Prideful Share

Weeks worth of emotions, thoughts and words are ruminating in my brain, their current consistency too thick to plate (upon the page). With a bit more time to marinatee they will become tender and more favorable a dish to pass.

For the time being, I am sharing a poem written by my eleven year old son. Bloody brilliant if you ask me! This mom is so impressed!

Element Poetry

by Carter Retzlaff

Gold

Shiny, rarity

Melting, freezing, bending

Jewelry, electricity, dentistry, bedrock

Dissolving, reflecting, shaping

Valued, attractive

Au

 Poetry © Carter Retzlaff

(I had to ask what "Au" meant. It's the elemental abbreviation for gold on the periodic table. He is already learning chemistry, a subject never presented in my education.)

NaNoWriMo 2012 - Day 15

NaNoWriMo Day 15 - 

     Wow! I made it to the halfway point! I am halfway through this crazy writing challenge! This is also the first day I am actually slightly ahead of the curve punching in with 25,350 words! Not to toot my own horn, but... ah what the heck! Toot Toot!

     Actually, I can't take all the credit. I have a strong support group and I have believing mirrors. 

     This past week has been really hard. My body is retaliating and my mood hit the dumper but I persevered and here I am. Halfway.

     Today I visited my son's school. They have this great program called "Superstars". Every month there is a superstar theme. This month's theme was "making good decisions". My son was chosen by one of the teachers to receive recognition for his excellent decision making. The school holds a mini monthly awards show for the chosen superstars. The room fills with superstars and their parents (parents bring lunch for their child from their favorite restaurant) and while everyone eats, they call the student's names one at a time, have them stand at the front of the room while they read who chose them as a superstar and why. The student then receives an award and a small gift. They have their picture taken with their award. The pictures are then displayed for the rest of the month on a wall next to the office for all to see.

     It is such a cool program. It not only promotes student success, but it recognizes and rewards those students in a positive way. I was so proud of my son and all of this months superstars.

After returning home I sat back down to work on my novel. I couldn't help but correlate between the parents at school and those of you who have been cheering me on. It has been a hard few weeks and I still have a few more to go, but right now I just feel so proud and I want to thank all of you who are cheering me on. You make me feel like a superstar and I am grateful for that. With my word count as my reward, I...

Thank You!

"Show up. Get to work even when you don't feel like writing—especially when you don't feel like writing."  ~Daniel H. Pink

Ever feel stuck? Ask yourself "& then..." 

Representative of the spoonfuls of love, support and encouragement I have been receiving for which I am grateful.

The Day

The day is over.
Party's done.
Grad's new life has just begun.


Yesterday introduced me to babe in arm.
Today a man with wit and charm.


How time flies.
Life passes by.
Hug 'em
Hold 'em
Love 'em.
They'll be grown and gone in the blink of an eye.

Party's Over - Silly string draped abandoned seats immediately following graduation commencement. 

My oldest graduated this past weekend. I'm so proud of him.

The party was a great success and the ceremony absolutely lovely.

I highly recommend placing disposable cameras on the tables of graduation parties for guests to use at whim. I was so busy catering to the needs of 70 plus guests, not only was I unable to converse with anyone, I didn't get a single picture taken! The ceremony was different. Camera was firmly planted to cheek.

My boy! All grown up!

~sigh~

My Man

This is my man.

Scott Retzlaff - chainsaw artist - www.loraxcarving.com

He used to fear social situations.

Now he is one.

He used to hide his art.

Now he shows it.

He used to be a lost boy.

Now he's a grown man.

He used to dream.

Now he acts on those dreams.

I am so very proud of my man.

 

He amped up the wattage in my bulb from first encounter.

My bulb is still glowing hot for him.

I love my man.

I think I'll go tell him that right now.

Have you hugged your loved one today?

Go on. Tell 'em how you feel.

Let's make it an ooey gooey love fest Thursday.

SWAK!

Amazing Story (an absolute must read)

Do you want to feel good this morning?

I have a story to share with you.

I am a proud parent of a member of

This Class 

(click on the link above)

The entire class of 2012 voted for king and queen.

The vote was won by a landslide!

I am so proud of all of them.

What an amazing prom!
Congrats to the King and Queen.

America's future is looking brighter.  ;)