When I was probably about 5 years old, we lived in town... (the orange brick house at 417 S Smokyhill in Oakley, Kansas!
and on Easter morning, we opened the front door to go to church and...
on the front porch, right outside the door, in a box with a lid, was a beautiful white rabbit with big red eyes.
And a note...
the note said it was a gift for ME!
And it was signed, "The Easter Bunny!"
I was SOOOO excited!!
I remember screaming and running around the yard in my hand me down Easter dress that I loved!!
My parents were clearly surprised....
and not as excited.
The conversation the whole way to church was "who did it".
Ummm....duhhh...the Easter Bunny signed the note people....
this is NO mystery!!
Seriously!!
We got through church where the talk the whole time from my parents and their friends was...
who dunnit?
The talk from me was...
"I GOT A BUNNY RABBIT AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GO HOME AND PLAY WITH HIM!!"
And my friends and I decided to name him, Thumper!
My parents were not "pet"people. We didn't have a dog or cat or anything...I had my horses...
but they didn't live in the house!! LOL
(My mom was a neat freak just like me!!)
We got home and there was a discussion about how we couldn't keep the rabbit.
And...my brother actually rallied to my defense.
Tears worked too...and lots of PLEASEs...and batting of the eyelashes and promises to take care of the bunny and they wouldn't have to do a thing...and ....and....and.... :)
IT worked.
They located a hutch that we could borrow from the post office manager so we picked it up and put Thumper's cage outside in the back yard near the alley.
At least we got to keep him.
I used to hold Thumper for hours...and had a ton of scratches from his nails but man we loved to snuggle...
perhaps it was ME who loved to snuggle...maybe that's why I had those scratches?? LOL!
I remember going to the grocery store with my mom a few times a week to get the lettuce they cut off the heads of lettuce before they displayed them to feed him. It was free and my best friend's parents owned the grocery store.
We fed him carrots and cleaned the rabbit droppings...oh so many rabbit droppings!! LOL
But one night, several weeks later, Thumper's cage was open and he was missing.
My brother and his friend, Kenny Ray, went out with flashlights to look for him.
They thought I was asleep when they came back in the house and told mom that there was fur and blood everywhere behind Kenny Ray's house...they guessed it was a dog who got the rabbit.
I cried so hard!!! I still can vividly remember that feeling and standing there in the hallway in my nightgown sobbing!!
So quickly the story changed to the fur wasn't white, it was brown so it had been another rabbit and that Thumper escaped and ran away and was living in the field safely.
Whew...that was a close one!!! ;) Thank goodness Thumper was safe!
I still cried for days because he was gone even though I knew he was happy living in the field with his new rabbit family where he didn't have to stay in a hutch and he could run free.
No one ever fessed up to bringing Thumper...again..duh...it was the Easter Bunny....eye roll!!
The theory was that it had been Larry Farmer.
If you ever drive down I-70 heading to Oakley, you will see signs for a place called "Prairie Dog Town" with the world's largest prairie dog..over 2,000 pounds!
Tourists stop all the time to see that...and yes, it's cement!!
But there really is a five legged cow (seriously) and other critters Larry caught (including a rattle snake pit). I'm not kidding...Larry caught almost everything he had on display!!
And they sell hundreds of "Kansas pies" which is a pile of cow manure in a pie box.
Seriously! People buy the craziest stuff!!!
I'm not sure if Larry had any influence with the Easter Bunny or not, but if he did...thanks Larry!!
And...don't even think about bringing my kids a bunny on Easter...
I now side with my parents!! LOL!!
The Easter Bunny here brought a stuffed bunny...so much easier!!
Happy Easter friends!!!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Zachism Saturday, March 30 2013
Over spring break, while out of town, we went to a PF Changs for dinner.
We all read our fortune cookies to each other.
They were all "wisdom" sayings... like about kindness and love and forgiveness...
Zach thought for a long time and once we were in the car going back to the hotel, he said,
"you know...my school counselor says a lot of the same things those fortunes did...
she must spend a LOT of time at PF Changs!"
Brian and I just agreed.
It was SO much simpler!!
Happy Saturday!
We all read our fortune cookies to each other.
They were all "wisdom" sayings... like about kindness and love and forgiveness...
Zach thought for a long time and once we were in the car going back to the hotel, he said,
"you know...my school counselor says a lot of the same things those fortunes did...
she must spend a LOT of time at PF Changs!"
Brian and I just agreed.
It was SO much simpler!!
Happy Saturday!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Gift of Autism...
Braden
has lots of gifts from God, one of them is autism.
Just
this past fall, we had him tested for autism and the tests proved what we have
known since he was 8 months old. He is, indeed, a child with autism. And my
response is “so what!” It changes nothing…we’ve been treating it like it was
autism for almost his whole life with therapies and treatments.
But…
Reading
that psychologists’ report…well…it hurt. It boiled him down to numbers and
analytic descriptors from a person who doesn‘t know Braden and his
gifts/talents. And I don’t like what those numbers say about my son. I realize
she has to write it from a deficit standpoint…and I know those deficits are
there…it’s just there are 1 million times more positives than negatives. My
“Momma Bear” hair stood up as I read…
He is
SUCH a great kid…not what that report says he is…
And I
have been thinking about and worrying about all of the parents that we handed
reports to while I was a Principal. Oh how I hope we never hurt anyone like I
hurt right now. These are just numbers, I was prepared for them, I understand
them completely, and I know they do not tell who Braden Hofen is, but they
suck. Plain and simple…they suck.
The
autism does not suck. I think it’s been a gift for Braden…yes, really.
He has
no idea he has cancer and that he could die from it. He has never once had to
be scared or worried about death and anticipating the pain of treatments. That
really is a gift! All he has to know is that we love him and God is taking care
of him.
Braden
has autism and I am not ashamed or embarrassed or apologetic…it is the gift he
was given when God made him and we celebrate every gift!! EVERY single gift!! I
have however, wondered if Braden would be able to understand “God” because
things that are abstract are very difficult for him to grasp.
While I
completely believe in God and His love; those are abstract concepts and I
didn’t think Braden knew and understood God and that used to worry me.
Braden doesn't understand abstract concepts and I had never spoken to him about God. I prayed all the time, but I pray silently, not outloud and I wait until he is asleep because I'm prone to crying during prayer.
I
worried needlessly!
A friend
once gave me a cloth that had been blessed in a special place. I don’t really
give much credence to those kinds of things but when he was 3 and going through
treatment, I used to put it on his belly (where his tumor was located in his liver) and pray for remission when he was
asleep for whole nights at a time. I figured it couldn’t’ hurt! :)
He had never
seen it and it was always hidden during the day so he didn’t take it and play with it.
If it was special and magical, I didn't want him to rip it. :)
One day,
he was beginning to feel warm which would mean a fever and ER trip…I put it on
his head and was about to pray when he reached up, pulled it off his head,
looked at it and said,
“Oh...hello God!”
With my
mouth gaping open, I burst into tears.
Braden
KNOWS God and God knows Braden. It doesn’t have to be in the way we typically
think about “knowing” God.
God
speaks autism!! ;)
And God
is concrete in Braden's world!!
God
surrounds us with his love and I know that He is surrounding Braden right now.
No matter what these developmental tests showed and what happens with his future, He is with Braden and they
are connected at a very deep level!
God will ALWAYS be there with him.
God will ALWAYS be there with him.
God has
given us 8 years with him...
We hope
we will get 9!
TAKE
THAT cANCER!!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Bubble head...
Bubble head...that's me! :)
For the first time in several years, we went on a little road trip for spring break. We headed to DesMoines and then up to Minneapolis and had many detours along the way.
The three detours that were the best were:
1. Watching Brian wrestling in a tournament..yes, Brian. He's 46...and did GREAT!
2. Seeing cousins we hadn't seen in MANY years!! Absolutely a perfect evening with the boys playing and the adults enjoying some awesome vino!
and
3. Getting to go visit Miranda's grave (I know it sounds like a strange thing to have as a favorite but I rarely get to visit her gravesite so when I do, it's a highlight!) I love talking about Miranda and each time we visit, Zach asks lots of questions and I get to tell him about her! We put some beautiful white flowers by her grave and blew her lots of kisses in Heaven.
But, the detours were not where the "bubble head" thing comes into play...that happened about 90 minutes after we left.
We took two vehicles because Brian is going back to Minneapolis for work after he goes to the NCAA wrestling championship tournament the rest of the week.
It was a good thing because we needed the car space with all the stuff we had to pack... :)
When you have a child with autism and cancer, you cannot just go someplace. It is NOT a simple process.
I packed up all of Braden's meds...and my meds....and that was nearly a suitcase in itself. We have to take everything (including a portable nebulizer in the event his asthma flares). There are a LOT of meds for the two of us and I remembered them all!! WAHOO!!
I packed swimsuits and swim shoes for the hotel pool, and the snow stuff like snowboots, snowpants, hats, gloves, and big coats...a blizzard was predicted. (love snow blizzards...yay!!)
Clothes for all of us...for a week...that was a LOT of clothes because Zach layers his shirts so that was two suitcases. :)
All of my workout stuff...sheesh...shoes, hair ties, my knee brace, my heart monitor watch, my light weights incase the hotel didn't have them....holy moly this healthy thing is a pain in the neck!!
All of Braden's food. He only eats about 10 things so I have to pack all of his food everytime we go someplace:
Cool Ranch Doritos, Chicken Nuggets (cooked and cut and put into bowls then inside freezer bags and into the cooler), 9 BIG tubs of yogurt (and then we had to buy two more), crackers, and a gallon of milk. It's so much easier to take it with you than to try to find it things at a grocery store...not everyone carries the ONE kind of yogurt Braden eats! :)
And lunch for Brian's tournament (so much better than the stuff at the concession stand)...bread, turkey, peanut butter, apples, crackers, Special K Chips, carrots, and water....and of course plates, silverware, napkins,
and even a trash bag!!
My cereal...girl's gotta be pampered a little! :)
The big camera to take pictures of Brian wrestling.
Laundry soap (we end up doing laundry all the time...somebody spills something and I like for the swimsuits to be clean before I pack them...I know...I'm a germ nut), fabric softener AND
dish soap and a brush to wash Braden's dishes each day. :)
Braden's backpack of toys...the electronics for the car ride and
his 3 Tigers, Tiger Hat, Color Blankie, and Penguin blankie. We can't go anywhere without those!!
And...Braden's daily cooler with his "gotta have it right now" food stash...in addition to the big cooler with the refrigerator of food inside for the rest of the trip.
Since we now have a cat, we asked one of my besties' daughters to come take care of him. I had everything out and ready to go for him.
And I vacuumed and dusted and cleaned the bathrooms before we left..it stresses me out to come home to a dirty house! :)
My car had been serviced, cleaned inside and out, and it was gassed and ready to roll!!
I packed up the flowers I had purchased back in May (I always get extras during the memorial day sale so I have them for our visits to Miranda's grave during the year).
I had gotten cash and organized my wallet so everything was in a neat row so I could easily find things quickly.
I had even transitioned my purse stuff into a backpack so it was easier to run around places and detour and not have a big purse to carry around all day long...I have to carry Braden's cooler and a purse takes up two hands...I need one to reign in the "B-Man" when he decides to wander! :)
I even had gone to the grocery store so when we got home we would have milk that hadn't expired and some other stuff to hold us over so I wouldn't have to go to the store until Monday when they boys go back to school.
And I did the laundry that was left over and started the dishwasher so I wouldn't have to do those two things when we got home either.
I had it ALL ready to go!! I was so proud of myself!!
We stopped about 90 minutes after leaving KC to grab some lunch and I reached into my backpack to get my wallet...
and THIS is where the "bubble head" thing comes in...
no.wallet.
CRAP!!
When I went to the grocery store the night before, I put the newly organized wallet into my purse and took my purse with me...
I hadn't transitioned it back into the backpack.
No cash,
No credit card,
No ID... (I began praying no one would card me for alcohol because I SERIOUSLY needed some, right then!!)
I texted my friend, Amy, who had her daughter run over to verify that I had indeed left my wallet in my purse. Thank goodness Amy is like a twin...she got it and we both had a GREAT BIG giggle via texting over it!! :)
The report came back that indeed, my wallet was in my purse.
Brian said it was better that it was there than lost! :) Smart ass!!
SO...I had to borrow money from Brian and he gave me a credit card for gas on the way home.
And after it took me 2.5 hours to put everything away in the house, I finally looked for my wallet. It was right there...just like I had left it when I went to the store.
AWESOME!! LOL!!
SO I'm a bubble head...the ONE thing I forgot was my wallet.
DUHHHH!!!!!!!
It was still a great detour....bubble head or no bubble head,
I put in some pics from some of our detours below...hope you all had a great spring break too!!
:)
For the first time in several years, we went on a little road trip for spring break. We headed to DesMoines and then up to Minneapolis and had many detours along the way.
The three detours that were the best were:
1. Watching Brian wrestling in a tournament..yes, Brian. He's 46...and did GREAT!
2. Seeing cousins we hadn't seen in MANY years!! Absolutely a perfect evening with the boys playing and the adults enjoying some awesome vino!
and
3. Getting to go visit Miranda's grave (I know it sounds like a strange thing to have as a favorite but I rarely get to visit her gravesite so when I do, it's a highlight!) I love talking about Miranda and each time we visit, Zach asks lots of questions and I get to tell him about her! We put some beautiful white flowers by her grave and blew her lots of kisses in Heaven.
But, the detours were not where the "bubble head" thing comes into play...that happened about 90 minutes after we left.
We took two vehicles because Brian is going back to Minneapolis for work after he goes to the NCAA wrestling championship tournament the rest of the week.
It was a good thing because we needed the car space with all the stuff we had to pack... :)
When you have a child with autism and cancer, you cannot just go someplace. It is NOT a simple process.
I packed up all of Braden's meds...and my meds....and that was nearly a suitcase in itself. We have to take everything (including a portable nebulizer in the event his asthma flares). There are a LOT of meds for the two of us and I remembered them all!! WAHOO!!
I packed swimsuits and swim shoes for the hotel pool, and the snow stuff like snowboots, snowpants, hats, gloves, and big coats...a blizzard was predicted. (love snow blizzards...yay!!)
Clothes for all of us...for a week...that was a LOT of clothes because Zach layers his shirts so that was two suitcases. :)
All of my workout stuff...sheesh...shoes, hair ties, my knee brace, my heart monitor watch, my light weights incase the hotel didn't have them....holy moly this healthy thing is a pain in the neck!!
All of Braden's food. He only eats about 10 things so I have to pack all of his food everytime we go someplace:
Cool Ranch Doritos, Chicken Nuggets (cooked and cut and put into bowls then inside freezer bags and into the cooler), 9 BIG tubs of yogurt (and then we had to buy two more), crackers, and a gallon of milk. It's so much easier to take it with you than to try to find it things at a grocery store...not everyone carries the ONE kind of yogurt Braden eats! :)
And lunch for Brian's tournament (so much better than the stuff at the concession stand)...bread, turkey, peanut butter, apples, crackers, Special K Chips, carrots, and water....and of course plates, silverware, napkins,
and even a trash bag!!
My cereal...girl's gotta be pampered a little! :)
The big camera to take pictures of Brian wrestling.
Laundry soap (we end up doing laundry all the time...somebody spills something and I like for the swimsuits to be clean before I pack them...I know...I'm a germ nut), fabric softener AND
dish soap and a brush to wash Braden's dishes each day. :)
Braden's backpack of toys...the electronics for the car ride and
his 3 Tigers, Tiger Hat, Color Blankie, and Penguin blankie. We can't go anywhere without those!!
And...Braden's daily cooler with his "gotta have it right now" food stash...in addition to the big cooler with the refrigerator of food inside for the rest of the trip.
Since we now have a cat, we asked one of my besties' daughters to come take care of him. I had everything out and ready to go for him.
And I vacuumed and dusted and cleaned the bathrooms before we left..it stresses me out to come home to a dirty house! :)
My car had been serviced, cleaned inside and out, and it was gassed and ready to roll!!
I packed up the flowers I had purchased back in May (I always get extras during the memorial day sale so I have them for our visits to Miranda's grave during the year).
I had gotten cash and organized my wallet so everything was in a neat row so I could easily find things quickly.
I had even transitioned my purse stuff into a backpack so it was easier to run around places and detour and not have a big purse to carry around all day long...I have to carry Braden's cooler and a purse takes up two hands...I need one to reign in the "B-Man" when he decides to wander! :)
I even had gone to the grocery store so when we got home we would have milk that hadn't expired and some other stuff to hold us over so I wouldn't have to go to the store until Monday when they boys go back to school.
And I did the laundry that was left over and started the dishwasher so I wouldn't have to do those two things when we got home either.
I had it ALL ready to go!! I was so proud of myself!!
We stopped about 90 minutes after leaving KC to grab some lunch and I reached into my backpack to get my wallet...
and THIS is where the "bubble head" thing comes in...
no.wallet.
CRAP!!
When I went to the grocery store the night before, I put the newly organized wallet into my purse and took my purse with me...
I hadn't transitioned it back into the backpack.
No cash,
No credit card,
No ID... (I began praying no one would card me for alcohol because I SERIOUSLY needed some, right then!!)
I texted my friend, Amy, who had her daughter run over to verify that I had indeed left my wallet in my purse. Thank goodness Amy is like a twin...she got it and we both had a GREAT BIG giggle via texting over it!! :)
The report came back that indeed, my wallet was in my purse.
Brian said it was better that it was there than lost! :) Smart ass!!
SO...I had to borrow money from Brian and he gave me a credit card for gas on the way home.
And after it took me 2.5 hours to put everything away in the house, I finally looked for my wallet. It was right there...just like I had left it when I went to the store.
AWESOME!! LOL!!
SO I'm a bubble head...the ONE thing I forgot was my wallet.
DUHHHH!!!!!!!
It was still a great detour....bubble head or no bubble head,
I put in some pics from some of our detours below...hope you all had a great spring break too!!
:)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Enough...
My matron of honor made a beautiful toast at our wedding and it was beautiful...
and prophetic.
It's called "Enough" and I want to share it with you.
Here is the poem by Bob Parks:
“* I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
* I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
* I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
* I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
* I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
* I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
* I wish enough hello's to get you through the final goodbye.
My friends, I wish you enough! “
I have had enough.
Some would say more than enough, but I think it's been just "enough"...it's just that I'm so stubborn and hard headed that I didn't get "enough" early in the game!
I fought it and tried to change it, when what I needed to do was simply allow God to take control and sit back and appreciate detours and every minute we get with all four of us together.
Spring break is here, the boys are out of school until March 25, so I am taking a break from all things technological to spend some time with them.
I never take one moment we get as a family of four for granted and in order to concentrate of them and not everything else, I occasionally take extended technology breaks! :)
I appreciate things MUCH more now than I used to because I have had "Enough".
Years ago, I would have been working fast and furiously the whole break, but now...now I know that there are things that trump busy.
There are things that are more important than that email that didn't get answered today...or even the next day.
Really!!!
So, sometimes, I completely unplug and focus on my kids 100%!!
We never know if this will be the last spring break we will spend with all of us together, everything could change at any time.
I've had "Enough" so I'm taking a break! :)
I highly recommend it...take a day and just unplug. It's extremely refreshing!!
Yes, I cheat a little! :) I update my facebook status with pics of our detours, but that's all!! Promise!! The phone, email, etc will be there when we get back into our routine...it's my version of a "staycation"! :)
We have many little detours planned out, beginning with "Chugga Cheesies" as Braden requested before school this week! ;)
So I won't be updating this blog until after the boys go back to school but I'm QUITE sure that when I return, I will have a million Zachisms and stories to tell! LOL!!
In the meantime, detour...enjoy your family and friends...
and, I wish you "Enough"!!
and prophetic.
It's called "Enough" and I want to share it with you.
Here is the poem by Bob Parks:
“* I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
* I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
* I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
* I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
* I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
* I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
* I wish enough hello's to get you through the final goodbye.
My friends, I wish you enough! “
I have had enough.
Some would say more than enough, but I think it's been just "enough"...it's just that I'm so stubborn and hard headed that I didn't get "enough" early in the game!
I fought it and tried to change it, when what I needed to do was simply allow God to take control and sit back and appreciate detours and every minute we get with all four of us together.
Spring break is here, the boys are out of school until March 25, so I am taking a break from all things technological to spend some time with them.
I never take one moment we get as a family of four for granted and in order to concentrate of them and not everything else, I occasionally take extended technology breaks! :)
I appreciate things MUCH more now than I used to because I have had "Enough".
Years ago, I would have been working fast and furiously the whole break, but now...now I know that there are things that trump busy.
There are things that are more important than that email that didn't get answered today...or even the next day.
Really!!!
So, sometimes, I completely unplug and focus on my kids 100%!!
We never know if this will be the last spring break we will spend with all of us together, everything could change at any time.
I've had "Enough" so I'm taking a break! :)
I highly recommend it...take a day and just unplug. It's extremely refreshing!!
Yes, I cheat a little! :) I update my facebook status with pics of our detours, but that's all!! Promise!! The phone, email, etc will be there when we get back into our routine...it's my version of a "staycation"! :)
We have many little detours planned out, beginning with "Chugga Cheesies" as Braden requested before school this week! ;)
So I won't be updating this blog until after the boys go back to school but I'm QUITE sure that when I return, I will have a million Zachisms and stories to tell! LOL!!
In the meantime, detour...enjoy your family and friends...
and, I wish you "Enough"!!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The Key To Chaos...
Well...I had a "SERIOUSLY!" moment this morning! :)
I had a meeting at school at 8:20. Shouldn't be a problem, usually we are there by that time..easy peasy...right???
WRONG! :)
This had to be the day that the lego thing just "HAD" to be built before we could get in the car!! I didn't handle that well...there was yelling involved and me explaining that "the lego thing has GOT to wait because we are going to be LATE!"
No one really moved very quickly.
More yelling! Not proud...just truthful! ;)
Which was followed by Braden walking up to me and kindly explaining that "we NOT go to school today...we go to Chugga Cheesies (Chuck E Cheese)....
that was followed by him folding his arms, turning his nose up and saying, "hmmmm"!
Okee doke...so it' going to be THAT kind of day... :)
I talked Braden down, talked Zach away from the legoes and both boys got into the car, everyone was ready to roll!! YAY!!
We got to school and everyone was calm and happy and ready to have a great day.
I parked the car and shut it off....
...well...tried to shut it off...
Apparently, my key ring had gotten between my key and the ignition box (yes...I still have a key...my car is 10 years old).
I tried repeatedly to get it to shut off but that piece of metal was blocking the way!
Two little voices tried to aid me with "helpful" suggestions...like "just turn it off and pull the key out mom!"
SIGH!! I resisted yelling...
but I did just allow my forehead to fall into my steering wheel.
And I left it there awhile while I sighed....
Zach next suggested we call a mechanic...or the police because we had an emergency. LOL!
Instead, I called Brian...and I told him I had a meeting that I was late to already so the key would be in the car and the car would be on...
He said he would hurry! Thank goodness he was in town! :) So I left the car running and I headed into school and kissed everyone goodbye while rushing to the office for the meeting...
Seriously!
I stopped at the secretary's desk to tell them that Brian would be bringing in my keys, and why. :)
They know me...and they laughed...
LOTS!! :) I can't blame them...so did I! :)
I went in for the meeting (where we had another good giggle). I had to rush off at 9 to get to my next thing and was rummaging through my purse for my keys.
I couldn't find them anywhere!!
YUP...I'm blonde!!
We all got a good giggle out of that one too!!
So I stopped at the secretary's desk to collect the keys and a new face looked at me and dangled them with a smile. She handed to them as I was introduced to the "new secretary!"
SERIOUSLY!!
First, I gave a big hug to Mrs. Brake who is leaving...sad sad sad!! She's a gem!! And then I shook the hand of the new secretary and said,
"Hi...I'm Deliece Hofen and this is pretty much how things are gonna continue to roll for me!"
More giggles....
Mrs. Barrett (the other secretary) gave me a big hug and said that this was a good blog moment!!
She was right.
Seriously!! :)
I left hoping to get a mimosa...never did but still hoped!!
Remember Match Game and "Dumb Dora"??
I just kicked Dumb Dora's ASS!!!
I'm dumber...I WIN!!! :) LOL!!
I had a meeting at school at 8:20. Shouldn't be a problem, usually we are there by that time..easy peasy...right???
WRONG! :)
This had to be the day that the lego thing just "HAD" to be built before we could get in the car!! I didn't handle that well...there was yelling involved and me explaining that "the lego thing has GOT to wait because we are going to be LATE!"
No one really moved very quickly.
More yelling! Not proud...just truthful! ;)
Which was followed by Braden walking up to me and kindly explaining that "we NOT go to school today...we go to Chugga Cheesies (Chuck E Cheese)....
that was followed by him folding his arms, turning his nose up and saying, "hmmmm"!
Okee doke...so it' going to be THAT kind of day... :)
I talked Braden down, talked Zach away from the legoes and both boys got into the car, everyone was ready to roll!! YAY!!
We got to school and everyone was calm and happy and ready to have a great day.
I parked the car and shut it off....
...well...tried to shut it off...
Apparently, my key ring had gotten between my key and the ignition box (yes...I still have a key...my car is 10 years old).
I tried repeatedly to get it to shut off but that piece of metal was blocking the way!
Two little voices tried to aid me with "helpful" suggestions...like "just turn it off and pull the key out mom!"
SIGH!! I resisted yelling...
but I did just allow my forehead to fall into my steering wheel.
And I left it there awhile while I sighed....
Zach next suggested we call a mechanic...or the police because we had an emergency. LOL!
Instead, I called Brian...and I told him I had a meeting that I was late to already so the key would be in the car and the car would be on...
He said he would hurry! Thank goodness he was in town! :) So I left the car running and I headed into school and kissed everyone goodbye while rushing to the office for the meeting...
Seriously!
I stopped at the secretary's desk to tell them that Brian would be bringing in my keys, and why. :)
They know me...and they laughed...
LOTS!! :) I can't blame them...so did I! :)
I went in for the meeting (where we had another good giggle). I had to rush off at 9 to get to my next thing and was rummaging through my purse for my keys.
I couldn't find them anywhere!!
YUP...I'm blonde!!
We all got a good giggle out of that one too!!
So I stopped at the secretary's desk to collect the keys and a new face looked at me and dangled them with a smile. She handed to them as I was introduced to the "new secretary!"
SERIOUSLY!!
First, I gave a big hug to Mrs. Brake who is leaving...sad sad sad!! She's a gem!! And then I shook the hand of the new secretary and said,
"Hi...I'm Deliece Hofen and this is pretty much how things are gonna continue to roll for me!"
More giggles....
Mrs. Barrett (the other secretary) gave me a big hug and said that this was a good blog moment!!
She was right.
Seriously!! :)
I left hoping to get a mimosa...never did but still hoped!!
Remember Match Game and "Dumb Dora"??
I just kicked Dumb Dora's ASS!!!
I'm dumber...I WIN!!! :) LOL!!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Brave Little Soul...
Over the past five years of cAncer mess, I have looked at our son and marveled.
Braden and his friends simply--endure.
Horrible procedures, hopeless news, friends who die, families broken and separated, life completely changed, isolation in hospital rooms, feeling sick, being bald, and living under the constant doubt of the promise of tomorrow.
Nothing is predictable.
Nothing is stable.
Everything is uncertain.
Yet...
they endure.
Braden and his friends are my heroes because of their ability to simply keep going.
The Energizer Bunny has nothing on them!! :)
I came across this poem several years ago, and I read it each year at our HOPE Walk and Touch A Truck, Etc. event that we do with the City of Olathe (this year on June 8, 2013) in our opening ceremonies right before our heroes release butterflies in honor/memory of our angel heroes.
I think the lessons will be obvious as you read it. It isn't a story I wrote, just one I found but it describes the heart of my son and his friends.
This story always leaves me sobbing so get a tissue,
or a few packsof tissues. It is beautiful.
It helps my heart to know that there really may be a reason for all of this, not a reason any of us would choose for our lives and certainly NOT for our children, but maybe...
just maybe, there is something we don't know about "why".
This story makes my mind and heart, think...
and give thanks for their courage and example of what it really means to have the courage to endure and HOPE!
The Brave Little Soul
By: John Alessi
Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who took wonder in observing the world. He especially enjoyed the love he saw there and often expressed this joy with God. One day however the little soul was sad, for on this day he saw suffering in the world. He approached God and sadly asked, "Why do bad things happen; why is there suffering in the world?" God paused for a moment and replied, "Little soul, do not be sad, for the suffering you see, unlocks the love in people's hearts." The little soul was confused. "What do you mean," he asked. God replied, "Have you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering? Look at how people come together, drop their differences and show their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other motivations disappear and they become motivated by love alone." The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God continued, "The suffering soul unlocks the love in people's hearts much like the sun and the rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created everyone with endless love in their heart, but unfortunately most people keep it locked up and hardly share it with anyone. They are afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of being hurt. But a suffering soul unlocks that love. I tell you this - it is the greatest miracle of all. Many souls have bravely chosen to go into the world and suffer - to unlock this love - to create this miracle for the good of all humanity."
Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly contain himself. With his wings fluttering, bouncing up and down, the little soul excitedly replied. "I am brave; let me go! I would like to go into the world and suffer so that I can unlock the goodness and love in people's hearts! I want to create that miracle!" God smiled and said, "You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will grant your request. But even though you are very brave you will not be able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that you would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to care for you on your journey. Those souls will help you create your miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these souls are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer along with you, far beyond the others. They have already chosen a name for you". God and the brave soul shared a smile, and then embraced.
In parting, God said, "Do not forget little soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so through my strength. And if the time should come when you feel that you have suffered enough, just say the word, think the thought, and you will be healed." Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and through his suffering and God's strength, he unlocked the goodness and love in people's hearts. For so many people dropped their differences and came together to show their love. Priorities became properly aligned. People gave from their hearts. Those that were always too busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys, some regained lost faith - many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter. Friends and family grew closer. Old friends got together and new friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family spent more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives changed forever. It was good. The world was a better place. The miracle had happened. God was pleased.
Braden and his friends simply--endure.
Horrible procedures, hopeless news, friends who die, families broken and separated, life completely changed, isolation in hospital rooms, feeling sick, being bald, and living under the constant doubt of the promise of tomorrow.
Nothing is predictable.
Nothing is stable.
Everything is uncertain.
Yet...
they endure.
Braden and his friends are my heroes because of their ability to simply keep going.
The Energizer Bunny has nothing on them!! :)
I came across this poem several years ago, and I read it each year at our HOPE Walk and Touch A Truck, Etc. event that we do with the City of Olathe (this year on June 8, 2013) in our opening ceremonies right before our heroes release butterflies in honor/memory of our angel heroes.
Emma Grace's butterfly landed on her "special someone" :)
I think the lessons will be obvious as you read it. It isn't a story I wrote, just one I found but it describes the heart of my son and his friends.
This story always leaves me sobbing so get a tissue,
or a few packsof tissues. It is beautiful.
It helps my heart to know that there really may be a reason for all of this, not a reason any of us would choose for our lives and certainly NOT for our children, but maybe...
just maybe, there is something we don't know about "why".
This story makes my mind and heart, think...
and give thanks for their courage and example of what it really means to have the courage to endure and HOPE!
Our first trip home after round one of chemo.
The Brave Little Soul
By: John Alessi
Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who took wonder in observing the world. He especially enjoyed the love he saw there and often expressed this joy with God. One day however the little soul was sad, for on this day he saw suffering in the world. He approached God and sadly asked, "Why do bad things happen; why is there suffering in the world?" God paused for a moment and replied, "Little soul, do not be sad, for the suffering you see, unlocks the love in people's hearts." The little soul was confused. "What do you mean," he asked. God replied, "Have you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering? Look at how people come together, drop their differences and show their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other motivations disappear and they become motivated by love alone." The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God continued, "The suffering soul unlocks the love in people's hearts much like the sun and the rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created everyone with endless love in their heart, but unfortunately most people keep it locked up and hardly share it with anyone. They are afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of being hurt. But a suffering soul unlocks that love. I tell you this - it is the greatest miracle of all. Many souls have bravely chosen to go into the world and suffer - to unlock this love - to create this miracle for the good of all humanity."
Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly contain himself. With his wings fluttering, bouncing up and down, the little soul excitedly replied. "I am brave; let me go! I would like to go into the world and suffer so that I can unlock the goodness and love in people's hearts! I want to create that miracle!" God smiled and said, "You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will grant your request. But even though you are very brave you will not be able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that you would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to care for you on your journey. Those souls will help you create your miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these souls are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer along with you, far beyond the others. They have already chosen a name for you". God and the brave soul shared a smile, and then embraced.
In parting, God said, "Do not forget little soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so through my strength. And if the time should come when you feel that you have suffered enough, just say the word, think the thought, and you will be healed." Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and through his suffering and God's strength, he unlocked the goodness and love in people's hearts. For so many people dropped their differences and came together to show their love. Priorities became properly aligned. People gave from their hearts. Those that were always too busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys, some regained lost faith - many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter. Friends and family grew closer. Old friends got together and new friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family spent more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives changed forever. It was good. The world was a better place. The miracle had happened. God was pleased.
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