Shaping Women

My Aunt Creada Mae

My friend Linda is hosting a contest (see below on the Happy Woman Blog link). I know that by sharing this with you I am opening up the number of entries. That means, I decrease my odds of being a winner-winner, chicken dinner. But I love Linda and I love her idea of honoring the women in our lives.

Who is the Woman that Shaped Your Life:

This is my short entry:

There have been many women who have shaped the life I have today. Even those women who I do not like have played a role in me becoming me. I remember the kindness of a stranger when I was a little girl. I remember the gentleness of a Sunday School teacher who awkwardly but lovingly led our class. I remember the easy going hippy style of teachers while growing up in the 70's. My mom and daughters have naturally impacted my life. So have my friends. However, there are two women that stand out as influences in my life.

The first is my 9th grade Speech Teacher, Mrs. Nye. She saw something in me that I didn't even know existed. She really believed in me and pushed me to try new things. One of which was the stage. As an only child, that sense of make believe was one that carried me through many lonely weekends. With Mrs. Nye's direction I was able to create characters and roles in which my make believe could come alive. More importantly, the confidence I gained from this was the foundation for everything I would do from that point on.

The second is my aunt, Creda Mae. She is a three time cancer survivor. She has been a chaperon for her church youth group. They traveled the Outback- while in her 70's and in a wheelchair. She is the kindest, most honest, and most forgiving and loving woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She has the faith of an angel and never let's the bumps of life stand in her way. She gives glory to God for all she has and does. When I grow up I want to be just like her! That goal is just about the highest bar I will ever achieve.

Assignment: Enter the contest (or don’t) but you better be thinking about those women who shaped you . . . .if you can, give them a call or send a note just to say hello. That includes my male readers too . . .you know who you are!

Thinking of you Lisa!

Today my friend Lisa had knee surgery. She was skiing over Valentine’s Day weekend and she zigged when she should have zagged. She is an active young mom who is having a difficult time with this forced slow down.

Hang in there Lisa – many people are thinking and praying for a full recovery for you!

Assignment: Whenever life’s plans supersede your plans – there is a reason. Find the reason!

Long Week and It's Only Wednesday

“Everybody’s Working for the Weekend!” Not only is this a droningly memorable song it is also the tagline for my week. I have been so busy this week that I thought today was Thursday. I hate when I do that. Talk about a hump day!

I am ready for a little R&R to get my creative juices flowing again.

Assignment: . . . .. Hang . . .on, just a little bit longer!

A Plate it Ain't

Tom is a design engineer. Let’s say he works for a dinnerware company. A HUGE potential client came to the company to order new ‘plates’ for all their locations. This company is one of the top 4 in their industry so Tom’s business wanted them to buy plates in a very bad way. The HUGE buyer did not like any of the plates they saw. One was too round. One was too square. They wanted a plate that didn’t look like a plate but could serve as a plate . . . because plates are important!

So the project was listed in the department where Tom works as a challenge. Engineers would still have to complete the orders due had but if anyone wanted to try to make improvements on the plate they should. Tom accepted the challenge because he is a stud. He created a proto-type for a new plate, the perfect plate for this HUGE Company because it didn’t look like a plate at all. It looked like a bowl or a platter or maybe even a butter dish – but it was not a plate!

By the way, he did this while keeping up with the workload of orders due (he misses you Matt). Yeah, he is a stud.

The potential client was contacted. They viewed the new plate. They loved the new plate AND ordered it for all of their locations (many, many locations!). Last week the actual order was created. The line supervisor invited Tom to be there as the plates came down the line and were being placed in boxes to ship. It was a proud moment.

That supervisor told Tom that once more potential clients saw this new plate– the orders would go up. This plate was here to stay. Go Tom!

Assignment: When people tell you it is impossible to build a better mouse trap – don’t believe them!

Chaning Times

Our school district, like countless others, is undergoing significant change. The difficult decision to close one (of three) elementary schools has been made. The report states that this will save our district a half million dollars. The population is dropping (rural Michigan –the worst state in the union!) so the forecasting indicates declining students.

The business side of my brain fully understands this change. All businesses are facing difficult decisions as they try to survive in this new economy. The way of doing business is shifting once again – and all careers are impacted. I understand this and know that the closing of this school will eventually become an accepted norm. The change will be hard but it will happen and people will grow comfortable with it. I know this to be true.

But the humanity side of my brain is very sad to see this closing. This is the school where our children finished elementary school. This is the school where Andy began to gain his confidence. He blossomed while at this school because of his 5th grade teacher’s belief in him. This is the school that rallied around Maddy when she was sick – pouring out their love and support for our family. Everyone at this school treated Maddy as herself – not a victim or an oddity – but they embraced her for who she is.

This school is a Golden Apple Award winner – twice! The principal, teachers, and supports staff are the kind of people you want teaching and influencing your children’s lives. Many will find a place in the district and that is good because you do not want to let go of this level of experience and talent but there will be costs involved. Our daughter Jess will be one of them. This is her first year of teaching in the district – next year she will join the hundreds of other unemployed teachers in our state.

Assignment: Pray for America’s Public Education System!

Ugly Flashbacks

Healthy Maddy and Hurley the Cat

I will start this post by spoiling the ending: everything is going to be okay.

It is no secret that our family has been passing this cold virus back and forth to each other. So when Maddy started complaining about a sore throat we all figured she had what we had. Perhaps she did at one point but when the complaints increased I thought it was time to call the doctor.

I made the appointment and Tom took her in for a check during my drive home tonight. I figured they would be in the doctor’s office for a while so I called Andy just to check in and see what he was up to. Imagine my surprise to be told they were all at the hospital because Maddy needed blood work.

The last time Maddy started at the doctor’s office and ended up across the street at the hospital for blood work – our lives were forever changed by the lymphoma diagnosis. My heart started racing a bit and I had a flash of that day in July when we learned the news. I called my husband but he wasn’t able to answer the phone. I recalled Andy and told him to have dad call me ASAP. I didn’t think (didn’t fully think that is) that this would be nearly as serious but still . . . .

Turns out Maddy’s glands are swollen but she didn’t test positive for strep so they wanted to make sure she didn’t have mono (which many other students do have right now). Her white counts came back a little high but it at this point; no strep, no mono, but a bacterial infection is what we are treating.

Assignment: Wash your hands to stay healthy from that common cold. Also, please say a prayer for all of moms and dads who learned their child’s diagnosis today. The battle is long and very difficult. Pray for strength and victory the evil known as cancer!

Happy New Year

The Year of the Tiger began yesterday, Sunday, February 14, 2010. I was born in a Year of the Tiger. That is about the extent of my knowledge base (which primarily comes from reading the placemat when eating Chinese). So I did a little digging to learn more……

This is what it means to be a Tiger.If you were born in 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, or 1986 you were born under the sign of the tiger. Like the tiger, you are one of the most caring and thoughtful signs in the Chinese zodiac. You have a lot to say on the best way to right society's wrongs, and quite capable of defending children, friends, and loved ones against all enemies.

Caring, thoughtful, defender, and has a lot to say . . . yes, that fits me.

For the tiger in 2010, any recent setbacks or obstacles can be overcome, so look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally.

Good to know!

Famous people born under the sign of the Tiger include Sheryl Crow, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jay Leno, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth II, and Jon Stewart.

Ugh, Tom Cruise and I in the same sentence – well I can overcome obstacles so no worries!

Assignment: Happy (Chinese) New Year

Why Valentine's Day?

My Big Valentine and our little Valentines.


The combination of Sunday, Valentines Day, and my turn to do the Children’s Message at church sparked my interest. I have always heard the excuse for not celebrating the big V-Day was that it was an excuse to sell cards and candy between Christmas and Easter. Not so my friend. Not so.

Like many holidays celebrated in the world today, Valentines roots are found in a mix between pagan and Christian belief. The Christian perspective is where I will stay. In the 3rd Century, Roman Emperor Claudius II was forming his army. It was his thought that single guys made better soldiers than married men. So, in an effort to spread the love and make the world a little more peaceful, a priest named Valentine would go about performing secret wedding ceremonies.

This act didn’t set very well with the plans Claudius had so he imprisoned Valentine and executed him on February 4, 270. While in prison Valentine befriended the jailor’s blind daughter. It is believed that before his death, he restored her eye sight. He left her with a note reading “From your Valentine”.

On February 14 1537, King Henry VIII (yes, THAT King!) declared Saint Valentine an official church holiday. Saint Valentine’s Day was observed in the church until 1969. Apparently it was tired of competing with Hershey and Hallmark. Okay, I made the competition part up.

So that is Valentine’s Day: war, secret love, a miracle, the dangers of being married, and cards.

Assignment: Spread the love!

Dam Book Club!!!!!!

I am a part of a book club with some amazing women. We all live near a dam so we call ourselves; the Dam Book Club. It is fun to get with these Dam Women every other month. Our evenings generally last about 4 hours with 30 minutes dedicated to the book we all just read. The group has women in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s in it – so there is a lot of experience in that room. Because I live in a small town (love it!) many of the women are related in some way or another. That is a part of the small town appeal and one reason I try not to talk smack about others.

This past Friday was our meeting. Generally the hostess prepares a little something to eat with a lot of something to drink. Traditionally people bring things to add to the meal if they are able (reference my February 13 post on baking). This meeting I went to the trouble of purchasing cream cheese, tossing it in a bowl, topping it with cherry pepper jelly and bringing a box of crackers as my contribution. Yes, that is how I roll.

Holly Cats but if these women didn’t have a full on spread for us that night. Homemade breads, dips, and sweet treats were laid before me. The entrée was a selection of two soups: cheese or tomato. I had a ‘little’ of both. The drink of choice was wine and I think it best we do not count the bottles. A woman never counts and tells.

It was a joyful time. These women truly put the awe in awesome. They do it all; raise children, work full-time, plant gardens, can their harvest, mend and sew clothing, and they cook (and bake!). One or two of them have taken to making their own soaps. I hope I inherit those skills in heaven – that would be heavenly. Seriously – I mean that.

I grew up in a house where fried hamburger, boxed mac and cheese, and canned green beans were the meal de jour. I dream of being able to do it all but know my limitations enough to realize it is best if I pay others . . . .to help me . . . .do it all. I am such a capitalist!

Next book club meeting, our Dam Ladies are taking a road trip north to see the church where a nun’s body was discovered (murdered!). Going to be a good book and a good time – for sure!

Assignment: Appreciate the women in your life!

How do you have Valentines if you can't bake?

“But Coach, our family doesn’t bake!” This was Andy’s response when he was told it was his turn to bring in baked goods to sell in the school store. It isn’t that we don’t like baked goods because we do, a lot. It is just we (I) seem to lack the basic skill set to do it well. Here are a few examples:

• I once made cookies and accidentally added a cup of oil instead of a cup of water. The cookies eventually baked into large, flat, sweet clumps. How do I know they were sweet? I ate them. Not all of them, that would be weird, but I did try them and found they were okay. It took me a few hours to realize my mistake, at first I just though they baked wrong.
• Maddy entered a cookie contest. The cookies looked a little thin so I suggested she add more oats. She did. The judge told her that the cookies tasted good but were too dry, next time add fewer oats. She didn't win and I think still harbors a little blame toward me.
• Once after church Andy ran up to me raving about the incredible cookie he had just eaten. I asked him to find out what kind it was – he returned to tell me it was a homemade chocolate chip cookie. Poor boy was so used to slice and bake he didn’t even know homemade was a possibility.
• This past Thanksgiving I made brownies. The kids each took a bite and groaned “they taste like medicine”. Yes, I invented medicine brownies. Let me know if you would like a copy of the recipe.

And that brings us back to the story of Andy and his turn to bring in baked goods. He took them to school on Tuesday. By Thursday I wondered how the sale was going. He didn’t sell a one. Next time I am just sending him to school with $10 – save us all the grief and humiliation.

Assignment: If you can’t bake – support those who do. I just returned from a local pie shop with scones, pies, and cheesecake in hand. Tomorrow is going to be a very good Valentines Day!

What a morning!

This has been my morning.

I got a text from Maddy at school this morning. She took her Ipod to school. She dropped her Ipod in the parking lot. Someone found her Ipod. He kept it. A friend saw a boy with an Ipod that had Maddy’s photos on it. She called Maddy. Maddy then realized her Ipod was missing. She started crying (and pushing her stomach out of her throat I am sure). She told the office. She was put on a waiting list of things to investigate. She called me.

I called the office and gave them all the information Maddy had shared with me. I called the office again to file a police report. I was asked to wait because they were sure it would be returned by the end of the day.

It has been returned.

I wish the boy had gone to the office and turned in his ‘find’. I wish that several stereotypes were not involved with this boy who found the Ipod. Maddy and I had a good conversation over this – we have to push those stereotypes away. We both admitted that we ‘went there’ for a moment. I feel badly that we went there for even a moment. I feel worst that the stereotypes had support today.

Plus Maddy isn’t supposed to have her phone or Ipod at school – so that is an issue to address too. And I have – trust me.

What a morning!

Assignment: Forgiveness!

Time for a photo update

I thought it would be a good time to change my photos. I don’t have many photos of “Just Nancy” because I am generally the one who is yielding the camera. So I selected these two photos for the following reasons.

The profile includes Tom and all of our children. This is a good looking group of people – don’t you think? Mostly, this is a group of really good people. I am amazed – truly amazed – at how blessed we are in terms of our children. They are all people of good character and strong faith in God. I am thankful and full of love.

The other photo (to the right of what you are reading) is of Andy and me. This gives you a good perspective of how tall he is and how non-tall I am. We took this photo on Saturday when Andy was going to the Sadie Hawkins (Cowboy theme – he had on boots) and I was going (with Tom) to see Young Frankenstein (the Broadway play). Andy said “Mom, it’s just a Sadie Hawkins dance - not the prom – so why are we taking a photo?” Well, we are because we can Andy. We are because we can.

Assignment: Enjoy the photos -

What did I expect - it is only February!

Fool me once shame on you- fool me twice shame on me. That’s right SHAME ON ME. I was in complete denial. I spend so many hours of my day planning for things 3, 6, 12 months in advance that mentally I was well past winter. The warming weather, dry roads, and signs of grass here and there, well, I started to write winter off for another year.

Then this morning as I traveled on 96 toward work – I turned around. I knew my work day would start too late and the majority of it would be taken over about worry for my drive home. Now I am home and I am getting some things done.

I was fooled. Winter is not yet finished. I knew it was too good to be true.

Assignment: Button up . . . . .it’s snowing!

Super Sunday

This year Tom and I decided to treat the Super Bowl as if it were some sort of national holiday. We planned a huge dinner; ribs, corn bread, baked beans, slaw, twice baked potatoes, banana cream pie and (or) chocolate malts. We started cooking Saturday so our meal would be ready by midday on Sunday. It was a feast and by 2:00 we were all stuffed and ready for naps.

When game time finally rolled around we were ready for our first Super Bowl in high definition. Because this was a year in which the Lions did not qualify I was cheering for the Colts. Our house is a football house, and a Lion’s football house at that. I often have to come up with reasons to like one team over another for the Super Bowl because the Honolulu Blue and Silver never make the cut. Oh, the celebration that will occur when they finally do – I hope that I am alive to see that.

So, this year I selected the Colts. Here is my reasoning. I have been to Indianapolis a few times – it is a nice city. I like Payton Manning well enough. He is a great QB. He is tall. He is cute in his own way. Mostly, I like him because he is funny. Nothing against Drew and the guys from the Saints but if I heard one more person say, I am cheering for the underdog I was going to spit bile. Seriously, there was no underdog in this game – it was predicted to be a close one and a close one it was.

The game was good with the second half showing some excitement. The half-time show was better than I thought it would be, ole Roger can still carry a tune and Pete can still play. The commercials were entertaining, I enjoyed most of them. I have to say I my least favorite (outside of most of the car ads), were the Boost Mobile ads. They were strange in a bad way – and really done in poor quality. The Career Builder, Snickers and Bud commercials were great.

So, that was our Super Bowl – on a Super Sunday.

Assignment: Even if you find that today you are loser . . . . . . if you are not a Lion’s fan – you still come out ahead! Here's to the end of another emotional football season!

Full Moon Maddness - The End

This week has been dedicated to the freakish occurrences that occurred in our house during last weekend’s full moon. You have read about a cosmic connection to camp, the irrational happy behavior of a teenager, and my eerily phenomenal gender prediction abilities. You will have to agree, strange things happen when the moon is full! This final submission is no exception. There is no rhyme or reason behind the behavior that I am about to share. Please, do not be alarmed but this is extreme A-typical behavior. The only explanation can be full moon madness.

Last Saturday was a pretty ‘schedule free’ morning. Our family didn’t have a lot planned for the day (other than Maddy’s freakish desire to hang out with her mom). So what did we do – we all went to the wrestling tournament at the area high school. We do not have a family member on the team. Tom and I have never been to a meet in the past. The one and only time I have even attended a wrestling meet was in high school . . . . a long, long, long time ago. But we went to this tournament and stayed a few hours. It was fun – it really was – but it was difficult to watch. This is one painful sport (ouch) combined with some very ‘healthy’ young men who spend a lot of time on training their bodies. I think I just disclosed an ugly side of myself but really you would agree if you had watch– you can’t argue that truth.

Then, just when we were feeling our lives return to a form of normal we attended the high school talent show on Monday night. Were Andy and Maddy in the show? Nope. We just went. No reason other than something different to do – that supports the kids in our school. Wrestling meets and talent shows – just to support local youth, why it is madness don’t you think?

Assignment: This weekend you are challenged to find something to do in your own community – regardless of having a personal connection to it or not. Who knows what you will discover.

Full Moon Madness Part 3

Old Wives Tales are a form of urban legend passed down from generation to generation. I don’t think I have too many Tales that I knowingly follow but there is one. . . .that I know is true . . . in the form of predicting a baby’s gender while in the womb. My evidence confirming the truth behind this Tale is based on coincidence and coincidence only. Fact: I have carried four babies - two boys and two girls. Coincidently, I carried the baby weight of the boys all in front and the weight of the girls all around.

Using this scientific logic, I have accurately predicted the gender of co-worker babies, and most recently a friend of our family. Our friend is carrying her weight straight on in front – and yesterday the ultrasound concluded what Nancy knew two weeks ago – they are having a boy. It is eerie how accurately awesome and useful this gift is to behold. I mean, seriously with my keen gift – who needs modern medicine any more?

Sadly our daughter Meg will have none of it and feels my gift is nonsense. She has chosen to await the gender confirmation till the time their baby is born. I am crushed in by her lack of trust in this scientific method and super awesome gift her mom has! It is a waste of sweet skills. Based on what I know, I can’t believe she hasn’t already started painting the nursery a bright shade of . . . . .!??????

Assignment: Do you follow any Old Wives Tales – do tell!

Full Moon Maddness - Part Two

On Friday evening, Maddy told me that she had at least three offers from friends to do something on Saturday. She turned them all down because she wanted to spend some time with mom. Hum, Maddy is nearly 16 (March) so I first thought, what does she want; followed by what has she done, and finished with what does she want done?

But in truth we had been talking about spending the day together and so we did. We went to visit my mom which is always an interesting experience. Mom doesn’t really know who Maddy is but Madds is okay with that. Mom is always a little more animated when a child is with me – so she had some funny stories that cracked Maddy up. Alzheimer’s is a part of our life right now and I am glad Maddy is seeing the good, bad, and crazy that occurs.

Next was a trip to the mall. Have I mentioned how much I hate the mall? I hate the mall. I hate everything about the mall. Maddy loves the mall. We compromised with an hour long visit – and no smelly stores. Don’t do you hate when they turn up the heat and music while defusing their newest signature scent into the air – how does that work on young shoppers? It makes me near postal.

Finally, we closed our date with a chick-flick, When in Rome. It wasn’t a great film, dare I say it might not even be a good film but we had a nice time together. It was good to spend some one-on-one with Maddy. We did a lot of talking – and laughing – but more importantly, there were a few hugs in the mix too.

Assignment: Stare fear in the face – find a teenager to hang out with for an afternoon. It will open your eyes and change your life.