pre occupied

Dear Occupy Wall Street People,


I have been thinking about some different things that you could occupy...besides private parks and protests around the country.  I'll start with simple ideas and then try to take suggestions to the next level.


1)  A job.  These are rewarding activities that pay you.  Apparently there is a shortage of these, so if you don't find one, try starting a business.  Occupy the end of a dog leash, lawnmower, snow plow (snow is coming soon), or just think up your own idea.  Steve Jobs started one and it worked out well for him.  Don't give up if the first one fails either.  Also, you can have more than one business if necessary.  If it freaks you out to work for a large corporation, stick with something small.  


2)  A volunteer position.  Take that energy used to protest and actively make the world a better place.  If you put that protest sign down and picked up a paint brush, gathered donations or sat with a family in a trauma center, then you would be making an immediate difference in the world around you.  Food pantries, hospitals, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, rescue missions, humane societies~they are all looking for help.  You would feel better about yourself, too.  Maybe then you wouldn't be so angry about your life...you would realize some people have it worse than you.


3)  The library.  Start reading.  It's been said you'll be the same person in 5 years except for the people you know and the books you read. Read the country's founding fathers, classic Greek literature or something about really successful people who started from nothing or a biography or two.  Libraries are free, too.  


4)  A shower.  Some of you need to clean up.  It's hard to respect people who don't appreciate the cleaning power shampoo.  Don't worry, people won't mistake you for a successful banker if you are clean.


5)  A music class.  Clearly you drummers were not members of any quality marching band nor were you the top of your percussion section in school.


6)  Etiquette class.  When you take over other individual private property, leave a mess behind you, shout at people, disrupt people's daily lives, you are perceived as rude.  If you can't afford a class (because you don't have #1), then go to #3. 


7)  Go on a retreat...by yourself.  Ask yourself the following question:  do I want to be remembered because I sat down and occupied or because I got up and did something that actively changed the lives of those in need around me?

Meet Prep...

Leotard, warm up pants, team jersey, hair scrunchy, comb, bobby pins, hair bands, water bottle, organic chocolate milk, apple, cheesy crackers, hair spray...

...and nerves of steel...

...and guts...

...and little cute smiles...

ready, set, go Team go!!!

you are seven

i can't believe it. seven. weren't you just 15 months old? you had a toothy grin, chapped round cheeks and a wispy comb over. i was overwhelmed by the miracle of becoming your mother. i am overjoyed to be your mother.

favorites of being seven:

color: red
thing to do on a birthday: open presents
thing to do most days: hide in the fort you made in the closet to read & play
sports: gymnastics and ice skating
foods: croutons and jiao zi (dumplings)
place to travel: go to China
animals: hamsters, bunnies, dogs
princess: Sleeping Beauty
holiday: Christmas
song: "Savior He Can Move the Mountains...He is Mighty to Save"

you have:
lost 3 teeth and had one extracted

you want to be:
a doctor

you want:
4 kids

you think:
everything should end with a round-off, back handspring...including sentences and meals

Project Thankful Day 15

I am thankful for her. She is my baby girl. She starts 1st grade tomorrow.

How bittersweet.

She was a delightful toddler. She is wonderful, enthusiastic and sensitive. Time goes by so fast...

Project Thankful Day 14

Today, I am thankful for my garden.  So fun to see things start as seeds and mature into amazing flowers...

Project Thankful Day 13

Today I am thankful for Fridays...after work we sat down to enjoy a little preseason football...

Little Dude was all about watching the Packers. They could use him on the left side of the offensive line right now...

Sissy, on the other hand, was determined to conquer her back walkover tonight. She practiced and practiced and practiced...

Much to her delight, she got it!

Now on to the front walk over...

Project Thankful Day 12

Today I am thankful for our family.  We have been able to see several members of Runner Boy's side of the family this summer.  Our kids have loved the chance to see everyone and spend time together.

This is a handmade tea set that Kate received from Auntie R.  She is in love with it and has been playing with it and guarding it with her life.

Would you like a slice of lemon with your tea?

Uncle K made this for Sam. Sam is very proud to be one of the only 5 year olds in the country with a handmade airplane from his uncle. (I secretly think his uncle is nurturing a love of airplane in his young nephew.) Sam's new plane has been flying all over the house and even "landed" at the neighbor's for awhile.

Auntie R and Uncle K are 2 very gifted, talented, creative, encouraging people. I love having them visit because I am always encouraged and energized to work on our home and be creative after being around them.

Kate cried for along time when she realized their visit was coming to an end. She is now planning on using Skype, FB, texting, phone calls, e-mails and letters to keep in touch with her Aunt...

Project Thankful Day 11

Today I am thankful for beautiful, wide-open spaces.  I love these rustic, beautiful, old ranches.

Westcliffe, Colorado.

Project Thankful Day 10

Today I am thankful for my first white water rafting adventure...and that I survived it!

First, there was Julie, our guide. I like Julie. She's strong. She's got guts, too.

There were 7 of us to start with.

Please note...no husband or children were involved in this adventure. The husband does not find this type of thing thrilling. The children were not allowed.

Julie told us what to do. Her goal was to keep us in the raft. That was our goal, too.

These rapids were amazing and heart stopping...

I am not sure I have ever had so much fun...

This is our raft heading into the "Three Rocks" rapid...

About this time it became evident that we were not all going to stay in the raft. We failed to obtain our goal. If you look close, you will see random oars in the rapids. There were people attached to them~the people were no longer in the raft.

This is Julie and I clinging to the raft (she was my best friend at this point). Shortly after this picture was taken, Julie was also dislodged from the raft. What a lonely feeling to be the only soul clinging to a raft. This is when the prayers began going heaven-ward.

Alas, we were all reunited on the bank of the Arkansas River...2 swam to shore...5 were picked up by other rafts.

We retooled our team, I got a splash jacket to keep warmer...and we headed back out again for another 7 miles of fun.

Fun...

Fast...

Wet...

Great memories...new friends...Arkansas River Tours...

Project Thankful Day 9

today I am thankful for dreams.

when you're a kid, it's easy to dream.

my little dude wants to be like *Andy Schleck*. he was second in the tour de france last year. he is an amazing biking machine, especially in the mountains.

in little dude's mind, he really thinks his dreams can be attained.

i still have dreams, too. i find it easier to give up on mine, however. there are many reasons to give up on dreams, many of them are legitimate. unfortunately, i think i think i give up too easily.

little dude still believes he has options. to be a bike racer, football player, hockey goalie, race car driver or to be just like his daddy.

sometimes i forget there are options...different ways to fulfill dreams that seem elusive. while the realization of those dreams may not be exactly as I had pictured in my mind, they may be better, richer, or deeper.

options. creativity. resources.

my kids don't give up easily when they want something. they go at it from many angles, ask for help, persist, hammer away...

so that some day...

this...

may be one of these...

Project Thankful Day 8

Today I am thankful for him. Daddy.

He loves, plays, teaches, coaches, explains, kisses, encourages, guides, tickles and hugs like no one.

My kids are blessed beyond measure.

I am proud of their Daddy!

Project Thankful Day 7

Growth

It started out as a dry sunflower seed.  Bird food.  A delicious snack after roasting.

Look at it now.  It's been growing since older daughter planted it and checked it's growth each day.

It survived being dropped and a dry spell or two.

Yesterday we transplanted it in a special place in the yard.  Both kids gave it a deep drink of cool water.

Growth is miraculous.   Whether in a plant or in my own life, it's amazing to see the changes.

Like oldest daughter, I often check my life day to day to see if there is positive growth.  Am I more loving, more confident, more patient, more creative, more, more, more?

Yet, if I read journals from years ago there have been many changes.

growth is slow

growth endures drought, winter, pruning and the warm sun

growth transforms a dried out snack into a glorious flower

Lord Stanley's Cup

"When I gwow up, I whanna be a weal hockey player."

Project Thankful Day 6

Today I am thankful for this:

I am thankful for my "cleaning crew", but today it's about the car.

Actually, it's a little worn out, scratched and makes strange noises.

Its value goes beyond getting us from point A to B.

It is a reminder that I am not what I drive. (Although I do feel worn out and scratched.)

It's the first car we got when I finished school and got "The Job". I was so proud of it.

But, it's not me. It doesn't define me, my success or my value. Sometimes I find it hard to separate my material goods with measuring my value and level of success.

If only I had a new one...after all, I have a good job...don't I deserve it?

Or, is it better to remember there are people in the world with real needs...who are made in the image of God and live in deplorable conditions.

I am thankful I have a car. A new used one will come in the future, but in the meantime, I need to remember to be thankful for it.

And I am very thankful for my pit crew.

Project Thankful Day 5

Today I am thankful for this:

beauty

Project Thankful Day 4

I am thankful for cookies.

I made them with my kids.

They are good cooks.

They are messy, too.

Project Thankful Day 3

I am thankful for running shoes.

They have represented training, tears, triumph and achieving a goal.

They also remind me not to run from my Father.

They remind me to run The Race set before me.

They remind me to run to Him.

Project Thankful Day 2

I am thankful for him.

Loves: football, water, NASCAR, his Daddy, watermelon, bike rides,

Dislikes: being "interwupted", things that "take toooooo long", vegetables (except carrots), being hungry, taking naps.

Project Thankful Day 1

I am so thankful for her...

She is my twirly - girly!

Under Construction

Just call him *Bob*the*Builder!

Memories...

I love flowers.  I love our family.

These flower came from my in-laws' yard before they sold their home.

They bring back happy memories.

I love that my yard can create memories each day...and remind me of my family.

Easter fashion & fun...

This year she picked out her own dress...

...and his shirt...

Thanks to our special neighbor, they had a great egg hunt with their good pals!

Eggstravaganza

This year 27 eggs were were the canvas for my 2 little artists...
Sam decided to play football after he was done...please note the "eye black". If you would like duplicate the eye black look, use painter's tape.

K could not put enough sparkles on this egg:

Here is an overview of her work:

Runner Boy likes to surprise me with flowers...he's now teaching our little dude the value of flowers for the ladies. They brought me flowers recently that the little dude picked out.

They brightened my day and my kitchen. Thanks boys!