Oh Rainbow Dear Rainbow…

… your lessons so fine.
Every meeting Lewiston Assembly #14 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls sings that special song.

Tonight we had our opening sessions where we proudly watched one of our girls preside over the East. As I listened to the numerous Masonic dignitaries speak they all spoke about being a family. About how some of their closest and dearest friends were made through this great organization, because of this family. In fact, just prior to the start of the sessions, I got a text from my sister with a picture of my niece. Hanna and I met because of Rainbow. I remember the first time we met. Hanna had just moved from "up north". She was a rainbow girl up there and was going to affiliate with us. I walked up to her and said, "Hi". She was two years younger than me, so we weren't in the same school, and to my surprise she turned up at my church as well. The year went along and we got to know a little bit about each other. By the next school year we were inseparable. Now we saw each other 7 days a week most weeks. Now that she is married and has a daughter I get to be that aunt, my parents proudly are grammy and grandpa, and all this was simply because of this great order.

I attend these Grand Sessions as an advisor now, a chaperone for the girls. Only if they knew that I look forward to it almost as much as they do. It's one of the few times a year that I get to see my Rainbow sisters, girls that were in Rainbow with me and now serve as advisors also. I watch the girls make friends and get joy in my heart knowing that these friendships will be life long and ever lasting.

They awarded the "What Rainbow Means to Me" report winner tonight and I reflect on what Rainbow has made to me. I wrote that speech 3 times and it never got any easier. It's hard to put into words. The Rainbow has 7 colors with special meanings, but I would like to share with you the top 7 things that Rainbow has taught me.

Confidence. It has helped teach me to hold my head high. To be confident in my words and actions. I didn't always appear to be confident, but it was there in me all along.

Poise. Rainbow taught me how to stand and speak in front of large groups of people and not tremble. It taught me how to speak up and stand tall.

Service. It taught me how to give back without expecting anything in return.

Modesty. It taught me how to change in the back seat of a moving car, without terrifying passing motorist.

Resourcefulness. Clear nail polish can stop a run in nylons. Hair spray gets ink stains out of gowns.

Emotion. It taught me how to memorize long passages and really learn them, not recite them. How to say what you mean and mean what you say.

Family. It was the first place where I felt like I belonged and had people there to support me. It showed me how to fit in and belong to a group, without having to change who I am/was.

Thank you Rainbow for all of the life long lessons and memories. I am PROUD to say that I am a MAINE majority RAINBOW Girl.

#MaineMasonicYouth

One of my Rainbow Mums I look forward to seeing every year <3

As if I am Pissed?

I left class tonight.
A - "what's wrong?"
Me - "What's wrong?…"
Here is what's "wrong".
I am away, again, for another weekend. Another weekend of missing out on classes. On getting my butt kicked. A weekend away from my second home. As I am getting ready to pack my suitcase, I laugh at the fact that I am seriously contemplating packing workout clothes and getting up and extra 90 mins early to get a workout in… Can I get up at 5:30, work out, shower, get the girls to breakfast and sessions in time? Sit in sessions all day and then stay awake long enough to make sure they're all in bed? x's 3 nights?
Don't get me wrong, The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has played a HUGE part in my life, wouldn't be here without it, (literally, mom and dad met because of it), and I LOVE Grand Assembly and seeing all my friends from near and far, but I can get a little cranky when things get in the way of my working out. It's amazing how far I have come in 4 years.
So yes, tonight after teaching my class and taking a class, I was mad. Mad that it was the last time I was going to be in the studio for a week.
So now to pack… can I fit workout clothes in a carryon with all my rainbow gear?

Sorry!

Wow. It has been way too long since my last post - I'm sorry! There have been many day/ nights where I have sat down and thought, I should do a post, and yet something else happened.

Life has been crazy. April 25, 2015 brought my 4 year anniversary of "getting healthy". I beat myself up about this last year. I gained weight back. I fell into bad habits again. I went from teaching 3 classes and attending 5 or more classes a week to 1. And, it showed. It showed in how I looked and how I felt. I “wanted” to get back down to where I was, I “wanted” to lose all the weight I had put back on (and more). But I wasn’t working hard enough. I wasn’t putting myself first anymore. I wasn’t making working out a priority any more. I needed to change that and I have started. Back to small (measureable) goals. Back to teaching 3+ classes a week and attending every class I can. Back to making working out a priority. Back to having my head in the game.

This past week I celebrated my 29th birthday. My friends surprised me and took me to Get Air in Portland. You want to talk about WORKOUT. WOW! I don't know the last time I had so much fun. I felt like a kid again. If being with them wasn't enough, their gifts were meaningful and from the heart.

Then, today, I was in the studio getting ready for Zumba Kids when I hear singing outside there are my kiddos Singing Happy Birthday to me with whoopie pie cakes, candles, balloons and hugs. Then they ROCKED their performance for mums and friends!

I am going to make an effort to write more often again. I find it therapeutic and relaxing. 
Happy Sunday everyone- enjoy your week.