One of a parent's worst phone calls...

One of the worst phone calls a parent can receive starts with "I've been in an accident".  All the strange things that go through your mind in about 2.2 seconds is amazing.  The firing of questions is fast and furious.  Let's start with, "Are you ok?"  "Where are you?"  "What happened?"  "Anyone with you?"  "Anyone hurt?".  The questions go on and on and it's amazing how fast we as parents can rattle them off while the whole time you're just trying to figure out how to get to your kid the fastest way possible.
This was my evening a couple of Friday's ago.  My son was in a four car accident on the highway.  Someone going about 50 MPH rear ended him causing his vehicle to hit the one in front of him which in turn hit the one in front of them.  The Jeep is totaled but he and everyone else walked away so as far as I'm concerned the Jeep did it's job and kept him safe.
It's his first accident so he's been playing the "what if" game.  "What if my friends had been with me?"  Well, they would have been badly injured.  The back seat was destroyed and the driver side seat broke.  "What if the air bag hadn't gone off?"  More than likely I would have seen his head print in the windshield.  I didn't so I'm good with the fact that they did go off.  "What if the gas tank had leaked?"  The car that hit him lifted his vehicle and hit the gas tank.  The gas tank held, didn't leak and didn't explode so again  I'm thankful.  As a young man he's having a harder time not thinking of the "What if".  I, on the other hand am just thankful for "what is".  He is ok and none of the bad things that he keeps thinking about happened to him. 
I am thankful to see his smiling face every day!

The Blue In Me

    Red     Yellow     Green     Blue

Recently I was given a color personality test at a seminar I attended.  I love participating in these types of things.  I'm always so curious to see where I fit.  Especially since there are times in life when I feel like I don't quite fit in anywhere.  If honest with ourselves we've all experienced the feeling of not fitting in at one time or another.  I just find it quite curious as to "why".  When I first took the test I came up as a Blue.  Our choices are Red, Yellow, Green and Blue.  Since the seminar I've taken a couple of different versions of the color personality test.  The questions asked on the different tests were never the same as the one before  so I thought that my answers might cause a different outcome based on my mood when I retook the test.  I thought that I must be a different color.  So far I've been proven wrong.  I am still coming up a strong Blue.  My only changes are sometimes my second color is Yellow and sometimes it's Green.  I never come up red.  The fun part is how accurate the findings match my personality.  I have a work personality and a home personality which are very different from the other so when I take the test I respond as I would at work.  It helps me to  understand others I work with.  I've discovered that most people I work with are Yellows a few Reds and only a couple of Greens.  So far I'm the only Blue that I know.  It's fun and uncannily accurate.  Enjoy the links below.  See which personality you are and who you work with.

Below are the results of what the colors mean.
  http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/kkacher/WrldHlthResrch_handouts/Personality-Test-for-Teaming

RED: task and result oriented, likes recognition, likes to be on the move, doesn’t like to be late, enjoys individual sports (golf, tennis, track, piano, individual dance, etc.)  likes expensive showy things, generally honest, but their moral compass might deviate during a competitive showdown.

Red personality types tend to make good leaders. They love leadership roles and enjoy “managing” people (sometime perceived as bossy or having big egos). In the classroom setting, their hands will fly up when they know the answer. Generally, 1 out of 5 will be red. They like to leader of the pack.

Car of choice: something flashy and expensive (e.g. sports car)

If they were an adult and had to put a swing set together: would pay somebody to do it for them

YELLOW: people oriented, expressive, friendly, loves to talk, extravagant, optimistic, enjoys team sports (volley ball, baseball, football, basketball, drill team, cheer team, etc.).

Yellow personality types are the glue that holds groups together. They are generally outgoing and fun loving. They are your classroom talkers. Yellows are usually the principal color in most groups. They like to run in packs.

Car of choice: one that’s big enough to hold their friends

If they were an adult and had to put a swing set together: would invite their friends over to build and barbeque

 

GREEN: detail oriented, precise, controlled, likes to do things right the first time, likes to complete jobs, tends to be thrifty as adults.

Green personality types like order. They generally have neat lockers and organized notebooks. They are often perceived as “neatfreaks”.  They make wonderful treasurers, secretaries, or committee chairs in clubs. They will keep your group organized.  Generally speaking, 1 out of every 7 will be green. Likes to keep the pack on the trail.

Car of choice: hybrid vehicle (energy efficient) If they were an adult and had to put a swing set together: would pull out the directions, carefully count and arrange the parts, then systematically build the swing set

BLUE: creative, freethinking, sincere, loyal, caring, perceptive, understanding, open‐minded, oftentimes enjoys nature, many like the arts.
 Blue personality types are often perceived as quiet, sometimes shy individuals. Oftentimes they may be loners or have one or two other “blue” friends. They are very innovative, idea people. They tend to be quiet in a group and should be called upon to share their ideas. Generally, 1 out of every 8 or 9  will be blue. Blues don’t usually run with the pack.
Car of choice: jeep, recreational vehicle, unusual car (offroad adventures)

If they were an adult and had to put a swing set together: would design their own swing set

Or
Click on the following link  to take an online version of the test.
http://www.blueharvest.net/temp/test/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

My life is in a fish bowl

My life will never be the same after this week.  I am at that point in my life when my children are ceasing to be children and are becoming adults.  I am having to sit back and learn a new roll.  I have spent 19 years being a "mom" first and foremost every day of my life.  I've prepared meals, changed diapers, cleaned house and washed clothes.  I've played cars, built sand castles, gone on imaginary trips, made swords and forts and play doh.  I've been to little league, rocket football, boy scouts and any number of holiday parties at school.  Now my little boys have both reached major milestones in their lives this week.  My oldest enlisted into the US Marine Corps.  My youngest played his last game of football after 10 years.  I am learning the new roll of "mom".  This week I have learned that no matter what, I will always be their mom and they will need me.  It's the type of need that changes.  They don't need me to prepare their meals anymore or do their laundry.  They need me to be their rock and soft place to land.  They are both great young men and I am proud to be their mom!
As my week has progressed I have found myself in a fish bowl.  Everyone is watching me.  Waiting for the mommy melt down.  My friends and family have been so kind in checking in with me to see if I'm ok with these changes and passages into their new phases of life.  But...I feel like I'm a fish in a bowl with the world watching and waiting for something that I haven't been able to put into words.  It is going to be a new adventure every day.  Next year my youngest goes off to college and the oldest will be off with the Marines.  I have to learn a whole new me.
One day at a time until I master this new role.  Wish me luck!

Some of my favorite places

The other night I was over at the high school football field running on the track.  As I ran I did a little people watching.  I watched as one of our local football players had his senior pictures taken at the field.  I watched as a few other familiar faces did their work outs on the track.  As I watched these normal every day activities I thought to myself.  "This is one of my favorite places in the world".  I smiled to myself and felt a contentment that can't manufactured.  It's not fancy like Eiffel Tower or anything like that.  It's our football field where I have spent time watching my boys play football from the time they started rocket ball at 8 years old to this year when the youngest will graduate.  I've worked out on the track.  I've met great friends there.  It's no different than any other high school football field and track.  It's one of my favorite places in the world.

The Olden Days

Walk down an old main street.  Look beyond the age, wear and tear, dirt, weather, disrepair of the buildings and look for the day of it's glory.  Picture the people who walked the sidewalks you walk.  Envision the dirt or brick roads.  When you go into the stores that line an old town main street there are still the creaky wooden floors, some still have the tin ceiling.  What was this shop when it was first built?  Who lived in the apartment above?  What must life have been like for those who lived in and around the town.  People like my grandparents walked those streets in their youth.  They lived on the farms that skirted small town USA. 

I talk to my grandparents about the olden days.  My Grandma was born in 1921 she will be 93 in January and my Grandpa in 1916, he will be 97 in November.  They were farm kids.  My grandpa was a fortunate boy and able to go to school and graduate from high school.  My grandma has always been so proud of the fact that she was able to go to school through the 8th grade.  How times have changed.  These days Grandma remembers more of her youth then she does last week.  She talks about playing dolls with her sisters at the old farm house.  Even at 92 years old I can see the young girl in her face when she remembers something or she looks at a picture of her and my Grandpa that hangs on the wall.  There is still an innocent girl that has never left her face.  She has the sweetest smile.  My Grandpa was in WWII, he worked for years in a boat factory and is the epitome of a man of his era.  He didn't cook or clean.  He is the man of the house.  He's frustrated that his body is old and his mind is 30.   He talks about time as a young man.  The jokes and pranks that he and his brothers would play on his sister.  Both Grandma and  Grandpa affectionately remember something "mother" use to do.  Whenever they tell stories about their mothers I can see them as young children.  The years wash away from their faces.  I am so blessed to still have them both and try to soak up the olden days every time I see them.  This month they will celebrate 71 years of marriage.

Playing Hooky

When is the last time you played hooky?  When I think of playing hooky it reminds me of my carefree youth when all I had to worry about was me.  I may have played hooky from college or work a couple of times during those younger years.  I recently played hooky from work.  It wasn't a truly defined hooky day since I asked the bosses for the day off and used vacation but it was as free as any hooky day I've ever had.  The day was one of the last nice days in fall before the weather would be too unreliable for such a grand adventure.  I went to a small lakeshore town.  Searched an antique store and wandered the small shops on Main Street.  I spent the day with a friend who was many miles away from me.  It was a fabulous time.  We chatted about nothing.  We were physically miles apart but the joy of the smart phone allowed me to spend a fabulous day with a great friend.  Towards the end of my day my friend had to leave me and I took my adventure to the beach.  I can never feel alone at the water's edge.  There is something so incredibly inspirational about the power of the big lake.  There's such an unharnessed power and at the same time a calming power that brings my soul back home whenever I'm out of sorts.  The world outside can take it's toll and send me off center sometimes but the water's edge can bring me back to center right away.  I think my soul was born to be near water.  A large or small body of water, it doesn't matter.  My soul is connected to the ebb and flow of water.  The breeze in my face takes away all stresses that life can weigh me down with.  I feel like a young carefree child    

Sprinkle a little sugar on it

At what point does to much sugar become unpalatable?  A bread maker, pie maker, cake, cookie and candy maker use different measurements of sugar in their recipes.  To much sugar in any of these recipes will ruin it or turn it into something it's not meant to be.
I'm a bread maker who's been asked to add more sugar.  Sometimes I don't add the right amount of sugar or forget it all together making a bad bread.  I will remember to always add the right amount of sugar and sometimes make muffins.  But not to many muffins.  To many muffins will ruin the palate and then more and more sweets are needed to satisfy.  I'm not a cake, cookie and candy maker.  Adding the measurements used to make cakes, cookies or candy to my bread recipe will ruin it all.  Even the sweetest of them all, the candy maker, can ruin a recipe by adding to much sugar.  The sugar will consume all the other ingredients making it no longer the special ingredient it is.  Each of us needs to know what we are and measure out the right amount of sugar accordingly.

A New Day...

Today is a new day.  The new hair is making me feel spunky.  Getting back to my many joys in life.  I belong to a quilting guild.  Our guild makes Service Flags, also known as Blue Star Flags.  These flags are displayed by families who have members serving in the armed forces during times of war or hostilities like the ones the United States finds themselves in currently.

My son's friend will be deployed tomorrow.  My mom who is a guild member with me graciously took her time to make this young man's Service Flag to give to his mother.  I had planned on making it but as many know with a full time job sometimes time runs out in a day.  That's what's great about the guild members they will always pull together to make sure we thank those who serve and protect our country.  The next time you pass a home and see a Blue Star Flag hanging in a window know that the family inside has a loved one in harms way protecting our freedoms and country.  Say a prayer for their safety.
My last thought for the day.  Who will make my son's flag when it's time?  Me?  My mom?  Maybe another guild member?  Either way I will proudly hang my flag in my window and pray for my son and all other military members.

Getting out of a funk...

I've been in a funk for a few days.  So what's a girl to do?  Get a new look!  While it doesn't solve everything is certainly made me feel better.  It'll be a good new look for awhile.  So, I've never done this before, just went into the salon and told my stylist that I wanted a new cut and color (I've never had may hair professionally colored before).  She's a great girl and made it fun even though it was scary to make the change.
Try it some time if given the chance.

Before....                                                                                                  After....

One of those days

It's been one of those days for about five days in a row.  Just feeling overwhelmed.  Life is changing so fast.  My heart wants to slow it down and my mind knows I can't.  Good things are on the horizon but getting there will be bumpy.
Running is the best medicine.  It's the one place where your mind can escape and your body run the battle raging inside.  I started running a few years ago to get back into shape after an injury.  I had been a runner in high school and forgotten how good it can make me feel.  Now I use it as on of my many releases.  Today it's the combination of work deadlines and home responsibilities.  Women have been struggling with this battle for many years now.  I truly love the career I have.  I love the people I work for and find the work very rewarding and satisfying.  On the flip side is my home responsibilities.  My children are older and don't need me as much but the demands are still there.  How to balance it all and still feel like a whole woman is a struggle I have often.  Free time is non existent.  Every minute of my day is accounted for by someone else with the exception of the few minutes I've been finding lately to blog.  Tomorrow will be a better day and next week better yet.  I am on a journey that has many bumps in it and along the way I will find my true and final destination.

I can tell fall is in the air.  My allergies are acting up.  All the veggies in the garden are getting ripe at the same time.  Our apple trees are getting heavy with apples waiting to become pie.  My crafting itch is active and needs scratching.  I did sooth it a little over the weekend and made a new wreath for the front of the house. 
Best of all it's football season!  Yes, I am a football mom.  My youngest is a senior in high school and plays football.  I love high school and college football.  Nothing says fall like a good football game in small town USA.  We live in a small town where main street is just that, it's our main street in town.  We have a grain elevator that flies the American flag from the top, an auto body shop, bar, restaurant, bank, church, cemetery, elementary, middle and high schools.  We have corn fields surrounding the town.  You know the town.  You might even live in the same town down the road.  We rush home from work, put on our team wear, grab dinner and head to the tailgate.  At the tailgate we wait with all the other family's and friends for our local celebrities/heroes to walk the path to the field.  Coach leads the boys who walk hand in hand, united down the path.  Everyone cheers, ring their cowbells and wishes encouragement as the boys march by.  The bagpipers join in and play for the boys, honoring them with their music.   Once they've passed it's time for us to follow and find our seats.  Soon the game will start.  Family and friends file into the stadium and we wait again for these young men who are our stars to take the field.  The time draws nearer and you can feel it in the air, the excitement, the anticipation of the arrival of our boys.  You know they're coming because the music plays over the loud speaker, "Thunderstruck" by ACDC and then all of a sudden they rush onto the field breaking through the banner that the cheerleaders made for them and our town cheers welcoming them to another game and another Friday night in small town USA.  This is fall in my home town!

The Beginning of a Wonderful Relationship!

Today is the beginning of a new world for me.  I am going to start blogging.  My goal is not to bore you but to share with anyone who wants to listen things important in my life.  It seems that as time moves on we lose much of what our parents and grandparents did just for survival.  Today we call it going "green" or "retro".  As a kid we called it being frugal or a necessity.  So as summer has moved on my garden has grown and decided to ripen all at one time.  I've had a bumper crop of tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, banana peppers and zucchini.  As a kid my mother would can or freeze.  Today I don't seem to have as much time to accomplish as much as she did.  I work 40+ hours a week and do find time on the weekend to can a little.  I've recently canned 3 quarts of pickled banana peppers and made a batch of refrigerator bread and butter pickles all from the garden.  I've even made home made spaghetti sauce from all of those tomatoes.  While it may seem to be a daunting task to some I find it to be a stress reliever.  It helps me to separate from work which can, at times, be all consuming.  I am a crafter, quilter and collect cook books.  I have many interests that will show themselves throughout my blog.  I hope you find my world of some interest to you and I look forward to sharing.