Celebrate Being Mom Daily

Fifteen years ago, I woke up Mother’s Day morning, satup in bed, and lost everything I had ate the night before.  As I made way to the bathroom to clean myself up I could barely stand up, scared to

death of what was going on, I was rushed to the emergency room.  At five months pregnant, I was well past morning sickness, I had no fever, and there was no explanation for continuous vomiting.  The ER staff begin a routine assessment; check my heartrate, blood pressure, and temperature.  All was good, so they moved on to check baby.  The next thing I heard was “I can’t find baby’s heartbeat” another nurse raced to the room, they pressed, prodded, and turned me - nothing, no heartbeat.  My heart sank, I laid there thinking that my first ever Mother’s Day would also be my last Mother’s Day.   Several hours later and after an excruciating “backwards” ultrasound as they called it, they found baby’s heartbeat and she was healthy and hiding from them.  That day when I heard the “whoosh whoosh” of her heartbeat come over the ultrasound speaker, I vowed I will always celebrate being a Mother, even on the worst days.  

Being Mom is a tough job, no lie, I have shed a many of tears over my now fourteen and ten-year-old babies. I have also busted out thousands of laughs and beamed full of love when they remind me of my duty here on Earth. 

As Mom, I celebrate big thing like making the Volleyball Team, Color Guard Squad, Honor Choir, and the BUG Club.  Then I celebrate the important things like making it to work on time fully dressed in matching shoes (don’t judge me), remembering to pay my kids school lunch account after the 3rd reminder call, and not forgetting pajama day or not getting pajama day mixed up and sending my kid to school the wrong day of the week in pajamas (again don’t judge me).  

This week as we approach that one day of the year that the nation celebrates the importance of Moms – instead of just celebrating that one day a year, remember to celebrate being Mom daily and the little and big hills that you climb, as those are the important days in life.  

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s no matter what your Mom life is like!

 (this editorial was originally featured in The Banner Press, please support our local paper) 

Stop, Think, Don’t Trash My Community

As I took a stroll through Twin City Park this past Saturday afternoon with my young son I was greeted with some creative sidewalk chalk art; just not the kind of art I wanted my child to see.  Someone had kindly drawn a version of a male body part and wrote some not so nice words on the side of the public restroom in the city park – ya know the place where families go to play.

Daily as a community leader I hear, there is nothing to do in this community, why can’t we have more nice things…., you all need to clean this place up!  Yes, we do!  However, so do you! And you need to quit destroying what we do have! 

Ya see, our community really is a beautiful community full of beautiful people, beautiful sights, and oh do have some people that know to cook!  And then…. we have the not so nice creative artist that like to destruct our community, leave their ugly mark on the side of public places, and then complain about “we got nothing nice here”. 

So, to those artists that want to destruct instead of construct, I challenge you to meet me in the park and do some real art – the kind of art that good for everyone.  

Marble Hill - love it or leave it

 (this editorial was originally featured in The Banner Press, please support our local paper) 

In recent days there has been a bit of smack talking on the ol' Facebook about the community of

Marble Hill.  Sigh.  In fact, the smack talk was downright disgusting; pointing out names, businesses, and community leaders with accusations that unprovable and distasteful.  

For once, my name did not make that list (I think), but I know some that did.  Either way, the slander and rude remarks were uncalled for and disrespectful not only to the ones mentioned but to our community. 

We are a small town, ya know the place that everyone knows everyone, and knows everyone’s business.  Rumors often spread quickly - unless it is good news, then ya can’t even get a few Facebook likes.  

As I stood waiting for one of my kids at one of their events, someone asked “did you see that page, do you know who did it” and I replied “someone who needs to move away from Marble Hill” - yep I said it!  If you hate our town so much that you can’t see all the good, you need to move away!  

Over the past year, there has been a real community togetherness, people working with people for the greater good.  Granted we may not be moving thousands of people to our town or opening giant businesses, but we are chipping away one brick at a time to a new tomorrow.  

To the people that put in the amount of effort to create profiles, post on websites, and begin long forums regarding how awful our town is, I challenge you to invest your time, talent, and effort to a new tomorrow. 

There are dozens of small groups, organizations, churches, 4 area schools, and your next door neighbor that are begging you for help.