Okay, I need to pre-empt this by stating…all of the pictures are from my phone so do not give me crap about quality…

The College Football Hall of Fame just celebrated it’s annual enshrinement and this year I was a part of that! To be honest, ever since I began my new position there (only a month or so ago) I have been almost DREADING the event. Everyone has been so wrapped up in it that as an “Event Supervisor” they were making me nervous! HOWEVER once the big event arrived I HAD A BLAST!

Thursday evening was the VIP reception and the staff team was playing ALL POSITIONS. I for one had a part in acting as “security” while the VIPs arrived and walked across the street from their hotel in order to “protect” them from autograph seekers. Okay, have you seen me? Have you seen a Football Player? I was having a total Charlie’s Angel moment and looked at my shoes and decided that I was prepared…I have 3 inch heels and I am NOT afraid to use them! The reality of the situation is that I was just using my abilities to keep things flowing smoothly and being kind but stern to people who might approach the VIPs that night.

Friday 8am I reported for duty and was given quick instructions on how to operate and drive a scissor lift and spent a couple hours in it doing some decorating. Friday Evening was the Beach Party…There was food, and fun and music and VIPs mingling and having a good time. (By 10am I was sunburned – appropriate for a beach party right? -and was primarily on my feet until 11pm and I was EXHAUSTED and wanted to trade my feet in by the time I got home)

Back in Saturday at 7am to prepare for (more time in the scissor lift) the Parade and Fan Festival which included the celebrity flag football game, football clinic for the kids, lots of inflatables for the kids at the Kids Zone (which I DID NOT get pictures of) and the Enshrinement Ceremony – which not only was I off the clock for, I was done in time to hit the 7:30 pm service at church while the ceremony was happening, nice relaxing church.

Friday and Saturday each had autograph sessions scheduled and, for me – not being a sports fan, I found it funny when I arrived Friday at 8am to find people had camped overnight to purchase tickets to them. I don’t love anyone enough to camp out in line for them….well, maybe Jesus…but other than that I doubt it. Both autograph sessions were sold out very quickly on Friday…many people were disappointed.

One thing I did enjoy was being in the Pressbox to help make sure that the autograph line went quick and smooth. It was fun talking to these guys…by the way>>>they are HUMAN. They have families and friends and a life outside of football. The ones I had a chance to speak to are kind and intelligent, and funny. During the first session I was stationed between Frank Sheptock and Mike Rozier. Frank Sheptock is just flippin nice and down to Earth and I kept running into his sister during the weekend who is just as nice and if it weren’t for the VIP credentials I would have sworn they were South Bend residents. Mike Rozier is…funny, and quite a character. He could not open his beverage bottle and asked if I had any keys and when I told him the key he chose to use happened to be the key to a church he found it rather amusing considering the beverage. He was like the class clown for the first autograph session.

The second session I was with Chad Hennings and Jessie Tuggle. Chad Hennings and I chatted about the Air Force and he gave me some direction to help Breanna get into the field that she would like to pursue when she begins her journey toward enlistment. Did you know he had to sign a special waiver in order to be a pilot in the USAF because of his height? Apparently there are torso length limitations that they prefer to adhere to. While I was chatting with Jessie Tuggle, I found that he is now coaching high school football and one of his kids is on the team. I guess that both his kids are very good athletes (according to their proud father) and that we should probably watch for them in the future. He was very kind and you could really hear his love for his family when he spoke of them.

So many things to share, but I hesitate to blog a novel – and –though I am exhausted, sunburned, scraped, scratched, bruised, and sore…I am glad I had the opportunity to take part in this event. It was interesting and totally different than what I am used to doing and it was a great learning experience for me. It also gave me the opportunity to spend more time with the College Football Hall of Fame staff and see everyone pitch in and try to create a fun atmosphere for our community.

When I first came on staff at GCC my initial reaction was “I am not worthy” and I would bet that many of my co-workers probably felt the same about themselves initially. I felt so much like a fraud that I typed what I believed was my story and gave copies of it to the two Pastors that I would be “reporting” to. This thing was (I believe)21 pages, typed, single spaced. I was certain that they would change their minds, but here it is 2 years and 20 days later and I am still here.

Today, driving into work I was listening to a CD of some worship music and the words rang true and helped me realize how much I have changed. I am ABSOLUTELY worthy of my position. It is not that I am any better than anyone else on the planet, but I realize now that I am EQUAL to everyone else on the planet. I matter and I deserve everything that I accomplish. God loves me just as much as he loves (in no particular order) Mother Theresa, Warren Buffet, Mark Beeson, Oprah Winfrey, Charles Manson, Adolf Hitler, the homeless Vietnam Vet that I see pushing a cart every day down Sample St, my children, my spouse, your children, your spouse, our parents, my siblings, etc. I am no better and I am no worse, but only by Gods gift of his Son and the sacrifice made by Christ is that true. Which not only makes me worthy, it makes me grateful (for all things), less judgemental (of myself and others), more forgiving (of myself and others) but most importantly – more accepting of myself which makes me more accepting of others.

I look back at what I believed to be “My Story” and realize that the things that I thought made me undeserving were really not as BIG and AWFUL as I thought they were. Heck, some of it was not mine to feel bad about! Were there things I wish I had not done? Yes, but can’t everyone say that?

Wow, have I grown or what?!?!

Hey Lindsay! I know how much you wanted to be there to support your friend Taya while she sang the National Anthem at the College Football Hall of Fame’s Celebrity Softball Game, but couldn’t because you were busy being a good mom celebrating your son’s birthday (Happy Birthday Dawson!).

Taya sang beautifully…and by the way, the gentleman at the end of the line on the left IS none other than former ND quarterback Tony Rice. Lindsay, maybe you can come when Taya will be performing again on Aug 3rd, sorry I do not have all the details but I am sure she will share them with you.

Oh and Lindsay, Taya was wearing a “pirate” striped shirt in honor of Dawson’s birthday…too cute.

On July 5th we traveled up to South Haven to see the fireworks from the beach. Viewing fireworks from any other type of location just seems lame to me. Fireworks on the beach make everything seem great…and somehow safer. The above photos are shots taken before the sun went down.

Last night at the dinner table Paige asked Breanna to translate “La Vie Boheme” for her. Breanna told her that she thought it meant “the Bohemian life” or something along those lines. Paige being her 11 year old self was unsure about what the word ‘bohemian’ meant. So in her innocence she asked:

“Isn’t bohemian when you stick your finger in your mouth and touch that little thing in the back and you puke?”

Breanna and Dave were quick on the draw to correct her and explain that “NO, that is Bulemia!”

….followed by roars of laughter (not at Bulemia but at Paige’s incorrect interpretation)…priceless.

You hear the term all your life. “My Best Friend”

Little girls compete for the title (as if there is crown and sash) to be someone’s best friend.

Even big girls play the game….that can be ugly. (I don’t know if I notice it with boys or men.)

Some time ago I dropped the word “best” from my vocabulary when referring to my friends and I thought I would share about that. So, here it is. The reason for not having a BEST friend label:

It diminishes the value of your other friends.

So, with that being said, I am going to reinstate it into my vocabulary. The big announcement you have all been waiting for:

Who is my Best Friend?

drum roll please……

A friend for 15 years. Been through the good, the bad, the ugly. Shared or knows of my best moments, shared or knows of my worst moments. Has forgiven me for many things. Has loved me through it all. Laughed AT me through most of it. Doesn’t always understand me but always accepts me.

None other than:

David! My husband!

I feel good giving him that title. He deserves it. It does not diminish the value of my other friends. He won’t flaunt it or rub it in the faces of my other friends. He will wear it under his clothes like a secret identity. My own personal Superman (he is Super!), Batman (He would get a bat out of my hair if need be), Spiderman (he kills spiders for me on a regular basis)….Myman (you get the picture).

Now believe me, he had some tough competition. I am only listing here those people who were placed in my life without any blood or work connections. (Not that those people are not friends, but those relationships were easier to create.) These are the ones that I want to honor because I don’t think I let them know often enough how much they mean to me. Let me start in CHRONOLOGICAL order:

Lori – Met in 9th grade. Heart of gold, has actually been around LONGER than Dave. Has also shared a bed with me (don’t go there!). She was my only friend when I needed one, she hated me when we first met. She let me be me. She stuck. She laughed at my bike riding. She was there when I tried to be a rebel. She taught me that I could look cute. She brought out the adventurer in me. She remembers…sometimes too much. She may not know it all, but is willing to try most. Will do anything for anyone in need. Cracks me up. Is a survivor through and through. One tough cookie with a soft gooey center.

Paula – Met after I left high school…She too has a longer lifespan than Dave on the friends list. (she too has shared a bed with me….it’s a girl thing) She has been my friend, my roomy, my party gal, my other half (she actually dropped down on one knee in front of Azar’s and proposed to me once – ring and all – okay, it was a plastic “Big Boy” ring but it still counts…okay we were drunk and tired…so maybe not). She held my hair when I threw up from overdrinking. She taught me how to paint the town whatever color I wanted. She was my dance partner. My fellow “Illusionette” my fellow “Dream Weaver”. She helped me remain independent (I know that seems contradictive), and helped me raise my oldest child while I was still single. She is a woman who knows who she is and is not afraid of life. She doesn’t compromise who she is for what society says she should be. She can hold her own with a group of sailors but she is ALL WOMAN! She actually had alot to do with how I started dating my husband. She is always going to be there for me.

Jen – Met 7 or 8 years ago (time is foggy when you get older) She is actually an amazing addition. I met her through an old boyfriend who I remained good friends with. (They are now married). She showed me where my passions are. She raised my awareness of my abilities. She let me find out how much I love the things I love through experiencing them with her. She was my guinea pig. She is smart and fun and loving and thoughtful and kind. She is passionate. Did I mention PASSIONATE…about her husband, her kids, her life…She tries to give her all…maybe to a fault but she is learning. She is someone who I feel comfortable with in the matters of Faith. She shares openly. She loves immensly. She is another heart of gold…but she prefers platinum. Will do everything she can if asked. She recently helped me realize the disservice I do to my friends when I try to protect them from the bad things in my life by not allowing them to be there for me. Shame on me. She is my eye opener. I think I will call her VISINE.

I would also like to make special mention of a couple of interesting friendships:

Cher – I have not seen her since I left Florida in 1984. We lost touch when I was in high school but recently…this past January…I googled her (had tried several times over the past few years with no luck) and found a live email. So I took a chance in the hopes it was her and the opening line to her response was “Get out!”. So, we have spent alot of emails sharing life and it still clicks. It seems like – how did she put it – our friendship was just on pause. This connection means so much to me. I can not even put it’s value into words. I like what she is doing with her life. I feel like having this communication with her completes a circle. I am enjoying getting to know the adult she has become. In her minds eye I am still 13 years old and that is how I remember her as well. (I think it is neat to be locked in someone’s memory without the wrinkles, stretchmarks, or extra baggage)

Tracey – Another long distance friend. I have not seen her since she was in my wedding in 1995. We met when I lived in New Jersey (late 80’s) and it was like looking at me in a tiny little Italian girl’s body. She was my constant friend, one of the family from the second we met. We did some fun stuff together, and some stupid stuff together and if she still wore braces she would still be picking the bugs out of them to proove it! We may not talk much but I know that I can pick up the phone and we can pick up right where we left off without any of the “why haven’t you called me in X amount of time?” crap that some people lay on you. She is THERE. I am THERE for her. We know that about each other and are good with that.

So to all my friends. Thank you. Words can not express what you mean to me. You are all THE BEST. Each of you are so different from one another. (I find it fascinating that I have never had all of you in the same room together….would the building survive that much awesomeness in one space?!?!?) One of these days I would love to do a brunch to celebrate you all and the place that you have in my heart. Break out your calendars!

Love to my sisters!

Extra love to my Best Friend.

I am so blessed.

An Oasis Leader…

What are the odds of 5 girls wearing the same shoes on the same night without prior notice?

I really don’t have the answer. The above feet are Brittany, Jamie, Taylor, Emily, and Melissa. These are the 5 girls that I had the honor to lead last night at Granger Community Church’s middle school ministry, better known as OASIS.

I decided to kick the tires on this serving opportunity. I don’t know if it is where I am meant to serve, but because Paige has asked me to (she gets to attend this year) I am giving it a try.

My first impression…to be honest…indifferent. That is how I tend to be when I try new things the first time around. I enjoyed the group time with these girls, however because it was my first time I would have rather spent more time getting to know the girls. The agenda was already set and Oasis is wrapping up the school year and I was filling in for their regular leader…so I just stuck to the plan.

During the teaching time with Judy Gregory, I found myself watching how the kids were reacting to her more than I was paying attention to what she was saying. I believe I caught the central theme of it though. Raise the bar. How can you make the biggest impact with the resources you have at hand? Go the extra mile.

I guess I can look at it this way: Nothing that happened last night scared me out of coming back.

I keep thinking about my last post. I hate my “knee jerk” reaction to some things. That post was one of them. The more I look at it the more I think…okay all of it still stands except the part about:

“What has to happen before people start taking active roles to prevent this type of tragedy?”

Now that I have gotten past it a little, I realize that human beings are human beings. We do what we can when we can. Many of us just do not realize what we CAN do.

Then there was:

“There needs to be a way for someone or a group to be prepared to figure out who these people are. There should be a person or group that staff and students could go to who would be willing to REALLY look into the warning signs exhibited and offer support to these people before they take things into their own hands and find a way to lash out at others and/or themselves.”

I can not reinvent the wheel, nor should I expect anyone else to. I do want to state, that I do NOT think it is the fault of the college that this happened and I fear that is what some may have felt that I was suggesting (though no one has said anything…this is just me reviewing my post and going ‘Ugh! How did people perceive that?’).

This is a good lesson for me I think:

Before posting about a hot, emotional, event and giving my opinion…not only do I need to give myself time to look at intentionally…I need to give myself time to react to it emotionally, let the emotions simmer down, and THEN post.

Noted.