Sisterhood: Bid Day 2014

It is August.  The middle of August in fact.  Around here, that means a busy time.  Back to School.  BID DAY!  Last Monday, the Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Delta Pi at Oklahoma State University welcomed almost 60 new Alpha members.  It was not as hot outside as it has been in recent years, but it was HOT inside!  ;)  Lots of hugs and excitement for these young ladies - and I am honored just to be a part of it!

For the Weavers, it also means volunteering our time to work Welcome Week registration in the ballroom of the Student Union for a few hours.  It's a family tradition!  Britt and I have done it every year for the past several years.  It's super fun, and great people watching.  We had out their first ORANGE T-short for orange Fridays, a map of campus to help them get around, and a booklet showing the week's events.  These are Freshmen who have just arrived on the OSU campus for the first time as students, and it is SO MUCH FUN!  (Great people watching, too!)  We worked out shift late Tuesday afternoon, and it did NOT disappoint!

This morning as I was trolling my apps on my iPhone waiting for the rest of the house to get going, TimeHop Abe reminded me of this post from exactly one year ago today.  Remember this, readers?  I was so excited about how this story turned out.  Well, revisiting that reminded me that there is a Part 2 - and I'm going to tell you about it today!

While my (skinny) husband and I were greeting new students Tuesday night, I was (as always) on the lookout for ADPi lavalieres, headbands, bags, T-shirts and any other identifying apparel.  In the 2 hours we were in the ballroom.  I saw 2 girls with my letters.  JUST TWO!  That's crazy - I normally see at least a handful.  The first one was not in my line - in fact she was CLEAR DOWN at the other end of the giant room.  I didn't feel like being too obnoxious and flagging her down.  But the second one?  She was in MY LINE!

Here she comes, right up to us to get her registration taken care of and most importantly to get a brand new orange T-shirt.  She had on a necklace with the Greek letters Alpha Delta Pi on a sweet little charm.  So, of course, I had to engage her.  She was so excited to talk about her new sisterhood! (We got a GREAT group this year - can't wait to see what they do in the future!).  She said she remembered seeing me at the house on Monday and was glad to meet me.  As part of the conversation, I asked who her "Bid Day Buddy" (older Delta member who helps the new Alpha members navigate the craziness that is Bid Dy) was.  YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO HER BUDDY WAS!!!!

Ok, you probably already guessed.  You're right!  It was the young lady from last year's post.  I can't make this stuff up.  I was floored - and so was my husband.  ADPI just keeps surprising me over and over.  Renewed my love for Stillwater, Oklahoma State University and Alpha Delta Pi.  What a GREAT week I had.  I always love a fresh, new fall semester, and this was just icing on the cake!

Welcome to campus, #OKState18.  Here's to a wonderful year!

Day 25: 26 Days of March of Dimes

Volunteers

2012

More than 7 million people get involved in our largest fundraiser each year. March for Babies® raises awareness and $108 million to fund lifesaving research and community programs. 

1973

The first March of Dimes walkathons took place in 1970, setting the stage for the growth of WalkAmerica®, which became March for Babies in 2008.

1963

Even the youngest volunteers understand the importance of helping others. Today, thousands of young people, from elementary school to college, help the March of Dimes, often inspiring a lifetime of volunteering.

1950

As polio epidemics grew more widespread, volunteers went door to door to collect dimes so researchers working in labs could develop a successful vaccine. The campaign was known as Mothers March®.

Source:  http://www.marchofdimes.com/mission/mission-75.aspx#

Team Finn's Fans had "BANK DAY" yesterday.  We turned in all the cash and checks we had collected, and reconciled the on-line donations.  Our goal was $2575.00.  At yesterday's event, we turned in $2,579.00!  And still counting!  We are so blessed that Adorable Affordables is not only a corporate sponsor for the March tomorrow, they are also graciously selling March for Babies "cut outs" at the registers during the sale this week.  here is a picture of the "Wall of Babies" from friday morning!

 

Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for supporting Team Finn's Fans and most importantly, March of Dimes and the mission they have for healthy moms and babies!  My dream is that SOMEDAY, no baby will have to be born prematurely!

 

 

Thankful for the Help

 Today is the first day of Thanksgiving Break.  Well, for my kids, anyway.  Husband and I both have to work.  Because that’s what we do!  So, where are the Little Dream Weavers, you ask?  Let me tell you…  The Twisters are with their Nana and Grandpa on a shopping/road trip.  LUCKY!  They are going to Oklahoma City to shop for Christmas themed T-shirts for Santa pictures, then on south to Paul’s Valley to pick up my niece who will be here for the next few days!   And Jake?  Well, he’s with my co-worker/LTC friend/sister in Christ and her kids at the ZOO!  NO FAIR!  She says the day before Thanksgiving is a great day to go to the zoo – all of the animals are out (it is like 70 here today), and they all get a Turkey day “treat” from the zoo keepers.  Plus, it’s not crowded.  Awesome.  She has already texted me and told me how much she loves my son.  That leaves Sweet Baby Finn.  He’s here.  On campus.  In my office.  On my lap.  Yup!  I’m ON CLOUD NINE too!  He has been around “visiting,” but that means like 6 people as we are on a skeleton crew here today!

We are gearing up for our first Thanksgiving feast with family tonight.  On the menu? Hideaway pizza, of course!  These are out of town-ers (New York and Mississippi) who don’t get it whenever they want it like we do!  ;)  We are gathering at my parent’s house.  8 adults.  7 kids.  Already glad there is basically a 1 on 1 pairing.  It could get crazy!  LOUD!  And that’s just the grown-ups!  LOL!  I kid… But, with 2 of the children being babies (both born prematurely, BTW), we need all hands on deck!  I can’t wait to start the festivities!  And tomorrow, we FEAST!  More on that later…

In the meantime, I have been reflecting on what I am thankful for.  I am so thankful for the people in my life who truly have a servant’s heart.  Those that are willing to help at the drop of a hat, or on a very tight schedule.  My parents first and foremost.  They help with my kids every day of the week!  My mom watches Finn daily, which we pay her for, but she goes above and beyond by waiting at my house for the big kids to get on the bus, and being there for them when they get home in the afternoon, plus running them to all their appointments and classes, practices and games when needed.  Thankful for my dad taking over for my mom when she has other volunteer things to do or needs to take time for herself.  Both of them chauffeuring the kids to dance, clubs, games – and showing up for competitions almost every time!  Plus, if it’s broken, Grandpa can fix it, Nana can mend it, and they always have the tools we need for chores around the house!  But beyond that, we have friends who help, too.  Someone takes Lara to choir every Tuesday and Friday morning before school.  Another parent takes Emma to her Odyssey of the Mind meetings.  Friends take 1, or 2 (or even ALL FOUR) off our hands for a few hours so we can get some stuff done.  The volunteers in LifeKids at our church who pour into these kids life weekly.  All my sorority girls who offer free babysitting.  ALL the offers we get for any and every kind of help.  So THANKFUL!  All of you.  You know who you are.  I am so grateful for you all and your generosity.  THANK YOU! And Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I might be saying “No” more in the next few weeks than I usually do.  Not to my kids or my sweet husband. And not any more to my dog than I already do.  But, to opportunities, requests for my time, and anything that will take me away from my family more.  To quote my incomparable pastor, “You have to start saying no to good things so you’ll be able to say yes to the best things.” ~CraigGroeschel.

You see, the next 6 weeks, leading up to my birthday, are JAM PACKED with opportunities that my family and I have committed to.  We just attended the bi-monthly meeting of the CNAC committee we serve on for the Oklahoma City chapter of the March of Dimes.  We serve at church 4 out of the next 6 Sunday mornings.  I have an Executive Board meeting for our sorority this weekend.  (All volunteer activities!)  I have backed out of participating in the Fun Run portion of our 5K for the Ronald McDonald House for sheer lack of TIME.   Lara starts dance lessons this week and choir practice next week.  Emma starts volleyball practice this weekend.  Britt and I have a couple’s baby shower to go to next weekend.  The Big Kid’s elementary school fundraiser money is due in 3 weeks.  The city wide consignment sale that I devote a lot of my time and energy to is in 4 weeks – I have a TON to do to be ready for the sale, then I work about 20 hours there in a 2 day time period.  My husband’s 30^th High School reunion is in 4 weeks – and he has some committee work to do for that as well.  After that it is time to wrap up our March for Babies fundraising, distribute our T-shirts, and get ready for the walk!  Finn’s 1^st birthday is the 5^th, then the March for Babies AND Finn’s birthday party on the same day – October 6!  LOTS of things yet to be done for that day!  WHEW!  

My to-do list is long.  And color coded.  And shared with my amazing #2 who has already taken a few things off of it for me. I am blessed.  

And it all culminates with my 38^th birthday on October 8.  My goal is to enjoy the ride, and survive until then.  I know my family will treat me so well to help me celebrate this milestone.  We have come SO FAR from where we were a year ago. For that, I am eternally grateful.  But, if you ask me to do something in the next few weeks, be prepared.  I will say “No.”  My plate is full, and I want to be able to keep my focus on the most important things in my life: God (My #1), My husband (#2), and my family.

Just because opportunities present themselves doesn’t mean you should accept every one of them. It’s not realistic, and it’s also not wise. Often instead of asking, “Is this right or wrong?” or “Will I enjoy this or not?” we need to ask, “Is this wise in light of my desire to stay grounded in what matters most to me and to God?” -Craig Groeschel