Green is my new favorite color

A few weeks ago Ben brought home a permission slip for a ski day with his class. It made me have to answer a question that had been looming in my mind for a few years: Will I ever ski again, or is it one of those things I used to do when I was young? Being courageous and all, I let Ben decide by asking him whether he wanted me to go. His answer? YES!! Hard to say no to that!

Yesterday was the moment of truth. I was more than a little nervous. My last ski outing had been about 18 years ago. And a few years before that, I had a ski injury that required major knee surgery. But my biggest apprehension was in not knowing over these many years, what had changed? I drove to the ski area early enough to have a good look around before the buses arrived.

I was relieved to discover one thing that had not changed:

So far, so good, I thought. I had been a blue square skier in my teens and twenties. Once I got my skis under me, I would be fine. I was nagged just a little, however, by the thought of skiing with ten-year-old first time skiers who may or may not take the time to observe the signs at the top of the hill.

Here's the synopsis of what happened:

1. The lesson they gave in the morning was fabulous, and the kids did AMAZING for their first time.

2. I still remembered how to ski. (Did you hear the huge sigh of relief?)

3. I kept Ben and a friend after the buses went back to school to ski for a while longer with another mom and two more kids.

4. The kids were pretty good about staying safe, and were happy on the green circle hills.

5. The other mom led us here to our first blue square hill. Looks pretty tame from the bottom.

Here's the view from the top:

Taken right after Ben disappeared over the edge. I had to stop and take a picture, because I. could. not. watch.

When I got to where I could see, Ben and his buddy were at the bottom. Happy. Thrilled, actually. The other mom was helping her kid after he wiped out. But of course, he was fine.

Is it just me, or are the blue square hills more like the black diamond hills of my youth? Regardless, when you see one called Lookout, there might be a reason for it.

6. Here are three kids who are eagerly awaiting their next chance to go skiing.

Ten

Ten years ago today my mom left earth for heaven. One day she was golfing and playing cards on vacation, and the next she was in the hospital, never to regain consciousness. She died happy. It was like a lifetime ago. Actually, in my world, it was two lifetimes ago: the lives of my kids, to be exact. I thought I would honor her with some tens, in no particular order.

Ten things I miss about my mom:

1. Her laughter
2. Her listening ear
3. Her spaghetti
4. Her reassuring way, and belief that everything would work out
5. Her delight in being with family
6. Playing cards and games with her
7. Celebrating with her
8. Watching the Olympics and Vikings football with her
9. Going to her house and letting her spoil us
10. Of course, most of all, watching her enjoy her grandchildren

Ten (or more) things I'm thankful for about my mom:

1. That she raised us in church and passed her faith along to us
2. Her example of total commitment to raising her children well
3. Her caring, supportive heart
4. Her positive attitude
5. Her determination to always do the right thing
6. Her attention to beauty and detail
7. The amazing amount of confidence she had in me
8. Her love of music
9. That when I got my first credit card she made me promise to always pay my balance off in full, every month
10. That she gathered enough courage to come visit me in the Philippines
    
    
    
11. That she lived long enough to be at my wedding
12. That she lived long enough to see me become a mom for the first time

Ten things I wish I could ask or talk to her about:

1. Her favorite memories from our years of growing up
2. The highs and lows of her life as a mom
3. What it was like parenting us through the teen years
4. Her childhood memories of friends and family
5. Is it just my imagination, or is Bethany a whole lot like I was as a little girl?
6. Was I really that stubborn determined?
7. Being sorry (but not too sorry) Acknowledging that my stubbornness determination might (possibly) have created some parenting challenges for her (and pointing out to her that it's gotten me a long way in life!)
8. How she endured all those years of swim meets
9. How thankful I am that she did
10. The many things that never crossed my mind before I became a mom

Thank you so much, Lord,

for giving me an amazing mom.

She was, and will always be,

one of your most precious gifts to me.