Well, where did the summer go? I will admit that it honestly seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. But looking back it was fun.
-June included birthdays, short road trips and summer baseball. It was all part of what summer should be. A new routine and schedule took some adjustment to get used to but that's just life.
-July and the 4th kind of signifies that turning point where summer is on the down side. And yes it was. My sister was here to visit-what a journey she has had over the past year. She is a brave and independent woman. I admire her perspective on life. I wish I was more laid back and calm like she is.
My dream of road tripping and having my whole family all together without it being a wedding or a holiday came true. It was a lot of fun and we got through it with air mattresses and rain! And we made great memories. It seems like we planned that trip for a long time and it was here and then we were on our way back home. BUT...the only regret, we never got a family picture. I wanted something outside, not in front of a Christmas tree or dressed for a wedding. Next time we take the family picture on the first day...okay maybe the second day!
-August, and here we are on the verge of going back to school/work. Days of getting things done at home are all but over. The freedom of jumping in the car for a short or long road trip are done. And it makes me sad.
Our last visitor of the summer left on Saturday morning, child #3. Having any of my kids home is always great, no matter how long or short the visit is. I look forward to those visits for days or weeks and they always fly by.
My daily schedule changes tomorrow. My morning walking partner goes back to school and I will miss our a.m. walks and talks. Our walks do as much good for the heart as the mind and soul. We don't solve the worlds problems on our walks but we discuss life. And we get healthy too. Now we will have to change our walks to evenings.
So as another school year rolls around a new routine will become the norm and life will get busy with schedules and events and other things that life brings.
I'm always appreciative of summer and the freedom and quiet and the opportunities that it brings. Thank you to everyone who played a part in my summer. Slowing down, making memories and relaxing happens all too seldom it seems. Life goes by way too fast.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Looking back while moving forward
Where does the time go? This past week I have been reflecting back to this week one year ago. You see one year ago today we had our first family wedding of three in five months. And honestly those five months were some of the happiest of my life and three days in particular were some of the best days of my life. To see your kids find someone they love and those people are genuinely good people and love your kids back....well it makes this mom's heart happy, very happy.
A year ago today we celebrated the love between my daughter and her now husband. We saw friends and family we had not seen in a long time. We witnessed, we toasted, we celebrated and we made memories.
People's reactions during the past two and half years with three kids getting engaged within three months, then planning three wedding all within five months was funny and I developed a standard answer..."It is a very happy and fun time for our family," it usually did the trick of stopping further conversation! Because most people wanted to point out and talk about how overwhelming it all was. Yes it could be if I stopped to think about it, but that was not how I was going to remember or go through this fun time.
Each wedding was unique and fun. Each made my heart happy and overflow with love.
So today I once again say a prayer for the couple and in my heart ask God to bless them with many, many healthy, happy and loved filled years...the future it your's, together.
A year ago today we celebrated the love between my daughter and her now husband. We saw friends and family we had not seen in a long time. We witnessed, we toasted, we celebrated and we made memories.
People's reactions during the past two and half years with three kids getting engaged within three months, then planning three wedding all within five months was funny and I developed a standard answer..."It is a very happy and fun time for our family," it usually did the trick of stopping further conversation! Because most people wanted to point out and talk about how overwhelming it all was. Yes it could be if I stopped to think about it, but that was not how I was going to remember or go through this fun time.
Each wedding was unique and fun. Each made my heart happy and overflow with love.
So today I once again say a prayer for the couple and in my heart ask God to bless them with many, many healthy, happy and loved filled years...the future it your's, together.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
4th of July memories
I will be the first to admit that the 4th of July (followed closely by April Fools day) used to be my favorite holiday.
I grew up in a house that did a variety of things for the yearly holiday. There was not a set menu but it always included grilling and lots of delicious food. We ate outside and used paper plates-so clean up was easy. We didn't have to get dressed up-it was usually hot and we dressed accordingly and wore red, white and blue, if you had it! Friends, family, anyone was invited to the holiday meal. And of course there was red, white and blue type of food and watermelon, of course. It was just a good time, lots of great memories and no expectations like other holidays.
My hometown is known for the great festivities they put on every year for the 4th, after all it is named Independence! A top notched parade. An airshow, cookouts, ball tournaments, concerts and entertainment and the list goes on.
I was in the parade a few times as a kid. It was fun and of course always hot. But it is July in the midwest. The holiday was just fun and left me with a lot of found memories.
I've tried to carry on the same traditions as an adult. But living too far from my hometown and the closest thing to 4th of July celebration lacks...big time, and that's putting it mildly. Pathetic the best way to describe it.
The only thing I can control is the food and the together time. I try to put together a big meal for the 4th of July. Some years it has included lots of people, other days are smaller-like this year. And it does not matter how many or who, it's making the most of the day. Celebrating our independence. Good food. Relaxing and fun times spent with people.
Appreciate this day and what it means...we take our freedom for granted.
I grew up in a house that did a variety of things for the yearly holiday. There was not a set menu but it always included grilling and lots of delicious food. We ate outside and used paper plates-so clean up was easy. We didn't have to get dressed up-it was usually hot and we dressed accordingly and wore red, white and blue, if you had it! Friends, family, anyone was invited to the holiday meal. And of course there was red, white and blue type of food and watermelon, of course. It was just a good time, lots of great memories and no expectations like other holidays.
My hometown is known for the great festivities they put on every year for the 4th, after all it is named Independence! A top notched parade. An airshow, cookouts, ball tournaments, concerts and entertainment and the list goes on.
I was in the parade a few times as a kid. It was fun and of course always hot. But it is July in the midwest. The holiday was just fun and left me with a lot of found memories.
I've tried to carry on the same traditions as an adult. But living too far from my hometown and the closest thing to 4th of July celebration lacks...big time, and that's putting it mildly. Pathetic the best way to describe it.
The only thing I can control is the food and the together time. I try to put together a big meal for the 4th of July. Some years it has included lots of people, other days are smaller-like this year. And it does not matter how many or who, it's making the most of the day. Celebrating our independence. Good food. Relaxing and fun times spent with people.
Appreciate this day and what it means...we take our freedom for granted.
Monday, June 26, 2017
The great TP incident
I'm not too particular about somethings. Yes I am choosy when it comes to coffee or the gin in a gin and tonic or how I want my steak cooked--rare. But there are somethings in life I really don't give a second thought to..and I recently found out that maybe I do care or should care about somethings more than I should.
My lesson here came in the form of toilet paper. Yes, you read that right, toilet paper. I typically just stroll through the TP aisle at the grocery store and pick up what looks like it will do the trick and get on with life. I occasionally make this purchase through a warehouse store, meaning I bring home a ginormous amount of toilet paper and we are set for a few months or more. I've never been very particular about my purchases of this particular item. But last fall I made a purchase at a warehouse store and really didn't give it any thought to what I picked out other than it was a big package! That is until I got home and opened the huge package a few days later. Big mistake. I work for a public school system and the TP at school is like using sheets of paper...paper, like sheets of notebook paper kind of toilet paper. Well this bulk package of TP was just like the notebook paper I live with everyday at work...awful. So last fall and through the holidays I had this crappy, shitty or however you want to describe it toilet paper. It was not fun and I found myself kind of embarrassed about the whole situation as the holidays and family came home. I bought a better kind of TP putting it out when we had company and I would switch back to the notebook TP for the rest of the time. Well here I am seven whole months later and FINALLY the notebook toilet paper is almost gone-Alleluia! I'd like to do a toilet paper happy dance but it just seems a bit over the top.
So the life lesson learned here is to pay attention when making purchases that are close to you! And if you take something for granted, think again before you buy 45 rolls of it and you are stuck using it for seven blessed months...unless you are planning on handwriting a novel and want to do it on a roll...many, many, rolls!
My lesson here came in the form of toilet paper. Yes, you read that right, toilet paper. I typically just stroll through the TP aisle at the grocery store and pick up what looks like it will do the trick and get on with life. I occasionally make this purchase through a warehouse store, meaning I bring home a ginormous amount of toilet paper and we are set for a few months or more. I've never been very particular about my purchases of this particular item. But last fall I made a purchase at a warehouse store and really didn't give it any thought to what I picked out other than it was a big package! That is until I got home and opened the huge package a few days later. Big mistake. I work for a public school system and the TP at school is like using sheets of paper...paper, like sheets of notebook paper kind of toilet paper. Well this bulk package of TP was just like the notebook paper I live with everyday at work...awful. So last fall and through the holidays I had this crappy, shitty or however you want to describe it toilet paper. It was not fun and I found myself kind of embarrassed about the whole situation as the holidays and family came home. I bought a better kind of TP putting it out when we had company and I would switch back to the notebook TP for the rest of the time. Well here I am seven whole months later and FINALLY the notebook toilet paper is almost gone-Alleluia! I'd like to do a toilet paper happy dance but it just seems a bit over the top.
So the life lesson learned here is to pay attention when making purchases that are close to you! And if you take something for granted, think again before you buy 45 rolls of it and you are stuck using it for seven blessed months...unless you are planning on handwriting a novel and want to do it on a roll...many, many, rolls!
Friday, June 23, 2017
Keeping your passion
We all have things we are passionate about. Things that we love to do. If your work is your passion and you look forward to going to work every day, then you are very, very blessed. For others passion could be a hobby like reading or fishing or mountain climbing or movie watching. We all have our "thing".
For me it is dance and it has been for years. Dance makes me happy. No I probably don't move like I used to and I've put my love of dance into coaching. I have for 23 years. I have both fond and happy memories along some less than happy memories from those years. But I'd like to think that for those few tough times I've got 100+ times and memories that are happy, the good has always out weighted the bad 100-times over. The laughter and smiles I've seen from "my kids" make those tough times worthwhile.
But as we all know times, kids and parents have changed. We have a society of "experts" coming in the form of kids and parents or kids who have been told they are the experts by said parents. Those who think they know better and the parents who want to run the show. I will be the first to admit that the past couple of years have been tough. From very poor behavior coming from one of my athletes to girls and their mama's who are, well....just plain mean girls. The moms are still living in their high school years...and they act pretty poorly but that is their business. The sad thing is they are raising daughters who have no values or character and continue to act just like them as adults...follow the same path. This in turns make working in education and coaching tough.
And what my coaching future holds is my decision. Yes, I have a few people around me telling me what they think I should do. But honestly none of them have walked in my shoes. I'm not going to argue with them about their perspective. But it is easy to give someone your opinion. For me walking away is heartbreaking. With 20+ years of blood, sweat, tears, laughter, smiles and happy memories it would be a tough thing to let go. Letting someone win is not how I do things. I'm not in it to win anything but I'm also not in this to let a couple of "mean girls" get their way. Yes, it's a matter of pride but it's also for all those kids who have touched my life over the past 20+ years. The girls and boys who I still see and hear from. I'm not sure what I've taught all those athletes over the years, I hope they learned something from Dance Team. But it's just as much for me what I've learned from them. The smiles when they dance in front of home fans. The pride when they earn a trophy at state competition. Or the friendships they've formed from teammates they otherwise may have never gotten to know. All these kids have crossed my path and I've lived and learned from all of them. More from some, than others.
I'm honestly torn right now...my heart and head are saying one thing while a few around me say otherwise. The lack of support is disappointing and sad to say the least. My heart is sad because of the lack of support and the fact that where I go from here I will be doing alone without support-but lack of support in education is nothing new. I avoid the subject around a few choice people because they've made their feelings know and I know I don't have the support.
The phrase "one more year" rolls thought my mind. I'd rather have six good, hard working, good hearted dancers than lazy athletes who only make things a priority when they want to. I don't want the past year or two to define me, decide for me. I also don't want to give up just because the going has gotten tough.
When I took this program over 23 years ago it was a small program with a half dozen performances during basketball season. I've fought tooth and nail for respect and a ton of hard work and I've made it a little bit bigger. Has my program run it's course? Is this just a rough patch? I don't want to give it up and hand it over to someone who will destroy it and I leave because of a few bad apples. I feel like I'm running from a fight rather than standing strong. There will always be haters. That's life.
My lack of dance in my life has made me sad and has an affect on my creativity-big time. I'm one of those people who has to create every day. I mean every single day. This can range from organizing to creating something. I need it, I live for it, it's who I am. I still 8-count music and feel the tempo. I still envision moves in my mind with music as well....
The phrase "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" just keeps coming to mind. I'm pretty sure I'm tough as I've made it through every tough day that's came my way in life so far, so I've got a pretty good track record, but so does anyone who is still alive!
For me it is dance and it has been for years. Dance makes me happy. No I probably don't move like I used to and I've put my love of dance into coaching. I have for 23 years. I have both fond and happy memories along some less than happy memories from those years. But I'd like to think that for those few tough times I've got 100+ times and memories that are happy, the good has always out weighted the bad 100-times over. The laughter and smiles I've seen from "my kids" make those tough times worthwhile.
But as we all know times, kids and parents have changed. We have a society of "experts" coming in the form of kids and parents or kids who have been told they are the experts by said parents. Those who think they know better and the parents who want to run the show. I will be the first to admit that the past couple of years have been tough. From very poor behavior coming from one of my athletes to girls and their mama's who are, well....just plain mean girls. The moms are still living in their high school years...and they act pretty poorly but that is their business. The sad thing is they are raising daughters who have no values or character and continue to act just like them as adults...follow the same path. This in turns make working in education and coaching tough.
And what my coaching future holds is my decision. Yes, I have a few people around me telling me what they think I should do. But honestly none of them have walked in my shoes. I'm not going to argue with them about their perspective. But it is easy to give someone your opinion. For me walking away is heartbreaking. With 20+ years of blood, sweat, tears, laughter, smiles and happy memories it would be a tough thing to let go. Letting someone win is not how I do things. I'm not in it to win anything but I'm also not in this to let a couple of "mean girls" get their way. Yes, it's a matter of pride but it's also for all those kids who have touched my life over the past 20+ years. The girls and boys who I still see and hear from. I'm not sure what I've taught all those athletes over the years, I hope they learned something from Dance Team. But it's just as much for me what I've learned from them. The smiles when they dance in front of home fans. The pride when they earn a trophy at state competition. Or the friendships they've formed from teammates they otherwise may have never gotten to know. All these kids have crossed my path and I've lived and learned from all of them. More from some, than others.
I'm honestly torn right now...my heart and head are saying one thing while a few around me say otherwise. The lack of support is disappointing and sad to say the least. My heart is sad because of the lack of support and the fact that where I go from here I will be doing alone without support-but lack of support in education is nothing new. I avoid the subject around a few choice people because they've made their feelings know and I know I don't have the support.
The phrase "one more year" rolls thought my mind. I'd rather have six good, hard working, good hearted dancers than lazy athletes who only make things a priority when they want to. I don't want the past year or two to define me, decide for me. I also don't want to give up just because the going has gotten tough.
When I took this program over 23 years ago it was a small program with a half dozen performances during basketball season. I've fought tooth and nail for respect and a ton of hard work and I've made it a little bit bigger. Has my program run it's course? Is this just a rough patch? I don't want to give it up and hand it over to someone who will destroy it and I leave because of a few bad apples. I feel like I'm running from a fight rather than standing strong. There will always be haters. That's life.
My lack of dance in my life has made me sad and has an affect on my creativity-big time. I'm one of those people who has to create every day. I mean every single day. This can range from organizing to creating something. I need it, I live for it, it's who I am. I still 8-count music and feel the tempo. I still envision moves in my mind with music as well....
The phrase "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" just keeps coming to mind. I'm pretty sure I'm tough as I've made it through every tough day that's came my way in life so far, so I've got a pretty good track record, but so does anyone who is still alive!
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
What are you?
I recently read a story, more like a life lesson, about comparing a carrot, an egg and coffee beans. I like to eat all three! But this was a story about how you react. It goes like this..there are three pans of boiling water, in the first you put the carrot-strong but with the boiling water it become soft and looses it's strength. In the second pan you put an egg-a hard outer shell but liquid on the inside. In the boiling water the egg looks the same on the outside but inside becomes hard and stiff. And finally in the last pan of boiling water you put the coffee beans-the beans are hard and solid but rather than change with the water they change the water.
How do you handle the boiling water and adversity in life? Are you a carrot, egg or coffee bean?
I will admit I vary at times. I'd like to think I'm the coffee bean changing everything around me, making the boiling water smell and taste better than it did before. But I have been a carrot and an egg in the boiling water of life.
The happiest people may not have the best of everything but make the best of what they have-I love and know people like this. Too often we compare ourselves to others. I find this has become a big problem with social media. Too often we compare our lives to others. And honestly I question a lot of what people post. Some people are all perfect and happy. Others are doom and gloom. Like the lady who shared her story of her son with cancer with me a couple of years ago when I stopped in the local Walgreens, often we share our stories at strange times and with strangers because we are afraid to tell those who are close to us-I've done this. My theory is no one wants to hear all your problems and if something great happens I don't want someone to think I'm bragging or wanting attention. Stealth-mode!
Then there are those people who only see every thing as a catastrophe...it is awful and terrible. Being around this kind of person is very draining, hard and often turns people into negative people or turns them away. Life has it's good and bad. If you have a couple of good friends, someone to talk to that helps you through the tough times and laughs with you through the good times you are very blessed. The thing is you have to take the good with the bad and life is not a catastrophe unless it is something like a holocaust or some kind of disaster. Life is not that bad unless you are going through something really bad-my family has faced cancer, illness and death in the past year-the term catastrophe never crossed my mind. We had three weddings and a lot of happiness with those tough times. And we all gathered to celebrate, support and remember-that's life.
So today I'd like to think I'm a coffee bean, making the world around me more colorful, smell better (I did shower and I got new perfume over the weekend!) and full of more flavor! But I'm sure I'll be a carrot and an egg at times too, but for today I'm a coffee bean! May your day and week be boiling water free and if it's not I hope you're a coffee bean!
How do you handle the boiling water and adversity in life? Are you a carrot, egg or coffee bean?
I will admit I vary at times. I'd like to think I'm the coffee bean changing everything around me, making the boiling water smell and taste better than it did before. But I have been a carrot and an egg in the boiling water of life.
The happiest people may not have the best of everything but make the best of what they have-I love and know people like this. Too often we compare ourselves to others. I find this has become a big problem with social media. Too often we compare our lives to others. And honestly I question a lot of what people post. Some people are all perfect and happy. Others are doom and gloom. Like the lady who shared her story of her son with cancer with me a couple of years ago when I stopped in the local Walgreens, often we share our stories at strange times and with strangers because we are afraid to tell those who are close to us-I've done this. My theory is no one wants to hear all your problems and if something great happens I don't want someone to think I'm bragging or wanting attention. Stealth-mode!
Then there are those people who only see every thing as a catastrophe...it is awful and terrible. Being around this kind of person is very draining, hard and often turns people into negative people or turns them away. Life has it's good and bad. If you have a couple of good friends, someone to talk to that helps you through the tough times and laughs with you through the good times you are very blessed. The thing is you have to take the good with the bad and life is not a catastrophe unless it is something like a holocaust or some kind of disaster. Life is not that bad unless you are going through something really bad-my family has faced cancer, illness and death in the past year-the term catastrophe never crossed my mind. We had three weddings and a lot of happiness with those tough times. And we all gathered to celebrate, support and remember-that's life.
So today I'd like to think I'm a coffee bean, making the world around me more colorful, smell better (I did shower and I got new perfume over the weekend!) and full of more flavor! But I'm sure I'll be a carrot and an egg at times too, but for today I'm a coffee bean! May your day and week be boiling water free and if it's not I hope you're a coffee bean!
Monday, May 22, 2017
The fine art of people watching!
**Yes, this is my second post of the day purely because I forgot to post my blog yesterday when I was feeling inspired. So here is Monday's thoughts.
People watching! Some people love to do this but honestly I feel like this is a dying art! My dad loved to watch people-I learned from him. He would patiently wait in the car when my mom was shopping or at an appointment and watch people. He enjoyed just watching.
I enjoy doing this too. I often make up stories, situations or scenarios to go with the people I am observing. And in this day and age people are missing out as they usually have their noses buried in their electronic devices, cell phones, kindles, laptops or whatever. Look up and watch the world around you! You might just learn something!
The idea for today's blog came to me yesterday as I was eating alone at a fast food restaurant. A couple of tables over was a couple with two small children. The older of the two children liked a lot of attention and was pushing his parents buttons as much and as often as he could. The younger child was a patient child who probably was more entertain by his older brother and why he was quieter and better behaved-built in entertainment! I first listened to this young family then I started to watch them out of the corner of my eyes. The parents were patient and in good humor with the challenges of eating out with two little ones. The oldest child wanted to sit at his own table and kept making observations about what was going on outside and the people in the cars in the drive thru. It was humorous and entertaining to watch and listen to this family of four. The parents had a lot of patience with both their children answering questions, politely asking the older child to sit down and eat and praising the younger child for behaving and eating so well. It reminded me of my family when my kids were that age!
In another section of the dining area was an older couple. They took their time sitting there eating and not saying much to one another. In my mind I made them to be very comfortable with each other and not having a need to talk but just being together was enough. I've always wondered if couples every run out of things to talk about.
At a table around the corner from me was another couple, again older. With this couple the female did all the talking and the man just listened. I don't think he could get a word in! The lady was very opinionated and had a lot to say, I didn't eavesdrop but just listened to the tone, the body language of both. I kind of felt sorry for the guy but he ate and nodded and listened for the most part. I really wonder how much he heard!
It was nice to sit there and watch and listen to what was going on around me. I've learned as a parent and as someone who works in education you can learn a lot by listening and watching, sometimes more than you want to. But you can tell a lot about a person by their body language and tone.
I think we all just need to put down our electronic devices look up and watch the world and people around us. You may just be entertained or learn something or you may be able to help someone, all you have to do is watch.
People watching! Some people love to do this but honestly I feel like this is a dying art! My dad loved to watch people-I learned from him. He would patiently wait in the car when my mom was shopping or at an appointment and watch people. He enjoyed just watching.
I enjoy doing this too. I often make up stories, situations or scenarios to go with the people I am observing. And in this day and age people are missing out as they usually have their noses buried in their electronic devices, cell phones, kindles, laptops or whatever. Look up and watch the world around you! You might just learn something!
The idea for today's blog came to me yesterday as I was eating alone at a fast food restaurant. A couple of tables over was a couple with two small children. The older of the two children liked a lot of attention and was pushing his parents buttons as much and as often as he could. The younger child was a patient child who probably was more entertain by his older brother and why he was quieter and better behaved-built in entertainment! I first listened to this young family then I started to watch them out of the corner of my eyes. The parents were patient and in good humor with the challenges of eating out with two little ones. The oldest child wanted to sit at his own table and kept making observations about what was going on outside and the people in the cars in the drive thru. It was humorous and entertaining to watch and listen to this family of four. The parents had a lot of patience with both their children answering questions, politely asking the older child to sit down and eat and praising the younger child for behaving and eating so well. It reminded me of my family when my kids were that age!
In another section of the dining area was an older couple. They took their time sitting there eating and not saying much to one another. In my mind I made them to be very comfortable with each other and not having a need to talk but just being together was enough. I've always wondered if couples every run out of things to talk about.
At a table around the corner from me was another couple, again older. With this couple the female did all the talking and the man just listened. I don't think he could get a word in! The lady was very opinionated and had a lot to say, I didn't eavesdrop but just listened to the tone, the body language of both. I kind of felt sorry for the guy but he ate and nodded and listened for the most part. I really wonder how much he heard!
It was nice to sit there and watch and listen to what was going on around me. I've learned as a parent and as someone who works in education you can learn a lot by listening and watching, sometimes more than you want to. But you can tell a lot about a person by their body language and tone.
I think we all just need to put down our electronic devices look up and watch the world and people around us. You may just be entertained or learn something or you may be able to help someone, all you have to do is watch.
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