COURAGE

 

 

When asked about a time that I needed Kleenex while watching my little athlete, I didn't need to think twice.  I had put my very hyperactive little girl in ballet several months beforehand and had gradually watched her change from a wild woman into a disciplined little lady.  She practiced and practiced for her big day and was so excited but also very nervous.  There was a lot of pressure.

We miraculously got all of her crazy hair into the perfect ballerina bun and she even got to wear a little make-up.  We hurriedly got her ready in the bathroom with all of the other girls but before we left I made her stop and look at her beautiful self in the mirror.  I wanted her to see that I thought she was the prettiest girl in the world and that I was so proud of her and all that she had accomplished and that no matter what we loved her so much.

 

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She took her seat with all of her friends and before I took my seat to watch the show, I snapped this picture.  Her big beautiful eyes give away her fears, but that day she showed me what it meant to be brave.  She was scared but she stood up and danced and it was so beautiful, I cried and cried and cried.

 

I think she learned a lot that day about courage and strength.  Now that she knows how to face her fears she helps her little brother to overcome his as well.

 

 

The kids started gymnastics this year and Jackson loved the idea of doing "fwips" but he was scared.  It was his first time doing sports since he is just barely two and the support of his big sis was essential.  He looks up to her so much.  She knew how he felt and was there for him to show him that he could be brave and strong too.  I was so happy that I was there to capture this magical moment.  Not gonna' lie, I cried a little bit.

 

I think we can all learn a lot from the little athletes in our lives.  I know these two teach me something new every day!  I'm so proud of them and their courage!!

 

Do you have a little athlete you're proud of?  Do they show you how to be courageous?  Do they make you tear up or in my case bawl like a baby?  I just can't help it!!

 

 

 

Get a Kleenex custom oval BOGO until 11/15/12, just use the code PLAYOFFS at checkout on the Kleenex site.

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Create - Ispirational Video

I recently was asked to speak at at Young Women leader training meeting. The main topic I was asked to speak on was how creative doesn't just mean crafty. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to think more about what creativity means.


In my preparation I came across an inspiring video with clips from one of my favorite talks of all time, "Happiness, Your Herritage" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. This talk touches on so many points that are inspiring and encouraging to all women. It should be no surprise though that what touched me the most was the part of his talk about creativity.  This short youtube clip has been done in such a beautiful way.  I watch it over and over again and just feel a surge of empowerment everytime I do.  It makes me want to drop everything and create something of "substance or beauty".

 

I hope that this video and my blog can insipre you to create something that brings you joy.  There is no better feeling than creating "something that did not exist before".  So like he says, "start small" and "Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you", especially if that critic is you.

Create something today.  Because you're amazing and the world is waiting.

A Life Lesson from Monster Cupcakes

Well, Halloween season is upon us and it's time to get Halloweeny.  Probably the crafters best time of year.  Halloween crafts are so fun that it's hard not to go overboard.  One Halloween I learned a valuable lesson about going overboard that has changed me forever.  {Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but I did learn something.}

Several years ago, before I had kids I signed up to bring cupcakes for our Church's Halloween carnival cake walk.  I was so excited.  I had seen these fabulous monster cupcakes online {probably from Martha} and I knew they would be perfect.  They were funky/spooky/creepy/awesome and they were topped with tons of candy!  The kids would like them.  No - they would LOVE them.  I was sure of it.  How could they not?

I spent extra time trying to match every detail from my inspiration and ran to several stores trying to find the perfect green candy for the Quasimodo eye.  It was all going to be worth it because the kids were going to love them. 

I brought them to the carnival set them on the table with dozens of other treats {many of which were store bought - what were people thinking? BORING!} and went off to help with the carnival games.  By the end of the night I visited the cake tables to help clean up and was devastated.  Every single cake and treat was gone except for my cupcakes.  Not ONE was touched!  They were the only rejects left.  I was shocked.  I was devastated.

Fighting back tears, I offered the rejected little monsters to the missionaries who happened to walk by at that moment.  They gladly took them but let's face it - 19 year old boys will eat anything.  My husband had a theory and I think he was right.  I split up the cupcakes on to smaller plates and there was my fatal flaw.  The kids didn't care about getting 4 homemade monster cupcakes when they could have had a giant store bought cake.  They didn't care about the time and love and thought I put into them.  They just wanted cake and in as large of quantities as possible.  They aren't greedy.  No, they just like to eat themselves sick at Halloween and if a big box of sugar cookies will get them there well, that's what they want.

So the moral of the story for me is:

Don't waste your time or money, going all out on things like this.

Just buy that discounted box of cupcakes with the extra frosting, sprinkles and plastic spider rings and save yourself the trouble. 

Because less stress and more sugar is what everyone wants anyway.   

P.S.  If you want to make the monster cupcakes you use large marshmallows, small marshmallows, melted chocolate for the center of the eyes and fruit by the foot for the Quasimodo eye.  Good luck.