Unwavering Pride

I recall tears streaming down my young face while watching Veterans, the quiet heroes of our nation, being honored in a Veteran's Day celebration at my elementary school. These same tears fell once more on our most recent celebration of Veteran's Day, at that same elementary school, where I now proudly teach children from my community.

Something has changed in our country. The unwavering pride to be an American, a feeling that has followed me all the years of my life, doesn't seem as evident in the youth of today. It's as though we have forgotten what it took for us to become the greatest country in the world. There was no magic or luck involved; this wonderful nation was built on the backs of our ancestors. Their blood runs deep in battle grounds across our nation and the world, reminding us that the freedoms we enjoy today definitely were not free.

 It's easy to speculate about why our children fail to show pride in their country. Maybe we argue that they are spoiled, ungrateful, or feel entitled. Although this may be true in some situations, a larger issue tends to stand out in my mind. The political divide in our country is the most extreme it has ever been and we are allowing the feelings and ideas of politicians to divide us as a people as well. We become so wrapped up in which party is doing what that we forget the young eyes and ears who are watching and listening. They are learning from us that division among Americans is the route we take to better our country. It's really no wonder that the youngest generation of Americans does not understand why my heart swells with pride when I hear the National Anthem of our country.

We are all human and inevitably fall short of perfection each and every day. None of us have all of the answers to solve the problems of our nation. What we do have is the ability to love one another and support one another in endeavors to better our nation. If anyone, regardless of their station or political affiliation, makes a successful maneuver to better our country or plans to do so, we should support them. We should not scowl at them because they have made statements we disagree with in the past or roll our eyes because their political affiliation differs from our own. We should support the ideas that have genuine value for our country because the hope we have in our nation should overshadow our petty differences. To turn a blind eye to the good things that happen and only focus on what we disagree with does not show maturity.

Regardless of how you feel about Washington politics today, it's important that we all remember how we got here. Sacrifices made by the Veterans of our great nation are the foundation we stand on each day as Americans. We must honor our Veterans by appreciating the freedoms they fought and died to grant us. I am definitely proud to be an American and you couldn't keep me from standing to pledge my allegiance to the flag and country that have offered me life in the best nation in the world!

Friends

Good friends are like rare diamonds and the memories we make together entwine us for a lifetime. I should know; I have been blessed with the three best imaginable.

Our circle of friendship literally spans 27 years. Wow! Just four little girls from a special place called Carter City. Our hometown is extra small but our dreams were always big. We not only dreamed for ourselves, but always for one another.

We spent the first years of school together in the confines of small Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms. The bonds we formed in those years grew until we eventually spent our first year of college together in the confines of an even smaller dorm room! And, oh the times spent in-between these firsts!

First loves gained and lost, transitions to middle and high school, finally knowing we never had to ride the bus to school again once one of us had their license! And then there were the hard times-losing two of the most special people in our lives. But even in the face of so much hurt and adversity, we always stood together. The pictures couldn't even tell half of the story.

Our story and our friendship are definitely of the rare kind. Four soul sisters whose lives and hearts are weaved together through 27 years of memories. I really can't remember life before we knew each other.

Time Flies

So, I turned 32 years old today. One of my lifelong friends mentioned that our birthdays seem to be coming faster and faster these days. Her observation seems all too real to me. I feel like I have two or three birthdays per year now. Like, didn't I just turn 21 yesterday?!

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." I ran across this adage today and I couldn't help but apply it to my current thinking about life. The past 10 years truly seem like a blur. There have been so many memories; good times and tough times. I think it's time to slow down and start enjoying the little things more.

Sitting around a campfire with friends or cousins, listening to silly conversations between our kiddos, going swimming at Carter Caves, eating watermelon on the front porch barefoot, wearing jellie shoes, front porch sitting and talking with no tech devices!!

It almost seems that delving back into childhood memories instantly slows time. For a moment we can remember those summer days that seemed to stretch for a week. A school year used to drag on for 3 years in our young minds; now I blink and wonder where the school year has gone. This summer I am pledging to live like it's the 90's again. Slow, slow, slow!

In the Grand Scheme of Things

So, another busy week started today. Early morning bus duty the first week back from Thanksgiving vacation! Late night basketball games..........

Like most parents I watched my bonus daughter closely during her game tonight. I tried to catch every small detail so that I could pep talk her later and help her improve her game. We talked in depth about many of the plays of the game and what she did well and could improve on. We also discussed the grades she received on her report card today. We talked about the importance of making good grades and what she could do to improve those as well.

But in the grand scheme of things, it's the love and goodness she has in her little heart that really matter.

As I shared with her the situation of my good friend, her eyes filled with tears. In that moment, I knew that all of the values we are trying so hard to instill in her are beginning to take shape. My friend will be embarking on a journey in the morning. She will be delivering her sweet baby boy and he will immediately be taken to a team of NICU cardiologists. His heart is sick and he will need surgery. My friend and her baby need all of the prayers we can afford them. Our God is still in the business of performing miracles and I believe that he will wrap them in his grace.

As parents we allow ourselves to become consumed by the stress of everyday life. Work, school, birthday parties, sports, etc. seem like they consume all of our time and energy. But in the grand scheme of things, most of the stresses of everyday life are insignificant. The problem is that we don't realize just how unimportant they are until we experience something overwhelming.

The truth is that no matter how many extracurricular activities we try to squeeze in our kid's schedule, no matter how hard we pressure them about keeping good grades, no matter how extravagant their birthday party is this year, what matters most is their heart. Nothing will have more of an impact on how they live their life than the values we teach them. I am much more proud of my little girl for the compassion she shows to others than I would ever be for a perfect report card. It means more to me to see her be selfless and understanding than to see her make a game-winning shot.

Letting it Out!

So, it seems I always have something to talk about! (At least that's what my husband says.) The number of times I interrupt others who are having their own thoughts, watching TV, etc. is on the rise! But I can't seem to help it. My mind is always working and I want to share my thoughts and ideas with someone. 

I am a mother of two, wife, and elementary school teacher. I rarely have time to "stop", and even when I do, I am still thinking about millions of things. I am really hopeful that I can use this blog to "let it all out". I've found in my personal and professional life that sometimes we just need to connect with others who have similar interests. 

I hope to keep things interesting here! I'm sure there are many other working parents out there balancing family life, work life, and social life! I plan to give myself a little relief by blogging about my thoughts. I hope others can enjoy my posts as well!