1. Josh Downs recently sent this email to our softball team:
Happy Saturday Believers! Tomorrow is going to be a great softball day. Good news first...we're 5th in our division. Bad news...there's only five teams.
The failure: We've lost every game we've played so far.
The success: We're playing anyhow and celebrating with beer and pizza after every game.
2. I was supposed to bike 20 miles yesterday in order to stay on track with my triathlon training program. Once I got out there though, my butt was killing me and my back was killing me and I gave up after 13 miles.
The failure: I was seven miles short of meeting my goal.
The success: This time two years ago, I couldn't have biked 13 miles. (And I wore a pair of shorts while I was biking yesterday, which is literally the first time these little sausages have adorned a pair of shorts in the last decade.)
3. On Tuesday, Josh and I planned on taking the kids for our first long bike ride of the season (an 8 mile round-trip to dinner and back) and I had been looking forward to it all day. Our plan was to leave the house no later than 5:00 p.m., but at 5:30 p.m., Josh was still busy trying to fix the brakes on Courtney's bike and was getting a little bit crankier with each passing minute.
I know nothing of brakes, so I took pictures...
Nice face chickie.
When I mentioned to Josh that he should bring his flashlight since we'd be riding home in the dark, Courtney Lee lost her ever-loving, fraidy-cat marbles.
At about 5:45 p.m., I told Josh I didn't think we should go because Courtney was going to be upset the whole ride home and at about 5:45:15, Josh told me that Courtney Lee doesn't make the decisions in our house.
It escalated privately in the living room from there (but I'll spare you those details) and ended with Josh Downs and the kids heading out to dinner on their bikes without me.
At about 6:00 p.m., Josh called me and told me that I should try to catch up with them on my bike. I declined. At about 6:03, Josh called me again and told me I should try to catch up with them on my bike. I declined again. At about 6:05, Josh called once more to ask me to catch up with them. I declined more sternly this time and the conversation escalated from there (but I'll spare you those details).
At about 6:07 p.m., I jumped on my bike to catch up with my family (and left my camera at home to save time).
When I caught up with them, some of us hollered greetings, some of us hugged and some of us apologized before going on our merry-way.
Just a few minutes into our merry-way though, Annie had her first-ever bike wreck which resulted in screams and tears and a road-rash on her right palm. While we consoled Annie, Courtney Lee broke into tears once again after realizing that Annie's bike crash had cost us even more precious daylight.
I once again suggested we head home, but was vetoed by Josh, Cole and Annie.
A few minutes further into our (now) not-so-merry way, Josh Downs got a flat tire.
So we headed back, loaded up in the truck and drove to dinner.
The failure: A highly-anticipated bike-ride that turned into a high-drama train-wreck.
The success: We all got over it and had a great time at dinner anyhow.
4. I decided to participate in the Clickin Moms affiliate program with the intention of giving away all the prizes and all the money like I did a couple of years ago, but we didn't get enough new memberships to win all the prizes. (We needed 300...we got 96.)
The failure: I don't get to give away the $100 CMworkshop, the Apple 16gb iPad or the new Canon 5D Mark III/Nikon D800.
The success: I do get to give away a $25 Starbucks card, a $50 Amazon gift card and some new camera gear ($925 worth that I earned from affiliate points) to the following three people, which I used a random number generator to pick:
- The $25 Starbucks gift card goes to Shannon Klock.
- The $50 Amazon gift card goes to Patty Seiger.
- The $925 in camera gear goes to Amy Kirschke.
Shannon, Patty and Amy, can you please email me at karen@snapshotsofagoodlife.com so we can work out the details?
Just push through the failure and you'll find the success.
I could read your stories all day long! If you ever write a book, I'll be the first to buy it!:)
Posted by: Addie | May 03, 2012 at 10:42 AM
you crack me up. thansk for keeping it real. i need a junking day. we really should get together and eat too much junk while looking for junk. you know where to find me.
Posted by: mandy friend | May 03, 2012 at 10:50 AM
$925 worth of camera gear is nothing to shake a stick at! Congrats to the winners!
and nothing says family more than a little bit of drama! Glad you had a great time at dinner anyhow!
Posted by: Juli P | May 03, 2012 at 10:50 AM
I've got to tell you Karen. I have been reading your blog for a few years now, and while I don't comment very much, I absolutely love reading about your journey. I admire and love how real you are about yourself, your family, your marriage, life. It's admirable to be brave enough to admit the bad amongst the good. I appreciate you for it (not that that matters)! But if it were me, I know I'd like to know that. Life isn't perfect, neither are we...but that's exactly what God intended. Perfection wouldn't be so darn funny :)
And I've got to ask....is it really still cool enough to be wearing sweaters and stuff. If it is....I'm moving to Oregon tomorrow.
Posted by: KerrieLou | May 03, 2012 at 10:52 AM
I love optimists. They motivate the world.
Posted by: Deb | May 03, 2012 at 11:09 AM
LOVE your stories! They remind me so much of life around here with my crew! Beautiful images as always!
Posted by: Shari Barnes | May 03, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Karen-I was having a rotten day, but reading your post today has made me find the successes in those failures! My day has gotten slightly better, and will by the end of the day, only 6 more hours til I'm home free! :D Thanks!
Posted by: Melinda T | May 03, 2012 at 11:38 AM
oh, and that canon camera was so mine! congratulations to the lucky winners and congrats to you, karen, for stuffing your sausages into shorts and getting on with it!
Posted by: kelly | May 03, 2012 at 01:15 PM
that's awesome karen. you always find the positive out of negative... kind of like turning lemons into lemonade. xo!
Posted by: lauren | May 03, 2012 at 01:30 PM
Love this post! I can so relate - sometimes we get so caught up in the moment we forget about the bigger picture.
I noticed Annie's helmet has lost the little bunny ears/teeth. :( I hope this doesn't mean they weren't deemed "cool enough" because I thought they were adorable! Why do kids have to grow up??
Posted by: Carrie | May 03, 2012 at 01:38 PM
Love it. Good form not so good and way to go on the 96 subscriptions and giving all that stuff away.
You rock!
Posted by: mel | May 03, 2012 at 01:47 PM
Otsenka 5!
Posted by: appeapOvamn | May 03, 2012 at 02:33 PM
You've got to be in it to win it! I get access to some great photography workshops and was in for a chance at the prizes. I am currently an auditing student in Karen's workshop and loving it. Great to read a blog that is real and makes me laugh!
Posted by: Cathy B | May 03, 2012 at 04:18 PM
Love it....and what better way to learn that when one falls off a bike, or any thing in life,...you can climb back on and keep on going...especially when you have the ones you love supporting you. What great lessons in your "adventure".
Posted by: janel | May 03, 2012 at 05:06 PM
Karen the photos are stunning of Josh fixing the bike. Love his email to the team. Don't worry we can all relate to what is planned to be a lovely family outing only to turn out to be not so happy and relaxed. Hang in there. Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
Posted by: Kathy | May 03, 2012 at 05:37 PM
I think we learn more from failure than success. Good job
Posted by: Cindy Welch | May 03, 2012 at 05:47 PM
Karen I'm almost laughing tears right now...that was the funniest post for a long time. You made my day! It was so vivid I could almost hear the voices (no I dont hear voices normally). It should be a little movie.
Sorry Courtney Lee...but the vision of you losing your 'ever lovin fraidy cat marbles' still has me chuckling to myself...and Josh seething at the brakes, poor Annie's stack (Aussie term for a bike crash)and all the other dramas...has got to be made into a 30 minute show...
Love it...still giggling!
Posted by: Julie in Aust. | May 03, 2012 at 06:29 PM
I'm grinning because I can so relate to everything I just read. :) Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Christy | May 03, 2012 at 06:37 PM
this was a great post, karen! love the way you capture the nitty gritty of everyday.
Posted by: Krista Lund | May 03, 2012 at 06:52 PM
4+4=8/8 (distinction?) (85x1.4+700 @ 17h00)KR = 100%. 20/20 vision+humor = the stuff of heroes!
Posted by: caro | May 03, 2012 at 10:54 PM
but the vision of you losing your 'ever lovin fraidy cat marbles' still has me chuckling to myself...and Josh seething at the brakes, poor Annie's stack (Aussie term for a bike crash)and all the other dramas...has got to be made into a 30 minute show...
Posted by: tee shirt femme | May 04, 2012 at 02:53 AM
Thank you, thank you THANK YOU for writing out the bike trip drama. Every family event at my house seems to proceed in a very similar fashion, and I could picture everything as I was reading it. It was so helpful and refreshing to understand that other people go through that kind of drama too!
Posted by: rachelzana | May 04, 2012 at 05:22 AM
love you, your photos and your amazing stories!
Posted by: stephanie ackerman | May 04, 2012 at 06:39 AM
"Push through the failure and you'll success'...Love that...
love your photo's and your stories. Both are pretty darn amazing :-)
Posted by: Jakki | May 04, 2012 at 06:55 AM
I thought it was courageous of you to blog that you had drama. I have 5 kids and we have drama with at least one of them every day it seems. I only blog the pretty parts, but this inspired me ;)
Posted by: shelly | May 04, 2012 at 09:29 AM
mama of 4 here and I can relate to the adventures turning into drama filled trips. But I love optimism! I need that because most days I feel like a failure!
Posted by: Shannon L | May 04, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Some very wise person ones told me "Expectations reduce joy."
I'm so sorry that your grief and Courtney Lee's lose of her "ever lovin fraidy cat marbles" caused me to laugh.
Posted by: Kelli | May 04, 2012 at 01:36 PM
Lemonade sure tastes great this time of year, doesn't it (smile)?
Oh and a little bit ago, you wrote about Josh Downs looking and acting just like the coach from Friday Night Lights. I knew that man was good (smile). Nevermind that Friday Night Lights coach is fictional, I grew up (in West Texas, with real life coaches and characters like in that show) and my husband, every time we watched that show would retort that no one actually lives the lives they live.
Glad to hear there ARE still people who act like that in real life. The good, the bad, the ugly and the football glory of it all.
Bernadette
www.b3hd.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bernadette @b3hd | May 04, 2012 at 03:37 PM
Huge SUCCESS! I'm 46 years old. Had this happened when I was Courtney's age with my family, the bikes would have been trashed, and my father would still not be talking to any of us (and he died 13 years ago!) Actually, that is a bit exaggerated, but the fact that there are photos and humor with this story means that LOVE won!
Posted by: Julie | May 04, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Thanks for being brave enough to be real in your blog. I can so relate to your family outing. There were many incidents similar to that as our boys were growing up. They would erupt over the most petty incidents ever, but it seemed like insurmountable drama at the time. We pushed through it and were rewarded with grown sons who have small children of their own. Now it's drama time in THEIR families!
Posted by: Barb | May 05, 2012 at 05:40 AM
Love hearing real stories from real people! You are hilarious and your family is amazing!
Posted by: Cathy in MT | May 05, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Mi amigo, usted es como Shakespeare. Su artículo es muy bueno. Usted debe hacerlo profesionalmente
Yups, sus realistic.Thanks Así que para su gran post.
Posted by: gorras new york | May 07, 2012 at 12:18 AM
Sus acuarelas son simplemente increíbles, y van muy bien con el estilo de sus fotografías. Usted tiene un gran gusto para estas cosas, y me alegro de que hayas publicado sobre este evento. En cuanto al retrato, que se parece mucho a usted, especialmente si nos fijamos en la expresión de la cara, muy so?adora y teniendo en cuenta, al mismo tiempo =) cejas grandes, demasiado;)
Posted by: camisetas baratas | May 07, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Karen, you are always a success in my book! You are a great role model....always so honest!!! :)
Posted by: Colleen Barron | May 07, 2012 at 10:05 AM
YOur blog makes me so happy girly. Keep it going please:)
Posted by: Melinda~ | May 09, 2012 at 08:47 PM