dining-room-summer-table-setting

Pinterest is full of quotes about finding yourself and finding who you are and knowing your own path.

Quotes like “Some people get lost for so long they forget how to find themselves.”

And  “Lose yourself in the things you love and it is there you will find who you are.”

And my favorite “Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come.”

Wonderful, sage, incredible, amazing advice.   I know.  I get it.  I understand.  There are days when I feel like I need to have some of these quotes written on my hand so I remember the importance of just being myself.

But this week I discovered that  I really didn’t need Pinterest or quotes or wise advice from others.

I have a middle school daughter.

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I am blessed to be the mom of twin daughters.

They are as different as daylight and dark.

And when they reached middle school, they both decided that they wanted to go all Robert Frost and have two paths diverging in a snowy wood.

One became a cheerleader.

And one took the path less traveled and decided she wanted to play basketball.

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I say less traveled because she’s 4’10” and maybe 95 pounds soaking wet.

A tiny, blue-eyed, blonde-haired, never-really-played-basketball-before player going up against a world full of tall people.

At first it was tough.

I sat through practice after practice and my heart would ache.  She would dribble down the court and go up for a lay-up and get stuffed.  She would get boxed in the corner and see arms reaching high above her and be unable shoot the ball over them.  She would take a shot from the outside and someone would block the ball.

It was Grand Canyon discouraging.

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But as the season progressed, something happened that I never could have imagined.

Something I didn’t see coming.

That tiny 4’10” basketball player grew a spirit that was 7 feet tall.

She never gave up.

When they stuffed her, she rebounded and got the ball.

When they blocked her in a corner, she dribbled faster and went around them.

Through sheer determination and willpower and a heart the size of Texas….

….she made them sit up and take notice.

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And so it was on the last day of school when they handed out the basketball awards they called her name.

And a round of thundering applause erupted from her classmates and teachers and coaches.  With a giant grin on her face she came down from the stands and accepted her award….

….for most improved player.

So here’s another quote for Pinterest.

When faced with an almost-seemingly overwhelming challenge, remember the strength inside of you, find yourself….

….and always remember to dribble right. 🙂

table runner assistant

PS  I love you, boo.

PPS  I was all about finding myself with summer decorating in the dining room.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures, too. 🙂

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Nancy @ slightly Coastal Nancy @ slightly Coastal

    How awesome! What a testament to knowing who you are/who you want to be and then being determine to accomplish it. BTW, you've got tablescapes down to a science. New Pinterest Quote: When your creativity is waning and your feeling all plain Jane, go to your keyboard and type Thistlewood.

  2. Image for Jeanne @ I Dream of Jeanne Marie Jeanne @ I Dream of Jeanne Marie

    Good morning KariAnne, I DID love your table setting for us today, but I always enjoy your pictures!! :o) It looks like your daughter might be utilizing her coloring skills in the Imagination Room? How wonderful that she won the award for "most improved" player and rightly so with all the determination she put into it. A big "congratulations" to her! I hope you're feeling the same sunshine we have today! Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Image for Barbara Barbara

    Beautiful table- oh my!! So when I face Grand Canyon discouraging, I will remember your sweet thistle and dribble right!:):) Congrats to her!

  4. Image for Schultzie Smith Schultzie Smith

    Kari Anne Do you happen to remember where you got the curtains in your dining room? I love them! Thanks, Schultzie Smith Frisco, Tx

  5. Image for Marisa Franca @ All Our Way Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

    I's sorry but my attention and heart belonged to the story. WOW!! Our kids have us so wrapped up -- gift wrapped and with a huge bow. My kids are grown and I still wonder how it all came together to make them such amazing human beings. My heart is overflowing with love. Now I'll go back and look and your beautiful photos and I know I'll appreciate them fully!! Have a sun filled day!

  6. Image for Cecilia Cecilia

    Good for her! I'm cheering as I read this. Haha, my mom said we were as different as the sun and moon...I did a painting on it. Love your daughter's determination. Beautiful! And I love your place settings too. Happy day to you!

  7. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    Precious!!! What an honor to watch one of your own hurdle obstacles with a win!! Love her perseverance and tenacity...and cheering from the sidelines from a great encouraging Mom. :)

  8. Image for Gloria Gloria

    I had a little blond that experienced the same thing. When high school rolled around she switched to volleyball and became a team manager for the boys basketball team. Hello homecoming queen. Awesome experience.

  9. Image for Debbie Debbie

    You have the most amazing children. Such strength and determination from someone so young. It must have a little to do with two amazing parents. Then you, you always inspire me when I need it most.

  10. Image for M M M M

    Another wonderful thistlekeeping post! Bravo to her, and to you mom for always having a way to beautifully dedicate posts to your children, and bring us small glimpses of your world with them.

  11. Image for Linda J Linda J

    This was one of the best posts ever and ever! Not only do we continue to learn from the young and the examples they don't even know they set, we get to thrive on them. I sure needed to hear the quotes of wisdom today too. Thanks so much Karianne. And, what a great kid you have. She obviously has a great role model for a Mom! lol

  12. Image for Michele Michele

    What tenacity! The world had better watch out as this young woman has figured out how to maneuver the obstacles. (Something that many adults never figure out.) What a wonderful story, thank you for sharing!

  13. Image for Betty Betty

    I wanted to cry happy tears for her and stand up and cheer myself. Congratulations, both you and your husband are raising beautiful children.

  14. Image for Pinky Pinky

    You GO girl!!! I am cheering her from my chair!!! I was 5 foot nothing and about 100 lbs. when I played basketball in HS. Everyone was taller and tougher than me but I LOVED playing. I wish I could still play:) BTW, this table is absolutely GORGEOUS!

  15. Image for NormaJean NormaJean

    I know you are proud of both of your gorgeous daughters! I so enjoyed getting to meet them in person. They are friendly, polite, articulate, and talented. Good job, mama!

  16. Image for cindy cindy

    Those are the stories that are the best in life aren't they? Maybe the key to staying that way for the rest of our lives, is just to let go. Remember what it's like to be that kid. They never see failure as an option- they just do it.

  17. Image for Rebecca Parker Rebecca Parker

    So I'm sitting at my computer on a short break reading todays post and I start crying! I wanted to stand up and clap and cheer for your daughter! The spirit of one who never gives up is something to be admired and encouraged! From the sound of it she takes after her mother quite a bit!! The table decorations are beautiful as always and your spirit has shown through once again! I get so excited when I get your emails in my inbox!! Your posts add sunshine to my days and a smile to my face. Thank you for just being you.............

  18. Image for grammy goodwill grammy goodwill

    I enjoyed seeing your pictures, but my favorite is the one of your daughter. I LOVED her story. What a great attitude that will serve her well in the days and years ahead. Great spirit.

  19. Image for Liz Thomas Liz Thomas

    I called my daughter Boo, also. She was painfully shy throughout school, but in her junior year of high school she found herself...in the midst of French class and a year later than most exchange students decided to become a Rotary International exchange student. She studied in Belgium, later in the Ivory Coast and in Senegal and has been a high school French and Spanish teacher for 16 years. No matter what it is, kids will find themselves in the things they come to love and moms and dads will be forever proud of themj,

  20. Image for Liz Thomas Liz Thomas

    I called my daughter Boo, also. She was painfully shy throughout school, but in her junior year of high school she found herself...in the midst of French class and a year later than most exchange students decided to become a Rotary International exchange student. She studied in Belgium, later in the Ivory Coast and in Senegal and has been a high school French and Spanish teacher for 16 years. No matter what it is, kids will find themselves in the things they come to love and moms and dads will be forever proud of them.

  21. Image for Jane Jane

    Your cutie is awesome and I know where she gets her spunk. Don't forget, she may spurt up in height over the next five years or so. My Abby, who is still only 5'2, played basketball like a champ until she started high school and then it's all about the tall and talented (she went to a private catholic school and the girls came from all over). She's now a high school English teacher at a school that is brand spanking new. She started the first girl's basketball team...all petite 5'2 of her, 24 years old, with young girls who have never dribbled a ball before. They had a lousy season but I so admired her and so did those young girls. They had their chance and a lot of cheers from the sidelines. Hoping for a better season later this year!!! Your pretty dining room did not escape me...love, love, love!!! Jane

  22. Image for gina gina

    So wonderful your daughter was confident enough to take a chance on a difficult challenge. As you know, that confidence will take her anywhere she wants to go!

  23. Image for Susan Susan

    I find we do learn the best life lessons from our children and our pets...they have such resilient spirits and are never down for long...we would do well to pay closer attention to the lessons they teach us everyday. Besides being your daughter's greatest teacher, you are her greatest pupil. Brava to you both for not letting anything in life hold you down...you are both great inspirations to us all...and both very beautiful...lucky ladies! :)

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