Tim Tebow The Wrestler

How about that Tim Tebow huh? Whether or not you believe in the supernatural aspects of his faith, anyone can see that boy is special – or at least as special as the great football players that came before him. Only time will tell how the rest of his career will go but he gave quite a show last weekend!

Not to brag, but I have been in a playoff game of sorts. I’ve been competing for the most hours put in at the concession stand.

The boy has been busy with his wrestling commitments. That makes the rest of his family busy too. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to photograph but even if I did have all the time in the world, I would find it challenging to capture the true spirit of competition of high school wrestling. How do you capture the smell of sweat by the way?

These are little Tim Tebows in the making – that is – if Tim Tebow was a wrestler.

That little boy in the center front? He weighs 96 pounds with his back pack on.

Last Friday the boy went to school at 6:40 am, came home at 10 that night, left again at 7:30 the next morning then came home late that evening. I’m not kidding when I say these tournaments are long – I’ll say again, they are long.

Last weekend’s tournament was the third one this season.

This is how I watch my boy wrestle. Through the safety of bars or through the slits of my fingers.

Granted the boy hasn’t gotten a lot of mat time so we do a lot of sitting around.

As much complaining as I do about this – there are parents who invest much more time than I could ever consider doing. It’s really admirable because it’s our kids after all.

Sometimes I’ll read and sometimes I’ll pass the time photographing as much pain and agony as I can. I have quite a collection now – can’t wait to show you. But it will have to wait for a little later – there’s another meet tonight. Can’t wait…

We Can Use Your Vote

There are people out there who spend their lives making a difference in the lives of others. The best definition I heard for serving is to position your life to bless others. Isn’t that a wonderful way to view the world?

So I’m unabashed asking for you to vote for my pastor, Reverend Robert Hahn as Compassionate Marylander Award. He’s a finalist and your vote could mean a $5,000 grant for the organization that he founded and is Chair.

End Hunger for Calvert County works with individuals to create permanent solutions that move them from dependency to self-sufficiency. They believe that all people matter and life change happens through relationships. This grant can truly make a direct and positive impact in the lives of our neighbors and friends.

What do I care and why am I involved? Because this organization has help my family through the food pantry that it operates. My sister and her family have directly benefited. And I work directly with the people who are making a difference every day. They are my friends and my inspiration.

So please vote – CLICK HERE, then click on Reverend Robert Hahn’s name and End Hunger could get $5,000 to help people bridge the gap and help families in Maryland. It only takes 30 seconds to make a real difference. Voting ends this Friday.

Please.

In Motion Photography & Horses

I stood next to a man at a horse show once.

The meet was inside, the lighting was awful and I had to climb some hay bales to get a good vantage point of the girls. We shared hay bales so to speak.

The man had a camera as well.

I asked him if he was the official photographer.

He said no, “My wife rides and I take photos. How about you?”

I said, “My daughter rides and I take photos.”

“I hear ya,” he said.

“I”m running out of light,” he said, as he lowered his camera.

“I hear ya,” I said.

The collection above is the result of lighting and staging challenges but – it’s the stuff photography that I love. Not perfect, but captured and documented just the same. These girls make me so proud.

And they scare me too.

She’s alright, she recovered without falling off. And I thought that what I was doing was challenging! Yikes!

Parenting For Dummies Advice Request

I hope you will help me with something I’m struggling with…a question as it were…for some reason, I’m searching for the right answer …

A couple of months ago the girl asked me if she could go see a horror movie with friends. This movie was rated R. And the friends (including the brother) were no older than 17 years old.

We said no and I think they went bowling instead or didn’t go. I can’t remember.

She asked me again last night to go see the movie, The Devil Inside. I researched it a little and saw it was rated R. The reviews said it was the typical horror movie, brutal violence, language and gratuitous sex.

Trust me – I’m not naive enough to think they haven’t seen a lot of this. I rented the movie Paranormal Activity for the boys one night – guilty.

Her argument -

“You’ve let me see rated R movies before.”

“I’m old enough. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be with (the boy.)”

“What if the other parents say we can go?’

My argument -

“Yes, you have seen R rated movies, but you’ve been with me.” – these movies include Speed (can you believe that’s rated R?) and Die Hard.

“You’re not old enough.” – and she’s not, at least according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

“The boy isn’t going either.”

But it was the last argument – the one about the other parents that got me thinking. What if I am too strict? That being said, I don’t know if other parents really did say yes or if that’s just a ploy to sway me.

It’s a stand-off.

Actually I already told her it wasn’t a good idea – but now I’m second guessing myself…I hate the word hate but I hate it when that happens.

What would you do? Help!

I know it’s Thursday but I’m posting on Wordful Wednesday… those parents will know what to do!

Gone To The Dogs

Starting to feel outnumbered?

From left to right – Mona, Gertie, Jazzie and Cado at center.

How about now?

From left to right, the dog, Tuk Tuk, the cat and Willow at center.

Contrary to what the idiom implies, I like it when my life has gone to the literal dogs. I love the unpredictability and the chaos.

Except for when I have to clean up the vomit . . .

Not In Our Home

The girl is an animal lover and on my way to yet another equestrian meet last month, she texted me, “I have a surprise for you when you get here.”

She never brags about her equestrian accomplishments – she leaves that to me – so when I read the text (at a red light), I knew exactly what she meant.

She fell in love with another animal that she wants to bring home.

I had an hour to reminisce about what animal I was going to say no to. Was it another donkey? Or perhaps a cat with only one eye?

When I got there, I saw this beautiful dog.

And I knew… he was a young dog and had a really sweet and gentle nature, you just wanted to hug him. He’s up for adoption and needed a new home – but not our home.

He was introduced to big horses for the first time that day and this is how he reacted.

“Hmmm…I wonder what that big animal is?”

“Yawn…boooorring…”

“Wait – is she going to fall off?”

“Oh well…how long is this meet going to last anyway?”

We’ve asked that question quite a few times ourselves! What a lovely dog – and no we didn’t bring him home.

Another Milestone

The girl passed her learner’s permit test last week.

I’m not ready. I’ll say it again, I’m not ready.

She asked me that night if she could drive. I was just involved in an accident last month and we were down to one car. We just bought our second car last Christmas Eve eve, three days after she go her permit.

I’m not ready -

- so I said no.

She’s driven since and trust me, I wish I continued to say no – no – no – no…

Her license photo was awfully cute though…

What is going around here? Why is my life flying by so quickly?

The Life Lesson Of Kitty Chemotheraphy

On one of the most emotional and busiest times of year there is this – our cat is sick. I know that non-pet owners find it difficult to relate. And I know that compared to many other losses and problems of the world, this doesn’t quite measure up.

Many people have lost loved ones very close to them and this time of year can be particularly painful for those left behind. We know – we miss our brother Dennis. He died far too young. We think of the friends we lost in the line of duty – flying their airplanes and doing what they love, but dying far too soon. I miss my Grammie and my sweet Uncle Jack who I adored as a child because I knew he loved me. He would show it by asking every single detail of my life. When I came home from overseas, he would ask about my work, my travels, my boyfriend. I would tell him and I never felt like he was nosy. His interest in me made me feel special. He would have loved my blog by the way.

I think of my friend Frank, who just passed away last August. He was found in his home, on the floor of his bathroom after he suffered a massive heart attack. We were a photography team and he had serving heart that inspired me to serve more and work harder. His photos fill my hard drive and I miss his presence every Sunday.

As much as we know it’s a part of life, it doesn’t mean it hurts less. So I try to shield the kids from the pain as much as I can while at the same time, letting them live through the experience. It’s a balance and the husband and I deal with our pain while attempting to stay strong for the kids.

But then the cat got sick and the kids are feeling the full pain of caring for a dying loved one. We know the kitty is old but somehow his sickness seemed sudden. We took him to the kitty hospital two weeks ago and there he stayed for three days. We didn’t think he would come home. He laid in one place for two days, his fur matted with his vomit. It was a horrible sight. The kids asked about him every day. I could see them struggling with his diagnosis of a cancerous tumor.

He’s home now and I force feed him his medicine twice a day. We keep a good eye on his food intake, his bowel movements and eye him as he slowly makes his way around the house. Every movement is watched carefully. The first thing I do when I wake is look for him. I don’t want him to crawl into a space and not ever find him again. And we never let him outside.

I admit, it’s been a great source of worry and distraction for me. Life has to continue on and Christmas had to come, in spite of our 24 hour vigil. I’m not going to state the obvious so right now, we’re just grateful for the little time our kitty has with us. And we’ll take care of him as best as we can.

An Early Christmas Work Of Art

Between the windows and above the bed of the girl’s room is a spot that, unknown to the girl, I preserved for a special piece of art.

A wonderful artist, musician and friend, Daniel C Palmer painted this watercolor piece of art for the girl. It was a year ago that he offered to do it. And four days before Christmas, he delivered.

It’s beautiful! It’s the girl and jumping Joker and he captured the movement and power of Joker perfectly. I will frame it and hang it above her bed. The girl is thrilled.

Daniel also sings, and plays the guitar – and the piano – and the bagpipes.

And he’s also quite handsome. Here’s his website – http://danielcpalmer.com/.

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Girl’s Room – Best Christmas Gift Ever

Last Saturday night, while the husband and I were at a party, the girl cleaned her room. It’s a monumental occasion, worthy of note.

When we got home, she took us upstairs and it really was perfectly clean. We were so proud. We don’t know how long it will last so we savored the moment.

Yesterday, I walked down the hallway and tapped my toe on her door to peek in.

It looked like this – still perfectly clean, after more than three days!

We did a little remodel to open up some more space for her and Neighbor Jim did such a great job that I wanted to show you right away. However, there was still purchases to be made and furniture to move around for the perfect placement. And then there was the question of whether or not I wanted the state of uncleanliness to be posted all of the internet(s) and I certainly was not going to clean it myself in order to post the finished product. That’s just not reality.

So after almost a year – this is what it looked like then. Here’s what it looks like now.

She’s a Washington Capitals fan as well as a horse riding specialist.

Her closet was organized as well. Mothers everywhere dream of this – an organized closet!

Her ribbons were consolidated in one place, a shelf her uncle built for her. This is only a sample of her ribbons. After so many years of riding she has many strewn about the house. It’s getting pretty difficult to contain.

That’s it! No more riding until we find a place for all the ribbons. I put my foot down.

Speaking of organized. I was most happy with her dresser.

All the lotions and potions, jellies and jams and sunglasses were in order. And all of her hair appliances were actually turned off.

Grateful for the small things that could potentially become big things.

Her night stand – clean. Wonder what she’s reading.

A teenage read that’s on the New York Times Bestseller list. Good girl.

She was the division champion for last summer’s league and as a result, scored this director’s chair. It was the least organized item in her room but I’m not going to nit pick. After all, she’s the champion.

Which brings me to this point. No matter where she goes and what does from now on, there is one thing that will always define  her. She’s a horse girl. And that is a huge blessing.

She’ll have that and carry that all the rest of her life.

And her first love will not be her current “boyfriend”. But it is Joker, her first leased pony that she could call her own.

The bed spread is Pottery Barn Teen, on sale. The rug is also Pottery Barn, not on sale. The rug was a battle that I lost but it is cute so…

The curtain and lamp are Target specials. The dresser is from Regency Furniture. I bought her Christmas lights that she put on her window. They light up and blink and really cute. I love that she loves them.

The Washington Capitals sherpa blanket – from the Verizon Center, purchased after a pleading – please, please, please. She love fuzzy blankets – and she loves hockey.

The Precious Moments figurines and various knick knacks are courtesy of her Nanna. More ribbons as you can see. The art work on the floor was done by a friend of hers. I’ll have to get it framed. The purple Christmas tree was purchased a few years ago at Home Depot of all places. The little table was acquired at a garage sale at a friend’s house. She didn’t like it at first, but now she does. Mom wins.

I did fold her sherpa Capitals blanket but other than that, the room was as I found it. So nice, and the perfect Christmas gift for her mom.

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