Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Old and New


This tree is special to me.
We got it on our trip to the mountains.
We were looking at it the other night.
It's changing.
It's growing.
The old branches are deep in hue.
Seasoned.
Mature.
Tough and sturdy.
The new branches are bright.
Luminous.
Fresh.
Tender and fragile, yet vibrant and eager.
They are an extension of the old branches.
They wouldn't be who they are without them.
The Old and New rely on each other.
The Old need the new to grow and change.
The new need the old, as they hold the deep roots.
Old is amazing.
New is beautiful.
Together, they are the make-up of One. Beautiful. Thing.




Thursday, January 26, 2012

Gotcha!

I am going back a few months, but these are too cute not to share. Bella is truly her father's baby. Robert, Taylor and Bella were picking up chickens, while Me, Amber, and Alex were running from them.



Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I am Colleen Corbett

I have been having some rough times. Not me personally, but what is going on around me is taking it's toll. I've been tired. I've been crying. I have even skipped work at night, which is not like me. On Saturday morning, my sister called me, and said one sentence to me. Four words. It packed such a punch. She said...."You are Colleen Corbett, and you are going to work."

That's all I needed. That one sentence to turn it all around. That one sentence to remind me.

I am Colleen Corbett.

Colleen Corbett watched the man that meant the world to her lose his battle with cancer when she should have been in her 1st year of college.

Colleen Corbett didn't "come into herself " until she was 25, and often felt unpretty.

Colleen Corbett was insecure and made some bad decisions because of it.

Colleen Corbett payed the price for those bad decisions.

Colleen Corbett masked sadness and insecurity with 12 packs of beer.

Colleen Corbett had to walk away from a 10 year relationship at 32 years old with 2 children and start her life over.

Colleen Corbett hit rock bottom.

Colleen Corbett finally found her way. Colleen Corbett is now Colleen Gebhardt. She has an amazing life. She's confident, and secure. She's at a place she never thought she would be, and she will always remember the journey she took to get there, and the strong woman she is because of it.

I am Colleen Corbett.



Thursday, January 19, 2012

Defending All Dance Moms

I am a dance Mom. My daughter is on a competition dance team. I swear on all that is holy that our studio, and our owner is NOTHING like that disgraceful show! Pyramids? Go home and cry on your pillow? You were terrible? Scratching other studio owners eyes out? Moms cursing at each other. Moms cursing at the owner? The owner screaming at everyone? I saw the show for the 1st time, and I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I have never seen or experienced anything like it. Our studio is the total opposite. We are told that we represent the company, and we will do so with dignity and respect. Speaking badly about other studio's, dancers, or parents is strictly prohibited. One thing I always think of, is Amber's teacher says to never tell a child when they mess up. They know it, and they will beat themselves up plenty, so they do not need to hear it from you. It's just not that serious. Not to compromise someones feelings and self esteem. Do we work hard? Of course! Are the expectations high? Absolutely! Do we win? Heck yeah! But we do it all in a very positive atmosphere. I wouldn't let that woman to pay me to allow my daughter to dance for her. Her and I would've scrapped a long time ago. That's saying it nicely. Children should dance with confidence. Love what they are doing. Have a great time. Do these look like stressed out girls that are afraid of their dance teacher, or afraid of failing?




Tuesday, January 17, 2012

When?

As I sit here listening to my baby cry herself to sleep, I wonder what the words "peace and quiet" mean, and when will I get some? Since I got off of work, I:

Went food shopping
Did crafts with my kids
Played in the yard in the sandbox
Made dinner
Gave baths
Folded 3 loads of laundry
Bella fell off the bed
She hit her back on the night table (2 different instances)
Prepared a 1st visit from the tooth fairy

And I am actually blowing off a few things I should still do. I'm not even complaining. I couldn't be happier with what I did today. Does that sound peaceful or relaxing? Not really. As the Mom, have you ever noticed that everyone else in the house gets "Their Time" to do whatever it is they choose to do, except for the Mom? Isn't the Mom always the last one to say...."I need some uninterrupted "me" time. You can think about it, wish for it, but how often do you actually do it? I hope to make a conscious effort to make this happen for me. Whether it's read a book, or blog, or go window shopping...and I don't want it to be after I did everything I had to do.Or after the kids have gone to bed. I think it's important for Mom's to put themselves 1st once in a while. Make it a priority.  You'll come back to your family refreshed. Relaxed. And ready to slip back into your Wonder Woman costume and hit the ground running.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

1st Day of Preschool


I can't believe it. In September, Bella was 18 months old. The plan was for her to stay home with my mother, who retired partly to take care of Bella. It was not a question that 18 months was too young for her to go to school. She was going to spend a year with Nana, and go to 2 day 2's next year with me at Trinity. Which she will still do. Now it's January, and as the words "It's mine!", "let go!", and "Stop it!", started coming out of her mouth, I realized that she needed some "little people" time. She can clearly speak, and communicate her needs now. (1 of the reasons I didn't want to send her). She is going to 2 day toddlers at University City United Methodist Church. My mother was a teacher there before she retired. She knows the entire staff. My niece and nephew went through the program there. It's a great school. 

As you know if you follow my blog, I am a huge advocate of preschool.  4 hours geared totally around them, and their interests. Bella's very best friend is 68 years old. Her best friend gives her whatever she wants, and so does everybody else from siblings to cousins to daddy (Sorry Dad), and it is starting to show. We need to get that straight at home, and she will learn to share, interact, parallel play, and understand the word "No" at school as well. We are so excited for her. She went in with no worries. Never even said goodbye. Her teacher asked me if she is as feisty as her "best friend". 

Absolutely.   











Thursday, January 5, 2012

A Way With Words

I am pretty old fashioned. I believe whole hearted that a wife should take care of her family. Cook, Clean, do laundry, take care of her home. I believe how a home is kept and the food on the table and how her children look  is a direct reflection of the woman of the house, and it should be done with pride, rather than resistance.

With that said, I told my son not  long ago, that he should look for these qualities in a wife one day. He listened. However, when he repeated it back to me, it came out..well...awful.

"She needs to clean, cook dinner, and wash my clothes.". Oh my. My 5 year old son was suddenly a caveman. This needed to be refined. We worked on it. It's still funny (the end), but much, much better than the way it came across the 1st time.


 


Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Wordly and Witty

My husband is worldly. He is enthralled in current events, politics, Sasquatch, big foot, extra terrestrials, history, religion, discovery....if he's in front of the television, he is learning. His intelligence is attractive, and also annoying. Can't we watch a trashy Soap Opera? Dabble in a little Law and Order SVU? Hang out with a funny 30 minute meaningless sitcom? Nope. I try not to get overly involved with the things he loves as far as this goes. I live my life, I believe in God, when it's my time to go, then it's my time to go, and I prefer not to meet E.T., Big Foot, come face to face with a killer whale, and there is no need for me to personally get to know a congressman from Iowa. That's just me. What I do have though, is wit. Here is a conversation I had with my husband this morning via text.

Me: Did you forget your lunch?

Robert: Yes, and my wedding ring. I think I have early onset alzheimer's.

Me: Your so engrossed in the world instead of your everyday life/tasks. You need to find a balance. Did you watch the news this morning? (never local news)

Robert: Yes I did. It's a burden I must carry for being more intelligent than the average human LOL!!

Me: You're right Robert. You will be all prepared to meet Big Foot and aliens but you won't have your wedding ring on when they kill you and you'll die starving because you forgot your lunch.

Robert: Damn Babe!

Me: I may not be worldly, but I am witty.

Robert: This I know.

Defeated! :)

All Around Me

There is sickness and pain all around me in this season of my life.

A friend on a waiting list for a kidney.

A pregnant woman with an eating disorder.

A 12 year marriage on rocky ground.

Someone who's future as she has always known it is now uncertain.

A young wife and mother with a terminal illness.

I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to help. I can't find the words that will make a difference in all of these shaken lives. A friendly ear? Meals delivered? Advice? What is my role in all of this?

I count my blessings. I know that at any given moment, my world can be shaken too. I do my best not to take anything, or anyone for granted. I know that I need to make a conscious effort to make a positive difference in these peoples lives. I just don't know exactly what that is for each of them. I don't want to fail them. I'm blown away by what is going on all around me. For the 1st time in a long time, my life is stable, and for that I am truly blessed. My future was once uncertain. I had a 10 year rocky relationship. I watched a terminal illness take my father away. I know these feelings, and they are terrifying. I'm praying Sun Stand Still prayers. Pray them with me.

Monday, January 2, 2012

The Last, and The First

His last day of preschool.
His 1st day of kindergarten.





Sunday, January 1, 2012

Folly Beach, South Carolina



Oh, how we love Charleston.
And we are a beach family.
We spent a week in a house on the beach.
Total beach bums.
We brought our Mom's.
We even brought the dog.
It was amazing!