My Top 5 Adventures of the Year

Summer is over in just a couple of weeks for me.. and I finally had a chance to slow down for a minute and reflect on what an AMAZING year July 2022-July 2023 was.

I do have to say.. me being the Busy Bee.. I was very much the busiest I have been in several years. I won't trade the memories for anything.. but I am excited about my word of the year- PAUSE!

Here are my favorite things of the year!

# 1- Traveling with my Girl Scout Troops

Last July Troop 1810 made a Road Trip to Canyon, Texas. 

You can see our adventures/schedule here

In November Troop 6458 headed to New York. 

You can see our adventures here.

# 2- Becoming a TALL Texan

#29 on my #50by50 list was to become a TALL Texan.  The TALL Texan is a leadership institute for librarians.  Every year they only accept 30-32 librarians from all different backgrounds and all different areas of Texas.  Once accepted, I was able to attend an intensive leadership retreat where I learned from and with some of the best of the best.  I don't know if I will ever be able to fully put into words what this experience did for my confidence and leadership skills (and the friendships that I created!)

#3- Celebrating my Parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

What a privilege was to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary in November (also- if you are keeping track.. November was CRAZY busy! TALL Texan, New York, and celebrating an anniversary.. I got some miles in!) I am so lucky to have amazing parents that continue to teach me kindness and grit. (I mean- my parents are Mr. and Mrs. Claus!)

#4- Successful Season of Destination ImagiNation

The Flock made it to Globals!! Let me tell you about this team though. The Flock is actually 2 teams- The Nerdy Birdys (who were Seniors that I have been hanging out with since they were 3rd graders) and the PEEPS (who were Juniors and I have also been hanging out with since they were 3rd grade) Each team did their own challenge.. and then combined together to do a second challenge.  Their second challenge was a service learning project.  Another huge milestone in DI this year for me was starting a team at my new school- and they placed 2nd in their category.

#5- The Groundbreaking of the Kylie Hiner Memorial Playground

I know I have said it before- but I am SO lucky to know all of the amazing families that I know.  The Hiners hold a VERY special place in my heart.  You can read about my friend Kylie here  In October they had the groundbreaking for the Kylie Hiner Memorial Playground- which will be an adaptive playground.  I hear that it is super close to being ready- and I can't wait to see it in person.  Want to follow along- Check it out here

Honorable Mention- 

Doing a TikTok with Kelly Yang!! I was super lucky to be invited (thanks Amanda)

Happy National Library Week!!! 🤩🤩🤩 I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for libraries and librarians. You gave me hope when I was a kid. You gave me kindness when I was alone. You give me strength every day. I love you, I’m with you, and I celebrate you!!! ❤️📚🙌 pic.twitter.com/lUZsttXvEe

— Kelly Yang (@kellyyanghk) April 23, 2023

There were SO many more things that happened this year, it was hard to narrow it down to 5. I can't wait to see what adventures this year brings.. but I am also excited about taking some time to Pause. 

Pause

Every year around May I begin to see my word of the year pop up.  I have done Word of the Year for several years (probably close to 10) While many people choose their words on January 1st- me being a teacher my word goes with the school year.  

I am a super busy person (if you have followed me for any time you know that) but this last May and June- I bit off more than I could chew. I got it all done- but I was super exhausted in the process. In comes my word of the year.

Now- before I go any farther- I am still doing Girl Scouts, I am still doing Destination ImagiNation.. and I am still working.  

My word Pause is:
- a reminder to take a moment before I get overwhelmed with something that more than likely I will not be able to change
- to be intentional about what I do with my extra time
- to pause and say no when deep down I know it is okay to say no
- but most importantly- to pause and make time for MYSELF

How have I already started using my word:
-intentionally meeting up with friends
-taking time to take care of myself physically and mentally (I have found paddle boarding and love it!)

Now just like any word or goal.. there are going to be days where I forget.. but this is a good word to make me stop and PAUSE.

Do you have a word of the year?

National Infertility Week 2023-Impact

This year has been full of new work adventures, adventures with my Girl Scout Troops and library adventures.  This week, however, is a time when I reflect on National Infertility Week and share a piece of my own journey.  You can find my previous blog here (although more are linked)

I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).  When my husband and I first got married we tried for about 10 years to start a family.  This was through medication, doctor appointments, shots, and more.  Our funding could never cover IVF. Once we realized our journey was not going to include children of our own, I had to find other ways to have the same "experiences" that a parent might have.  6 years ago I was able to help Girl Scout Troop 1810 start a 3rd generation troop.

Last year I wrote about how I wanted experiences as a parent.  Experiences that might include going on vacations together, watching your child grow up, experiencing new things, attending after-school activities, participating in events, and more.  As I think about the experiences that I want, I am so thankful to have people in my life that allow me to have these kinds of experiences.  This year I had the adventure of taking one of my troops to New York and bridging on the Brooklyn Bridge.  I had another adventure of taking one of my troops to Canyon, Texas (my hometown)  

I would not change either of these experiences for anything, but it was not lost on me how important my trip to Canyon was.  I will never have the opportunity to take my own child to visit my hometown.  I will never have the opportunity to have my children meet my parents and see where I grew up. What I did have though- was a troop that was ready to go on an adventure!  We had an amazing time (you can read about it here) But the part that hit me the hardest was the first night there.  I grew up in the country with lots of acres of land.  My parents invited the troop out for stargazing.  My parents made homemade ice cream, and we laid blankets out in the field and watched the stars.  I am so thankful for my troop that gave me that core memory of experiences that I might not have had otherwise.  I will never have this opportunity with my own child, but thanks to my troop I was able to have it with over 15 girls and moms.

My last blog was called Experiences- and I have had many... this blog is called Impact.

Sometimes I get teary-eyed when I think about some of the experiences that I won't have, but I also get teary-eyed thinking about the impact I am making.  Parents have a huge impact on how children grow up and access the world and ideas. I am so thankful for the different organizations that I am with that are impacting my local community and beyond.  My 6458 Troop earned their Silver Award by hosting a whole Mental Health workshop for teens (and building a website) One of my Destination ImagiNation teams built a website and learned how to create switch-activated toys.  One of my Destination ImagiNation teams learned about Project PASS which is part of our district that works with students that are displaced or homeless.  They did a whole coat drive.  Part of my 1810 troop is also starting their Silver Award and are talking about how to help students with phone addiction (this is only a small list of the change these kids are making!)

There are times when I get super sad as I walk through the children's section at a store.  I still have a hard time going to baby showers.  I get in my feels on Mother's Day (I am human)  There are other times that I get super sad about the things I am not going to be able to have or to be able to do.  

There are other times when I look around and I get in my feels for the things I am able to do. I might not have a child of my own walk across a stage at graduation.. but in the meantime, I will take senior photos for seniors and watch my Nerdy Birdys cross the stage in June.  I might not have a child get an award at an end of the year function, but I have amazing parents that invite me to theirs.

If you have friends that are working through their own infertility journies- just know that some days it is really.. really.. really tough.  I am so very thankful for all the friends and parents that invite me into the lives of their own children so I can have experiences and hopefully continue to make an impact.

To those that are going through any form of infertility- know that I see you.. and I wish you luck on wherever you are in the journye.