Tell them thank you

I am very thankful for my life.  I am blessed to live in a nice house, nice neighborhood, and a nice community.  I have an awesome husband and amazing children.  I am thankful.  However, how often do we thank those who do make an impact on our lives?  I mean I thank God, as I should for all he does for me.  However, until this past year I feel like I have held back giving out thanks to others.  I don't know if it was part of my "wall" to not let others in or if I assumed those who had blessed me knew I was thankful.  Maybe I did express thanks to some and just not others.  So what changed in the past year that got me to really think about this expressing thankfulness stuff??  Well a year ago today the world lost a pretty amazing man.  He was a helper in my youth group growing up.  He was the guy that was always smiling...not a little smile a light up the room smile.  When I heard he had been diagnosed with Leukemia my heart sank.  I hadn't spoken to him in probably 10 years but I remember the impact he had on me.  Yes, I remember he  had that smile and always had plenty of gum for everyone but there was one time he said something to me and I don't even know if I realized it at the time how much it would affect me.  I think we had a youth meeting at his house or something and I think he overheard me mouthing about something (shocking I know), he just pulled me aside and all he said was "You are better than that".  It doesn't sound like much right.  However if you grew up the way I did, where I did...knowing that no one expected anything great from you.  Someone stopping to tell you that you were better then what you were putting out there might just make an impact on you.  I still remember it like it was yesterday.  He said it, tilted his head forward as to let me know he meant it then smiled that big beaming smile and said Ok....  In the church, they always talk about "planting seeds" that even if you don't see someone come to Christ something you say now may impact them later on down the road.  Thinking back I believe that was the first time anyone said something like that to me...he expected more because I was worth more.  I never told him the impact that had on me.  I never thanked him for the change it made in me.  When he was diagnosed, I really wanted to tell him but I felt silly and I didn't want to intrude during a time like that.  Like I said it had been 10 years probably since we had spoken.  I guess I thought there would be more time.  I find peace in knowing I'll thank him in heaven.  The lesson I took away from all of this was to not wait.  To let people know that your thankful for them, let them know when their words or actions change your world for the better.  So I may come off sappy sometimes but I'd rather be a thankful sap then a regretful one.

My daughter the....Pageant Queen??

Never in my life did I ever think we would be doing pageants with Caylie.  However, a few years ago a friend of hers did one and Caylie has asked to do one ever since.  This past fall our small town had a little pageant at city hall.  Caylie was thrilled to enter.  She got on stage and you could see she was terrified!  You wouldn't know it 5 minutes later because she was already asking when she could do another one.  We put that on the back burner and Caylie really got into dance. I brag about her studio all the time and will continue to.  Since joining there Caylie's self-confidence is at an all time high and by that I mean she actually has self-confidence now.  Well a few weeks ago I stumbled onto an ad on Facebook about a pageant prelim being held locally.  It was inexpensive and all-natural and she got to do talent.  So I asked her if she wanted to do it and it was a resounding YES!  She has spent the last few weeks getting ready for it, practicing her walk and her dance for talent.  At this pageant they don't allow prissy or sassy walk just elegant Miss America style walking.  Knowing Caylie's last experience I really didn't expect much from this one.  I did know that no matter what all the girls would get a little crown and that it would be great for Caylie to have practice on stage.  The pageant was well run and there was a good turn out.  They let the girls go on stage and see where to do there walk before they started.  When it came time for Caylie to actually do her beauty walk I had no idea what to expect.  She was fantastic!  She smiled her real smile (not her fake nervous one), she walked elegantly and you could tell she was having fun.  We then rushed around changing into her dance costume and pinning her hair back.  Then she had to stretch...this was a step we couldn't miss as she flies into the splits as part of her dance.  She ended up having plenty of time to stretch and practice her turns and leg holds off to the side.  She LOVED watching the other girls do their talents and when it came time for hers I was shocked!!  She danced it better then she ever had in practice. He turns were clean, her leaps were good and her leg hold was fantastic.  But the best part was the smile!  She was absolutely beaming.  This is what surprised me the most as even in dance class she hardly smiles b/c she is focusing so much.  When it came time for crowning I reminded her that every girl got a crown and if they said queen then she knew she won.  Her group was the largest age group for the day and even though I thought she did great I still wasn't expecting much.  They called participation awards one after the other, each time I kept expecting to hear her name.  Then they announced talent, one of her friends who did an amazing monologue won that.  That's when I realized they hadn't called Caylie's name so that means.....YEP she won!  I still can't believe it.  The same little girl that looked terrified and lost on stage 6 months ago just won this pageant.  Needless to say my girl is beside herself, so happy and proud.  Now she gets to go on and compete at state and she can't wait!  Like I said at the beginning this is never something I thought we would be doing.  I know pageants get a lot of bad press.  This pageant couldn't have been farther from that stereotype and I am so thrilled for my girl working for something she wanted and achieving it!