I’d Love To Have Lunch With Taylor Swift’s Mom!

I’d Love To Have Lunch With Taylor Swift’s Mom!

Taylor Swift performed in my home town not too long ago……and the talk since then from all the teen girls I know,  (and even a few “older” ladies) who were lucky enough to score her concert tickets, has not only been filled with ooh’s and ahh’s about how her show was nothing short of amazing, but more importantly, they have also shared how impressed they were with how genuinely nice she seemed to be.  Whether or not you are a fan of Taylor Swift, as a mother of three grown children, I know first hand that raising kind, productive human beings who develop a degree of passion to pursue their dreams, can be hard sometimes, then throw in the unpredictable lifestyle of being a celebrity of sorts, and I have got to hand it to the mother (and father) behind this seemingly thoughtful, smart and creative young lady.  I am not one to necessarily be star-struck by anyone, (with the exception of maybe Blake Shelton on “The Voice”) but I’d love to have lunch with Taylor Swift’s mom and visit with her about raising her daughter and what she’d say to young people today that would help inspire them to realize their full potential and channel their energy in positive ways, while still maintaining their integrity and keeping a level head in this sometimes crazy world we live in; she’s obviously done a good job of doing this with her own daughter.

I'd Love to Have Lunch With Taylor Swift's Mom! www.mytributejournal.com

(via Academy of Country Music Awards)

I’ll admit, I won’t soon forget the sweet dedication Taylor Swift’s mom gave her daughter as she presented her with the Milestone Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards a few years ago.  (You can view her speech here.)

After our initial introductions and some “get to know you” chit chat was out of the way, my conversation with Taylor Swift’s mom might go something like this…

♥ How did you nurture Taylor’s creativity when she was a young child?     

What other creative outlets does Taylor have besides music?

I have a cute granddaughter who sings and dances and has the sweetest little conversations with herself…my daughter has put her in ballet and gymnastics classes, as well as a few sports activities, while still allowing plenty of time for regular play–since Marli is just four years old, she figures it’s probably a good idea to tap into various different options for her to try at this point in her life–then she has the opportunity to find out for herself what she truly loves!

Nurturing creativity in children. www.mytributejournal.com

“The same parenting that helps children become emotionally healthy, also encourages creativity!”  

Dr. Laura Markham creator of Aha! Parenting.com 

♥ What are a few of the things you did that you felt were helpful in supporting Taylor and calming her fears as she pursued a career in the music industry?

Big dreams also require hard work, how did you help Taylor learn good work ethics?

I think a question we all ask ourselves is, “What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?” and yet, realistically, getting over fears is only part of the picture; hard work is a mainstay to accomplishing most worthwhile goals.  Rarely does life offer a “free lunch” so to speak–many people who are living out their dreams will most likely tell you that it involves a lot of hard, albeit enjoyable work!  My profession as a newborn intensive care nurse is very rewarding and a dream come true for me, but it requires hard work and some long hours at the hospital

Working to fulfill our dreams. www.mytributejournal.com

“The artist is not necessarily a special kind of person; rather each person must work hard to become a special kind of artist!” 

Ananda Coomaraswamy

 By all accounts, you seem to have a very close relationship with your daughter.  What do you do to help your relationship stay strong? 

What are your favorite things to do together?  Now that Taylor is older, do you find yourself offering much in the way of relationship or career advice?       

When your children get older, I love that they become as much your peers as they are members of your family!  My mom truly was one of my best friends; I had the deepest respect for her and the advice she offered me on occasion, even when I had a family of my own.

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 “Families can help us discover how good we can really be!” 

Hal Urban, author of “Life’s Greatest Lesson!”

I’m sure these few questions would lead to many more during our lunch; I know we’d laugh, we’d learn from each other, and maybe have a few tears, (women do that…) but mostly we’d chat about aging gracefully, staying relevant, loving our families and how as women, we need to champion each other more!

I'd Love To Have Lunch With Taylor Swift's Mom! www.mytributejournal.com

    (via celebbuzz.com)

“Here’s to good women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!” Heather Stillufsen

And one more thing…..being a country music gal at heart, I’d ask Taylor’s mom if she thinks her daughter will ever do another country album?  I would also tell her that when the time comes…she’ll love being a grandma!

Have a great weekend…and take someone you love to lunch!

What would be your dream celebrity encounter?  Have you ever met anyone “famous” in person?   

–Mary

I Pledge Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance!

Most mornings while driving to work, I listen to a local radio station who invites various elementary classes to recite the Pledge of Allegiance; I remember doing the same thing when I was in grade school.  The hopefulness that is heard in the innocent voices of these children as they utter these age old words can’t help but leave you feeling very blessed to live in America!

I Plegde Allegiance to the Flag! www.mytributejournal.com

The Privilege Of Being Able To Say The Pledge Of Allegiance!

I find it such a privilege to be able stand while placing my hand over my heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of America’s flag and the wonderful freedoms we enjoy here!

The Pledge of Allegiance! www.mytributejournal.com

I pledge (v. solemnly promising to a significant undertaking) allegiance (n. a loyal commitment)

I Pledge Allegiance! www.mytributejournal.com

to the flag (n. a piece of cloth used as a sacred symbol or emblem of a country)

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag! www.mytributejournal.com

of the United States Of America (n. a federal republic comprised of 50 states that originated in the American War of Independence and the successful ascension over British rule) 

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and to the Republic for which it stands (n. a form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives)

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one nation (n. an organized body of people) under God (n. a divine being, perfect in power, wisdom and goodness)

Utah scenery www.mytributejournal.com

indivisible (adj. impossible to divide or separate) with liberty (n. the state of being free)

Land of the Free www.mytributejournal.com

and justice (n. genuine concern and respect for people) for all! 

I Pledge Allegiance! www.mytributejournal.com

May you all enjoy a very blessed 4th of July!

What gives you the “patriotic chills”? 

–Mary

Birthday Letters!

Birthday Letters From My Dad!

As yet another birthday rolls around, I find myself pulling out some of the old birthday letters my dad had written to me over the years.  The love and sense of humor my father expressed in these letters, along with his sage advice, always added the perfect touch to many special birthday celebrations!

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In one particular letter, my dad offered these silly, if not wise words of wisdom: 

“If you’re not getting older, then you’re obviously NOT living!”  

My father was one of the most unpretentions and kind souls to ever grace this earth; he lived a fun, big life–yes, I am biased!

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My mom took this picture of me and my father as we left for a special daddy-daughter date around my eighth birthday…I consider myself a lucky girl to have been my father’s daughter!  

Here’s a few of my dad’s neat insights and gems of wisdom that I’ve compiled into one collective letter to share with you.

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•  In my childhood home my mother had a big wing back chair positioned by a big picture window in our living room, and on most evenings after dinner and some household chores, this is where you’d find my dad relaxing with a good book for an hour or so–often he’d read aloud to my mom while she folded laundry or did some mending.  As I got older, my dad and I even had our own unofficial book club.  You can check a few of our favorites in this post.

•  Being a college professor and a dry farmer, my dad had the opportunity to “rub shoulders” so to speak, with people from all walks of life–he truly cherished and nurtured these many and varied associations throughout his lifetime and would tell me that some of the best wit and wisdom he’d ever heard of came from men with callused hands and dirt on their overall!

•  I imagine every parent understands that to a certain degree they will always be over-utilized and under-appreciated.  My dad was always quick to express his deep love for each family member, but also felt it was important to his role as a father to teach his children to be kind and loving too–never more so, I’m sure, than when we were going through those angstful teenage years!

•  My parents traveled extensively throughout their marriage–my dad, especially had wanderlust running through his veins, but he’d often comment that when he glimpsed the mountain peaks encircling the fair valley where we lived upon his return from one of their many adventures, he never felt more at peace!  My dad and mom had created a lovely home together, so for them, there truly was “no place like home”!

•  My dad was a smart man; his peers and students adored him, and years of hard work on our farm taught my father to be handy with his hands; it seemed he was able to fix anything.  But one of my dad’s most endearing traits was his humility.  If ever my parents argued, my dad was quick to acknowledge any wrongdoing on his part…for this reason, and many more, their love story is one of the great legacies they’ve left behind to inspire future generations to come.

•  My dad loved living; he always seemed a little giddy about all the possibilities that life opened up to him, right up until the day he died at 88 years old!  He and my mom were some of my biggest cheerleaders when I was tackling a new phase in my life and got a little down trodden.  My dad was also a scholar of sorts of Mark Twain, and if ever I was feeling a little less than exuberant about the way things were going, he’d just smile and remind me of all that I had in my favor and offer up one of his favorite quotes:

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up”  Mark Twain 

The letters my dad wrote to me are some of my most cherished possessions and I am so grateful he felt I was worth his time to pen a few tidbits of wisdom that in some small way might help me live better and fulfill the potential he saw in me as his daughter.

Birthday Letters! www.mytributejournal.com

How great would it be to surprise someone we love by writing them a letter for their birthday, or for any other special occasion.  Wouldn’t you love to see the astonished look on their face as they retrieved it from their mailbox and anxiously opened it up! 

(You can click on this journal entry to download some stationary to help get you started.)     

What’s a bit of advice you received from someone you love that has made a big impact on your life? 

–Mary