Senator Margaret Chase Smith

I had the pleasure of joining Trav and 30 other 3rd graders on a fieldtrip to the Margaret Chase Smith Library and house today. I wasn't completely excited about the 3 hour bus ride (each way), but I must admit that I'm very glad I went. I learned more about this woman than I had ever expected... I could go on all day, but in a nutshell she was the 1st female voted into both the House and Senate and for many years was the only female Senator in the country. She was also the 1st female to run for President (she came in 2nd to Goldwater in the Republican Primary). What amazing accomplishments and standards she has set for future generations. After her career in Washington (which spanned 32 years) she returned to her hometown of Skowhegan, Maine, which is where she opened up a library next to her home, and this is where she died at 97 years of age. Her house still looks today as it did the day she died. Nothing is out of place... it's amazing. Her cremated remains are on a shelf in the living room, per her request, so that she will always be in her beloved home.

Trav playing this antique piano - it was given as a gift to Margaret Chase Smith many years ago, although she said she could never play very well...

The "Eisenhower Room"... Pres. Eisenhower, while on a visit to Skowhegan, became tired and napped in this bed at Senator Smith's home. The bedspread was handmade by Senator Smith's mother very long ago... this picture doesn't do it justice at all...

Campaign poster

Don't mind the flash (ugh), but I really liked these words spoken by her:

Passer-by pushes suicide jumper in south China

I guess this old guy is sick of people feeling sorry for themselves?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090523/ap_on_re_as/as_china_suicide_help

Visit with Nana...

So... the kids, Dennis & I went to visit Dennis's Nana on Friday - she's 94 years old and fabulous :) Unfortunately, her health is failing and this was the last time we would see her. We have all been blessed to have her in our lives and I know that I'm a better person for having known her. Here are a few pictures of us with her... she's an amazing woman, the smile on her face was amazing, considering... There were also lots of tears - here are just some of the happy moments we have shared with her:

Just the girls... Aunt Kathy and Andrea are with us...

Me, T and Nana

Dennis, Trav & Nana

Thanks for looking ~ Until next time ~

The Biggest Loser - Season 7

This year I became addicted to The Biggest Loser... my fave team was the father/son team of Ron & Mike... Ron (the dad & the sickest contestant) has been obese his whole life and hadn't weighed under 300 pounds since he was a teen. Mike is 18 (the youngest contestant) and was close to 400 pounds, well on his way to following his father's health patterns.

BEFORE:

Mike After: (what a cute kid)

Ron After: (He lost over 200 pounds!)

So, if they can lose 200 pounds then I certainly can lose 5 or 10, right???? It just takes discipline and hard work...

Until next time....

No more training wheels...

So... we looked outside the other day & little miss 'T' was riding Trav's old bike (which has no training wheels) right down the driveway... I couldn't believe it! I grabbed the camera and off I went... Man, they grow too fast!

Recital...

Last night was the big recital... here are just a few pics to share:

T before her stage debut:

My hip-hop class posing at the end:



Trav doing his "thing"

Heather looking like a model:

Words to live by...

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time;don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

1 1. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (KeepMouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry an inspirational book and/or the Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

2 1. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work> seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

3 1. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.