MSU Homecoming

What is so great about going to your alma mater's homecoming celebration??? - mainly, the chance to reconnect with the institution that you were a part of during a very important time in your life! I grew so much in college and had the ultimate college experience. It wasn't always perfect, but life never is - it wasn't always easy, but life never is - and it wasn't always fair, but life never is.
I love seeing people's expression when they return to Murray after having been gone for several years - the campus is BEAUTIFUL! The positive changes MSU has made to the overall look of the campus, are exciting. Alumni who come back and experience it all over again (many bring their own kids and tell them - "this is where I lived, ate, studied")- I just love that! So, if you haven't been back to your alma mater - Homecoming weekend is the PERFECT and most FAB time to return and reconnect with old friends, favorite professors (oh, and there is usually a fun football game to attend too).

4th grade football

Ok, so I am sitting at the football field yesterday watching 3rd and 4th graders tackle eachother to the ground - some rejoicing in their ability to pull their opponent to the ground, some frustrated that they didn't make their tackle or score the touchdown, and yet some picking the grass, daydreaming - (so funny when you see a kid out there like that who totally doesn't want to be there but mom or dad signed them up). What I think is fabulous though about little league football is the amount of kids who can succeed on the field. Other sports are so individually focused (baseball - you make an error and everyone knows, or basketball, where there are 5 kids on the court) but football - a slightly obese child, who has the ability to sack the quarterback, jumping up in triumph and celebrating his skill is totally FAB. I am not a huge fan of football - but I am a HUGE fan of pumping up kid's self esteem. Kids are so fragile - they pay attention to everything and this has become apparent to me when my 10 year old mentions things to me that I would have thought he didn't notice or care about (like what another parent said to him after the game or how a friend treated him at school). Building kid's self esteem is so important and football seems to be an avenue to several kids to experience the chest bump, the high five, the "way to go - you ROCK" feeling!

Fabulous coffee

No deep thought here but just reflecting on all of the years I missed out on they yummy taste of a cafe mocha or a delicious coffee with cream and splenda! Did this coffee era always exist or has it just been popular with the start-up of Starbucks and others..I have no idea. I remember my mom and dad always drinking coffee (plain black) but don't remember seeing coffee bars on every corner and in the lobbies of churches.

We went to a church while on vacation in Destin, FLA one time and they had a coffee bar in the lobby (like a real Starbucks - so funny). Anyway, although I missed several years of (college years until about 3 years ago) - I am making up for it now! I LOVE COFFEE! I like the taste (and obviously the caffeine).

Our fabulous country

I have tried to commit to being an informed voter so I am watching both conventions with an open mind (I wish everyone would do that). Anyway, I love the fact that we live in a country where no one dictates to us how we should vote. I love the fact that we are free to express our opinions and develop values based on our beliefs. Can you imagine how you would feel if someone dictated to you what you should believe? It would be ok for a while if they were "preaching" what you wanted to hear but the first time they (he/she/it) mandated something you didn't believe in or could get behind - wow....that would be awful! At least in this country we can educate ourselves and we are able to ask questions and seek more information!

I got in the middle of an e-mail stream from one of the those silly forwards (I don't know why people forward crap via e-mails without checking out the source anyway). Anyway, this forward had to do with Obama so I was copied on all of these back and forth e-mails between an extreme right and an extreme left (two peas in a pod if you ask me). Finally, after reading their opinions I simply said - "isn't it nice to live in a country where each of you can express your opinion and no one dictates to you how to vote - it's a beautiful thing..God Bless America (although I am convinced that God would have no part of politics but that is for another day and another blog).

Funny - neither person replied and they kept arguing back and forth - both being ugly to the other.

I am thankful that I don't have to agree or live by either one of their beliefs - God bless this fabulous country!

Fabulous higher ed

I have recently been given the opportunity to serve in an administrative/marketing roll for a university (murray state university). Classes started for students today and I am so amazed at how the face of our campus changes when the students come back. I attended the freshman convocation ceremony on Monday - all freshman have a "freshman reading experience" where the university selects a book and then we invite the author to come on campus and welcome the students and talk about why he/she wrote the book, lessons from the book, etc. The President also welcomes the students and challenges them to work hard, learn as much as they can and do everything they can to have a successful four years (some may be five, six years...ha). Anyway, I just was reflecting on the atmosphere of higher ed and how the students may not appreciate it until they are gone. The faculty and staff have the opportunity to really "change and mold lives" and the students have the opportunity to develop, learn, explore, search......the list goes on. How fabulous is that?

If you are in the mood and reading this blog - I would love to hear your best memories of college - what made a difference in your life during those years?

blogging

I would love to hear about what are the best qualities of a blog? We are looking at putting a parent blog and a student blog on our university website and I want to know what aspects we should definitely include. I am a new to blogging and realize you get out of it what you put into it - right? I think blogs are FAB and would love to learn more about them (what makes them FAB and what could make them fail). Anybody out there want to advise me.......

Have a FABulous day!

the kitchen is never closed

Do any of you get frustrated with the fact that you cook dinner and clean up (about 1 1/2 hours in the kitchen - the last place I want to be) and then as soon as you hang up the hand towel, you hear little feet and a voice...."mommy, I am hungry"

I read once where kids are healthier because they eat 6 small meals a day instead of 2 or 3 big meals and snacks but I am here to say that I want to close down the kitchen after dinner - can I get a "yep...yep" on that?

Most of the time, my kids eat all of their dinner too. Last night, for example - we got home and Caroline ate 2 bowls of cereal before dinner. Then, she ate dinner, then (about 1 hour later) she wanted bread with a cheese slice and some blueberries. AMAZING!

Well - the FAB thing about this is -

- Healthy kids
-the frozen food industry (what would we do without them)
- gainful employment so we can put food on the table

Have a FAB day!
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First time at my own blog site

I am so excited to create my own blog site where I can interact with other "great minds" about motherhood, careers, politics, decorating, cooking (NOT), and chocolate!!

I am the mother of three and my two oldest just started school today! The first day of school is so exciting. Whether you are in elementary or college - it is a fresh start, a new day! I told my boys on the way to school that it is their chance to set a tone in their class as leaders and respectful students (not that they are capable of this 24/7 but I do believe they have the potential to be that type of student on a regular basis - especially when my husband and I set the expectations). They were so cute - my 6 year old said, "I am going to try really hard to say - yes sir, no sir, etc....."

We will see....

So, the first day of school is FAB! FAB because we get back in a routine as a household, FAB because despite some of the problems, public schools are great (kids interacting with diverse groups, learning to get along with others not JUST LIKE THEM - great life lessons), FAB because learning is exciting!