2012 was all about making sure our family was set up financially. This year, I have a different path that I want to follow. Our family has been blessed beyond measure and this year I am going to try to pay things forward every day in small and bigger gestures. Not everything will cost money. There are millions of ways to make someone smile and not every one costs money.
I am going to be keeping this online journal so I can look back at the end of the year and see if I made an impact in my small community. People all over are hurting, wether it's money problems, illness, or even emotional problems. I am going to do my best to make people smile this year. Today is 1/4/2013, so I have 361 people to make happy or at least smile.
Why am I doing this? Because life is too short and I want to make sure that I make more people smile. I call it "My Wonderful Life" lessons after the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart. My Mom was the type of person that if she knew someone needed something and we had it, it was theirs. I was raised on the philosophy of paying it forward long before a movie came out, so I've decided to do it not only to make things better for someone else, but to let my Mom know that everytime I made someone smile, I was remembering her. There is another reason why I am doing this....Last year, in early December, I was made aware of a FB page of a little boy who was battling cancer here in mid-Michigan. The community of Midland, Michgan was coming together to light up their houses early because time for little Jayden was running out. I was in tears when I was reading all the different prayers, seeing the pictures of everyones displays,and volunteering their time and resources to make Christmas a memoriable one for this precious angel here on Earth. My daughter asked me why I was crying and I composed myself and explained to her how this community had come together to help this amazing family have 1 last Christmas with their son. Hannah & I talked a lot about how blessed our family was and right then and there, we decided to make a goal for Christmas to pay it forward "Jayden style", and we did! We had a blast this past Christmas.
Our children are watching us and I want to be like my Mom who showed empathy & compassion to others. This is a trait I want to pass along to my kids in the hope that when they are growing up and seeing others in need, they will reach their hand out to someone and help them in their time of need.
This is an important life lesson and I hope to see their names in many, many blog posts through out the year. I decided this year, I am going to "Be the change I want to see in my world" and I hope I can blog about it regularly.
Take care,
Kathi
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A Coaches Words To Her Boys...
Last night was my last game with a group of young men, most of them I have known for years, some I have only come to know this season. It was a bitter sweet game for me, and as I sit back and reflect on how much these boys have grown, I feel blessed to have been a part of their lives. This is my letter to "my boys" I mean every word of it and it comes right from my heart.
When Ty first joined your team back 4 or 5 years ago, I was excited because he had decided to take his game up a level. I love soccer & I have been a player, ref, fan and coach for 35 years. Back when I was a kid, I wasn't allowed to play hockey, so soccer was the closest a young girl could get. I excelled at it, went up the ranks in my hometown from rec league, to travel, onto HS for a year, then played at the collegiate level where eventually our college team won a national title. For me to have a child who loves the game I grew up with is AWESOME! To find a group of boys who wanted to learn and grow as soccer players was even better!
As a coach I have been your #1 cheerleader & the biggest pain in your rear. That is my job. I pushed you all to become "close" to the amazing players I know you can all be. You still have work to do, but I know ALL of you can reach your potential, if you want it. Remember how you all thought I was crazy with alot of the things I made you do? All the running, tons of sit ups, skipping rope, running with a parachute, hurdles & occasionally chucking balls at you? It all was to make you a better athlete. Think back to when you played U-10....Remember all the dribbling and trapping drills you did? Well we were building a stronger foundation for you so when you got to this level you are able to do all the fancy footwork and such. I giggle when I think back at how some of you couldn't walk without tripping over your feet, and look at yourself now! All of you can deke out your opponent and make them look foolish....My how "my boys" have grown. I am proud of each & every one of you.
Now it is time for me to step aside for alot of you and let another coach mold you even further into an incredible player. My head knew this day would come, but my heart will always be with you guys. I am sad that it is over, but from the bottom of my heart I thank all of you for making me laugh even when I wanted to strangle some of you ;) All of you have taught me so much I don't think you even know how much I have learned from you. I am leaving each of you with a few final thoughts & words to remember...God gave you 2 ears & 1 mouth which means when the coach is talking, you need to listen and NOT be chatting away about whatever plans you are making for the weekend ;)
Kyle....I have known you longest, even though there was a time that I wasn't your coach. I think back to the 1st season you played, and I chuckle when I think about how I told you "This is your area to defend" and you never moved from that spot the whole season,lol. You have become an amazing soccer player. You quietly did your job, doing whatever was asked of you, and working on your own to become a better ball handler. I watched you this fall become a cross country runner and you amaze me Kyle. No matter which sport you decide to do, I know you will make a HUGE impact for your school. When I think of you, I have to say you are like Nick Lidstrom. You are quiet, but consistently good, and often save our team. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to this team.
Noah C....Again like Kyle, you were a quiet force to be reckoned with. Watching you play goal was a delight. Alot of times, you made it look so easy! I know in the beginning I probably scared you a bit, but you are such an incredible young man! So many talents, not only on the soccer field. I truly hope I get to see you even though I won't be your coach. I am going to miss the different hair colors & stylish socks ;)
Thank you my friend, for being an amazing goalie, but even better, an amazing young man. I am proud of you and look forward to what is in store for your future whatever is in store for you I know you will be a success!
Trev....Dude keep the elbows in!!! :D When I first started coaching you, you looked like the baby Happy New Year from the Rudolph's Shiny New Year show,lol. Who knew such an innocent face would become such a beast defender! You are without a doubt, one of the most competitive kids on the team, but you have to remember to talk to your team. You will become a leader and it will be up to you to let your team know if there is a man who needs to be covered, calling for a pass, etc.Remember when you are running, NO JAZZ HANDS! I can't wait for you to start swimming in HS and I am totally expecting you to shatter more records all over the place ;) Thanks for always working hard, and for providing direction to your team when needed.
Nick..Nick, Nick, Nick...I could write a book about you my young friend ;) You went from tripping over your own feet to stopping goals in clutch situations, not to mention all the times you defensively helped your team. I know you are bummed that you got hurt during this season, but I really hope you stick with soccer. You haven't even scratched the surface of your potential, and I hope one of your new coaches can bring that out of you. Thank you for making me laugh (even when I wanted to choke you,lol), and providing alot of levity (look it up) when your team was down. Remember....GOD GAVE YOU 2 EARS & 1 MOUTH!!!!
I will miss you my young friend. I wish you all the success in the world, except when you are against Corunna ;)
Cody...I smile when I think of you. You are a coaches dream player. You gave everything you had in every game & practice. You worked hard, asked us if there were things you could work on at home, and are a true team player in every sense of the word. I think back from when you first joined, and look at the player you are now and just think WOW! All of your hard work is paying off. Like Kyle, if you decide to run cross country or play soccer, I know you will go far and leave everything on the field or track. You have been a joy to work with and I hope no matter what you decide to do, you keep in touch.
Slush...UGH! A Penguins fan? Really? ;) Such a quiet kid during practice who lets the beast out during the game. Have faith in yourself Noah because you are ALOT better than you give yourself credit for. I know you got ticked at me alot and I'm sorry for that, but look at how far you have become as a player! You can do anything you set your mind to, just believe in yourself a little bit more. If there ever comes a time when you are doubting yourself, get ahold of me and I will remind you of the thousands of times you won the ball from a bigger player, made that excellent pass across the field for a goal, talked to your team mate who had the ball and supported them.
You are a fantastic soccer player and I am grateful you were on our team to help us in so many tough spots.
Joe....To be honest I wasn't sure how things were going to go this year. You were always Ty's opponent and I wasn't sure how the 2 of you would get along on the same team. Thank you for teaching an old lady that even though you were on opposite sides before, that you could become a fantastic team mate who supported your team and helped them when they were down. Your way of talking from the bench and on the field helped turn the attitudes around and pretty soon everyone was talking on the field. I gave you some grief, and I know it had to be hard not having your Dad as your coach, but thanks for giving us a shot and I hope you had fun. It was a pleasure becoming your coach. Thanks Joe for everything you did for this team.
Gabe...My Gabriel...So many things I'd like to say, but I will keep it simple. If you practiced as hard as you played in the game, there would be no stopping you. Like Slush, you need to believe in yourself a little bit more. You have grown so much in the short time you were with this team, and I know if you decide to play soccer in HS, you will be tough to play against. Thank you for asking questions when things didn't make sense because it showed us that you wanted to learn. Keep your feet on the ground when someone kicks the ball & believe in yourself as much as we do. Thank you for working hard not only for yourself, but for your team.
Jordan...Only been together for 1 season and I will miss your goofy ways on & off the field. You have such a natural gift that it's scary to think if you actually kept with soccer, how good you could become. I wish you all the best no matter what you decide to do with your life. If you do decide to play more, just remember to get your body in front of the ball instead of just kicking your leg out. You are not a ballerina ;) Thank you for doing whatever was asked of you. From defense to forward, mid field to goal, you tried and worked hard for your team. Thank you my young friend and good luck next year.
Brendan...I gave you so much grief and you took it all in stride. I am so proud of how hard you worked this season. All that hard work really paid off. Your footwork has improved, throw ins are awesome and you are TALKING on the field most of the time :D Thank you for putting up with me all these years. I will never be able to look at a pair of bunny ears and NOT think of you. You are becoming a great young man and I wish you nothing but the best in the years to come. I will miss you B.J. but I hope to catch a few HS games and see you playing tough! Listen to your next coach, and work on some stuff at home on your own. You can bring your game up to an even higher level, you just have to do the work.
Brody...When I think back to the player you were a few short years ago & to see the player you are today...WOW! I can't wait to be able to sit in the stands and cheer you on as you are playing against all these other boys. You worked so hard, always asking me what you could do to become better, and I sit back while you are on the field and I just think "WOW". Sometimes you hold onto the ball too long, or try to get past too many opponents, but you will learn over the next few years about timing and "hearing" the players behind or around you. I am excited for your future and grateful you allowed me to be your coach for all these years.
Tim...You have come so far and become such an awesome player & team mate that it has been a pleasure to be your coach. I have enjoyed every day that I saw you at the fields. You always worked hard, and even started TALKING on the field to your team mates. Your crosses and corner kicks are a thing of beauty my young friend. Find the confidence in yourself to know how good you truly are and there will be no stopping you. The talent that you have inside of you is amazing, you just need to relax and let it out. Remember it is called "practice" not "perfect". Allow yourself you make mistakes because that is how you grow. Don't beat yourself up because everyone has an off pass or a bad game. Know that I will always be on the sidelines cheering for you because that is how much I believe in you.
Josh... From a hot head, to a leader. I have sat by these few years and watched you go from a player to a true team mate and that is a lot of growing for a young man. You worked on the areas of your game that you didn't like and became stronger in those areas. I have no doubt that you have ALOT of soccer in your future, but I hope you never forget your foundation. Your team is only as strong as your weakest player, and while I have no doubt you will be one of the stronger players, it will fall to you to help your weaker players by encouraging them and giving them help in the areas you see they need help in. I am excited to see you play on the big fields, and wish you nothing but good luck in the future. I will miss you my young friend, my Joshica ;)
Tyler...As a Mom I couldn't be any prouder of you than I already am. From a coaches perspective, I am also very proud of you. I think Coaches Frank & Troy would agree that you are in the center of the field for a reason. You have a way of reading the field and the play that made it vital to put you in the middle. You are the complete soccer player, but I am sure your next coach will have new things for you to learn. Keep your feet on the ground and when your team gets scored on, it will be up to you to help boost the morale of your team. I know you will become an even better player over the next few years and I can't wait!
To all of you...I am so proud of the players and team you have become and I feel good knowing that I have taught you all what it meant to be a soccer player. The dedication and hard work is either instilled in you or not, but if you really want to move up and play in HS, I have given you everything that I know of to help you succeed. I wish all of you success beyond your wildest dreams, and even if you don't decide to play soccer in HS, I will always be thankful that for a few years we were able to share some great times together.
I will always think of each & every one of you as "my boys" and no one will be able to take that away from me. Thank you all for the hard work, the dedication, the laughter and wonderful memories you have given to this old lady. I love you all!
Coach Meanie
When Ty first joined your team back 4 or 5 years ago, I was excited because he had decided to take his game up a level. I love soccer & I have been a player, ref, fan and coach for 35 years. Back when I was a kid, I wasn't allowed to play hockey, so soccer was the closest a young girl could get. I excelled at it, went up the ranks in my hometown from rec league, to travel, onto HS for a year, then played at the collegiate level where eventually our college team won a national title. For me to have a child who loves the game I grew up with is AWESOME! To find a group of boys who wanted to learn and grow as soccer players was even better!
As a coach I have been your #1 cheerleader & the biggest pain in your rear. That is my job. I pushed you all to become "close" to the amazing players I know you can all be. You still have work to do, but I know ALL of you can reach your potential, if you want it. Remember how you all thought I was crazy with alot of the things I made you do? All the running, tons of sit ups, skipping rope, running with a parachute, hurdles & occasionally chucking balls at you? It all was to make you a better athlete. Think back to when you played U-10....Remember all the dribbling and trapping drills you did? Well we were building a stronger foundation for you so when you got to this level you are able to do all the fancy footwork and such. I giggle when I think back at how some of you couldn't walk without tripping over your feet, and look at yourself now! All of you can deke out your opponent and make them look foolish....My how "my boys" have grown. I am proud of each & every one of you.
Now it is time for me to step aside for alot of you and let another coach mold you even further into an incredible player. My head knew this day would come, but my heart will always be with you guys. I am sad that it is over, but from the bottom of my heart I thank all of you for making me laugh even when I wanted to strangle some of you ;) All of you have taught me so much I don't think you even know how much I have learned from you. I am leaving each of you with a few final thoughts & words to remember...God gave you 2 ears & 1 mouth which means when the coach is talking, you need to listen and NOT be chatting away about whatever plans you are making for the weekend ;)
Kyle....I have known you longest, even though there was a time that I wasn't your coach. I think back to the 1st season you played, and I chuckle when I think about how I told you "This is your area to defend" and you never moved from that spot the whole season,lol. You have become an amazing soccer player. You quietly did your job, doing whatever was asked of you, and working on your own to become a better ball handler. I watched you this fall become a cross country runner and you amaze me Kyle. No matter which sport you decide to do, I know you will make a HUGE impact for your school. When I think of you, I have to say you are like Nick Lidstrom. You are quiet, but consistently good, and often save our team. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to this team.
Noah C....Again like Kyle, you were a quiet force to be reckoned with. Watching you play goal was a delight. Alot of times, you made it look so easy! I know in the beginning I probably scared you a bit, but you are such an incredible young man! So many talents, not only on the soccer field. I truly hope I get to see you even though I won't be your coach. I am going to miss the different hair colors & stylish socks ;)
Thank you my friend, for being an amazing goalie, but even better, an amazing young man. I am proud of you and look forward to what is in store for your future whatever is in store for you I know you will be a success!
Trev....Dude keep the elbows in!!! :D When I first started coaching you, you looked like the baby Happy New Year from the Rudolph's Shiny New Year show,lol. Who knew such an innocent face would become such a beast defender! You are without a doubt, one of the most competitive kids on the team, but you have to remember to talk to your team. You will become a leader and it will be up to you to let your team know if there is a man who needs to be covered, calling for a pass, etc.Remember when you are running, NO JAZZ HANDS! I can't wait for you to start swimming in HS and I am totally expecting you to shatter more records all over the place ;) Thanks for always working hard, and for providing direction to your team when needed.
Nick..Nick, Nick, Nick...I could write a book about you my young friend ;) You went from tripping over your own feet to stopping goals in clutch situations, not to mention all the times you defensively helped your team. I know you are bummed that you got hurt during this season, but I really hope you stick with soccer. You haven't even scratched the surface of your potential, and I hope one of your new coaches can bring that out of you. Thank you for making me laugh (even when I wanted to choke you,lol), and providing alot of levity (look it up) when your team was down. Remember....GOD GAVE YOU 2 EARS & 1 MOUTH!!!!
I will miss you my young friend. I wish you all the success in the world, except when you are against Corunna ;)
Cody...I smile when I think of you. You are a coaches dream player. You gave everything you had in every game & practice. You worked hard, asked us if there were things you could work on at home, and are a true team player in every sense of the word. I think back from when you first joined, and look at the player you are now and just think WOW! All of your hard work is paying off. Like Kyle, if you decide to run cross country or play soccer, I know you will go far and leave everything on the field or track. You have been a joy to work with and I hope no matter what you decide to do, you keep in touch.
Slush...UGH! A Penguins fan? Really? ;) Such a quiet kid during practice who lets the beast out during the game. Have faith in yourself Noah because you are ALOT better than you give yourself credit for. I know you got ticked at me alot and I'm sorry for that, but look at how far you have become as a player! You can do anything you set your mind to, just believe in yourself a little bit more. If there ever comes a time when you are doubting yourself, get ahold of me and I will remind you of the thousands of times you won the ball from a bigger player, made that excellent pass across the field for a goal, talked to your team mate who had the ball and supported them.
You are a fantastic soccer player and I am grateful you were on our team to help us in so many tough spots.
Joe....To be honest I wasn't sure how things were going to go this year. You were always Ty's opponent and I wasn't sure how the 2 of you would get along on the same team. Thank you for teaching an old lady that even though you were on opposite sides before, that you could become a fantastic team mate who supported your team and helped them when they were down. Your way of talking from the bench and on the field helped turn the attitudes around and pretty soon everyone was talking on the field. I gave you some grief, and I know it had to be hard not having your Dad as your coach, but thanks for giving us a shot and I hope you had fun. It was a pleasure becoming your coach. Thanks Joe for everything you did for this team.
Gabe...My Gabriel...So many things I'd like to say, but I will keep it simple. If you practiced as hard as you played in the game, there would be no stopping you. Like Slush, you need to believe in yourself a little bit more. You have grown so much in the short time you were with this team, and I know if you decide to play soccer in HS, you will be tough to play against. Thank you for asking questions when things didn't make sense because it showed us that you wanted to learn. Keep your feet on the ground when someone kicks the ball & believe in yourself as much as we do. Thank you for working hard not only for yourself, but for your team.
Jordan...Only been together for 1 season and I will miss your goofy ways on & off the field. You have such a natural gift that it's scary to think if you actually kept with soccer, how good you could become. I wish you all the best no matter what you decide to do with your life. If you do decide to play more, just remember to get your body in front of the ball instead of just kicking your leg out. You are not a ballerina ;) Thank you for doing whatever was asked of you. From defense to forward, mid field to goal, you tried and worked hard for your team. Thank you my young friend and good luck next year.
Brendan...I gave you so much grief and you took it all in stride. I am so proud of how hard you worked this season. All that hard work really paid off. Your footwork has improved, throw ins are awesome and you are TALKING on the field most of the time :D Thank you for putting up with me all these years. I will never be able to look at a pair of bunny ears and NOT think of you. You are becoming a great young man and I wish you nothing but the best in the years to come. I will miss you B.J. but I hope to catch a few HS games and see you playing tough! Listen to your next coach, and work on some stuff at home on your own. You can bring your game up to an even higher level, you just have to do the work.
Brody...When I think back to the player you were a few short years ago & to see the player you are today...WOW! I can't wait to be able to sit in the stands and cheer you on as you are playing against all these other boys. You worked so hard, always asking me what you could do to become better, and I sit back while you are on the field and I just think "WOW". Sometimes you hold onto the ball too long, or try to get past too many opponents, but you will learn over the next few years about timing and "hearing" the players behind or around you. I am excited for your future and grateful you allowed me to be your coach for all these years.
Tim...You have come so far and become such an awesome player & team mate that it has been a pleasure to be your coach. I have enjoyed every day that I saw you at the fields. You always worked hard, and even started TALKING on the field to your team mates. Your crosses and corner kicks are a thing of beauty my young friend. Find the confidence in yourself to know how good you truly are and there will be no stopping you. The talent that you have inside of you is amazing, you just need to relax and let it out. Remember it is called "practice" not "perfect". Allow yourself you make mistakes because that is how you grow. Don't beat yourself up because everyone has an off pass or a bad game. Know that I will always be on the sidelines cheering for you because that is how much I believe in you.
Josh... From a hot head, to a leader. I have sat by these few years and watched you go from a player to a true team mate and that is a lot of growing for a young man. You worked on the areas of your game that you didn't like and became stronger in those areas. I have no doubt that you have ALOT of soccer in your future, but I hope you never forget your foundation. Your team is only as strong as your weakest player, and while I have no doubt you will be one of the stronger players, it will fall to you to help your weaker players by encouraging them and giving them help in the areas you see they need help in. I am excited to see you play on the big fields, and wish you nothing but good luck in the future. I will miss you my young friend, my Joshica ;)
Tyler...As a Mom I couldn't be any prouder of you than I already am. From a coaches perspective, I am also very proud of you. I think Coaches Frank & Troy would agree that you are in the center of the field for a reason. You have a way of reading the field and the play that made it vital to put you in the middle. You are the complete soccer player, but I am sure your next coach will have new things for you to learn. Keep your feet on the ground and when your team gets scored on, it will be up to you to help boost the morale of your team. I know you will become an even better player over the next few years and I can't wait!
To all of you...I am so proud of the players and team you have become and I feel good knowing that I have taught you all what it meant to be a soccer player. The dedication and hard work is either instilled in you or not, but if you really want to move up and play in HS, I have given you everything that I know of to help you succeed. I wish all of you success beyond your wildest dreams, and even if you don't decide to play soccer in HS, I will always be thankful that for a few years we were able to share some great times together.
I will always think of each & every one of you as "my boys" and no one will be able to take that away from me. Thank you all for the hard work, the dedication, the laughter and wonderful memories you have given to this old lady. I love you all!
Coach Meanie
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Girls On The Run 2011...
As a parent, I have found that there are certain parts of my childhood that I hope I can connect with my children, and a part of my childhood was my love for sports. I am extremely blessed by having 2 very active children who love all kinds of different things. I don't think there is a sport out there that my son doesn't like, which is a double edged sword. As a Mom, I want him to try everything to see if he likes it, but on the other hand there is new equipment to buy, schedules to keep, travel expenses, and trying to learn new rules while not looking like a dork by asking a ton of questions.
Then there is my daughter, who loved soccer, until a HS student kicked a ball into her gut so hard she passed out (a total accident!!!). She was involved in a tumbling class and loved that as well, until she had an accident at a friends house and whenever she did a simple summersault or cart wheel, she would get a bad head ache. That was awhile ago so I hope she will want to try it again soon. She was super and so graceful!
Then this spring she brought home a flyer about a program called "Girls On The Run". I had never heard of it before but the gist of it was that GOTR is a running club that helps girls get in shape not only physically, but emotionally as well. She wanted to check it out, and thankfully my MIL called me and reminded me on sign-up day!
Girls On The Run is so much more than a running club. My daughter actually looked forward to going to it on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and for her that is HUGE. She has learned this spring that she is awesome just the way she is, she has made goals and reached them and she found a love for running! Just this past weekend, I watched my 9 yr old do something that no one else in her family had accomplished. She ran in her first 5k and looked like a seasoned runner while doing it. I decided that I was going to walk over to a place that no one else was at so I could just enjoy watching my little girl become the champ she is. It struck me as I watched her running, how much determination and concentration she had. As she passed me on her first lap, the tears started to well up because I was SO PROUD of my baby girl. I let the tears flow freely because as a Mom, you want good things for your kids, and you also want them to see the awesomness in themselves, that you have always known was inside of them. I watched my child become a young lady this weekend. Yes she still loves Spongebob & iCarly, but to sit on the sidelines and watch your child push her body further than you had ever thought of doing yourself, well in the simplest of terms, I am in awe and have an even bigger respect for what she has done. When Hannah reached the finish line, I was cheering like crazy and wanted to give her the biggest hug I could! After her race, she looked at me with the biggest smile and sense of accomplishment I was again, fighting back the tears. I was in awe of this 48 pound tiny girl who showed how big her heart was and how competitive she truly is.
I am writing this blog, not because I hope people will join, but because I want never want her to forget how amazing she really is. She may be tiny in body size, but she is a GIANT when it comes to heart, determination, and competitiveness. Great things come in small packages, and the best of all is my daughter.
I love you Hannah and one day you will understand when you have children of your own, how amazing they really are. I made a promise to you, and today I will start training for a 5k that we can run together in soon.
You amaze me everyday, and God truly blessed me when he chose you to become my daughter.
Love ya P-Nut!
Mom
Then there is my daughter, who loved soccer, until a HS student kicked a ball into her gut so hard she passed out (a total accident!!!). She was involved in a tumbling class and loved that as well, until she had an accident at a friends house and whenever she did a simple summersault or cart wheel, she would get a bad head ache. That was awhile ago so I hope she will want to try it again soon. She was super and so graceful!
Then this spring she brought home a flyer about a program called "Girls On The Run". I had never heard of it before but the gist of it was that GOTR is a running club that helps girls get in shape not only physically, but emotionally as well. She wanted to check it out, and thankfully my MIL called me and reminded me on sign-up day!
Girls On The Run is so much more than a running club. My daughter actually looked forward to going to it on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and for her that is HUGE. She has learned this spring that she is awesome just the way she is, she has made goals and reached them and she found a love for running! Just this past weekend, I watched my 9 yr old do something that no one else in her family had accomplished. She ran in her first 5k and looked like a seasoned runner while doing it. I decided that I was going to walk over to a place that no one else was at so I could just enjoy watching my little girl become the champ she is. It struck me as I watched her running, how much determination and concentration she had. As she passed me on her first lap, the tears started to well up because I was SO PROUD of my baby girl. I let the tears flow freely because as a Mom, you want good things for your kids, and you also want them to see the awesomness in themselves, that you have always known was inside of them. I watched my child become a young lady this weekend. Yes she still loves Spongebob & iCarly, but to sit on the sidelines and watch your child push her body further than you had ever thought of doing yourself, well in the simplest of terms, I am in awe and have an even bigger respect for what she has done. When Hannah reached the finish line, I was cheering like crazy and wanted to give her the biggest hug I could! After her race, she looked at me with the biggest smile and sense of accomplishment I was again, fighting back the tears. I was in awe of this 48 pound tiny girl who showed how big her heart was and how competitive she truly is.
I am writing this blog, not because I hope people will join, but because I want never want her to forget how amazing she really is. She may be tiny in body size, but she is a GIANT when it comes to heart, determination, and competitiveness. Great things come in small packages, and the best of all is my daughter.
I love you Hannah and one day you will understand when you have children of your own, how amazing they really are. I made a promise to you, and today I will start training for a 5k that we can run together in soon.
You amaze me everyday, and God truly blessed me when he chose you to become my daughter.
Love ya P-Nut!
Mom
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
I may not have given birth to you, but you are still my child....
I was lucky enough to have amazing parents. Not just Margaret & Bill, but also other friends parents who took me in like I was one of theirs as well. Janet & Graham who lived right across the street from us and made me laugh all the time. My nickname from Graham was "Katrinka". He is a huge guy and he is the main reason why I love hockey as much as I do. Graham was the type of Dad who made ice rinks in their back yard every winter. Poor Janet would have us in her backyard all winter long. I remember one of our favorite games was skating as fast as we could, dropping down at the line and sliding into the house. It was considered a good slide if Janet came out and yelled at us or we heard something fall off a shelf in their bathroom. How I am even alive to tell you this story is amazing to me ;) lol
Now that I have my own children, I think back more and more about all the "other parents" I had that helped raise me. Being on the other side of the fence I can see now what Janet, Ann, Gail & JoAnn meant when they would say "I may not have given birth to you, but you are my child." There are so many children in my life that I truly love as if they were my own. They make me laugh with some of the things they come up with. These kids touch my heart when I see how compassionate they are towards others who don't have as much as they do. I am proud of each and every one of them. My soccer boys may or may not go on to play HS soccer, but I am grateful that I was able to be in their lives for these few years. Some of them may go on to run cross country or play football, and I will be on the sidelines cheering them on, because that is what parents do. We are cheerleaders, doctors, taxi cab drivers and many, many other things. I may not have given birth to them, but they are my children.
One thing I never thought about when my kids were little p-nuts was how much I would fall in love with their friends. I have kids who stop by just to see me, even if my kids aren't home. How cool is that? I get a kick out of my sons friends when they all come through the door and say "Hey Mom". I doesn't take much to make my day, and that is definetly one way to do it. They moment I first saw both of my children, my heart grew more than I ever knew was possible. Now as I sit back, I marvel at the way our heart can grow bigger every day. I am blessed beyond measure to have so many wonderful young people in my life. They make me laugh and I treasure each and every one of them. I may not have given birth to them, but they are my children and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them.
Now that I have my own children, I think back more and more about all the "other parents" I had that helped raise me. Being on the other side of the fence I can see now what Janet, Ann, Gail & JoAnn meant when they would say "I may not have given birth to you, but you are my child." There are so many children in my life that I truly love as if they were my own. They make me laugh with some of the things they come up with. These kids touch my heart when I see how compassionate they are towards others who don't have as much as they do. I am proud of each and every one of them. My soccer boys may or may not go on to play HS soccer, but I am grateful that I was able to be in their lives for these few years. Some of them may go on to run cross country or play football, and I will be on the sidelines cheering them on, because that is what parents do. We are cheerleaders, doctors, taxi cab drivers and many, many other things. I may not have given birth to them, but they are my children.
One thing I never thought about when my kids were little p-nuts was how much I would fall in love with their friends. I have kids who stop by just to see me, even if my kids aren't home. How cool is that? I get a kick out of my sons friends when they all come through the door and say "Hey Mom". I doesn't take much to make my day, and that is definetly one way to do it. They moment I first saw both of my children, my heart grew more than I ever knew was possible. Now as I sit back, I marvel at the way our heart can grow bigger every day. I am blessed beyond measure to have so many wonderful young people in my life. They make me laugh and I treasure each and every one of them. I may not have given birth to them, but they are my children and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Some days I'm 9, other days I am 90
I am again at another crossroad. My body is steadily turning into my Mothers body, which means I no longer have the bladder of a camel, instead I now have to get up in the middle of the night or else I will wet the bed. Long gone is the flat stomach of my younger 20-ish days, only to be replaced by this "pouch" across my mid section accented by stretch marks. My complexion is now showing signs of wear & tear, like when I try to put on eye liner and only see that the color of the liner is enhancing the beautiful dark circles and bags under my eyes. Not to mention the fact that I am outside alot of my day and I now have permanent frown creases between my eye brows from me squinting thanks to the sun. I won't go any further with all the various aches & pains I have now grown accustomed to, but my shoulder will let me know when there will be a change in the weather.
Here's the thing that perplexes me though...Even though I have a body of a 43 yr old, I have the mind set of a child most of the time. I play with my kids outside (ALOT), I am the champ of Marco-Polo, I help run a u-14 boys soccer team, so why in the world am I turning into my Mom? I mean, when I was a kid, she was OLD... She was like 50 something! ;)
Growing older (man I have a hard time even typing "that" word), means I am going to end up with an AARP card, eating dinner @ 3:30 p.m., getting all kinds of "senior" discounts. I don't want to learn how to knit, I shudder when I find myself saying "when I was a kid...." and the thought of wearing a sweater during the summer time just makes me cringe! UGH!!! I truly wish our body would match our mind set, because then I'd be 24 forever!
I'd love to type more, but I have to go...No really, I gotta go!!! I hate it when I sneeze....Darn bladder anyways...
Have a great day everyone!
Kathi
Here's the thing that perplexes me though...Even though I have a body of a 43 yr old, I have the mind set of a child most of the time. I play with my kids outside (ALOT), I am the champ of Marco-Polo, I help run a u-14 boys soccer team, so why in the world am I turning into my Mom? I mean, when I was a kid, she was OLD... She was like 50 something! ;)
Growing older (man I have a hard time even typing "that" word), means I am going to end up with an AARP card, eating dinner @ 3:30 p.m., getting all kinds of "senior" discounts. I don't want to learn how to knit, I shudder when I find myself saying "when I was a kid...." and the thought of wearing a sweater during the summer time just makes me cringe! UGH!!! I truly wish our body would match our mind set, because then I'd be 24 forever!
I'd love to type more, but I have to go...No really, I gotta go!!! I hate it when I sneeze....Darn bladder anyways...
Have a great day everyone!
Kathi
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Happy Mother's Day (I miss my Mom)....
For the few Moms that will read this, let me first say "Happy Mother's Day"! Being a Mom is one of the hardest jobs on the planet and we should celebrate our luck everyday, not just because a date on a calendar tells us to.
Mother's Day is a bitter-sweet day for me. I love the homemade cards& gifts that my children make for me,the fact that my daughter tries really hard to get along with everyone, & the extra hugs from my 13 yr old son are always an added bonus! I love my children with everything that I have, and I know they love me deeply as well. I am honored to be their Mom, even if Mother's Day is a hard day for me.
On Mother's Day it never fails, I will end up crying. Not the happy, I am so touched by your thoughtfulness tears, but tears of sadness and pain. See I lost my Mom 12 years ago. She was my foundation, my rock, my best friend. She always knew what would make me laugh if I was sad, she would hold me if I was scared, she would help my body heal if I was sick. If I needed a good swift kick in the rear, she would do that was well, (actually she was a master when it came to wooden spoons ;) lol My Mom meant everything to me and more, and there is such a big hole in my heart because of her loss, that I honestly don't know if it will ever heal. It's almost as if the wound gets scabbed over and then something happens and the scab gets ripped off and the pain is just as raw as the 1st day I woke up without her. People say things like "It gets easier with time", or "I can't even imagine what I would do without my Mom." Well let me tell you, it SUCKS big time, and while I don't cry everyday, not a day goes by that I don't wish I could call her just to hear her voice, ask her advice about something, or pitch a fit about last nights hockey game and how blind the refs are.
The child in me feels lonely and lost, like the time when you wander off from Mom to play in the clothes rack or check out the candy aisle in a big store, only to realize when you go back to see her she has moved elsewhere and you have no idea which way to go. The adult in me tells me to grow up because everyone loses someone at some point in their life. On Mother's Day, I am always at a cross road, not knowing which way to feel.
I pray that my Mom is in Heaven and someday I will get to look into those beautiful blue eyes. I tell my children that Grandma Maggie is their guardian angel, watching over them and smiling as she sees the incredible & amazing kids they have become. I know she would be proud of both of them, and her refridgerator would be filled with their art work and copies of their report cards.
I have dear friends who have recently lost their Moms and to them I would like to say this:
This is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through in my adult life. I know my Mom is no longer in pain, and that makes me thankful, but I am still saddened at what we have missed out on by her leaving us so soon. It hurts my heart when I think of my Moms grandchildren who won't have the chance to see for themselves, what a cool Grandma she would have been. I'm listening to my children playing with their friends and I realize that my Mom does live on. It's in Hannah's laugh & Ty's gorgeous blue eyes & I do get to talk to her everyday, when I am talking to God, I know my Mom is listening.
I pray that the burden of sadness is lifted soon for you. Grief, sadness, guilt and anger are some of the heaviest burdens we can carry. I pray that your load is lifted, as I pray my troubled heart is calmed by the thought of my Mom standing next to Jesus, saying "Look at my daughter and her children. Aren't they awesome?"
Happy Mothers Day Margaret Corrine Robertson Long. You were an amazing Mom, and I am grateful that God took one look at me and said to himself "I have the perfect Mom for a little spitfire like you".
I love you,
Kate
Mother's Day is a bitter-sweet day for me. I love the homemade cards& gifts that my children make for me,the fact that my daughter tries really hard to get along with everyone, & the extra hugs from my 13 yr old son are always an added bonus! I love my children with everything that I have, and I know they love me deeply as well. I am honored to be their Mom, even if Mother's Day is a hard day for me.
On Mother's Day it never fails, I will end up crying. Not the happy, I am so touched by your thoughtfulness tears, but tears of sadness and pain. See I lost my Mom 12 years ago. She was my foundation, my rock, my best friend. She always knew what would make me laugh if I was sad, she would hold me if I was scared, she would help my body heal if I was sick. If I needed a good swift kick in the rear, she would do that was well, (actually she was a master when it came to wooden spoons ;) lol My Mom meant everything to me and more, and there is such a big hole in my heart because of her loss, that I honestly don't know if it will ever heal. It's almost as if the wound gets scabbed over and then something happens and the scab gets ripped off and the pain is just as raw as the 1st day I woke up without her. People say things like "It gets easier with time", or "I can't even imagine what I would do without my Mom." Well let me tell you, it SUCKS big time, and while I don't cry everyday, not a day goes by that I don't wish I could call her just to hear her voice, ask her advice about something, or pitch a fit about last nights hockey game and how blind the refs are.
The child in me feels lonely and lost, like the time when you wander off from Mom to play in the clothes rack or check out the candy aisle in a big store, only to realize when you go back to see her she has moved elsewhere and you have no idea which way to go. The adult in me tells me to grow up because everyone loses someone at some point in their life. On Mother's Day, I am always at a cross road, not knowing which way to feel.
I pray that my Mom is in Heaven and someday I will get to look into those beautiful blue eyes. I tell my children that Grandma Maggie is their guardian angel, watching over them and smiling as she sees the incredible & amazing kids they have become. I know she would be proud of both of them, and her refridgerator would be filled with their art work and copies of their report cards.
I have dear friends who have recently lost their Moms and to them I would like to say this:
This is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through in my adult life. I know my Mom is no longer in pain, and that makes me thankful, but I am still saddened at what we have missed out on by her leaving us so soon. It hurts my heart when I think of my Moms grandchildren who won't have the chance to see for themselves, what a cool Grandma she would have been. I'm listening to my children playing with their friends and I realize that my Mom does live on. It's in Hannah's laugh & Ty's gorgeous blue eyes & I do get to talk to her everyday, when I am talking to God, I know my Mom is listening.
I pray that the burden of sadness is lifted soon for you. Grief, sadness, guilt and anger are some of the heaviest burdens we can carry. I pray that your load is lifted, as I pray my troubled heart is calmed by the thought of my Mom standing next to Jesus, saying "Look at my daughter and her children. Aren't they awesome?"
Happy Mothers Day Margaret Corrine Robertson Long. You were an amazing Mom, and I am grateful that God took one look at me and said to himself "I have the perfect Mom for a little spitfire like you".
I love you,
Kate
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Twister of emotions...
I will rarely ever post any type of political comments because things can get ugly fast if you don't have the same exact ideals as someone else. This will be a first, and probably last post of this kind, but I have some things I need to get off my chest.
Osama Bin Laden was killed on Sunday. The man who terrorized millions of people was taken down with a bullet from a gun of a trained Navy Seal. When I first heard the news, I must admit that there was a primal feeling that welled up inside of me. I was happy that this piece of dirt was gone, wiped from the face of this Earth. I thought of all those affected by the tragedies created by this one piece of dirt, this mass murderer. I prayed that they would somehow find solace knowing that this piece of dirt was erradicated by men & women who trained for years just for those 40 minutes. I was proud of them because they did something I could never do. I thought of the person who had this piece of trash in his sites. What went through his mind? Was this piece of dirt scared or happy knowing the end was coming? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks...
This piece of dirt went from mass murderer to martyr in a second. He got the ending he wanted. Those of his followers who are still alive will even be more determined to hurt Christians, Jews, even Muslims & citizens of democracy because of this act of revenge created by the USA. Have we opened up Pandora's box? Time will tell, but I have an uneasy feeling that we are headed down a very scarey road. These extremist know only hate and murder. They are the most unrelenting people who will stop at nothing to get their way, and they want to get rid of freedom, which means we will all have to fight to keep our way of life and our ideals. Are you ready to defend yourself and the things you hold dear? Would you be able to kill someone else if they threatened you and your freedoms? I'd like to think I would be able to, but I pray that I will never have to find out.
Something else amazed me yesterday. You would think that people would come together in a time like this, and yes for a few minutes they did in NYC, D.C, and other big cities around the country. By the time I got off the computer last night, there were people arguing in such a fevered pitch it was almost laughable. The D's & R's were going at it and it was ridiculous. President Obama signed the order, gave our troops the go ahead to try and capture, but, kill if necessary, this piece of trash. Give credit where credit is due already.
He signed a piece of paper and that is where is credit ends. The rest of it goes to the troops who trained for months, sacrificed time away from their families & worked their butts off, all for this mission. They looked into the face of pure evil and blew if off. Literally, blew his face off.
These men & women sacrificed their own lives to get rid of the most wanted man in the world and yet there are arm chair QB's pitching fits over who should get credit for this? Really? You mean to tell me that instead of being grateful for our troops sacrifices to keep us safe you are going to blog and post statuses on your FaceBook about how "your side" deserves the credit? Really? I have never been more disappointed in my fellow countrymen before yesterday. What I saw was ugly, ungrateful & disrespectful of the thousands if not millions of people who have had to endure hardships because of this piece of trash. This was a win for all of us, and I don't care what "side" you vote for. Last I checked our volunteer armed forces don't wear an "R" or a "D" on their helmets. They are AMERICANS first and foremost. These men and women give up so much to keep our flag flying, our right to believe in whatever religion (or not) we choose, to keep our children safer and this is the thanks they get? Really?
While you didn't get a very good nights sleep last night because your dog kept pushing you to the edge of your bed, just remember that all over the world there are troops sleeping in mud & sand to defend our way of living. If you get your lunch today and you start complaining that the food was "luke warm" or a little salty, just remember that there are troops eating meals in little pouches, without the option of it being heated up, not knowing when they will have their next meal.
Got a little sniffle or allergies acting up? Somewhere in this world are troops who are being shot at, some of them being wounded and they are praying that medical help comes to them before it's too late. They volunteered to defend this great nation, and I truly hope that we, as AMERICANS, get over this nonsense of bickering and playground bullying. The face of evil was blown off yesterday, but somewhere in the shadows is another rat waiting to take it's place. Quit being so ugly and have a little humility and be grateful for those who stand to protect us.
Many people in the military know the best way to defeat the enemy is to divide & conquer. Even though this piece of trash is dead, he is still dividing us as a nation. WAKE UP people and don't give them the satisfaction! We are better than this.
ONE nation
under God
INDIVISBLE
With LIBERTY &
justice FOR ALL.
Osama Bin Laden was killed on Sunday. The man who terrorized millions of people was taken down with a bullet from a gun of a trained Navy Seal. When I first heard the news, I must admit that there was a primal feeling that welled up inside of me. I was happy that this piece of dirt was gone, wiped from the face of this Earth. I thought of all those affected by the tragedies created by this one piece of dirt, this mass murderer. I prayed that they would somehow find solace knowing that this piece of dirt was erradicated by men & women who trained for years just for those 40 minutes. I was proud of them because they did something I could never do. I thought of the person who had this piece of trash in his sites. What went through his mind? Was this piece of dirt scared or happy knowing the end was coming? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks...
This piece of dirt went from mass murderer to martyr in a second. He got the ending he wanted. Those of his followers who are still alive will even be more determined to hurt Christians, Jews, even Muslims & citizens of democracy because of this act of revenge created by the USA. Have we opened up Pandora's box? Time will tell, but I have an uneasy feeling that we are headed down a very scarey road. These extremist know only hate and murder. They are the most unrelenting people who will stop at nothing to get their way, and they want to get rid of freedom, which means we will all have to fight to keep our way of life and our ideals. Are you ready to defend yourself and the things you hold dear? Would you be able to kill someone else if they threatened you and your freedoms? I'd like to think I would be able to, but I pray that I will never have to find out.
Something else amazed me yesterday. You would think that people would come together in a time like this, and yes for a few minutes they did in NYC, D.C, and other big cities around the country. By the time I got off the computer last night, there were people arguing in such a fevered pitch it was almost laughable. The D's & R's were going at it and it was ridiculous. President Obama signed the order, gave our troops the go ahead to try and capture, but, kill if necessary, this piece of trash. Give credit where credit is due already.
He signed a piece of paper and that is where is credit ends. The rest of it goes to the troops who trained for months, sacrificed time away from their families & worked their butts off, all for this mission. They looked into the face of pure evil and blew if off. Literally, blew his face off.
These men & women sacrificed their own lives to get rid of the most wanted man in the world and yet there are arm chair QB's pitching fits over who should get credit for this? Really? You mean to tell me that instead of being grateful for our troops sacrifices to keep us safe you are going to blog and post statuses on your FaceBook about how "your side" deserves the credit? Really? I have never been more disappointed in my fellow countrymen before yesterday. What I saw was ugly, ungrateful & disrespectful of the thousands if not millions of people who have had to endure hardships because of this piece of trash. This was a win for all of us, and I don't care what "side" you vote for. Last I checked our volunteer armed forces don't wear an "R" or a "D" on their helmets. They are AMERICANS first and foremost. These men and women give up so much to keep our flag flying, our right to believe in whatever religion (or not) we choose, to keep our children safer and this is the thanks they get? Really?
While you didn't get a very good nights sleep last night because your dog kept pushing you to the edge of your bed, just remember that all over the world there are troops sleeping in mud & sand to defend our way of living. If you get your lunch today and you start complaining that the food was "luke warm" or a little salty, just remember that there are troops eating meals in little pouches, without the option of it being heated up, not knowing when they will have their next meal.
Got a little sniffle or allergies acting up? Somewhere in this world are troops who are being shot at, some of them being wounded and they are praying that medical help comes to them before it's too late. They volunteered to defend this great nation, and I truly hope that we, as AMERICANS, get over this nonsense of bickering and playground bullying. The face of evil was blown off yesterday, but somewhere in the shadows is another rat waiting to take it's place. Quit being so ugly and have a little humility and be grateful for those who stand to protect us.
Many people in the military know the best way to defeat the enemy is to divide & conquer. Even though this piece of trash is dead, he is still dividing us as a nation. WAKE UP people and don't give them the satisfaction! We are better than this.
ONE nation
under God
INDIVISBLE
With LIBERTY &
justice FOR ALL.
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