Unified Sports Halftime Homecoming RSK 2013

This high school has set the bar very high for acceptance, inclusion and community. At the home coming half time the Unified Sports Team performed this program. It features some bully kids, treating a student badly. Peers react by 'changing teams', helping the student and standing up for unity! I am often brought to tears when I go to school for events or just to pick up our son and see the number of kids that know him by name, give him the high five and let him know they are looking forward to seeing him again. Now if the rest of the world could get this message, oh what a world it would be! Enjoy. WE LOVE you RSK!!

Age

I could talk a lot about the attributes of aging. After all everyone I know is doing it. But truth be told the attributes often are overshadowed by, well, reality of the rusty bucket aka body we are currently using. You know, the groan here, the pop there. And it would be difficult to include all of the potential exciting changes you could experience. If I work very hard I could soon have a new series of Dr Seuss books ...... 'Oh The Noises I Can Make', or 'One Pill, Two Pill', or even 'Horton Hears a What'd You Say'? I always wondered why did they stop the series of What To Expect When You have Toddlers at such a young age. I think there is a lot of untapped expertise that could hit the print. i am just saying.

As I wake early every morning I am grateful that well....I am awake, my bed isn't wet and I still remember my name. Don't delve any deeper at this age as slight discrepancies may be noted. I could skip breakfast as I am usually full after the morning meds. LOL Lets get an add for that eating plan. Once I load dose on the coffee I am ready for, a shower. Can't rush a good thing.

Once the cacophony of sound subsides I am ready to start the day. I am sorry, you thought I was already there. Not so much. But NOW I am ready to get dressed, pack the lunches, prepare for a day of adventures and surprises. WORK, I am talking about work. Never know from one day to the next what project, process or crisis will arise. This may all require more coffee, meds and relaxation exercises most often the result of excessive eye rolling, teeth grinding and hours of sitting in a frozen position from the tension. I love this job. And I love caffeine. That order may not be correct but they are attached.

As I have aged this year I have grown closer to my physician, gynecologist, opthamologist, orthopedist and benefits specialist. We are all on a first name basis now. They know all about me, my family and my desire to have my own television and remote. If you don't tell, I do have a little fun now and again. Just when my husband gets settled into a television show IT my change channels, mysteriously. Despite changing it back a time or two it will go to another channel. Well, they did give us two remotes. Got to take it out of the drawer now and again to check the batteries. Anyway.......my OWN tv would rock:-)

The thing that is the hardest is the fact that as my son is older, approaching graduation and wanting to stay busy, while I am having to slow down a bit. A very uncomfortable, frustrating, inconvenient thing. It is all due to aging. A list of attributes that attack simultaneously to force you to retreat to a place unfamiliar. As I have been described to have only two speeds, moving or sleeping, I am finding the latter is taking over as of late. I decided to start a study to see if you can 1. catch up on years of lost sleep, 2. wake refreshed, 3. sleep yourself awake or 4. decide it is ok to sleep. Hmmmmmmm

Ok, so no more whining. I know many of you have by far surpassed me in age, medical provider list, ailments, etc and you are still here, right? I will look to you for advise, learn from your mistakes decisions so I don't make a wrong turn and of course trust that God has some birthday surprises yet to come. God knows the plan He has (Jeremiah 29:11) for me now if I could get a hint/sign/two-by-four clue that would rock!!

Remembering Daniel.....Laughter

Where does the time go? All kinds of life is going on and 'The footprint of Daniel' is everywhere. I smile as I think about his having a niece and nephew, how he would be silly with them and not care. I was just watching video of him letting young Cody knock him over and giggle. He would sit up and do it again. Laughter! I think about his bestie Sam married and on some exotic couples vacation with a beach and a pub. I can see him snorkeling and likely terrifying any number of creatures. Laughter. I think about his other bestie buying a house and getting married all while continuing to parent the little  cute puppy. I hear jokes and laughter.
I find that as I miss him I also find he is very close and I think often he is laughing! He had fun in everything no matter what it was. He found the right attitude for his life, and I am forever grateful for that. And I will always hear his laughter. Love always, Aunt Doodley

Unexpected Segway

I love the thought that all roads lead to fun and adventure. I am a human though, so unlike my favorite canines, I am acutely aware that not all roads are fun despite the 'adventure' I embark on. What does make life 'worth it all' is the work we get to do along the way and the people who stand beside us.



FACT: work is a four letter word, often associated with harsh labor, inferior pay, lack of kudos.

QUESTION: Is that really what work is? Is all work bad? The words we use for 'work' may not be fully defined in our tiny view. Lets review.....

Hiking over a mile uphill with 50 pounds of winter camping gear so that you can be the first girl scout to camp in the snow.

Cooking and washing dishes to earn money.....for a first car.

Marching 6 days in a row for months to prepare for an international band trip to Europe.

Studying with crazy people and pots (fields) of coffee over the course of years all kinds of hours to become a nurse.

Flying more than 24 hours each way to teach hygiene and participate in crusades in India.

Fighting a sailfish and marlin for hours to reel them in.

Wooing a great man for weeks with spaghetti, chocolate and feminine whiles.

Planning a wedding including the travel plans, reservations and house sitter.

Waiting and waiting for a boy to be born who had to be delivered...I think against his will.

Rocking all night for days on end for years on end holding someone who depended on me.

Searching for the right doctors, the right schools, the right therapists, the right friends for a special son.

Watching life pass by at light speed with my son growing up and needing me less.

Waiting for the next phase.

Hoping for a clear vision and excellent hearing as I search the heavens.

Trusting that even when I am no longer here someone will continue the work.

Resting in hands so much stronger than mine.

I am thinking not all work is bad, or for not. I am also thinking I might actually like a lot of the things that might sound bad to the casual reader. I will probably choose to continue some of them, as a matter of fact. So I guess I need to say, "More later folks, I have work to do!"