Keep Swimming!!

Late one fall night my youngest daughter, Hannah, and I went to the Ritz 7 Theatre in Lebanon, Missouri to watch “Finding Nemo” in 3D.  It is a story about a Clown fish Dad (named Marlin) searching for his son who was captured by a dentist who was scuba diving one day.  The dentist took and kept Nemo in his enormous fish tank along with several other salt water fish.

There were a few connections I encountered while watching this animated movie.  Marlin, passionate and determined, set a goal to find his son.  He faced fears along the way such as sharks, jellyfish, a whale, and more.  He was blessed with a great friend, Dorie, who encouraged him and helped him find his son, Nemo.

Dorie said many times, “Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming.”

There were times Marlin wanted to give up; he hit many brick walls in his journey.  As it became too difficult, Dorie would not let him give up.  She encouraged him to press on.

Marlin and Dorie encountered other sea creatures that entered their life for a short period of time to help, too.  It was as if a team of individuals was helping Marlin to find his son, Nemo.

Nemo, stuck in a fish tank, passionately desired to escape.  His desire to escape escalated when he heard from a pelican friend that his Dad faced three sharks to rescue him.  It was at this time Nemo escaped through the little sink by the dentist chair.

Nemo and his Dad did find each other.  There was much rejoicing and celebrating.

In my business I have set goals in building my team.  I am excited and passionate about helping other business partners.  At the same time I have a great coach and team of people encouraging me and helping me.  I just have to say that encouragement is everything.  It is my goal to encourage someone everyday.  As I watched Marlin face his fears in finding Nemo, I must face my fears in finding my way to the top of this amazing company.  Reaching the top of this business means time freedom for my wonderful husband and children.  I have to say that when I see someone facing their fears and accomplishing their goals encourages me and others to face fears and accomplish goals.  We are all in this together.  As we all reach our goals, whether large or small, we should celebrate them because it builds confidence to press on to the next goal.

I am so thankful for Team National!  It is changing my life.  I am also thankful for a couple who thought enough of us to share Team National.

Keep swimming!

Made By My Grandmother's Hands

Time is fleeting.  Time allowed very few days to spend with my Grandma Rodgers.  On this one of a kind particular day my mother and brother were attending a function and I was excited to be staying with Grandma for the day.  The dress making, the time together, the bonding, and the feeling of love is a precious cherished memory that lasts a lifetime.     

When I learned I was going to my Grandma’s house, I arose to gather my Barbie Doll and her clothes.  I carefully packed them in my black Barbie suitcase.  I grabbed my coloring book and box of crayons.  As my mother drove me to Grandma’s house she instructed, “Don’t make a mess for Grandma.  Help her prepare lunch for the guys and you can help her wash the dishes.” 

“Okay, I will.” I assured my mother. 

I couldn’t wait to arrive at the white farm house with the white milk barn in the back.  Robin, the English shepherd dog, greeted us in the backyard barking loudly and wagging her tail from side to side.  My Grandma opened the back door for us to enter.  “How are you?” she asked.

After my mother left I sat at the kitchen table coloring while, my grandmother did some dinner preparations.  Remembering that my mother told me to help Grandma I asked, “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing.” She replied.  “Why don’t you color a pretty picture for your Grandfather, while I fry this chicken up?  Do you want to eat a leg?”

“Sure would!  A chicken leg would be yummy with mashed potatoes and gravy, too?”  My grandmother made the best!!!

“Can’t have chicken without the trimmings!” agreed my Grandma.

The guys, my grandfather, my dad, and my uncle, arrived for dinner.  I listened to their conversation, as I ate.  I soon grew bored with their conversation; I went to play with my Barbie Dolls in the living room.

After the guys left I helped my grandmother clean up.  Suddenly she suggested, “Let’s make a Barbie Doll dress for your doll.”  I was so excited.  I ran to get my doll out of the case.  I had an assortment of clothes for my dolls, but not a handmade dress.

At the table I watched my Grandmother design a unique Barbie dress.  She had no pattern.  She laid my doll on a piece of newspaper drawing a pattern around the doll.  The pattern was a long sleeved, collarless, a-lined dress.  She made the pattern bigger to allow for the seams.  Grandma went to the sewing cupboard to pull down a box of material scraps she used to make handmade quilts.  “What material would you like for the dress?”  she asked. 

I saw beautiful greens, reds, and purple prints.  “I remember my cousin has a dress made out of this material.  Look here is the material I have a short set made out of.”  I said.  My mother, aunt, and grandmother sewed my clothes.  I found a pretty pink poke-a-dot scrap for my Barbie doll dress. 

My grandmother pinned the newspaper pattern onto the material and began cutting out the pattern.  I watched her sew the front and back sections together.  I loved the dress.  I thought grandma was finished, but not yet.  She handed me the button jar.  “Find a couple of buttons for the dress.”  I poured the buttons out on the table.  There were all sorts of fancy buttons of different shapes and colors; some of the buttons sparkled, some were in flower shapes, others were plain flat buttons.  I found two pink rose shaped buttons. 

“I like these two buttons, Grandma.  What do you think?” I asked.

“I think they will be perfect!” she agreed. 

I watched grandma thread a needle with pink thread and sew the two buttons onto the top of the dress.  Grandma clipped the thread on the dress and handed it to me.  “What do you think?”

“It is beautiful.  I love it.  Look there are pockets, too!  I didn’t see them!”  Grandma had sewed the pockets on while I was choosing the buttons for the dress.

I tried the dress on my Barbie doll.  It was a perfect fit!  My Barbie doll looked beautiful!  “Thank you, Grandma!” I said.

The pink poke-a-dot dress did not have the appearance of a professionally made dress.  However, it stands out among the assortment of dresses I owned.  It was special, because my Grandmother prepared it just for me.  I played many hours with that dress.  Always, I would tell my friends that my grandmother made this dress.  It is grand!

Forty some odd years later I still have the Barbie doll dress made by my Grandmother’s hands.  Every time I see the dress I am reminded of my special day with my Grandmother, just my grandma and I.  I remember the gentleness, the kindness, the love I felt on that day.  It was just an ordinary day, yet we were creating extraordinary memories lasting a lifetime.