New Year, Old Lessons!

Happy 2014 to each and every one of you. Been a while since my last posting but promise to keep the prose coming more often this year!

I came across this list on Pinterest, "Hold the Door: Lessons for My Kids!"

Thank you Janet Dickens for reminding us of the important lessons of life!

New Team

I just wanted everyone to know that I am throwing all of my maroon and white stuff away.  I have seen the light and am now a Tiger Fan.

My buddy, Gretchen, redid this blog page for me and may have convinced (hacked) one of my posts!

GEAUX TIGERS

Big thank you to Gretchen for the beautiful new look to my blog! The free post she added was a great prank but rest assured it remains:  

Gig'em Aggies!!

Big Family, Heck Yes!

My Dad and his siblings!  (1978)

 Last Saturday, I sat in church shoulder to shoulder with first cousins as we had gathered for the funeral of our beloved Aunt Irene. The oldest daughter born to Mollie and Henry in 1912, she had 2 brothers and 3 sisters. On this day the surviving siblings sat in the pew directly in front of us, three sisters and a brother (my Dad), ages ranging from 94-77.  It was amazing to see so much family history and life experiences sitting on one row. A poignant moment that touched my heart occurred when one aunt was weeping and another gathered her in her arms to give comfort.

There I sat in the pews of the same Texas small town church in which I worshiped as a child, later walked down the long aisle as a bride, and sadly now, was attending family funerals. As I gazed around the pews in front of me, a smile emerged as I took in the sight of Aunt Irene’s family -including 27 great-grandchildren - and I thanked God for large families!

Those five children born to my paternal grandparents also produced 27 grandchildren.  Yes, you read that right.  I have 22 first cousins on my father’s side and when you add in my mother’s side, we tip the scales at 31.  Easter is a the big gathering time for our family, and growing up we always celebrated at Aunt Irene and Uncle Herman’s rural Victorian home with a wraparound front porch and beautiful yard. Being a family of German-Czech heritage, tradition had all of the kids making Easter nests from real grass and flowers.  I have many great memories of gathering the flowers, making our nests, sharing meals and storytelling - and of course, the stress of bringing a new boyfriend to meet this crowd!!

A young Cameron checking out his Easter nest!

They are still making nests...thinking we need an age limit! 

Years ago, while working on a family history project for school, one of my children asked how many first cousins they had.  I laughingly answered, “You will win if there is a class contest since Dad is one of 10 children!”  Yes, the tradition of “Big Family” was passed on to my kids as they also have 27 first cousins - and I hope many wonderful memories…..

Big Family, Heck Yes!

Most Thankful!

Happy New Year!! Yes, I am back with more thoughts, updates and plain random ramblings!

Just an update on my 2012 resolution of writing a thank you note each day. This was one of the toughest, yet most rewarding challenges I have ever undertaken. It was not difficult to find something to give thanks but taking the time to write the notes. At first it was easy as I wrote the notes daily and then several at a time to keep up. Finally working out a system to write down daily my thanks and weekly the notes!

Never could have imagined the joy that would come from this year long project, like the priceless expression when I handed a thank you note to Marie at the dry cleaners. My favorite and best note story was chasing down our newspaper delivery guy, who in turn put a thank you card in our paper the next day! You don't need to write a note of thanks to show appreciate to all those people in your life, just tell them! 

I kept a journal of every note I wrote and the reason so it would remind me that there is always, always something to be thankful for..... 
  

Once a Teacher!

These young fresh faces had just accepted brand new Education degrees and were ready to change the world one student at a time. Today we completed our 29th “First Day of School” as professionals, hard to believe that many years have come and gone, and we are all still in the business of touching children’s lives!

Lisa J., Lisa G. and I were sorority sisters. Susan H. (high school classmate of Lisa G.) often joined the Lisa's to work on lesson plans at our sorority house as they were all Elementary Education majors. I learned then and still appreciate all of the work it takes to run the classroom of the younger students. The prep time for each subject, creative bulletin boards and the patience of Job when your name is used a million times a day! These gals loved the classroom from the beginning and still do! 

Lisa G. had the daughter of a very famous country singer in her class while student teaching.  We begged her to schedule a parent conference so we could all meet the girl’s dad! Lisa is gifted at making Math easy to learn and she even tried with me!  Lisa J. has a fabulous sense of humor, is beloved a 5^th grade teacher and was recently named Teacher of the Year!  Susan H. left the classroom for administration a few years back and continues to impact lives on a greater scale.

While I had some of the same of the Education classes, my experience was much different.  With a major in Athletic Training and minor in Political Science, the State of Texas felt it would be safe to for me to instruct high school students in Physical Education, Health or Government!

Dale P. and I co- student taught in P.E. for Mrs. Abernathy and I still use lessons learned from her.  There was no rolling out the ball and then reading the sports section in the corner as she ran a tight ship.   Dale and I made a deal, he handled class discipline and I took care of the lesson plans. No body messed with Dale as he was the starting tight end on our college football team.  I would never teach P. E. again as my three years in the classroom would be spent selling the importance of U.S. and Texas Government to the rolling eyes of high school seniors, no small feat!  While the majority of past 28 years have been spent caring for thousands of injured athletes, I am still teaching every day and the subject is life!

What is your Anchor?

On a recent trip a billboard with the question, " What is your Anchor?" came into view along the side of the highway. As the miles rolled past my window, this question stayed on my mind. So I asked my husband, a man of few words about his anchor and he mentioned God, family and his faith. But what about the calm seas not the rough ones I mumbled out loud. He glanced my way and said " that is when you need it most!"


Never thought about anchors because on a boat I am looking for the life jackets, first aid kit, radio and is the gas tank full, you know once a Scout Mom! As with life and my career, being prepared for the worst and praying for the best is standard procedure. This anchor question, my husband's answers and events of the last few months in the lives of family, close friends and mine were weighing heavy on my mind.


So what is my anchor in calm seas? Am I as faithfully to God when there is no storm on the horizon? It is easy to give thanks for escaping an accident, receiving favorable medical results or winning the power-ball lotto (which I didn't)! Now it seems that same anchor of hope, faith and love should be a touchstone in my life's celebration of blessings and everyday gifts. My husband may be right, we must know where the anchor is when the water is like glass so we can find it when the waves are coming over board!


Next time I am on a dingy or cruise ship, I am looking for the anchor...how about you?


“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” – Hebrews 6:19

We Have an Anchor
 Priscilla Jane Owens, 1829-1907

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,        

Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.

Still Thankful...

Today is February 29th, Leap Day and I can proudly say for the first time in my life I have maintained a New Year's resolution! Just penned my 60th thank you note and only have 306 to go!! Guess I will single handily save the US Post Office with all of the stamps I am buying.

Much to my surprise and grateful heart, finding people to thank has not been a problem. Taking time each day to do so is another story. Must try harder to write one daily because attempting to do 10 at once was not the goal. (OK, I admit got a bit behind) Stay tuned for more updates....

Appreciation can make a day — even change a life, Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.
— Margaret Cousins