life...

last week I...

...comforted a patient in the trauma bay at the hospital...I asked if the patient was scared...they replied..."no, it's in the good Lord's hands..."

...rounded on that very patient the next day in the ICU...the patient started telling me cute little jokes...

...whacked my shin on the fluoroscopic machine in the O.R....almost got a fracture while trying to help treat one...

...hugged a patient who told me about being married to the spouse they lost after 56 years...cancer sucks...

...was reminded that people don't just have physical pain...

...learned to sit on the edge of a patient's bed and listen...

I will learn more this week.

I hope I don't hit my tibia on the x-ray machine again...

Celebrate!

Last Sunday was Little Gymnast's last gymnastics meet at her current level. Her cheering section included her parents, brother, Grandma S and one of her teachers from preschool & 4K. She said having a teacher there made her nervous. (the rest of us were chopped liver, I guess...)

It was her best meet to date...she scored 1st in all events and in the all-around competition.

She has worked so hard this season and learned alot. She grew with a coach with high expectations, strict discipline and a strong work ethic.

There were days when she never thought she would learn a new skill, but she never gave up...she practiced both in the gym and at home...

She sat in the stands and cheered, encouraged and celebrated her teammates when her turn to perform was over...

She watched the "big girls" (higher level gymnasts) and admired them...following them around some days like a little puppy...

She did more sit-ups, planks, stretches, frog leaps, v-ups, splits, push-ups, pull-ups, and drills than we can count...

She is blessed with physical talent that has nothing to do with us...but we are so blessed to watch her develop her talents...

So, what better way to celebrate your wins with your Dad and a can of whipped cream!?

Who needs hot chocolate as a vehicle for your whipped cream when your Dad just shoots it right in?

She's begging for just a little more...can you say no to that look?

Her Dad could not say no...he folded like origami...

Congratulations, Peanut! You worked hard and we are so proud of you!

First Travel Meet

Last weekend we traveled as a family to Little Gymnast's first "away" meet. We decided it would be fun to spend a weekend together in Indianapolis a few weeks prior to the Superbowl.

Much to Little Dude's delight, our 17th floor hotel room overlooked Lucas Oil Field. He pronounced it, "The best room ever!" He also suggested that we ought to just live in that hotel room forever! Who wouldn't want a great view, a pool,an amazing workout room and a maid everyday? I think he is on to something...

Runner Boy and Little Dude settled right in.

Runner Boy decided to photo bomb our picture...

We were at a gymnastics meet when a track meet broke out...she's got quite a kick at the end of a sprint. Clearly she needed to work out some energy after we arrived in Indy.

We had time to explore the hotel, downtown and a lovely church before competition...

It's important to nourish yourself properly prior to competition. So she perched on a stool overlooking the $tarbuck's barista waiting for her chocolate milk.

With so many gymnasts at the meet, we had great opportunities to watch different levels compete, cheer on her teammates and meet new friends.

Little Gymnast was so excited to see her beloved Aunt & Uncle there, too.

Every time she goes out to compete, we ask her to do two things:
1) do your best
2) have fun

She did both of those things in Indy. We are proud of your effort, your medals and your sportsmanship!

Little Dude, you are now part of the fraternity of brothers who have endured such competition!

Your sister will have to attend your activities with grace...she owes you one!

As we begin 2012...it is time to take a moment or two to look back on 2011...

January 2011...the Packers won the Super Bowl and Bucky...did not fare so well at the Rose Bowl...come to think of it...Bucky didn't do so well in 2012 at the Rose Bowl either...

February...a Valentine Princess...

March...2011 was a bad year to be a crocus

April...blowing bubbles on Easter...

...always wear "eye black" while coloring eggs...you never know when a football game will break out...

May...hockey?!

June 2011...training for the Tour de Tundra starts young...

July...the birthday boy celebrates with a cowboy party...

August...summer comes to an end and school is on the horizon...little dude is thrilled...

September...celebrating her birthday with a family night...

October...a cute kitty gets to trick or treat with *Charles Woodson*!

We celebrated Turkey Day with our family and K got to go down the slide with her littlest cousin...

December 2011...after watching HGTV, they decorated their own gingerbread houses.

So thankful for the blessings of 2011...grateful to God...shaped by the challenges of the year past.

On to 2012...

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?

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...