Category Archives: Family Life

There is a Difference

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Recently I heard someone say there is a difference between being filled and being fulfilled. This was a statement I had to write down and think about.  Later that day I treated myself to some McDonald’s French fries. I don’t do this often, but I took my son to get his lunch and the waft of deep fried potatoes made only the way McDonald’s makes them, overtook my judgment as soon as I opened the door.

cokeThey came out piping hot; a golden delight to behold.  My fountain Coke bubbling wonderfully over ice with the straw at the ready. I chose the perfectly shaped fry and took that long awaited bite.  As I chewed up this fantasy favorite, I quickly noted that there was no salt on them. My craving and thoughts of sinking my teeth into the perfectly deep fried, lightly salted McDonald’s fries were shattered by the reality of what I was served.  It was if karma (if you believe in karma) swooped in with my doctor’s orders to watch my salt. I left the restaurant filled with carbs and completely unfulfilled otherwise.books1

In that moment I was seeking fulfillment from something very temporary.  Even if the salt had been correct, I would have still been hungry an hour later. Had I chosen more wisely, perhaps a something in the protein family, or even chosen an entirely different restaurant, my fulfillment would have been of higher quality and would have lasted longer.

In a similar fashion, each day we choose what we fill our minds, hearts and souls and body with. Are we choosing high quality information?  Are we looking for positive stories and information that grows us personally and professionally? Are we using our own judgment to determine what to believe and dwell on or are we just believing everything others tell us? Do we fill our minds with the junk food offered on television or in the media? Are we choosing that which is temporary or that which transcends earthly misperceptions of lasting peace and satisfaction?

TV setBy filling our hearts and minds with that which leads us to grow, learn and even change for the better, each day we become more of who we are meant to be. We will find ourselves more in tuned with that which produces longer lasting fulfillment.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Share with me your thoughts on the matter.

All the best,

KK

Summer V-A-C-A

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Every summer we go on a vacation of some kind. Some years we’ve gone with extended family and others it has just been us.  We drive on our vacation taking our time, seeing and doing what we want and enjoying each other.  We load the car with snacks and summer vacationthings to do on the drive and we take off.  While there is plenty of video game playing and movie watching, we also play those tried and true games of GHOST, count the cows, “I see something you don’t see” and “I’m going on a trip and I’m taking…” alphabet memory game. Oh, and not to forget the license plate game!

Our vacation plans unfold as soon as we have our baseball and marching band camp schedules.  We should have all of that this week, so where should we go?

Where are you going? Do you take “busy” active vacations or do you like to totally downshift and just escape and relax?

All the best,

KK

 

 

 

First Saturday

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It’s the first Saturday in May in Louisville, Kentucky.  There will be hats and screaming fans. The turf will be vibrant green and the dirt settled (at least until the stars of the day take the field).  The concession stand will have hot-off-the-grill hot dogs and cool beverages.  There will be thoroughbreds of the sport in the field.  And for some of those in the race, it will be all about the pitching from the stretch. Will the clock or the baseball equipmentdistance win?

I’m talking about baseball of course…make up games for rainouts today to finish the collegiate season. What were thinking, derby? What Kentucky derby? Just kidding, I love the derby and the festive environment it brings to our city.  This derby, its about baseball…

See you at the field,

KK

 

Everybody’s Busy

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Everybody’s busy – this seems to be the thing to say when an invitation is declined instead of saying “I’m sorry you can’t attend”. While it is easy to get caught up in all the opportunities life offers today; it’s also easy to waste a lot of time with cable tv, mobile device games, and other internet surfing.

busy peoplePeople are as busy as they want to be.  There are times when work and personal activities collide and a little hustle is required. The hours of the day are full.  This hustle doesn’t last forever.

Adults can take control of their time to fulfill their responsibilities such as work and family.  If life becomes too hassled and full, it may be time to re-evaluate the “time-suckers”.  Do they fall within personal priorities?

If someone declines your invitation, it may not mean they are too busy, it simply means that event is at the same time as something else that day.

Just a thought,

KK

The Best Laid Plans — Rock!

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For those of you who are learning to communicate with a teenager, this is for you. It’s mid-week on spring break when we did not take a vacation. My son is asked to do three chores one of which is to vacuum. To help with this torturous activity he wears his head phones. The following is our exchange:

He walks into my home office and says:

“Just about done, just have to do the basement steps.”

“Great, what are you listening to?”

“Of Mice and Men.”

“Cool, is it the soundtrack or the audio book?”

He looks at me in a puzzled manner not so uncommon these days and says, “no, the band, mom.”

I bust out laughing and say “I thought it was the book.”

“Oh,” he says “is that one of your classics?”20140402-142228.jpg

I love being the parent of a teen. It is a blast when our generations collide and we both learn a little something about each other. We googled the band so I could hear. Then I warned him that when his high school literature teach mentions reading Of Mice and Men not to stand up and say, “rock on!”

Still learning about parenting,
KK

 

Travelin’

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winter windGloves – check; hand warmers – check; swim suit – check; sun screen – check; rain coat and umbrella – check; baseball “mom” t-shirt – check; team spirit wear – check; sweatshirt – check; sweats for under wind pants – check; Gatorade – check; travel snacks (something sweet, something salty) – check; stadium seats – check; cooler – check. Is the hotel one we get points at? It must be baseball season. We travel and we prepare for whatever season decides to show up. We could have a little bit of spring and a little bit of winter. Images of the parent/fans in the bleachers could easily be mistaken for football season with scarves, gloves and blankets.spring image 2 Late in the season the image is more like survivors in the desert. It must be baseball season.

The parents spend the first few games trying to remember each other’s name, memorizing the names and numbers of the players they don’t know and always encouraging all the players on and off the field. Sometimes it’s the encouraging words of another player’s parent the really helps lift spirits.

The coach does his best to get the team ready for the season inaugural tournament. He reminds everyone that none of the teams will have had a lot of field time practice. “Let’s have fun and learn something. We can have more fun if we get some hits. So, go be aggressive at the plate.”

While outsiders think we are crazy, those of us on the inside know that baseball season with our middle schooler’s travel team is all about the memories being made. There will be button-busting victories and there will be dirt-kicking defeats. One will be celebrated with food and fun at the hotel indoor pool and the other will be quickly forgotten with food and fun at the hotel indoor pool.

Traveling home is usually quiet. Everyone is tired in the best way. At home laundry is separated. The white baseball baseball equipmentpants are the key player in a laundry chemistry project including pre-treatment spray and Fels Naptha. After a 30 minute soak, the uniform is the first to get washed. The result will be somewhere between “like-new clean” and “ready to hit the field.”

 Yes, in a few days we will be back on the field ready to take on the next team and the new challenge. Batter up!

All the best,
KK