2022 Holiday e-card and latest

We all have those years and I've decided this is one for us... so, here are family photos and well wishes from our family to yours!

Happy holidays!

May your year be filled with cozy times... as delightful as double mochas!

Here is our latest family update so you can see the latest at our home.

12/24/22

Hello everyone,

What a packed week! Lots of news and I’m including larger pictures this week… here we go!

Very carefully decorating… of course, Cameron had shattered a lid of oven-safe glass all over the kitchen that morning which might have made him a wee bit more careful with these baubles. He did crack me up by admitting to a decorating flaw, “I swear I’m over-thinking this!”

Cameron’s glee and Andrew’s horror at finding this preschool ornament

Ah, the friendly teasing… as Andrew put Cameron’s gifts under the tree, “One, lump of coal. Two, lump of coal. Three, lump of coal. Four, lump of coal. Five, lump of coal!” (Naturally with all different accents and cackling glee.)

I’m so excited that I’ve made it into the original roll-out for this device to treat migraines… could still be 6weeks away though before I get one: https://www.relivion.com/why-relivion/relivion-safety-and-results/

My child got a scholarship letter in the mail for… out of state students? Apparently, he didn’t check the box for in-state-student on the application and used $10k more of his college fund for his first semester than he needed to. We’ll see what Andrew can do to help address the issue during business hours. I know this isn’t life or death, but I admit this kind of thing really shakes me up and makes me question again if I’m making the right independence-choices. Parenting is tough. By the way, three A’s and two A-’s for his first semester at a 4-yr-college. The asynchronous challenges continue… he’s 14 and 24 at the same time depending on the situation and some life-situations are so complex!

At work, we kept up with all the coverage of students through staff sick-calls and I’m loving my cozy, new desk set-up

Yep, he loves them and Cameron is amused

Center closed today (Thursday only) due to dangerous temperatures! Poor puppers came back from going out limping and Andrew set up a bonus heater for snakes. Now that pets are cared for and all morning chores done… cozy times for humans 🥰

Awww, look at tracker peeking through to tell me on I’m on the wrong side of the fireplace

Doggie eye-roll. I did so much wonderful Qi Gong in-front of an all-day fire and both felt so good!

So many beautiful visitors over the day… big and small

(These two came today, but same spot.)

That would be my sweet boy shoveling again, unasked… I warmed some milk on the stove and sweetened it for him to enjoy when he came back-in (traditional treat from when he was living at home and came-in from the cold)

He got signed up for classes next semester too:

And I got so many mental warm-fuzzies in addition to all these wonderful physical-moments over the day… I read a lovely card from my manager who is leaving and I received this note from my chorus director regarding the award from a few weeks ago. Talk about a day filled with warmth of all varieties!

The Joy award is given from me to the singer in Skyline who exhibits Joy, and shares Joy.  

This year's recipient manifests joy all the time.  She leads from the risers, and always has a joyful smile and greeting.  She sings with joy and seeks harmony while always looking for the good in others.  Her positive and gentle spirit wraps the chorus in love.  She is keenly observant of the many often unseen contributions that make our Skyline village successful, and is quick to express sincere gratitude for these efforts.  This years award goes to Rachel Miner.

Vickie

International Speaker, Coach, & Author

Master Director 700, Skyline Chorus

Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors

Judge Specialist, Expression Category

Certified Expression Judge

Certified International Faculty

Manager note excerpt:

Thank you for being the heart of our center. You are the first person to celebrate a victory or notice when someone needs one. Your steady growth and willingness to seek and accept feedback are wonderful models for your colleagues. I am so grateful to have had you working alongside me as we rebuilt Denver to its former glory…”

And, even though it’s finally made it above freezing… I admit this made me laugh!

And this made me laugh too…

Here’s to holiday smiles!

Rachel

P.S. Some of Andrew’s photos from his first photo-shoot at a ski resort and renting a studio:

Star Services Fanatics: Spreading the Joy

 When I started working at Lindamood-Bell about five years ago, I was thrilled to learn about the practice of giving little cards to recognize other staff members. They’re called Star Service Fanatic cards or SSFs. Every week or two there’s a drawing from all the cards from that period and the winner gets something nice while all the other cards are distributed with smiles. This is my kind of fun! I’ve always called the little physical/electronic notes that I share “warm fuzzies” because they make people feel warm and fuzzy inside. I loved the idea of having an established way of sharing warm fuzzies and often! We’ve had competitions with teams to promote the sharing of more SSFs; I especially loved the time I got to be on team Hufflepuff! This is such a beautiful win win practice. 

Fast forward a year and I though, wouldn’t this be a wonderful thing to bring to my chorus!  So, I started “Skyline Smiles” which at first were identical. Then the pandemic hit and I moved everything to electric notes so we could keep spreading the cheer. It’s true that I do most of the notes for the chorus, but what a wonderful treat to be constantly looking out for good things to notice and recognize. Each week I share them online with an award gif-animation for all recipients and a piece of chocolate for the random winner at the next rehearsal. They bring so many smiles.

So, here’s to Lindamood-Bell for creating such a fun way of spreading joy (that inspired me to spread even more). A few days ago I learned the Sanskrit word “Mudita” which means “the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people's well-being”. (Apparently, in English research, it’s often referred to as “sympathetic joy”.)  I think Star Service Fanatic cards have offered mudita to so many.

Family Weekend at UCCS

Andrew and I drove down to Colorado Springs for the Saturday, 10/15, of UCCS family weekend.

(Excerpt from weekly update)

C showed us around

Marketing classroom (Accounting and Excel were in use)

Chess club room

Shudder… I scaffolded the removal of two full garbage bags of trash (and a pile of boxes) and a small bit of ordering… 10min of support… he has been written up for an unsanitary room and responded to the feedback x 1. 

Econ classroom, I think

His favorite seat

The views are ever-present… he likes climbing the tiny mountain behind his dorm

Father and son climbing wall

Our family cartoon… Andrew and I both think she got Cameron but not so much us:

C says “There’s definitely a certain resemblance.” He added that Andrew’s head doesn’t look that much like an eggplant 😂

And two videos from yesterday because he is just a kid… with super cute side-ways skipping and super teen “skills” with maturity.

After the second video, taken when he was onstage for the magic show, his chess club friend was: elated that Cameron had chosen that number, had been chanting that number in his own head hoping C would choose it, and gave Cameron double fist bumps. (Not for kids unless you want to do some explaining)

https://youtube.com/shorts/EU-PsKFH888

https://youtu.be/wmKw4Y6M-go

So, he’s in the perfect spot for growing his brain and, eventually, his maturity!  Honestly, I was laughing so hard it took a couple minutes to wipe away all the leaked-tears.

Rachel

P.S. Funny FB memories:

P.P.S. Andrew’s gems from yesterday:

The hill Cameron likes to climb

Walking around campus 

Cameron was showing off his wall-sits with lots of groaning

Love this kid