The Art of Listening, Understanding and Validation

 “You always know what I’m talking about when I say a hard time and you never try to fix it: you just understand.“

Being heard...being understood...and knowing that your feelings are valid.  

"Do you want me to help with solutions or just listen?

“I’m sorry, that’s got to be so hard.”

It helps so much. Then you can carry on with your day knowing someone listened, you were understood and your feelings were validated. 

The art of listening.  The art of understanding. The art of validation. 

Filter

Yesterday I saw a lot of people were trying out this new filter and I thought I would give it a try for myself...

I was shocked!  I look so pretty! And then I shut it off and BAM...back to reality. Geez. So depressing. 

I had my girls try it out for fun too. They actually look quite similar...especially Gianna since she already has full lips. She could create this look easily with her eye make up but of course there's no need to do that since she's already gorgeous...

Honestly, it didn't do much for Julia either except make her lips extra full and her eyes look like they have extra mascara on but that's about it. 

Just goes to show my girls are already beautiful without any silly filter. : )

UofL hockey playoffs

Nicholas is on the road today heading to Springfield, Virginia for the ACHA Division II playoffs...

"For just the third time in program history, and for the first time since the 2016-17 season, Louisville is regionals bound! Earning the #12 seed, the Cardinals will take on #9 Rowan in the ACHA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament 1st round in Washington, D.C." 

Endicott College

I love this video about Julia's dance team and her college. Endicott has a gorgeous seaside campus, awesome four-year internship programs, lots of winning competitive sports teams and so much more. I highly recommend Endicott College!

3 years

I try so hard not to remember the date but unfortunately there are reminders. I was thinking if this day would be harder than the rest. Yes and no. Yes because it means one day more that I haven't seen you...but then I thought...it's also one day closer to when I see you again. Right?  I guess it's all relative. 

Mikey is so loved by me and the girls...

but he especially loves his girls. He snuggles up close to them in their beds and he always finds a place close to me on the couch. A beautiful reminder and warm comfort of your love for us too. 

Love you Mama 

Change the way you see yourself

I don't have crow's feet, I have happy memories of laughing with family and friends until the tears flowed.

I don't have frown lines, I have the marks of my frustration and confusion, which I battled through smiling in the end. 

I am not going grey, I have shimmering highlights of wisdom, dashed throughout my hair. 

I am not fat, I bear the evidence of a life filled with abundance, blessings and good times. 

I am not just forgetful, I have a mind so full of stories, memories and moments there is scarce room to hold much else. 

I am not old, I am blessed, with a life of great length, something not everyone can say. 

Change the way you see yourself. 

(edited...by Donna Ashworth)

Forced Retirement : (

Coming soon...June 2023  

Valentine's Day

If you are (or were) LOVED...then you are BLESSED...

12th straight regional title

Dance Program Captures 12th Straight UDA New England Regional Title

WESTFIELD, Mass. — The Endicott dance team won its 12th straight Universal Dance Association (UDA) New England Regional title on Sunday evening at Westfield State University.

The Gulls kept their winning streak intact by capturing first place honors in Open Jazz and Open Pom.

Endicott's first place performances in Open Jazz and Open also marked the seventh year in a row the Gulls have swept both disciplines.

"We are happy to close out our 2022-2023 competition season with our 12th consecutive UDA Regional title," said Endicott dance head coach Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch. "This team has worked incredibly hard since May and the coaching staff and I could not be more proud to be their coach and an Endicott Gull! Thank you to our families, friends, and the College community for all of the support!"

In Open Jazz, Endicott's routine earned a 92.35 score besting Bentley (84.70) and the University of New England (84.45) by nearly 10 points. The field featured 12 teams from Division II and III across New England and New York.

The Gulls' Open Pom routine was even more impressive as Endicott (91.75) topped Assumption (77.28) and Adelphi (76.55) by double-digit points. In total, the Open Pom discipline featured five programs.

Jazz & Pom routines New England Dance Challenge

 

New England Dance Challenge

What a day! First place Jazz and first place Pom!! I think they danced better today than at Nationals!! This is the team's 12th straight 1st place regional title!! : ) 

Girls getting ready to perform their jazz...

and getting ready to perform Pom...

Awards...

Julia's buddy group...

Awww I miss my girl so much!!! And she's sick...AGAIN : (  

Dedicated Dance Dads...

Basketball dance pics

As usual it's been a busy few days for Julia. She sent me these beautiful pictures from her last basketball game of the season...

Delany's last game as she's graduating...

Sisters Weekend

Kerry, Kimmy and I got together in Ogunquit to spend a beautiful peaceful day together. Kerry brought some scrapbooking supplies and we had so much fun creating...

I made this one. I'm calling it "Letters to Heaven" for my beautiful Mama...

Then Kimmy and I went downtown to Cornerstone Pizza and ate the most delicious pizza for dinner...

Then it was back to the house to watch some classic episodes of The Office and have some yummy dessert.  We went back home the next day. It was the perfect few days!!

Gianna's poem

I found this poem Gianna wrote back in 2018 when she was in 8th grade. It's so good! She's always had such a gift for writing. I think she's missing her calling. 

9/7/18

WHERE I'M FROM

I am from the roots of Italian chefs

From the streets of Sicily and Bari

I am from the home of pasta and freshly brewed wine

From blue seas and clear skies

From coliseums and ancient ruins across the boot-shaped land.

 

I am from the hard pavement driveways

From chalk and pebbles

I am from the roars of laughter

From joy and smiles

From colorful waxy crayons

 

I am from the spotlights

From the loud musical notes and bright stage

I am from the deep lyrics of songs

From the powerful movement of emotions

From playing the roll of someone who isn’t my own

 

I am from the memories of my closest companions

From joy and smiles

I am from the love of all creatures

From the fur of my two cats

From the happiness of others

You're the ghost

There’s a part of the grieving process,

where your soul kind of leaves your body too.

As though it’s off searching for the one you lost,

somewhere in the ether.

You walk around,

doing all the right things,

putting one foot in front of the other,

living,

but it’s really as though you’re the ghost.

Perhaps you are.

Perhaps your soul searches,

until you find the one you miss,

and they tell you to go back and live.

So, when that numbness passes brave one,

maybe it’s time to do what you are told,

go back and live,

twice as hard.

You don’t belong there in the ether,

nor do you need to search for the one you lost,

they find you.

And when they do, you’ll feel it.

Acceptance #6 out of 6

She got in! Gianna officially got into all six colleges she applied to. Pretty amazing!