You missed me - you really missed me.

I stopped writing in here months ago and figured no one would miss the demise of our family blog.  Here's the shocker... Someone. Actually. Missed. It.  I had someone tell me the other day that they missed reading my blog.  I about hit the ground.  Really?  People are reading this?  Wow.  So for my loyal fans..*cough*.. fan, I will again pick up my keyboard and carry on!

Hmm.. what to write about first... Hmm...  Want funny for my first entry back?  I've got funny.

As many of you know, it's horse show season!  And that means things are bound to get a little crazy.  But even crazier, guess who is back in the saddle?  ME!  Libby and I were trying to think of when was the last year that I showed a full season.  It was a while ago.  Maybe 5 years?  6?  And it shows, believe me, it shows.  But I've made a little progress this summer and I have a good safe horse to ride who challenges me at every show.  So I'm having a blast.

So, with that as my defense, and please forget that even though I haven't been showing I have attended hundreds of shows in the last 6 years, I will tell you about my "duh" moment a couple weeks ago.

There I was, in the sloppiest arena I had ever ridden in.  Giant puddles, literally when we loped we splashed around the arena.  In English Oscar wouldn't even pass off the rail and broke gait whenever I tried.  It was a mess.  This is also the show where the pleasure is after the games.  And Libby being the worrier she is, did NOT want to be late so we had gotten to the show around 10:00 and waited for hours for pleasure to start.  And it is finally the last class of the day.  In I go.

We are splashing around and the announcer calls for a stop.  Right in the middle of the largest puddle on the rail.  And all I could think was that Oscar would not want to turn around in that mess.  And the announcer gives the call "Reverse your horses".  Now you non horse people are going to probably think I was perfectly sane when I started to back my horse up.  Literally I was so relieved because I got to back first and get out of the puddle before we would have to turn around.  The announcer says "Reverse your horses".  Again.  And I was thinking that it was odd that they would make the call to reverse again, but we backed up again. And Oscar backed so nicely.  I was so proud.  Thinking to myself that things are going pretty well, the announcer says again, "Reverse your HORSES".  So I look around wondering what the heck is going on and see everyone facing the other way and then the light dawns on my dim mind.  OH yeah, reverse means go the other way.

I started laughing, the other people in the ring were laughing, the judge was laughing and even the announcer comes on to thank you for the laugh at the end of a long day.  In fact she came by the trailer after my class to thank me as well.  It truly was hilarious.  I was even laughing at myself and don't mind sharing my story one bit!

But then... there was another show a week or so ago when the judge called for our class to reverse on the diagonal.  I even knew what to do.  I waited for the corner, cut across the arena and suddenly realized I was still going the same direction.  How did I manage to attempt to reverse and STILL not get reversed.  Apparently, I still have a few kinks to iron out.  But when I figure out how to go both ways, well, you all had just better watch out!

Happy to be back in the show ring -
Melissa

Love letters

I find inspiration everywhere.  The most recent "for me" or "fun" book that I just finished was American Sniper.  In the book Chris Kyle's wife Taya interjects from time to time.  At one point she talked about being angry with Chris for going back to Iraq and refused to accept from him his "death letters" or letters that he wrote for them if he didn't come back from the war.  I'm going to quote her here:

"Show me now.  Make it real.  Don't just say some sappy shit when you're gone.  Otherwise it is a load of crap." 

That really hit me.  I've done this.  I've written letters to my girls and revised them for a time.  It's been forever now.  And I've gotten such a letter.  My mom had them written for us when she realized that cancer was going to get the best of her:   But I can also really really see her point.  

If we aren't proving to those that we love them every day, what solace will they take from a letter that says, "I did really love you, sorry if you didn't realize that or I didn't show you enough."  And what if you never have a need, God willing, for your family to read your death letter?  Do they deserve to go through life wondering how much they meant to you?  How much you cared? 

Don't those that we love deserve to be told and shown every single day that we love them? That they are the most important people in the world to us?  I challenge you.  Write your death letter.  Tell them everything you would want them to know if something happened and you weren't going to be with them again.  Then give it to them.  It's really that simple.  

Saturday basketball

Okay, seriously.  My only blogs seems to be about Sophie and her extra curricular activities.  I do have a life.  I promise.  Most of it revolves around work and the kids, true.  But truthfully, who wouldn't love to watch these kids play?  And I got to visit with some old horse friends!  Thanks Bo for keeping me company.  ;)

The first game went so well - we all thought the girls were going to bring home their first win.  Sadly, in the last few seconds the other team squeaked out a couple of baskets to win by 2.  It was a real barn burner with a final of 12-10.  But Sophie scored!  A couple of times.

The second game wasn't quite as close.  But there were improvements made by all.  It was so fun to watch as Sophie pushed herself to shoot more.  She scored a few more times but it wasn't enough to bring the Falcons within winning distance and they ended up 28-14.  Good effort by all.  Saw improvements in everyone!

Playing Dover-Eyota meant that Sophie went head to head against some of her old horse show buddies.  I asked her how that was and she said that it was fun to see them and not as weird as she thought it would be.  Kind of fun to see them in a different situation!

Sophie got to shoot her first free throws in a game situation.  4 shots, didn't make one and when she went to practice shooting hoops between halves, made her first one.  I told her that was pretty typical.  I would be a nervous wreck shooting free throws in front of everyone.

I love seeing her part of a team and being such a great team player.  They are always out there backing each other up and finding great joy in their teammates success.  LOVE seeing this, this is what it is about!

Another weekend, another basketball game

I can't help but face a day of basketball with trepidation.  Not having ever been a basketball fan... did I mention that before???  But seriously, it is so fun.  Even though we were home and that meant we were there for...give or take 7 hours... it was so fun.  I absolutely LOVE watching Sophie's team play and we even stayed to watch my 6th grade girls play a game.  I might be coming a basketball fan...ssshh...  She's so fun to watch.  I love to watch her get in there and get put her all into every game.  And thanks to a quick trip to Rochester we were not a fashion disaster this week.  New laces, new socks, new shorts... check out that hip baller.

Sunday we intended to have a lazy day at home, but you know how that goes.  One cleaning thing led to another and then it was a beautiful day and all of a sudden we were heading out to the pasture to play with Libby's boys.  She wanted to get some pictures.  So guess what that means.  That means mom gets to be the one looking like an idiot chasing around her horses.  And because they don't "chase" very well and aren't spooky, I got one hell of a workout.  To make matters EVEN better, we had an audience with a vehicle that passed and gave us a friendly honk.  (Thanks for witnessing my humiliation, Adam.)
These two might not have been easy to get to go "dashing through the snow", but they are so adorable!!!  You cannot resist these two and their adorable faces.

Busy weekend for Sophie

You know, I tried to keep a positive attitude going into this weekend, but I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to how busy we would be.  But I'm not going to lie, it was a blast!

Not knowing much about basketball, and not being a big basketball fan, I was thinking that watching the 5th grade games might drag by.  Not even close.  I still don't know squat about basketball, but I yell a lot of "Go White" or "Go Sophie" and do a lot of repeating whatever the Falcon fans around me say.  Hopefully I didn't make too much of an ass of myself, but it was so exciting.  I'm not gonna lie.  We didn't win, but it is so cool to watch Sophie get better as the game went on.  Very proud of her.  Going to get her basketball shorts and longer socks.  I know nothing about game attire, but Libby, being the basketball fashion police, informed me I need to get to Dick's.  So will make a stop there and get her ready for this next Saturday's game.  Cannot wait!

We rounded out the afternoon with running to buy a load of hay and getting it all stacked and ready for the horses.  There is really nothing more rewarding and reassuring than having that hay stacked and knowing the horses will be kept fat and happy.

Today was another busy day for Sophie.  Today was the Just For Kix winter show.  So many great performances.  I don't know which I like better, watching the talented older students, the improvement in the middle grades or the antics of the youngest dancers.  There is something in every act that makes you smile.  

Sophie danced in 4 songs and by far my favorite was the trio that she and two of her friends did.  When they told me that they were choreographing their own routine I was a little skeptical.  I was so shocked and so proud!  It was amazing.  Cute, creative, and showcased each of them.  So blown away.  I'm just so impressed with the program that Kari runs.  I honestly don't know how she manages all those dancers but we can't thank her enough!

Rounded out the weekend with a 4H meeting and off to a relaxing week at work and school.  Happy Sunday and back to work Monday to all of you!!!

Memes I want to make...

First all of:  Definition of a meme since it is new terminology.  One of those "created by the internet" words.

• a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.

And because everything is better with an example:

Now, I've tried several different meme makers, and none of them seem to make it to the completed stage.  Obviously I am meme challenged.  But if I could make a meme, I have a couple ideas.  

#1.  "If you feel the need to judge me, at least be right." 

I'm the first to admit I've made mistakes, and I'm not perfect.  But one thing I've learned, do not judge someone unless you are close to them.  Unless you know the situation they are in AND if you go through all that and still feel like you can make a judgment, make sure you're right.  Nothing more humorous though than someone who is dead wrong spouting off in self righteousness.

#2.  "Take your negative bitter judgmental self over there, to the bottom of that cliff, the long way." 

One thing I'm learning, slowly and have to have it told to me over and over again, is that you need to remove negative people from your life if you want to make your life more positive.  There are just some people who refuse to see the light at the end of the tunnel, refuse to see the silver lining, refuse to see that how they live their life is their choice, they are not a product of their environment.  It's hard enough for a person to do when surrounded by positive people, but when you have someone who is either holding you back, or worse, trying to bring you down to their level, it is impossible.  Cut the ties with whomever it is.  I'm hear to tell you that you will survive and you might even find your life better for it.  And when they make fun of you for your positive attitude it will only serve to amuse you because you will recognize that you are indeed, the happier person.

#3.  "The next time someone says 'it must be nice to be skinny', I'm going to hit them in the face... with a treadmill."
First of all, let me begin by saying skinny does not equal fit and healthy and those should always be someone's primary goal.  So many people start a diet or exercise program to get "skinny" and that is not the goal.  Second of all, I am neither skinny nor fit, but when I was more fit, it was hard hard work.  Hard work and it is offensive to have someone say "it must be nice".  It is nice.  It is nice to know that all your hard work has paid off and you're a healthier person because of it.  Stop trying to find a magic pill, get up and get to work.  Put down the Coldstone cake (this means you Melissa) and choose fruits and vegetables instead.  And even if you don't get "skinny" (man -I've grown to hate that word), you will be healthier.  Just like being negative or positive, being fit or unfit is a personal choice.  

New Year's Resolutions

I'm not one to set and/or follow New Year's Resolutions.  But I have learned about the importance of setting goals over the years and have had the importance of them impressed upon me time and again. So I wrote out an example of a New Year's Resolution essay and figured this was the best place to share it, since this blog is even directly mentioned.

New Year’s Resolutions: 2015

New Year’s resolutions are like goals that a person sets for themselves at the beginning of the new year.  Setting goals or deciding to change things about yourself doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.  Everyone can always better themselves, and I just want to be the best person I can be.  So I looked back on last year and decided on a few things I would like to change.

            First, I would like to make more time for myself to read.  Sometimes it is hard with all the responsibilities of work and being a mom to find time to read books just for fun.  But this break I organized my bookshelves and found so many great books that I have been meaning to read.  Not only do I enjoy reading and use it as a mental break, but reading keeps your mind young.  So my goal is to set aside time each day to catch up on my free reading, even if it is only 10-15 minutes.

            Another one of my resolutions is to prepare for another half marathon.  To do this I will need to sign up for a half marathon, set a training schedule and stick to it.  I have run two half marathons a year for the past two years.  I am hoping to do the same two this year but add a weight lifting component to my training.  I can really feel my lack of dedication to my training the past two months in my overall health.  I’m more aware than ever about the importance of regular exercise and a good diet!  My goal is to train at least 4 days a week using running on the treadmill, elliptical training and weight lifting in various segments. 

            My third and last resolution for 2015 is to do a better job of updating our family blog.  It is a great way to keep track of what our family has been up to and document our ups and downs throughout the year.  It is also fun at the end of the year to look back on it and remember as a family.  I haven’t blogged in months so it will be hard to get back into the swing of things.  I’m going to set an easy goal of once a week for 2015, but I sure hope that I can do it a few more times than that.

            I feel very confident that I will be able to reach the goals I have set for myself in 2015.  Each of them will make me a healthier and happier person for 2015, but aren’t so difficult that I won’t be able to accomplish them either.  What are your resolutions for 2015?