W is for Wanderlust…

 Wanderlust: the desire to travel the world. 

Oh what I would do for another chance to travel with my mother. 

A very memorable roadtrip was to The Apostle Islamds of northern Wisconsin. 

It was a girls’ vacation with Sue and Seester Andi. We had a blast. Madeline Island was a highlight. We had to take a ferry to get there. 

Lake Superior is a cool destination and being around boats always adds to the vacation. We explored the whole island but were highly impressed with a local outdoors bar. 

The atmosphere was amazing as was the food. It was like a little shack. The walls were covered with silly signs. I always love a good pun so I was in heaven. 

I love that I have so many sweet memories from times With my mom. She was always up for adventure and made life fun. Miss you mom!

T is for Timeless…

 Timeless: things that never go out of style

Dolly Parton’s first album released in 1967. She was 21 years young. Today, she passed on to the diamonds in the sky. I found out in the middle of a class activity in my health class from my students. And I have to say, it took me a few minutes to compose myself to be able to carry on with that activity.  

As a five year old, I carried a guitar around my house and I was a singer. I’m sure much of my inspiration came from Dolly. I don’t remember specifics of Dolly but I do know she has been in the fabric of my background forever. There isn’t a time on this planet that Dolly wasn’t a part of. I’m sure you also have memories with Dolly. 

She wasn’t only an inspiration to girls with guitars, her reach was huge. She campaigned for good in this world. She was kind and generous and also had some spice. She is what we needed, what music needed and what the world needed.  

I think that genuine voice and creative talent seemed to be something that would last forever. As I scrolled through social media, there were many people who said they just weren’t okay because they didn’t ever think she could ever die. Her nephew had the daunting task to announce her death and even he mentioned how for years he put the idea behind him as if it would never happen. Today, we lost a special one; may Dolly continue to shine for us to feel.

Dolly Parton is truly a timeless icon and I’m so glad I got to live in a world with her in it. 

M is for Mania

 “Mania: excessive or unreasonable enthusiasm; the object of such enthusiasm."

I got into teaching because I had some passion. I was passionate about helping kids learn that they were capable. I also was passionate about sports and writing. In what world besides sports writing could I combine those? I started out teaching English and physical education. What a combo. Turns out it wasn’t “marketable” to keep my position because it would be hard to fill. Funny…it hasn’t been open in 25 years. But I am thankful I got a certification to teach health as well. Anyway, as I taught my current students to throw frisbees at each other this week, I was reminded of just how much gratitude I have to be able to bring energy and passion to something as simple as sport skills. 

Sports truly give me so much joy and how blessed I am to be able to call what I do “work.”

S is for Spiritual…

 I haven’t always been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints(sometimes referred to as “Mormons”)

I grew up Catholic and in high school met a really cool family. Their house was a place of calm and welcoming. The day my brother got married the first time, I was to sleep on the couch(my bed was given away to family) and that family invited me to stay at their house as long as I went to church with them in the morning. I didn’t know anything about “the Mormons” and I always liked to see what people believed. Well…long story short…I went to church that Sunday and went regularly to that church since then back in 1995. 

Here is a scripture that a missionary shared with me as I was learning about the church and wondering if it was true, Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9:

“8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.”

Just two verses change the trajectory of my life.   

 

S is for Sayings…

 

“You’ll miss this someday”

Parenthood is a crazy ride. One day they are tiny and need you for everything, then one day you can’t even pick them up because they are so big. W

She was a bit scared tonight. I said she can sleep with me if she needed to even though I cannot sleep well when she does. 

The I’m glad I’m her safe place and that I get to mother her. I’m sad it goes way too fast. I will miss this someday!