WOW, it seems like forever since I've blogged. And, looking back on my last entry, it has been quite some time. So, where have I been?
*Planning mini lessons each night for lessons I'm modeling
*Reading professional books to try to better understand it all
*Going to baseball games and swim meets
*Finishing my TYES responsibilities
*Preparing for mom's visit--clean windows!
*Attending Shrek--awesome!
*Trying to cook again
*Decorating for fall
*A&M "stuff"
*Encouraging Ky to work on her scholarship stuff!
*Thinking about XMAS lists
*Teaching classes
So, I've been a little busy. I'll try to write more often as I've missed you!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
13 Doesn't Have to be an Unlucky Number
OCT 13, 2010--Today when I realized it was the 13th, even though not a Friday the 13th, I wondered would it be an unlucky day. Some may think, yes, but as I've had a few minutes to process the day's events, I think no.
OCT 13--Tonight Kylie talked to her club swimming coach, who she calls Dad #2 about possibly stopping swimming. She's been torn with this question for the past 6 months, but always talked herself into "I can do it!". It just never happened, she never regained her love for watching the black lines night after night. With as much courage as she could muster, she talked to Coach Dennis and made the decision to stop club swimming. She'll continue on her high school team so she can play water polo. She plans to continue to teach LTS lessons for Team YES and help others develop the "love for swimming." Although I saw it coming, I guess I didn't realize the impact this would have on me. Ky's love of the sport helped me take on new roles and pour my heart into the team because she loved it. I will never regret that time, even though there were many headaches along the way, especially JB! I look at this as God's way of helping me prepare for Ky's graduation. Rather than everything ending at the same time for Ky, this is God's way of helping me prepare one little step at a time. A chapter in our family has closed, but that doesn't mean it's unlucky.
OCT 13--Tonight was Kole's last middle school cross country meet. He has never "loved" cross country like Ky loved swimming, but he participated to be part of the group and stay in shape for baseball. Although he had a goal of running under 13 minutes and "leaving it all at the park", he missed his goal. He was very upset with himself not ending the way he wanted to. He realized he maybe didn't give it his all, and to me that was a victory in itself. A chapter in our family has closed, but that doesn't mean it's unlucky.
In high school, Kev wore #13 in baseball. He never once thought it was unlucky, and he was pretty dang good. So, tonight after chapters closing, I too don't think of 13 as unlucky. Rather, I'm going to look at 13 as opening a new chapter with lots of lucky happenings in those chapters.
OCT 13--Tonight Kylie talked to her club swimming coach, who she calls Dad #2 about possibly stopping swimming. She's been torn with this question for the past 6 months, but always talked herself into "I can do it!". It just never happened, she never regained her love for watching the black lines night after night. With as much courage as she could muster, she talked to Coach Dennis and made the decision to stop club swimming. She'll continue on her high school team so she can play water polo. She plans to continue to teach LTS lessons for Team YES and help others develop the "love for swimming." Although I saw it coming, I guess I didn't realize the impact this would have on me. Ky's love of the sport helped me take on new roles and pour my heart into the team because she loved it. I will never regret that time, even though there were many headaches along the way, especially JB! I look at this as God's way of helping me prepare for Ky's graduation. Rather than everything ending at the same time for Ky, this is God's way of helping me prepare one little step at a time. A chapter in our family has closed, but that doesn't mean it's unlucky.
OCT 13--Tonight was Kole's last middle school cross country meet. He has never "loved" cross country like Ky loved swimming, but he participated to be part of the group and stay in shape for baseball. Although he had a goal of running under 13 minutes and "leaving it all at the park", he missed his goal. He was very upset with himself not ending the way he wanted to. He realized he maybe didn't give it his all, and to me that was a victory in itself. A chapter in our family has closed, but that doesn't mean it's unlucky.
In high school, Kev wore #13 in baseball. He never once thought it was unlucky, and he was pretty dang good. So, tonight after chapters closing, I too don't think of 13 as unlucky. Rather, I'm going to look at 13 as opening a new chapter with lots of lucky happenings in those chapters.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Heavy Heart of a 17 Year Old
It is so hard to watch my own daughter carry such a heavy heart. She always wants to give 100% and I think she's feeling she can't do that this year without letting something go. She wants to continue to do so well in school, but can't possibly keep going on no gas each night. Swimming used to her "outlet" to release her stress; however, now swimming just seems to be one more stressor for her, one more thing to fit in on MON and TUES.
If it is time for her to hang up her goggles, then I support her decision. Swimming has been such a big chapter of her life, it is hard to see her end it unhappy. She wants someone to tell her what to do; however, this is a decision she has to make for herself and no one else-- not her parents, not her friends, and not her 2nd dad "Coach Denny". She has to do what is right for Kylie.
If it is time for her to hang up her goggles, then I support her decision. Swimming has been such a big chapter of her life, it is hard to see her end it unhappy. She wants someone to tell her what to do; however, this is a decision she has to make for herself and no one else-- not her parents, not her friends, and not her 2nd dad "Coach Denny". She has to do what is right for Kylie.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Random Thoughts
Why can't the Houston weather always be this nice?!
Do I really want to consider being an AP when seeing all the discipline they deal with?
Would I want to be a 5-year old again?
Why recite the Pledge of Allegiance if you don't know the meaning?
What's so hard about reading teacher directions!?
Why don't parents come watch their swimmers swim their SR year, even after a "cheer leader" email from me encouraging their support and photo ops?
Why does the media only focus on the bad?
Hope Shrek is a good production!
Don't think the blinds will get cleaned or windows washed before mom's visit.
Will the A&M visit be as much of a WHOOP the 2nd time as the first?
A Friday night with a tuna sandwich is not as good as a Friday night with Mexican.
Can the freezer really be almost empty of the "cookie stash"?
Do I really want to consider being an AP when seeing all the discipline they deal with?
Would I want to be a 5-year old again?
Why recite the Pledge of Allegiance if you don't know the meaning?
What's so hard about reading teacher directions!?
Why don't parents come watch their swimmers swim their SR year, even after a "cheer leader" email from me encouraging their support and photo ops?
Why does the media only focus on the bad?
Hope Shrek is a good production!
Don't think the blinds will get cleaned or windows washed before mom's visit.
Will the A&M visit be as much of a WHOOP the 2nd time as the first?
A Friday night with a tuna sandwich is not as good as a Friday night with Mexican.
Can the freezer really be almost empty of the "cookie stash"?
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Living a Dog's Life
For those of you who don't have pets, this blog might not be for you. (You've been warned!) However, for those that do have pets, you'll get this.
There are some things that KJ does and we don't get it--why are you barking, I'm right here! You can't be hungry again! Do you really have to bark between 8:30-9:00 every night telling us you are ready to go to bed--just go without us!
But, there are some things she does that are sneaky and we can't catch her! She knows not to get on furniture (unless of course my dad begs her to jump on his lap when he visits). I guess she doesn't think of our patio furniture as furniture. The loveseat out back has lots of evidence of KJ enjoying a "comfy couch", yet we've never seen her on the furniture.
Well this week I ran by the house one day in between schools to grab a sandwich for lunch. Usually when we come home, KJ hears the alarm and is at the back door ready to greet us. I even made quite a bit of noise in the kitchen, still no greeting at the back door. So, I looked through the window by the loveseat, and sure enough GUILTY!!! She thought she owned the place!
And now, just this morning, as I'm sitting out back blogging, she climbed up on the loveseat and pretended it was her throne again. Such a dog's life!
There are some things that KJ does and we don't get it--why are you barking, I'm right here! You can't be hungry again! Do you really have to bark between 8:30-9:00 every night telling us you are ready to go to bed--just go without us!
But, there are some things she does that are sneaky and we can't catch her! She knows not to get on furniture (unless of course my dad begs her to jump on his lap when he visits). I guess she doesn't think of our patio furniture as furniture. The loveseat out back has lots of evidence of KJ enjoying a "comfy couch", yet we've never seen her on the furniture.
Well this week I ran by the house one day in between schools to grab a sandwich for lunch. Usually when we come home, KJ hears the alarm and is at the back door ready to greet us. I even made quite a bit of noise in the kitchen, still no greeting at the back door. So, I looked through the window by the loveseat, and sure enough GUILTY!!! She thought she owned the place!
And now, just this morning, as I'm sitting out back blogging, she climbed up on the loveseat and pretended it was her throne again. Such a dog's life!
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