Princess for an hour

Now that I'm on the back side of our Princess Prom that we hosted last week I have to say it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Yes, it was a lot of work. BUT it was sooooo much fun to see the faces, smiles, and laughter of the girls and their escorts. Some girls had their dad, step dad, grandpa, uncle or neighbor as their "date" for the night. But making these little girls feel special and like a princess for a couple of hours was worth all the work and worry! Every little girl, big or small deserves those moments and memories where they can feel like they are special. And make the memories with their dad/step-dad/grandpa/uncle/neighbor.

It was so much fun to see the dad's either sit and watch and enjoy seeing their daughter's dancing or see the dad's get up to dance occasionally with their daughter. No one cared about how good or bad of a dancer you were, it was just being there that counted. There was spilled punch and balloons that got away but none of that mattered. It was the time spent together that counted the most! It was a blast.

I have some special memories that come to mind when I think about my dad. They are not a princess prom, but more like simple things-sitting on the back steps talking and laughing at the antics of kittens (we both loved cats). Or working together on the farm-chasing pigs and as my dad swore at the hogs who were not cooperating he was called them a not-so-nice name. I, being a smart alec, remarked how all the pigs had the same name-my dad started laughing and the situation lightened up!! Or the time we were moving cattle and I accidentally stepped on a snake while bare footed-I know-YUCK YUCK YUCK. And as I was shrieking about the situation my dad started to yell at me to be quiet or I'd scare the cattle-we both looked at each other and started laughing as neither of us were helping either situation! It was simple fun moments like these where my mind goes back to and it brings a smile and a chuckle. There are no profound moments before a big dance or my wedding were my memories goes to when I think about my dad it's the time, usually simple, or while working that make me smile. And I am so thankful, despite being the youngest I had the time I did with my dad. While most of my siblings had 40 or 50+ years with my dad I treasure the time I did have.

So to all the dad's out there who are dad's in the sense of the word, be it biological or maybe not biological but in every other aspect-thank you for being a prince to all the princesses out there.

Positive thought of the day: It is cold and dreary and just yuck outside, but make your own sunshine-inside! Don't act like the weather!!

One wild and crazy week!

It's one of those weeks, or two, where if all the things going on in this one week were spread out it would fill a month. It seems to happen like that every so often-and that's okay It reminds us to appreciate the quiet times and when you are busy time seems to fly.

Part of my wild and crazy week entails having child #3 home on spring break. I've always loved Thanksgiving, Christmas/winter and spring breaks! It is great to have one or all 3 kids home and those breaks always give me a chance to spoil, treat, bake, cook and do laundry, goof off, all which I love to do! Plus the time they are home seems to fly by, unfortunately. I should have called in "sick" one day just to hang out with him...but it's one of those weeks....but I do love having my kids home!

I like to think I'm halfway in between as far as being organizing. I go from feast to famine when when it comes to my dwelling places aka office/work space, home, etc. I love to have things neat and organized but you can only do so much in a mess and you have to live there, so there will be messes and disorganization along with the neatness. It's okay. It's life.

My crazy week includes this: Taking students to the local nursing home every day to read a chapter or two of Charlotte's Web book which is part of our One School One Book program this time. I'm part of that committee so this includes working together and getting things lined up and ready. I also take care of the school website page for OSOB as well as three other web pages...fun, fun! There is always something that needs to be updated on those pages!

Kids also seem to be gone to this, that, and the next thing this week. I am going to admit this, but it is hard to keep track of what kids I'm suppose to have and not suppose to have and where they are suppose to be.

I'm part of the 5th and 6th grade musical directors/staff. It means after and before school practices as well as creating the set and costumes....what I was thinking when I agreed to be part of this! Not really but it is fun and I get to work with a great bunch adults and kids!

My team will be delivering the butter braids they sold this week...they arrive tomorrow and they have to be kept frozen or they start to thaw and rise! Plus we sold these so people could use them for Easter breakfast...we'll see how many aren't delivered in a timely manner or by Good Friday!

My dance team will be hosting a Princess Prom for girls 12 and under and their dad/grandpa/uncle as part a fund raiser on Saturday evening. I'm a bit apprehensive about things but it will be fine. And I hope a lot of fun.

And finally to end the weekend my girls are dancing at a hockey game! We have new costumes, always exciting (if the rest of my order from 8 weeks ago gets here as promised) and a pretty cool new pom dance with some awesome music!! It will be a nice way to end a busy week and head right into another crazy busy week.

BUT Easter is right around the corner and we are taking the holiday on the road again....this should be fun!

Now I just need to get through two really busy, crazy weeks and keep my sanity!!

Positive thought of the day: Yesterday's warm, maybe closer to hot temps really spoiled us. Today's strong north wind and temps in the 40's quickly reminds us how fast things can change. But I love the every changing weather. It keeps things interesting! 

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you

I just got a t-shirt from a 10-week workout group that I'm doing with the phrase "If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you" on the front of it. Okay, I get it. Life is not always sugar plums and fairy dust-seems lately it is seldom, if ever, this. Most of the time it seems to be tough and stressful. I see this in almost every aspect of life lately. I get it now. Someone seems to think I need to change. I need to be challenged. I get it.

But what I don't get is why? I know, I know. God is trying to push, pull or lead me to something better. And yes, I'm probably bitching, dragging my feet, digging my claws in, all to resist whatever it is I'm suppose to be moving on to. I like change in small doses. Moderation.

But what I don't get is the challenges. I'm happy just to do my thing and putter away with life. Hills are a challenge which often give me shin splints, but it's the mountains in life that I'm not sure I can handle. Adventures are great. But the constant challenges, stress and someone not always happy with me stinks. I guess I didn't know I was here to make everyone happy-I'm not. I know, I need to meet challenges head on, okay, I try. The stress just plain is not good-it takes it's toll on a body-I'm living proof of this. I'm tired of the self-center people in life who think it should be all about them-it should be about everyone. I'm tired of the people who only want to be around for the good, hear the good and ignore or don't respond to the bad-I guess I need to make some changes-thus the challenges? 

But going back to the title of this blog, If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you....I try to meet challenges head on, I deal with them daily. And I HOPE the change is for the good. Although I do get to the point at times where I question the changes. Life should be more fun, less stress and unhappiness.

Maybe I'm taking this all too literally, maybe it's just a t-shirt to motivate me to workout, get healthy, take care of myself and do more. But honestly I can't help but wonder if it is sign to plow forward into the challenges and the people who challenge me because when I come out on the other side I will be a changed person, a change for the better.

I'd better change and either hit the treadmill or go for a walk....I need the think time. I know I won't walk or run any mountains this morning but maybe the hills are enough to challenge me.

Positive thought of the day: Keep moving forward and stop looking behind. You can't drive forward while looking in your rearview mirror, it just doesn't work.

Freaky Friday

Well to say today is a bit weird and crazy would be an understatement. But that's better than being dull and boring, although there are times I like dull and boring!

I'm solo today when it comes to technology. And to be honest there are some things I've refused to learn or do as far as the technology part of this job. Add to weirdness of this day the half dozen or so laptops that I've seen and worked on AND the fact that our network is or was glitchy and doing an on-again, off-again kind of thing. Yep today is one of those days. On top of all of this I helped a dear friend who made it to work having a crippling migraine. She was unable to function by the time I found her in her office-vomiting, she could not drive nor deal with light, sound or sitting up. It. Was. Bad. I felt so badly for her as I've been in those shoes, many, many times. And unless you've experienced this you can only guess how badly it really is. After a couple of hours I did finally get her off of my office floor and down to her husband so he could drive her home. We made our way out to her car slowly and with a garbage can in front of us the entire way. She'll be hurting a day or two from this one. The headache hangovers are no fun either.

I've written about the perils of migraines and how devastating they can be. What you inherit from your relatives is not always good. Migraines suck, there is no other way to put it.

So for this being a Friday, finally, it is wild, wacky and crazy. But despite all of this it is quiet in other wonderful aspects! Amen and thank God for that!!

I heard this a.m. an interesting bit of info on the radio...whether it is true or not, I'm not sure? They played a tone like they do before an emergency news broadcast or weather announcement on air. And the DJ doing the news piece asked the other DJ's if the noise bothered any of them. It was and always has been an annoying sound. They played a couple of other loud noises on air also...then the news caster explained why. It seems that people who find the sounds annoying, along with loud sounds are very intelligent and artistic...now the noises bothered me, but I'm going to go with the artistic part of the explanation rather than the "very intelligent" part of the news story! But it was interesting....thus the reason why I'm enjoying the quiet of the day!

Just for the record...in case you haven't notice but today is Friday the 13th. Maybe that explains why today is a bit wacky!

Positive thought of the day: Stop a minute and listen to silence. I'm enjoying mine!

What's in a friend?

If you are past the age of two I'm sure you've had friends, (outside of relatives) of all shapes, sizes, genders and backgrounds. We all have had a variety of friendships in our lives. And if you keep a friend for several years that is an accomplishment! Some of our first friends are siblings or cousins.

We've all had those mean friends or relatives (a cousin-in my case) who you learn good and bad things from. My cousin locked me in the bathroom when I was around 6-years old. He scared the poo out of me and despite that episode he has turned out to be a good guy and great dad! Jeff was always a pill and probably one of my first friends, even thought we were related! Did I mention he turned the light off when he locked me in the bathroom-that turd!

I had friends in grade school, junior high and high school who I know my parents may not have cared for. I also had friends from elementary through high school who were good influences on me as well-you live and learn! I still have two friends from school that I keep in contact with. They are both the types of friends where if we have not communicated for months or even years we pick up right were we left off when we finally do reconnect. I hope everyone has at least one person like that in their life. It's kind of cool to have that kind of relationship!

I find as I get older I am weeding the "friends" who are toxic out of my life. They are not worth the effort or worth my time. Some people just are not good for you. They do nothing but bring grief and stress to our lives. Life is too short to waste it on toxic friends, way too short. So I find myself trimming the negativity out of my life. I can't help how other people deal with life and things, or what their priorities are and such.

I'd like to think I'm a pretty patient and tolerable person. But there is a fine line where I will quit and just let it go. I've done this more lately than I ever have before. The people who make my life unhappy or miserable are not going to be part of my life any more. Yes we all do dumb things or hurt people but when it happens over and over again it is time to let them go. I've watched a friend recently put up with and take some pretty poor treatment from a "friend" of theirs. Would I put up with this from a friend-no, not any more. They continue to let this person treat them poorly and walk all over them-it's sad to watch-that's not a friend. Friends don't do that to one another. I try to treat my friends how I want to be treated....thus the trimming I've done lately.

On the flip side of life a good friend is a treasure. They take the good with the bad and listen to you bitch and cheer you on when life is going well. I have found friends in unexpected places along the way. One of my best friends right now is the the ying to my yang! She is a go getter and feisty. I like to think I'm the laid back, easy going one! But together we have been known to cook up and do some shenanigans! We have fun! We bitch to one another. And we've got each others back in tough and rough times. Together we always find some kind of humor in any given situation. Was I looking for this friendship-no. But I do value this person and all they've taught me and the fun we've had-THAT is what friends are for!

So as the saying goes, to have a friend you have to be a friend-these are very true works. And there are all kinds of friends. That's life. I just hope when the end of my life rolls around I have at least one good friend and I leave some happy and fun memories with those who I consider and am privileged enough to call friend(s).


Positive thought of the day: Thank those who you consider your friends. We often go without saying how much we appreciate and value them-tell them!!

A wave goodbye

When my kids were small and just starting school they would walk to and from each day when the weather was nice. We lived about 4-1/2 blocks from school and our house was in the middle of the block. I would send them out the door and watch them until they were out of sight. Just before we would loose sight of each other they would look back and wave one last time. I treasure these memories and look back fondly to those days of simple things like getting kids to school and lego's and Disney movies.

I honestly don't know if their final look back and wave was for them or more so for me. I will admit, it was probably for me! I always watched when they went and looked for them when they would come home.

Last week as I visited #1 child in another state he left us at the bus station to get to the airport as it was snowing and the best mode of transportation with the weather and saved him some running. We did our hugs and thank you's and the usual things you say when leaving. He took off the opposite direction that we were standing and waiting. Without evening knowing if he was out of sight or not I looked back in his direction and it was just before he was out of sight. And in that same exact moment he looked back too. I waved and he waved back....just like when he was six-years old and heading to school.What memories that moment brought back. This is now 20 years later.

A mother holds her children in her heart to her dying day. I know this from my mom-she passed away while on the phone with me, after I told her I loved her and it was okay to go. I wasn't with her in person but I was with her in every other possible way and I believe she was waiting for me to say goodbye. That's what being a mom is all about.

So I treasure the memories both 20+ years old as well as those just made and hold them close. Making great memories is what life is all about. 

Positive thought of the day: Sunshine!!! It is so refreshing, uplifting and warm and does a body good (unless you get a sun burn)!!! Stand in that sunshine whenever you get the chance!

It's cold out there!

The one thing I love about Iowa is the weather and the changing seasons. It is never dull. During the spring and summer we can go from sunny to severe thunderstorms and tornado's in a very short time. It can be chilly or darn right cold one day and the next it is hot and humid. Winter and fall also bounce back and forth between yo-yo temperatures. It is seldom predictable and often we will go from one season to the next within the course of a day or even hours. It is ever changing and actually kind of fun.

I learned a long time ago, as a farmers daughter, the weather is unpredictable and always changing and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. I love the seasons. I would go nuts and probably struggle if the weather was always warm and sunny. I need my seasons.

And of course everyone has their favorite season. As a kid and teenager growing on on the farm I loved spring. It was a season of fresh and new. Birth and spring planting. Summer to me was a season of work. I suppose this was because I was on summer vacation and I worked on the farm-loads of fun. My favorite season now and probably most of my life is fall. I love fall on the farm. And all the colors and cool crisp days and nights. I love snow in the winter, especially before and at Christmas time. After that I can take it or leave it. But having a layer of snow is better than brown, bare ground. To me that is dreary. I'm not a fan of mud nor of snow in April or worse, May. But it is what it is. I don't like ice because it's hard to walk on and tends to bring down power lines!

Mother Nature tends to dish out some nasty and wacky weather at times. People complain, get their panties in a wad and make anyone who will stop long enough listen to their complaints. It's the weather-there is nothing we can do about it. Enjoy the beauty of the seasons and all that comes with it.

So as try to warm up after being without power for five hours in sub-zero outside temps I'm reminded of how much we take for granted and forget to appreciate. If this had happened during the summer, we'd be outside enjoying the fresh air. Right now I'm thankful for a working furnace and a warm bed for the night. It may be cold outside but spring is right around the corner and then it will be summer, followed by fall and winter again....it makes life interesting!

Positive thought of the day: Enjoy the beauty of the seasons and the weather it brings with each one. We're just along for the ride anyway!