Saturday, May 15, 2010

A Lifetime Ago

It seems like a lifetime ago when I didn't have any children, when I went to the gym every day, when I coached high school cheerleading. Yep, 18 young women and I spent 8 straight months with each other...5 days a week plus some Saturdays for five years.

I loved every second. I was a cheerleader for my senior year of high school and all through college. It was a natural progression for me to coach. The opportunity came at a perfect time. I remember when my first marriage ended and the coaching position opened up. It was perfect...something to keep me busy every Friday night. It grew into so much more.

We set goals, built something from the ground-up. I coached, befriended, mentored and mothered. Those girls gave me so much life and me made realize it is easy to make a difference. You just have to care and spend time.

I don't know if you are familar with the National Cheerleading Championship shown on ESPN. I would watch in awe and wish in my wildest dreams to be there some day. Well, 4 years into coaching my talented squad earned a bid and we were off. It was a thrill to see them on that floor and watch them on the big screen that would soon be shown on TV.

One of my coaches had brought her team a few years earlier and they had taken pictures in front of Cinderella's castle. We had a plan to do this on the last day...but it meant getting up at the crack of dawn. We basically we trying to get there before other people to be able to take clear shots. We almost didn't make it based on pure exhaustion...but I am so glad we did. Now, I have this amazing shot for a lifetime!





Supplies: Starlight collection from Pink Paislee: visit the blog here for a tutorial on how to make the large star!

Honestly, coaching was one of the top five life experiences for me. I learned and taught about motivation, drive, success, disappointment. We learned what was most important in life.

An all-star experience!

9 comments:

  1. seriously... gym EVERY day? lol... I only went four times a week before kids, lol. I really really am looking forward to this collection to hit Archiver's!!! I've been waiting for a "patriotic" (lack of better word at this moment) collection for quite some time now...
    Love your take on the paper and your lo is always fabulous.

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  2. I loved reading the story behind the layout, Stacey. :) Fab layout.

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  3. I have watched those competitions and they are AMAZING!!!! Wow wow wow wow wow!!! What an AWESOME story and what an AWESOME LO!!! LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE that photo and the big circle around it!! GORGEOUS! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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  4. Fabulous page! LOVE that star! :)

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  5. what a fantastic page and wonderful story behind it :D

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  6. What a candid post. Thank you for sharing w/us Stacey, it makes the layout so much more meaningful for all of us to behold.

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  7. Just adore this LO and that star is amazing!!! Thanks for sharing the story with us!!!

    Have a great day!!! :-)

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  8. I SO miss cheerleading!! we had a lot of fun....if only I could get my leg up that high now!! I'm lucky to touch my toes! xox

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