The Circles in Life Will Continue to Go Around and Around

This past weekend we celebrated Easter both in the Easter Bunny and biblical senses each brought back memories of childhood. We had no time to color Easter eggs this year we realized way to late, but as I told my daughter next year we will put it at the front of the list to plan to do. I think both granddaughters will enjoy it since they will probably understand the whole process a little better being one year older.

Growing up I remember going through the egg boiling process, letting them cool and then wanting to drop the little colored pill into the vinegar/water mixture. Watching the vibrant color getting brighter and brighter was always such a joy. I always loved the brighter colors--the pinks the purples the blues. Of course all the deviled egg sandwiches for lunch the next week wasn't a bad thing either.

Several egg hunts with our kids come to mind but one in particular was at a friend of their babysitters that had so many eggs in her yard we actually couldn't collect them all. Both kids in brightly colored outfits and a bright sunny day was always the joy of the beginning of Spring and the Easter Holiday. This year unfortunately the weather was a little cold and David was on the road and wasn't able to celebrate with us but we made the best of it.

One vivid memory of mine is going to Sunday church services with my grandmother. Easter hat on head, white shoes on feet and some brightly, spring colored dress was always part of the picture. This year my daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Hadleigh decided to join me at church. It was Hadleigh's first experience attending church and she did exceptionally well. Sitting quietly entertaining herself for the service made me think to when I would go with grandma and sit through services.

The circles of life go round and round no matter if the weather doesn't cooperate, eggs are not colored and if certain family members aren't able to be their for one reason or another it still can be a learning experience, an uplifting message of hope and a wonderful time to reflect on past seasons. Things change but we can continue to pick certain milestones in our past lives and keep them close to our hearts and share them anew.

Like it Not, Ready or Not-It Will Probably Come

This past Sunday the pastor at my church used the like it or not phrase as part of his sermon message. He shared that like many of us, as a child his mother frequently forced him to eat things that he didn't like. His dislike of certain vegetables is not unlike mine as a girl. I didn't like peas (still will not eat unless they are mixed up in something) and a few other's that I have since if doctored a bit I will eat now.

Like anything in life if we see something coming or it lands on us unexpectedly most of us truly are usually unprepared for what might happen. Fighting tooth and nail on some such situations still is part of my DNA and the older I get the more difficult it sometimes becomes to pull myself out in hopes that calm is just around the corner.

Mother Nature has packed several punches this season, equipment breakdowns have kicked our butts big time, routine situations in the first six months of the year await outcomes that you never truly know until the very last minute if they will be in your favor or not. Deadlines loom that sometimes we are not ready for not only in business and pleasure. I have said for many years, from November until June with the holidays and the beginning of the year funk, a small window of opportunity of pleasure times is so short its unfair. Some situations are just completely out of your hands.

Ready or not here it comes. Every time I hear this I think of when I was little and we would play hid and seek.  A wonderful game played either in good weather or bad, in the house or outside. Yes, those of us who are "OLD" played outdoor games and were not tied to the TV or video games like kids of today. Some of my favorite places playing it indoors was the laundry basket, under my bed, or way back in the closet underneath just about everything (this is when being really small is at your advantage). Of course giggling always put me out of the game or being sniffed out by our pet dogs, those minutes of fun were and still are terrific memories.

Some things in life you learn to appreciate, tolerate and yes even like. Vegetables or other such basic things are much easier than life struggles. The pastors' point in the use of this was obviously the biblical sense. The past several months I admit I have looked to the higher power to guide me, give me strength. No hiding, just seeking a sign or word was enough for me to bring myself into the light of a better day and count the days until the sunshine will put a much better "liking" too life situations.

I am ready and it will be coming soon.

February-Out Like A Lion, March In Like a Lamb

Whatever the saying is I think I may have changed it up a bit. Believe me it was necessary considering  how disastrous February was for me and for others around me. If it wasn't the two feet plus of snow we received, being stuck indoors for a week, truck being down for two weeks with repairs AGAIN, and two many other things to even want to bring up again, basically I have felt all month that I have been skating on very thin ice.

Praying, trying to repeat to yourself over and over again things will get better, rubbing the worry stone (I really need to pick one of those up the next time I see one), you begin to run out of ways to try and keep your blood pressure down.

Everyone these days has at least one problem or issue. If you say you don't you are probably in complete denial or one of those happy go lucky people (gee, I wish I could trade in my Type A personality for the alternative).

Some people refer to Facebook rants or shares, I often write in haste and then hit the delete button just as quickly, TMI sometimes you just need to push yourself away from the keyboard.

One situation this month put everything into perspective a little on how maybe we are moving to fast and need to take a step back and go back to the good old days.

I drew straws to deliver Meals on Wheels one week this month and everyday my last delivery was to a sweet little 90 year old lady in a trailer park. She lives alone, in a little old trailer and is always very nice and appreciative of her meal and newspaper everyday. I know she lives in a park that has been bought by a business that will be clearing the area for their expanding business. My curiosity got the better of me on the last day because I know soon she will be moving away. I asked her if she had made plans yet to move to another site. She stated no she hadn't as of yet but that she still had some time in which too move (11 months). She said that she had faith in God that she would find a place. Unfortunately, she had found out after coming back from being in the hospital after breaking a hip that the park had been sold and that she would have to move. She said she hated to leave the trailer that her and her late husband had bought the trailer brand new in 1982 and that they both had lived there together until he passed away several years ago. Because of the trailers age she probably would not be able to have it moved, so at 90 she will literally have to uproot herself somewhere else.

So as we move into March, I take a deep breath close my eyes and look forward to the sun melting the snow still outside my window,  and click my feet together like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and say it will get better, it will get better. 18 days until Spring. The countdown begins.

Showing my Love of Skating

In trying to organize my life recently, I had our main business in one closet and my Dove Chocolate Business in another, organization is usually always a part of our lives in almost each and everything that we do; if we are lucky. I guess that's why I like many other people have gotten somewhat addicted to Pinterest. It gives you an opportunity to have several boards of fun things that either are currently a part of your life or maybe your past life and also something that maybe you have on a bucket or wish list of sorts. that may be important to you and that is fun to share with others.

 Dorothy Hamill-1985

Ice Capades-1979

I came across some "vintage" Ice Capades, Holiday on Ice and World Tour Programs. It was always a time of enjoyment when the Ice Capades or some show was arriving in town.  I guess for skaters this was their version of the circus to some kids. The rush to buy front-row seats was always a highlight so that you might get a chance to be picked by one of the skaters (hopefully someone you might have known and skated with)  especially as a smaller child to ride on ice with them. Although it has been many moons since I have attended any skating event  (2002 was the last event I attended for the first with my niece in Kansas City after moving to MO) and with the Ice Capades disbanding many years ago, unless you go on a cruise ship the shows are almost like dinosaurs--you have to dig to find them.

When I struggle through daily ups and downs to take a little time and thumb through programs and wonder "Where are They Now?" or "The Good Old Days". I feel so blessed to have been able to thumb through this wonderful programs.

If you would like to see more of the programs I have collected go to Pinterest and type in Figure Skating Daze.

Happy New Year--I Think??

Well 2013 got started. We made it through the Mayan prediction of the world ending and the holidays. It's a good thing, right? Last year was filled with smiles and tears, ups and downs, highs and lows you name it and it pretty much crossed my path whatever way it could. Tried to learn to say "NO", Spent money to make money (still not sure if that really worked for me or not).

In the long run as they say "every learning experience should go in the pros or cons category in one way shape or form". Not sure who said that, other than myself but trying to move forward into 2013 with as much caution as possible.

I know there are a lot of people out there that do there work, quietly and without pomp and circumstance. Normally, that would be somewhat the road I would take but I have noticed the older I get the more I need validation that I am still worthy to move along the road I have been given. You notice I don't say "chosen". Frankly, sometimes life isn't always the choices but if its good for everyone involved.

Trying to eat healthier, trying to learn something new, attempting to be kinder to others (that sometimes still seems to elude me lately as every time I attempt to do a good deed on a random basis it ends up backfiring on me not sure exactly why).

I am always listening, looking for that new idea.  No resolutions, there really isn't a point its too hard to follow through with something that is way to unrealistic.

The world has changed and is changing sometimes way to fast.  I only hope that 2013 allows time to get off the merry-go-round for that time when needed and allows me to hope back on and continue through my off-ice skating journey through life :)

Birthdays We Love Them or Hate Them--But Having Them Means your Still Around

Well its that time of year when some are happy to be breathing (that would be me) some can't believe its only 57 days until Christmas (my goodness it will be here before we know it!) I made it through another birthday. I will admit it I can not always see the sunshine and lollipops in everyday things and unfortunately for me and others around me are affected more  by my Debbie Downer Days for that  I am truly sorry.

I have loved all the Facebook wishes, gee its the most comments I get all year.  Sadly, with all our lives on the constant fast track with family, commitments, jobs, family I have to admit life and its obstacles lately have been a real problem for me. I am at that age where one wrong move, comment or annoying thing can set me off.  Lets face it really sucks.

I now appreciate all those days many years ago when I was young and carefree and had very little troubles except for maybe the minor one's that then were the end of the world in my book.

Now for the next 10 days every breath, commercial, casual conversation is about who will win the elections.  If you are a small business owner, over 50, and have never felt entitled, taken any form of assistance you are probably voting one way, if you are younger, working or maybe unemployed, have used assistance or feel as though everyone should be on a level playing field, or beyond 50 and facing the twilight years in life  you are probably voting another way. Unfortunately, for me I also throw in women's issues since I am a woman and that puts a wrench in most any race for me because neither candidate or candidates in my area  really fits the  total bill for me. I wonder how many are in the same dingy I am?

When its all said and done after the elections we will be picking up the pieces of our lives in hopes of being able to go on the best we can with what we are given. Kind of like a party after the cake, the presents and decorations you are left to clean up after and then its just another day like all the rest.

It's Not A Party Thing

At first look at this title you would think either I am planning for a party or going to a party. Well I hate to burst your bubble, neither is true.

Although for the past several months a small group of women had been planning for a party of sorts. Usually you plan for the food, the music and the entertainment. Well the food was picked in advance (not by us) and their was no musical fanfare. But there was serious entertainment of sorts.

Are you still intrigued? Well this past week all our hard work paid off. The invites went out (some didn't RSVP) but those who were in attendance, got to experience the chance of a lifetime. At least it was for me.

This past Thursday evening I was part of a group that got to listen to a truly great speaker. She was down to earth, approachable (I bugged her numerous times-she called it persistence) and she is a politician. Something you don't find often with politicians is approachability, at least I haven't been so lucky in the past. Most you get a form letter from with some other than their own signatures or if you are lucky a handshake.

If you haven't heard of her in MO or even elsewhere in the country I suggest you Google MO Representative Stacey Newman. She is from the St. Louis Area and is making some wonderful strides for women.

She spoke to us about a variety of topics including the ERA (which sadly has not been passed by the State of MO) Equal Pay-- as most know we make about 77 cents on the dollar compared to male counterparts. Ironically, Rep. Newman this past legislative session garnered nationwide attention on her Anti-Vasectomy Bill proposed as a push back on extreme reproduction health mandates that had only applied to women.

As she stated in our presentation, the War on Women is alive and well in Missouri and around the country.

Another note in her presentation was how saddened she was that more young women are choosing not to vote. How sad this is to me.  Her comment that the importance of voting for the candidate that has the beliefs that you have and not necessarily voting for the "party" is more important. I have always been vocal I am not a strict party voter. Due to the obvious that each candidate doesn't always believe the same things I do.

I purposely invited my daughter to the meeting in hopes that she might be interested in my ever constant harping on how important it is not only to vote but to be a part of the solution that all women can make if they only get informed and involved. She admitted she was glad that she came and that it peaked her interest. My purpose was met!

A funny after thought to attending our "party" was that my daughter went home and was asked by her soon to be husband, "What was the meeting about?" after her explaining it to him, what was his comment, "Wow you and your Mom are not going to start burning bra's are you?" I got a chuckle out of his age old thinking and told her to tell him, "At my age, I not only can't afford to burn my bra it also wouldn't be fair to those around me to go bra-less in public".

It may not have been your normal party, but it was the best one I have attended in a very long time.