blink of an eye. Be sure to say "I love you" to the people that you love because no one is guaranteed to be here at the end of the day, next week or a year from now. As the saying goes "Life is fragile, handle with prayer".

If you can't say anything nice...

It has been a while since I've blogged and I have a good excuse, one word....wedding. That's my excuse and I'm stickin' to it! It's not that I haven't felt the need to write or had material, just lack of time!

On this, the day after the first wedding of our year, I've had a million things running through my head. Happy thoughts and memories, the fun, the laughter, the smiles and the tears! And the best way to sum it all up is also with one word, "wonderful"!

But each year whenever graduation time, wedding season or whatever is going on is an "invitation" issue. Who is invited. Who is not. Who TO invite and who NOT to invite. It's a win-loose battle!

Yes there are those people who invite everyone they know or feel like they have to invite (your ex-brother in-law's sisters boyfriend-unless you are really close!). Then there are those who invite the people who they value, who have touched or brought meaning to their life, the ones who they are close to and have made a positive impact on. Or because you are related and to keep peace in the family. I have to admit I am not offended when I am not invited to something. It used to bother me, but honestly some people are such putz's that I am kind of relieved not to be included in their "event". Yes I have sent cards and gifts to people who I want to let them know I care, but I wasn't invited to their event. It is not going to stop me from sending a gift if I want to! Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to be invited to an event, when it is someone who means a lot to me. BUT....inviting people to an event just to invite them is just dumb.

My theory is if you have not had a positive affect or impact on my life or if I have not heard from you in the past year or more then I'm not including you in my "party". If you have burned me, or been a jerk-your not worth my time or effort. If you are only are my friend when we see each other or you want attention or it works for you-your not invited. Yes I get the friends you many not talk to for weeks, months or years and when you see each other you pick up right where you left off the last time you saw one another-I have a couple of friends like that. But my theory is if you have not returned any effort to stay in touch, except when you happen to run into me then your not invite worthy. And there are also other factors....venue size, cost, or maybe it is just a small gathering. Maybe it's not my call on the guest list. But some people don't think about anyone but themselves. And everyone and their dog does not need to be invited!

I've been in those situations where I've been with other people who were invited or part of something that I was not. And when they talk about it socially when I'm around I either listen or ask questions to be a part of the conversation. I get it, I wasn't invited for whatever reason. Life goes on, my world did not stop revolving!

My whole purpose for this blog is to address the self-centered people who get offended and they say things or post snarky, crappy, immature things on social media. Here are my points on the whole situation: 1. Nice that you say those kinds of things on social media...way to hide behind a keyboard and a screen. 2. It shows your true character. Yep, people comment about it and wonder what the hell is wrong with you.They are judging YOU not the fact that you were not invited to a social gathering 3. Way to be a dark cloud on someone else's special time and occasion-very mature-no you're not. 4. I'm sorry that life is not centered around or all about you. But it is not my problem. 5. This is a reminder of maybe WHY you were not invited...I'm just making a point.

With this first wedding there were people I would not have invited, (mainly family!). But not my final call. Life goes on and no harm was done. This was NOT my party or place to have a final say. But to the individual who had to post something snarky on social media it truly showed your true colors.
There will always be "those" people, I get that. But I was always told "if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all". If the world would follow this guideline a little more it would be a lot better place or maybe the people who think they should be included need to follow this a lot more.

Okay that is off my mind! I can't wait for weddings #2 and #3. Bring them on! I'm ready!

When you can't breathe or going up a mountain

While in Colorado this past weekend our fun and loving hosts took us on a hike....up a mountain....to the most gorgeous lake! It was a blast and so beautiful to see. Plus while visiting this mountain lake in the Rocky Mountains our hosts arranged for an elk to make an appearance and entertain us while sitting along the lake, it was great timing! It was so cool and a wonderful experience. But it literally was cool...going up the temp dropped so it was ideal for hiking. And the snow melt made the clear lake water (Mills Lake) very cold. 

But I had the same experience last year as I did this year when hiking in Colorado, I struggled to start out with breathing and altitude (not attitude, altitude!). Working out three miles a day I thought I'd be in better shape. I was struggling with the breathing and wondering a couple of times if running on the flat parts would help or if I should have stayed home! Yes, one extreme to another in my thought process there. 

But about a half mile up my body figured out the altitude thing and I didn't find myself with a tight chest or struggling to breath any longer. From there on the only thing taking my breath away was the sights. The river, rapids, wildlife and waterfalls. The scenery and the ability to see for miles was awesome. 

It is interesting the thoughts that go through your mind when you are out with nature, as did mine on Sunday. I rehashed some problems, trying to come up with solutions or better scenarios, I wondered about some things and people (it had been a busy and trying week), why they are they way they are, and I prayed for people who I knew needed prayers because I was in a peaceful and beautiful place, and I had a front row seat to God's handy work. Also, I didn't want to face plant and go head first in front of God and everyone! I appreciated where I was at that moment and how blessed I am.  

Honestly coming down the trail was harder than going up. The incline, keeping your footing and not tripping or sliding were challenges but it was okay-we lived to tell! And best of all nothing hurt the next day. The exhilarated feeling was worth every step, which ended up being over 14,000 steps and 101 flights of steps. 

If I lived there I would be exploring the mountains, trails and lakes every weekend. So beautiful!

So despite the fact that breathing was a struggle for a time, I lived and I'm ready for the next hike up a mountain. And I'm betting I'll struggle with the altitude on that one too!

Keep climbing those mountains!

The things you see while driving across Nebraska

...or my trip to Colorado, today!

I'm on the road today. Actually being driven, for now until my driver gives up her turn! I honestly would not be driving and typing this. The laptop gets in the way!!

So for entertainment purposes only and absolutely nothing against the state of Nebraska here is what we have seen, so far!

-A semi full of cattle that was spraying shit, literally, on our windshield. Obviously the cows were nervous. And we now smell lovely! The smell of money as my dad always said.

-We seem to be very popular as there is a lot of traffic!

-Unfortunately, unlike last year, there is no flooding for our entertainment purposes! Last year it was like the entire state was a lake and I-80 went across this enormous lake called Nebraska.

-So far no "breaks", if you know what I mean...liquid intake has been kept to a minimum.

-The rumble strips along the side of the road not only help keep you awake but when the semi in front of us keeps driving on them it makes you wonder what the heck is up with the driver? Maybe he needs a nap?

-So far our diet has consisted of party mix, water and gatorade (aka migraine relief for me) and baby carrots. Healthy!!

-I've played secretary and scheduled a bridal dress fitting for next week for my pilot (bride).

-We are about to go back in time here shortly....when we go into mountain time. I hope we gain a good hour, one that is fun and that we like!! : )

-Like my dad I have kept an eye on the crops and livestock. Yep they are all there, green and mooing!

Ummmm that's about it, for now, "pretty boring" according to my driver and we are about to stop and switch to a new driver! Me!!!!

It's Boulder or bust for us. Man I hope nothing busts! But here's to safe travels and no more livestock trucks with nervous cattle!!

Happy Friday! Watch out Colorado!