Bridging Up

I will do my best to be

honest and fair,

friendly and helpful,

considerate and caring,

courageous and strong, and

responsible for what I say and do,

and to

respect myself and others,

respect authority,

use resources wisely,

make the world a better place, and

be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Friday night Maddie bridged up from Daisies to Brownies on Friday night. She has the best troop in the world and the sweetest troop leaders who have done such a fabulous job this year.

The Girl Scout Promise

Maddie placing her 'courageous" part of the bridge

Maddie crossing the bridge

Ms. Donna putting on her Brownie vest

Being congratulated by Ms. Jennifer

Our sweet Brownie girl

"Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold"

Field Trip

I loved field trips as a child in school. Field trips meant good things in your lunch bag and a trip with your friends on the bus to a fun destination. Maddie asked if I would go on her first grade field trip this year and I quickly agreed because it was a good chance to spend the day with her and who would pass up a field trip! I even got to ride along on the big yellow bus with her.

Maddie and some of her sweet friends in 1st grade

Lunch at the nature center. Notice there is not a single tree outside and it was 90 degrees. The kids were boiling and so was I!

My little group for the day. They were all such great kids. I supsect Ms. R. did that on purpose.

Trekking through the woods on our nature walk.

Just in case we got lost!

Maddie and one of her sweet friends

The sole nature sighting on our trip. Turtles sunning themselves on a log

Our guide was a bit long winded and I got bored so I took this picture from my perspective

Not a real turtle. They wouldn't let her touch the real three legged one because she might "hurt it". She had to settle for holding a shell.

More discussion

The most excitement I saw all day out of the kids was when they found "scat" on the ground.

My Greatest Legacy

I was talking to someone at work the other day and he told me that the only thing left for those that had everything they could possibly want was for them to feel that they were building a legacy, being part of something greater.

It made me think. I love the work that I do and I have no doubt that I have helped many patients over my nursing career. I am sure that maybe there are even a few families who remember my name and how I helped their family member. I guess that this could be considered a legacy.

My greatest legacy though are my girls. If I was to accomplish nothing more in life than raising them knowing that they were loved and supported no matter what, I would consider my legacy complete. Being there mom is my greatest joy. Snuggling them and hugging them and getting kisses and "I love you's" in return are far greater than the biggest paycheck you could offer me.

My thank you's go to those who has shown me what mothering looks like. To my mom who has never for one minute let me think that I wasn't wanted or loved or cherished. To my birthmother for her sacrifice, to my stepmom who keeps the connection with the girls and I even after my dad is gone, to my grandmothers, to Bud's mom and stepmother, to family friends, to my friends. Thank you for leading by example and helping me to leave a legacy.