50 to 50-- Day 47 Flower Power

FLOWER POWER

I received a box in the mail from my sweet friend Barb !!! It had several gifts....including these bulbs to plant at my new house. This gray day....has turned happy --- the power of flowers.....the power of friendship. The bag reads Perfect Pair--- Barb and I have experienced a lot through our friendship....she was my roommate in Wichita for a Relay event. We have laughed and we cried together. I admire her and love her with all my heart.
Thank you Barb   

50 to 50-- Day 48 Silver and Gold

SILVER AND GOLD
remember the song ???
Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
and the other gold

I was lucky enough to have lunch with my new (silver) friend Karin and then drive down to Maryville where my dear old (gold) friend moved to.
I haven't seen Ashley forever and I loved catching up with her and I value our friendship way more than gold

50 to 50 -- Day 49 Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day

Day 49
COTTON CANDY ON A RAINY DAY

when I was in college I fell in love with the name of a poetry book by Nikki Giovanni--- Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day.
That image/saying/feeling has stayed with me all these years.
sometimes it made me sad , all the sweetness dissolving away.
sometimes it made me happy, the sweet on a otherwise sad day.

So tonight Wyatt, Scott and I laughed and walked in the rain and enjoyed the cotton candy....and I just enjoyed the moment.

50 DAYS TIL 50--- DAY 50--- Expect A Miracle

EXPECT A MIRACLE
Wyatt and I were walking to MacMurray College when we saw this sign. (You can see me in the reflection) I thought it was perfect for my first photo in my 50 to 50. This church is on the corner of College and Ken Norton Way. People that know me....know that I like signs. I like actual signs (like this one) and signs that I feel, see or know are from God. I feel like this is a good combination of both. Expect A Miracle.... I believe in miracles. I have witnessed miracles. Some have been small and some have been magnificent. I am not sure that I would "expect" a miracle.....but I know in my heart that miracles are happening all around me.

Mr Rabbit (March 26,2014)

poor little Mr Wyatt.
every morning on our walk we pass by rose bushes.
There are about 20 bushes in each area.
Wyatt sniffs around and just when he is ready to gives up
His friend Mr Rabbit jumps out and they give each other a little look.
Mr Rabbit scurries away and Mr Wyatt jumps with joy.
on yesterday's walk
only one area
today the little bulldozer/bobcat was digging up the other area.
Mr Rabbit nowhere to be seen.
Mr Wyatt looked around and around
and then he looked at me.

little house (March 24, 2014)

a month ago.... Scott and I looked at a house.... and decided to buy it
we really only saw it that day with our Realtor and the day before at an open house.
I wish I knew what kind of flowers and trees and whatever are growing in the back yard (it was covered in snow)
I wish I could remember what colors some of the rooms are
(I do know OUR bedroom is pink.....and we will have to repaint)
I wish I took some photos and measurements.
I have no idea what will fit and what won't
I wish I paid more attention to how many and how big the kitchen cabinets were
I wish I had figured out how many plastic bins could fit on the shelves in the basement
I wish it was time to get in there and make it my home
I can't wait to dig in my garden
I can't wait to grill in the backyard
I can't wait to get the fire pit going
I can't wait to play catch in the backyard and let Wyatt chase the pesky squirrels
I can't wait
my little house
with my little dog
and my sweet husband

magically delicious (March 24, 2014)

can't sleep
so I've been watching tv
watched over 3 hours of Food Network 
now it is past 1 am and I am hungry
let's try to take my mind off food.
let's see what's trending
Ashton and Mila are having a baby
that will be one cute kid
nope still hungry
yikes there was a landslide
that is super scary
still hungry
turning the channel
Bob's Burgers
it's hilarious
Tina, Gene and Louise
those kids are funny
hanging out at the dinner
yeah
still hungry
looks like it's going be a bowl of Lucky Charms
maybe I should start buying grown-up cereal
the kids always picked the healthy cereal
I am sure the cashier at the grocery store thought the Raisin Bran was for the parents and the Lucky Charms were for the kids
not in this family
killed some time typing this
still hungry
they are magically delicious
#livingthecharmedlife

Leo (March 13, 2014)

Remembering my Dad today.

14 years ago the McClures were at the NAIA basketball championship at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. The Siena Heights team made it to the Final Four and we were having a great time with the team. Coach Smith came to our hotel room with bad news (my family couldn't get a hold of me....my cell phone did not work there....so they had to wait to call the school, who called the coach, who contacted me). My dad was admitted to the hospital the day before and it was not good. Tyler (my co-pilot in many situations) and I jumped in the minivan and headed back to Michigan ( 11 hour drive). Tyler and I shared many Grandpa stories on that trip. Hours into the drive I remember looking at Tyler and we knew Grandpa was gone. We stopped and had shakes to honor him. Finally when we had cell phone service...we were right he was gone. I remember listening to the theme from the Tarzan. movie...Phil Collins - "You'll be in my heart" and knowing that those lyrics were how I felt....and still today when I hear that song...I know my dad is smiling at me. Later that year we moved and Scott got a job at the NAIA. He became the championship administrator for that basketball tournament. We went every year, and sometime during the tournament, I would just start crying...remembering and missing my dad. So many things remind me of him....but today I am not sad. I remember all the times he was there for me, that he made me laugh and always took care of his family. I am so glad he was a part of my kids lives and they remember him. (Tyler just joked this weekend about his hair being like Grandpas) I am smiling and happy.

the McClures are having shakes today and saying cheers to a great man.

Phil Collins - You'll Be In My Heart with Lyrics

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Berkley (March 19, 2014)

I get frustrated
I feel grumpy
sometimes a little too selfish.
hey...I am human.
and then I get on facebook
and people make me smile.
There is one person that I follow.
I am in awe of her spirit
I am humbled by her courage.
I am thankful for all I have. 
I am sad and heartbroken
She makes me feel.....
feel so much I can't put into words.
I have never met her.
Her family shares her daily struggles.
Her smile touches my soul
Her story inspires me to be grateful
to have faith
to be a better person.
She turns 6 years old next week
She has leukemia.
and she smiles.
smiles that big beautiful smile

Berkeley's Battle

Phelps (March 20, 2014)

warning--- inappropriate language

Fred Phelps passed away today.

Back in 2005, Scott and I went to an Elton John concert.
To get into the concert we had to walk through a Westboro demonstration.
They called us fag lovers, going to burn in hell, etc.
I just shook my head in disbelief.
There was such an awful feeling in the air.
Then I saw the signs.
My beloved Pope John Paul II's picture
he had just passed away
His face in flames
with signs about hell and the devil
I looked at a young girl holding one of the signs.
Our eyes met.
I can't describe what I saw
I started to shake.
I had never felt such hatred in my heart
in my soul
I wanted to beat the shit out of those people
I have never been in a fight in my life
Scott grabbed me and I remember him telling me that they wanted a reaction from me...they wanted a scene.
I still get a sick feeling about that
How I felt that moment

When you see them on the news and hear about what they are doing. You get mad, get sad, shake your head, what ever feeling you feel.

My son works and lives in Topeka....it is a normal experience for him to see them demonstrating.

I will continue to believe in the goodness of people.
I will continue to hope for the best
I will continue to love.....everyone.