God's in the Driver's Seat

I just got back from my board meetings from Portland.  When I first joined the Board of Directors for Holt International, I didn't know what to expect.  I sure got my fill of what was going on...surely not at all what I had expected.  Since that first meeting, my six years on the board have been quite the ride. Needless to say, these meetings are not boring!

Boring is one thing, but these six years have been very stressful.  It takes at least two to three years to get comfortable with all that is going on with the entire organization and get used to everyone that is serving along with you.  With my own experience joining the board and being involved, I made some changes for those just joining so they wouldn't feel as overwhelmed as I had.  I'm hoping I have made an improvement in the process.

After our first half day of meetings, I knew it was going to be a stressful weekend.  After our first full day of meetings and after a wonderful dinner together, I decided I needed to be alone and just be in a quiet atmosphere to think and pray.  As I was alone in my room, I received several texts and emails from friends.  That did it.  Though my friends didn't know what was happening during my meetings, they were sending me prayers of support for me to be strong and praying that I would remain steadfast and calm in what I was doing.  I began to cry.  I texted and emailed thru tears.  It was great timing that my friends had sent me messages of such great support.  It was just what I needed at that moment.  As the night continued, I knew all I could do was pray and let God take the driver's seat.  He was the one in control, not me.  It's amazing how my faith comes into play during these meetings.  I know God has always been with me during my life and I'm forever grateful He continues to guide me during the happy times and the trying times.

In the end, God lead the way during the meetings and a sense of calm and peace was present for everyone in the room.  The outcome was what was best for everyone involved.  Now we can all move forward.  

I had not gotten much sleep over the weekend, it was nice being home and sleeping in my own bed.  I think I got ten hours of sleep.  Now I'm refreshed and ready to tackle my family's busy schedule!!  Bring it on!!

Omaha Did it AGAIN!!

Saturday was the Holt Auction and Gala.  Last year, Omaha held the record for not only the number of guests, but also for the highest bid for one dessert, yes, one dessert.  This  year, let's just say that the second winning bid for one dessert was a record too, the bid was over $4,000...you read that correctly!! So, imagine what the first bid was...I'll leave it at that, but know that Omaha still holds the record for THE highest bid for one dessert.

What a great event, as usual, and I was able to share it with friends that were pretty darn amazing.  This was their first time attending the Omaha event so it is always exciting for me to share in an event that is so important to me.  My house was full of people all weekend, but I loved having everyone at my house.  The auction was like a mini reunion of friends that went on the Gift Team tour in December.  It's always so much fun to get back together after a few months.  We have created a bond that will last a lifetime, we are now one big happy family.  I can't wait until next year...let's BRING it Omaha!!

The End of Cheerleading Season

What a way to end the cheerleading season!  Besides the hectic week leading up to Myrtle Beach, the competition was exciting AND stressful!  Kora joined a second team just over a month ago, so competing on two teams makes it double stress for me.  Not that I don't think she can't handle it, but going all out for one routine then having to rest up for the next routine, I get nervous that she will be too tired for her tumbling runs. 

At least this competition, we were all able to sleep in since there were only three teams from the club that were competing.  Makes a world of difference when it comes to being rested for a full afternoon of waiting around.

Kora's second team, Fusion went on and was a little shaky, not bad though, but the team looked scared and unsure of themselves.  Kora then had time to rest a little, then time for her first team, Blaze to perform.  They rocked it out!  

With a two day national competition, all the teams wait until late night to hear the results of day one's performances.  Fusion was in 3rd place out of five teams.  Blaze was in 1st place by four whole points out of four teams.  Needless to say, we were all very excited for Blaze.

Day two of competition and Fusion performed great!  What a way for the team to rock it out on their very last performance of the year!  It was great to see the team so happy.  Then Blaze went on and they were a little rocky.  It appeared that their lead for first place could end up in jeopardy.  

Fusion's team awards were at 3:00pm.  Talk about a long awards ceremony, well it seemed like it anyway before they got to Fusion's level.  When third place was announced and it wasn't Fusion, everyone got excited because they could win second place, but then their team wasn't announced for second place so that meant they won FIRST place!!  It was so exciting to hear them get first place and the National Title!!  The entire team and all the parents were extremely excited an quite surprised, but what a great way for the team to end the year, on such a great high note!

Then came Blaze's team awards...we were not too sure about where the team would end up, I was thinking second place after seeing the current second place team perform, they did a great job.  Third place was announced and it wasn't Blaze...second place was announced and it wasn't Blaze so once again that meant Blaze won FIRST place and the National Title!!  We were all soooo excited and so was the entire team, I think we were all in shock and that they only won first place by .3 of a point!!!  OMG..that was way too close!!

So the weekend of competition was a huge success for Kora and her two teams and a great ending to a great season of cheerleading.  Now it's time to celebrate three National Titles and back to tryouts for Kora to see if she can make THE team...crossing fingers....here we go again!!!!

What's One More?

More cheerleading is in our future.  It was one very nerve wracking week for me.  Practice for a cheer competition in Myrtle Beach and clinics and tryouts for high school freshmen squad all in four days!!  I was nervous, more than nervous.  Not that I didn't have confidence in my daughter, it was just all so much in four days.  

My daughter HAD to practice with her team for Myrtle Beach, so Monday and Tuesday, she practiced for an hour, then rushed over to the high school to learn the cheer and school fight song.  Two days of just half an hour each to learn them.  Wednesday was mock tryouts.  Thursday came and that day about drove me crazy for it to come to an end so it could all be over!  

5:00pm rolled around and there started the tryouts.  6:10pm and she's done already...yikes!  6:17pm, two more groups to go.  The team would be posted on the cheer website...I had it all ready to go and refresh when needed.  

6:40pm, everyone is home, hustling around trying to get to eating dinner.  My daughter was nervous, I was nervous and she says she's grabbing the laptop...I already had it ready to go so I refreshed the page and BOOM!!  There's the list with the girls that made the team and there's my daughter's name!!  We both screamed and high fived!!  OMG!  I was so relieved to find out already!  Don't think I could have waited any longer!

Twelve girls made the squad.  My daughter was very busy texting the other girls.  Then she tells us we need to go back to the high school to get her t-shirt....what?  Why wouldn't they have had the girls stay there...we don't live close to the high school anymore, even tho it is only about 15 minutes, but still... but how could we disappoint our daughter after making the squad??

Not like we had anything else to do but to pack for Myrtle Beach leaving the next morning...but it was all worth the stress and headache to see how happy our daughter was and the relief I felt!!  Now we will focus on the competition for the next two days and will look forward to even more cheerleading in the future!!

Not Your Mama's Cheerleading!

My daughter's team...yes, be impressed!

Elite Cheer Blaze!

A Summer of Travels

My family's travel schedule for this summer has become very crazy!  Not sure I can even keep up with everyone!  I guess it has actually started with my hubby currently in Australia.  My oldest daughter will be  going to Florida next week for spring break.  I will be going to Myrtle Beach with hubby and youngest daughter the end of this month for a cheer competition and two days of spring break.

I will be traveling to Portland, Oregon for my board meetings the end of April.  My youngest daughter will be going to Washington, D.C. the beginning of June.  I will be traveling to KOREA the middle of June.  I'm SO excited I get to go to Korea again!  My son will be going to Texas for a church mission trip the middle of June.

The beginning of July, my youngest daughter travels to St. Louis for her church mission trip.  The middle of July, my son travels to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering.

Kids start school the  middle and end of August.  Then I will be traveling to China in September...Phew!!  So much for that family trip I wanted to plan to Sweden/Norway.  Maybe next summer??

I am just forever grateful my entire family can travel, life is too short not to take advantage of it while we all can!!

Celebrate!

Today is our anniversary, but with hubby in Australia, we celebrated early with a nice dinner out.  I had several shoes to choose from, so I asked my Facebook friends and family which shoes to wear and the overall choice were the red shoes so I wore them!

I have been shopping lately, getting in the mood for spring with such a mild winter, I'm really excited to wear all of my new shoes and clothes!  I think I have a total of seven new pairs of shoes, six new dresses and five new scarves?!!  

I'm excited for spring and summer, especially being able to use our new pool and deck!!  Besides, I also have three new bikinis!!