Parenting is...

Happy Soccer Mom

I have the opportunity to break down the humungous job description that we parents have been given! Awesome!

It is just huge. With constant love, parents work hard to raise up our preciously sweet and uniquely praiseworthy kids:) 

Here are some highlights:

*Believing for the best. Looking forward to days when the best is achievable for your precious one and progress is certain. Anticipating that they will fulfill their maximum potential in life.

*Being crazy about your kid. Wacko! Yes, totally into everything “them.”

*Not freaking-out, whenever possible. That includes the lost netbook, flash drives, and cell phone (and that’s just this last week).

*Pursuing opportunities for growth: music lessons, tutors, clubs, classes, friendships, sports, serving others, faith mentors (aka church for me), and developing compassion to provide fodder for inner-kid development. Yes, driving to all of these things is the burden we bear. 

*Keeping family pets alive and healthy as much as possible. 

*Understanding the inner kid. Keeping the outer kid clean.

*Problem solving when things aren’t going right. Possibly making a U-Turn or building a bridge. Maybe pushing delete or saying "I'm sorry."

*Laughing a blue streak privately after you punish the child for negative but cute behavior. Or crying buckets when it is hard to believe that your child messed up like that.

*If you are married: Trying to develop that relationship and maybe bless your spouse’s socks off.

*Celebrating everything: soccer goals, friendships, grace extended, lessons learned, good effort, and bravery.

*Being the Head Cheerleader in your child’s life - Moms!

*Being the Biggest Fan ever – Dads!

Parents getting pictures of their cuties!!!

*Seeing the big picture. Advocating. Making way for the big things to emerge in your child’s life. Praying for God to raise your kid up.

*Leaving a legacy of faith, hope, and love in the midst of lacrosse practice, the laundry, barf, diapers, work, and the pot roast in the oven!

Top Pot

The "Go Hawks!" Doughnut is my fave!

To be honest, I really questioned my odd idea to blog about Top Pot. So if you are questioning me, I understand. In the end, I think that there is something wonderfully simple and sweet about Top Pot that keeps me coming back. I believe that there just aren't enough blogs out there about doughnuts. (Believe me, I looked.) So, let's talk about Top Pot...

For Top Pot, it all began in 2002 on north Capitol Hill in Seattle. Top Pot shares a classic hand-made vintage doughnut vibe alongside Seattle’s gourmet coffee obsession. It's sort of "Starbucks meets Dunkin' Doughnuts" in a 50's diner - Seattle style. 

On any given day a fresh doughnut can be irresistible. Seahawks' wide receiver, Golden Tate, could not resist the smell of a maple bar when he broke into a Top Pot at 3am. Another surprise was when President Obama himself came to visit Seattle and stopped in at Top Pot. At least he came when they were open!

Seattle is known for the Seahawks, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Starbucks, the Space Needle, Queen Anne, and now some are saying - Top Pot.

Sometimes it is the simple things that we enjoy so much. 

Doughnuts anyone?

The Cool Mom at the Bus Stop

Aimee Fritz won the “cool mom” award when she showed up with her daughter Greta at the bus stop before school, wearing a Chicken Costume. She was dressed like a chicken from head to toe. Then, after she got her daughter Greta on the bus, she began her dance. She danced her chicken jig while the bus drove off. Little Greta and all her friends got some really sweet entertainment, probably a laugh or two, and a lesson in caring.

Aimee was new to the community; Her little girl was making new friends. This is the last thing a new kid needs her mom to do in front of her daughter and a full bus of kids! Why would she do this, and how on earth does this earn her the "cool mom" award? Well, it was all for a good cause: Aimee had a vision to raise support for Haiti Partners. The kids in Haiti were going back to school and needed money for supplies, and funding of scholarships, so she danced. The great thing is that people responded to her dance. Big bucks came in! 

I love it.

Mother Theresa once said, “Get out there and give real help! Get out there and love! Get out there and testify! Get out there and create whatever you can do to inspire people...This is what has to be done now. There is no time for dallying.”

Aimee’s little dance raised $10,500 for a great cause! Just one dance, videoed, and shared online. Haiti Partners has 1,053 elementary students on scholarship. That is 1,053 kids preparing for a great future. What a unique way to improve lives globally. I have never heard of a mother dancing at a bus stop, until now. As of writing this, Aimee and Greta are in Haiti visiting Haiti Partners. I venture to say that they will receive a very warm welcome when they get there.

I first met Aimee in college and am thankful for the difference that she has made through her daring dancing. It inspires me to recognize the big difference that one person can make. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "We find in life exactly what we put into it." I think Aimee has found something pretty special, and I hope you do, too.