Who are you gonna be?

As my kids are getting older I start to think about what they are going to do "when they grow up."  I wonder what direction they will go in.  I have one extreme introvert and one extreme extrovert, opposite ends of the scale.  It's interesting to watch them grow and see what behaviors they grow out of and what they grow into!  We have always talked about "being the people God has called us to be."  What is that going to mean for them?  Who are they called to be?

I have a good friend, in their mid/late thirties, (for clarity's sake, we'll call them the gender neutral Pat) and just recently Pat's parents told them they thought Pat had chosen the wrong career path and outlined all the mistakes Pat was making.  I was dumbfounded.  I know that you can go too far down the road of preserving someone's self esteem, but for goodness sakes, don't go too far in the other direction!  Why not point out what Pat does in life that is good?  Why not make helpful suggestions so Pat can learn and grow?  What is served by only trashing Pat's path?

Pat's situation reminded me that we have a chance to guide our children, but a time comes when we have to let them make their own choices.  Sometimes we will not agree with those choices, but once they are adults, we have to find a way to support them.  (of course as long as their choices are not illegal or destructive or harmful to themselves or others).   I want my children to know that when I say I will love them no matter what, it doesn't mean I will love them only if they are making the choices I want them to make.  I want them to choose a path that will be satisfying to them.  I want them to like and be proud of what they do.   

Frequently in our family, if we are arguing, we take a moment to remind each other that we are on the same team.  It's a funny analogy because we aren't an exceptionally athletic family.  BUT, we have to remember that we love each other and support each other because we are a family.  It doesn't end when they grow up.  They will grow up and they will grow away, but we will always be a family and we will always be a team!

On Conquering Fears

I am hot and sweaty and tired and gross and really should be in a shower right now.  (how's that for a sentence?)  I just gave a horse a bath.  Specifically, this horse.

This is "Country Come to Town" or, Country.  He is big and old and acts like a dog following you around.  He is my mother's horse and his skin has been itchy, he needed a bath, and someone needed to do it.  Have I mentioned that I have always loved horses but been terrified of them up close?  I think they are beautiful, but they are so darn big.  My brother and sister had riding lessons when we were kids, but by the time I was old enough they were bored with it.  My mom had grown up on a farm but had not had a horse for 45(?) years when she got Country.  My husband worked with horses at a camp in Colorado.  My sister-in-law rides, two of my sister's kids ride, my daughter loves to ride, I am surrounded by it.

My daughter started acting a little hesitant around the horses recently.  I do not want my scaredy cat ways to be picked up by my children.  So I resolved to get more comfortable with the horses.  Country is a great horse for this experiment because he is so gentle.  Little by little I have been increasing my confidence with him.  Today, by myself, I went in the pasture to get him, put his halter on, led him through the barn and hooked him up outside where I gave him an oatmeal bath followed by a medicated bath for his skin.  Do you know the problem with giving a horse an oatmeal bath?  They really like the smell of the oatmeal.  Country kept trying to get into the bucket and kept trying to steal the sponge.

So I DID IT!  I bathed the horse, turned him back out into the pasture and put everything up.  Then I practically skipped home.  I have such a feeling of accomplishment.  It's like a huge box has been checked off.  I had to sit down and write when I got home.  (after I washed my hands, of course!)  So now I need to take a shower, and possibly a nap! Then I will think about what to conquer next!

**Update** Today, I had to hold Country's head while the Vet cleaned his teeth!!!!  Combine a fear of horses and a fear of dentistry and I was weak at the knees.  The tool the Vet uses was actually on a power drill!!  but I survived yet again, (and I thought giving the horse a bath was a big deal, phew!)

Wordless Wednesday

My dad and I at the Hobby Greenhouse Plant Sale, one of my favorite things with one of my favorite guys!  Wordless Wednesday link ups can be found here! Go check some of the other great photos!

Funny Stories

All this week I am enjoying the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by www.5minutesformom.com but it's somewhat stressful to know what to post.  I am incredibly thankful for an "incident" this weekend that gave me a funny story to tell.  Check it out!

Sunday Ultimate Blog Party from Amy Hodges on Vimeo.

Ultimate Blog Party

Right now, at www.5minutesformom.com is (sound the trumpets) THE ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY!!!  Susan and Janice are buckets of fun and they host this awesome week of blog celebration!  There are prizes to be won and blogs to be discovered so please go to their site and check it out.  I did a vlog to introduce myself, and I will be updating with which cool prizes I would love from the party.  Hope you are all having a great start to your weekend!

Ultimate Blog Party take two from Amy Hodges on Vimeo.

They have so many prizes for the Ultimate Blog Party, I would love to win a 3 day 2 night stay from Holiday Inn Main Gate East in Kissimmee, FL or the Be My Guest certificate ($250 value) for one lucky winner, (2 night stay for a family of four) at any Hilton Garden Inn.  (both of those are also from bloggin2noggin , FOLLOW HER!)  Can you tell my family likes to travel??
 We also love all things Disney so the Disney Mickey 5-in-1 Tasty Baker by Pop Art looks like a whole lot of fun!!  (from poparttoaster find hysterical toaster and other kitchen gear with them!)
I also love prizes US101, US7, USC49, USC15, USC37, US112, US104, US72 or anything for a mom with a tween and a teen!