The time has arrived

Today is the day.  The one that I've thought about since Opening Day.  The one that Joe Maddon has been preparing for all season long.  Forget the curses, the goat, Bartman and the Tribe.  It took hard work, determination and a belief that it was not only possible, but realistic!  More on Joe Maddon later in the week.

Here we are.

World Series.  Game one.

Take a group of young players, an experienced Manager, an enthusiastic owner and a data-driven, don't-doubt-the-strategy General Manager - and put them in a city that believes in their team.  The Chicago Cubs.  Now the world is watching.  Baseball loves to rout for the underdog.  After 71 years without a World Series title, the Cubs qualify as the underdog.

The enthusiasm, the determined attitude and the leadership allowing them to thrive have become the cornerstone of their success.  Who says baseball is just a game?  Perhaps it is.  Yet we are in dire need of this kind of Cinderella story.  One that makes us smile, laugh, relate and cry tears of belief and joy.

Play ball.

Joe Maddon, Miracles and a trip to the World Series

Since Opening Day of baseball 2016, I've been routing for the Cubs.  And it wasn't until after they won last night to secure their spot in the World Series that I realized exactly why.

It isn't because they haven't been there since 1945, or better still won a World Series since 1908.  It isn't because the city of Chicago is known for the most loyal fans in baseball, and it isn't because I've jumped on the bandwagon to be part of something bigger than myself.

The Cubs started knocking on the door of my heart in the second half of LAST season.  Each time Jake Arrieta pitched it seemed like it was headed for a no-hitter or a record setting game.  At season's end he won the NL Cy Young Award as a reward for all his achievements.  Then there was that rookie with the wide smile and the amazing bat, Kris Bryant.  He seemed to be everywhere in the field and hit the ball like a veteran. All of this earned him the NL Rookie of the Year.  Last but not least, there was Joe Maddon.  His strategies and calm presence led him to NL Manager of the Year.  All of this happened during the 2015 season.

With great anticipation I awaited opening day to cheer for the Cubs.  It didn't really feel like I was routing against the Yankees since they were in different leagues and didn't even play one another this season.  For the most part I justified it because I appreciated Joe Maddon's leadership style as Manager - why couldn't everyone lead this way?

By mid-season even Ellie was hooked.  She loved her KB (Kris Bryant to the rest of the world), and even though he is 24 years old, she's insisted she's going to marry him.  When I suggested that the age difference wouldn't work she justified it by saying that Derek Jeter married someone 16 years younger - so this marriage with KB was the real deal!

She grew to love these players they way I did - Addy Russell, Anthony Rizzo, Javy Baez, Dexter Fowler and Grampa David Ross.  She'd cheer for them as we watched the games.  And boy, did we watch games this season.  Lots and lots of them.  The highlight of the season was when the Cubs were on a west coast trip and a Saturday afternoon they played the Dodgers.  When we sat down to watch it Ellie said to me, "Mommy isn't it the Dodgers that Vin Scully does the games for?"  So we switched to the Dodgers broadcast instead of WGN's coverage and enjoyed one last game called by Vin Scully before he retired!

So as the Cubs secured their spot at the World Series last night - for the first time in 71 years, I realized why this meant so much to me.  Its the way this team came together.  Its youth and experience working together.  Its wanting the accolades more for one another then for themselves.  That's team work.  With great leadership.  Although I can say I'm happy for the people of Chicago, that's not why I feel so aligned to this team.  They are underdogs who never gave into that label.  They believed in themselves.

And as Joe continued to remind them to do.  They never gave up.

As this t-shirt above says, 'Be Present, Not Perfect."  That's been my mantra this year - far outside of the baseball field.  In the end though, doesn't it all come down to that?  Life and baseball are a lot alike.  You have to be part of something greater than yourself.  You have to believe that it is possible.  With good leadership and a little luck you could end up at the World Series too!

Soccer Saturday

We'd promised Ellie we'd have a burger together over the weekend when she'd asked during the week.  Hard to fit everything this in during the week with practice, after school activities, homework, dinner, shower and bedtime!

So after her soccer game on Saturday we headed off to Liberty Burger for her special treat.  Although they lost the game to a team that out-matched them, the lunch was fitting as she'd earned it!  Her running, blocking, team work and leadership on the field have grown her into a force to be reckoned with!

That's a big burger for a little girl!

Note from a friend

"miss you (heart) Monica"

My friend from Atlanta, Monica was visiting this week.  We didn't get to spend much time together - but we were able to chat quickly, exchange hugs and when I returned to my desk she had left me this note!  It reminds me what matters -

Sunrise, Sunset

Every since we moved to Texas, I've claimed to have seen the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  And I've shared many of them here.  I can't seem to stop taking photos of them, as they tell a different story each day.

The gorgeous sky is a true metaphor for life.  The colors, the changes, the timing and the beauty are all part of the process.  Those skies also remind me that there is so much out of our control - its really how we manage it that matters.

So here's to celebrating the beauty of a Texas sky!

Zin Zen Wine Bar

Mom and I had the day to ourselves on Tuesday and decided to run a couple of errands, find a nice place for lunch and pick up Ellie from school.  Since one of the stops was in McKinney - we found a nice little place to stop!

Zin Zen Wine Bar was an adorable spot with friendly staff, delicious food and flights of wine for us to try!  What a treat!

Who knew we could do a nice little wine tasting in our own backyard?  Well, now we know!

Happy Columbus Day!

Three generations sharing the same smile

Ellie's gorgeous new earrings!
And sparkly facial adornment

Happy the hard part is over, off to find more earrings to wear!

Grammy's in town!

Grammy and Ellie before dinner

Grammy arrived on Saturday, October 8th before lunch into DFW.  We had a pretty full day planned so we headed to our house and had a variety of fruits, cheese, crackers and veggies before heading to Ellie's soccer game. It was a sunny day, not at hot as it had been - although warm nonetheless.  Ellie played hard, stood proudly in front of Hannah - helping her 'sweep' the ball away before it reached the goal.

After our fun afternoon in the sun, we rested before meeting Jeanine and Michael for dinner at Uncle Julios!  We enjoyed the table side guacamole and lots of delicious Mexican dishes - before Ellie got to order her special dessert.

The Chocolate Piñata!  A gorgeous chocolate globe filled with fruit and surrounded by whipped cream piles and pots of caramel and chocolate on the side.  What a treat!

Ellie and Bill sharing a hug!

Happy face after smashing her piñata !!

Happy couple with margaritas!

Maya's Wise Words

I recall being a fifth grade girl many years ago.  My teacher was Mrs. Hill and I attended St. Peter's Elementary School with many of the students I'd known for years.  It was a small-classroom  environment focused on the basics of mathematics, social studies, language arts and religion.  Honestly, I don't recall the school work being hard.  It was the social game that grew more complicated as the years went on.  Particularly 10 and 11-year old girl friendships.

Truth be told, I don't know that much has changed.  Girls are still girls.  Boys are still boys.  Throw in more electronics, activities and competitive parents and likely the experience has only intensified.

Ellie is also in 5th grade.  I'm happy to say she is adjusting to much more homework, changing classes every 40 minutes and has a core group of friends she has lunch with each day.  This includes Grace, the star from the soccer team, Erma, a new friend this year at Draper and Grace from Whitt last year.  I love how she talks about her lunch with them, as I picture four girls who look nothing alike giggling and trying to finish their lunches in the short 20 minutes allotted.

Here's the hitch.  One of the 'friends' who in a couple classes with her is Aubrey.  We knew Aubrey last year.  She's sort of a mean girl.  When Ellie starts describing what she has said to her that day at school in brings me all the way back to those days of figuring out how to navigate a 'friend' who was very hard to read.  They wanted to be friends one day, and not the next.

Here's the beauty of age - now I realize why certain days she wanted to be friends and other days she didn't depended on who else was available to her.  Fickle, one might call her.  Aubrey has older sisters - which I have decided must be mean to her because she's learned that being mean is an accepted practice.  She makes fun of Ellie - something she'll wear, her legs, the way Ellie will do something.

We've sat and talked about it.  Aubrey doesn't get to decide who you are and what you do.  She isn't the judge and jury of your life.  Only you can decide.  We've talked about the fact that Aubrey may not be very happy inside and this bubbles over and hurts other people.  I asked Ellie if she would say or do to people what Aubrey does, and of course she said, "NO!"  Because we both know what that feels like and we wouldn't want to do that to a .... friend.

So fast forward a couple weeks.  Aubrey is being nice to Ellie again.  Following her around school for a couple of days, asking to sit with her.  I asked Ellie how that made her feel.  "That Aubrey likes me again."  So I asked her, "do you want to wonder from one day to the next if she is going to be your friend, or would you rather focus your energy on people who are there for you day in and day out - being your friend - not deciding if they are going to friendly to you?"

She understands.  And yet she says, 'but she's being nice to me ...."

Which is when I launched into, 'the first time someone shows you who they are, believe them."  I helped her see that actions are very powerful.  That we should surround ourselves with people who make us feel good about who we are, not wonder the next time they will say something mean to us.

I'm not sure how this will play out.  What I am sure of is that the pain of a mean girl, an on-again, off-again friend doesn't go away.  I still recall particular girls from these early days - and the pain that friendship causes.  As I've matured I've chosen wisely.  That's where I'll help Ellie focus.

Keep looking for the sun ...

Some days you have to just keep looking for the sun.  Even when there are clouds in the sky.  You have to believe that the sun will shine again.  And when that sun shines - drink it in!  Let it warm you knowing that the universe has you.

I captured this shot on Thursday morning.  The sun was streaming in and it just lit up the sunflowers not the table.  They were so bright and warm, so willing to light up the whole room.  That was their purpose.  I couldn't resist capturing an image so simple.

While I was getting settle in the car, while still in the driveway, arranging my bag, my sunglasses, book on CD into the player, I sent a good friend a text.

I asked for a prayer of courage and strength.  As you can see it didn't matter what it was for, she dropped her head and prayed for me.  I felt the warmth of the sunshine in her prayer.  Her love for me as she does her children and husband.  I asked for help.  I asked for someone else to help lighten the load I was carrying.

We often underestimate the power of asking for help.  With the laundry, putting gas in the car, clearing dishes from the table are the small ones - the big ones are heavier, and likely need the most assistance.  I'm learning to ask.  As I bow my own head in prayer, and in the asking of others.  

For the record she called me later that evening to check on me.  She said, "you don't need to tell me any details, I just need to know if you're okay."  That's a friend.  A true friend.  I told her, "yes, I was okay and the enormity of the time she took to say a prayer for me lifted the burden from me."  A day at a time, that's what I told her.  We can only do this one day at a time, one prayer at a time.

14 years

During most of our time dating Bill called me Sunshine.  I find this image fitting as we remain the sunshine in one another's life ensuring each other grow along the way.

Bill and I were married 14 years ago today.  A beautiful fall day in a church that remains a special and sacred place to us.  A building that holds many memories.  We've mourned and celebrated over the years there.

Today is a celebration of those years together.  Our celebration is far from Saratoga Springs where we grew up and were married.  That's the great thing about love.  It travels.  Without TSA and patience of getting through security.

You set up your own stops along the journey.  Boarding passes are the intentions that you make to one another and the unity of your marriage.  Sometimes you get re-routed, sometimes you're faced with delays.  In the end you arrive exactly where you are supposed to be on God's timeline.

Bill and I have been blessed in many, many ways.  We have families that love and support us.  We share an amazing daughter that we're grateful to be raising.  We've been fortunate with our careers that have led us to new and unchartered territory.  Most of all we've been blessed with patience and a strong sense of loyalty and forgiveness for one another.

What I truly appreciate is the stages of a marriage.  And believe me the wedding isn't one of them.  And the photos over the years don't do it justice either.

A marriage shows it's worth when you make a big decision together.  Both fearful of the future, yet believing with the strength of one another we'll make it work.

A marriage shows it's worth when you stand at the hospital bedside of a loved one together, with a shared pain searing your heart knowing you can't fix the cracks in the other's heart.

A marriage shows it's worth when you hold hands and tell one another this will all work out as you watch your newborn baby be wheeled away from your hospital room because she's having trouble breathing.

A marriage shows it's worth when you move to different states without other family in hopes of making new friends, and you are still excited that you are sharing that scary experience together!

We like to think of all the celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, holidays - where the photos are taken as the view inside a marriage.  But after 14 years I know differently.

A good marriage takes hard work.  A willingness to be patience through the ebbs and flows of job stress, illness, insecurity and even boredom.

A good marriage at the end of day looks like two exhausted, working parents who take the time to acknowledge that although some days are harder than others, it is the very best feeling to just hold hands and smile as we meet on the couch to enjoy the quiet together.  At that point I  close my eyes and ask God to continue to bless us, our family and our marriage.  I thank him for all the blessings he has given us - and without being shy about it, I ask for many, many more years of the same darned thing!

2002

Wedding day - Saratoga Springs, NY

2012

Fall foliage - Bloomington, IL

 2016

Wine tour - Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Soccer Summary

Celebrating after a win!  She has learned so much over the years from playing soccer with the same group of girls.  They truly like one another, support one another and with that comes playing well with one another.  It was Ellie's choice for lunch after a soccer game.

To date the have played three games.  Two Saturdays and a Thursday evening.  These have resulted in 2 Wins and a Tie - no losses!  And the team they played on Saturday were 11 & 12!  Not like the 10-year olds on her team.  They were taller and bigger than all our girls, but ours were quicker and played together like a team.

So proud of they way they listen to the coaches, and talk to one another on the field to ensure they know who to pass to and who is where.  There's a maturity I see when I watch her play.  Perhaps its from years of dribbling, passing and kicking that ball around .. since she was 3.  But the confidence seems to have come overnight.  Several parents have commented how good she is at her position.  She plays it with ease and with determination to do the right thing for the team.

In the sky

The Texas sky is the most fascinating thing both morning and evening.  It provides colors and shapes like no other sky we've seen before.  We love the wide open spaces to watch sun rises, sun sets and the moon and stars.  Its also put us closer to wildlife .. and the beauty of nature.

The other day Ellie and I were riding in the car and a beautiful, big red-tailed hawk fly right in front of us.  We both saw it and squealed!  No one was harmed during the course of this adventure, I promise.  Not us or the hawk.

"Mommy, did you see that?!??!"  she cried.

"Yes, wasn't it gorgeous," I responded.

"What do you think it means?" she wanted to know.

So we looked it up in the book when we got home.  It was profound that we saw it on the Autumnal Equinox according to the book and it means to keep on the lookout for new ideas and begins a season of hope for those who see it.

More than anything I was thrilled that instead of getting excited when Justin Beiber comes on the screen, that my girl was so excited to see a red-tailed hawk!  So, so proud!!

Girls' Best Friend

Ellie's homework from her Language Arts (English) class each day is to read for twenty minutes.  She and I often talk about how I wish someone would assign me to read for 20 minutes every day - as its one of my favorite things to do!  But Ellie on the other hand would rather do so many other things than read - her iPad, her phone, television, sing loudly, dance in the rain, sort socks into pairs ... you get the picture.  Anything other than read!

Until she read the first book selection of the year for a grade.  Mrs. Sloppy has them choose a library book and then a project to share with the class about what meant the most to them about the book, and why another student would want to read it.  The book kept her interest - sometimes reading for 45 minutes in one sitting!  And as she got closer and closer to the end she was getting anxious - because she didn't want the story to end.

Boy, was I familiar with that feeling!  The day after school that she finished she got up and came to me in the kitchen.  There were tears in her eyes and she was holding the book close.  "Mommy, I finished my book," she said quietly.  When I asked how she liked it she said she loved it and asked if she could read the last paragraph to me.

It was then that I knew she would love to read.  She got it.  She understood the ending and most of all felt a loss that the story was over.  With that grows a hunger for the next story.  What book will fill the hope in my heart left by the one just completed?

Such a proud mom moment to be raising a reader!

Girls' Weekend

Bill was in New York for a Fathers & Sons Yankee weekend, which left Ellie and I to make our own fun!  Friday night we read, watched a movie and ate pizza.  Saturday was her first soccer game of the season - but it was rained out.  Plan B.

What better to do on a rainy Saturday then go to the library!  Which is exactly what we did.  She said, "I'm 10 now so I'm going over to the kids' section by myself.  Come find me when you're done."  And so she did.

I browsed audio books for the car, movies for the weekend and browsed the new releases.  When I arrived in the kids' section to find her she was working the card catalog!  What a girl  - I said, "Aunt Maureen would be proud of you!"  And she smiled.

She found exactly what she was looking for .. and then some.  So we brought our movies and books home to enjoy our sushi lunch and look forward to chicken nachos for dinner!

And a good time was had by all!

Begin.

Sometimes that's all it really takes.

One word.

Begin.

I found this awesome misshapen mug with just that word stamped into the ceramic.  Begin.  And it reminds me that we need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  And if it doesn't work out.  Okay to begin again.  It doesn't say begin only 4 times.  It says begin.

And that's exactly what I did again this week.

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent the long holiday weekend in Houston with Aunt Di, Uncle Bruce and Garrett.  As with most plans that we make - we take it one day at a time and enjoy whatever it is that we do!

Ellie loved spending time with Garrett.  With his toys, books and favorite things to do when he's at his Grammy and PaPa's house.  I can't type that without sharing that each time Bill said Papa all weekend he said, "PawPaw" like Ree Drummond does on The Pioneer Woman's cooking show.  He cracked himself up - every time!

We enjoyed the back patio with the hot tub, ceiling fans and all those wonderful birds at the feeders!  Snacking and laughing between games of bananagrams was what we did best.  It was, after all, a holiday weekend!

We also visited the Johnson Space Center in Houston.  It was awesome!  So much to see, to remember and to appreciate with our space program.  Ellie's love of the sky, the stars, planets and the moon made it prime for her appreciating how we learn what we do from space.

We also got to see AJ and meet Avery.  Ellie had never seen a baby quite so small .. and at just over 5 lbs, she is quite a little peanut!  So adorable!

As always, it was wonderful.  A relaxing few days - always finding something new to do when we're together.  Until next time ....

Sun-streaked sky

It's always darkest just before dawn.

I've repeated that mantra over and over for years.  Still today it remains true.  When that first hint of light streaks across the sky and blooms into magical colors, the struggles and fears of the darkness evaporate.  This was the sunrise outside our backdoor on Monday morning.  And it was magical.

The amazing thing about the colors of a sunrise is that from moment to moment they change.  Right in front of your eyes.  Yet you don't see the change.  You see the change by walking away.  Just to refill your coffee and return.  The colors have changed.  If that's not a jam-packed lesson I don't know what is!

Perspective:  sometimes when we're standing too close we don't recognize the signs.  Step back.  Close the book, close your eyes.  Take a breath.  Look again.  The scene has changed.  It may not be better or worse, but it has changed.  Accept it.  Take another breath and move on.

Moments:  when I capture a photo of the sunrise at an amazing moment, like the one above there is nothing more beautiful.  In this one the colors streaked in the clouds above the horizon and I couldn't figure out how that was happening.  And after stepping away and coming back less than two minutes later, it was gone.  Just that quickly.  Savor the moment.  It is likely to change.

Each day that sun rises again.  It provides us a new chance to see things differently.  To accept, to move on, to create anew.  In order to make progress on the monkey bars you have to let go of one bar at a time and grab a new bar.  Change is hard.  It can be scary and overwhelming.  Yet it is necessary.

Take a step.  One at a time.  Savor the view.  Enjoy the moment.  It's given to you only for a heartbeat, and then it changes.  Don't miss the view.
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Choosing a side

When I saw this image it stopped me.  Isn't that the story of everything?  How can we possibly be right all the time, or wrong all the time?  And doesn't the truth lie somewhere in the middle?

The beauty of that is the opportunity to find perspective.  To step back and wonder if the "6" that your looking at could be a "9" to someone else.  Well, no, its a 6 to me - may be the immediate thought.  And yet it really is a "9" to the other person - not because they choose to disagree, it's truly their perspective.

Just think about that.

It caused me pause.  In a particular situation I'm dealing with at work.  And the friction it has caused is truly because the perspective is entirely different.  And this is our time to agree to disagree.  Decide to move past being right, and decide that the issue doesn't define us.

This is hard work, I tell you.  And yet so, so worth it.  At the end of the day what matters is that you have the right people around you.  The ones who'll be honest with you, who'll help you and who'll ask for your help.  There's trust and sharing.  Those are the people I'll choose, in spite of not seeing things the same way every time.  The lessons born from disagreement are worth remembering.

Fifth Grade Student

First day of 5th grade!

Ellie's first day of 5th grade was Monday.  New school, new clothes, new adventure.  And it's been an adventure since we snapped this photo.

There is a 5 page booklet on the dress code for school.  And you are seeing the gist of it above - khaki short, skirt or pants with a solid color polo shirt.  She may wear a cardigan or zip up sweatshirt as well.  The shirt must be tucked in and a buckle belt at the waist.

Honestly the rest of the 5 pages are about all the don'ts ... and we won't go there.

She has new folders, notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters and lunchbox.  And after the second day she has already had to replace the lock for her locker, a folder and add another binder and pink square eraser.

Hint:  DON'T go to the store for school supplies after school has started.  We had a wild experience last evening at both Walmart and Target going through their very picked over piles of supplies trying to find what we needed.  And the lock - let's not go there.  According to Bill we've now bought 5 different locks for this locker.

So far she really likes her classes and her teachers.  She's fortunate to have lunch with Addison and two classes with Hannah.  Although I'm sure I was more worried about that than she was!  She is excited about Advanced Placement Math and AP Science.  She's enjoying her electives so far - Computer class and Career Center.  And she has PE every day!

She shared the story that in Career Center they had to fill a sheet out with what career they've chosen, where they plan to go to college and why.  I was very eager to hear this story at the dinner table.  She said she'd like to be a teacher.  She plans to go to Notre Dame and that the reason is because it's hard to get into and she likes the challenge of that!

You go girl!