Hannaford's Hardest Worker...

Our elementary school has a partnership with our local Hannaford grocery store that is absolutely fantastic. Fourth graders every year are introduced to the different job positions by the managers, then choose the three most preferred they would like. Weeks are spent writing resumes and letters of introduction, and then they dress up and are interviewed by the managers at the school. Each child is assigned a job (grocer, bakery, manager, assistant manager, cashier, etc.), and then the classroom of kids is bussed to the store. They are given a tour, and then introduced to the employee who does the same job they were "hired" for, so they can job shadow them!

It introduces not only the real life skills of looking for a job and putting your best foot forward, but also how the store works, things normally behind the scenes become understood (someone actually spreads the garlic butter onto that loaf of bread!!).

Brian was hoping for manager, but got a better job I think! He was in the grocery department, he learned "blocking the shelves", where you bring things to the front so they are easier to buy, and he restocked the milk, among many other things!

Blocking the Shelves

Checking on the OJ

Got Milk?

The "Boss" Handing Out Warm Gloves

Mom Getting All Artsy!

With all the bad press the corporation is receiving (and yes, I had 4 numbers stolen, and one was used illegally!!) our local store is still a great place, full of great people!

I would be seriously remiss if I did not thank Nicki for coming with her camera to take pictures! Silly me thought a trip to Lewiston to run a couple of errands with Melissa wouldn't take too long, and I'd be back in plenty of time! I forgot that nothing in Melissa's life ever runs in a reasonable amount of time, especially things dealing with Savannah's cancer (her one errand was to get the drugs S is on, which didn't happen due to pharmacy incompetence). I made it back in time, yes, but the pressure was off a bit with Nicki there, ready with her empty memory card and full batteries!

And thanks to Sheila, too, for watching Nicki's children so she could get there quickly and focus on the pictures! True friends!!!

This post is for Kathy (Joy) B.

I've been dreadfully ill this weekend with a sinus infection, which Z is showing the early symptoms of having caught. I read a post on a blog last Thursday, and wanted to write about it here, but was out all day and then fell too ill to do more than was absolutely necessary. So now, here it is:

It's a strange, strange thing, this internet. By opening a blog some time ago, I invited myself into a whole new world. Oh yes, I brought a few friends along with me, and we have learned together how to cross things out, upload pictures, even got a video to work once.

But then something happened. I started looking to see who else was out in the blogosphere. I found some really funny women, some angry women, women with many children, women with none, and even the occasional man. Some I took one look and passed them by, not really liking what I saw. Others seemed ok, but not really worth the time, when I suspected better was out there. So amazing is this internet, that even our church leaders have spoken of it in a world-wide convention, encouraging us to use it in a manner that would please the Lord.

I wept Thursday morning. I wept openly, and unabashedly, alone at my computer. I wept for a woman I have never met, and for whom I probably never will. I did not know she existed two months ago, but when I found her, of all places on this internet, I knew she was someone I would like. I told her that first day that I read her thoughts on line that I didn't know what it was that I liked about her blog, but the word peaceful kept coming to mind, and there just isn't enough peace in my life, so I would be back.

And I have, I've been back, to look at beautiful photos of flowers, old buildings, ancestors who are not my own. Things that I long to make the time for, but know it is not the right season of my life. But I have rejoiced in the beauty that this wonderful woman, this woman I have not met, sees, and desires to share with the world. And she has been to my blog, and given me words of encouragement and peace, words that I treasure.

I knew she had cancer. I reminded myself of that Thursday morning, and even went back to read the page that had told me early on she was ill. But for someone so far away, who doesn't talk about it online much, and doesn't have numerous photos of herself showing frailty and hair loss, it was easy to forget. I should have remembered, anyone so good at stopping to look at life had a clear understanding of it's value, something usually only gained through loss.

I shrunk for a moment. I am embarrassed to tell you that. But I was so tired, physically, and also emotionally. There just seems to be so much loss, it has been a very hard winter. But it only lasted a moment. Then, I went on to consider how truly refined in the fire of trial this elect daughter of God is. To be such a strong, and spiritual person that it could come through in a mere introduction read on a computer screen, must truly be one of the Lord's chosen.

I am grateful to those who step forward, and testify of their faith. I am grateful to those who share the good, and also the bad. I am thankful for a heart that is open, and can still be touched, in spite of numerous, and ongoing hurts. But mostly I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, who awaits our return with open arms, and for our Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins and made it possible.

I am grateful, even in this small way, to have known Kathy.

Someday, I'll work on my timing...

My son's Lego League is flying to Atlanta in two weeks. When I went in to tuck him in (poor things, I'll probably still tuck them in when they come home from college), he said, "I can't wait 'til tomorrow, because it's one day closer to when we leave."

What was my witty comeback?

"Stop sleeping on top of your quilt, sheets are there for a reason, you will ruin your quilt if you lay right on it all the time."

Mom of the Year, anyone?

OK, OK, I'm going to apologize.

Post 100

Well, in a bloggy tradition, I will tell you 100 things about myself. I want to preface it though, because I haven't blogged the last few days with this darn tradition looming in front of me. Frankly, I couldn't have come up with anything nice to say, so I said nothing at all. I think I am better now. And, well, I started my list awhile back, because like I could ever do 100 things about little old me in one shot without throwing up!

1. I like pictures.
2. I like to take them, and look at ones other people took.
3. I like to scrapbook.
4. I grew up in Maine and lived here my whole life.
5. I have a love and affection for Maine that can only be described as “It’s in my blood.”
6. I like to travel.
7. The best part is coming home.
8. The Grand Canyon was not impressive.
9. Texas sunsets and steak were.
10. I’m married to the perfect man.
11. Just ask everyone else.
12. I have four great kids.
13. Just don’t tell them.
14. At least, not too often.
15. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
16. It’s hard, because to whom much is given, much is required.
17. I don’t like fire trucks.
18. I do love my firefighter.
19. I don’t like steers.
20. Or being outside.
21. I go to probably ten fairs to watch steers every year.
22. Because I like my kids.
23. And they show steers at fairs every year.
24. I have a very, very, very, very good best friend of 16 years.
25. I’ve known her longer than my husband.
26. Some days I like her better than my husband.
27. But if I had to be stranded on a desert island I would rather be stranded with him.
28. He’s very resourceful.
29. I have a second best friend now.
30. I’ve never had 2 best friends before.
31. I can never remember how old I am.
32. I once lost two years in less than a minute.
33. That stunk.
34. I don’t like baseball.
35. Or basketball.
36. I do like soccer.
37. And I’m learning to like NASCAR.
38. I like Fords.
39. I don’t think I could ever own a foreign named car.
40. I worry that my granddad would roll in his grave if I did.
41. I miss my granddad.
42. His teachings are why I am a democrat.
43. I like Diet Pepsi.
44. I’m a DP snob, fountain please, from Cumberland Farms if possible.
45. I'm a picky eater. Bill is too, so we make our kids eat everything we eat so they won't be worse than us!!
46. I like swimming. Especially in a pool.
47. I wish I owned a pool.
48. I’m a fairly good mom.
49. My kids say I am, that’s a good measure, right?
50. I tell each of my boys that they are one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world.
51. I tell my husband he’s my favorite.
52. He really is.
53. I like to read, but don’t take the time to.
54. I think that’s why I read blogs.
55. I tend to be anti-social.
56. I’m working on that.
57. I sleep with a fan at night, even in winter, for the noise.
58. I can’t stand the texture of corduroy, even on someone else, like other people’s children.
59. I love my parents. They are divorced, but I still love them.
60. I volunteer for things by nature.
61. I’m learning not to volunteer for things I don’t have time for.
62. I’ve only had three months of college.
63. They were the worst three months of my life. I was 17.
64. I’ll go back someday, when I figure out what I want from life.
65. Or at least, what I want from college.
66. I’m a worrier. And a firm believer in Murphy’s Law.
67. I can be a bit dramatic. Sometimes.
68. I have an over-developed self-awareness.
69. I highly value my sleep.
70. I think sometimes I make sacrifices so I can whine I sacrificed.
71. I have a very addicting personality.
72. That’s why I don’t drink.
73. And why I can play Sudoku online for HOURS!!
74. At www.websudoku.com.
75. I have low self-esteem.
76. But, thanks to my family and friends, a high self-worth.
77. I really really really really really wish I had a laptop.
78. I’ve been stuck doing our household finances for years.
79. I’m never going to get a laptop.
80. I hate dealing with women who can’t get along.
81. I serve in our women’s leadership at church, talk about an oxy-moron.
82. I know the Lord has a sense of humor.
83. I think cancer sucks. It’s mean and nasty.
84. I love to listen to music.
85. Especially U2, Billy Joel, and Sawyer Brown.
86. I make excuses in my head for other people who do things wrong.
87. It helps me cope with their bad choices.
88. I hate to potty train children.
89. I might cry when I get my last baby potty trained.
90. I’ve never cried about sending my child to a first day of school.
91. But I might when it’s my last baby.
92. And then I’m going to throw a party!
93. Because while I refuse to wish for them to grow faster, I hope life will be easier without a child in tow from 9 to 2.
94. And I made my husband promise me I don’t have to get a paying job.
95. Unless I get bored. HAH!
96. I hate to clean floors.
97. I learned a few years ago that clean floors are the easiest way to make the whole house look better. Figures.
98. I have a peculiar sense of humor.
99. I’m really, really blunt. I have to struggle to be tactful.
100. I don’t try to very often.

There, that's it!! I did it!! YAY for me!

Now I need a drink.

Fountain soda Diet Pepsi from Cumby's sound good? Maybe I'll see you there!