The little things in life

Kevin and I have been going to the same church since we were married. Actually, we started going there as a couple when we were dating. It seems like each Sunday we always sit in the same location. I don’t know why we do that – we just do. I guess we are just creatures of habit. It now feels “unnatural” to sit anywhere else. I don’t think we are alone in this practice. As I look around the church, I see the same people all sitting in the same place week after week. I guess I find comfort in that. In this crazy world where we are all moving at the speed of light I can find continuity in where people sit on Sunday mornings.

Yesterday, Kevin ended up going to church by himself and for some reason he decided to “switch things up” and sit in a different location. He even went so far as to sit on the other side of the church! When he got home after the service, he humorously told me this tale. I kind of chuckled and said “Gee, I bet you have not sat on that side of the church since our wedding ceremony!” (For those that are not familiar with the Episcopal service, the bride and her party sit on the left side and the groom and his party sit on the right side of the church as you are looking at the altar). Kevin laughed and said that he was thinking the exact same thing. He then commented on how lucky he felt that we get to go back week after week to the place where we got married and how we are raising our children in that same place.

Once again, there is a sense of continuity. It is those little things that just make you sit back and smile.

It's the weekend!

Well, here we are at the weekend again. Clemson plays Boston College tomorrow at noon. I have mixed feelings about this. So far, we are 1-1. I have confidence that we can do - the football team just needs to be "ALL IN"! So let's all cheer for the Tigers! It will probably be raining, so bring your rain geer.

On the homefront, we all seem to be doing better. I have had a cold for the last week, but I think I am finally on the mend. I never had a fever, just a stuffy, runny nose. That always makes folks tired. Ashley took her first standardized test at school this week - MAP testing. She said she did good. I think I get the results of it at the first teacher's conference. Can you believe we are almost at the end of the first 9 weeks? Ashley just amazes me with everything that she knows; last night she was telling me all about different parts of our body - she even knew the scientific names! Eric is doing well. He must be teething because he has been a bit fussy this week. His newest "trick" is that he can stand up all by himself!

Here's to the weekend and to the Tigers!

College Football is here!

Well, we have come to the part of the year that my family loves the most - college football. And most importantly - Clemson football. We are all in orange today - the entire family - and ready to cheer for the tigers. While this is the first season Kevin and I have not purchased season tickets, we will be rooting them on! I will spending the day tomorrow parking cars (come and park at Holy Trinity Church!) and then will head home to watch the game (Kevin tells me we can watch it on the computer and then project that on the big TV - we shall see). I am sure that Kevin will be watching his beloved Florida Gators play as well. Oh yes - and Virginia Tech plays Alabama. That should be a good game tomorrow night.

So bring on the pigskin! May this be an exciting year of football. May all the players show good sportsmanship on an off the field without any injuries. And as always - may the CLEMSON TIGERS be victorious in the end.

Making it through life’s challenges

This has been a particularly busy few weeks for us in the Crouse Household. It seems like we have had something to do practically every night. Both Kevin and I serve on several local boards and with the start of the school year, we have been really busy working with those folks. Last night I had a dinner meeting with the teachers and staff of the Episcopal Day School in Clemson. The board (which I am chair) decided that it would be nice to have a get-together with the teachers and staff just to get to know them better. It seems like we spend so much time during the year working on the business side of the school that we forget what actually makes the school work – the teachers and staff.

The dinner was lots of fun. We all chipped in and all brought something. I was in charge of the meat lasagna. Trouble is – I made too much. Poor Kevin will be eating lasagna for a week!

After dinner, one of the board members did a team building exercise. He is a licensed counselor and does these types of things with lots of large groups. I really did not know what to expect. He pulls out 3 different groups of 2x4s. Each group had a small, medium and large length board. Hmm. This looked interesting. We were divided into 3 groups of 4. Each group had to travel across “lava” from one side of the room to the other. It was quite challenging as we all balanced and moved each board slowly and carefully across the “lava”. If anyone fell off, the entire group had to start over again. It took teamwork to plan and to work together to accomplish what on the surface seemed like a rather mundane task.

On the drive home, I got to thinking about my night’s activity. Every day, we try to make it across the “lava”. We all need help as we make it through the daily activities. I know that I am a much better parent because I know I have Kevin to depend on. I know that I am a better employee because I have co-workers that are there to help reach the company’s goals. Granted, we all have to be there to pull our own weight as well. I certainly cannot expect someone to carry me across the “lava”. That might make the whole team fall in.

So, I challenge each of us to work together. Perhaps we will be able to conquer our “lava”.

Seven Degrees of Separation

Last night I hosted a training session called “Mountains to Midlands 101”. It is the first course used to help train new leaders in the Girl Scout organization. I was a Girl Scout YEARS ago. I was pleased to find out that while the name of the council changed from “Old 96” everything else still remains the same. There are a few more bells and whistles and lots more training materials; but the same basic principle is still there – Girls learning to be leaders while living by the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law.

As we were going through the meeting last night, the instructor asked who my leader was growing up. I had several leaders over the years, but the leader that helped me achieve my Gold Award was Gloria Gaumaunt. The instructor was actually really good friends with Ms. Gaumaunt. Then she asked where I went to high school. I said that I graduated from Wade Hampton High School where my mother was head of the math department. She then mentioned that her baby brother taught at Wade Hampton. It turns out that her brother is James Fox – one of my FAVORITE teachers in high school. He is THE reason that I fell in love with marching band. We had a great time exchanging stories about her little brother. I even had to bring out my scrapbook to show pictures of my favorite band director during the many trips he took us on.

As I was looking back on the album last night, I thought to myself just how amazing it is that somehow we all are inter-related. Relationships that we make early on in life follow us as we continue on with life’s little journeys. Perhaps that is why Kevin and I want to stress to Ashley and Eric to be involved in activities. Get involved in Scouting. Get involved in Music. It certainly will be a true life blessing that will pay forward for many years to come.