Flying Trapeze!

So I did something I never thought I'd do.

I took a Trapeze class!

My sister and a friend had signed up for it and they invited me to go along.  I was like, sure sounds fun!  And didn't think another thing about it.  Until I got there and saw how huge this trapeze contraption was.

First off, I'm terrified of heights.  Always have been.

I looked at that thing and then I saw the ladder.  The ladder I was going to have to climb to get up to this tiny platform that I was then going to stand on.  Oh my goodness.

I decided to go second just to get it over with and I wanted to be brave for my 11 year old niece who was just as scared as I was.  And then I started to climb the ladder.  My legs were turning into jelly with each rung. Higher and Higher.  Yes, my head knew I was hooked in before I left the ground. Yes, my head knew there would be a professional person at the top to walk me through each step. Yes, my head knew she wouldn't let me fall.  I'd be hooked in at every point.

But still.  My heart was overwhelmed.

As I got to the platform, there was a bar to hold onto while she unhooked my ladder safety harness and hooked in my trapeze ropes.  I was gripping it with all my might and trying not to look at the massive height I was staring down!

Then I had to step around the bar to get to the trapeze bar.

Then she pulled the bar up to me.  As I held onto the platform bar with one hand, she grabbed the back of my belt.  I was told to put my toes over the platform and lean forward to grab the bar!  Lean forward!!

I reached it with my right hand.  Now, the hardest part,  I had to let go of the platform bar and while leaning forward, grab onto the bar with my left hand.  I still had not left the platform yet.  I could feel the weight of the bar pulling me into the abyss.  It was such a long swing out there!  Sure, there was netting and I was roped in but this felt like everything in me was screaming "What are you doing!".

As both my hands were on the bar, the only way out was down.  So I leaned forward, the lady still holding my belt.  As she yelled HEP (they don't yell "go" because it sounds like "no") I jumped into the air.  That first whoosh of the arc, my stomach dropped.

The guy below who had me by one rope, encouraged me to breathe and look around.

I did.  Breathe.  Just breathe.

Then he instructed me to drop to the net. And I did that! Flipped myself over the net and I was on terra firma!

And lo and behold, I did it again!  The first couple of times I just swung and hung.  Then, I hung by my knees and let go of the bar!

I tried to do the final trick, transferring to another trapeze swinger!  But I just couldn't get my legs up in time.

Here is my amazing sister doing this trick!  She is awesome!

My body hurts today. I think the adrenaline has finally worn off.

So several things I was thinking about.

Timing, trust, and overcoming.

Timing-You have to react EXACTLY when they say.  They can see where the trapeze is swinging and when you should release, or put your knees up.  You can't hesitate. If you miss it, you'll have missed the opportunity.

Trust-You have to trust that they know what they are doing.  I had never done this.  They had.  I had to trust them to hold me, catch me, take care of me. And I also had to trust that my body could do this.

Overcoming-I had some giant fears to overcome.  I probably would've quit after one or two times if my sister and hubby hadn't been there.  They were encouraging to me.  They told me I could do it! I had to get past my own hangups to get there though.

It's really a lot like the Christian life.  Trusting God, overcoming our fears and waiting on God's timing. And just stop and Breathe.

Mind blown. 😮

A long weekend!

When my kids were little, I stayed home with them.  Three day weekends didn't mean anything to me.  We homeschooled and Larry worked a lot of holidays for the time and a half pay.  So a three day weekend just seemed like any other weekend to us.

Then when my kids got older, I got a job in retail.  Weekends really didn't mean anything then.  Just work.  I worked most Saturdays and rarely had 2 days off in a row.

But now....

For the last 5 years, I've been working in an office. Monday through Friday 8-5.  Weekends are awesome!  And three day weekends are just the topping on the cake!  I get it now!  I understand the beauty of it.  Three whole days.  You can chill, or it's even enough time to take a short trip.

I love the office life.  I have holidays, sick days, vacation days.

And the beloved three day weekend.

I think we need to have a three day weekend every month at least.

So if you have to work this weekend.  I'm sorry.  I've been there.

Hopefully you'll get a few days off in a row to enjoy.

As for me, we've got fun stuff planned this weekend.  And I can't wait.

Being a momma

Being a mom is one of the greatest joys in life.  It's also one of the hardest jobs imaginable.  When the kids are little it's all physically demanding.  When the kids are older, it's all emotionally draining.

It is just hard.

There are great rewards. And yet there are things I would've never learned about myself if I hadn't had kids.

And now my kids are having their own families!  It is so exciting to watch and be a part of it all!

I was such a young young mom (which I wouldn't change a bit and still highly recommend to people). I had all my kids between the ages of 21 and 25.

I was young and naive.  But through a lot of tears, smiles, hugs, games and grit we made it through.

I thought I knew a lot.  Turns out I didn't know much at all!

Being a mom is a journey.  (and I'm not done yet!--navigating being a mom to adults now!)

If I could tell myself as a young mom anything I would say to her:

This won't last forever.

Stop and breathe.  Turn on the music and have a dance party.  Forget about the dishes.

Get help!  Ask friends or family for advice, or physical help if feeling overwhelmed.

Write stuff down.  Those little sayings, those funny moments.  Journal, jot, write it down because you'll forget it.

You don't know it all and you will make mistakes. A lot of them.  You will get angry, mess up, say the wrong thing.  We all have those days.  Ask your kids for forgiveness, forgive yourself and move on.  Tomorrow is always a new day.

Take that nap.  Or lay down and rest.  There's always laundry to fold.

Your kids are growing up! Let them!  Give them responsibilities and freedoms and let them fly! (sometimes they will and sometimes they won't by the way)

Being a mom isn't about control or fitting them into your "box".  My way isn't always the "only" way.

Listen to what your kids are saying to you.  They may be whining it at you or just being "difficult" but stop and hear what's behind the whine.  What are they needing.

The things they "do" to you aren't personal.  They don't have a personal vendetta to get you (well not always! ha!)

Pray!  A lot more than you think!  Feed your soul.  You need it!  Don't go dry.

Develop some friends or a network that you can meet at the park or trade babysitting.

Don't forget your husband!  Cultivate that relationship! One day you'll wake up and all those noises and messes will be gone.  All that's left will be you and him.  Grow that relationship so you won't be strangers later.

And he can do stuff too!  No he won't do it like you do but let him!  and don't criticize him when he helps out.

Love and prayers to all the moms out there!  It's a tough job but the rewards are lifelong!

I'm enjoying this side of motherhood now...and grandmotherhood!  Wow!  So much fun!

April showers

It's been raining a lot here.  Forecast says it will rain all next week.  We'll see.  This is our rainy time of year.  And I actually love it! I love all things about rain.  The dark clouds, the thunder, the lightning, the cool air, the refreshing smell.

April showers.

Bring May flowers.

Sometimes rain is dreary and depressing, but it brings the flowers.  It clears the air and brings new life. Without it, we couldn't have life.  It gets the rivers flowing, cleans out the junk, gives life to all the trees and flowers.  We need the rain just like we need the sun.

Lord, help me to dance in the rain like no one is watching.

Psalm 147:7-8 "Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills."

Are you dancing in the rain this week?