Mom - A Job Like No Other

From the moment my first came into the world, I knew my life had changed forever. 

I have poured well over 5000 glasses of water for my kids. Of those glasses, I have cleaned up at least 1,000 messes. I have worked on 10 science projects and had at least 300 doctor visits. I have packed 1,000 school lunches. I have driven in the car for two hours straight, all while staying within a 2 mile radius, having never actually stepped foot out of my car.

I have run covert operations to check my kids’ electronic devices. I have fallen asleep in my kids’ beds more than I fall asleep in my own.

I have done all of these things, but can’t claim that I am that special. I look around and know that all moms are doing exactly what I am doing. Whether we work outside of the home, or in, we are in this together. 

The reality is that moms are like no other species. We can multi-task. We can comfort. We can find solutions. We cry when they cry, but they never know. We smile every time we talk about our kids. We can fix their cuts with band-aids and their hurt feelings with a trip to Freeziac. We are psychic and can use our crystal balls to try to make everything all right, but know that we need to teach them how to do that on their own as well.

Moms are special.

We get to do special and amazing things. We get to enjoy our families every day, laugh every day, love every day. So on this Mother’s Day, when my kids bring me breakfast in bed, I will read my beautiful cards, I will eat my "MOM" shaped pancakes and drink my Diet Coke. I will smile wide because I know tomorrow I get to pour them another glass of water.

Moms, our cups runneth over.

Happy Mother's Day

For the Love of Music

For as long as I can remember, music has been a big part of my life. I was introduced to music at a very young age.  With parents as music teachers, there was always a melody of some sort playing in our house. 

My appreciation for music didn't always exist.  Yes, I was one of those kids that disliked piano lessons and would find every possible excuse to get out of practicing and I certainly did not enjoy being the "special music" at church on Sunday's.

But music isn't just about reading notes and carrying a tune...it's about finding a connection. A connection to other people, places, and memories.  It's about knowing exactly where you were, who you were with, and what you were wearing when Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" blasted on the "boom box" during high school basketball practice.

Music not only creates a connection, but it also elicits an emotion. Some music gets you pumped up, ready for a workout, a long run or even a game. Take for example the song "Thunderstruck". Anyone that knows NDSU sports, understands the excitement when they hear it begin to blare over the loud speakers.

The sentimental side of me melts when I hear "Can't Help Falling In Love".  The song is a classic and  one that I remember from my wedding day.  It reminds me of how lucky I am to have found someone who loves me unconditionally.

And then some songs provide memories that can be bittersweet.  Each and everytime I hear "How Great Thou Art" it brings a tear to my eye, remembering how my sister and brother in law sang it so beautifully at my Grandma's funeral.

For every emotion, for every experience, for every aspect of life, there is a piece of music. We may remember a certain place, person, smell, color and so on. As a song progresses we may smile, laugh, cry, giggle or even smirk.

Music has and always will have a special place in my heart and I'm thankful to my parents for enabling me to develop my love of music. So in today's hectic world consumed by high academic standards and demanding sports schedules, I will continue to encourage my kids to embrace music through piano, band, choir, or whatever direction they may choose.

Music is a gift and without it, life would be awfully boring.

 

Dare to TRI...

Do you remember when as children we would dare each other to do something that required some degree of courage or stupidity?  It was more of a game than anything else, which always produced, well... interesting results.

Recently I have tried to carry this simple game concept into my adult life. However, I don’t need anyone to dare me. I'm daring myself.

Last weekend I participated in the Dare to TRI - Maple Grove Triathlon. 



http://www.maplegrovetriathlon.com/

With each new challenge I dare myself to do, I learn a little more about myself. On this particular Saturday morning, I learned...

I am way more competitive than I am willing to admit. I become emotional when stressed (shocker). I am mentally and physically stronger than I realize and not to sweat the small stuff.

Most importantly, I learned how blessed I am to have a huge network of supportive family and friends!  Each and every one of you were there for me when I needed it most. 

Early on I said I wasn't trying to compete, I simply wanted to complete.  Mission accomplished!



Call it what you want... a dare, a goal, a mid-life crisis, or a check on your bucket list.
It really doesn't matter as long as your having fun.

So, slap on some lipstick and do something daring, be something daring, try something daring.
Dare to be different. Dare to be outrageous. Dare to fail. Dare to win or simply Dare to inspire.

Dare to TRI...





 Stronger

Life as a lake kid

If you have spent any of your childhood in Minnesota, you probably have a few summer lake stories. This time of the year has been and always will be my favorite.  I often dream about the dog days of summer and spending my weekends at the lake.

I began my life as a lake kid early.  My parents were both teachers, so we were lucky enough to "live" at the lake.  It wasn't until I was a little older, did I realize most parents still had to work during the months of June, July, and August.  I simply assumed everyone was on summer break. Little did I know how lucky I was.

It seemed, once upon a time, that those hot summer days would simply go on and on.  We would waterski from dawn to dusk, play water war on huge tractor tubes, and drive the 4 wheeler on back roads to the Cormorant Store for ice cream cones.  Even on the hottest days, the breeze from the lake could give a girl goose bumps.   To this day, the sweet smell of boat gas reminds me of my happy place.  Simply put, spending summers at the lake was heaven.

Kevin and Melanie

Tony's Campground

Dave Barefooting

Summer of 1987 - my 1st car

My fondest summer memories were full of self-mixed tanning lotion (iodine and baby oil), the sounds of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, or any other 80's tune blaring over the boom box, and cruising the "strip" in my very 1st car with my BFF's. 


The summer of 1987, I was just 16 years old when Playboy Magazine declared Detroit Lakes one of the top party destinations for Independence Day. On Fourth of July week, the relatively small lakeside town packs in thousands of people for fireworks, music, food and drinks.


 
Our cabin was prime location for people watching.  It backed up to the main road that everyone traveled when coming or going into D.L.  Needless to say, my friends and I learned a lot that summer!

Detroit Lakes Beach

A lot of people may never experience or understand what being a "lake kid" is, but to me there was nothing else like it.  I had no idea how special those summers would become to me. They are a part of me. The lake defines a huge part of my childhood and I am so grateful for the memories.

Now that I have children of my own, I want them to experience the same . I want them to jump off a dock, swim all morning and ski all afternoon til its time to come out of the water, eat, and do it all over again. It's a delicious childhood and I wouldn't want anything less for my children.

Carson & Kate - Summer of 2011

Since the 80's and summer have a special place in my heart, I will leave you with a song that reminds me of those hot summer nights.  Go ahead, backcomb those bangs, spray on some AquaNet and slap on some lipstick - bright pink lipstick...and enjoy!