Do people really know what it means to Support our troops?

Everywhere you look anymore, there are the magnetic ribbons that say, "Support our troops." Every time I see them, I think to myself, "D0 they really know what it means?" Do they know its more than just buying a $1 magnetic and sticking it to your car? I know for many it is the fear of another Vietnam, when our soldiers came home to be shunned, spit upon and in some cases, harrassed and intimidated. It's almost like people think they can put the magnet on their car and it excuses them from any other "support".

Cole had an eye opening experience a few years ago at Walmart when he was in his uniform. Little kids looked at him in awe, older people smiled, thanked him or told him their stories, but we had a couple of women who did something that surprised Cole but didn't me. As they were walking towards us, they separated so they were on either side of Cole, pushing me off to the side. They, then, pushed against Cole from either side , jostling him around before walking on. Cole looked at me in surprise and asked, "Did they just do what I think they did?" Yep, sure enough, he was just hassled without a word being said.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be an American soldier, or married to one, or a child of one or the parent of one. Not everyone has to agree. But common decency and respect is one of the best ways to support our troops, those now serving, those who have served and those who have died for us. So the next time you see a soldier in uniform, or a vet, hold the door for them, listen to their stories or give them a simple Thank you. So, the magnetic ribbons are nice but so impersonal---make your support personal!

To my Dad, Mom, Uncle, Brothers, Nephews-in-law and my incredible son: Thank you for your sacrifices!

Happy Memorial Day!

My Syd!

Today is Syd's 11th birthday. It's hard for me to believe that my baby is eleven but even harder for me to look at her and see a young woman who looks 13 not 11. She is growing so fast! Syd is a beautiful, young woman not just on the outside but on the inside where it really counts.

Syd is so caring for not just her family but everyone around her. People love her because she is a delight to be around. I can count on her to do the right thing in any situation.

She is her Daddy's girl. Syd loves to curl up with her Dad and watch a movie. They are quite the pair when shopping for clothes! Both have an excellent sense of style, although her Dad's tends to be more preppy and Syd's a little more funky but they seem to be able to compromise. Syd also has a close relationship with me. It doesn't matter what we do together, we have a ball!

Syd is a great student--she loves to learn new things. I am so glad all of my children have developed this same sense of curiosity. She is also my tomboy. She loves sports of all kinds--not content to just watch but to be right in the action. She is a star player on her girls lacrosse team. You can also find her out playing soccer, kickball, and football with all the guys.

Syd is a beautiful person and I am so fortunate to be her mother. Happy Birthday, babe!

Grand gestures and the little things

With lacrosse season in full swing, Eric's last term before his practicum, my first term for my master's, busy contract season and the kids school winding down, we have been so exhausted that we literally fall into bed at night. Needless to say, romance has taken a the very back seat on this bus! Before we had children and all through our courtship, Eric has done the grand gestures as well as the little things. Whether it was a surprise visit at work for lunch or a wild flower bouquet, Eric has always been one to show his affection. After a particularly difficult time in our early marriage (he had been working two full-time jobs while going to school so we wouldn't lose our insurance), he made arrangements with my store manager (I was a manager at ZCMI) to whisk me away early from work. We had a nice dinner at the newly remodeled Inn at Temple Square and he suggested we ask if we could see one of the new rooms. I was so against asking, I mean, how tacky, but he went ahead and asked anyway. I reluctantly went up the elevator with him and was mortified when we unlocked the room and there was suitcases in the room. It took Eric's prompting before I realized they were OUR suitcases. He drew me into the room and laying on the bed was a new silk dress, pumps and silk stockings (I am allergic to nylon). He told me to hurry and change since we had tickets to the symphony. We had a wonderful weekend and I will never forget how much planning and preparation he did in secret so he could surprise me.

Grand gestures such as that are no longer possible and haven't been for almost 18 years (once the kids came) but Eric still does the little things for me. He irons my clothes (I hate to), cleans the bathroom, dusts, cooks (so much better than I), cleans (also better than I), dresses and shops for me (I hate to shop for clothing) and supports me in all that I do (or attempt to do). Today, after putting in a 50 hour week, he left clinic in Provo with the intent to take me to lunch. Now, we try to have lunch together or with my parents on our Fridays but I hadn't expected it today since he had to work in Provo. We picked up sandwiches and headed to the park. Sitting on blanket, we had nice lunch and some one on one time. It may not seem like it is as grand a gesture as the weekend I described but to me it was. Eric always seems to know when I am feeling a little neglected in romance (I am a closet romantic) and comes up the with grand gestures or the little things to let me know how much I still mean to him.

I love this man!

Mother of the year!

So, once again, this Mom earns the award of Mother of the Year! I know, I know, it is a regular occurrence for me. Cole played his toughest lacrosse teams last week (Jordan and Riverton) with pneumonia! Yep, I didn't catch that. By Friday, I decided he really wasn't sounding so good so I took him to the Doc and then to top it off, I promised him I wouldn't tell his coach so he could play against his former team, West Jordan, Friday night. Sound familiar? Yep, Charlie had pneumonia only 3 weeks ago and I missed it that time, too. Needless to say, I am keeping a very close watch on Syd and if she so much as coughs, it is to the Doc right away. Good thing my kids are so forgiving (at least they don't equate me with perfection).

My shining star!

This was posted on the Westside lax website today:

UT BOYS: Emotional Bingham Upsets No. 22 Jordan, 10-9

Bingham head coach Brian Morris said his team went out Monday night with the intention of honoring former Miners player and Weber freshman/sophomore team coach Blake Strebel, who died last week in a traffic accident.

Strebel would have been proud of what his former team accomplished.

Junior attackman Cole Christensen scored a team-high three goals, including what stood up to be the game-winner, to lead Bingham to a 10-9 upset victory over No. 22 Jordan in a Utah High School Lacrosse League Division A game.

Senior attackman Cameron Edmunds and senior middie Jake Arthur each added a pair of goals, as Bingham (8-6) posted its first-ever win over a Top 25 team.

Senior middie Brett Everill had a goal and an assist, and junior attackman Peter Tschaggeny and junior middie Chase Newton each scored once.

Defensively, freshman goalie Aaron Hansen saved 10 shots.

The game was tied, 7-7, at the end of the third quarter, but Bingham scored three unanswered goals in less than five minutes to take a 10-7 lead. Christensen capped the run when he fired home a shot with 7:38 to play.

Jordan closed within 10-9 on a goal by senior attackman Matt Brunner with 4:19 remaining, but Bingham held on to score its biggest win of the season.

“The team wanted to play this game in Blake’s honor, and they put in a fantastic effort all four quarters,” Morris said. “We had everybody hustling, everybody talking. It was a total team effort. It was the best game we played all year.”

In defeat, Brunner and senior attackman Chase Gerber each finished with a co-game-high four points on three goals and an assist for Jordan (10-1), which had its season-opening, 10-game winning streak snapped just one game after scoring its biggest win of the season against Bountiful.“It was not the same team that played Friday,”

Jordan head coach John Barraco said. “I think maybe were a little overconfident. Bingham showed up ready to play, and we didn’t.”

Another reminder that Life here on earth is too short!

Once again I am reminded that a split second decision can change your life forever. Last Wednesday evening, a fellow Bingham lacrosse player and his roommate lost their lives when another young man made a wrong choice. Blake (19) and Derek (18) were heading home from work when a 17 year-old gang member chose to run from police and broadsided them, killing them instantly. Derek was expecting his mission call any day and Blake was getting his paper work ready to turn in. Cole's Bingham lacrosse team is devastated by the loss of a former team mate. Blake was a nice person who make sure everyone felt welcomed on the team.

I often hear parents complain about their teenagers and their attitudes. I love my teenagers with all their belligerent moods, complaints, stubborness and selfishness. Does it frustrate me? Yes. I realize, however, that this is a step towards adulthood and self-discovery. I would take a million more days of their attitudes because the days of sharing in their witty, smart-alecky, and loving natures far outweigh the others. I treasure every day with them because life with them is too short and passes far too quickly.

Things you may not know about me!

In our monthly staff meeting we have a team-building exercise. This month's was unique and fun. We had to take the amount of toliet paper that we would normally use in the bathroom. We were then to count the amount of squares we use. I thought we were going to have a "green" lesson since that seems to be the way everything is going these days, however, it wasn't quite that way. Instead, we were to tell how many squares worth of things our co-workers may not know about us. It was not an easy thing to do and I'm not someone who likes to share intimate details with everyone. But, I thought I would share some unique things about me that you may not know. So here goes:

1. I am named for my Dad since he didn't want to have to give a son his name. (It is Therice)

2. I can't drive a stick shift but I can fly an airplane.

3. I met my husband only after my Bishop refused to sign mission papers for me.

4. My one goal growing up was to be taller than my sister. (I didn't make it)

5. I love men in uniforms (any kind).

6. I was forever traumatized by my first grade teacher when she kept marking my papers wrong for the spelling of my names (Theresa Kaarina Tibbitts).

7. I was a BYU student when I met my husband.

8. Contrary to what my teens think, I was very athletic. I played soccer, field hockey, tennis and volleyball and danced.

9. I love country music much to my husband and sons chagrin.

10. I tried unsuccessfully to play the flute, piano and guitar. I can't carry a tune to save my life but I teach music in church every Sunday.

11. I threw up for the first time in my life on the night my husband asked me to marry him. (I have lots of stories about our courtship and engagement--good thing he loves me or he would never have stuck around)

12. I tend to have an iron stomach (see above).

13. I was a manager at ZCMI for the Sporting goods department and then the Infant, children, pre-teen and maternity departments for several years.

14. I am an accountant who hates math.

15. I love my Dr. Pepper but it has to be diet now.

16. I successful carried three VERY large babies in my 4' 11" body.

17. I am very stubborn and will dig my heels in if something is important enough to me (this can be good and bad).

18. I am a fierce mama bear when it comes to my kids so don't cross me.

19. I am very comfortable with who I am and I don't really care what people think of me. It's their problem not mine (doesn't make for great dates--several other stories to share).

20. Although I like predictability, I can change directions and deal with conflict without blinking.

If any of you can think of things about me that I may not know, feel free to share!