Reaching For the Stars

When we marry our best friends and start a family, there are dreams we have for ourselves, but then the dreams we have for our children, those trump our own every time. We always want for our children what we didn't or couldn't have as kids. We dream for our kids, not because we didn't accomplish our own dreams, but because we love to see the excitement on our kids' faces when their dreams come true.

Of course, things don't always come easy and in most cases, it shouldn't. Hard work, determination, and dedication is what it takes to get to the end result, then the accomplishment is that much sweeter. I've never been a parent to just let my kids win in anything in order to avoid the feelings of disappointment for them. I've felt when it came time that my kids beat me fair and square, how sweeter was that victory for them and what an accomplishment!

Life lessons, some are tougher than others. But we all have to go thru them, even if it meant experiencing great disappointment. What I wanted to teach my kids was that hard work does pay off in the end. I wanted the success for them when they did work hard for it. Society today is tough, anything kids are involved in, they had to have started when they were in diapers, seriously. But it's up to us as parents to guide and control what and how much our kids are doing, I feel there can be too much put on kids' plates nowadays.

My youngest daughter is 12 years old, in the 7th grade and will not be an official teenager until the middle of June. Growing up in elementary and the different activities offered, she tried them all, except field sports, I felt she wasn't right for it. She wanted to try ice skating, she did, but she wasn't right for that either. She tried dance, she was cute, but what little girls isn't cute in a tutu? She did some modeling. Then along came competitive cheerleading, because her big sister was involved in it, she so wanted to be like her big sister. There is an eight year difference between them.

Competitive cheerleading it was. But once she got onto the higher teams, the other activities she was interested in trying, I had to say no because cheerleading practice and competitions took up a lot of time. The choice had to be made, cheerleading or no cheerleading, there really wasn't room for more. There was a year when she wanted to quit because she was placed on a team she felt she was too advanced for. This was the year that she had to learn that when it came to something you loved doing and your goal was to be the best at it, you had to stick it out and make the best of it. And she did. And it paid off at the next tryouts, which was this past cheer season. She was placed on the high level team and that was a huge reward for all her hard work and dedication. What a great learning lesson for her.

Now she will be starting her 6th year of competitive cheer. Her last season ended on a very high note in Orlando. Mind you, it's not as glamorous as one would think. It's a lot of waiting around and days full of loud music and a lot of people. It takes a lot of patience on the parents' part too. Some things you just can't control, which is very hard for myself and my hubby, but we've learned to be very flexible with this sport. You do what you have to do for the sake of what your kids love to do.

The season ended March 13th and tryouts were March 26th. Not much time in-between to breathe. You would think I would be used to tryouts by now, but the nerves are still there, not for myself, but for my daughter. Of course, I thought my daughter did well during her tryouts. But sitting there and watching some of the other girls and you hear THIS is the moment when everything is determined well, there went my hopes for my daughter's chances for even trying out for THE highest team. And this was the year she wanted the chance to maybe crossover to THE team. Oh well, I knew she would still be on the other high level team, that was still great.

Then the waiting began for the results. This wasn't your ordinary waiting just hours for the results, we had to wait until 10:00pm the next evening! Talk about stress! I was hopeful and would check the website for the results practically every hour on the hour before the 10:00pm post time being hopeful that we wouldn't have to wait that long. Then magically, around 8:00pm, the results were up! Ahhhhh!! It took me a few minutes to get to see the results, it was killing me! Then there it was, the result...just like we thought, she was on the high level team as before, which was great and a relief.

My hubby went upstairs to get our daughter so she could see the list. As he was upstairs, I continued to click on the results as I was surprised that there would be yet another result page? And there it was, her name on THE team list, the Stars!! What? We're we seeing things?? I know I was in shock, but my daughter was really in shock, a good feeling though. I printed out the pages of the two teams, yes two teams for this upcoming season. My hubby wasn't too thrilled about it, not because of the huge accomplishment, but practice times for both teams means five days of practice. This is a huge commitment, not only on the part of our daughter, but on our part as parents, we have to drive her to and from practice and the practices end at 9:00pm. I looked at my hubby and told him that we can do this, this is what our daughter has been working towards and though we are no longer spring chickens, we can hang in there and do it together.

It's going to be a very busy year for us, but it's also going to be a very exciting year for all of us. Way to go Kora, you strived to reach for the Stars and you did it!

Oh No, I've Got the Bug...

To adopt again! I received an update of the little baby I am sponsoring in Korea and he is THE cutest thing EVER! I do a lot of volunteering for Holt, I see a lot of babies during my travels and yet, the urge to adopt has never hit me. Until now. I look at his cute little face and he really got to me.

Reality is, I won't adopt again, I know my limits, I am very happy with the three kids I have. The age difference between my youngest and this little baby, way too much. And the truth be known, I am about to reach the cut off age to adopt in Korea, my hubby is already there.

My heart goes out to these children that deserve a family of their own, so I help in other ways. I know this little boy will get his family soon, I can feel it in my heart. I'm not worried. I'm just shocked that I would have these feelings again. I think I am going thru withdrawals of not traveling internationally for two years. I better do some traveling and soon. I know my hubby would welcome me traveling over adopting again!

If I can get permission to post my little guy's picture, I will, then you will all understand...

She's not even a teenager yet!

But she sure looks like one!

Where does the time go? And this is my youngest child, she will be a teen officially in June. Am I ready for a teenaged daughter? I survived raising one daughter already...I think I am still raising her until she is out on her own. That will make one 20 yr old, a 17 yr old and then a 13 yr old. Okay, now I'm feeling old.

My Son is Growing...up

It's hard to believe my kids grow up so fast. But it took my son quite awhile to actually grow taller. The beginning of his sophomore year, he was my height, not very flattering if you are a boy. Then a year later, here he is, way taller than me and almost taller than his father?

My son, he's so handsome, I'm proud to be his mommy:

It's My Life

I always talk about how crazy my schedule is but to be brutally honest, my schedules aren't that crazy at all. I talk a big game, my life is actually full of just regular, everyday, mundane things. And no, I'm not saying my life is mundane, far from it. I am actually just a spoiled rotten wife and mother. I'm spoiled because I have the greatest hubby ever, I have three great kids(yes, I have posted about being frustrated with them, but what mom doesn't get frustrated with their kids at times?).

I live the life of a queen, though I do not take anything for granted and I am not bragging about it either (it sure sounds like it now), but anyone that really knows me, should know me, the real me. I just love my life and the choices I have made to get me to where I am today. I wouldn't trade anything, I wouldn't change anything. It's my life and I love it.

I'm Still Sane!

What a weekend, but oh what a weekend! I knew what was going to happen for Friday and Saturday, but then there was added excitement for Thursday. Tuesday, I had received an email stating a baby was possibly coming home to his family on Thursday, we were just waiting for approval from the state of Nebraska for entry for the baby. At 5:01pm, I received the email stating the baby got approval, he will be coming home!

The best part of this baby coming home to his family, Molly Holt would be escorting him to Omaha! Oh, how special for this little boy and his family, what an honor! Molly was coming to Omaha to be our special guest for our annual Holt auction, so why not bring a baby along!

Thursday was spent checking on the flights to see if everything was still on schedule. As the day progressed, things appeared to be fine...but then the call came. The flight in San Francisco was delayed for three hours...let the scrambling begin! I had to contact all the people that were going to meet at the airport and tell them not to go since the flight would be late. Come to find out, Molly and baby would be staying overnight in San Francisco and would be flying into Omaha the next evening. The next evening??? Gosh darn it! That meant I wasn't going to be able to meet the flight!! But this wasn't about me.

I called the family, they were already at the airport, they had driven up from Lincoln. I felt so bad for them, but things like this happen. Now they had to wait a whole 'nother day! At least they only live 50 minutes away.

Friday comes along and my schedule is crazy trying to clean house, prepare for dinner guests and especially Molly Holt, what an honor! I had to arrange for someone to pick up Molly from the airport to get her to my house and be prepared to feed 18 people. I think I was on my phone either talking to people or texting people to get them to my house correctly...it was kind of comical.

Once everyone arrived at my house, we all had a fabulous time sharing food and fellowship. I truly love to host at my house, I feel it is so much more intimate than trying to talk to people at a restaurant. What a great group of people to host that have the same passion as I do for the mission at Holt. I feel so blessed to know I am working side by side with people with a true love for what we do.

Then came Saturday. My son had his first soccer game of the season in the morning so I couldn't' fit in helping with set up for the auction. Saturday evening came with preparing to go to the Holt auction and dinner, but first my son was getting ready for his first prom! All of his friends wanted to have pictures taken at our house so we had to make sure they all arrived at 5:00 since my event started at 5:30(I could be a little late).

Once again, I had a house full of people! Including my son, there were three couples and all their families came over to take pictures too. It was fun seeing all the kids dressed up so nicely. Still seems odd to me that my son is old enough to go to his first prom! I know, I know, I have a 20 year old!

Once pictures were done, we had to drop off our youngest daughter to her friend's birthday party on the way to our event. Always something huh?

Once we got to the Holt auction, I felt like I could finally enjoy myself and have fun, which I totally did! What a great turn out, 350 guests! We were all thrilled to have this great turn out. I didn't have time to look at any of the silent auction items, there were too many people I had to talk to or people would stop me and say hi, but it was wonderful to see so many people there.

Our favorite part of the auction? The Dessert Dash! My family loves to be the winning table so we can be the first to pick out the dessert. This was the first year in three years that my hubby and I were at the same table. The past two years, we both bid against each other and of course, one year he outbid me and the other year, I outbid him, we are so competitive!

So this year, with our determination to keep our winning streak alive, we made sure to put down the amount we knew would win...oh, how wrong we were...when the announcement came for the top bid, the entire crowd was in shock...the winning bid was $6,300.00!!! WHAT?? Wow!! That was crazy!!! Talk about an all time winning bid! For ONE dessert!! That's the way we do it in Omaha! This was in huge part thanks to a fellow board member at the winning table...I told you I work alongside a great group!!

The rest of the evening was wonderful and we reached an all time record for raising funds. I am so happy for the outcome, the fellowship, the shared passion with our Holt families, and for those that were new to the event and told me how much they loved it and would be coming back again next year. That's what it's all about for me, to get people involved in this wonderful event and them wanting to come back.

What a blessing for me to be able to see so many families that have been touched by Holt and how they all want to give back. God is Good!!

It was a crazy, busy weekend, but it was a crazy good weekend!

Decorating 101

I wish decorating my house came naturally, but it doesn't. I love my house and I like to have it look nice, but I decorate it piece by piece, this area, then that area. I would really like to have every room decorated and finished. I don't change any decorations according to the seasons, I know some people do, but not me. The only season decorations change is Christmas season.

So why not just hire an interior designer? I don't know, it's the whole idea of paying someone to do something I should be able to do. My mom and sister are great at decorating and being able to see how things go together, so why not have them help me? I know, I know, It's me.

I am a very simplistic decorator too. I don't like too much 'stuff' in my house. I'm really glad my wall space is very minimal on the main floor so I don't feel the need to hang pictures. Shelving, I could do without, that consists of more dusting, yuck.

My taste in decor is more contemporary too, so finding things I like does take time. However, when I do see something that I like and it is unique, I'm really good at knowing it will look good in my house. So maybe I am capable of decorating 101.

Here is my latest addition to my home decor:

I Love My Kids, But...

I'm only human, they get on my nerves sometimes and lately, it has been happening more and more. Why is that? Aren't they 'just being kids'? Seriously though, I could scream sometimes. I'm beginning to say the typical 'old person' saying, 'When I was your age...' But seriously, when I was my kids' age, I was doing so much more for myself and around the house. I wanted better for myself, I was taking care of myself and doing the household things I am currently doing.

Yeah, yeah, the times are different and times have changed, but being and wanting to be a productive and accountable person in society hasn't changed, has it?

So what do I do? Is it up to me as a parent to keep harping on my kids? When do kids start wanting to do things for themselves and wanting better for themselves? My expectations are not so out of reach that my kids can't attain them. Seriously, my kids are spoiled and that is my fault. I wanted better for my kids, but do I strip away everything from them without stripping away their self-esteem? I just want them to be accountable for how they are living their lives, appreciate what they have. Show some respect. Be aware of the little things they should focus on, keeping an eye on the big picture. How do they want to be seen as a person?

It's gets so frustrating as a parent when I try to be the role model for them, but at what age do kids really start to 'get it'? I love my kids, but...