What I Never Expected to Learn in GS

28 Skills You Never Expected to Learn at Girl Scouts blog post from Girl Scouts

I just read and enjoyed this blog post.  Like I have said before, Girl Scouts runs in my blood.  I joined as a Brownie in Kindergarten (Daisy was not a level at that time), and I stayed in all the way through Senior Year, earning my Gold Award.

I cannot even remember everything I have done, let alone learned.  Girl Scouts has truly made me who I am--along with my parents, grandparents, family, teachers, education, and friends.

I remember the Junior badge for Car Care.  My dad had me in the driveway changing the oil and tires on the car. I learned a lot about cars, their care, and got some idea of what to ask or say if I needed to take a car into the shop.

We camped all the time, so I have learned to create a packing list and how to follow it. I know how to prepare recipes, shopping lists, and meals. I know which rice to buy and which one not to get. (We always laugh about that!) I know what to do if the plumbing is bad and how to find firewood, create a fire circle, set-up/start a fire, and how to safely put one out.

I have made lifelong friends.  Not only did I meet my BFF, Jill, in Girl Scouts, but I have a ton of other friends I can call on if needed. We could go to lunch, catch up, and it be like no time has passed.
Girl Scouts also gave me the opportunity to spend time with my mom. She was our leader for many years, and I treasure that time we had.

Through skills learned in Girl Scouts and by working along side my mom, I learned to pour concrete, dig holes, move a fence, build a pool deck, fix things that broke around the house, learned who to call when I couldn't, how to sew, and more.

We were put in so many positions to be leaders, make decisions, handle money, make/set plans, and more that lead to skills in today's jobs.  I cannot remember learning anything specific, but I know how to work with people, listen, voice my opinions and concerns, and problem solve.

Girl Scouts surrounded me with girls with good morals and ethics.  I was never tempted by drugs, alcohol, or anything else that would put me in harm's way. I kept great grades and set goals for myself. Those surrounding me supported me.

I have also had the opportunity to work with girls in 4 different troops since I was in high school. Giving back and helping them to have some of the same experiences I have has been so rewarding.

If you have influence over a young lady in your life, register her for Girl Scouts, find her an amazing troop (or lead it yourself), and help her stay in through high school. You won't regret it!

Independence Day and Amazing Helpers

Happy Independence Day!

My Great Aunt and cousins invited me for lunch for brisket and the fixings.  The food was great and the company was wonderful!

My BFF's husband and son came over to help me with my yard.  I can do the mowing.  I have run a mower since I was 7, but I need help with weed eating, trimming trees and shrubs, and hauling off junk and trash.  Her awesome husband tackled the weed eating and mowing a strip of land I have behind my back fence while her son and I trimmed shrubs and cleaned up junk/trash and then hauled trash can after trash can to the curb.

For the first time, we saw a snake.  I'm so glad her husband was here when it slithered out and to the yard behind us.  (It is hard to see.)

Her son and I watched a crawdad/crayfish in the far back yard while her husband cut that strip of land.  I have seen their little houses/holes my whole life, but I have never seen an actual critter back there.  Well, we got one to come out of the hole and played with it.

I will forever be grateful to Tim and Connor Culmo for all their help today. They didn't have to, but they did.  They have no idea what it means to me.

I ended the day with my BFF and her family. Her mom invited me over for BBQ and fireworks.  I had such a nice time. I am so thankful to them for including me.  It really means so much to me. (I am not thankful for the chigger and mosquito bites.  Ha ha!)

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the males out there who play an important role in the lives of children.

Like Mother's Day, not all males have had the opportunity to father a child, and I can imagine this day is a little sad for them.

For others, they have lost their father.

This is my 12th Father's Day without my dad.  Honestly, I am not sure what my thoughts or feelings are on that. I don't know if I can put them into words.

Prayers to everyone having a difficult day today.

My sweet BFF and her mom invited me over for dinner.  It was great being around friends today.  I hated to intrude on their family, but they were so sweet to include me.

Girl Scout Camping 2014

I didn't realize it until we returned, but with 10-12 days to go before Christmas, we took 9 amazing young ladies Girl Scout camping.  We had the best time!  They created their SWAP on Friday night, which was connected to their Scouts Own ceremony. They participated in a flag ceremony first thing Saturday morning, did a team building activity, had a great time with archery, learned about structures and bridges with Mad Science, and did a great job with a skit before making S'mores on Saturday evening. They led the camp in a Scouts Own first thing Sunday morning and then went hiking in the drizzle before breaking camp.  It was just the best camping experience!

Our girls 

(some were not able to join us for camping)

Team Building

Archery

Structures/Bridges

After our Scouts Own

After our final hike

I love this picture of my niece and me!

International Reading Association Conference in NOLA - Day 4

This morning, we got up early to hear P. David Pearson and Sharon Robinson, author and daughter of Jackie Robinson.

We went to a session on books for boys and got to hear Louise Borden, Tim Federle, and Barb Rosenstock.

More authors and illustrators:

We had our Poster Session from 11:00-12:00, and it went well.

We finished our day in NOLA by going to the St. Louise #1 cemetery and 9th Ward.

After a drive home and in some torrential rains for the last 2-3 hours, I was happy to be home and in my bed.

International Reading Association Conference in NOLA - Day 3

We got up before the crack of dawn again this morning to hear Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants and other books.

We went to more great sessions all morning, and then we led our workshop from 3:00-5:00.  We had around 80 participants.

We grabbed Subway to eat in the hotel before we went out for our evening of fun -- Haunted Walking Tour with Witches Brew Tours.   It was a great tour, and we are so glad we did it.

Before we started on the tour.

Tour Guide

Halfway through the tour.

End of the tour

On or way back, we stopped at Harrah's and then tried to have dessert at Root, but it was closed.  We settled for ice cream cookie sandwiches from the hotel shop.

 Fun pictures from our morning:

International Reading Conference in NOLA - Day 2

We got up before the crack of dawn to have breakfast and get in line to see/hear Jeff Kinney, creator of Poptropica and author of the Wimpy Kid series.

Waiting in line.

Jeff Kinney

We spent all day going to sessions and learning so much, and we even skipped lunch!  By the time 5:00 rolled around, we were starving.  We tried an Italian restaurant between the Convention Center and our hotel, and it was good.  (I don't remember what it was called.)  We went back to the hotel to plan out our presentation for tomorrow.

After planning out everything, we decided to head out to the Nerdy Book Club gathering at a hotel a street over.  We had the privilege to meet Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild, and spent some time engrossed in education talk.

Heading out to have some fun!

The Triad with Donalyn Miller

We stayed up far too late for when we have to get up tomorrow.

International Reading Association Conference and NOLA - Day 1

My BFF and I loaded up my little car and took off for NOLA at 5:00 this morning.  While we had some rain north of Baton Rouge, we had a really good trip.  We arrived at our hotel in the warehouse District just after 1:00 and met up with our other BFF.

We immediately got ready and went to the Convention Center to check-in and get our programs and bags.

After asking directions, we got on a shuttle to take us to a trolley stop so we could go to the French Quarter.

Our first trolley ride!

First stop, benigns at Cafe du Monde. (That is a lot of powdered sugar!)

Walking through Jackson Square.

We walked over to Bourbon street just to say we saw it.  We found the Carousel Bar, which was really neat.  Since we hadn't eaten since breakfast, we were starving by this point, so we rode the trolly back near our hotel and went to Butcher for dinner, where our waiter showed us his tattoo.  He will have a book published later this year or early next year.

We waited out a torrential downpour at the restaurant before getting back to the hotel and planning for tomorrow.