2-4-6-8 Who do we Appreciate? GREEN LIZARDS!!

Our boys just finished a fun-filled soccer season. So did Jeff and I. Somehow, Jeff and I got roped into coaching Charlie's team when they didn't have enough coaches for his age-group. I'm not sure how this happened, but the blame rests with Jeff if you ask me.

Jeff has never played soccer a day in his life, except maybe in P.E. You could say that I grew up around soccer fields, which is true. My brother, Chad, played competitive soccer all while growing up and I spent many a Saturday morning around soccer fields, grumbling all the time. I can remember being bored out of my mind and passing the time on any set of monkey bars that happened to be around the soccer fields. See, like I said, I grew up around soccer fields. I should note that I was really good at coming to clap for the team just as they shook hands and gathered around the snack mom for sliced oranges and a pop...yeah, I was really good at showing up for the snacks at the end of the game.

So, as you might gather, Jeff and I coaching a soccer team was a pretty hysterical concept. But, Jeff read up on the rules of the game and worked with the kids with his signature patience and enthusiasm. I delighted in running up and down the field yelling "Only feet, no hands on the ball!" with the most adorable 4-year-olds around.

We were the "Green Lizards" ( a name we chose because a friend was willing to lend us the "Green Lizards" sign she had made for her daughter's team the season previous). I have to say the Green Lizards were one fun bunch of kids. We had one little guy who incorporated his super hero persona into the game...so basically, Superman was on our team. We had another little guy who had the biggest heart and would run, not for the ball, but for anyone who had fallen down to help them back up. We had a little girl on the team who loved to show off her nail polish and pretty jewelry to me on the field until she realized the ball was in play and then she'd take off and score a goal. Another little girl started the season not wanting to ever give anyone "five", especailly not Jeff. By the end of the season, she was the one running up to give out "fives", especially to Jeff. And then there was our own Charlie who surprised us with his dad's competitive spirit and perhaps his Uncle Chad's soccer ability. He scored something like 6 goals in his first game. After the game, I complimented him and said, "You are pretty good at soccer like Uncle Chad." He responded, "How many goals Uncle Chad get?" Remember, I never really saw any of Chad's games so I made up a number. "10", I said. Charlie mulled that over and responded, "Next time I'm going to get 11 goals."

James also did well. He, a first time player, was somehow placed on a team with kids who had 4 or 5 seasons under their belts. I expressed concern to his coach about this explaining that I didn't want him to feel defeated before he ever got going. But, I was wrong, he was up for the challenge. He especially liked playing goalie. Goalie is all about saving the day and James lives to save the day, so it was a perfect match for him. I really appreciated how he admired the skills of the other players instead of letting it intimidate him. Whenever, he'd see one of his teammates do something amazing like kick the ball really far or make a tricky goal, he was the first to compliment them on their great skills.

Incidentally, Meagan spent all of her time "around" the soccer fields...she's well on her way to becoming a coach some day.

"It's a Beautiful Day" -U2

We are so excited about the direction we are starting to head in this country. I've been going about my day with such hope in my heart. I just want to hug everyone I see...though I'm resisting the urge! For me, like so many, Barack Obama first caught my attention in 2004 when he made his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Charlie was a newborn baby and as is true with a newborn in the house, everything else was just background noise including the Democratic National Convention. But, somehow, Barack Obama caught my attention in a BIG way. I remember, turning to Jeff and saying, "Who is this guy?" A couple of years later when rumors circulated that he might run for president, I got very excited and can still remember how I quickly called Jeff and my good friend Deirdre when he announced his candidacy. Later, I decided that maybe I was getting swept away in my own excitement, so I carefully studied all the viable cadidates--from both parties. Still, I remained convinced that Obama was just what we needed right now in history. I volunteered for his campaign in small ways, calling and canvasing, and met many wonderful people of all ages and mindsets along the way. I now refer to them affectionately as my "Obama Friends". Many of of my "Obama Friends" are like me and have never volunteered for a campaign of any kind, but felt inspired and motivated to be a part of this campaign. I really believe that President Elect Obama can unify us where before we were divided and that he can set us on a new track when we need it most. I don't think he'll do it easily or quickly...these things take time. But I'm filled with hope and pride for this country. And I'm feeling especially encouraged about the future of these three people and their generation, to whom I am quite endeared:

Charlie, Meagan, and James celebrating a new president at our very home made party.

We let the kids stay up late last night to be able to witness history in the making. They loved watching the results come in as they colored their own electoral maps red and blue (Thanks for the link, Deirdre). Victory was especially sweet thanks to this wonderful treat left on our door step by our good friends. Thank you!!

"Obama 2008" Cupcakes.

BARACK THE VOTE

The sign in our yard during the primary season.

I feel like I've been waiting for this day my whole life...and in some ways, I have. I've been inspired by stories from our history of phenomenal leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Kennedy. I've often found myself wishing I had been alive to witness such leadership. I truly believe that today we have the opportunity to elect such a pivotal and inspirational leader in Barack Obama. I feel so nervous and excited about the election today...but mostly I feel grateful to live in a country where we all have a say in our government. Is it perfect? No. Do I care about who wins? Very much so. But today when I sat at a busy calling center making "get out the vote calls" with men and women of various races and religions that were anywhere from way younger than me to way older than me, I felt full of gratitude to be a part of a process where we all matter, none more or less than the other. I truly feel that no matter who you vote for, it's absolutely critical that we all make our voices heard. Democracy at its best depends on us all taking part and speaking our voice. To quote a cheesy poem I heard yesterday that I can't site because, I imagine, the author of it was too embarassed by its cheesyness to take responsibility for it (but I'm a sucker for cute little rhyme):

Vote for Obama,

or Vote for McCain,

but vote for someone,

or you can't complain.

Happy Birthday, Grandma.

This is my Grandma with me on my birthday almost 10 years ago. She was at the tail end of one of her annual winter stays with my mom in Tucson. They came to visit for my birthday. She had asked my mom for suggestions of what she could get me for my birthday. My mom, knowing me so well, said, "I bet Angie would like nothing better than one of your lemon meringue pies." So, my grandma spent an afternoon making me this pie. I was in the first weeks of my first pregnancy and there was nothing that could have made me happier than to share my birthday pie with my grandma, my mom, my husband, and my unborn baby Meagan :).

This past Tuesday, September 16, was my Grandma's birthday. She would have been 96 years old. We lost her three years ago this past July. When the word went out that she was very ill after a heart attack, her four children, their spouses, all of their children, and many of their spouses and children were at her side within 24 hours. For me, I got the call just as we were about to head out for the 4th of July weekend for a camping trip in Colorado. I pulled my things and 11-month-old Charlie's things out of the car, threw Charlie on my hip and waved good-bye to our other three family members. Then, I booked a flight to Nebraska and was on the plane with Charlie the very next morning. We had decided that Jeff and the older two kids should continue on to meet up with our friends for the holiday weekend and that I would take Charlie and go be with grandma "just in case...".

We were all so blessed, really. Before she passed away, we each had time alone with her. I'll never forget, how when I walked into her hospital room with Charlie on my hip, she opened her bright blue eyes and looked at us and said, "Well, Angie and Charlie, you are here." She patted the space next to her on the bed, and said, "Sit down here." We did. Then, we chatted for a bit. That was the last time I talked to her. Within 24 hours, she slipped out of consciousness and then she passed away with her four children at her side.

The minute I got to Nebraska, I really couldn't bring myself to eat much. My stomach was too full of sadness at the prospect of not having my grandma anymore.

Nearly all of us-- children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren--stayed at her home while we traveled back and forth to the hospital where she was. As you might expect, the house was very grey and solemn after she died. In our sadness, most of us didn't know what to do with ourselves. We had quiet conversations and flipped through Grandma's mountains of books. We looked at old pictures and read the paper.

Then, my cousin Tracy, in stark contrast, got very busy pulling out our grandma's baking sheets and baking ingredients. She started baking up a storm. I remember several of us gathered around the kitchen and just kind of stared at Tracy in disbelief. Tracy seemed to take note of our confused and staring faces and matter-of-factly stated, "I bake when I grieve." And bake she did. Soon the counters were full of cookies and all kinds of other wonderful treats all made in Grandma's kitchen by one of her granddaughters, the one who bakes when she grieves.

I, for one, started eating again.

This idea of baking through grief has stayed with me. Every Christmas, I make Grandma's toffee candy and every year on her birthday, I try to make her lemon meringue pie. Neither are nearly as good as hers, but I'm continually drawn to following the recipes written in her hand as a way of re-connecting with Grandma at times when I miss her most.

This year, September 16th, fell on a lovely early fall kind of day. I spent a good part of the afternoon baking this pie :

With some "help" from one of Grandma's great grandchildren:

It wasn't nearly as beautiful or delicious as hers. But with some tips and advice from my mom and aunt (my grandma's two daughters), it's getting better every year. This pie is a huge improvement from the first one I made. That pie was so runny, I had to pour the pie into a glass and drink it. Which I did because, like my grandmother, I NEVER waste food.

I had a meeting at my house that night, so I reserved this pie for the meeting. With some more "help" from Charlie, I made some mini pies for the kids to have for dessert that evening.

The kids got very excited about the idea of putting a candle in their pies and singing "Happy Birthday" to "Grandma Great":

Happy Birthday Grandma, we miss you so.

Love, Angie

Out with the Old, In with the New

Out With the OLD...

In With The NEW...

It is time for new pair of shoes. Actually, it is way past time. I bought those old sneakers in 2005 to train for and do the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk to fight against breast cancer. The walk was 60 miles and the training was more than that, so right off the bat those shoes have some serious mileage on them. I paid a pretty penny for them and made some good memories in those shoes, so I held on to them much longer than I should have. So, I finally got some new shoes and am breaking them in with new memories. I did a short walk to a friend's house and back to get them in shape for the Climb to Conquer Cancer last weekend. Here they are on mile 6 of the 7-mile hike up the mountain road to our local ski resort.

Through the end of this month, you can learn more about this CLIMB and even contribute to the cause of eradicating cancer by clicking http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/CommunityFundraisingPages/CTCGreatWestDivision?px=5753050&pg=personal&fr_id=10197

Olympic Fever

The Olympics start in just a few hours and we are very, very excited! Jeff will be the first to tell you that I'm no sports fan, but I LOVE the Olympics. I always have. I was only a year old during the '72 Olympics and I don't remember the '76 Olympics, but I do remember reading Nadia Comennici's biography as soon as I could read a whole book on my own and just being enthralled with her story. I also remember the pit in my stomach as I watched Jimmy Carter on the television in my living room when I was nine explaining why the USA would be boycotting the Olympics. I didn't understand what he was saying, but I remember how unfair I thought this was to the athletes who had trained so long and hard (and how unfari it was to me who had been waiting four years to see them compete). I lived overseas in '84 and didn't get to see much coverage of the Olympics, but who doesn't remember Mary Lou Retton's perfect vault. Jeff's work number ends -8410 and I always remember the phone number because in '84 Mary Lou Retton got a 10. Then, in '88 I remember being glued to the ice skating finals during a highschool party while everyone else was partying (and they weren't celebrating the Olympics). I spent much of my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary party in one of their rocking chairs pulled up real close to their television to watch the all-around gymnastics competion. In '92, the Olympics competed with my studies at the Uof A. I had a tiny little television in my dorm room which was better than what my friend's Brian and Deirdre had, no television. They would come up to my room and we'd all strain our eyes to watch it together. I'll always remember and still quote Brian who fell to his knees and yelled "We got the GOLD!!" when some poor skater fell in pursuit of her life's dream rendering Kristi Yamaguchi the winner of Olympic Gold. Since owning our home, we've had some Olympic parties complete pot luck dishes from around the world and even an Olympic Torch pinata one year (thanks, Diana!) The last Summer Olympics found me with a newborn baby. I was so excited that he was born just before the Olympics knowing that I'd have the Olympics to keep me entertained while I nursed him at all hours of the night. I'm telling you, the best time to have a new born is during an Olympic Year! I'm a sap I know, but I love seeing all the countries of the world come together sporting their flags and cultural customs all in the spirit of friendly competition. I'm also moved and inspired by the odds people overcome to reach their full potential. We thought about having another party this year, but Jeff was embarassed by the state of our beat up couches and I was afraid that people might try to socialize during such a party. I really don't want to miss a moment of these opening ceremonies. Still, we're having our own little party, just us, on our beat-up couches with home made pizza, salad, and NO socializing!