One Tough Ticket to Girl World

Girl World is a lot like Disney World- absolutely dazzling, absolutely fabulous, and absolutely a nightmare.

I was not ready to navigate this trip.  Nope.  No SPF for this stuff.

Step right up for the Rides of Your Life Ladies: 

Fashion Whirl, Splash Insults Mountain, Big Thunder of Emotions, and Cliques of the Caribbean. 

I find it funny because I took the trip myself in the 80s/ 90s but I thought the park had gotten cleaned up since I last left.   Aren't kids more progressive today?

My inner mean girl of yesteryear has come back at The Haunted Mansion.  Can I slap my 12 year old self away please?

I was not ready to enter this world so quickly.

Aren't we too young to ride these rides? Quick, someone bring me an emotional measuring stick!! 

I was not ready for a 4 year old to tell me she couldn't wear her brand new, sparkly shoes because a friend thought they were "ugly".

I was not ready for such anger toward a girl because she wore blue hair.

I was not ready to overhear little girls say 'I have a fat belly' because someone said so on the playground.

I was not ready for my daughter to be punished by peers for her processing speed because she didn't say hello fast enough or because she was confused by the unwritten "social rules" or even because she said something mean she overheard....

I was not ready for my child to desire a selfie by age 7.

I was not ready to think I did something wrong.

I was not ready to have to teach- we do NOT "group" up.

I was not ready for territorial friendships. 

I was not ready to be tortured with the thought-  'are we also making girls feel bad and don't know it?'

I was not ready for my gal to see "groups" she isn't a part of  (I miss the darn rotary phone).

I was not ready for these girls to internalize feelings and carry the burdens.

I was not ready to hurt so much too.

I was not ready to hear 'I don't know how to make friends'. 

I was not ready to hear about girls across this nation who are bullied and victimized at an alarming rate thanks to the same technology they have to master/ utilize to survive in this world. 

I was not ready for this trip.

It's like I'm this lost soul desperately holding onto a ticket that just hangs from my hand while I stand in the middle of Times Square of Girl World.  How do all these other people have Fast Passes?  What do they know that I don't?  

They must have like 7 girls and visit this place all the time.

The grasp on my ticket gives me false hope and some comfort.  I have the ticket but if I lose this ticket- I'm not going to be able to protect my daughter on the rides.   

I'm a goner.   I'm a lost goner.

Am I strong enough to hand this ticket over to God?  

I'm not sure but I know other people will pray that I am strong enough.

Pray to always show grace and kindness.

Pray that I model forgiveness in anger...

in pride...

and in understanding.

Pray that we learn to enjoy the rides that give us lessons that are both good and not so good.

Pray that I can apply the lessons I learned in my youth.

Pray that my daughter is blessed like me to find the rare coins that are so much more valuable than 10000 pennies.

Pray that she sees the beauty of lasting friendships who love her for her.

Pray that she never caves to the pressure of worldly behavior.

Pray I survive the teen years because I can see that this Girl World has some rides with really longggggggg lines in 110 degree heat while other people throw up on you.  

I never was any good at waiting in line. 

Labor Day Fun

Happy Labor Day Friends!

On this day, 15 years ago I was doing my own laboring-

12.5 hours worth and that was just while he was inside my womb

(but who is counting)!?

This stubborn boy was nearly a month late and still wouldn't come out after being induced.  

We are so glad he decided to show up.

Every year the kids get older and I tear up just reminiscing on the past.

Connor was my little butterball! 

Couldn't you just eat those cheeks??

No Worries- I kissed them all the time, 

so no regrets there.  :)

This year Connor had to write a paper about his early childhood in history class and one of his quotes included:

"I was somewhat of a mean boy, I would pull the dogs tail and I never could sit down.  I remember being in timeout ALL the time at daycare, at church, and even at school when I started school.   One time at two I got so mad in my room I knocked over a fish tank.  Fish and water went everywhere and even in the heat ducts.  That was one of the few times my dad said he got really angry with me.   I loved most when my mom would pick me up early from daycare and we would..."

I was so surprised he viewed himself that way.  I get many compliments about his good behavior and awesome personality.

Children are so impressionable and I don't think we realize the message sent to them at a very early age, especially high energy boys.  I know I didn't realize it at the time.

Connor has taught me so much about being patient, more kind to others, and best of all how to deal with boys.

It's my speciality.

You are very special Connor

and God made you in his image- just right for His plans.

We could not be more proud.

This year we celebrated with a Play Station XBox One Controller Cake.

I loved how it turned out.

Meme also made Connor his very own chocolate on chocolate cake.

To say the least, we have had our FILL of sugar this weekend.

(Even I am sick of cake and that NEVER happens).

When one turns 15 you have "hangouts" and mom doesn't take pictures, 

so we had our own private party where I could take as many pictures as I wanted.

Gigi and Sister Liz couldn't make it but they sent some very special -

We gave Connor the gift every boy wants- 

A Ferrari!

Maybe not what he had in mind but we have to wait until this COVID passes to schedule driver's ed class so that he can drive anything (by anything I mean a mini-van)...

so for now, this will do.

It must have been a good gift because the kids played from afternoon until night.

****

We took a bit of time to enjoy this tiny bit of fall weather with a snack picnic

and photo shoot.

Carlee also redecorated her room AGAIN! 

I need to get her away from Youtube Room Designs.

Speaking of designs-

we took advantage of a Labor Day Sale and got new living room furniture-

Yayyyyy.  

I'm too excited.

Our old couch endured one too many wrestling matches

but now we need new curtains.  

Let me know if you find any.

I saw this at the store and I just loved it.

 I took one and placed it on my window sill.

We are more thankful than ever to our many, many essential workers and pray you all have a good week. 

Goodbye Summer

My kids have not stepped foot in a school since March.

While some children would probably be chomping at the bit to get back to routine- not my kids.

They loved being quarantine.

They love summer.

They love home.

They remind me of simpler time when our young hearts were not quite weighed down with all of the problems in the world.

Tonight we say 'Goodbye' to watching movies late at night, 

to "car" birthday parades,

sleeping in while the fan blows cool air, 

swimming in the heat until too tired to suntan, 

ice cream dinners, 

walks on the trail,

napping with Maggie Cuddles, 

cooking hotdogs on the grill under the stars, 

splashing in the swirly creek, 

giggling with cousins on a weeknight...

Goodbye Summer

The Wild (Safe) and Wonderful Sechrists of West Virginia

The Wild Safe and Wonderful Sechrists of West Virginia 

I really wasn't expecting to go on any vacation this year due to all that is going on but I was supporting a plan that had us going away for a few days.

Between remote learning, COVID, taking care of family, and other juggling acts- The Sechrist Fam needed to get away for a few days.

Imagine my surprise, when Darren said that we were all going on a trip toooooo:

West Virginia. 

(ummmm.  ok.)

My husband is not political or "scared" of COVID but he is proactive and respectful of anything that he can do to protect his fellow human,

and most important of all- 

he isn't going to lose a dollar in case of cancellation. 

Let me just tell you friends, West Virginia has quite a reputation but did you know they rank #1 in the nation for their timely COVID response.  They also continue to rank bottom 10 for COVID cases in the United States.  

I didn't either until I did some research (and here).

Anyway, I stopped asking questions a long time ago.  

I just get in the van with a suitcase now.  

After a few hours we entered the wonderful mountains of West Virginia (hold the 'tooth' brush jokes please).

Darren booked us at a small resort called 

Glade Springs.

We stayed in a little apartment called Poplar. 

As in....

(I called it 'Windy Poplar' anyway.)

Don't the kids look sweet and precious? 

They argued/bickered the whole time.

I mean the whole time.

I mean the WHOLE TIMEEEEEEEE!

I mean...

I will NEVER ride anywhere in a car over an hour with them again.

I mean... 

I'm going to lock them up in my basement.

I'm going crazy.

***

Moving on, 

our vaycay spot was cozy.

Every single person that we met on this trip was so friendly.  The staff had a lot of young people and they were well spoken and very helpful.

Now don't ask me how the same person who has ordered the SAME thing off the Taco Bell menu for the last 17 years is able to find these out of the way, secluded, and very unique places...

but Darren does it.

Social distancing was NOT a problem because 

NO one was there.

I mean... 

No One. 

(I really want to talk to the Chamber of Commerce in this area because I have ideas.  They are simply not taking advantage of this area.)

Connor and Darren brought their tennis rackets and had the place to themselves every morning.

Carlee and I had the indoor pool to ourselves

&

don't forget the 

hot tub.

There was an arcade, spa, and bowling alley.

   

In the evenings we would walk to the outdoor pool. 

Carlee is becoming such a good swimmer! 

Of course Connor found one boy his age.  

He is the only person I know who can find people where there are no people.  They played a few games of ball together and became 'Instagram' friends.

  Most everything was in walking distance. 

  I haven't worn makeup since March.

We had great weather (the mountains protected us from Hurricane Isaias). 

Darren has this thing for bridges (perhaps we will go birdwatching next).

He really wanted to visit 'New River Gorge Bridge'

(the fourth longest bridge in the US).

Off we went.

It truly was such a lovely place.

Connor got a new phone, so I switched my SD card to his old one because it has two camera lenses.  

I thought the pics really captured this place.

I don't know about longest bridge but they had the most steps of any place I had been (Lord, help me for I am so out of shape.  My mask was going in and out so much, I bet people thought I was trying to eat the darn thing in an exercise induced seizure.)

It was beautiful and I think the hiking was really good for all of us (even though I pretended to tie my shoe 100 times so I could breathe and not die because not dying is good).

The shopping outside of the resort did not offer a lot of choices but we ventured out about 45 minutes and found a few things for Back to School.

  Matchers #shorts

Connor and Darren had an epic disagreement over shoes (every year).  Darren is more of a 'two choices in life' man- black or brown (pink on a teen boy is way outside of the box).

Connor is a 2020 kid-  let me buy all the colors and be ME.  

I decided to intervene because you all know I have the soul of Funky Coal Medina and understand such things.

  

When we FINALLY found the right back to school shoes I said to the young man selling, "Do you have two shoes that match of this brand?"

Store Clerk:  "They actually come that way mam', different colors".

My TEEN Son (after clerk checks size):  

"Geez MOM. White and nerdy much?  Embarrassing."

So maybe my soul is more like Weird Al Yankovic (but I'm still cool and I'm still holding the debit card.... word to ya' mother).

Meanwhile, my daughter felt this $1300.00 dollar mirror was important for Back to School.

  No.  We are not shipping a diamond mirror from West Virginia.  No.

If this vay cay seems a little subdued, well it was...

I thought I was going to have to sneak off to Boone County to visit with the Whites to kick this party up.  

We decided to actually return a day earlier because I've become...

I don't know if I can say it but I've become...

A Crazy Dog Mom!!!

I missed my dog.

(oh shut up)

I'm not that bad.

Ok.  so, I made a Youtube Video when I picked Maggie up from the vet after housing her in that cold kennel.

Maybe I'm a little bad. 

She has separation anxiety. 

Leave me alone.

A little time away was a great thing.

After all we are the Wonderful Sechrists of West Virginia and no matter what is going on...  

the party is in our hearts!