Before I start this post, I want you to know there is NOTHING you can do to persuade me to reconsider my position. NOTHING, so please do not even try. This list took years to put together. This is not just some willy-nilly list. This list is the truth as I know it.

List requirements: The items on the list must never fail. They must always bring joy and pleasure to me. This is my list – if you disagree – start your own.

THE TOP THREE INVENTIONS: EVER!

1. Fireworks. Say what you will about our friends from China but they have done a most extraordinary thing. They invented fireworks. There as never been a bad firework show. Pretty little colors sparkling in the sky remind me of Christmas lights on our tree. Twinkling bits of light in a kaleidoscope explosion. I love them.

2. Peanut Butter. Mr. George Washington Carver you deserve a national holiday. Thank you for your sense of curiosity. Your need to crush little peanuts into a smooth creamy concoction has given me happiness throughout my life. Jiff – thank you for taking Mr. Carver’s invention and making it perfection.

3. Tivo. This late comer has only been on ‘the list’ for a few years. The moment I learned of this invention and the way it would change my television viewing (ref: my addition) I canceled our satellite provider and made the switch. I wish my radio had Tivo. There are times I wish ‘live’ conversations could be Tivoed too.

Assignment: If you could only choose 3 things that never fail to bring you happiness, what would they be?

Travel Stories

I was recently in Kansas City, Missouri for a work conference. I didn’t have the opportunity to get out and ‘experience’ the city unless it was in walking distance of my hotel. I was in the town during a triple whammy: freak spring snowstorm, March Madness turnover (Kansas lost) and an insanely busy conference schedule.

Here are a few highlights:

The Escalator: When I was little escalators kind of freaked me out. My fear was that if I didn’t get off in time I would be trapped and sucked down. During this trip, I was getting ready to step onto an airport escalator when I heard a loud crash. I looked up to see a suitcase come tumbling down the moving steps. Quickly following was an older woman, also tumbling down those same steps. It all happened in slow motion. She had lost her grip on the suitcase and in trying to compose herself she slipped. She tried to balance on the rail but it was moving so it provided weak support at best. She was tumbling down the moving steps and the fear on her face was evident. One mom jumped into action and ran up the stairs to catch her. My traveling companion and I ran over to the escalator and hit the panic button to stop the movement. The dad who was with the mom just sort of stood there trying to figure out what city he was in. I hope that woman is doing okay; she was embarrassed, confused, and in pain from the fall.

Diner Out: I experienced a gourmet dream come true while on this trip. I have always wanted to enjoy a meal at a restaurant that is owned/operated by a famous chef. This is a little 4-1-1 on where I had the filling pleasure to dine.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT

Lidia and Joseph Bastianich opened Lidia's Kansas City together in a former railroad house just north of Kansas City's historic Union Station. Designed by acclaimed New York architect David Rockwell, the restaurant evokes the feel of an Italian farmhouse despite its tremendous size. Lidia's Kansas City features a daily tasting of three fresh, homemade pastas, modeled on the popular pasta service at the Bastianich family's Becco in New York. Diners can also choose entrees such as roasted veal shank featured in a rich sauce lightened with fresh orange and carrot juices; frico, an envelope of Montasio cheese with a variety of fillings; or a beautiful grilled salmon served over braised lentils with a zesty chive-mustard sauce, just to name a few.

Simple Pleasure: I noticed something about myself on this trip. I get all-out giddy when I am approaching a new city. I truly get excited to see the skyline getting closer was our car draws near. It makes me remember times when I traveled with my mom and dad. We always traveled by car. There is just something magical about the skyline and endless possibilities it might bring.

Assignment: Find the Magic!

Photo Friday

Happy Birthday Maddy

Today Madeleine JoHannah is 16th years old. For now she hates her name but I love it. I find her name as unique and beautiful as her. We tend to call her Maddy, MJ, Madds, or Madster for short. For a time we called her Chicken Little, I don’t remember why.

Maddy has always been a special child. She is determined, confident, compassionate, and assertive. These are great leadership skills for an adult; we don’t really worry about her being successful in the future. While these skills are blessings for a young woman – they are often challenging for parents of teens. Every day we are learning how to make this work better.

Maddy weighed 10.1 lbs when she was born. She was three days late (and my only child who was late) for her arrival into this world. She could form simple sentences by the time she was a year old but didn’t take her first step until she was 18 months old. She didn’t have to, as the youngest of six children she just told people what she wanted and they got it for her.

When Maddy was a toddler she was a true performer. She had loved to sing “You are my Sunshine” and she had a special dance that she would perform on command. Her favorite joke was to tell people, “I’m not your friend anymore . . .CRY”. As mean as that sounds, it was funny and true. Maddy instinctually knew that if you were not her friend, you would cry because you would be missing out some a good thing.



When Maddy was in forth grade her principal shared that whenever she and her friends would have an argument it troubled Maddy so deeply that she would call a meeting. Maddy would ask the principal to bring the girls together so they could voice their concerns and solve the true problem at hand.

In Middle School and High School, Maddy has successfully negotiated a better grade with teachers. If the grading was objective and Maddy found the teachers objectivity differing from hers – she would call a meeting so they could voice their concerns and solve the true problem at hand. You read a theme in this?


This past year, Madd’s had a tutor for Algebra. She wanted a better grade and took it upon herself to apply for a tutor. She told us that there was a brief period when the tutor was not meeting her standards and she was afraid she would need to fire him. They worked the problem out and she was successful in the class. Madd’s is probably the ONLY high school student who begs her parents to go to conferences. She is proud of the work she is doing. Good grades to not come naturally for her, she works hard for her GPA but she does it because she has a final goal in mind: college/career of her choice.

I have a zillion favorite stories about my sweet baby girl but I will only share one more. Throughout Maddy’s childhood, every night when I would come home from work, Maddy would throw open the screen door, run down the porch steps, and come running into my arms. Just thinking about her beautiful smile and pure happiness to see me brings tears of joy to my eyes. What a precious gift I have been given!


Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl, you are a blessing to many and a gift to this world.

Photo Friday

Photo Friday. I am starting with one of my very favorite photos ever. This was taken in 2008 at a family reunion. The kids were watching their cousin’s goof around.

Readers I think we ARE in Kansas now.

Kansas City – Kansas City here I come. I am going to a conference for the next few days. I have never been to Kansas City before – this is the KC, Missouri not the KC, Kansas. Um, why do that do that?

While I am in K.C - Andy will be in New York City as a part of the Marketing Club. He once thought Marketing was stupid - but now he knows better.

Tom and Maddy . . . .well, they will have bonding moments together.

I hope we all have fun and I am full of a new stories to share when I get back.

Spring

When I came home tonight this is what greeted me as I left my car. What a great St. Patty gift. Thanks mom nature.

Guest Writer - Memories

Maddy on a trip to a Tiger Game with other surviors.

Maddy had an assignment to write about a memory. She gave me approval to post it.

March 3, 2010


Memories

I’ve had a lot of memories, throughout my life. But my favorite memory was when I was sick with cancer. It sounds bizarre because I had cancer, but it’s always been my favorite. I loved it because my family was very close at the time. Before I got sick we weren’t all that close, my older siblings never really visited us, and we never really stayed in contact with my relatives. Then in the summer of 2004 I was diagnosed with Burkett’s Lymphoma. I was rushed to the ICU floor at DeVos Children’s Hospital on July 22, 2004.

On my journey of being sick, I was always with a family member, whether it was my dad, mom, aunt, sister, or brother. I loved that I was always with one of them, if not all of them. A specific memory that I remember and favor the most was a day that I wasn’t able to get out of the hospital. It was in august and only a month after I got diagnosed so I wasn’t it was out of the question to leave my hospital room, but there was a hospital party at the nearby park, that I wasn’t able to go to. Since I couldn’t leave and I was disappointed all my brothers and sisters, mom and dad came to my hospital room and we had a picnic of our own. We all gathered around shot some videos for memories and watched old family videos. It was great, I loved that day.

While being sick there were also times that came, where I wish they never did. Being sick came with its up and its downs. One of the downs was the day I found out the cancer had spread to my heart and lungs. The day we found out, I know something wasn’t quite right. My dad was leaving that afternoon to go back home to Andy, and there was a feeling inside me where I just didn’t want him to leave, and I hadn’t felt good all that day. Turns out I got a CAT scan, and they found a lot more cancer surrounding my heart and lungs. I was rushed to the operating room where they inserted ‘pig tails’ into my back, to drain the fluid from my lungs.

That was one memory I could live without. Cancer gave me memories that I will never forget. Although it seems like a horrible thing, in an ironic way, it was the best year of my life. I’ll forever remember the days I spent in the hospital with my family and friends surrounding me with love and prayer.

Brace Yourself

My dentist wants me to consider braces. She is troubled by my overbite. I am sure her concern is coming from a kind place. She isn’t the first dentist to make this suggestion. I have heard it over and over through the years.

When I was a child we didn’t have insurance because my dad often didn’t work. As a result I didn’t go to the dentist or doctor much. There wasn’t really a need too go. I was a pretty healthy kid and I rarely had issues with my teeth. After I had grown, moved, and secured dental insurance I started going and continued to go every six month like clock work.

My teeth are not straight, they are naturally discolored, and I have an overbite. All that considered my teeth are really healthy. The numbers they call out during a cleaning are 2’s and 3’s – which is good.

So here I am, age 47 and nearly a grandmother for the first time, and my dentist wants me to consider braces to fix my bite. Ummm, I am 12 pounds overweight – so apparently I have learned to adapt for that bite.

I have been tempted to do this – I mean who DOESN’T want a perfect smile? But, I would need extensive braces that would cost thousands and be cemented to my teeth for years. The pain would be unbearable. Plus, if I am going to consider anything cosmetic – it is going to be filling in the lines around my eyes. The windows to this soul may be in need of a remodeling real soon.

Assignment: Smile!

Hello my name is Nancy and I have an addiction.

My love for television might be considered an addiction. I watch a lot of it. For years whenever I ran across someone who proudly stated they didn’t own a television or that they limited their viewing time I would feel a little guilty. When meeting someone for the first time I would dance around the subject. I would casually bring up a television show to determine if I was speaking with another T.V. junkie or not.

Hiding an addition is such hard work.

The day I decided to stop hiding was so freeing for me. I was speaking with a young person I worked with at the time. We were both doing the T.V. dance: mention a show, wait for a reaction, state we rarely watch T.V but . . ., and then mention another show. The more shows we listed – the more we realized we were not alone. Others in the department came out of hiding and started sharing their favorite shows; from comedy, drama, to guilty pleasure.

Television was our bonding moment.

Here is my latest schedule:

• Sunday: Amazing Race: I like to pretend that Tom and I are competing on this show.
•Monday: How I Met Your Mother: Great Cast!
•Tuesday: Oh my goodness! This has gone from the worst night on television to the best . . . . American Idol: Guilty Pleasure, Lost: Epic, and Parenthood: Potential.
•Wednesday:Modern Family: Clever and Funny, and Cougar Town: It Won Me Over with Charm.
•Thursday:The Office: Brand Loyalty Only at this Point, and 30 Rock: overall more hits than misses.
•Friday:The Soup: Who Needs Reality T.V. – Just Watch This!
•Saturday: Please, I am not a freak – even I need a day of rest!


Assignment: I am not hiding any longer…..television is great. Hey – don’t judge me!

Patience

Jesus shared a parable about a fig tree that would not bear fruit any longer (Mark 13:1-9). The owner of the tree wanted it cut down but the servant asked if they could wait just one more year. The servant had faith that the tree could be redeemed.

This parable has a deeper message than I will be sharing in this blog entry but I was recently reminded of it through my Amaryllis.

I planted this bulb on Thanksgiving morning. For many months it was just a pot of mud. I kept watering the mud until one day a sprig of green appeared. I kept watering until one day a stem appeared. I kept watering until one day a bloom appeared.

When the ground is a mix of snow, mud, and brown grass – this flower knew when it needed to bloom.

Assignment: Patience

A Rose By Any Name - Still Awesome!

It has been a stressful few weeks at work with increased crazy happening yesterday. So, when I walked in to the house --- Tom handed me these beautiful roses.



Assignment: Whooaa-Whooo!

Sun in West Michigan

This week has been full of sunshine but I have not allowed myself to enjoy it. February was one of the grayest months on record. I believe the report stated West Michigan had four days with sun. Four Days!!!! That is depressing.

After such a month, you would think that I would be walking on sunshine but I am cautiously happy. It is like when you have a favorite perfume that you never use because you want to keep it forever. You know you love it –but if you actually enjoy it, it will eventually run out.

When did I turn into a cynic?

Oh, and just for the record, I hate that “Walking on Sunshine” song too. It is so “up with people” and once the tune is in your head it never leaves. See, I am right – you are humming it now. Sorry.

Assignment: Soak up the Sun!

A Funk

I am in a funk. I started yesterday by losing one of my diamond earrings. The back came unclasped and it fell out. The good news – I know it is in my house so that will help the search party.

Then last evening I had a hair appointment. I just said, “Do whatever you want” because I am in a funk and hair is a fast and easy fix to get yourself outta a funk. I was excited while the color processed. I closed my eyes while the cut began. My imagination was running wild. Would I have short blond spiked hair? Would it be a mid-length shag in red?

Nope.




A bob. It isn’t a bad cut and it isn’t my stylist’s fault – I just find it boring. It is a shorter version of what I already had AND a cut that I have had many times in the past.

Here’s my problem; no matter what the cut, the hair is still on the top of my head. I have straight hair and an unnatural inability to style my hair. But my true desire is to have textured hair that I can wear in a wash, toss, and wear way. I would love thick, wonderful wavy layers that I can wear in casual (planned) dishevelment or sleek glamorous style.

But this is the hair I have been dealt so whatcha going to do? I guess there are worse things and I did find my earring so maybe things are starting to turn.

Assignment: Let’s start a movement to make wigs socially acceptable for all women!

43 is just too young

The forty’s decade feels old. I have written it time and time again. Our bones ache when we wake up, our hair either changes color or falls out completely, and our faces start to take on the appearance of our parents. Yes, our forty’s seem old until we hear of a death.

Yesterday Tom and I attended a funeral for our niece’s husband. He was 43 years old. He was an active fisherman, a sports enthusiast, a loving father and husband. He was too young to die and Stephanie is too young to be a widow. Their boys are too young to spend the rest of their lives without their father.

A week ago he was given nine-twelve months – he died within a week. I hate cancer.

Assignment: Prayers for Stephanie and the boys because 43 is just too young.