Christmas treasures

So this year I was later than usual getting my Christmas decorations down.  Part of it was timing of different activities, and part of it is just the fact that I like having my Christmas stuff up.  Every year when I take it down, the house seems empty.  It is just sad to put it all away.  

My 'tree' decorations are on a rotation.  This year we put up all of the homemade ornaments.  So if you have every given me a homemade ornament, it was probably on my tree.  

Thanksgiving weekend, is my normal time to put up the tree.  We pull everything out of the closet and open up the boxes.  I look at and touch all of the things that I helped to make (my mom made a new ornament every year for a good portion of my life, and I helped her to make them), or that someone made for me.  This is always a time of remembering for me.  Things that were my grandparents, or a friend.  I like putting these on the tree.  

There is the tree skirt my grandma embroidered, the wreathes Lori made, candy canes my kids made in preschool, ornaments Lin made, so many beautiful memories.   

It is not just the tree.  There are certain things that I bring out every year.  The Nativity Eva gave me always sits on my coffee table.  The bell ringers I bought the very first year after college, when I had my own house.  They have been out so many years.  They kids and I have sang and danced to the songs countless times.  Some year, they will stop working, that will be a sad year.

One of my new additions is my Scrooge village.  I found these a couple of years ago in my favorite antique shops.   

I love Christmas.  I want this time of year to last.  And when it is time to box all of these things up, it is always just a little bit sad.  Only 10 months until I can pull them all out again.

Water is scary

As I looked out through my window today, I saw the sun shining, the last of the snow melting, and knew I was safe and dry.  But that is not how it was for many in NE.  Today I decided that we should go and get some groceries.  The winds and blizzard conditions were gone.  So Ella and I went in to York to do some shopping.  We checked the road conditions, because I had heard that Grand Island now had started to feel the flood waters.  I thought York was still safe.  As our journey ended and we returned home, I thought of all of those who were not enjoying a quiet afternoon.


Yesterday this is what the road conditions of Nebraska looked like.  It has only changed slightly since then.   I stayed inside my house and listened to the winds howl.  I hoped that the power lines and trees would not fall.  I also watched as videos and pictures of places around me filled my social media.

So many were suffering so much.  Some of the pictures reminded me of and alien planet, blocks and chunks of ice bigger than cars flung all about.











Bridges and houses just gone, only broken bits and memories remaining.











The St. Paul bridge, yesterday I wondered if it would even be there the next time I went to St. Paul. 






Towns were underwater.
Some I have been to, some I haven't.  But it didn't matter.  I looked at all of the pictures, and couldn't keep the tears from my eyes.

Blizzards covered herds.  The next day, people were out trying to find and save their animals.

People going out to help others.  I watched a video of firefighter rowing across a raging river to a house surrounded by water to bring an older man safely to shore.  So many heroes out there still fighting to save those around us.

I have never been in a hurricane, nor do I wish to.  But the clouds, the winds, the floods, and the destruction we saw over the last couple of days, makes it feel like we have just gone through a hurricane.

 Or maybe a bomb, followed by a flood.

  Poor cows trapped by water with no where to go.

Water can be a very scary thing.

  New pictures are coming in all of the time.  The water is still rising in many places.  And as the temperatures warm, more snow and ice will melt and fill the overflowing rivers.  I am safe and dry and will remain so, as far as I know.  I am thinking and praying for family, and friends, and strangers who have been affected by this terrible storm and the flooding.

Robots, numbers, and the mind filled with geek thoughts.

This weekend we went to watch Melinda and her team compete at the robotics regional competition.  I was really looking forward to this.  It is a very fun time for me.  I like watching all of the robots and seeing what the kids came up with.

Many of the robots/teams that were there we had seen before at different competitions.  But it was still fun to sit and watch.

It was an interesting trip.  There were terrible roads and huge potholes.  There was snow.  There were trains blocking the roads.  GPS does not guide you around stopped trains.  And rush hour traffic.

There were also bookstores and video game stores.

We have several car/driving games that we play.  So as Melinda rode in the school van she keep me updated on how many FEDex trucks she had seen.  And I had not yet left my house, but told her that she need not worry, I would see more than she did.  I would win the game.

Interestingly enough, I saw 42 trucks on my way there.  (I beat her by a long ways.  I think she saw 13.)  But the fact that I won was not the most interesting thing.  42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything.  I love when I get 42 for an answer.  Once 42 as an order number when we went out to eat.  I saved that receipt for a long time.  I know, I am a little strange.

Then the next day, our number at Burger King was 256.  Which has been an important number in regards to computers.  I liked that it ended up being our order number when we were on a trip to watch the robotics team.  It seemed so fitting to me.

 All in all, it was a really good season for our robotics teams.  I know that those that live in my house are already excited about what the game will be for next year.  I tried to see if they had announced it while we were there watching, and Melinda tried to look it up after she got home.  But it has not been announced yet.  I guess we have to have just a little bit of patience.

Neon Flashing Sign

There have been  several times in my life that I have begged for that all important Neon Flashing Sign.  What am I supposed to be doing?  Where am I supposed to be going?  Who am I supposed to be?

Most times in our lives, we might see signs or hints or maybe hints of signs.  But not often do we see that big neon flashing sign  "This way!" with an arrow pointing out just where we are supposed to be going.  Boy, it would be nice sometimes if we could see that sign.

Well, almost two weeks ago, I was looking for that Neon Sign again.  There are questions that I need help answering.  As Melinda and I walked the halls of a school at one of her speech meets, we saw the NEON sign.  It was hanging right there in the window.

Now before I get to the NEON
sign, I want to share a little bit about this school.  I actually rather like this school, or at least the layout and look of the school.  There is a long hallway from the main doors to the elementary part of the school.  The library is the center of the elementary, and I mean it is truly the center.  All of the classrooms are laid out in a circle around the library.  I LOVE the round hallway that circles the library.  I love the idea that the library is the center of the school.  So many happy thoughts run through my mind as I consider this.  The one who designed this was brilliant!  And a small side note about the elementary part of the school, all of the classroom doors were decorated with some sort of board game.  The kids' names spelled out with Scrabble pieces, Hungry Hippos, Monopoly, The Game of Life, Chess.  I had to take a picture of each of the door decorations.  It was a beautiful happy place filled with so many of my favorite things; books and board games. 

The interesting thing about this school, is that down the other hallway was the high school part of the school.  This was also laid out in a circle.  Round hallways of learning.  Lockers lined up in a circle.  If you know me at all, you know how much I like circles.  I like ideas that circle around.  I like shapes that are circles.  I like circles paths through gardens.  Spirals and circles.  Then there was a third circular part of this school, the last circle was the gym.  I love this building.  Wow!  Circles.  Meanings mixed with circles.  How many times can I say I love this school?



But now back to my neon sign.  In the hallway connecting the elementary part were some posters made by students, different elements from the periodic table.  A NEON sign.  I sat in the gym talking to Melinda about all of these questions that are filling my life right now.  When I realized that once again I am looking for a Neon sign, and guess what?  We have been walking back and forth past a neon sign all day.  So we got up and went back to that hallway.  We read everything that the student had put on their poster, and I took a picture of it. 


There were other signs on either side of my Neon sign.  As I stood there and considered what this Neon sign was telling me, I took time to read these signs as well.  The pictures are not my best.  posters on windows on sunny days are hard to photograph.  But the first one said, "I can, I will, I must."  This along with the Neon sign seemed to at least be giving me encouragement.

The sign on the right hand side of my Neon sign said, "Let your voice be heard."  As a huge introvert this is not something that comes easily for me.  I never find this comfortable.  But as a good friend has told me often,
 "Brave is Best." 

So then we come to the third of these extra signs hanging near my Neon sign.   "Creativity takes Courage."  I agree with this in so many ways.  Melinda and I have had several conversations about what we want to be when we grow up.  It is easy to plan these things, to dream big dreams when you are no where near the time that you must do something about them. 
But when that time draws near,
 "Creativity takes Courage."

I do not have any idea who made all of these posters and put them up in the window.  I am sure I will never know.  But never forget to look right in front of your eyes when you are looking for that Neon sign to guide you.

Of course, I still have not worked out just what the answers are.  But I have those pictures on my phone.  I know that Neon sign and the others were there to help me find my way. 

I can, I will, I must!

Let your voice be heard!

Creativity takes Courage!

(all of these words flashing in bright neon colors)

Graduation

I have been preparing and gathering for weeks.  We made piles of things to take over for the reception.  I started the meat last night.  This morning we decorated and got everything ready.

Then finally the short journey over to the school.  Time for robes, hats, stoles, cords, medals and most of all pictures.

Ella graduated from high school. 

My baby's world changed today.  We both knew it.  We had been planning for it, and not just this entire year with college visits and scholarship applications.

Ella and I both knew that we would not get through this day without tears.  Ella has always been my most tearful child.  She feels everything so strongly. 

The first moment I saw the tears in her eyes, I knew there was no stopping them from my own.  (Of course I would have shed some tears today regardless.)

For a couple of days now, I  have been considering this thing we call graduation.  I have contemplated what it means for those involved.  Even though, or maybe because this isn't my first graduation of a child, I think I now understand it more.

Graduation is much more difficult than childbirth on a mother.  The pain, the happiness, the expectation, the hope, the love... all of those are present in both. 

We carry our children for nine months.  We start to get to know them.   We love them.  We finally get to hold them in our arms for the first time.

And then...

We carry and guide our children for 18 years.  We know them.  We love them.  We finally open our arms and start to let them go.

I love you Ella Rae.

I took an arrow to my shoulder

Yes, this Thanksgiving weekend that has been my claim.  I hold my arm limp against my body (when I remember not to use it.) and say, "I took an arrow to my shoulder."  Of course I did not literally get shot with an arrow through my shoulder.  But being a writer, I use things from my real life and imagine what they resemble. 

When I was 13, I was trying to explain the pain in my side to my mother and my aunts at my dad's birthday party.  My one aunt asked if it was a sharp pain?  I was 13, I hadn't really experience much pain in my life.  So I thought about it a moment, then I said, "It feels like someone has stabbed me with a sword and is twisting it."  She looked at me with wide eyes and replied, "That would be a sharp pain."  The next morning I had my appendix out. 

So as I struggle to lift something, or open a door, or even push myself up and out of my recliner; I realize first, how much I use, even my left arm.  And second every TV program or movie I have ever watched is an utter and complete lie.

I laid there with my doctor working on my shoulder Wednesday afternoon.  I thought of the way this felt, and how thankful I lived in this modern time.  Alcohol does not have a friendly touch, nor does a scalpel, but much better care than most any of my characters would have received.  I also know just how high my pain tolerance must be.  Mind you I was in pain. My doctor told me, also several times, how strong or tough I was.  My thoughts were "thanks?" for the compliment (I guess) and well, if you think you are hurting me go ahead and stop.  Neither of these thoughts did I voice. 

I did not watch at the doctor's office.  I do not like seeing things of this nature.  But that evening, I wanted to look under the bandaid.  It was like a 'painful' present sitting under the tree.  If it hurts this much how big is the hole?"  So of course I took a peek.  Then I ran out into the hallway and told my kids about the arrow wound in my shoulder.  They of course laughed at my joke.

It was after this that I realized how untruthful TV and movies were.  Clearly I understood this.  But as I walked around with my arrow wound, tiny in size and amount of damage done to the shoulder, I will never see a battle scene the same way.   That piece of wood sticking completely through a man's shoulder.  Another man tries to help, breaks off the end and pulls it free from his body.  Yeah, I am sure that is what they did.  This wood had been completely through his body, not just the skin, but muscle, possibly rubbing against bone.  He had a wound on both sides, not just my one-sided arrow wound. But often after that we see this wounded man fighting as soon as the arrow is out, or even more unbelievable to me now, while the arrow is still in his shoulder.

Trust me, he would not be pulling back the string of his bow and firing an arrow.  If I tried to pick up my bow and fire an arrow, well, lets imagine that I could even pull the string back, the arrow wouldn't go anywhere, there would have not been enough power behind it.  And I don't think I could have even done it, that would be much too painful.  I would have more likely took the bow and swung it round with my good arm.  Not as good of a weapon, but one I could use and still remain conscious and standing.

Then there are these huge two handed swords.  No way.  Just twisting my body to get in and out of the car, or up and off of my bed hurts.  Holding the sword - NO.  Twisting and swinging it around - NO WAY. 

I do believe that adrenaline could help some, and in the middle of the battle fighting for your life, yes, you would likely try these things.  But my little tiny wound hurts and continues to bleed when I move around and use my arm.  These wounded men would not be conquering warriors more likely they would have bled to death, or fallen unconscious from the pain.

So now every program I have watched is seen in a different light.  I imagine the characters I have written into my stories, and those yet to come.  I am thankful to have taken an arrow to the shoulder this weekend.  This pain and experience, along with all of the thoughts will find their way into my stories.  Happy Thanksgiving.

*warning...  Not recommended to take an arrow to the shoulder as a learning experience.  Do not do this at home.*

NaNoWriMo

November is probably my favorite month of the year.  I get to be a writer, every day at school.  I get to be surrounded by lots of young writers.  I love that the students are excited to write.  Every afternoon as they walk passed my classroom, I have several stop by and tell me how many words they wrote that day.  They are excited to see that number go up, and so am I.

Then as I sit at the table with my kindergarteners and we work on our stories, I love to listen to their conversations.  One of the things that made me most happy this year is when one of my students looked up at me, as we stapled his first 'book' together.  He told me, "I'm an author now."  Huge smile on his face as he held his finished book.

I love November!

How many words have you written today?