Obstacles

 
I'm out of rhythm.  Can't seem to find a routine.  Every day is a different wake up time.  Don't know when to schedule in exercise, scripture study, or blogging.  I'm still reacting to everything as it hits me, instead of preparing for it's impact or perhaps even preventing an obstacle from slapping me in the face.  I'm hoping time will help me sort out our new routines. 

In the meantime, I wish my college boy was scheduling time for blogging.  He could write of funny stories that happened on campus, or detail what he ate for dinner last night, or acknowledge if he has clean clothes to wear or talk about obstacles he has to overcome.  I'd be a "follower" for sure, never miss a post, and maybe even make an occasional comment.  But since it's time to officially cut the apron strings, I'll settle for the occasional phone call.  I'll climb the obstacle that is called letting go.

Two Items of Business

Item One:

I was a substitute teacher for first grade today.  At the end of the day a child said to me:  "Mrs. Clark, you are so weird.  Promise me you'll never come back."  Nothing like a slice of humble pie. 


Item Two:

My son leaves for college in the morning.  Nothing like two slices of humble pie in one day. 

Press Forward

Phineas and Ferb are always telling me "there's 104 days of summer vacation. . ." but we only got 80.  My kids have already put a big, red X over 8 school days and only have 172 to go.

Schedules are crazy again.  Nights are short.  Days are long.  But there's one thing I have decided I must do, and that is press forward.  As Timon once said, "You got to put your past behind you."  You must learn from the past, mind you, then continue to press forward.  There is always hope in a new day.  Most things in life, dare I say all things in life, can be overcome. 

So as Kuzco and Pacha once said before they fell over a waterfall with sharp rocks at the bottom:  "Bring it on."

 

I Swear It's True

The Washington All-Star boys of summer made their way to San Bernardino today to compete in the Western Regional Baseball Tournament.  One of those boys happens to carry my DNA.

He called tonight to say they'd arrived safely.  Then he asked, "Mom, is this heaven?"  And I replied, "No, it's Iowa."

Kidding.

He actually said, "Mom, this field we're gonna play on is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. . .
besides you."

I swear it's true.

Reflection

It's been a year since I had to brace my emotions and brace my son physically.  It's hard to believe we can put a big red X over the past year.  Only five more to go.  I have to say it's certainly gone smoother than expected, and that is due mostly to my son's positive attitude.  I'm so thankful for his discipline and courage. 

Reflection of the past year reminded me of the time I ran into my husband's grandmother in the church hallway one Sunday afternoon.  She asked what we were doing in town and I told her my sorrowful scoliosis news while fighting back tears.  When my story was complete she continued on her way and said, "If you're going to have kids, you're going to have trials."  I was left with an open mouth, fully expecting sympathy - not sound advice.

The past year has taught me that a grandmother who's had her share of trials in a lifetime (like losing her husband in a plane crash shortly after she had their ninth child) knows what she's talking about.  Life is full of trials and the key to getting through them is positivity and hope.

I hope for a time when we can give the brace the boot.  Until then, we'll continue to slap the brace on and slap a smile on our face while we're at it.   

It's Done

 
I did it. It's done.  Finally.  Remember this post from January? Well I just now got around to opening the box and getting out those plastic gloves.  Only I didn't use them.  I wrapped a towel around my shoulders, gave the plastic gloves to my 10-year old daughter and told her to "go nuts."

Know what?  She did a great job!  My husband came home from work and didn't even notice I had washed that gray right out of my hair - which is a good thing because it means we matched my natural color really well AND that my gray wasn't so obvious that coloring it made me look different.  Exactly what I was hoping for. 

I also got a coupon from Great Clips in the mail for a $6.99 haircut so I cruised on over and got some layers to improve the curliness of my curls.

Amazing what you can do with a five dollar box of color and a seven dollar haircut.  Negotiation IS the name of my game (even if it does take me six months to get it done). 

Soda and Chocolate

 
Anyone who knows me knows I have a hankerin for the sweeter things in life.  As proof, I must tell you that once a Relief Society sister called to ask me if I would lead a group of women in early morning exercise.  I respectfully declined the invitation but offered to lead a group of women in the early evening who wanted to eat treats.

My treat of choice for the past 25 years has been soda, Coca Cola to be exact, and chocolate.  Recently, June 10th to be exact, I gave up caffeine and haven't looked back.  It was a healthier choice I felt I had to make.  Chocolate, however, is still on the menu (in moderation of course) and perhaps can even do me some good?

Just to mix things up, I threw caution to the wind while driving through Sonic and mixed my two favorite things:  soda and chocolate.  That's right - Sprite with chocolate flavoring.  And you know what?  Mmmmm, mmmmm, good.  It was very Sprite-tasting with an after taste of chocolate.  Right up my sweet tooth alley.