Photo Friday: The Sender of the Ladybugs

I was brushing my teeth before bed last night when I remembered... August 28th... Seven years since Heaven welcomed Grandpa through it's gates. My first reaction was to be ashamed, that I hadn't remembered earlier in the day. My second reaction was that "ashamed" was the last reaction Grandpa would want me to have. He'd probably be thrilled that my life goes on, that my family goes on, that I go on. He knows how much I loved him, admired him, respected him, both then and for eternity. Nothing was unsaid between us, there are no regrets.

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Take a look, that's him on the right. (Cute, isn't he?!?) The ladybug story didn't start with him, but he gave it meaning. He's the reason I feel it, believe it, and try my best to live it. He, my friends, is the sender of the ladybugs. In my heart, I know he's always dancing in the rain, and no one in Heaven or on Earth has more ladybugs beside them.

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

Reece's Rainbow

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I've blogged here before about American Express' Members Project, but now I want to share with you my favorite project on their list of nominations. It's called Reece's Rainbow (on the American Express site it's referred to as "Save an orphan with Down Syndrome").

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The primary goals of Reece's Rainbow are:

• To raise awareness regarding the plight of children with Down syndrome in foreign orphanages and their availability to be adopted
• To raise adoption grant donations for each of our waiting children
• To seek new adoptive families for orphans with Down syndrome internationally
• To provide adoptive families with additional fundraising opportunities.
• To fund humanitarian aid opportunities and improve the quality of life of our children waiting to be adopted
• To fund educational and therapeutic opportunities for orphaned children with Down syndrome living in foreign orphanages
• To fund and facilitate the development of new Down syndrome birth parent support groups in foreign countries, thereby decreasing the number of children placed in orphanages
• To enact social change abroad about children with Down syndrome and other special needs through the testimony of adoption

Take a few minutes to go over to the American Express Member's Project Website (click on the button above, or go here and search for "Reece"). You don't have to have an American Express card to vote, and these few clicks and two minutes of your time could save the lives of children with special needs who are waiting to be adopted. I voted, I hope you will, too. Hurry, voting ends on September 1st!

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

Crazy Life

Ever hear a song that just catches you at the right moment, like you were meant to hear that song at that time?

On my Tuesday ride home from work, I was listening to the Prayer of a Common Man CD by Phil Vassar, one I've listened to many times before. Usually I just skip around to my favorite songs but this time, I let it play straight through to the last song, called Crazy Life. This song really struck me, and I found myself playing it over and over again, at least 1/2 dozen times. (I have a really long commute!)

It's a sweet ballad with a catchy melody and I wanted to share it here. It reminds me that even though life is hectic and crazy sometimes, it's all about choice... it's all about perspective... it's all about balance. This is my new theme song, I think!

I rise and stumble from the bed

It wakes the worries in my head

And I pour myself a bowl of Cheerios

I think about the good and the bad

The happiness outweighs the sad

And the balance evens out the highs and lows

Today, there's lessons to be learned

There's progress to be made

Tomorrow, I can say, "I'm a little older and wiser."

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It's a crazy life, a crazy life

It keeps you on your toes

You never know what lies in store for you

Or where it's gonna go

Hellos, goodbyes, you laugh, you cry

You're free to pick and choose, you win and lose

You're either wrong or right

Yeah, it's a crazy life

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I think of lovers come and gone

And people I've depended on

And I subtract the pleasure from the cost

Except for maybe two or three

They've drifted far away from me

Or maybe I'm the one who's gotten lost

But you can never go back home, no matter how hard you try

And once you've said, "goodbye."You've said it all and it's over

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It's a crazy life, a crazy life

It keeps you on your toes

You never know what lies in store for you

Or where it's gonna go

Hellos, goodbyes, you laugh, you cry

You're free to pick and choose, you win and lose

You're either wrong or right

Yeah, it's a crazy life

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Thanks for letting me share my crazy life with all of you!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Girl Uses Computer To Save Trapped Flood Victims

Living in South Florida for the past 7 1/2 years, I've become all too accustomed to tropical storms and hurricanes. It's the price you pay for being able to go to the beach in January!

After Tropical Storm Fay hit my area and moved out to sea, I was dismayed to see that it was turning back west to hit Florida again. The rains were terrible and the flood waters became dangerous in many places. I think that Florida has a great disaster response system in place but sometimes, there just aren't enough crews to go around or enough real-time information about what's happening where.

When the flood waters started to rise and she knew people were trapped, 16-year-old Tiffany Monk thought fast and started emailing for help.

After reaching a local radio station via email, the news crews and emergency workers arrived quickly. This young girl's email helped to save over 40 people from being trapped in the waters -- some of whom were in wheelchairs and on oxygen.

Say what you will about teenagers and computers... this girl's use of email saved people's lives. Most certainly, good in the news.

Read the full story here: http://www.local6.com/weather/17277174/detail.html

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
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Blessings,
Kat

Meet Luanne

I "met" Luanne early last year, when I bumped into a blog she had started called Sixty-Six Days. This blog was her way of chronicling the 66 days leading up to her 50th birthday, and all the things she was hoping to accomplish during that time. I was immediately hooked and so it was a no-brainer that once she turned 50 and started her new blog, Luanne @ 50, I'd become a fan of that one, too. Yesterday, Luanne turned 51, so what better day to talk about all the ways that she inspires me.

Luanne has three great children and a wonderful husband. Her love of her family is apparent in her writing, and they share a strength, closeness and sense of fun that I very much admire. Luanne is a great friend, a great writer, and her thoughts and perspectives always make me stop and think.

Luanne is one of the kindest people I know. This spring, she gave my family a most wonderful gift. I tried to say thank you, though words and quilts could never express how much her generosity touched my family. Luanne is also a woman of principles, and I admire her ability to know when to say when. I think that's something you don't see enough of these days.

For her friendship, her generosity, her many talents, her love of family, her strong faith and her inspirational words, Luanne is my Inspirational Person of the Week. Go on over to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday with me, will you?

Luanne, may your 51st year be full of all the wonderful blessings you deserve, and may your next 51 be just as special.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: My Something

We all have a "something"... a smell, a taste, a view, a blanket, a person... a "something" that reminds us to stop for a minute, take a look around, remember all that is good, all that is right, all that is important.

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This is my something. This something always stops me in my tracks and reminds me to kick my priorities back in order. Little bug, lotta power.

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What's your something?

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

The Littlest Heroes Project

I'm trying my darnedest to keep up with the blog on a daily basis but sometimes, it's just too much. I have great intentions and extremely helpful friends who keep passing along things that would be great to use here, and I thank them SO much for that! But, this week has been crazy at work and at home, so unfortunately, blogging gets bumped way down on the list.

That said, I ran into a great post today on one of my favorite blogs, and it fits in really well with the Thursday Theme of "organizations who do good in the world." I invite you to hop on over to 5 Minutes for Special Needs and read Tammy's post on The Littlest Heroes Project. With a name like "Littlest Heroes," how can you not want to click right over there! Go on now, what are you waiting for?

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
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Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Mom was right

She always told me, "You won't ever be able to understand until you have kids of your own." Was she right or what?!?

Today I dropped Rachel off at Kindergarten, her first day. She's been in daycare / pre-school for 3 years, but my husband always did the dropping off in the past.

She was a bit nervous, but no tears. I, on the other hand, am on my 2nd bag of chocolate, 3rd box of tissues, and I'm feverishly tearing apart my office building looking for a bottle of wine.

Rachel is ready for this, has been for years. I just wish I was...

Sometimes, though, we have to let go a little bit. We have to look at their smile and know they'll be OK. We have to trust that we did our Parent job. In my heart, I know I did... and here's my proof:

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

Good in the News: Don't let 'em count you out!

Twenty-eight-year-old Stephanie Brown Trafton didn't make the Olympic team for Athens four years ago. Before this year, she only had two discus throws over 200 feet. She finished only third at the U.S. Olympic trials. The US Team took her on more as a "body" than as a medal contender. No U.S. female athlete had won gold in the discus event since Lillian Copeland in 1932, and they won only 1 other medal in the event since then. Until Beijing.

On her very first throw, Brown Trafton threw for an amazing 212 feet, 5 inches. She watched that distance hold up through the entire competition, resulting in a gold medal in the event for the U.S. Women for the first time in 76 years. 76 years. Who says persistence doesn't pay off?

"I came to the Bird's Nest to lay a golden egg, and that's what I did," Brown Trafton said. "I am surprised we haven't won more gold. But you know what? I hope this sets a trend."

Read the full article here, in the Sports Illustrated Beijing Olympics section.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Taylor Swift

My brother-in-law owns a food concession business and one of his venues is a large concert amphitheater near our home. A great perk is that he can get us in to any concert we'd like to see there. Last night, Rascal Flatts (country act) was playing, with opening act 16-year-old newcomer Taylor Swift.

My 5-year-old is a huge Taylor Swift fan so even though it was a Sunday night, my husband decided to take her to the show, just to see Taylor and then come home. Rachel spent a lot of time getting ready for the show -- picking just the right outfit, which ended up to be a pink dress (she only wears dresses, since princesses only wear dresses) with a pink Taylor Swift t-shirt over the top, rounded out by pink socks and pink sneakers. But I digress...

They were there early, not a big crowd yet, when a DJ from the local country music station approached them and asked my daughter if she was a big Taylor Swift fan. Of course, her answer was a resounding "YES!" Wouldn't you know, this man gave her a side stage pass, where Rachel was able to get in line to meet Ms. Taylor Swift herself.

Not only did Taylor give her a hug and pose for a picture, but she signed my daughter's t-shirt ("I {heart} Rachel!" then her autograph), signed a picture, and spent time talking to her.

In a day and age where so much music has to be censored, so many "role models" end up on the front page for the wrong kind of things... how refreshing to see (meet!) a young woman who is not only a superstar but a great role model for other young women, living proof that if you have talent and dreams, you too can be whatever you want to be when you grow up.

Taylor Swift sure made a difference to my daughter last night, who may be beaming forever (and certainly isn't likely to let that autographed t-shirt out of her sight soon!) and for that, she's my inspirational person of the week.

If you haven't heard her music, I encourage you to take a listen (go here, click on Media then Audio). No matter how old you are, I can pretty much guarantee you'll be singing along in no time!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
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Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Makes a Lousy Week All Better

Sometimes, all it takes to make a lousy week all better is one little smile. I hope your weekend is full of them!

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

We now interrupt....

... today's regularly scheduled blog to go bite and hit.

(That will only be funny if you read yesterday's post.)

(And don't worry, I'm not biting or hitting people.)

Hope y'all are having a better week than I am! And remember, no matter what kind of week you're having:

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Quote of the Week

Don't worry, life is good... work is a thorn in my side this week, though. A friend of mine sent me a card with this quote on the front, sums up my week perfectly and brings a smile to my face:

"You know it was a good day if you didn't bite or hit anyone."
by Nathanial Parizek, age 4

Sometimes, it's the little things...

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics

Hello, my name is Kat and I'm married to an Olympics Addict.

Olympics are a long-awaited, revered event in our house. Doesn't matter the event, we're TIVO-ing pretty much 24/7 and watching into the wee hours of the night. Sleep be damned when the Olympics are on!

In spite of the fact that the bags under my eyes from too much Olympics and too little sleep are pretty much the same size as the Olympic rings, there's just too much excitement to stop watching for a second!

So many good stories have come out of these Olympics, and we're only 4 days in! Choose a story, any story, and you'll see why the Olympic Spirit is so strong, and why I picked the Olympics as this week's Good in the News.

Learn all about the Olympic Spirit

American Men's 4x100 swim relay team takes the Gold!

Russian and Georgian Olympic shooters hug in Beijing as their countries fight

Official website of the Olympic movement (check out Photos of the Day, upper right)

United States Olympic Committee

Fantastic Finishes in Summer Games

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Your Significant Other

Disclaimer: I feel the need to start with this.... If you don't currently have a significant other, or if you're in the market for a new one (kidding!!), there is no dating advice in this post. If you already have a significant other that you have not yet met, you need to do more today than read this post... run, don't walk, to the nearest therapist!! :-)

I love to write. Always have, I'm sure I always will. This is my third active (ish) blog, and though my husband knows about my first one (Random Thoughts from a Newbie Blogger) and my second one (Kat's Next Five Things), it turns out that I never told him that I'd started this one. It was an innocent mistake, I wasn't trying to hide something from him at all. He knows that early in the morning before anyone is awake or late at night when the kids are in bed and he's watching sports, I blog. I guess I just never told him I was doing a new blog.

Last Monday, I posted here about my daughter, Rachel. I wrote that post on my home computer (I usually use my laptop when I post, and no one else uses this one). I happened to leave the window open and when he got on the computer after the kids were in bed, he saw that post up on the screen. He started to read some posts from this blog, and also on my Random Thoughts blog. "What's all this," he asked me?

"Ah, love, there's so much about me you don't know," I joked. OK, I'm not sure there's so much about me he doesn't know... we've been together for 12.5 years now. What wouldn't he know? But as it turns out as he read through my posts, there was a lot he didn't know. Certainly that's not intention on either of our parts, and I do think it's OK to have a few things that only you know... the blogs just wasn't intentionally one of them.

Today, take a look at your significant other. What about them don't you know? Does (s)he have an interest in ancient Egyptian history? Has (s)he always wanted to try sushi? Is (s)he having trouble at work? Want another baby? Want a dog? Want to travel to Europe? Won the spelling bee in 3rd grade? Always wanted to be an astronaut? Hates your fuzzy blue slippers? Wish you'd let your hair grow longer or stop coloring it so blond? Loves how you look when you wear green?

Maybe it's a little thing, maybe it's a funny thing, maybe it's something that's been heavy on their mind or on their heart, and they don't want to "burden" you with it. Whatever "it" is, though.... find out. Learn about it. Support it. Act on it if you can.

If, like me, you think they're can't be anything left you don't know about your significant other, well, ask! If your significant other is still sleeping, as mine is as I write this post, I suggest you don't wake him/her up for this question. But maybe later on tonight, after the dishes are done and the kids are in bed, ask the question. See if it's true what they say: You learn something new every day. To me, there aren't many better people to learn something new about.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
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Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Can't Hide from Mommy's Love

Try as you might, you can't hide from a mother's love. (Or a mother's camera, as the case may be.) And you know what? Even when you're grumpy, Mom will still always think you're beautiful.

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

Volunteer Match

If you've ever thought about doing any kind of volunteer work but weren't sure where to start, check out this site: www.VolunteerMatch.org.

VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations.

I've used this site before and when I plugged in my zip code today (yes, that's all you have to do!), I got 232 local opportunities -- from volunteering to do Children's IDs/fingerprints at the county fair to joining the Peace Corps and everything in between. They even have virtual volunteer opportunities, things I can do with my PJs on, without ever leaving my house.

Some opportunities ask for a specific skill set (helping a client create a database), some just need friendly people who are willing to lend a hand. All are great opportunities, certainly a site worth checking out!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: 7 Seconds

Recently, my husband, two daughters and I took a trip to New York to visit my family. My younger daughter did not have a ticket, she sat on my lap during the plane ride. I've flown close to 500 times (seriously!) and I've heard the "important announcements in the event of an emergency" so many times that I pretty much don't listen to them anymore. However, there's one that always sticks in my head.

"In the event that the cabin experiences a sudden change in pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling. The bag will not inflate even though oxygen is flowing. Please secure your own mask before assisting others."

Once I had kids, this one always made me chuckle. Yeah, right, I'm going to put on my own mask before my kids'. Sure. I'm their MOTHER! Of course I'm going to put theirs on first, make sure they are OK, and then tend to mine. Silly flight attendant!

This time, though, one of the flight attendants made sure to point out that the baby and I should sit on the left side of the plane, there were 3 masks on that side (only 2 seats) so I should sit there since I may need one for the baby. He also proceeded to remind me that I should secure my own mask first, since it only takes 7 seconds without oxygen before an "altered state of consciousness" will begin, at which point I'd be less able to help my daughter.

Seven seconds. Wow. That's not very long. It got me to thinking....

I tend to go through life worrying about how to help everyone else. What can I do? What can I give? How can I help? How do I make sure that everyone else is taken care of? If there happens to be a little something left over for me, that's great, but certainly the "everyone elses" in my life come first. Always have. And hey, shouldn't they?

Seven seconds. That's not very long.

If I neglect myself, within 7 seconds I could start to become unable to help my baby girl. I want to believe that I can get her mask on first and then my own in those 7 seconds. But what if I can't? Then I've hurt both of us by not putting myself first. Wow. In this case, taking care of myself first is the only way to make sure I can take care of her as well as I want to, as well as I need to.

That's fine on an airplane, but what about the rest of my life? Though I'm sure he wasn't looking to instill a life lesson, that flight attendant made a big impact. I spend so much time and energy focusing on everyone else, that I may (unknowingly and unintentionally) be putting myself into an "altered state." Not enough sleep. Not enough time. Not enough energy. When I'm dragging, can I really help others the way I want to, the way I need to?

Putting my own mask on first only takes a few seconds, but it could make all the difference. Just like taking care of myself first doesn't have to take long, but could make a huge difference in my ability to be happy, healthy, and therefore, take care of others to the true best of my abilities.

No, I'm not planning a spa getaway or a shopping spree or lazy afternoon naps. But next time I want a pedicure, I'm not going to feel like I don't deserve it. Instead, I'll go to the local nail place, let them massage my feet and make my toes pretty for an hour, and come home a bit recharged, relaxed, and feeling good so I can be in a better mental place to do what I love to do best -- take care of others.

Mommy first, Mommy always, forever and ever, Amen. But I'm learning (slowly but surely!) that to the best I can be for others, I need to be the best I can be for me, first.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Mother of 5 Wins her Dream

Goes to show that when you have a dream, passion and talent, nothing should stand in your way.

On Monday night, Melissa Lawson, a 32-year old mother of 5 was crowned the latest "Nashville Star" in the show's 6th season finale. This is the first year I've watched the show, but it certainly won't be the last.

From Day 1, Melissa's amazing talent has shown through and I'm thrilled to see her win. More than that, though, I'm thrilled to see that a mother of 5 has proven to the world that moms, just like everybody else, can still follow (and attain) their dreams.

This excerpt from an article by Mario Tarradel in The Dallas Morning News sums it up perfectly:

In many ways, however, she was a winner before her name was called. The relentlessly image-conscious music business, country or otherwise, would have probably discarded Ms. Lawson immediately because she's not model-thin. Yet it's in her realness – her looks, her story, her talent – that the heart of true country music beats. She represents most of the women out there who connect with the genre: the working mothers, the wives and the churchgoers. She proves that life experiences are the ultimate tools needed to sell a song.

Melissa, you go, girl! You're an inspiration to me as a woman, as a mom and as a dreamer. Looking forward to more of that beautiful voice.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Rachel

I have been blessed with two beautiful little girls. Rachel is the older of the two, and today she turns five. I mentioned in a post last week that I don't have many heroes, but Rachel is one of the few. She inspires me daily with her kindness, her wit, her bravery and her innocence. She makes me want (more than anything!) to be the best mommy I can be, the best me I can be. She puts my life, my work, my stress, my every single action into perspective, and she truly makes my heart smile.

Children are amazing. Life is so different through the eyes of a child, so much better than through my own, I think.

If you have children, take a special, intentional look at them today. Remember how amazing they are, how inspirational they are, and how blessed you are to have them.

To my sweet, beautiful, amazing little Rachel, may your next 95 years be as wonderful as the first five have been, for both of us. Happy, Happy Birthday! And most important of all:

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Joy!

Drop all your cares and worries at the doorstep… and just revel in the fun. Jump in with both feet!

Photo and words by Mel Instefjord, June 2008. Bree Instefjord is 4 3/4 years old, and LOVES soccer!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat