Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and over at www.writersdigest.com they are doing a Poem a Day Challenge.  I have participated in nearly all of the prompts, so please go check it out if you feel the need.  I really wanted to share the poem I wrote for yesterday's challenge.  The prompt was to write about an animal, and I couldn't help but thinking of the images that came to me during the Write the Dream conference I went to back in March.  If you know my dad you know what I mean about him drawing everyone and everything in.  Love you, Dad!

Horses and My Dad

In a dream he

walked toward me

across green pasture

from beneath the trees

They followed him out

from all around

trusting where he led

I woke and wondered

what it meant

A cowboy

trailed by horses

And then I knew

the truth I saw

My dad just

draws souls in

Yet he will always

come to me

if I am lost from him

Kids Say

Enchil-la-las
We have a great casserole recipe from Dan's mom that is called Enchiladas, though the tortillas are the only really Mexican part about the recipe.  No matter, it is delicious. Lynn, however, cannot say Enchilada and has rechristened them Enchi-la-las.

Recipe:
1 lb. hamburger browned and drained
2 cans Hormel Chili No Beans
1 package flour tortillas
1-1 ½ cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Combine Chili with browned and drained hamburger in a skillet and heat through.  Place a spoon full of meat mixture and a sprinkle of cheese in a tortilla.  Roll up tortilla and place in a microwave safe casserole dish.  Continue placing rolled tortillas next to each other in the dish until it is full.  Pour remaining meat mixture over the rolled tortillas.  Sprinkle cheese over top of entire dish.  Cover and heat in microwave for 3-4 minutes until cheese is melted and dish is heated through.

And in things a 6 year old should never say….
Joe has moved beyond most of the cute/funny word mix ups that he used to have.  However, I am pretty sure that Lynn may be featured in "Kids Say" indefinitely.  Bless her funny language goofs.

Here is a conversation we had just after she had been put to bed the other night.  She stayed in her room and we were in ours.  Thank goodness she couldn't see us so we didn't have to explain to her why we were busting up laughing at the end of the conversation.

Lynn: Mom!
Me: What Lynn?
Lynn: There's a hooker in my bed.
Me (laughing): What?
Lynn: A hooker
Me: Do you mean a hanger?
Lynn: Oh, yeah.
Me: Just put it on the floor. We'll put it away in the morning.

And hopefully we never have to talk to either of our children about hookers ever again.

Spring Break 2014

As I am sitting alone in my house in the middle of a weekday...wait what?  Yeah, this is weird and really awesome!  I watched a movie by myself this morning, a grown up movie.  Blue Jasmine is the only Academy nominated movie (for adults) that I have seen this year.  (I've seen Frozen, twice.)  I'm really glad I watched it, but it ended rather abruptly.  My book club book from last night, The Other Typist, ended strangely too.  I still don't think any of us really know what happened.

Anyway, this week has been filled with little blessings that truly have made it feel like a vacation.  Lynn got to celebrate her BFF's birthday at a bowling party on Saturday.  It was sweet to see the girls interact.  They literally squeal every time they see each other.

After the party we headed to Des Moines to stay the night en route to Dubuque.  The wonderful car ride was a blessing that was repeated Sunday morning and on Wednesday coming back.  I'm not being sarcastic here.  The kids were amazing in the car.  Finally, they can occupy themselves without driving anyone too crazy.

Mimi time in Dubuque was relaxed but fun.  We visited a bounce house on Monday morning for a couple of hours.  Later, we had dinner together at Texas Road House.  Joe's quote of the night was, "Ahhh, the sweet smell of Texas."  After dinner, Mimi took the kids home where they camped out on the living room floor to watch movies and stay up late.  Dan and I headed out to the casino.  I was up for awhile, and then I was down, and then just when I was about to quit, I won $97.  If I had an addictive personality, I would probably still be there trying to win more, but I was happy to triple my money and walk out the door.  When we got back Joe was still up.  This was our indication that we are in fact, old.  He told us we should have stayed out longer, but 9:30 is past my bedtime.  It was nice to sleep in a little on Tuesday morning.

Early Tuesday, Dan took Joe on a little drive.  They went to three states in about 10 minutes.  Dubuque is on the border of Iowa with Wisconsin and Illinois.  So, over two different bridges they went.  Joe was thrilled by the novelty of this.  Later in the day we went to the Mississippi River Museum.  There was a turtle exhibit that we all loved.  We also got to see something that doesn't happen very often.  The alligator that they have at the museum was being fed for the first time in a few months.  This was because they had given her a hibernation period where they didn't feed her and they lowered the temp in her enclosure to simulate the wild.  They fed her three or four big white rats.  The volunteer who was explaining things to us said she wouldn't eat for another few weeks, so we were lucky to see it.

Tuesday night we all camped out to watch Frozen since it was delivered in the mail that day.  I shouldn't complain about seeing it twice since I do like the movie and because it was Mimi's 3rd time seeing it.  She is a great Mimi.

On Wednesday we headed home, leaving snow for the warmer weather of Kansas City.  The drive was uneventful and perfect.  Then I got to go to book club.  And now here I am, alone.  I think I will go take a nap, in my hammock.  Bye!

Write the Dream Writer's Conference Experience

This past weekend I had one of the most fantastic experiences of my life.  I attended the first ever Write the Dream Writer’s Conference, hosted by Studio Z Publishing at Bartle Hall, here in Kansas City, MO.  It was their first conference and my first conference.  Writers from all over the area were in attendance. There were writers with little to no publishing experience, like me, writers with dozens of publication credits, and writers everywhere in between.

In my daily life, people know I like to write, but I don’t ever call myself a writer.  I’m a teacher and a mom and a wife, who likes to plunk out some creative words from time to time.  But at this conference, I was a writer who happens to do all of those other things.  I didn’t feel like I was bragging when I talked about the three pieces I've published.  I didn’t feel silly talking about my genre or lack of genre.  People weren’t poking fun or joking when they said, “That could be a book!”  They meant it, and I realized, that could be a book!

 

Cady McClain, best known for her roles on several soap operas, but who is talented is so many other ways, was the keynote speaker on Friday night.  I was in awe of her from the moment I realized in my online search that she played “Dixie” on All My Children when I was a kid.  Visions of the TV in the little apartment where my babysitter, Alice, watched my brother and me flashed in my mind.  Dixie was a young blonde character wearing bright puffy sleeves in the show we watched over lunch.  Somewhere up in Heaven Alice was smiling down on me as I listened to Cady’s inspirational words.

 

After hearing her speak, I have decided to take her advice, which you can find in full here on her blog.  My writer self is a child that I have to nurture with kind words and feelings.  I will not listen to the bully voice that tells me I am not good enough.  I will put that voice aside, protect my writer from it.  I will find a way to feed the fire of creativity everyday.  And, I will thank God and Alice that I went to this conference because of their nudge.

On Saturday, I spent the day listening to several speakers hurry through information about a myriad of topics.  In the whirlwind that it was, I learned about where to get started with self-publishing, how to market, what to write off on my taxes, where to spend my money if I have it to spend, and so many other little things that I filled 10 pages in my journal with notes.  All of the information was invaluable.

On Sunday, I skipped church and spent some time with God.  I’m not kidding here.  The workshop led by Cady was called “Dreamscaping.”  I literally had a dream while I was wide-awake.  Cady led us through a visualization of a scene.  She prompted us to think about all of the senses involved in the situations she was suggesting to us. 

After the visualization, which could have only come from a higher power, we all sat to work writing down everything we could remember.  I came out of it with several pages of scribbled notes followed by a few more pages of all the things I forgot about.  This first writing was emotional, but I was not prepared for the emotions that would flow when the group of six of us came back together to share our experience aloud.  I am not going to tell you any of their stories, nor will I tell you mine at this point.  It was all much too intense and personal.  I will say that I won’t soon forget the images and the tears these words produced for each of us.  Pictures of beach grass, red birds, horses, white bags, picket fences, golden angels, and lakes will exist in my memory files forever.

During this discussion Cady gave individual suggestions to each of as to how we could expand on the ideas the dream gave us.  She suggested things like poetry, exploration of another character involved, or writing from the point of view of someone or something else in the dream.  This process yielded yet another round of touching pieces, more discussion, and finally more suggestions for taking the work further. 

I cannot comment as to the effect this had on the other members of the group in specific terms, but I do know we all experienced something profound.  We are now linked to each other because of the words we trusted ourselves to share.  I will feel the presence of their encouragement each time I sit to write and when I feel the fear of being rejected by my inner critic.  They will be there rallying for me to keep going.

As I write this, images of the play I have been encouraged to create are flashing frantically through my head.  I am scared to write it, but not so scared that I won’t try.  And for that, I will be forever thankful.

2014 is Here!

As I am sitting here watching the Rose Parade, I am looking forward to a new year and thinking back on 2013.  My life isn't much different than anyone else's. Every year has highs and lows, gains and losses.  I don't know what is to come with this year, but I do know that I am blessed to have the life that I have.  Resolutions or not, this year will be better if I want it to be. 

I named this blog Lib's Days because I knew I wanted to make note of the small things, the little daily events that make life so wonderful.  In this new year, remember to take note of each day for the special moments it brings.  Love, happiness, and blessings to you and yours in 2014!

Kids Say

Before I let you in on all the happenings around here during our first week of Christmas break, I have to share the best conversation of the week.

Me: Lynn, I don’t want to play with you anymore if you are going to keep being bossy.

Lynn: I’m not being bossy.  I’m just telling you what to do.

Me: Being bossy is the same thing as telling me what to do.

Lynn: Oh.

Christmas Break 2013

As always, the entire family was looking forward to this break.  Though the semester went really fast, it also seemed really hectic.  It is very refreshing to have a couple of weeks away from all of our normal obligations. 

My last day at work was amazingly fun filled.   The entire building, staff, students, and administrators, took part in creating a Lip Dub that is now posted on YouTube here.  (Click on that different colored "here" in the last sentence to watch the video.)Watch closely around 4:55 and you might see me holding a copy of The Great Gatsby in the background.  Our Oak Park family really needed this.  Our new administration team (wearing the crazy Christmas get-ups) has been very successful in bringing back the spirit of the Northmen.  Joe and Lynn have watched the video a few times, and they are even more eager to become Northmen than they were before.

The biggest highlight of the week was that Dan’s mom, Ann, was here.  She came with us to the Christmas Eve service at the church of one of my students.  He invited our family to join his family, and I couldn’t say no.  It was a very well done, short, and sweet service.  There were refreshments afterwards, and everyone there was so kind and welcoming to us.  I love our church, but this small church was a very nice change of pace, and we all felt the true spirit and meaning of Christmas during our time there.  I didn’t miss the hip-to-hip crowds that we would have experienced at our church on Christmas Eve at all. 

  This year was the first time Mimi got to be with the kids for Christmas morning.  I think she enjoyed it.  She got up with them and helped them “organize the gifts” so we could sleep in a bit.  I wasn’t able to sleep, but it was great to get to listen to the conversations among the three of them.  Once we started opening presents we tried to prolong the event as much as possible with breaks for mimosas, coffee, and our traditional Breakfast Casserole.  Both kids were really sweet about taking turns and making sure we all had gifts to open.  Aunt Jill’s tape job (Thank you for volunteering to wrap the majority of our gifts!  I hate wrapping.)  on the packages and the more than adequately bubble wrapped and peanut filled box from Auntie Mary also kept the festivities going a little longer.  After the packages were all opened, we all settled in to enjoy our new things.  Favorites:

Dan: Chicago Cutlery Knife Set

Me: Jurassic Park Sweatshirt and a note in a card that made me cry from my parents.  I have the best parents!

Joe: 1500 Pokémon Cards (not an exaggeration, Dan found the mother load on e-bay) and Kindle Fire HDX from Santa

Lynn: Make-up box and Kindle Fire HDX from Santa

Mimi: Kindle Reader from her three kids

Dan made a wonderful roast with potatoes and carrots in the crock-pot for dinner.  Jill and Brian came over the evening.  We had a bit of wine and great conversation.  Brian surprised Joe with a signed baseball from a Royals player.  The greatest moment however, was presenting Charlie, Jill and Brian’s dog, with a new toy…his very own pair of Grinch underwear.  After hearing that he regularly steals and runs around the house with any undies he can get his paws on, we knew we had to get him some for Christmas.  I haven’t laughed so hard in a really long time about anything.

Dan had to go back to work the day after Christmas, so Mimi and I decided we needed to entertain the kids.  On Thursday we decided to take advantage of our membership to Union Station.  We drove down after lunch and went to our first moving on the Extreme Screen.  I was amazed that the tickets were only $5 and our membership got us a free bag of popcorn.  It was so worth it that I can’t wait to see another movie there soon.  Walking with Dinosaurs was a spectacular film.  It was highly entertaining and educational at the same time.  We all laughed out loud and learned something as well.  Even, Joe, the dinosaur expert learned some new things.  I can’t say that we all cried, but one of us did.  Lynn is my super sensitive kiddo.  She had tears streaming during what I like to call the “Bambi” moment of the movie.  I hope no one considers that a “spoiler.”  How else is the runt supposed to set out on his own in an animated movie if his parents don’t die? Unfortunately, Lynn hasn’t had enough experience to see that one comin’. 

After the movie we went on up to Science City.   Lynn was able to light up one display by spinning a huge wheel around.  Joe decided he wanted to try the high wire bike.  He was exactly the minimum height necessary to go on it.  I was certainly more scared about him being able to do it than he was.  He went up the stairs, got strapped it, peddled out backwards, peddled back forwards, unbuckled, and came back down the stairs.  He was proud of himself, but I am pretty sure he thought the gushing from Mimi and Mommy was completely unnecessary.  Are seven year olds supposed to be “too cool” for Mom’s high fives?  Well, he let me do it anyway, so I will call that good.  It ended up being a very successful day.  The kids zonked out that evening and Dan, Ann, and I ended the night with some good games of Words With Friends. 

The weather was amazing on Friday, so we decided to hit the zoo to introduce Mimi to the penguins.  When we arrived, Nekita, the polar bear jumped into the water and began playing with a large plastic barrel.  It was really fun to see him push it as far down as he could and then see it spring back up to the surface.  He also did his requisite swim around to push off the glass where all the people watch him.  I could watch him do that all day and then go home, but we had to get to the penguins. 

The new exhibit for the penguins is fantastic.  There is an outdoor viewing area at the front entrance.  Upon entering, there is a large viewing area of the enclosure along with displays of a few types of fish and jellyfish.  Our favorite part of the exhibit is around the corner from the main viewing area.  As you go down a hallway that looks like the exit to the building, there are several different areas that give views of the penguins under the water.  In one area there is a set of steps to sit on to watch.  All four of us sat down to watch and were just mesmerized.  The penguins were chasing each other in what looked like a game of underwater tag.  One was picking up a rock from the bottom, dropping it, and then diving down to get it again.  A feather that was floating around fooled many of the penguins.  They all kept trying to eat it.  This was apparently very funny for all of the kids watching.  Our last stop before the carousel was the Tropics building.  All of the monkeys in the exhibit were more active than I have ever seen them.  We sat for a snack and watched them watch us.  There are times that I am sure we are just as entertaining to them as they are to us.  On our way home we stopped at my favorite store, The Hillcrest Thrift Store.  We didn’t find anything to mind blowing, but it is always fun to look around.

The weekend was pretty low key and relaxing.  We went to the Y on Saturday morning to swim.  Then later in the afternoon we met Jill and Brian for our first ever meal at Stroud’s.  Thankfully we were close to the beginning of the line that formed before they opened at 2:00.  We didn’t have to wait long at all for a table.  The chicken noodle soup, fried chicken, sliced potatoes, and cinnamon buns were all amazing.  The kids really liked their burgers as well.  We will definitely go back again.  Dan and I went out to do a little shopping on Saturday night while Mimi put the kids to bed.   We ended up buying an area rug for our living room.  I love it, and it should last a really long time.  Ann made fun of us for coming home so early, but I was wiped out.  This girl likes her 9:00 bed time.

On Sunday, as we arrived at church, we had the horrible realization that there was no Sunday School.  Fortunately there were activity bags provided that were semi-entertaining.  Joe really didn’t like the change of schedule, but he ended up handling it.  Ann was so great to help Dan with our coffee cup washing duty while I kept the kiddos happy.  It was also great to spend a little time talking with a new friend that I met through my Book Club.  We had been going to the same church for a long time, but hadn’t met.  I hope she becomes a regular member of the Book Club.

The weather turned really cold on Sunday, so we stayed in all afternoon.  We all rested, played on our tablets, read, and played a few games of Left, Center, Right with Lynn.  She is one competitive little girl.  Thanks to her dad, at 5 years old, she is already a pro at talking “smack.” “You’re goin’ down Mommy!”

Mimi had to head back to Dubuque yesterday morning.  We were all so sad to see her go.  By last night, Joe was already saying how much he missed her.  He really does love being surrounded by family. 

So that is week one in review.  I did clean out my closet and do some lesson planning yesterday, so now I am feeling free to finish reading a couple of books and to tackle some more writing projects before this break is over.  I won’t have guests again until Easter.  I can worry about cleaning the house then.

Happy New Year!  May you enjoy each day you have and each person you have to the fullest in the coming year.  Smile more, laugh more, write more, and for goodness sakes, yell a little less too.  Oh, wait, that was me talking to myself…anyway, be happy.  It really is more fun!