FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR

I have a friend who HATES spring!! I am using the term "friend" loosely here because how can you possibly hate spring? Everything is turning green, the birds are building nests, flowers are blooming, the days are warm and the nights are cool. Okay that has only been true about the weather 2 times since spring started but still. SHE hates it because she hates to do yard work. I think it is rather discriminatory to hate a season because of a chore that just happens to coincide with it. I think she needs a "lawn boy". Preferably one that is young, cute and works with his shirt off. I have a lawn boy. His name is George and he is NOT ALLOWED to work with his shirt off. We do have neighbors you know. I have always loved spring. As a child, I saw it as a prelude to summer and daylight lasting longer which meant more time outside. As a young teen, it meant shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. As a young adult, it meant YARD WORK, which I just happen to love. My mom, who spent most of her young life as a tenant farmer, always said that there was something uplifting about "getting your hands in the soil." Even when we were young, mom tried to "keep" the yard and we would help. I can see her standing on the sidewalk barefoot with the hose in hand, watering the grass in the cool of the evening. I can remember how we would sleep with the windows open and the wind would blow across the wet grass creating a gentle cooling breeze. My grandmother, who didn't even have indoor plumbing for years, always had a beautiful yard and of course a garden. My mom, who had spent many years growing food, planted flowers instead. And then she became interested in trees, so that there would be shade for "future generations." Her words exactly. I mean, I couldn't make that up. And as such, I have always loved working out in the yard. I love being out there with the family, stopping occasionally to sit in the shade and cool off with a glass of tea and then get back to the task at hand. And of course, "yard work" day usually means George is grilling something. As I got older, I, too, started planting flowers and even feeding the birds. It just changes the whole atmosphere of your home to have a pretty yard. And one that you and YOURS have accomplished. Even the "homeliest" house looks prettier with a nice yard, trees, and flowers. And it is so simple. A little water, a little time, and a nice trim once a week. God pretty much does the rest. So, here's to spring..........a beautiful time. A time of rebirth and regeneration. My FAVORITE time of year

What an Idiot

"Let go and let God"....how many times have I heard that? I would say at least one hundred times. And how many times have I told someone that? At least one hundred. And how many times have I ACTUALLY DONE that? Nowhere near one hundred. I am so arrogant that I think I can handle things MOST OF THE TIME. And when I can't THEN I give it to God. I am sure He just shakes His head and thinks, "I love her but isn't she just so tragic?" I have had a trying week. No more than anyone else, I am sure, but when it is happening to you...........well, you don't really care about anyone else. Or at least I don't. And through it all, I did everything BUT really truly give it over 100% to God. I prayed about it, but in my mind, I thought "surely I can fix this." Well, guess what? COULDN'T!!! I am looking at a lot of things in the upcoming months that I am really going to have very little,IF ANY, control over. I am going to have to LET GO and LET GOD and no matter how trite that sounds............it works. Truly, it does. And that doesn't mean that God makes it all better. It means He works it out to HIS perfect will for your life and in the end how can that EVER be wrong? I am relying on Him for many things, but there is a small part of me that is trying to HELP Him get these things done. How appreciative HE must be that I am willing to give of my time and talent to HELP HIM!! Am I an idiot or what? (Rhetorical question which I don't expect you to answer) I had a colleague tell me one time that when I prayed I needed to literally turn my palms up and "let go". I tried it one Sunday and it was a liberating feeling. But it wasn't too long until I was back at my tight fisted life; hanging on to anything and everything that I thought I could do to make life better. What an idiot? (didn't I already say that?) So, on this Friday afternoon, as I think about all the things that cause me worry and stress, I am letting go..........I am..........truly........probably just for today but still.........I am going to place my TRUST in HIM and get out of the way. You know, until I think HE NEEDS MY HELP. What an idiot (and yes this time you may agree!)

Mean Girls

I absolutely LOVED and STILL LOVE the movie "mean girls". It is just the epitome of high school. In fact, most of us, NEVER really leave high school, we just leave the building. In fact, I am STILL in the freaking building. There are still cliques, and gossip, and slander, and criticizing no matter how old you get. I, for one, was a "plastic" in high school (shocking) though at the time we were called "jets". And not after the movie West Side Story, but after the term "jetsetter" meaning a person of importance. We were "pop", short for popular. We had "jocks", "geeks", "nerds", (not sure now why those weren't the same except I think the "geeks" were smart), "thugs", "band nerds", and "hoods". Can you hear the smile in my voice as I write this. Oh yeah. It was classic mean girl world. Oh yeah and the "wannabes" which we still have today in every area of society. I can't imagine NOT BEING popular and while I know that makes me sound shallow and vain, high school was wonderful for the"jetsetters/plastics". Any drama we had was within ourselves and even though we were mean, when it came to the down and dirty, we took care of our own. We could be mean to each other but no one could be mean to us. We were imitated and people wanted to be like us or be liked BY us. Just like the "plastics". We also wanted to be like each other. A lot like Gretchen in the movie. One girl would wear something "new" and by weeks end everyone was wearing it. And yeah, what does that say about individuality and independence? Not much, but we were in high school. In fact, today we ALL still IMITATE stars, or "popular people" or people we admire. That is where all the fashion ideas come from for pete's sake. Women dress for women. We don't care what men think of what we have on or how we do our hair. We care what the "ladies" are going to think. Yeah, there is a little "plastic" in all of us. As a "plastic" gets older they are no longer mean-spirited like high school but just plain mean. I choose to think of it as sarcastic, sharp, and witty with a broken "give a damn" meter. So are you a mean girl? These might help you decide:
YOU MIGHT BE A MEAN GIRL IF:

1) you notice what others are wearing and have an opinion about it
2) you're appearance (at ALL times) is important to you
3) other people's appearance is important to you
4)you can't stand annoying people and don't even try to
5) you know the fashion "dos and don'ts" and live by them
6) you have a BFF that is also a mean girl
7) you and above mentioned person talk about other people and what they are wearing and how good/bad they look
8) you are smart and informed about important things............like fashion and what is in the latest issue of People magazine
9) you like yourself A LOT
10)and last but not least...........other people like you too...and if they don't it is because they are jealous!!!!

Welcome to Texas Tech!!

Well it is official.......we are part of the Red Raider family as of Friday afternoon about 2:30 pm. I am a little overwhelmed. Katie has wanted to go to Tech for as long as she has been old enough to know that she wanted to "for sure" go to college. And as most of you know, we wanted her to stay here a year to "get her feet under her" before we sent her THOUSANDS of miles away....okay only 200 miles or so but still. So, she has fulfilled her frantic family requirement and now she has been accepted into a Division I school WAY UP in the Panhandle FAR from home. We went up this last week for orientation and let me say that it was quite an eye opener. The first thing they told us (the parents) was to "relax" AND "release". In other words, GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET YOUR CHILD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. Of course MY FIRST THOUGHT was......yeah but I'm paying the bill. But as they continued to speak, I realized that what they were saying made sense. When she goes in August, I won't be there to hold her hand, or help her with decisions or TELL HER WHAT TO DO!! Kind of disconcerting for what I like to call "hands on" parenting which Katie likes to call "mom, I can't breathe, your arms are suffocating me" parenting. Anyhow........as they began to talk about the enormity of her college education..how many kids actually finish, and what percentage actually pursue their degree without having to start over, and how many are successful, I began to feel a little overwhelmed. Had I been Katie, I would have RAN back to the car and to Angelo State University, hearth and home. But she was not deterred in the least. When we got through with the degree plan for becoming a lawyer, I asked her if she was still sure and she confidently said yes. As I took a break outside, by myself, I saw literally hundreds of students going around the campus to class, or jobs, or some jogging, or just hanging out. NOT ONE OF THEM was crying or vomiting. In fact, the only person I could find who felt a little nauseous was ME. So, when it was all over, I asked Katie how she felt and she said I am excited and can't wait to get here. I said "me, too" because that is what a Red Raider mom would say. But inside I thought.........oh my gosh what have we done? So, there you have it. She is going to Tech in August. I am proud. I am scared. I am already a little lonely. But I came home with a "Texas Tech mom T-shirt." As for Katie................she is counting the days.

I'M BACK BABY!!

Okay not really. I mean I did run twice this week after laying off for almost three weeks to rest the shin splints. (Note to potential runners/joggers/speedwalkers; they don't heal or really go away, just feel better for a while and then are right back). So, I missed being on the road, wind in my face (okay I am lying... I HATE the wind, especially when you are running into it and this last week it was like, what, a thousand miles an hour?) but I digress. I like to run because for that amount of time my mind is blank (no easy shots here dear reader!) I don't worry, wonder, or think about anything, unless of course it is keeping my pace, staying up with my niece, who by the way has become a SPEED DEMON the three weeks I have been off, or simply breathing. So, I am back. Ran easy on Thursday, and a little more distance and speed on Friday. Felt good to be back. I have A LOT of running to do in order to get ready for the Texas State 5 mile Run in the Sun in May. So, I am having banana pudding for supper. I know that is good for you because after every run they bring out the bananas by the truckload. So, there it is...........I am BACK!!! (and my leg hurts even as we speak)

What A Blessing

My daughter has grown up so much the last year that I can scarcely get over it or at times comprehend it. All those times I thought I was the "worst mom ever" and of course she was agreeing with me 100%, I never thought I was getting any of it right. BUT I WAS!!! LOOK AT HER!!! She is gorgeous, smart, a good student, ambitious, determined, responsible, and FIERCELY INDEPENDENT. I couldn't be prouder. Seriously!! And look at "the boyfriend." Not so bad either. Cute boy, solid Christian, good student, morally upstanding (no kidding), an athlete on a scholarship to a Division I school for tennis. Plays SEVERAL musical instruments, is active in his church, and likes his family. Shoot, he even likes us!! I don't know where they are headed and don't really care and I don't think they do either. They are so mature about their relationship, which has been long distance, and yet there is no drama there. I just feel blessed at this moment.

What Not to Wear (revisited)

People magazine usually puts out an issue on how to "glam" it up for the summer. It is full of helpful tips and cost effective ways to "look like a star." I have decided to help my dear friends, coworkers, and students who either don't subscribe to People or who can't afford to purchase one at Wal-Mart. So here are MY fashion DOS AND DON'TS.

DOS

do bathe regularly (wasn't something I thought I would have to mention until one of my students just walked up to my desk as I was preparing to type)

do use deodorant (see above)

do wash hair (AT LEAST 4 of the SEVEN days of the week)

do STYLE hair (and that does not mean like "carrot top, it also means no do-rags, headbands, caps or scarves. I have several friends for whom cap screams "didn't take time to do my hair)

do use product if hair is unruly. (doesn't have to be salon style.. a Wal-Mart brand will work, so $$$ is not an excuse)

do WEAR MAKE-UP (unless you are a "natural beauty" which I have yet to see EVER in anyone OVER 30 years old!!) And might I add here that I had to wear make-up beginning at the age of 5 so no natural beauty here.

do wear clothes APPROPRIATE to the seasons (yes we are in West Texas but there are STILL seasons and they should be observed LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD. We may be isolated but we don't have to be ignorant.)

do ACCENTUATE the positive

do CAMOUFLAGE the negative (these are elementary people)

do SMILE (as long as you are brushing your teeth regularly...do we even have to mention that ladies?)

do dress your age (there is something sexy about a woman who feels good in her own skin....unless that is all you have on)

And before you think I am just being "mean". I am surrounded by students AND adults
( Shocking I know) that these apply to. And not just at school either.

Now for the DON'TS

don't buy, wear, or even look at white shoes EVER (unless you are a nurse over 50 and still wear the white uniform) This does NOT apply to tennis shoes however. (they are in a whole different category)But white shoes.....only for girls under 12 EVER

don't wear above mentioned shoes (if you just insist on having a pair) until EASTER. (Hello, may I introduce you to Emily Post? Believe you me, go with ivory, or taupe but BACK AWAY FROM THE WHITE RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY!!! I have NEVER heard someone say "I Love your shoes, where did you get them?" about white.. just so you know)

don't wear hose (period)

okay that is not a real rule... the rule is don't wear hose that are DARKER than your shoes!!!( I feel silly even having to mention it.)

don't wear clothes that are too tight (we have gone over this in previous blog part 1)

don't wear clothes too big (once again see part 1)

don't wear tennis shoes with jeans if you are over 35. (It is an Elly Mae Clampett disaster waiting to happen. A long legged jeans with some kind of heel gives you height and poise and keeps you from looking like a frumpy or "wannabe" teenager. And make sure the jeans are long enough for your shoes. Otherwise we are talking a whole other fashion disaster)

don't wear tennis shoes with ANYTHING unless it is a sport look i.e. windpants, sweats, or workout clothes.

don't wear your daughter's jewelry. that rope, plastic, and bangle stuff was not meant for Hannah's(as in Montana) mom. Buy your own and make it age appropriate. Doesn't have to be expensive

don't tuck in ANYTHING unless you are within 5 pounds of your high school weight. or have never given birth

don't frump up because you feel bad about yourself. if you feel unattractive, don't take it out on your clothes.... go work out or eat less. I sometimes feel extremely unattractive (shocking I know) but my clothes NEVER betray that emotion. When I wear sweats or dress "down" I make it look like it is on purpose and that I am having a "lazy" day!

don't go to YOUR JOB without make-up. It says I don't care enough about myself so how could I possibly care about my job? See above comment about "natural beauty."

don't make excuses or apologize for your appearance because A) it means you know you look bad and should have taken a little more time or B) that you are trying to justify your fashion faux paus

If you follow these little helpful hints you won't have to call atttention or deflect attention from yourself. No matter the mood, the clothes will say, I feel good because I look good. That is all.