Survey Says....

Today I went to a lunch for "Exceeds Expectations" that the company I work for does for every one in my region who's branch rates high on client surveys.  They call our clients and ask several questions and they can score exceeds expectations, meets expectations, N/A, does not meet expectations.  So, in recognition, we get a lunch.  I posted a comment on Facebook and said that I also "Exceed Expectations" in my marriage, right Kevin?  This got me to thinking .....(this is always dangerous I know)....What if we did have a marriage survey?  I looked on line and there are several marriage surveys out there actually. 

I have not looked at any questions on the surveys and, to be quite honest, I don't know that I would want to take one.  If you took one with your significant other, would it open up a dialogue on things to work on or would it open up a can of worms?   Maybe it is dealing with a word I sometimes have trouble with.....ACCOUNTABILITY.  This word to me represents the ultimate in commitment, being held to your word and called not only to action but also to the follow up.  
 Maybe I will be the first to say that I do not handle criticism well and it might put me on the defensive of things I do not see as a problem (yet). 

I guess my thinking on this is, if it ain't broke don't fix it.  That being said, if I felt that I was struggling in my marriage I would be willing to take that survey and do what ever I could to improve my relationship.  What about Parent Surveys?  Would you be willing to let your kids rate you?  So scary right?  You want to believe you would get an "Exceeds Expectations" from them.  Failure is not an option when it comes to raising your kids.  

So perhaps, tonight as you lay in bed, maybe an internal survey to yourself.  Am I treating the ones I love as well as I could be?  Am I kind to them?  Do I offer them the help I know they need?  Am I being the best person I could be to others?  I hope we all score "Exceeds Expectations."  

Back in the Saddle

Well I'm back in the saddle, so to speak, but let me just say I am having trouble holding on!   We are half way through the first week of school and the earlier time is killing me.  The kids had to be at school by 7:55 last year, this year the tardy bell rings at 7:45.  I know, I know, it doesn't seem like much time, but for some reason I am waking up every morning at 5 AM with paranoia that I am going to make the kids late or wake them up late!  I am waking up before the alarm ever goes off with the thought, "I have to get them there on time."   "I have to be awake to wake them up on time."  We haven't been late, we have actually been early, but I am having this major anxiety about it!  Craziness!

So far, both kids love their teachers.  I am keeping my fingers crossed  that this love/love relationship lasts the whole year.  I have found my patience are put to the test when it comes to keeping my kiddos on task with their homework!  My daughter can get off track with sharing the latest 6th grade girl drama pretty quickly.  (Can't we all just get along?!?)  My son is more concerned with the time it takes to be done than the quality.

Now time for a total 360 degree turn.  Last blog I opened up for suggestion topics and my sister-in-law had a few.  They were:
What would your dream job be?
 If you could who is the ONE person you would like to have dinner with and why....this person can be dead or alive, rich or poor, fiction or real.
 What is something you wish you could do?
 Would you ever want to jump out of an airplane?
My dream job would be to have a little shop or boutique.  I would love to go to market and buy stuff!  I am trying to convince my friend Kim that I could be her stylist and personal shopper. 
The who would you want to have dinner with is one of those questions you always see in people's bios.  It is also one of those questions that always throws me for a loop.  There are just too many ways to go with this one.  I think I am more of a dinner party kinda girl.  On the one hand I feel obligated to list Jesus (otherwise I might get my Christian card revoked).   I would probably add my deceased grandpa to my dinner table, he passed when I was 5 but I remember being extremely close to him.  One of my most vivid memories of him was flying kites in the middle of a dirt road in front of my grandma's house.  Probably add some one like Oprah, just for a perspective kind of view of what it is like to be her!  Can you imagine having that kind of power?  Throw a Warren Buffett in to get a perspective on economy and making money.  Maybe the new perspective of technology from someone like Mark Zuckerberg (although after watching the movie I am not sure I would like him).  Can you imagine the Conversation at this dinner?  Jesus would probably bring us all to task!
Something I wish I could do?  You have got to go with travel on this one.  There is a whole world out there waiting for us to see it.  I hope I am going to get to do more of that in the future.

Last but not least, Would I jump out of a plane?  This is actually on my bucket list.  I want to say without  a doubt I would do this....but my fear of heights might make this a problem!  I think if you strapped me to someone and let me piggy back them and they through me out of the plane I can do this!  Kevin is thinking this is not a good idea with my track record of injuries.  We will see!

Party!

This month my little ole' blog turns 1 years old!  It's a toddler now.  It's learning it's boundaries, growing and becoming it's own little entity.  It is crawling on it's own.  I know, I know, you have put a gift in the mail right? 

 It is time for a celebration in the life it has lived in it's short little year!   It has gone on trips, gave you details of my families quirks, shared it's heart with you.  The growth has been sooo encouraging in being connected to others that have the same life experiences and being asked, "Are you going to write a blog this week?"  Yes, OH Yes!  (This one question alone can fuel my need to be a people pleaser & hope to bring you something that will make you laugh or let you know I have gone through that too!)   Empathy is always best observed by someone who is going through the same things you are and can relate in your life lessons!

I have tried to be very diligent in making sure I write at least one blog a week.  (Just don't hold me to the day of the week it will come out.  Life gets to busy for that.)  In celebration of it's birthday, it has a new look.  What do you think?  Be Honest!

My sister-in-law recently opened her self up to topic suggestions for her blog.  It looks fun, so, it's time for the interactive part of our show people.  Is there any topic you would like to suggest for a blog?  I love getting your feedback on facebook or on the bottom of the blogs!  It's like finding a little piece of chocolate, I just eat it up!

Let me finish by saying THANK YOU! THANK YOU! for reading it.  Thank you for letting me vent, laugh, smile, praise, share, wear goofy outfits, shop, be a proud parent and travel on life's journey with you! 

As long as you are willing to still read them, I will write them.

Cast of Characters

Last week, we helped out with our VBS at our church & I am exhausted.  It started Wednesday night and ended on Sunday night from 6-8:30.  Our VBS theme this year was Kickin' It Old School by the Go Fish Guys.  The concept was all centered around music and taking old songs that every one knows and remixing them with a rock beat or a hip hop beat or a swing beat.  The point was, even with Bible verses, they are relevant to your life today.  Last year, they put us in charge of puppet shows....this year they put us in charge of skits.  What were they thinking?  We agreed to it!  What were we thinking? One skit every night. 

 My thinking was, "Okay, let's dress as crazy and over the top as possible every night and maybe it will distract them enough that they wouldn't notice we don't know our lines."   It helped that we have a bin full of Halloween costumes and a 11 year old girl to borrow all the neon you could possibly want.  We wore sunglasses each night so they could not see us scanning our lines on a clipboard.  All & all it worked!  The kids could not wait to see what outlandish, wacky thing we would be wearing and it was all in fun for the kids.  I remember going to VBS as a kid and I loved it.  I hope we created a good memory for the kids this year.

So the cast of Characters we had were:

Rasta Impasta  w/ My Little Pony Gotee                     
Neon Wannabe
Welcome to The Thunderdome or Celo Green's got nothing on me
Video Killed the Radio Star
Gun's n Noses
Big Money or Yaaaaaa Boy
Village People Indian (This doesn't have a pic)

We ended the week with a skate party at Skateland.  Stick a feather in the cap for 40 year olds, I skated and I didn't fall! (Not that I didn't  do the "Oh My Gosh, Help Me Shuffle" a couple of times and my friend did get taken out by a skittle and has the bruises to prove it)  Kevin even managed a couple of circles.   There is a whole generation of kids that don't know how to roller skate.  There were kids splayed out on the skating ring floor like a Roller Boogie war zone!  It definitely felt like we were kicking it old school, all I needed where my skates with the light up wheels with 50 Poms Poms attached to them and the swamp cooler blowing through my wings.  

I am hoping to catch up on sleep and rest by the end of the week!