warning: proud mom moment ahead. Shade went to volleyball camp this week, in preparation for high school Vball starting at the end of the summer. She worked out and practiced and sweated - a LOT - and never complained. Saturday a.m., they (her and some friends from the week were all spending the night together) got a call from one of the HS coaches saying a tourney that was going on that day (coincidentally) had a team drop out at the last minute and if they could get to the HS in 30 mins, they could take the spot. This is the same tourney that turned them down earlier in the week because they were too young to compete at that level (which consisted of HS varsity team girls.) So they got a spot, went, played hard despite the fact they had only played together this week at camp, and, against much more experienced players...you guessed it - they WON. WON. wonwonwonwonwonwwwwwoonnn. can't even begin to tell you how proud i am of them. no, they didn't win the most games, but as it was a bracketed competition, they won when it counted. and that boys and girls, is my lesson to you for the day. in life, you will benefit most if you WIN WHEN IT COUNTS. get it? got it? good!
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aahhh, sweet, sweet summer. miss you girlies (carsey, above, and shade, in the post above) :( mom
It happens all the time. The little voice in my head, criticizing, admonishing, berating... Some say "the grass is always greener...", which, sometimes, is true. But part of being happy, and accepting others, is to first accept yourself. Accepting the things you know to be true and, like it or not, moving on. This is where I am today. Working on accepting me, how I am, who I am, today. The me that, even in the midst of summer, is thinking about Fall. And in Fall, worrying about Winter, Winter about Spring, Spring to Summer, you get it. The passage of time, of which I have no control. I need to remember to accept this fact, let it go and move on. Take a minute and think about something that bothers you. Maybe even keeps you up at night. Give yourself as much time as needed to really mull it over, both good thoughts and bad, explore it. And then let it go. See - you're taller now without that on your shoulders.
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"But the fruit that can fall without shaking, indeed is too mellow for me." --Lady Mary Montagu
when you live in a fruit-rich agricultural valley, like i do, you note the passage of time by what fruit is in season. while i imagine you can do this anywhere, here it is done in abundance. right now, it is cherry season, and i've been craving raniers. rainers are the most beautiful of the cherries. creamy yellow blending towards rich, lush cherry red. lightly speckled with all the colors in between. creamy pale inside and the sweetest burst of flavor. i love them and each year i want to buy, and eat, them by the buckets. not growing up in this valley, i would buy them anywhere i saw them. and my husband, who did grow up here, would say "don't buy those!" various reasons, usually "too expensive" or "not fresh enough" (in chain grocery stores you are usually buying last years fruits that have been kept in cold storage.) this year was no exception, so when i tried to buy cherries, and he, again, said "don't buy those". "OK" i said, "take me to wherever i CAN buy them." a few minutes later, we pulled over on the side of the road where a young, teenager-ish girl sat next to two ice chests, side of the road, no sign, lawn chair and reading a book. when we were close enough to park, i saw a small hand-lettered sign cherries, $1. i bought two pounds of ice-cold rainiers and one of bings for a total of $3. more importantly, i learned that the girl's name was jess, and this was her way of earning spending money for the summer. her family had a fruit orchard and while they normally got 5-10 cents per pound from the grocery stores, her dad let her sell whatever she picked herself. now i got it. got it! for me, it was better fruit, cheaper fruit, yes, but even better, i met someone really cool and industrious and supported a local family. i made a connection.
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"Take a rest. A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." - Ovid
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