Reflections... Renewal...Updates

So a few weeks ago I was asked to be interviewed regarding the GOCO (Great Outdoors Colorado) grant that my school, North Arvada MS, was awarded. I remember feeling a bit nervous as I have never been interviewed on a podcast before, yet of course I wanted to share the amazing things happening it my school - so we scheduled the time and conducted the interview. You can take a listen if you wish... (Enrollhand) I remember feeling incredibly exhilarated and filled with joy after the interview... I was on cloud 9 for days... committed to creating my own podcast sharing news about North Arvada. Today, I was informed the podcast was published... super exciting! So, of course, I had to listen. And wouldn't you know, they pulled information from this blog that I have not updated in almost 9 years! Thankfully they pulled a pretty recent picture off Facebook... Wow! Apparently I need to update my digital footprint.... Guess I will do that in my profile. For now, I really want to reflect on that conversation... what do I really believe and how will I show up to make it happen?

“I believe that wherever we put our thoughts and focus our thoughts is where our energy goes, and therefore, that is what will grow. If we focus our thoughts on the vision and believe in abundance, then that’s what’s going to grow. Start small. Have a bias towards action. Believe in the kids.”

I've been blessed to participate in a series of forums called Women in Educational Leadership. It is sponsored by the Front Range BOCES. Women come together and engage in mindfulness, face fears, talk about the challenges we face as leaders in educational roles. Our last meeting focused on values... and we were treated to two amazing guests. Kirsten Blake, founder of ChapterBe.com and Lisa Marranzino, author of "Happiness on the Blue Dot."

So, how does happiness and how we show up in the world have anything to do with the podcast interview...? I believe it's all about deepening into our greater yet to be. The more opportunities I have to reflect on my values, the more I am willing to BE ME, the better leader I become. It's all a journey people... one I am so grateful to be on!

Divine Intervention

Yesterday, I could have lost my beautiful daughter before her 18th birthday... but Divine Spirit intervened.



My daughter spends her life tirelessly working for others... her trainer, her family, her friends. She never says no... She loves to help others succeed!

Soooooo many Angels were by her side driving up that canyon... She didn't careen into oncoming traffic, she didn't go off cliff side, the rock wall was the passenger side... the empty passenger side (thank you sweet Angel for occupying the space in that seat - buffering my child), I got a text message from an area where there is no cell service....when others did not... because I needed the message.

A young man in a vehicle passes by - sees the accident and stops. She doesn't appear hurt, but he stays with her until help arrives. They talk. He's from Tennessee, went to the University of Tennessee... she is leaving in 2 weeks for UT-Martin.

A trainer driving up goes by the accident sees it completely blocking the road between her vehicle and those who have stopped to help. Signals the semi-truck headed in their direction to slow down.

State Trooper, from Tennessee, talks to her about school and her ambitions, gives her a break on her citation.

Her Dad and I arrive at the Horse Show Fair Grounds... just in time to help her tack up her horse and earn the "Blue Prize."

Tougher than nails, and far more brave than I ever imagined.

Estes 2011 will be a year to remember....

As I am shocked into a state of immense gratitude today I commit to a daily Gratitude Blog and to "paying it forward" for those are the Universal Angels in my daughter's presence.

Today I am deeply thankful for the incredible people who have influenced my daughter, helped to build her character, her strength. I know her contributions her have only just begun.

TIE Colorado 2011

So I cannot believe that it has been 2 full years since I have posted
to this blog.

I wish I would take lessons from my students who know the value of
creating your own thought then expressing them.

Here I am at the TIE Conference in Copper Mtn CO gazing upon the sun
kissed, snow-blanketed mountain top ... Peace. Solitude. Despair and hope
all in the same image.

I suppose that summarizes my current sensations as well.

Peace is certainly attainable when one considers the magnitude of that
which surrounds them... Rockie mtns, vastness, world-wide
connectivity. All that is beyond the human mind, yet the heart knows
well.

Solitude... Not foreboding alone, yet consider the lives of those
incarcerated to such a destiny. Is it fate? Is it deserved? Regardless
every one of us experiences that sense of isolation.

Today I spent the day at the TIE conference... primarily alone. Is
that truly the most full-filling life?

Despair... Why so alone? Perhaps my life has been too all alone for
the last couple of years. I sense humans fade intodisparity when they
have no connections. No one they perceives genuinely cares for them
and supports them beyond a surface level, no significant contribution. This can occur personally
and professionally. It may not always depend upon caring for you but
most likely extends to the sharing domain. Do you share my ideals and
beliefs? Are they the hill you will die upon? Or at least make me
believe it is so... Have I fought too long for nothing? What do I need
to do differently?

Hope... How can one not feel kissed by Angels on the mountain top? It
is indeed the universe, the Greater Power, Spirit that asks us to turn
our vision inward when amongst Mother Nature. We are asked to examine
why we do what we do, why we behave as we do? Why we hold on to
patterns that no longer serve us positively. In this moment I know
that as the future entwines with today each and every one of our
futures is bright!

Estes Park "True - isms"...

The Equestrian world is just a microcosm of educational truths.....

"Success Breeds Success"
"Positive Reinforcement"
"Meaningful and Timely Feedback"
"Practice makes Perfect"
"Relevancy and Purpose"
"Connectedness and Ownership"

But in the end, we are dealing with the human spirit - a delicate and complex being. How much criticism can the Ego withstand? How much pressure can an individual place upon themselves? And truly when do we accept that all that occurs is exactly what is meant to occur; that the lessons are laid before us for the experiencing?

So I suppose, "green" horses learn to stand still to be braided and "green" riders perfect their body position to yield the best performance from their animal. Young riders are mentored by the more experienced amateur riders. And in some cases simply must find the strength within themselves to trust in the moment for exactly what it is... even if not accompanied by the coveted blue ribbon.

So, in the world of education, what is the "blue ribbon" for our learners? Is it the "A" on the report card? Is it the bragging rights to valedictorian? Or is it the internal knowledge that as an individual being you know more today than you knew yesterday?

Oh, the human spirit, the psyche, the ego... what complicated and beautiful creatures we are... especially in concert with our 4-legged friends.

Memories are made, friendships are strengthened, emotional maturity is tested.



But the magic continues to stir the fire in the hearts of these riders, these learners, these animals to be the best they can be, to achieve at greater heights even if only within the individual.

The lines blur between teacher and student and isn't that the truth of life....

Dotsero...

A country song or band..., right?

Passing through this small mountain town, headed ever so much closer to suburbia... these thoughts enter my consciousness.

The houses, rectangular and perfect, reminded me of a "Premium Crackers" box. Oh, and music again... Toby Keith, "Live Like You Were Dying" (might need to become my motto... :) ) shuffles through the iPod. Immediately, I am reminded of Brett, Mykaela's trainer who passed away all too young...

So, we watched the Big Dipper - found the Little Dipper and kept driving. We lost ourselves and found ourselves - repeatedly... Love, yes, love.

Homeward Bound

So I haven't kept up very well but I couldn't help taking a moment as the passing landscape invites me to gently transition back to reality...

Jimmy Buffet on the iPod and "A Pirate Looks at Forty" takes me thirty years back to Scott's Dad's red Toronado, a bottle of Riunite and blissful young love. Ahh, the power of music :)

As we drive Eastward, kissing the sandstone mesa's goodbye... we realize, "Wow, white puffs in the sky... haven't seen those in a while..."

We take breather in Glenwood to relish the last of our country connectedness... a farmers market. We sample some "to-die-for" Colorado cherries and pick up a variety of salsa's and pickled veggies from the Clark Family Orchards. We allow the blue-grass to linger in our ears... and wish, we too, lived the perfectly "cared for" life of our canine friend...

Ute Canyon Hike

So, here I sit in a beautiful place of contemplation... back home now on my covered deck I allow the rhythm of the rain and the colors of the roses to guide my mind back to our Ute Canyon hike.

Ute Canyon began with a greeting from our 4-legged friend - the Bighorn Sheep.... (It should have been my first indication that Spirit would travel near today.)


Before.... After.... 3 hrs and approx 7 mi.

Yes, dirty socks, forgot the others in the hotel - trying to be gypsies - but needing a home base - gypsies would be totally fine with dirty socks... so were we :)

As we approached the trail head, I happen to glance at a nearby tree... and sure enough I was blessed with the perfect walking stick - left by those who had been here before....

Just the right height. As I allowed it to rotate in my palm the half-moon shape settled comfortably within the digits of my four fingers allowing my thumb to rest and steer from above. We headed down the rigorous decent... filled with numerous switchbacks and steps carved into the sandstone.

We were amazed at the difference in terrain only a few bends away from our previous hike. We deeply inhaled the scents from the Pinon Pine forest and cussed the tall reeds and grasses as they lashed at our shins and calves. (Smarter hikers would wear long pants... :) ) Yet we both announced out loud how grateful we are for the abundance of moisture this spring.

The longer we hiked the more thoughtful our conversation became - a wonderful dose of therapy (didn't pay $75.00 an hour for it either - thank you Mother Nature!) We began to review the chapters of our life - from a distance now... filled with fewer judgments and less pain. (30 years now we have known one another...hmmm) We contemplated our childhoods, our own children (of course questioned if we'd done things right). We examined the theory of nature vs nurture and wondered just how much of life's journey we do and do not control... amazing sensation of spirit here... we are truly blessed.

That day we took time to "smell the roses," to take in nature, to believe and to live in the moment... Oh, if we could only slow down long enough to do that every day!

So, I thanked my walking stick and left it in the exact same place...hoping it would share its' spirit with the one next to deeply need it....