Criticism for our family usually comes in waves. It'll start with one person's comment or action to one of us and then it seems others follow and before you know it all of us are getting a heaping dose of it. I understand that nobody's perfect, our family is aware of that. We love spending time together. We are outside building snowmen in the winter, playing tennis in the spring, water parks and pools in the summer and raking leaves and jumping in the piles in the fall. We enjoy playing together and actually have to work very hard to make the time to do that. It almost takes priority on weekends so that all of us have some release from work and school. My favorite time of the week!
The last few days have been outstandingly beautiful here in St Louis and it's impossible to stay inside! There's been bike riding, trampoline jumping, we set up a badminton/volleyball net in our back yard recently, we've played tennis a few times already and for long hours at a time ( we never wanna stop lol) and park trips in the afternoons for our five year old as often as weather permits. We took advantage of the annual jump jump pass at Kokomo Joe's, any rainy day our hours are spent playing indoors, meeting new friends.
We try to make it to church every Sunday, health permitting. Hahaha first one by one we had a cold, then we all got the stomach flu, then we all got another cold with different symptoms and now we're doing pretty good so we're anxious to be active which I love because I definitely need it. Cold weather makes you feel all cooped up and you feel like you're gonna burst when that first warm day, that tease of Spring comes! That was a great day! Followed by sleet and snow the next few days lol.
I love opening all my windows and getting the stuffy winter air out, especially with all these colds jeepers. I actually love attending church and feel disappointed when I never get to go. Bugs me. I like the peace I can find, how it challenges me to think and grow. Wonderful feeling.
I feel uncomfortable lately around people that I felt so comfortable around and for the life of me I can't figure out why. It's almost like I'm not allowed to be myself. I don't go out of my way to be abrasive, or rude in any way. I love to help out. I love to smile at people that look like they need a smile, and hug people who look like they need a hug. I love to feel inspired and encouraged to study the world around me and take it all in. But lately I just feel so uncomfortable.
Why is it so hard to just be yourself and accept that some people will always choose to misunderstand you no matter what you say or do? Offering judgments and criticisms that might have nothing to do with what's even going on in your life. I don't get it. It's hard not to do it, we all work hard not to in this family especially with each other. It's hard to have it happen to you when some easily take you out of context. I'm trying to understand. Trying to not be that way myself, avoid negativity and drama. Am I missing something?
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Basketball in a life lesson
I come from a small Mormon town called Magrath in sunny Southern Alberta. From the time you can hold a ball you learn three things, how to dribble it, how to shoot it through a hoop and to fight for it if someone tries to take it from you. That's right I'm talking about our staple game of basketball. Not that baseball and softball and soccer aren't our thing too. And of course hockey.
I had the opportunity to watch my daughter play basketball these past few months and they had a very intense game this morning in their tournament. You could see the aggression and effort. You could see their frustration with themselves when they made some mistakes, so adorable for the record by the way. All the parents can really do is cheer them on. We yell things out like defense or rebounds or hustle but what I really noticed is they just wanted fans in the stands supporting and encouraging them no matter what. The laughs and smiles and team effort was commendable and it was nice to see them work so hard together along with self determination to win the game.
I've been playing basketball competitively since I was about 10 years old, grade 5. There was a small handful of us that were allowed to play on the grade 6 team early because the coach saw natural talent and wanted to invite us to nurture and develop it. I miss him terribly as a coach, as a teacher and as a member of the community, Mr Burns Alston. He instilled a passion for the game in all of us that carried with us a long time. His number one priority was your overall endurance, he and wife loved running so naturally he wanted us to become better at it and build up our endurance because let's face it you can't take a good shot or dribble the ball well if you're always winded. I thank him for that lesson because it didn't just apply to ball it applied to life.
You can't always sit on the sidelines you have to get in the game, no one can force you, no one can do it for you. You are the only one that can live your own life. Waiting is contrary to the point of life. Not that you shouldn't be patient for things but work hard to prepare yourself for them in the meantime. Do everything you can so when your called into the game you know what your doing or should be doing and you'll be able to develop experience quickly and more efficiently. Trials and challenges won't seem as hard if you are prepared to meet them.
Also, always and I mean always cheer each other on! Always! Just because you're taking a time out from something and see someone else excelling at it doesn't mean you become jealous or wroth or judgmental. You encourage them, you cheer them on and be happy for their successes. Love others no matter what. In the end your relationship with yourself and your relationship with God will be the two most important things you will ever develop and experience in this lifetime and how you form them and treat them will greatly affect the outcome of your eternity. It's really hard to live with yourself when you're angry or hold a grudge or put yourself down. Find a way to be lifted, find what works for you and like I said just a few sentences ago always cheer each other on.
I had the opportunity to watch my daughter play basketball these past few months and they had a very intense game this morning in their tournament. You could see the aggression and effort. You could see their frustration with themselves when they made some mistakes, so adorable for the record by the way. All the parents can really do is cheer them on. We yell things out like defense or rebounds or hustle but what I really noticed is they just wanted fans in the stands supporting and encouraging them no matter what. The laughs and smiles and team effort was commendable and it was nice to see them work so hard together along with self determination to win the game.
I've been playing basketball competitively since I was about 10 years old, grade 5. There was a small handful of us that were allowed to play on the grade 6 team early because the coach saw natural talent and wanted to invite us to nurture and develop it. I miss him terribly as a coach, as a teacher and as a member of the community, Mr Burns Alston. He instilled a passion for the game in all of us that carried with us a long time. His number one priority was your overall endurance, he and wife loved running so naturally he wanted us to become better at it and build up our endurance because let's face it you can't take a good shot or dribble the ball well if you're always winded. I thank him for that lesson because it didn't just apply to ball it applied to life.
You can't always sit on the sidelines you have to get in the game, no one can force you, no one can do it for you. You are the only one that can live your own life. Waiting is contrary to the point of life. Not that you shouldn't be patient for things but work hard to prepare yourself for them in the meantime. Do everything you can so when your called into the game you know what your doing or should be doing and you'll be able to develop experience quickly and more efficiently. Trials and challenges won't seem as hard if you are prepared to meet them.
Also, always and I mean always cheer each other on! Always! Just because you're taking a time out from something and see someone else excelling at it doesn't mean you become jealous or wroth or judgmental. You encourage them, you cheer them on and be happy for their successes. Love others no matter what. In the end your relationship with yourself and your relationship with God will be the two most important things you will ever develop and experience in this lifetime and how you form them and treat them will greatly affect the outcome of your eternity. It's really hard to live with yourself when you're angry or hold a grudge or put yourself down. Find a way to be lifted, find what works for you and like I said just a few sentences ago always cheer each other on.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Spring Break and Family Time
I love it when we finally get a short break from our scheduled lives. The chance to sleep in, the chance to be a little more spur of the moment. It's great! I guess I was a little disheartened this morning when I discovered my kids had already made all sorts of plans for our break. This year we decided to stay home and have fun, a staycation as people are calling them. I asked the kids weeks ago to think of some fun things to do, it doesn't matter what or how much and we'll have a family meeting about it and plan some of our staycation.
Ah, family meetings. Usually our family meetings are mostly goofing off and talking about silly fun things or making fun of stuff people take way too seriously. Not all of them are that way though sometimes we touch base on serious things that our children or ourselves ( my husband and I) are going through and those discussions are filled with love, and heart, and that feeling that we can pull ourselves and this sweet little family through anything. We try to have these meetings at least 3 or 4 times a month, you know, find out what's going on with our kids without being too intrusive we like that they are finding their independence. This way if there's anything serious going on that they were afraid to tell us we can, as a family, work together to uplift, encourage, and support each other. Sometimes it's not something that any of us can really do anything about but we can support each other in the changes of our lives. I actually love that aspect of our family.
Albeit slightly disappointed that we haven't really planned anything or that we are struggling to, I'm still happy to have the opportunity to spend what time we can together. Two of our children are teenagers so I get it, friends city! I encourage that, just hopefully that's not all they choose to do their parents wouldn't mind a day or two to spend with them. Our daughter is a Junior and I guess it's really hitting us that next year she's a senior and then off to college to live her own life so we want what little time we have left of her in our home because it won't always be like this. Precious, time is.
Speaking of which, we have a glorious opportunity this summer to travel to visit my Husband's family in Utah and celebrate his parents 50th Anniversary woohoo good on ya Mom and Dad that's fantastic! Also we are headed up to Southern Alberta ( where I'm from ) to attend a family reunion on my Dad's side, I'm super excited about that. There will be tons of people I don't recall at all that I get to re-meet ( if that's a thing), lots to introduce my kids and husband to, horses, carriage rides and my ultimate favorite thing....the Rocky Mountains. Ahhh cannot wait just to see them and hike in them and smell the fresh mountain air. I get to see me Mum and Dad and I'm excited to see how they react to our youngest daughter Catie. I think the last time my Dad saw her she was about 2 years old and this girl is a firecracker, super smart, clever and also...bossy. Did I mention I can't wait?!
On a different note, my son who is in the HS cross country team is going to start running with me. I need to find a pace, and I'd like to see how long and how far I can get myself to go. He's really good at running and needs to find his pace also so two birds one stone. This unhealthy body isn't done yet and I'm gonna do the best I can with what I have as long as I can. Aiming to lower my cholesterol, did you know that Diabetics have to have a lower cholesterol than normal? Mine is in the low-normal range for a normal person but the normal-high range for a diabetic. It sucketh! Still, gonna keep trying, gotta keep going. If all goes well my next doctor's visit will be awesomeness.
Ah, family meetings. Usually our family meetings are mostly goofing off and talking about silly fun things or making fun of stuff people take way too seriously. Not all of them are that way though sometimes we touch base on serious things that our children or ourselves ( my husband and I) are going through and those discussions are filled with love, and heart, and that feeling that we can pull ourselves and this sweet little family through anything. We try to have these meetings at least 3 or 4 times a month, you know, find out what's going on with our kids without being too intrusive we like that they are finding their independence. This way if there's anything serious going on that they were afraid to tell us we can, as a family, work together to uplift, encourage, and support each other. Sometimes it's not something that any of us can really do anything about but we can support each other in the changes of our lives. I actually love that aspect of our family.
Albeit slightly disappointed that we haven't really planned anything or that we are struggling to, I'm still happy to have the opportunity to spend what time we can together. Two of our children are teenagers so I get it, friends city! I encourage that, just hopefully that's not all they choose to do their parents wouldn't mind a day or two to spend with them. Our daughter is a Junior and I guess it's really hitting us that next year she's a senior and then off to college to live her own life so we want what little time we have left of her in our home because it won't always be like this. Precious, time is.
Speaking of which, we have a glorious opportunity this summer to travel to visit my Husband's family in Utah and celebrate his parents 50th Anniversary woohoo good on ya Mom and Dad that's fantastic! Also we are headed up to Southern Alberta ( where I'm from ) to attend a family reunion on my Dad's side, I'm super excited about that. There will be tons of people I don't recall at all that I get to re-meet ( if that's a thing), lots to introduce my kids and husband to, horses, carriage rides and my ultimate favorite thing....the Rocky Mountains. Ahhh cannot wait just to see them and hike in them and smell the fresh mountain air. I get to see me Mum and Dad and I'm excited to see how they react to our youngest daughter Catie. I think the last time my Dad saw her she was about 2 years old and this girl is a firecracker, super smart, clever and also...bossy. Did I mention I can't wait?!
On a different note, my son who is in the HS cross country team is going to start running with me. I need to find a pace, and I'd like to see how long and how far I can get myself to go. He's really good at running and needs to find his pace also so two birds one stone. This unhealthy body isn't done yet and I'm gonna do the best I can with what I have as long as I can. Aiming to lower my cholesterol, did you know that Diabetics have to have a lower cholesterol than normal? Mine is in the low-normal range for a normal person but the normal-high range for a diabetic. It sucketh! Still, gonna keep trying, gotta keep going. If all goes well my next doctor's visit will be awesomeness.
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