Commit Me

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."

William Feather

Funny picture and quote from here.

Commit Me.
Please.
Because I have overcommitted.
And I can feel the anxiety level in my chest rising and lowering and moving around.
And I don't think that's healthy.
But I'll probably be ok.

When we moved to Oklahoma, I was well versed in the art of not being over committed.
I hid out.

But the time here has opened up and my heart did, too.
So, last spring, when the high school choir parent's organization needed someone to help organize volunteers for the basketball concession stand for the 2010-11 season, I said, "Oh yeah, I can do that-and it's a job I can do from home. Woo hoo!"

And, last spring, I opened my big mouth to a friendly woman at the elementary-telling her, "I can't get 'in.' It's impossible. When I try to sign up for things, the same people have taken all the jobs. There's no room for me." (Ok, yes, I know we are extremely blessed to have always lived in areas where there is such a volunteer spirit at our schools. I know-but did you know how many challenges come with that?)

And, last fall, at the elementary school open house, no one had signed up yet to be the afternoon PreK room mom, I danced a little jig-because in all my having-kids-in-school years (and that's a lot), I have never been able to get "in." I was Sunshine committee chair and the whole committee one year and had some classroom volunteer time which I hold dear to my heart. But, I've never held 'the' title.
Yeah, baby, I'm the afternoon PreK room mom. How awesome is that?

So, this fall, I received a telephone call from that friendly woman telling me that no one had signed up to be homeroom mom for my son's 5th grade class and would I like to do it. Well, well-I guess someone listened when I opened up my big mouth. I said, "Thanks, but did you know that I got 'in' as the afternoon PreK room mom. I don't know if that'd be right for me to do both." I was assured that it would be fine and selfishly (because who knows when I'll ever get the chance again) accepted.

Only I didn't know that all the classes have their parties at the same time.
And that I would be on vacation for one of the major ones.
And I didn't know that I would get the awesome calling at church to lead the beautiful young women for a while. (I'm hoping a long while!)
And I didn't know that my trust issues would try to infuse themselves in the choir concession stand business.
And that it takes hours & effort to create & fill that schedule.
Phew.

Here's what I've learned:
Delegation and letting go is the only way to survive.
Don't try to do a three month concession stand volunteer schedule, try for a month, be happy for a week.
Things will always work out.
Email is awesome.
It's great to get to be room mom once in a lifetime.
I will probably do the concession gig again-have to make the steep learning curve worth something.
Be thankful for the people associating with and relationships that are being built through all these activities.

(Except I'm worried about Monday, I was at a small meeting with that friendly woman and another and I opened my big mouth again and became completely obnoxious-you would have thought I was one of my children-or husband. I don't know what got into me-silly-silly-silly. I am so not like that. I don't know if I built any relationships there, or if they will run away fast when they see me again. I sure hope they don't.)

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go look over my to do list again.
For the millionth time today.
I have a nagging feeling that I've missed something somewhere
and that is not good.

Oh, and would you please work concessions next Friday, 4:45pm to 9ish? Please let me know by tonight or sooner if possible.
Thanks.

Sunday School on Monday Night

So should we call it blogging home evening? Or would that just be wrong?
Probably.

Moving on.

Yesterday, at church (which seems like ages ago right now at 10pm on Monday night), I sat in on a class of Young Women having a lesson on developing your talents. It was beautifully taught by a woman who I wished I had recieved this lesson from when I was a girl. Except that when I was a girl she probably wasn't even a baby and maybe not even a gleam in her father's eye. So that would have been weird.

Anyway, she taught it beautifully. She had a great attention getter at the beginning where the students (me included) were to put checkmarks on a two-sided paper list of 'talents.' There were many unusual ones on there. That activity really brought the girls' minds into the lesson. So clever.

Then she went on to the meat of the lesson. You can find the entire lesson here. I don't think she followed this lesson plan exactly, but I think she knew what we students needed and she drew from it in a way that the girls really seemed to get.

And, I loved that she brought in the scriptures! We were in them through almost the whole lesson. And I needed this lesson, because "Wo unto me" if I don't get my little writing fingers and brain going. I'm going to be "Wo-ing" scripture style if I don't pay attention to what I learned yesterday.
("Wo" pronounced with a long o.)

She had a little gift box and inside were six scripture references for us to look up. We lucked out because there were six of us in the class, so everybody got one. Woo hoo. Here is what they said & the interpretation from the lesson-you will see why I'm a little worried about the "Wo." Hopefully I can get my act together and make up for my lost writing and other gift hiding time.

(The Doctrine and Covenants is a distinctly LDS scripture of modern - meaning beginning in the 1800s times. You can read it online here and if you have questions about it, you can ask here or shoot me a message :).)
1. Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–12  -  Everyone has a gift.
2. Doctrine and Covenants 60:2  - Some fear and hide their talents.
3. Doctrine and Covenants 67:3  - Some fear in their hearts.
4. Doctrine and Covenants 60:13 - Do not bury your talent.
5. 1 Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect your gift.
6. Doctrine and Covenants 82:3  -Responsibility comes with gifts

Yep- yesterday I got versed.
Very, very versed.
And it's time to do something about it.

Wordle from here.

Happy Thanksgiving.

What fortunate people we are to live in a free country (USA).

And to have so many blessings.

At the beginning of November, a facebook friend started a 'thing' where we would list something we were thankful for that day, everyday, through Thanksgiving.

I've enjoyed it so & it's really made me think a lot about what I am most grateful for.

I didn't share everything on facebook, because some things I'm thankful for are just too personal or to hard to put in words.

While I've always loved my simple days, this experience has made me really think about what really is most important to me.

I am grateful I participated in my friend's challenge & as a gift for you, I'm going to give you a peek into what my 'grateful for' month looked like:

1. Make November a month of gratitude. Each day, post as your status, something you are thankful for. It may be something big - or something small, the point is to keep an attitude of gratitude for 30 days! Will you join me? Starts Monday 11/1 :-)

(Well, looks like I forgot about the fine print-I've got a few more gratitude days to go. It's not over until the end of November-I'll just share what I've shared so far.)

2. I'm thankful I have the priviledge to vote.


3. I am thankful for a dark laundry room and clothes with static.


4. I'm thankful for all the teachers at our high school who, after working all day, stayed late for parent teacher conferences.


5. I am thankful I stayed calm while driving with S. We even went on turnpikes & in mall traffic. I didn't holler once. I did cringe a few times, but over all, she did great. 50 hours-here we come!

6. I am thankful this busy, busy day is over. And for the wonderful people our family gets to associate with.
7. I am thankful for opportunities to serve in my church. (I'll miss my last one & I'm very excited for my new one-good bye RS, hello YW.)


8. Thankful for the stairmaster and the funny old man who told me I will never make it to the top. He was right.


9. Thankful that my Senior is happy about her great ACT score.


10. Thankful it's only 10something pm and not 11something like I thought. Thankful that I realized I was about to post today's gratitude on somebody else's wall before I hit share. What I am most thankful for today are our ward's lovely young women who have accepted this new old lady in such a sweet way.
And the awesome people- YW leaders, R & my kids who helped in so many ways to make tonight so nice.

11. Thankful for my father, cousin, in-law, friends & all others who have sacrificed so much. Thank you is not enough.


12. I am thankful that 18 years ago a sweet little girl arrived and turned me into a mom!


13. Thankful my son's happy with his league championship. Thankful we get out Tues, Thurs, & Sats back for a while. Thankful this season is over.

14. I am thankful for an awesome conversion story a man shared at church today and how it touched my heart.


15. Thankful for pay-it-forward coming backwards, good karma & small business owners who really know how to win repeat business and referalls.


16. Today I am thankful for the little acorn caps on the sidewalk that crunched when I stepped on them. Way better than bubble wrap!


17. I am thankful that J didn't throw up in our bed last night after we woke up to his brother saying, "Mom, Mom, J's throwing up" and his bedding was getting a middle of the night launder. I am thankful to R for being a full partner in the clean up and care in the many subsequent visits to the porcelin throne thoughout ...the night. I am thankful the little guy feels better today.
 
18. Grateful for opportunities to swallow my pride & open my heart.


19. Thankful for the late night movie date with R and my 11 year old boy last night. Today I'm thankful that there are no games to go to, no 'have to' items on the schedule, and a calm day in store. (Only problem-the day is going by too quickly.)

20. I am thankful for my 5 year old's night time prayers. He was thankful for the day and asked Him to "please bless grandma's and his friend's dad's backs to feel better, the missionaries, baby Delany, the people in Haiti, and to have a good day." What a sweet kid.

21. I am thankful for M. Adair's 10 week fitness challenge!


22. Greatful for the O. School community and the wonderful volunteers from the O. Baptist Chuch. They made today's feast wonderful!


23. Today I was thankful for our 80 degrees-while so many of my friends and family were telling us how cold it was in their areas of the country. Tonight I am thankful for warm pajamas and a heated home, because it's supposed to get to 22 degrees, high in the 40s tomorrow. I am thankful for crazy Oklahoma weather that keeps me on my toes.
 
24. I am thankful that for these past couple of weeks, I've really thought about all that I am grateful for. I haven't shared everything I am thankful for, but I've sure been thinking of a lot. What a blessed life I've been given-thank you for being a part of it!


I wrote that kind of 'I'm done writing my thankfuls' entry on facebook before I went back and read that it was a challenge for the whole month- I will come back and update this post when November 2010 is over. :)
 

What are you most thankful for?

Braggart

You have been warned.

I am going to brag.

But I want you to know that I am not bragging in an 'in your face' kind of way.

I am just so happy for this family of mine.

I am blessed to be the wife and the mom.

And we have had a good month.

It's nice to have those once in a while.

We will start with my mr.

He won an award.

Our family was invited to a dinner

and he was honored.

The presenter said that out of 500 coaches he was chosen because,

"he represents everything a YMCA coach should be."

miss h.

She got a score she's happy with.

That is huge.

miss s.

While this is a picture of her musical hands, her voice got her into All State Mixed Chorus.

(According to the high schoolers, the more advanced choir.)

And she even had a cold.

little mr b.

He was one of three fifth graders chosen to read their essays on Veteran's Day.

It was touching.

And

He helped his team get first place in their age division.

little mr j.

He won that run (that I ran with him and I didn't die).

He was the first place boy in the PreK division.

He was very pleased.

Especially to get a trophy.

And that his good friend got the 2nd place trophy.

me, the mrs

I kept everyone clean and fed and where they were supposed to be most of the time.

No trophy,

but I don't mind.

Quite a month for us.

Not a normal one,

that's for sure.

But it's sure been nice to celebrate

each other's little victories

and be reminded of what

wonderful people

we are surrounded

by daily.





Chore Update

Just to let you know,

this weekend

the windows were washed

and the flower beds weeded.

Thanks to help from my family.

Thanks, you guys!

SundaySchool

Picture from here. I didn't actually visit the website and don't know where he got the image-but it was too wonderful to pass up.

I actually went to Sunday School today. Yay.
I was looking forward to it because we would be discussing Ezekial 37-the one about dem dry bones.

The reason why I was excited: the day of the run that my son and I ran in and I didn't die, we were waiting for their class to get called out for their turn to warm up in the gym. It was before Halloween and the PreKers were studying the skeleton. They learned a song and they sang it for us while we were waiting - in their best little Okie drawls. It was wonderful.

The toe bone's connected to the foot bone.
The foot bone's connected to the leg bone.
The leg bone's connected to the hip bone.
The hip bone's connected to the back bone.
The back bone's connected to the neck bone.
Then neck bone's connected to the head bone.
Now he-ar the werd of the Loord.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Now he-ar the werd of the Loord.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna jump around
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna jump around
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna jump around
Now he-ar the werd of the Loord.

They wouldn't have sung that song at my girls' elementary in Washington state.
And maybe even not in our Texas ones.
It was awesome.
Maybe someday when I have a new computer and awesome editing software, I can edit the video & you can hear this precious Okie version of the song that made me so excited to go to Sunday School today.

(FYI-I didn't type in the correct order of what bone is connected to what bone.  For that reason, I would like a very cool coffee table book on human anatomy for Christmas-even though I don't have a coffee table. I am just very intrigued by how everything is connected. R OK aka my mr.-there are some neat ones at the dreaded WM's big brother store who's name starts with an S. Please just be sure to go shopping with me so I can show you the correct one.)

Can you tell why I've never been called to teach Sunday School? I'd be one of those teachers who get way off on a crazy tangent and have a hard time getting back to the main point of the lesson.


Back to Ezekiel.

When I read this chapter, I could visualize the dry bones coming together and the sinews attaching themselves and the bodies reforming. It looked like a movie with very, very cool special effects in my head.
Our teacher today made a comment about what a strange vision this Ezekial had and that if people can accept that he had this vision, what makes it so hard for them to believe in the vision that Joseph Smith had.
That was interesting.

Actually-this awesome vision is about the house of Israel coming together, the scriptures coming together, and resurrection. Pretty awesome stuff.

I enjoyed Sunday School today.
I heard the werd of the Loord.

The Dog (part 8)

Why I am very unhappy with the dog, again.

Score since this spring:

Hoses 0

Dog 3.