Memories

There was a comment left on my blog a few days ago that has had me reminiscing about the good old days of high school. Then on the way to the grocery store, acting like the responsible adult that I think I have become, with my menus/shopping list in hand, I heard Forever Young on the radio (favorite song of one of my boyfriends). When I heard that song, I could have been right back on top of his car dancing with said boy. I wasn't driving down the freeway in Texas in an SUV with a kid in the back and two in school. I was 17 and in love. It wasn't even like looking at a snapshot of time. I could remember everything I felt or that I was thinking or that we did when I heard that song.

Well for our upcoming Enrichment activity, we are supposed to bring something from high school to "Bridge the Gap" between the old women and the young, so I was very motivated to go find something (even though I don't save much). Long story short, it was a trip down memory lane (with a slight detour cleaning out the closet underneath the stairs because that's where the keepsakes are so they don't get blown away in a tornadao, as well as the 72-hour kits which a mouse had got into, so it all had to be cleaned out). Anyway, I have been thinking about all the kids I knew and who I'm still in touch with. Some have died (Jason York, Bobby Langdon, Devon Lawson, and probably a host of other gangster friends). Some I still have contact with, but there are so many I thought I would never lose touch with and now I don't know where they are! So if any of you know where Gilbert, Jared, and Tom are - pass my blog address on to them. Or Sherri, Cathleen, and Jennifer. Or Erik, Mike, Larry, James, Jerry, & Tim. Or Brock, Brian, and Heath. I guess I mostly know know where the girls are - Michelle, Leslie, Becke, Belinda, and one boy - Andrew (whose signature I still have in case he is famous one day - I seriously thought about chucking that one today).

I chose to bring my Senior book for Enrichment - the one Josten's gave every senior when they bought their announcements. It has all the pictures, mementos, memories, tassles, tales, Senior wills (how was I so naive to not know what some of those boys were saying?!? I thought we were more innocent than the kids today!), and buttons from the good old days. NOT that I would want to go back, but thanks for the great memories:)

A big huge creep!

Caroline went over to her friends house to play on Wednesday. This morning she was telling us about the play fort that has a tire swing, which she loved. But, she said, there is a big creep in the backyard. A what? I sent my child to play at a house that has a creep in the backyard? Oh, the creep is huge with so much water in it, it's like the ocean! A creek:) Thank goodness, no creeps in the backyard. She can keep that friend.

Snow?!? In Texas?!? In March?!?

Kassie in her snow chair with her snow man.


Oreo, snowman, Sydney, & Kassie.

Sydney was first out. This is her bulb she planted in 2006 and it came back this "spring". She was so upset when the weather changed and cut it's life short.

Ironically enough, we just bought tickets to go to Vegas for Spring break which included Monday the 24th. That day was on our calendar as a snow day which we hadn't used as of Tuesday night so we bought the plane tickets! Now the kids are missing school. Whatever. They're missing school today and of course with the sun out, the streets are clear so we're going to go somewhere fun. I don't know where that is yet but I'll blog about it after we do it.

AGAIN?!?

What's with the linen closet? Seriously, I know her bed isn't as comfortable as mine but the linen closet? Maybe it's a new trend. I mean imagine how much money you could make if you opened a hotel that only had to be equipped with a linen closet for the person to sleep in. Think about it and remember I get a percentage of the profits if the idea works out. Meanwhile, I'm going to put my kid back in bed and watch American Idol. Maybe I'll eat a few York Pepperming Patty cookies - those are my favorite, next to Haagen Dazs dark chocolate ice cream bars. This baby will be born loving chocolate, just like the others!

On the Serious Side

I know I posted the Beatles song two weeks ago but I just can't get the idea out of my head. One of the greatest commandments it to love thy neighbor as thyself. That love motivates every other action we take. We bring dinners, fix fences, babysit, move, listen, and every other thing we do for the people we love. Our neighbor is everyone else we come in contact with in our lives, especially the ones that we aren't particularly fond of. It's easy to do nice things for people we love, or even like. It's the ones that make us crazy or hurt us that become the test of our belief in that great commandment.

This past week my sister-in-law had a mental breakdown. Her husband (Dan's brother) passed away unexpectedly in December and since then she has been in a downward spiral, offending people with her behavior in terrible ways. One famliy in particular that was deeply hurt was a family that had been loving and helping she and David since they met. This family is an example of following the commandment to love thier nieghbor, even in the worst of times. Even though they were very hurt by my sister-in-laws behavior towards them, they forgave her immediately and have been taking care of her dogs (boxers who no one else will go near) since she has been in the hospital. They didn't even hesitate.

If everyone in the world could be this loving and forgiving, can you imagine what an amazing place this world would be?!? Their example makes me want to do better, be better, love better. Thank you Petersons.

The End of the Previously Current Bane of my Existence

Life can return to normal now that the Destination Imagination competition is over. That is a huge load off my mind (since I was the default coach of the 3rd grade girls team because I said I would "help" and that turned into taking over because I was the only parent who didn't "work") and actually the topic of my post today. Not the actual competition but the parents involved in it.

*Disclaimer: What I'm about to post is the sole opinion of the writer, who also believes that parents have to do what they think best for their child. It's just their version of "think" and "best" that I intend to comment on.

First, parents who work and throw their kids in activities because they don't have anything better to do after school. Then, parents who work and feel guilty about working so they spoil their kids (not only with things but also never putting their foot down). Lastly, parents who work and still want to tell you how to do something they don't have time to do so you should do it for them. Also, there are working parents who do all of the above. They practically want you to raise their kid!

Also, there are parents (mostly moms) who don't work and make their kids do every activity that can possibly be fit into one day while making snack bags and matching T-shirts for said activity. Totally out of control. These are the kids who win the science fair because their parents did it for them. These are the kids who win Destination Imagination because their parents sign the "No Interference" Contract but clearly don't understand what it means.

As you can tell, I have issues. And like I said, I think parents should do what they "think best" as to raising their kids. But can we have a little moderation and balance? I don't ask other people to raise my kids. And I'm all for letting my kids try and fail or succeed on their own terms instead of doing it for them because I won't always be there.

That said, I am not a perfect parent by any stretch of the imagination. But when I asked Kassie if she wanted to do Destination Imagination again next year, she said it was the best day of her life but she wanted a different team next year:) You really can't beat the best day of her life, no matter what you think of all the other parents involved.

All You Need Is Love

Last night at book club, we nearly solved all the worlds problems. Only thing is, the Beatles already did it. Genius.

The Beatles

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.