Life in the Fire Service.

Kansas City Fire Fighter Memorial

I have been a part of a fire service family for more that 30 years.  My husband started out as a volunteer before being hired as a paid fire fighter 27 years ago. We have been married for 25 of those years.  When I was in high school my mom, dad, aunt and uncle were also volunteer fire fighters in the community were we lived. My dad now works for a full time department and I also have a brother in law in the fire service. I am extremely proud of all of them.

Tim and I at at Fire Department awards banquet

Because of the nature of their work and the schedule that it requires, this job is unlike any other. The men and women who choose this profession must except a lifestyle and risk that comes a long with it, and so do their families. Much like the military, the fire service is a family business.  Fire fighters spend a third of their time at the station working, training, sharing meals and building camaraderie among their shift mates.  They miss ball games, birthdays, school programs, anniversaries and holidays. These sacrifices are a part of job.

Because of the extended time spent at the fire station, crew members become more like family. They consider themselves brothers and sisters and are very protective and devoted to each other. This attitude extends past department boundaries, county or state lines and even country borders.

Memorial at Sprint Center, KCMO

That was apparent this afternoon as thousands of people filled a large event venue here in Kansas City. They didn't come to see the latest rock concert or celebrity. They were there to pay respects to two fire fighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.  Local citizens, family members, friends and fellow fire fighters came to show support to the families and to say thank you for their service and sacrifice. Coverage for the department of the fallen was provided by neighboring cities so that anyone who wanted to attend could. That is how it's done in the fire service.

In the days to come, the story of these two brave men will no longer be in the news. Those who have chosen a career in the fire service will still be at work protecting the communities they serve. These are dedicated and humble men and women doing a job they love. They do this knowing the risk and excepting the sacrifices and their families do too

Our family a few years ago at the Fire Station.

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Life Is Short, And How We Spend It Matters

I started writing this post several weeks ago after my uncle Mark passed away. I have had a hard time finishing it, in part because this is not the kind of subject I usually write about. But the thoughts kept coming and I felt the need to finish it.

Over the past few months we have seen more than a half dozen people we know leave this world. Some had lived long full lives, served their country in WWII, had wonderful careers, enjoyed retirement and their grandchildren. Others not yet 40, with young children, some middle aged with kids in college or new grand babies on the way. Several had battled illness and lost their fight, while others died suddenly. They all had plans, goals, dreams and people that loved them.

I have experienced death, loss and grief before, but these recent events have reminded me of something I have known all along...life is short and how we spend it matters.

My uncle's memorial service was standing room only. The chapel was filled with family and friends. They weren't there because he held a prestigious degree or title, he didn't even go to college. They weren't there because of his social or economic status, he held a job he enjoyed and didn't worry much about material things.  He lived simply which allowed him the time to invest deeply in the people he loved. That is why they came.

Several years ago I saw a video of a Carnegie Mellon professor who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer giving a talk titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams ". He later wrote a book based on it, titled "The Last Lecture". If you haven't seen the video or read the book, I highly recommend you do. They are both full of humor, positivity, wisdom and quotes that could serve as a life lesson manual. One of my favorite quotes from him is "The key question is this, are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think". 

That statement is true for all of us. Young, old, rich, poor, healthy or sick. None of us know how much time we have to live the life we've been given. But, we really don't need to know. We can choose to live each day showing love and grace to those around us, wether they deserve it or not. We can look for ways to be a positive presence in each celebration or challenge. We can see the purpose in everything, even if it is hard or painful. We can be grateful for the time God has given us and spend it doing the "right" things and making the most of all of it!

Another one of my favorite writers  Katrina Kenison shared this poem on her blog, it really spoke to me about this subject. I hope it does to you too.

All that matters is what you love

and what you love is who you are

and who you are is where you are

and where you are is where you will be

when death takes you across the river.

You can’t avoid the journey but

you can wake up… now

and see where you’ve been

and where you are going.

– John Squadra, from “Circle Of The One,” in This Ecstasy

(With thanks to Rod MacIver for sharing this poem on A Pause for Beauty.)

It Will Get Easier. I Promise!

                                            

Over the last week or so my Facebook feed has been full of posts as kids we know head off to college for the first time. Seeing the pictures and reading the teary eyed comments bring back the memories of last year at this time, when we were in the exact same situation. I remember how it felt as if it happened yesterday, watching our son walk into his dorm, his new home, as we drove away. I still get emotional when I think about it. For me, the next several days were the hardest. Sadness and tears would hit me at the most unexpected times and as hard as I tried I could not prevent that. I felt like I was grieving and celebrating all at same time. I was so excited and proud of my son,  but my heart hurt.

I missed his physical presence, but it was more than that. It was all the little things that came along with him being here. Our conversations, both big and small, interactions between he and his brother, discussions about music shared with his dad, the "Hey, Hey!" we would hear as he comes in the door, the smell of Gold Bond powder, and the ability to hug him, and know that he's doing ok.

He had been gone before, but I knew that this time it was different. This time he was going with a specific purpose. To begin to build a life separate from us.

Eventually it became easier for all of us. We settled into our new normal. We appreciated any time we were able to spend with him and always looked forward to the next visit. And by Christmas break I think I was able to say goodbye without any tears. Change is always a process and this has been no exception. Now looking back here are a few things I wish I would have known.

1. If he doesn't call it's not because he doesn't want to or that he is too busy with his new college friends. He just can't right now. He is homesick and he knows that hearing your voice will only make it worse.
2. If you sense that he is distant, don't take it personal. He is doing his best to keep it all together.
3. He may want to come home, but doesn't. He may want you to visit, but won't ask you to. Spending time in the life he is comfortable in makes it hard to go back to the place where everything is different.
4. If he keeps things from you it's because he doesn't want you to worry.
5. It will get easier. I promise!

The dinning room table is a staging area for packing.

Now as we prepare to send our son back to school next week, we are confident that this year will be much easier for all of us. This is what he should be doing. He is looking forward to, a new dorm, new classes, new friends and maybe most of all, a new baseball season. When he leaves this time, the purpose will be the same, he will continue gaining skills, knowledge and experiences that will prepare him for a life apart from us. We are grateful for our relationship with him, both individually and as a family and we know that no matter where he goes he will always have a life with us too!

A friend of mine posted this quote as she took her second son to college. I think it sums up what we all want as parents, even if it causes us pain in the process.

"The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them."
Frank A. Clark

Disconnected People In An Over-Connected World

Our world is more connected than ever with the invention of the Internet followed by, email, X-Box Live, Facebook, Facetime, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Beme, Periscope and of course texting. We are able to reach out to individuals or large groups without leaving our coach. We can reconnect with old friends, keep in touch with family who live far away, see how others are spending their summer and even witness life changing events in real time. And while I appreciate and use a lot of this technology, I worry that it may be having a negative effect on how we relate to each other.

I have seen couples or families out to dinner who instead of having conversations with the living, breathing people sitting across the table from them, they are on their phones. I see kids of all ages out on errands with their face buried in a screen of some kind instead of interacting with the people around them.  I feel like adults are losing some of our social skills and children are not learning them in the first place. Many kids don't know how to talk on a phone, shake hands when introduced to someone new, or even resolve conflicts with friends. Technology has taken away the need to learn and the opportunity to practice these skills. Communication is done via text or some form of social media. Formal introductions are not needed for online gaming or adding someone to your friend list and if you don't like how the game is going, you can "X"out and go play by yourself. Adults can be just as guilty of these things as our kids.

Don't Be Like This Guy!

Additionally, I think technology and social media in particular create other reasons for concern.
*Distractions: from driving, people, responsibilities, opportunities and experiences.
*Hurt Feelings: gone are the days of being left out and not knowing about it. Now you can see it in full color on Facebook or Instagram.  And while the hurt is most likely not intentional it is still there and has to be dealt with.
*Comparisons: I think it is human nature to some degree to compare ourselves to others, especially when our lives are not going as planned. Seeing others living a life that you perceive to be better than your own can be hard to swallow. The trouble with comparing a life posted on social media to yours, is that they only show their highlight real. You are living in your behind the scenes. They have those too, they just choose not to post them.

My final thought is this, I believe we were created for community and relationships.  Good and healthy "real" relationships, full of both the beauty of the highlight reel and the mess of backstage are what we are meant for.  Technology can be a great tool to document and share our lives, but it will never be a substitute for that type of connection. It may even be keeping you from it.  

Not Sure Father's Day Is Enough!

Last weekend families all over took time out of their busy schedules to celebrate Father's Day. Facebook and Instagram posts were full of sweet pictures with captions expressing gratitude and love for dads and husbands a like.  Gifts were bought and given. Meals were shared and memories were made.

Our family was no different. I too posted something on social media in honor of my husband, who is an amazing father to our boys. We enjoyed church, a baseball game and dinner as a family. We also spent some rare time with my extended family. It was a good day.

I love that we devote a special day to show the father's in our lives just how much we love and appreciate them, but to be honest I am not sure that is enough.

Sadly I have noticed, that fathers and men in general are not always represented in the best way. Advertising and entertainment industries often portray them as incompetent, shallow and disconnected. Showing them to be more committed to their jobs, hobbies, beer fridges or fraternity brothers then to their families, churches or charity associations. The media tends to report only the negative stories of pro and collegiate athletes in trouble. When the focus could just as easily be placed on all of the others who are making positive impacts.

I am not sure about you, but I do not see those men anywhere in or around my family. The men I know are kind, devoted, smart, caring, hardworking, family loving guys. They try hard. They do their best. Do they make mistakes? Of course they do, but doesn't everybody?

As a daughter, a wife and a mother of boys, this makes me extremely sad and a bit angry as well. This perception sends the wrong message to men and boys. These degrading and an unfair generalization fit a very small population of men. I know similar things happen on the female side as well, but their is a difference. Not only are men and boys shown what our society as a whole thinks they are, but then they are expected to be something completely different. For example: Dad is seen as incapable of getting the kids fed and out the door for baseball practice, but then Mom is upset that she has to do it all herself. Sound familiar?

Unfortunately there is very little we can do to change the general attitude towards men in our culture. But we can create an environment within our homes that celebrates the men in our lives for who God made them to be. A place filled with mutual respect, understanding and good communication. A place where they will feel competent, supported, smart, capable, and well cared for.

My fellow moms, this is primarily up to us.
We set the tone.
We have great influence.
Let's use it!

Tricks of the Trade and One-Liners

So far the majority of the posts I have been motivated to write have been about things or situations that are surrounded by some sort of emotion. For this post however I have decided to write from a more practical point of view.  As always I hope that if you are reading this that you find it useful in some way.

I don't claim to have this parenting thing down by any means, but I have learned a thing or two over almost 20 years of motherhood.  Some of the lessons have been learned through trial and error. Others have been handed down to me by wise women I've had in my life in a number of different circles.I have also learned a lot from reading books and blogs about parenting and boys in general. I am so grateful to not be on this journey alone and for the grace that my boys have shown me over and over again.

For a while now I have been keeping two lists. The first I titled "Tricks of the Trade", and the other "One-Liners".  The tricks are little things I have discovered along the way that either make my life as a mother easier or richer. The One-Liners are things I catch myself or my husband saying frequently to our sons. Both lists have both silly and sincere things written on them, I hope you find them helpful and entertaining at the same time.  Here they are...

Tricks of The Trade:

Boys can be somewhat of a messy bunch. They aren't worried about nor bothered by untidy rooms, unpleasant smells, cluttered bathroom counters or the bit of lunch that ended up on their white
 t-shirt. So I have learned to have these things on hand to help prevent our second floor from smelling like a locker room.

• Clorox Wipes: These are a must for bathrooms, when their aim is not stellar and for counters that have had toothpaste and a number of other things spilled on them.
• Fe breeze/Air Fresheners: I always have some sort of air fresher in my boys rooms, this keeps the stink to a minimum especially when sweaty clothes get shoved into the hamper for days before being washed. Fe breeze is a great all around spray for any unpleasant smell that may occur in life.
• Laundry can be a challenge, especially if your boys play sports. Mine play baseball, and that involves a lot of dirt. I have developed a method that works well most of the time. Depending on the level of grime, I use a couple of different products. For really dirty garments I scrub and soak them in Fels-Naptha soap, this is an old time laundry bar soap available at Wal-Mart. For times when the dirt is not so bad, I use a basic pre-treat spray, but in either case the sooner the better as to not let the dirt set in.  Once I have done the pre-treating needed, I wash them on the longest setting with an extra rise cycle and I throw in some Tide Boost with my regular detergent. If all else fails, I take them  to the car wash, hang them on the floor mate clips and use the high power spray to get them clean. I have a two try rule, after that I concede the win to the dirt!

Our lives are busier than ever and I try hard to be prepared and keep things organized. 

• We have a family Google calendar that all four of us have access to. When we add things that involve our boys we invite them and that way they can start to keep track of their own activities and deadlines.
• I also have a notebook devoted to all the pieces of paper that seem to collect. Physical forms, permission slips, class contracts, practice schedules, and what ever else you want to add.
• To be prepared for spur of the moment get togethers with friends, I try and keep frozen pizza and brownie mix on hand. They are easy to make and boys love them. 

I have learned that boys are different in a lot of ways and how we approach situations concerning them needs to be different too. We as mother's need to be compassionate and loving, but keep in mind our role in preparing them for the expectations that will be placed on them as men.

• We need to advocate for our sons and teach them to do that for themselves. 
• Let them do it their way. Just because it's different than yours doesn't make it wrong. The dishes are put away correctly as long as the cabinet door shuts. Right?
• We should always be their soft place to fall when the world is not treating them very kind.
• We need to educate ourselves on the challenges our boys face today and will face in their future.
• And we need to remember that struggle is good and being uncomfortable is necessary to build character and self reliance.

Communication with a man-child can be a challenge, it takes some work. These things have been helpful to me in trying to create better communication between my boys and I.

• Ask a lot of questions, and accept their short answers.
• Give specific instructions.
• Let them come to you on their time, even if it is late at night.
• Talk less! The less words the better. A friend of mine describes a good conversation like this,   " Be bright, be brief,  be gone."  This is not to be mean or disrespectful. But with boys, the truth is, the shorter the conversation the more productive they seem to be. So that brings me to the one-liners. They are short and to the point, and seem to do the job!

One-Liners:

• Have you eaten
• Get a coaster
• Don't bounce that in here
• Use a napkin
• Turn those pants right side out
• Lean over
• Do you have everything you need
• Watch that hitch (in a parking lot)
• Take your cleats off 
• Make good choices
• Be a gentleman
• It's got to be somewhere
• Treat yourself and others with love and respect

I saved what I feel is both a trick of the trade and one-liner combined. It may be the most important of all for last. " Trust Your Instincts". You know what your boy needs more than anyone else. He in turn, with your guidance, will learn to trust what he knows is true and right. 

Returning to the job I love the most

Walking on the beach -Maui, HI

I got my first job when I was 14 years old. I worked at a family owned restaurant similar to a Dairy Queen. We had just moved to a new town and working there for the summer allowed me to get to know some of the kids before starting high school.  I enjoyed the job and loved the people who owned the place. I have maintained contact with them to this day.

Since then I have held a number of jobs. I was a cashier at a grocery and convenience store, a cosmetologist, veterinarian assistant, switchboard operator, a human resources assistant and lastly my current position as a secretary at an elementary school. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed parts of all of them and know with out a doubt that I have learned a lot during my time at each one of them. But starting today like I do for a short time each summer, I am returning to the job I have held the longest and love the most, full time mom!

I did not go into motherhood aspiring to be a stay at home mom. Growing up, my mom owned her own business and worked very hard to provide for my sisters and I. Most of the women in my family worked outside of the home in some capacity or another and I had no reason to believe that I would do anything different.

I went back to work full time after our oldest son was born. My husband worked shifts on the fire department and was able to be with Kellan at least two days a week. The rest of his week was spent at a small in-home day care. He was always loved and well taken care of during the day, just not by me. I found myself a bit disappointed in motherhood, it was not what I thought it would be. The few hours a day that I was able to spend with my son was not enough. I missed him terribly and wanted to be with him more.

This was no secret to my husband and so we began discussing our options. Could our household afford to lose some or all of my income? Were we willing to sacrifice and cut back in order to make this happen. We decided that the answer was yes to both of those questions.

We compromised and I took a job working only two days a week. I was able to be home more, stay in the work force and still contribute some financially to the family. This worked out well until our second son was born. At that time it made more sense for me to stay home full time then to spend my entire paycheck on day care.

There has been a lot of conversation about which is better, stay at home moms or working moms. Unfortunately the debate has gotten ugly at times. My opinion is this. Every mom, every family, every child is different. Do what works for your family and what you personally feel makes you the best mom you can be. But if the only thing keeping you at your job is the thought that you can't afford to leave, I encourage you to do the math. You may be surprised. And for those of you who love your jobs and can't imagine not working outside of the home, own that. No guilt needed.  We all are fully equipped to be the parents God wants us to be for the children He's given us, let's support each other in the process.

I was a full time stay at home mom for seven years before going back to work at my current position. During that time I was blessed to have a husband that worked multiple jobs at the same time. He went to college to complete his bachelors degree and was promoted twice. He was a constant source of leadership, encouragement, love and support for our family. I will be honest, it was hard, by far the hardest job I have every had, but I would not trade that time for anything in this world.

Currently I think I have the best of both worlds. I enjoy my job. Although I am not in a classroom, I feel I can impact the students in our building in positive ways. I am able to come along side staff members in a supportive role to make their increasingly difficult job a little bit easier. My job provides our family some additional income and allows me a significant amount of time off.  I will spend the next 5 weeks, cooking meals, doing laundry, driving to practices, packing coolers and cars, watching a lot of baseball, and what ever else needs to be done. I look forward to all of it,  As I said before, this is the job I love the most!

Freedom Is Never Free

Memorial Day was born out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.  One hundred years later in 1968 the date was moved to the last Monday in May allowing for the three day weekend (www.usmemorialday.org).

Arkansas National Cemtary

Currently it seems, that for many, Memorial Day signifies the beginning of summer. It's a chance to head to the lake for the first time, gather with family and friends for cookouts or even shop one of the holiday weekend sales. While all those things are good and should be valued in some degree, I worry that they can also serve as distractions.

My Grandfather-US Navy

Both of my grandfathers served in the military. One was a pilot in WWII. He didn't talk about his service until I was much older.  It took me by surprise to hear that he was a war veteran let alone a pilot. The other was a Master Sergeant in the Army. Unfortunately he passed away when I was only five. I remember him and the crew cut he always wore. He was my mom's father and we were very close to her family. As a young girl I remember going to the cemetery every Memorial Day to place flowers on his grave. There were flags everywhere, each with significance. It was somber and beautiful at the same time. I believe this experience had a lot to do with the strong sense of patriotism I have always had.

The boys at the WWI Memorial 

Now as a mother of two young men, I have tried to educate them on what our military has done and continues to do for us. We have visited memorials, like the one here in Kansas City dedicated to World War I,  National World War I Museum and national cemeteries.  We have participated in volunteer opportunities that benefit veterans, the Make it Count Today 5K is near and dear to our heart. They remove their hat for the National Anthem and they respect our flag. I've taught them that the freedom we have did not come free. Our military and their families have served and sacrificed greatly for it. They have seen this first hand through the experiences of families we know.

Traveling Vietnam Memorial

Make it Count race 2014

Throughout our history we as citizens have not always agreed on how to handle conflicts effecting our nation's security.  Sides are split on military funding and ground troop numbers. The ability to disagree with our neighbors or even our government is one of the things that make this country great. However, I think we can all agree on one thing. Our men and women in uniform deserve our unconditional support, our respect and our prayers.

Our family will participate in some of the typical Memorial Day activities. As we do, we will take time to remember why we have this three day weekend, beginning of summer, cookout-filled holiday in the first place. I hope you and your family will do the same.

Music Matters

Snow Day concert

 I am not a musician or a vocalist and I don't really understand the technical side of music, but do understand it's power. 

 I think most people would agree that music has had some affect on their lives. It creates memories and has the ability to bring you back to a specific place and time. It invokes emotions of all kinds and it allows a healthy avenue to express them. I rarely get through our National Anthem or a set of good worship songs without a few tears in my eyes. When meaningful words are placed together with great music the impact is much greater then the words alone.

Father - Son duet

Music can also serve as a refuge and a source of comfort.  I have seen this play out in my life time and time again. In junior high, my sisters and I spent most of our Saturdays listening to Casey Kasem's Top 40 count down. Our family had gone through huge changes at that time, but the music was something constant and predictable and we all needed that.  My husband is a musician and I have seen him play his guitar as away to relax. During his mom's battle with cancer and her eventual passing his music was therapeutic for not only him, but for me too.


Music creates bonds. As I mentioned my husband plays guitar and piano as well. We have spent countless hours listening to music and going to concerts together. He has taught me a lot. He has exposed me to all types of music, some of which I would have never sought out on my own. He has helped me really listen to a song and hear the little things that you don't really notice, but would miss if they weren't there.  Music is ageless and will be something we can enjoy all of our lives.

A boy, his dog and his guitar

We have passed the love of music on to our boys. Kellan plays guitar and ukulele and listens to all types of music. He enjoys discovering new artists to listen to and frequently sends us texts about his latest find. He is a big fan of singer-song writers and enjoys the lyrical side of music.Owen sings all of the time, I honestly don't think he can help himself and we are perfectly OK with that. He has an amazing voice for a 15 year old. He also recently taught himself to play the piano. They both have natural music ability like their dad. I on the other hand, not so much.  The boys are at an age where we are able to take them to concerts as well. It has been fun to watch them see some of their favorite artists live and to share that experience with them. We hope to continue doing that as long as they are willing to hang out with us!


I saw this t-shirt on American Idol, at the time all I could read was Music Matters.Turns out is was a advertisement for a brand of guitar and actually read "When Your Music Matters". None the less, those two words resonated with me. Music does matter. It matters a lot. We are lucky to live in a school district that believes this too. Owen has had some incredible opportunities having been a part of the high school choir and musical. In a time when budgets are tight and opinions maybe split about funding the arts, I am grateful for that.

I have no doubt that music will continue to matter to me in a variety of ways.  I look forward to taking my seat in the audience weather in a large venue, a high school auditorium or in my own living room.

A Different Kind Of Spring Break.

Royals Spring Training 2009

Yesterday was the official start of our spring break, and like so many other things this too will be different for us this year.

Waiting for the game to start 2009

The calendars did not align for us, the breaks from school landed a week apart. Kellan was out of school last week, but it's baseball season and commitments to the team kept him on campus. They continued to practice and play games throughout the week. We went up to watch a home game, but the time we were able to spend with him was limited. He was able to come home this past Saturday for the night. He got here late, so we waited dinner on him. Having all four of us around the table is one of my favorite things in life. Something that once was commonplace and ordinary,has now taken on more meaning. As a friend of mine said this week, "I will never take for granted being able to put all our place mats on the table at the same time". Me either. He stayed the night, we went to church as a family, (another one of my favs), had lunch and then he headed out. He was back in class this morning. That will be the extent of the time all four of us will spend together this spring break.

Owen's first In -N- Out Burger, AZ 2012.

 In past years we may be headed to Royals Spring Training, or to Oklahoma to play baseball with the high school team. But not this year. We do have plans, including a trip to the Nelson Atkins and the DMV for Owen's learners permit. We hope to spend time with family and friends and whatever else we decide we want to do.  We've already crossed one thing off our list. Last Friday night we took Owen to see "Catch Me If You Can" at the Barn Players Community Theater. It was awesome! We love that we get to do new things with him and we enjoy watching him as he explores different interests. We look forward to the time we will have with Owen this week and we know even if it is very different than what we are used to - it will still be great!

Kellan pitching in OK, 2014.

Although we aren't leaving town it is still nice to have a break from our regular schedule. We will use this time to recharge and get ready for a busy spring full of baseball games, choir performances, enrollment for next year, summer baseball planning and the end of "our" Freshman year.

This week also marks one year since I started writing this blog. The timing could not have been better. With all the changes our family has journeyed through this year, blogging has allowed me a place to process my thoughts out loud.  This has been vital for me.  At first I didn't know if I would ever even publish it and I wasn't sure anyone would want to read it if I did. But as of today it has been viewed 2,830 times and I hope my words have had an impact on some of the people who have read them.  I have so enjoyed writing and sharing my thoughts and my life here. I appreciate all the encouragement and positive feedback I have received. It inspires me to keep writing and sharing what I write with others. Thank you!

This week will be different than any other spring break before. It may not go exactly how I would have wanted, but I will make the most it. I will appreciate the little bits of time I do get, when everything is how I would like it to be, and never take those moments for granted.

A change of uniform...

Last week our house was focused, for the most part, on just one thing...high school baseball tryouts. We are familiar with the process, having been through it the past four years with our older son, Kellan. Those prior experiences however did not eliminate the anxiety associated with it.

The week was exhausting both mentally and physically. Practices were long and intense. A snow storm pushed them indoors which meant practice times changed on a daily basis. Keeping up on the schedule was a challenge in itself. Being a Freshman catcher, Owen was required to participate in additional tryouts for pitchers and catchers which took place at 5:45 AM on both Tuesday and Thursday. We were all tired by the time the final roster was posted on Thursday evening.

Going into the week I knew Owen was prepared baseball wise.  He's had great coaching and studies technique on his own. He has been around baseball most of his life and has a pure love for playing the game. He can hit, field, take charge behind the plate and shows good decision making and mechanics. All of which are easily seen by coaches. But there is so much more to him both as a player and an individual. He is a leader, a compassionate friend and a young man of integrity and character. I prayed the coaches would see that too.

From One Great Team...

Adding to the emotions of the week was the concrete realization that the boys Owen had played with, shared life and loved for the past five years would probably never take the field as a team again. They will play for their high schools this spring and then move on to other teams this summer. A few of the Naturals will be together, but the group as a hole is part of our history and part of what makes Owen the player and person he is today. 

On the positive side of this, former teammates will be reunited again, old foes will become new teammates. There will be chances for Owen to look across the field and see players in the opposing dugout that used to be sitting on the bench next to him. Roles will shift on the field, but outside the fences, relationships will stay the same. A change in uniform doesn't change everything!

To Another!

I am so excited for the season to begin. I look forward to watching not only Owen and his teammates, but all the other boys that we know around the area. This is baseball at it's best. It builds bonds that last a lifetime.

See you at the field...
Go Hawks!, Go Broncos!, Go Eagles!
Go Hawklets! and Go Wildcats!
(hope that covers everyone!)

A life in pictures

I have always loved pictures. To me there is something special about capturing a single moment in time.  My husband shares this affection and has taken up photography has a hobby.  Over the past 25 years we (mostly he) have collected literally thousands of snapshots ranging from every day silliness, to life experiences both big and small, wild life in our back yard and the people that we love. While we've stored them in boxes and files on computers and clouds for safe keeping, we still find ways to incorporate them into our daily lives.

This one of Kellan is framed in our house.

 Each month Tim pulls several pictures from that same month in 2004 or 2005 and puts them on our computer as our screen saver. We all look forward to seeing what the next set of pictures will be.

We do not print a lot of our pictures unless we plan to frame them. Our house is full of candid shots in frames. I appreciate great professional photography as well.  We recently had family pictures taken that turned out wonderful, but some of my favorite pictures are candid shots we have taken. Those times when no one knew the camera was on them, the silly exchange between brothers that only they understand, or the genuine joyful smile caught by accident. To me those are the best, and when I look at them I am reminded of what is truly important.

One of my favorite pictures of Owen, and it happened accidentally!

I do not scrapbook, what I do instead is put pictures to music. I make a video each year using Windows Movie Maker. I include the highlights of our year and set it to a song that has meaning to us. I have also done these for sports teams. Our youngest son especially, will sometimes sit and watch these over and over.

We also share our photos with fellow team mates through a Flickr.com site. We take pictures of not only our son's but the other players and make them available to those who may not have another means of getting action shots of their son. Cameras can be expensive and complicated, but the good news is cell phones are using better technology for pictures than ever before. You can even set up a direct up load to Flickr so that the photos won't take up space on your phone.

Our amazing photographer caught this authentic shot of our family.

If you are not a family that takes pictures I would like to encourage you to start. Take lots of them. That is the secret to getting a few really good ones.

If you are a family who takes pictures and you are the one behind the camera, I encourage you to let someone else take a turn. Get in front of the camera every now a then. Take a "selfie" with your kids. They will thank you later.


Lastly, if you have teenagers and they are not very willing to let you take pictures of them, do it anyway. Again, they will thank you later.

Pictures can do a lot of things. They create a history, a time line of sorts for our lives. They allow you to relive events in your life, sometimes with the same kind of emotion. When we look back, we can also see our present and even a glimpse of our future.  When I look back and realize just how quickly the time has gone it makes me sad at times.  But, in the same sense it makes me appreciate the present and look forward to the future. We can't stop time or turn back the clock, but we can document moments of our lives, both big and small in pictures.