Category Archives: Life

The marathon that is sobriety

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I had the blessing of attending a gratitude dinner with my Hubs this weekend for AA.  It was an area-wide event and easily attended by 200+ people.  Tables of 8, dinner of Thanksgiving foods (appropriately themed) and a desert table groaning under the redonkulous amounts of sugar and butter.  It was a pleasure to put faces to names of the Hubs friends, just fantastic people.  A few observances of  mine throughout the evening:

  • Coffee.  Water.  Lots and lots of coffee and water.
  • Laughter.  Smiles.  Tons.  No grumpy, long faces.  Joy.
  • Introductions everywhere (thank God for nametags!)
  • Rekindled friendships.

There was a speaker who gave his story of 30+ years of sobriety.  A lovely, 70-something man with at times an emotionally shaky voice as he recalled his life, peppered with witty comments and hindsight observances.   There was no “massive event” in his life that is present in many alcoholic stories (and drug stories); mainly a life of alcohol-centered living, obnoxious behavior and a wife (and family) that had enough.  His message:  there doesn’t need to be a “massive event” to stop drinking, but if you have repeated comments, suggestions, pleas from family and friends to “do something about your drinking”, it’s a red flag.  Sadly, not everyone sees it until it is too late.

At the end of the evening there was a sobriety countdown.  Starting with the most years sober (52) and counting down to the shortest span of sobriety (2 days).  It was humbling, impressive and hopeful and I found myself tearing up and that marathon that those with the least sobriety had ahead of them and yet with the amazing support in that room……hopeful in that they had every tool available to them to take each day….one day at a time.

Sadly, we did not win the 50/50 drawing…shucks!!!  $350!!!  However, I sure came away richer than I arrived.

Hebrews 12:1  

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Volun-cheer

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Once upon a time, long, long ago….I volunteered.  A lot. ” Pre-kids”  volunteering  in the Junior League, up to 2 kids and still the league and then onto the schools.  I enjoyed it.  Stepping out of my “box”, helping, guiding, building, painting, serving, I really enjoyed it.  Then, along came a couple more kiddos and back to working outside the home and ‘POOF’ went the volunteering (although I did get some kindergarten hours in for each kiddie).

Life was so busy I never missed it.  Who had time??  To tell the truth, I don’t even feel guilty anymore when there’s a table of volunteer sheets waiting to be filled, I just glance and walk on by.  This season of my life “no” is acceptable.  It is a word I’ve grown used to using.

When our daughter’s cheer competition was a couple of weeks away I had a lapse in reality and agreed to help out at the all-day event.  (The added bonus of not only being able to interact with our girl throughout the day, but getting in for free, free reign of the whole place,  and FREE food–breakfast, coffee, lunch and beverages–SCORE!)  What can I say, I’m a sucker for FREE (and my girl).

The downside of this volunteer role:  having to be at the civic center @ 6:15 a.m.  On a Sunday no less.  It’s a 20-25 minute ride.  However, apparently all the lights are on sensor triggers at that time because we had nothing but green the whole way.  Putting me there right on time since I left at my usual 15 minutes later than planned.

The cool side of this volunteer role:  I forgot how much volunteers contribute to making things run.  Holy moly.  It was fun to see all the different jobs taking place, but I absolutely had the best one…..”Tour Guide,/Line Leader” for the cheer squads.  Bringing our daughter’s squad to book check, pictures, stretch, warm up and then the hallway of hell prior to watching them perform from the floor was the best.  Encouraging these girls who’ve worked so hard for months, calming nerves, handing out hugs and celebrating after a great performance was just too rich.  Escorting two other groups through, one squad of 1st graders and another of high schoolers was less-emotionally involved but no less heart-warming and fun with the silliness of 6 year olds and 16 year olds.

At the end of the day, my ears definitely lost a few decibels of range and I really, reaLLY, REALLY don’t need to hear Katy Perry “Roar” any time soon, but it was good.  Very good.  I’m not saying I’ll be Mrs. Volunteer of the Year anytime soon, but I may actually linger a little longer over those volunteer papers next time.  Maybe.  Just maybe.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Friday-eve

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Fall. Definitely a favorite season!!!

Fall. Definitely a favorite season!!!

Friday is my favorite day of the week and since it’s Thursday night, I’m pretty pumped.  And then I’m off to bed.  This whole working out at 5 ish a.m. is a bit of an adjustment.  Big change from 6 a.m.  And even bigger on Tues and Thurs when I get up at 430 a.m.  for the 515a.m. spin class.  Listen, if I have to be up before 5, I’m having some coffee by gosh.  And a big cup.  

So, I’m just taking a deep breath because tomorrow night is the Girl Scout mall lock-in.  Perfect, right?  A bunch of tweeny girls overnight.  In a mall.  With a DJ. And crafts.  And snacks.  Oh. And shopping.   That requires a drop off of approximately 9:30 p.m. and a pick up of roughly 5-6 a.m.  OUCH.  girlfriend will be sleeping in and clearly not going to watch little sister cheer at her football game Saturday morning.  Saturday vigil Mass for our crew it will be because……

Sunday?  Well, cheer competition.  All.  Flippin’.  Day.  And somewhere along the way, I must have been nostalgic for volunteering and raised my hand.  Yup.  Sure did.  Idiot.  So, my foolish self will be at the civic center at 615 a.m. and we should finish up about, oh, say 5 ish.  As in p.m.  I will be in bed asleep on Sunday night about 7.  Call and I will delete you from my contacts.  Kidding.  Sort of.

So much cuteness. I die.

So much cuteness. I die.

However, it’s all for a season.  And this one is coming to a close.  Unless of course the girls win and then we go on to regionals.  Now if it’s set up like last year…..almost everyone wins.  Ridiculous.  I should forward Susie Lubell’s article on how Israeli children are rewarded with mediocrity….they’re not.  Brilliant.  Funny, seems it used to be that way.  Now it’s just not politically correct for someone to lose.  Weird, huh?  I know.  I can’t understand why we have a generation of “entitled to it all” youth either.  CrazAY!!

Enjoy your weekend, clearly I’m on a rambling-tangent and need to get off this laptop and go to bed!  G’Night!!

Just put one foot in front of the other...

Just put one foot in front of the other…

 

 

One day we will miss this

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Our Warrior photobombing the Neighbor's Ice Cream Mascot's photo.

Our Warrior photobombing the Neighbor’s Ice Cream Mascot’s photo.

Taking a cue from my dear friend, D, whose daughters are grown and spread their wings…..one day all this noise and crazy will be over and we will miss it.  So, when we have a super crazy day or week or season, I try to remember this.  Today it was my mantra.

Starting at 5:30 a.m. with my coffee and wake up

6 a.m. waking 2 of 4 kiddos

Leaving house at 7:15 with our youngest son for him to assume his position as school mascot at a “Mascot Breakfast” prior to our town’s parade and fall family festival

Hubby takes our youngest daughter to her game for cheer at 7:45 a.m.

I take our mascot to meet his school band where he assumes his role as Band Captain for the parade.

Oldest son heads out for a day of skateboarding with friends.

Parade ends and we head home about 11.

I take our oldest daughter across town to hit the beach with a friend and her family and then go grocery shopping.

Hubby brings youngest home to prep for a birthday party.

Hubby goes for  a 20 mile bike ride (he’s training for a November triathlon).

I run youngest daughter to birthday party.

It’s only 1 p.m.

Youngest son goes for a bike ride with friends.

Now, if you’ve done the math and followed carefully you will see what happened here this day.

NO.  KIDS.  IN.  THE.  HOUSE.

FOR.   TWO.  HOURS.

Guess what we did?

Napped.

***Disclaimer:  don’t feel too sorry for me, because in between the parade drop off and parade start I had an hour to kill and promptly hit Target, Starbucks and chatted with my girlfriend on the phone for a lengthy and overdue chat (in fact I talked to TWO girlfriends at length today) and then went to dinner with my mom and my sister who were both in town.  Therefore, it was a crazy and well-executed start to the day, but a grand, grand finish!

Dinner on the water with these two awesome beauties? Yes, please!

Dinner on the water with these two awesome beauties? Yes, please!

Shutdown or temper tantrum?

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I am not the most politically astute person.  I know just enough to be dangerous (thank you, NPR!), however, I am angry about the Government shutdown.

Here’s how I see it and please, feel free to (NICELY) correct me and/or add in any extra thoughts on the matter in the combox.

I understand the GOP (among MANY others) are peeved about Obamacare and are digging in their heels until they can come to a solution and believe me, I am NO fan of the current Obamacare plan….it’s not well-defined or understood and needs tweeking…lots of tweeking, but people, our healthcare system is a flippin’ mess.  However…….did THEY not already vote on this?  And now…..NOW…..NOW…..what?  They are changing their minds?  Want a do-over?  Give me a break.  You voted.  It passed.  Let’s move the EFF on.  All this government shutdown and people not getting paid is likened to a two-year old lying in the middle of Wal-Mart kicking and screaming for the toy.  Enough already, you made the mess now fix it.  You are elected officials, and grown ups, how about start acting like it.

One more thing to chew on:  Who’s keeping their checks and who’s donating them HERE.  Something I will absolutely keep in mind come time to vote.  House Rep. Ellmers made this comment, “”I need my paycheck. That’s the bottom line,” Ellmers told North Carolina station WTVD in a phone interview. “I understand that maybe there are members who are deferring their paychecks and that’s admirable,” Ellmers continued. “I’m not in that position.”  This kind of thinking infuriates me; the people who are furloughed due to the shutdown don’t have that option.  Yes, you are working and paid well throughout the year and for life, for that matter; suck it up sans  paycheck….I think they’d come to a compromise a lot quicker if they did.

That’s my two cents.  Now, enough of my political ranting, it’s time for my REAL job:  Mama!!   I am off to tag-team-taxi the kiddos with the Hubster for the day and get ready to see my Mama and my sister tonight!!!  Woop, woop!!