Perspective

Definition: The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance

I re-read my posts from my last two days and and I am happy to say that after getting everything off my chest, I really got on with my days and got so much accomplished.

Then I re-read my posts today and I think to myself, wow, I did a lot of complaining, now I have to put things back into Perspective, that of 'comparative importance'. But I do have to give myself credit too, I put my whole being into these events because they are very important to me and so very meaningful that I want them to be very successful for the children still in need.

So I was reminded to put things back into perspective and always remember to do that. I received some very sad news from a very close friend of mine, I still cry when I think of it. I think so highly of this friend of mine too, I am at a loss for words I am so sad.

And this is the type of news I am not sure what to say to my friend. I've never experienced it, but have had many other close people around me experience it.

I know I have to compose myself, pray, and trust in myself that I will say the right thing. I am just so sad.

I have really been sad over this whole situation with my dear friend that I couldn't even post this yesterday. I have tried to put myself in my friends' shoes and I don't know how I would handle it. I'm sure it is THE hardest thing ever, I don't know though if I would be strong enough. I guess I would but only by the Grace of God. I know I have gotten thru a lot by relying on God and all of my angels in heaven watching over; I wouldn't be here today without God or my angels.

Now I have to rely on my faith again. I live by the mantra that things happen or a reason, but this....I have to question. I treasure my friend so much. I can't tell you how my life has changed because of this friendship. My compassion, passion, opportunities, and growth have all blossomed because of the gift of this friendship. How can I ever thank my friend? I admire my friend's compassion and passion. And giving me the opportunities and opening my eyes to all the good, the bad, but best of all, the POTENTIAL.

Please pray with me today. As a whole, we can all pray together and as a whole, we can lift up my friends and surround them with love and the reassurance that things will be ok. Amen.

Encouragement, Loyalty, Respect, Worth, and Support

As we age, we learn about life, for ourselves, our families, and our friends. Life can be cruel as most of us have learned, but we have also learned there is good out there too.

The definition of Encouragement that I like:
1.
the expression of approval and support
2.
the act of giving hope or support to someone
3.
the feeling of being encouraged

So who do we turn to for Encouragement? Our family first. For some, family isn't a choice so then we turn to friends. So how do we know we can count on our friends? As we grow, we filter thru the good and the bad and hopefully, we learn who our true friends are so in comes Loyalty.

Definition of Loyalty that I like:
the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.

I will be loyal to the end to my friends, but disappoint me once, I will give a second chance; disappoint me twice, and they aren't so lucky. My loyalty stops, why? Because they lost my Respect.

Definition of Respect that I like:

esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability

I like that this definition says, "esteem for or sense of worth". Don't we all want to feel a sense of Worth?

Definition of Worth:
excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem

Wow, sounds so powerful, "commanding esteem". We all want to feel like we have a sense of importance don't we? Some have titles in their jobs, some don't. Those that hold 'titles' do you feel like others treat you as they should or do some shy away from you because of your title? I've seen the way some think they should treat my husband because of his title at work. Most shy away from him.

I've talked about my various titles before. My newest title, I feel some do not see me as being important and forget to treat me with Respect and Worth. I feel others see my husband and I as just dolloar signs. This one I hate the most. Hate is a very strong term and one that I have told my kids never to use, so if I'm using it here, you KNOW this bothers me tremedously!

I grew up in a very modest family, I didn't have new clothes every year for school, I didn't have brand names, I didn't have a nice car, neither did my sister. I have to laugh when I think of my sister's car. The one door was held together with a coat hanger.

So having all that I have now, wow! It blows me away, but I feel people don't realize how hard we worked for where we are today. I know, I have talked about this before too, but I guess when an event such as the one we just had to raise money, I feel like people just look at us as dollar signs and that is it. So I'm coming clean, this is how I feel at my very own functions that are so close to my heart, thus the reason for this particular post.

I had a good cry yesterday because it all came out. I didn't have an enjoyable time at the auction at all. From my previous post, I described how my weekend was so crazy. So I decided to tell those involved with the craziness how I felt.

This was how I was able to weed out the good and the bad, friends and true blue friends. I feel so much better now because my true friends really came thru for me and stuck with me and showed me all of the above definitions. Those that didn't, I'm done with them and I think they know it, at least I hope so. I don't mess around, I don't play games, I don't have the time.

So those FRIENDS out there that gave me tremendous Encouragement, Loyalty, RESPECT, and Worth...THANK YOU for your wonderful SUPPORT!! That was part of my good cry too. Those that I knew were my friends, you came thru for me. God Bless each one of you! I love you guys!!! Ok, I may need my sunglassess again....

Amongst the chaos....

Came HUGE success! I am talking about the Omaha Holt Benefit dinner on Saturday night. The weeks leading up to it is quite chaotic and the days of set up even more-so. Besides getting ready for the actual dinner, I had to prepare for my guests to arrive. Usually I do not stress out about having company, but towards the end of the week, it got to me. My guests that already were at my house know all too well that I was a little(ok, uh lut)stressed out(thanks guys for putting up with me).

I like to think of myself as being spontaneous, I think I am, but let's just say I am an 'organized' spontaneous person! I plan everything to a 'T' so I can be prepared mentally too, which is more important than anything else for me, just ask my hubby. So when it came to who was staying at my house and who was sitting at my tables at the benefit dinner, I had back up plans in place.

Besides planning for the event, I had to make sure I had my two daughters ready to go out of town...what a huge task that was! My oldest daughter was great with fitting in a few hours with her friends to help with stuffing envelopes and organizing the programs amongst the chaos of my other two kids having practices.

My 9 year old had to leave for Chicago Friday at 6:45 in the morning; my oldest daughter left at 4:00 in the afternoon for her state competition. Now things were in order, right?

Then a friend missed her flight here Friday morning and when we both had determined she was not coming, I went into action and I rearranged my current houseguests. Then I called the guests I had on 'last minute hold' to sit at my tables. The best laid plans...

Saturday morning came and time for set up at the hotel. Napkin folding was the task I volunteered for, along with my friends I had taught. Then surprise! There comes in my friend that 'missed' her flight Friday morning! Great to see her BUT now I had to scramble. I am not a good person for surprises, I know it's because I don't have control of the situation.

Two other people were in on the surprise, but little did they know I always have a back up plan and now my tables were over-crowded after I invited my other guests on hold....

Saturday evening came, the benefit dinner started and here I spent the first hour of the event rearranging my tables....I was NOT a happy camper, to say the least. When I invite guests to sit at my tables, I expect and so do they, to be at my table and that I can have some time o talk to them, so I was very disappointed that it turned out like it did.

I am representing Holt in many ways; as an adoptee, an adoptive parent, and as a member of the Board of Directors. I take all three titles VERY seriously. I am one to have fun, but as my friends and I call it, I do know when to turn on the 'maturity switch' and I do it well. I learned that from a very early age. So when it comes to a Holt event, I am really representing Holt. I am very honored that I can represent Holt like I do.

So amongst ALL this chaos, our event was a huge success and that is what matters to me.

I just had to blow off some steam I guess.

I spoke too soon...

Life, rather Mother Nature, threw a curve ball into the week! Living in the heartland, we get to experience all four seasons, which I dearly love; I really missed the changing of the seasons when we lived in San Antonio. So yesterday, my kids had an 'Extreme Cold' day, like a snow day, but with extreme cold temperatures and no snow. The low was -7 with a windchill of -26 so the metro area schools were cancelled. I was surprised by this, but when you stepped outside, it was COLD!

Timing was actually good though, my friends from OreGONE didn't get in until 1:30 in the morning!!! So being able to sleep in was a good thing. Life seems to work out that way for me, things happen for a reason and it all works out in the end.

My kids do have school today, still chilly out, but not as cold. I will be busy today getting ready for more company and working on preparations for the Holt auction. So life does go on....enjoy yours!

Ah, life is back to normal...

YES! I am feeling better and my kids are all better and they are all back to school! I get so thrown off of my schedule when they have a break from school, but it was good timing too, gave me time to heal and feel better. Sure took me awhile again to get back to feeling good.

So on with my week: guests coming in from Oregon tonight; guest coming Thursday night from Oregon; and guest coming Friday afternoon from Utah, then friends coming over Friday evening for dinner...SO good timing that I am better! Plus, Friday morning, my youngest will be leaving for Chicago for a cheer competition all weekend, my oldest daughter will be leaving Friday afternoon to Grand Island for the state cheer competition for her high school varsity squad...I really don't have time to be sick now do I!

Not to mention Saturday will be the Holt auction dinner. Will be an exciting night sharing it with many Holt families, my family, and of course, all of my great friends that traveled here to attend! I have been so blessed to have such great family and friends supporting me in my passion for Holt! I love these events!

Happy Valentine's Day...

Why is it that this day has become such a challenge and we feel pressured to 'out do' one another? I think I look at this day like I do the other holidays and birthdays and such. I prefer to do something special when it is totally unexpected, not because the day tells me to. I don't expect anything for myself either. I think the best gifts are those that truly come from the heart, isn't that what today is all about?

The best gift is that of giving to someone something that is truly needed and then that person passes it on. When someone does something good for someone else and really appreciates it and the goodness passes on, that is how it should be everyday.

In Control

I like to think I am in control of a lot of things in my life. One thing I am really not in control of is being sick. I've been sick now for two weeks. How do I get sick when I am a stay at home mom? I don't go out a lot so is my family bringing home the germs, I think so. We share a lot in our family, but I keep telling my family to stop sharing their germs with me.

So what is it that I have? Not sure. Last Friday my youngest daughter came home sick from school. I was able to get her into the doctor and she was diagnosed with strep; very positive test according to the lab. Since I had a sore throat, I was put on antibiotics too. My daughter felt better right away after her first dose of her medicine. Thank goodness because she had a competition that weekend. Needless to say, that was a weekend I could not be sick, something going on everyday of the weekend. I made it thru. Then Monday rolled around and I was feeling worse! What was up with that? I am not one to say I am sick either or go to the doctor at the drop of a hat for myself, but man, my sinuses were killing me! I called my doctor's office and told them my symptoms and I was put on a stronger antibiotic, the horse pill size.

There was no time for me to be sick on Monday but I couldn't control it. Monday was my son's birthday, poor guy, I couldn't make him his birthday dinner. I felt bad, but at least Saturday, he had his friends over for some bowling and hanging out at home...but STILL not being able to cook his birthday dinner and his request is simple, spaghetti. You know I really had to be hurting to not be able to cook that simple dinner. But we were able to surprise him with his present and he did say he had a great birthday after all.

Rest assured, I was feeling better and was able to make his birthday dinner last night. I am not 100% though. Whatever I have really has a hold on me. Last year, this same month, I had the actual influenz A. I didn't get the flu shot last year either, the first time I didn't get it. That took me out for a good month. This year I made sure to get the flu shot. Doesn't guarantee I won't get the flu, but should lessen the severity and the length of it if I were to get it. So do I have the flu now? I don't know, I didn't get the blood test to check. I'm just hoping now that I'm on the mend from whatever it is I had.

So how does my household continue to run when I, the CEO of my house, am sick? There's no choice, I still do the things that need to be done, I just rest in bed when everyone is in school and in between the things that need to be done. Of course, I have the best help there is, my husband. YES, he is very busy with his job, but if I need help or the kids need help, he's right there to do it. I'm very lucky, my family is very understanding and patient, even if they do share their germs with me. At least my kids have a break from school starting tomorrow and thru Monday...will be a very nice break for me....even though school conferences are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow, but I think I will live. :o)

Why am I a Stay at Home Mom?

Because my kids keep forgetting things for school in the morning or get sick during school....but lately, I feel like that is all I have been doing for them. Is it the weather? I sure hope not because according to that darn ground hog, we are to have six more weeks of winter! Yes, I do love my winter, but have my kids gone into hybernation? When does this end? When do I get to go into hybernation? During the time when all of my kids are in school? Well, then when would I have time to sign everyone up for this and make sure everyone remembers where to be and at what time and who's driving and what the heck will everyone eat for dinner and at what time.

So my morning started off with my son calling saying he needs to stay after school because he forgot to do an assignment in one of his classes. So onto my emails and scheduling for the week. I am the CEO of my family, so now it was time for me to get organized for my oldest daughter and her schedule of events for applying to colleges.

Time to sign up for the SAT and ACT tests. Great that registration can be done online, but what??? I spent all morning and after lunch registering for the tests. Wouldn't want to be simple and just let me sign up for the test date and location and pay for it and be done with it...NO, had to fill out all the other information regarding interests and grades in classes, what types of classes, not just for the current year but for the past years too! And what type of schools you are interested in and parents' income too!! I tried to bypass all of these questions, but heck no, it wouldn't let me until I got to about the 3rd page, then I tried again to 'continue' without filling in the dots and YES it let me! Finally!

So I'm almost done registering, I need to double check everything, but push one update button and it took me right to the very first page!! Ugh! Luckily the dots were still filled in so I could just push 'continue' and get to my final page, click pay and be done with it! How the heck did I do this when I was in high school? The old fashioned way I guess.

But, I have to be honest and say that I would rather go thru this registering process for my daughter so she can concentrate on just taking the tests. I would not want to take these tests ever again! Once was enough for me.

And to think that I didn't even get to finish the calendar of 'events' that need to be followed for the rest of the process for applying to colleges. There's always tomorrow and the next day...and the next day...and the....

It is quite the process nowadays, but I'm a very proud mom and can brag that my daughter is very smart so doing all of this for her is really not that big of a deal, she's done her part, I can do my part.

When does it begin to click for kids to remember everything? How many times have I said to my kids, 'what do you have to do for homework; do you have everything in your backpack; did you remember this and that?'

Is this what I 'signed' up for when becoming a mom? Yes it is. And all I can say is thank goodness I am a stay at home mom because I know my patience would be worn very, very thin if I worked full time too!