My Love

My friend, consider the possibilities for a moment: What might result if love becomes your default choice for 12 days straight? What opportunities might open up? What connections might be acknowledged? What moments might you enjoy that otherwise might be missed? Who will you be?

{Markus' prize from winning the 100 point reading award}

Choose Love

Making it a habitual practice to choose love changed Lara, the wiring of her brain, and her entire life perspective regarding what is important. Through her example I've learned there is one single action that has the power to transform negativity to positivity …disconnection to connection: Choosing love—choosing love as much as you humanly can.

Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. That I will never fulfill my consistent seeking to become a more loving, and more grateful version of myself unless I first accept myself. And tonight at my sister's 49th birthday party I got the feeling there is more joy, more connection, more passion, more creativity, more conversation, and more healing waiting to be in accepting myself as I am. I cannot think of a better month than February to make a habitual practice of choosing love. I am blogging about a Choose Love 12-Day Challenge. Take a look. Maybe I will already have surpassed myself …

{Todd + Lara = Love}

• Because good things start with love
• Sometimes without a smile
• Sometimes feeling ugly or worthless or inadequate
• Sometimes alone and scared
• Sometimes when she doesn't know what she is doing
• Sometimes it's the last thing she wants to do
• Sometimes when she doesn't have any more patience
• Sometimes when she had no love to give

Lara still choose love, despite the obstacle of having cancer return to her body...despite the excuses she could have made...despite the mean surgery that will take out another part of her body, she continually shows love. Why? Because she never leaves the same way she arrives. 

She walks away a little lighter...a little more at peace...a little more hopeful...a little more grateful...a little more joyful. Love is always the right choice. She has never once regretted choosing love over all else. She has become The One she always wanted to be...

A listener

A hugger

A forgiver

A shopper

A risk taker

A silly grinner

A liver of Life

You Are The Light

Hockey: Believe, Dream, Inspire

By Max - for his 'Reflections' Entry

Hockey: Believe, Dream, Inspire

Lace 'em up tight, 

Prepare for the fight. 

See the shining ice, 

With goals you see twice. 

Feel your skate glide, 

Through the powerful stride.

Touching the puck, 

Would just be your luck,

But think quick before you are struck.

Five others fighting for it, 

Don't ever let them touch it, 

If only you want the glory of the goal! 

I Knew It

I could feel it last night when I went to pick up Max from practice. Sore throat. Itchy eyes. Fever and chills. I couldn't stay in the rink that long - sooooo cold. 

Strep Throat 

I was in the middle of clinicals today and decided I better go see the doctor to rule out the flu. Sure enough it is Strep. Yucky. 

I think the ONLY thing good about it is the love from my boys...bringing me soup. And ibuprofen. And crackers and Popsicles. I love my sons. I'm grateful for them every single day. 

Get Air

Get Air is a new trampoline arena that Markus is obsessed with. I thiiiink we have been five times since they opened this month! 

Big Air: First hour $11

Second hour for $7 more

Activities include: 

Ninja Obstacle Course

Foam Pits

Dodge Ball

Parkour Course

Slam Basketball

Rope Swing

Markus wants to have his birthday party here next month.

Bliss In The Bleachers

{Marko, Cole & Sam}

During this 2014-2015 hockey season, the Regulators '03 Peewee team, won the Aspen Fall Festival, with a 4-3 come-from-behind overtime victory against a strong Colorado team.

The Regulators players bonded all season because their parents bonded, and maybe this team unity made the difference. During games, the parents sit together and pull for the team as if each Regulators player was their own. 

From the first tryout session, the parents genuinely enjoyed each other's company and talked at the rink. Early in most practices, some parents would do an "eats' run to the nearby Wendy's, and bring back food for the moms and dads in the stands while the coaches put the players through their drills. Players get the vibes we are sending, and their attitude is the same. 

{Coach Greg had a pizza party at his house tonight}

Team unity begins with the coaches, the leaders who set the tone. Pre-season parent meetings stressed what the team will mean for the players and the coaches also stressed what the team can mean for the parents as well. Actions speak louder than words, when they promise each player "fair and equal" opportunity to participate in practices and games. This promise by Coach Greg and Mikko - to saddle no player with chronic bench warming - goes a long way toward eliminating much if not all resentment that can put parents against coaches and players, and parents against one another. Everyone wins with equal opportunity as our Regulators have this season. Parents enjoy the season, and players are carrying the team as far as their abilities permit. Sometimes the team goes all the way, as we did in Aspen. *

I love being with these parents who make a special effort to assure that hockey remains enjoyable for their whole family while their sons are playing. They want to make sure that when their children move on to the rest of their lives, they leave with memories of fun and fulfillment.

Youth hockey has long been an enjoyable activity for the entire family; aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents, especially when they come together to create a positive environment.   

With participation in sports optional, this season has provided fun and fulfillment for all the families. For the players like Markus, who like to win, and also for us parents who sacrifice and cheer for them. We all deserve to enjoy ourselves, which is the major purpose of youth hockey. Teamwork wins games, and parents are an important part of the team. These memories will last way beyond the hockey season. 

Take Time

Take time to do what makes your soul happy...

Great Moments

Come from great opportunities. 

Max scored the first goal of the Grizz game tonight in his second shift.

Markus was taking a selfie...

Grizz tied Eagles 2-2

Everything

Everything you want is on the other side of fear...

Everything Max is doing this year in hockey is what he wants. He just returned from Springfield late Sunday night, high school game on Monday, practice and dry land last night at Steiner and video session followed by practice tonight at Acord. He told me his favorite part of flying to all the tournaments is EVERYTHING! lol

He touched the nose of Abe Lincoln's statue which is supposed to mean good luck. With that and how hard he has been working, he is brave, bold and breaking boundaries. 

It's better to cross the line and suffer the consequences than to just stare at that line for the rest of your life.

Opening

Janet - pictured far left - and I had a meeting of high school trustee's tonight. Her son Alex is graduating in June and that leaves a spot open for being the team liaison between coaches, players and the board. I don't really have any expectations for next year but it will be a new experience. 

Things I Am Happy About

I urge you to 

Please notice 

When you

Are

Happy

And 

Exclaim or

Think or

Murmur at some point

"If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."

{Ham and Bean Soup}

My first day of Med Surg 2 started today and I expected to be there from 8-5. Instead after 1 hour, my instructor said that we could go. I couldn't believe it. An unexpected day off. So guess what I did? I came home and made soup. 

Morgen started his first class of this semester and I dropped him off on the way to hockey. Max had his last regular season game for high school and Markus had a practice at the same time. And at the same rink. Max has loved playing this season. His coaches, team mates and fans have been incomparable. And they won the game tonight vs Skyline 4-3 to be undefeated (except for Viewmont). 

Tonight's List of Things To Be Happy About

• an unexpected day off
• people who smile when it's raining
• soup
• butterflies in your stomach
• compliments from strangers
• mango smoothies
• being on time
• late night showers
• catching up with old friends
• snow angels
• people telling you that they miss you
• feeling pretty
• new semester
• cold water to drink
• discovering pretty songs
• happy sons
• boys sitting in the back seat with a book
• long walks
• being brave enough to be authentic 
• yummy smell of dinner ready in the crock pot 
• being confident
• clean sheets
• reading old messages

Two Peas In A Pod

{Darlin is having identical twin boys!!}

{Monet gave her a baby shower today at her home to celebrate}

{Sierra and Kailey helped to make it a success}

{Darlin + pregnant = Beautiful}

{She looks like she is barely big enough for one baby let alone two in one pod!}

{My niece, Nadalynn, also just got engaged over Christmas}

{Yummy treats}

{So much love all in one room}

{Cookies}

💕 Baby Advice 💞 

Lara: Take time to play with them, forget about cleaning, play games, read books. 

Sheri: They grow up so fast...enjoy them while they are little - take a deep breath ...it will pass. 

Monet: Own your mistake, it's okay to not be perfect be real - tell your kids how it is. 

Kailey: Keep photos and videos of your kids growing up. Make a disc! 

Sierra: Not the amount of time that you spend - but just make time for meaningful interaction. Quality time. 

Nady: Little things - notes, little momentos, memories. 

Aria: Keep things positive - always give encouragement and help lift up spirits. 

Brenda: Give correction in a positive way - instead of "no" say "stop". Tell them they can do ANYTHING. Read. Read. Read to them always. 

⭐️ Extra tip ⭐️ Have a night time ritual - it makes bed time easier. 

Take Me To Church

Markus' friend Sam spent the night last night after the game. On the way to hockey practice this morning he asked Markus what time his church started, to which Markus replied, "It starts at 10:45 - I'm going to the Oval church today!" 

Bishop Steve was presiding. :)

Make Some Noise

For these mom's and their boys!!! 

After a long day at work today it was fun to go out with the Regulator team to watch the Grizz win vs the Thunder.