Coffee and a Friend

I had the pleasure of being able to spend some time this morning with Lori Renn. Lori is a member of my Design Team. We met for coffee at Starbucks. I had a great time! Lori really is just a ray of sunshine. She is one of those people that choose to be positive and in turn she shares that with those who are lucky enough to spend time with her. My day was certainly a bit brighter and I give the credit to Lori for that. Thanks Lori!

Why Be Hateful?

Okay, I really don't plan on this blog being a forum for my ranting, but I really need to vent and pass the word.

I don't understand how teenage girls can be so incrediblity cruel! I have never come across meaner or more hateful people in my life than a couple of local girls who are are sending threatening, hatefilled texts to Sami. She finally came to me last night and told me about what was happening. Wouldn't you know it's all over a boy. Sami is friends with this boy, they chat on My Space (which I monitor), they text each other, but have never dated. Well his old girlfriend decided that she didn't like it and she and her friend started in.

I saw messages both that were sent and received by Sam. She kept saying that she didn't understand why there was a problem. All she wants is to be this boys friend. The messages just got worse.

I talked to the mother of one of the girls and she yelled at me and told me that teenage girls are just mean and she won't get involved in her daughters problems and this is not a big deal. BIG DEAL!!!??? Of course it's a big deal. Her daughter is threatening mine. She and her friend know where we live and where Sami works. I could not believe what I was hearing from this woman. She said, "What do you actually expect me to do about it?" Well, ummm. . . let's think. . . be a mother! Hold your daughter accountable! This just blows my mind.

Now I have the police involved (what choice do I have now). I'm calling the cell phone company to see if I can get phone records. The school that the girls attend will be involved as well.

I don't want to be a freaky, over-protective mother, but I have to do something. I was awake most of the night, both hurting for my daughter and wondering how far to take this in order to teach these girls that what they are doing is first wrong and second illegal.

Please, please, if you have teenage girls, tell them that being hateful not only hurts the victim, but it will ultimately hurt themselves and their parents.

One thing my kids know and know well is that the choices they make don't just affect them. And that there are consequences for all the choices we make. We get to choose. . . will the consequences be good or bad.

Please pray for my family, but mostly for Sami. She is so hurt and upset.

What a Week!

What an incredible experience! I didn't get to go to any of the events to watch the athletes compete. I was working at the Healthy Athletes venue. We gave out bracelets, pins and other goodies and took pictures of athletes in front of the Got Milk poster. They LOVED that! We were printing picutres as fast as the printer could pop them out. We got lots of smiles, thank you's (in differently languages), thumbs up, and a few hugs. It was wonderful! I will never forget this last week.

Another extra little bonus was that I got to meet Andy Baldwin. He was the hunky Bachelor that was a naval officer from a couple of years ago. Holy Stinking Cow! What a cutie patootie. I'm not going to post that picture because I look like a giddy teenager. Let me tell you, he is as sweet as he is good looking. But make no mistake---I would never trade my hunkie hubby for anyone else. Andy was just a little eye candy.

Moments from the Special Olympics World Games 2009

These boys were member of Team Uruguay.

Team Uruguay's gold medal win.

Team Gibraltar was really excited to show off their bronze medals.

This is a picture of me taken by a member of the Secret Service. He had to take a picture to prove that my camera was really a camera after he tore it apart. The number of Secret Service men was unreal before, during and after the Vice President's visit. Can you see I was just a bit perturbed by him going through my purse and camera literally piece by piece?

Members of Team USA. They won silver medals in floor hockey. Such sweet happy faces!

Pin trading was big business at the Special Olympics too.

Special times at the Special Olympics

Sorry, I've been slacking on posting lately. The days just seem to slip by and I'm having a hard time keeping up.

This week I've had the opportunity to work with the United Dairymen of Idaho at the Special Olympics. It has been such a great experience. I've met athletes from literally across the world. There are just too many countries to list. They have been the sweetest most grateful people I've met. I watch all these people from all over the world gather together and actually enjoy each others company. I see our country literally caring for these athletes and their escorts and coaches. I see the smiles on faces and hearing thank you's in different languages and it makes me wonder why the rest of the world is in so much turmoil. How much does politics play in all the discord. I understand there is an abundance of hate in our world, but it does not exist at the Special Olympics World Games. Boise is very blessed to be able to host these games and I have been blessed by this experience.

I have also been able to meet some celebs. I'm supposed to be able to see (maybe meet) Vice President Biden today. Sorry-- he doesn't hold a candle to meeting the athletes.

If you live in Boise, it's not too late to attend some of the events. I really encourage you to go if you can.

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.