Living with regret

I have often prided myself on living without regret. I have always said that you can't go back, you can only move forward.

Lately though I find myself wondering if living without regret has meant not really owning up to the things that I would rather not examine in myself. Have I really lived without regret or have I lived without looking back because I won't like what I see?

It's easy to be offended by what you think others have done wrong to you and to stay angry but how often do we take a good look at ourselves and the things that we have done to others? I think true living without regret isn't not looking back, it's looking back, understanding what we could have done better but not beating ourselves up over it and moving forward.

Today I choose to do that.

Girl Scouts

Abby became a Girl Scout in second grade. She had a wonderful troop leader, Miss Kathy for her first few years and enjoyed the outings and the projects. Her interest really waned in 3rd and 4th grade as her old troop leader left and she went to a troop where she wasn't quite as comfortable. This year she was quite clear that she didn't have the interest to participate and so she moved onto other things.

I had always assumed that Maddie wanted to be a Girl Scout and I had talked about it before she was even eligible. Being my reserved child though, she told me that she didn't want to be a Girl Scout because she didn't know anyone. However, joining Girl Scouts got new priority when one of her closest little friends from Kindergarten had a mother that was going to be an assistant troop leader. Maddie agreed to give it a try and in first grade, she became a Daisy, the first step in Girl Scouts.

She has had such a wonderful two years. They do a great mix of activities, trips and fun things without it being too much for the girls. She has sold nuts and chocolates and Girl Scout Cookies. This year she was the top seller in her troop which made her quite proud and left Bud and I wondering what we had been thinking when we agreed to let her sell and had to deliver all of the cookies :)

I feel fortunate that she has two wonderful troop leaders that care about the girls and I am thankful that they are such positive role models for her. They do all of this without pay and really without much thanks. Being a troop leader is hard, hard work and they do it well.

This year was the first year that she was old enough to go to Camporee the two night Spring campout. I was nervous because she's the baby and also because they predicted strong storms all weekend. I think I even wanted to ask her if she wanted to stay home but Bud wouldn't let me. She was leaving after school and Friday and while I normally don't get the girls that early from the after school program I made sure I was there for her send off. I got a hug and a kiss and a "bye" mom after taking a few pictures. She obviously was not worried at all.

Getting ready to push off with her best bud's

Maddie and Emma, best soccer friends in the whole world

Getting their rowing instructions

Out on the water

In their decorated cabin on the bunks

In the barn before their horse experience

The theme for Camporee was "Around the World" and they were Italy. Here they are singing "On Top of Spaghetti"