AND THE WEINER (NOD TO PW) IS...

My son and his lifelong friend just found out they won a video contest on ETHICS. Check it out and see if you have made any of these ethical slipups...

QUOTES FROM THE COACH...

It's been a while since I've been to a sports banquet. Four years, I think! My kids played lots of different sports growing up, but music has been what they've stuck with through high school. I hope they don't have any regrets about that. I certainly don't! You know all the studies...improved brain function, math skills, etc. Not to mention exposure to many different languages and nurturing their artistic side. But I have to say sports helps in many ways too. I went to my youngest's Cross Country banquet last week and LOVED the coach's style! He's been around here for 30 years. He retired from teaching, and now paints houses, quitting at 1 p.m. to continue coaching Cross Country /Track at EMHS. He was HILARIOUS to us parents - my son said they are so used to him that he's not funny anymore. But I love it that he doesn't mince words. Here are some

QUOTES FROM THE COACH:

While handing out certificates for the faster runners: "Here's one of our better runners, Congratulations."

For the slow runners: "Good improvement, good improvement."

"There's only 19 trophies and 53 of you guys. So I think you'll figure out not everybody's gonna get a trophy. If you want a trophy, then SUCK IT UP AND BE A MAN. Work harder next year and you'll get a trophy."

"If you don't work hard, your gluteus maximus is gonna get bigger."

"Go ahead and try basketball or football and maybe you'll be one of the chosen few. But if you show up for a meet we'll put you on the bus and let you run..."

GOOD STUFF - MANY LIFE LESSONS ARE BEING TAUGHT HERE!

I LOVE this guy! He led an awesome prayer before the banquet started, and obviously loves running if he's been doing this for 30 years - actually you might see him on a bicycle now, following his runners. He buys kids snacks if they need something after a race. He tells is like it is and encourages hard work. He is a great role model. We are really blessed to have this guy, and his young protege in our school!

CHERISH THE MOMENTS...

Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking...another post about a mom missing her college kids...while you are wishing there were less mess to pick up and wondering if they'll ever learn _____!

But I was just contemplating the word "MOMENT." That's what I've been thinking about more...living in the MOMENT, cherishing the MOMENT. It really is easier to enjoy life and be happy if we do this. There are NO PERFECT DAYS, and certainly NO PERFECT WEEKENDS. Only MOMENTS.

Having said that, we had a pretty good weekend here - with one home from college for Thanksgiving Break, and another one coming home soon. Went to see "Harry Potter" - but that certainly wasn't the moment I'm speaking of....really, it wasn't - with the person next to me who threw up in their popcorn sack during the movie....YUCK!

It wasn't the BOGO holiday drinks at Starbucks we had afterward, although it greatly pleased my coupon-loving heart to get 2 free drinks!

It was the time we spent in the yard Saturday afternoon. I had conned them into helping me put up the Christmas lights. Although not everyone did lights, there was leaf raking and tetherball playing and we were all out there together. I didn't get any wonderful family picture with everyone smiling, but here's a few scenes from my cherished MOMENT:

My lovely daugher raking leaves
My son and his friend playing tetherball
Wrapping trees with Christmas lights

That was my sweet MOMENT this weekend. I wish for all my friends many sweet MOMENTS!

WINTER FORMAL?

So it's that time of year again...when the EMHS girls are asking guys to go to the Winter Formal with them! Many of them ask in very creative ways, as this article demonstrated in the school newspaper today.

Check out that picture one more time...


Yes, that's my son's name on that phone text, and yes his girlfriend is the one who wrote the article!

That's how she asked him...through the school newspaper! What an intelligent girl!

GIRL SCOUTS: ABOUT THE ONLY EXTRACURRICULAR THING IN THE 70'S...

Except for maybe piano lessons, of course. Those cost too much, so Girl Scouts was what I did.

I stepped back in time last week and talked to a Brownie troop about the 3 generations of Girl Scouts in my family!
I had a lot of fun with these energetic young girls, and showed them my mother's handbook and sash from the 1950's (dues was $.03 per meeting back then!) It was "show and tell" with lots of other memorabilia, including my Junior Girl Scout uniform, and items from my daughter's days as a Girl Scout as well.

I shared my 3 FAVORITE THINGS from scouting:

1. SONGS - silly and serious! I remember singing while doing crafts, riding on the bus to camp, and around campfires. Songs with hand motions, songs with harmony - I loved them all!

2. CAMPING - Day camps were great, but as I got older and got to spend the night, it was even better! I remember a time in 6th grade as a Junior Girl Scout when we got to make our own tents out of a tarp and a rope. It rained of course, and our sleeping bags got soaked! We had to dry them out on the grass the next day. That was one campout I'll never forget!

3. EARNING BADGES - My absolute favorite badge to earn was the CYCLIST badge. I had to plan and carry out a bicycle trip. My Dad went with me and spent the entire day riding around Edmond with me. We stopped at my elementary school to play on the playground. We ate a picnic lunch on the grounds of UCO, we went to Braum's for ice cream, and stopped at a bookstore, where he bought me a comic book. I loved that day!

Something occurred to me after reflecting on all of this: How much Girl Scouts contributed to my spiritual life! Singing PRAISE songs, seeing God in NATURE, and nurturing RELATIONSHIPS with each other. So, just a thought about the extracurricular activities our children are doing: Will this contribute to their spiritual life? Are they learning skills that will help them later in life? Are they working with others or just developing themselves? Are they being encouraged to do good deeds? I don't think ALL the activities my children have been involved with have been beneficial to them spiritually. And I just have to wonder, are most activities today SELF-SERVING? Just something to think about...

A SOLUTION TO THAT AGE OLD PROBLEM...

Just how to get the chocolate bar in your S'MORE to be as deliciously melty as the marshmellow when you assemble it?!

It NEVER happens for me. The marshmellow might be toasted perfectly and you put it all together and the chocolate is still hard! Well, look no further, we found the ANSWER:

Step 1: Buy these GIANT marshmellows. They are 2-3 times the normal large marshmellow size. CAUTION: CHOKING HAZARD. (Seriously, it really says that on the back of the package!)

Step 2: Break up your chocolate and PUSH it into the giant marshmellow.That's right, put it INSIDE the marshmellow!
Step 3: Roast it over the fire, letting the chocolate melt into the marshmellow!
Step 4: Assemble between two graham crackers. Enjoy your wonderfully messy treat! No hard chocolate!
Step 5: Hope the kids leave you some for seconds!

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR QUEEN...

But it's official now...she's the Queen of the Knights!



I don't really get it since I didn't go to college here, but she tells me it's a big deal. Must be if they gave her a jersey and she's riding on their shoulders! So that makes me excited because all I've ever been Queen of is my own household!

WHAT SOME COLLEGE KIDS DO IN THEIR FREE TIME...

These two met each other on campus recently, and have become friends. The cool thing is, their MOTHERS shared maternity clothes 20 years ago! I vividly remember an adorable navy blue jumper I borrowed. We then lost touch with each other as jobs took us/them to different places and to different churches. It's wonderful how God brings people together, isn't it?
CHECK IT OUT HERE

IF "IFS" AND "BUTS" WERE MINTS AND NUTS WE'D ALL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS....

that's one of my husband's favorite sayings. Exactly what I thought after looking at the few pictures I took yesterday.

"If only" he could smile like his friend!

But we're okay with that...makes 3 out of 3 for us...our 9th COCDA honor choir concert, our 3rd kid to get a 3 year medal! Woohoo!

HAPPINESS IS...

Your daughter calling at 8:50 a.m. to tell you what a great day she's having. She just aced a test, loves it that it's raining, and her next class is canceled so she's got some unexpected free time. Sweet call!

AND...

Watching your son perform praise songs to our Father!

It's been a good day. :)