Cinderella - Why do we love this story?

My daughter and I recently watched the latest 'Cinderella' movie together.

This story has been made so many times into a movie. I think it's safe to say that the entire world knows the entire plot.

Yet, we still want to see it. Why?

I decided it's because the world never gets tired of a love story - no matter how many times it's been told.

Cinderella - It's about a girl finding joy in the midst of a yucky situation and then having one magic night in a pretty dress with glass shoes and dancing with a Prince.

He then must find her and marry her. (I think that's the part that makes us all swoon) ...

Don't all girls dream of finding their own 'prince charming' who will seek them out and love them even if they are covered in soot, living in an attic, wearing a ragged dress and only have mice as friends?

That's why this story never goes out of style.
Love stories matter.

It was here ...

Marcus Whitman Elementary - Richland, WA

Wright Street ... I walked down this street everyday (as a kid) to get to school :)

The big oak tree on the property ...

I was driving down a very familiar street and glanced over to see the rubble of my old elementary school. I instantly pulled over to see the wreckage for myself.

Could it be? My old childhood school crashed to the ground? Yup. There it was - piles of memories.

It was here that my 3rd grade teacher tried to teach me to ride a bike. It was here that I made friends and played kick-ball and had the first 'crush' of my life. It was here that I made my very first piece of clay art for my mom. It was here that I learned how to play tetherball and Chinese jump rope. It was here that I learned to do the moon walk and break dance. It was here I took calligraphy after school and learned to write beautifully. It was here that I ate my mom's homemade lunches on homemade bread. It was here I had school pictures and wrote pieces for the Young Author's contest. It was here that I passed a few 'love notes' in class and blushed because the cute boy wrote back. It was here, I learned to sing Skip to My Lou and Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree. It was here, I played the ladybug from "James and the Giant Peach" in the class play because I had a polka dot shirt. It was here I wore an eye patch and learned how to be happy even though I looked different. It was here that I met my brother, Travis, after school so we could walk home together. It was here that I was chased by boys. It was here that I made some of my dearest friends. It was here that I spent a great deal of my childhood.

As I stood on the school grounds, I remembered a lot. It was a great trip down memory lane. I was happy to see they left the big oak trees and I gathered a few acorns to take home.

It was here that the big trees reminded me that we all have roots.

I am thankful for the years I had at Marcus Whitman Elementary and for the roots it gave me.

A new school will be built here. A new Marcus Whitman Elementary. It will provide roots for children in the future.

I am grateful for the 'old school' that was mine.

1988

There is a Richland Bomber 1988 track page on Facebook. I was a freshman in high school. My brother, Travis, was a Junior. Special thanks to who ever created this page and keeps throwing up stuff from the past!

These little track moments made me smile today and caused me to remember some really great times.

I love how life hands us unexpected little chances to reflect!

I forgot how fast my brother could run! His mile time in 1988 was 4:27 and his 2 mile time was 9:50

Go LICH.

Can't wait to catch up someday and swap 'running' stories and moments.

Love you,
Wendy

I believe ...

I found myself walking down a beautiful street in Boston and bumped into this poster hanging in a shop window. The quote is from Audrey Hepburn -

She said:, "I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

I agree and I believe in God, in prayers, kindness, America and LOVE.

Selfies and Self-Talk and Good Energy!

On the Trolley in Boston (just outside Copley Square) ... Me and April.

Have you ever realized how harsh you can be on yourself? We tend to be our ultimate worst critic.

I was recently on a trip in Boston, with a good friend and I took a selfie of us on the trolley.

After glancing at the photo, I instantly thought ... "That's not a very good photo" and before I could articulate my thought out loud she said: "Oh, look how cute we are!"

Her comment caught me off guard. And made me stop and think ... I appreciated her instant, positive response and was able to use it last weekend.

I was in Arizona with some family members and we took a group selfie - someone immediately responded: "That's a horrible picture of me!" I immediately touted back: "Look at us - we are so cute!" It changed the atmosphere immediately.

The things we say really do affect those around us. And the things we say to and about ourselves - to ourselves can be so very negative and damaging.

Today, pay attention to your self-talk and the things you think about yourself. Stop yourself immediately when it turns negative. Feel free to use my friend's line: Look how cute!

Our positive self talk matters and we can become advocates for good energy inside and outside of ourselves!

Go ahead, take that selfie. Post it up.

It's a way of capturing a moment that will never happen again!

And when you find yourself wanting to judge yourself or anyone around you harshly, stop.

And find what's great about you or him or her!

And say it our loud!