Introverts and Hoops

I can be in a roomful of people and feel so alone.  I know I should go up and talk to someone.  If I do though they may not engage in a conversation with me.  They may only talk all about themselves.  They may walk away.

So I stare at my phone, or look awkwardly around the room.  I get up and walk. 

The problems of an introvert.  I want to be included but I also don't.

But I must not be defined by my personality bents.  I can change, I can grow.

So I say hello to someone.  I ask them a question about themselves.  I listen.  Even if the conversation doesn't ever get back around to me, that's ok.  Maybe I'm the listening ear to another introvert that needs to talk.

I have to push myself to get out of my comfort zone.  Thankfully, I am married to an extrovert so he stretches me to get out of my own little world.

I also love the hoop.  It stretches me so much to get out there and just BE! 

Be me.

Be free.

Be who I want to be.

To some, it's just a silly little toy that makes me a "hippy".  But to me, it's real.  It's life changing.  It's a tool to help me get out of my introvert head.

So if you see someone sitting alone.  Gather up your courage and go say hello.  Ask their name.

If you see me hooping, give me a smile and some encouraging words.  It goes a long way.  It makes me bolder for my next people-y encounter.

Did it happen if I didn't post it?

We had a fabulous fourth of July!  Danced, hooped, listened to live bands, swam, rode bikes!  And to end the fabulous day, we watched amazing fireworks over Lake Carolyn from our rooftop pool.  Just absolute bliss. Ahhh...

While we were watching the fireworks, some people came over and stood by the pool.  They messed with their phones for a good five minutes. Then they videoed the fireworks for a few minutes, took a few selfies with the fireworks behind them, messed with their phones some more..and then they were all , "Ok, yall ready to go?" Then they left!  The fireworks show wasn't even over yet!

They missed the majority of the experience because they were on their phones.

So, in this day and age, does it actually happen if it's not posted on some social media outlet?

People nowadays, it seems, would rather just post that they did something cool, than actually experience it.

Now I'm all for social media and keeping in touch, blah blah blah.  But a lot of times, I just sit and experience it.  I don't need a picture.  I don't need to post it anywhere.  I just like to have fun, people watch, watch the fireworks.  Just have my own thoughts.

It's a lost art really.

Just being in the moment.

If there's ever a moment of down time, or standing in a line, out pop people's phones.

Look up!  Not only is "text neck" an actual thing, but there is a whole world going on around you.

An actual world.  Where real people with real feelings and emotions are.  Where real nature and beauty are right in front of your eyes.

Enjoy the moment.  Look up.

What if I didn't post it, or take a picture of it?  What if I didn't have my phone with me?  Would it still be fun?

Try it and see!  😊

6 weeks left!!

What week am I on???  It's hard to keep track.  When I originally got my Invisalign they would say week 1 of 55, week 2 or 55 etc.  At week 52, they did a rescan on my teeth and sent away for the last phase-the refinements.  So normally, I would change out my aligners every week.  On week 52, I kept that one in for a month and a half until my new refinements came in. 

So after getting my refinements, there's only 7 weeks left!!  10 at the most they said.  So I'm on week 2 of the new and final aligners.

I'm so very close to being done!

It's been a journey for sure.

Invisalign is a commitment.  You have to keep them in most of the time.  Just take them out to eat. Then brush teeth and put back in.  So I have to carry toothbrush and toothpaste everywhere.  Not much snacking (which is kind of a good thing!) because it's just a pain to take them out and then brush teeth for a quick snack.

But I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My teeth have moved a lot!  I'm amazed at the changes.

Almost there!! As excited as I was to start...I'm even more excited to be done already! 

I started May 11, 2018...so it's been over a year now.  

I'm ready!!

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?