Check out some of our skaters who were featured on the news on Tuesday, November 25. You can find the story here:
http://www.myvalleysports.com/
Let me know what you think!
Changing Lives
I read a blog post yesterday that really made me think. You can read it here. This post discussed how commenting on a child’s simple, homemade costume did so much to raise that child’s self-esteem, and how moved she and her mother were by this small gesture.
I often wonder what I (as one person) can do to change the world. I hear people talking all the time about making the world a better place, but after reading this blog post, I see how simple it really can be. It made me wonder how many lives I have changed, simply by smiling at someone at the right moment or by commenting on an outfit, a costume, a hairstyle, or something...something that was, in my mind, a simple act of common courtesy.
Amazing what a little courtesy can do!
I often wonder what I (as one person) can do to change the world. I hear people talking all the time about making the world a better place, but after reading this blog post, I see how simple it really can be. It made me wonder how many lives I have changed, simply by smiling at someone at the right moment or by commenting on an outfit, a costume, a hairstyle, or something...something that was, in my mind, a simple act of common courtesy.
Amazing what a little courtesy can do!
Making Memories with Family
I just wanted to share this photo, because simply looking at it makes me feel good. It’s a photo of our grandson, Matthew, and his great-grandparents (Curt’s parents). We were lucky enough to spend a few hours yesterday at my in-laws’ house while Bill and Matthew visited, too.
I never really knew my great-grandparents. In fact, I only ever met one of them, and she passed away when I was rather young. Even though I was young, I can still (slightly) remember her. I look at this picture and hope that our little ones will someday realize how blessed they are. I pray that the boys all have the chance to grow up knowing and remembering how many people love them.
I never really knew my great-grandparents. In fact, I only ever met one of them, and she passed away when I was rather young. Even though I was young, I can still (slightly) remember her. I look at this picture and hope that our little ones will someday realize how blessed they are. I pray that the boys all have the chance to grow up knowing and remembering how many people love them.
Friends
Have you ever lost touch with a friend? I don’t mean someone that you knew in school or a casual acquaintance, but a real friend? Some may say that if the person was a real friend, we wouldn’t have lost touch. I don’t think that is true.
I have three friends in my life that I miss, friends that I simply grew apart from. There was no fight, no falling out, nothing that I can pinpoint as “this is what happened between us.” First is a dear friend who I’ve known since the day I was born…I think. We have always been rather close, but due to his being on crutches or in a wheelchair most of his life, we didn’t really “hang out” together much. We try to keep in touch, but it doesn’t always work out that way. I try to arrange at least one day a year where I spend the whole day in Butler, and I try to spend a few hours with him. Again, that doesn’t always work out, either.
The second is a friend from school - all the way back to elementary school. He and I were constant companions. Even when I wasn’t the easiest person to be around, he was always there in some way. All the way up through college and slightly beyond, we were almost always together. Then it happened. We went out together less often. The phone rang less often. I moved to Ohio. Despite the fact that I keep trying through email to hook up with him, it just never seems to happen. Again, when I arrange my day trips to Butler, I try to let him know, but he very rarely has time to see me. I can’t remember the last time I even saw him.
The third is the first friend I made when I moved to Ohio (other than people I knew through skating). We met at work, and we found out that we had much in common. I even asked her to be in my wedding, which is something I would NEVER have done if I hadn’t thought we’d be friends for life. She lived in Salem, while I live in Boardman, which made it tough to get together after we both moved on to other employment. I tried to be there for her when her marriage was in trouble, just being around to listen if nothing else. Yet again, things happened, we called each other less often. We didn’t get together as often.
However, today I decided to stop this in its tracks. I found out that she had recently been going through a lot of crap (for lack of a better word), but I hadn’t heard anything about it until now - after it was all done and over. I told her that we needed to fix this. We are supposed to be friends - there for each other no matter what, but we both had to be interested in making the effort to keep this friendship going. Thankfully she feels the same way, and I am hoping that today marks a new start for us!
(Wow, this one got rather long, didn’t it?)
I have three friends in my life that I miss, friends that I simply grew apart from. There was no fight, no falling out, nothing that I can pinpoint as “this is what happened between us.” First is a dear friend who I’ve known since the day I was born…I think. We have always been rather close, but due to his being on crutches or in a wheelchair most of his life, we didn’t really “hang out” together much. We try to keep in touch, but it doesn’t always work out that way. I try to arrange at least one day a year where I spend the whole day in Butler, and I try to spend a few hours with him. Again, that doesn’t always work out, either.
The second is a friend from school - all the way back to elementary school. He and I were constant companions. Even when I wasn’t the easiest person to be around, he was always there in some way. All the way up through college and slightly beyond, we were almost always together. Then it happened. We went out together less often. The phone rang less often. I moved to Ohio. Despite the fact that I keep trying through email to hook up with him, it just never seems to happen. Again, when I arrange my day trips to Butler, I try to let him know, but he very rarely has time to see me. I can’t remember the last time I even saw him.
The third is the first friend I made when I moved to Ohio (other than people I knew through skating). We met at work, and we found out that we had much in common. I even asked her to be in my wedding, which is something I would NEVER have done if I hadn’t thought we’d be friends for life. She lived in Salem, while I live in Boardman, which made it tough to get together after we both moved on to other employment. I tried to be there for her when her marriage was in trouble, just being around to listen if nothing else. Yet again, things happened, we called each other less often. We didn’t get together as often.
However, today I decided to stop this in its tracks. I found out that she had recently been going through a lot of crap (for lack of a better word), but I hadn’t heard anything about it until now - after it was all done and over. I told her that we needed to fix this. We are supposed to be friends - there for each other no matter what, but we both had to be interested in making the effort to keep this friendship going. Thankfully she feels the same way, and I am hoping that today marks a new start for us!
(Wow, this one got rather long, didn’t it?)
Veterans' Day
On days like today, I cannot help but think about my Grandpa Otterson - "the Commander." I am so thankful for all the Veterans of the US Military who fought to give us the rights and privileges that we sometimes take for granted.
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served in our Armed Forces!
We wouldn’t be here without them.
Make a FAMILY TREE for Christmas
For those of you who are interested in reminiscing about the past year and who like to do something a little different, consider this. Last year, Curt and I started making our own Christmas tree ornaments. Since last year was the first year, we took pictures from whenever…years ago through mid-November 2007 and made them into nice, little ornaments to hang on the tree. The plan is to take new pictures throughout the year and make new ornaments every year. We cut them into different shapes, glue them onto “fun foam,” hole punch them, and tie a ribbon. It would be something really fun to do as a family, letting the kids choose the pictures and glue the pictures to the foam shapes.
Our Tree from 2007
It is a really fun way to remember how blessed we were throughout the year. Let me know what you think and if you try it.
Our Tree from 2007It is a really fun way to remember how blessed we were throughout the year. Let me know what you think and if you try it.
Happy Birthday Logan...
Well, not exactly. Logan is one month old today, and what a month it has been! Unfortunately, we still have not made it down to South Carolina to meet the little guy, but we get regular reports from his parents and his aunt. We are hoping that sometime over the holidays, we will get to visit with them.
We talked to Scott on Saturday. Ethan wasn't really in the mood to talk, but we got at least a "Hi," a "bye," and a "love you" that were clearly audible (which is sometimes tough when you get a two-year-old on speakerphone). We even got to hear Logan for the first time, which made me all the more excited to get down there!
I was also excited to get a note from Jessica yesterday in the mail. It was a thank-you for the gift card we sent for Logan's "diaper shower" and a "PS" thank-you for the Halloween goodies we sent to the boys. (That sounds so cool..."the boys...") Anyway, I was so excited to learn that Ethan really likes the sticker/coloring books - they are "his favorite" according to Jessica.
That's all for now.
We talked to Scott on Saturday. Ethan wasn't really in the mood to talk, but we got at least a "Hi," a "bye," and a "love you" that were clearly audible (which is sometimes tough when you get a two-year-old on speakerphone). We even got to hear Logan for the first time, which made me all the more excited to get down there!
I was also excited to get a note from Jessica yesterday in the mail. It was a thank-you for the gift card we sent for Logan's "diaper shower" and a "PS" thank-you for the Halloween goodies we sent to the boys. (That sounds so cool..."the boys...") Anyway, I was so excited to learn that Ethan really likes the sticker/coloring books - they are "his favorite" according to Jessica.
That's all for now.
Getting to Know Me
This was a really interesting email that a friend sent me the other day. I really enjoy stuff like this because I think it gives me a little more insight to my friends. Some of these are things we never really talk about, but they are interesting little tidbits of info.
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1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:00
2 . Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I don't remember...it was this year, though.
4. What is your favorite TV show? House
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Something different every day...mostly.
6. What is your middle name? Otterson (Lee was my given middle name, but I changed it when I got married)
7. What food do you dislike? Tripe - if you can call that food.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Elton John - The Captain and the Kid
9. What kind of car do you drive? Ford Escape HYBRID
10. Favorite sandwich? Grilled Cheese or Tuna salad
11. What characteristic do you despise? Hypocrite
12. Favorite item of clothing? My huge, oversized, Steelers hoodie sweatshirt that someone gave me.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Myrtle Beach
14. Are you an organized person? Sometimes.
15. Where would you retire to? Myrtle Beach.
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? ???
17. What are you going to do when you finish? Go to work.
18. Furthest place you are sending this? PA
19. Person you expect to send it back first? Probably no one
20. When is your birthday?? December 3
21. Morning person or a night person? Neither
22. What is your shoe size? 6 1/2 wide
23. Pets? All in pet heaven
24. Any new and exciting news? Not really - not since Logan.
25. What did you want to be when you were little? A Pianist
26. How are you today? BLAH
27. What is your favorite flower? Pansy
28. What are you listening to right now? Nothing
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Whenever we can go to Myrtle Beach to see Logan (and everyone else)
31. Do you wish on stars? No, I pray to God
32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple
33. How is the weather right now? Beautiful!
34. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Mom
35. Favorite soft drink? Squirt (Ruby Red, especially)
36. Favorite restaurant? Probably Red Lobster or Longhorn
37. Hair color? Brown
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? Don't remember.
39. Summer or Winter? Summer
40. Spring or Fall? Spring
41. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
42. coffee or tea? Tea - iced!
43. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes
44. When was the last time you cried? A couple weeks ago.
45. What is under your bed? Some under-bed storage boxes and I'm sure a few dust bunnies
46. What did you do last night? Watched Ghost Hunters
47. How many keys on your key ring? A BUNCH!
48. How many years at your current job? Depends on what you mean by that.
49. Favorite day of the week? Friday nights and Saturdays
50. Do you make friends easily? I don't think so.
51. How many people will you send this to? A few, but not many. May post it on my blog.
52. How many will respond? Probably none of them.
53. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Absolutely :)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:00
2 . Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I don't remember...it was this year, though.
4. What is your favorite TV show? House
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Something different every day...mostly.
6. What is your middle name? Otterson (Lee was my given middle name, but I changed it when I got married)
7. What food do you dislike? Tripe - if you can call that food.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Elton John - The Captain and the Kid
9. What kind of car do you drive? Ford Escape HYBRID
10. Favorite sandwich? Grilled Cheese or Tuna salad
11. What characteristic do you despise? Hypocrite
12. Favorite item of clothing? My huge, oversized, Steelers hoodie sweatshirt that someone gave me.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Myrtle Beach
14. Are you an organized person? Sometimes.
15. Where would you retire to? Myrtle Beach.
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? ???
17. What are you going to do when you finish? Go to work.
18. Furthest place you are sending this? PA
19. Person you expect to send it back first? Probably no one
20. When is your birthday?? December 3
21. Morning person or a night person? Neither
22. What is your shoe size? 6 1/2 wide
23. Pets? All in pet heaven
24. Any new and exciting news? Not really - not since Logan.
25. What did you want to be when you were little? A Pianist
26. How are you today? BLAH
27. What is your favorite flower? Pansy
28. What are you listening to right now? Nothing
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Whenever we can go to Myrtle Beach to see Logan (and everyone else)
31. Do you wish on stars? No, I pray to God
32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple
33. How is the weather right now? Beautiful!
34. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Mom
35. Favorite soft drink? Squirt (Ruby Red, especially)
36. Favorite restaurant? Probably Red Lobster or Longhorn
37. Hair color? Brown
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? Don't remember.
39. Summer or Winter? Summer
40. Spring or Fall? Spring
41. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
42. coffee or tea? Tea - iced!
43. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes
44. When was the last time you cried? A couple weeks ago.
45. What is under your bed? Some under-bed storage boxes and I'm sure a few dust bunnies
46. What did you do last night? Watched Ghost Hunters
47. How many keys on your key ring? A BUNCH!
48. How many years at your current job? Depends on what you mean by that.
49. Favorite day of the week? Friday nights and Saturdays
50. Do you make friends easily? I don't think so.
51. How many people will you send this to? A few, but not many. May post it on my blog.
52. How many will respond? Probably none of them.
53. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Absolutely :)
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