Real Role models...

As an avid reader of TMZ, it never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is to find real role models for children.  The people my husband and I think are pretty cool like Steve Nash or Katy Perry either have ended up being punks or in my case they just really not PG rated.  The good thing in our life is that my children have real life heroes!  Young adults who are really amazing doing good things with their lives and loving my kids :)  This blog is a thank you them...

Little Miss Jackie

This girl is a super hero in her own right, perfect person to be teaching my little super hero.  Miss Jackie is currently a pre-veterinarian science undergraduate doing research at NMSU.  Amazing!  She also works another job while going to school full time.  She used to be the main teacher at Gym Magic for dance but she had to find time to sleep.  She teaches one class just because she loves it and I love her for it.  I don't know how I will take it (or especially Rachel will take it) when she goes off to graduate school.  When I talk about role models for my daughter I think a lot about her because she is not just insanely beautiful but just as smart and so hard working!

Our Mr. Austin

I remember watching Austin our first week at Gym Magic.  I thought wow, that guy is a bowl of fun.  Than later in the year I went to go see Rocky Horror Picture Show at NMSU and I thought gee that guy playing Rocky is a fantastic dancer and gymnast.  Well come January, I realized Austin was our Rocky.  He began teaching Harmon and his enthusiasm was electric for Harmon.  I have talked a lot about he was really the first person to really motivate and encourage Harmon to reach for the stars.  The day he told me that he was leaving so he could focus more on theater was so sad but I was so proud of him for going for his dreams.  I look forward to telling people one day... "I knew him when..."  I know he misses us and we miss him every time we are at the gym and he isn't around.  He he gave my son a gift that will be more precious than words.

Our Sister Missionary Chelsea

I met Chelsea about 4.5 years ago.   It was when we moved to Sonoma and changed congregations.  At the time I was 4 months pregnant with the twins and Harm was really struggling.  Chelsea saw that and even though she was this little freshman she pegged us in need of a helping hand.  Thanks to her I was able to get Harmon used to a new church.  She is the first young lady we ever trusted to babysit the twins and she is someone as a freshman in college helped care for the kids when I had a night class.  Since than we have met many other wonderful young ladies who have helped babysit or helped at church.  Still Chelsea stands among them all in my heart.  I remember the day she told me she had decided to serve an LDS mission, I cried.  Not just because I knew what a great experience it would be for her but because I know she will change so many people's lives!  This is a girl who is destined to change the world one person at a time.  She did so a little teen, she is doing so now, and I have no doubt she will do so the rest of her life.

I wish I had more time to write about everyone.  There are just too many and I am too tired.  At the gym we have David who is this awesome 16 year old teaching Harm now, Cassie Rachy's other dance teacher, Rachey's gym teacher Laura, Cally's girlfriends at the gym: Jordin, Stephanie, and the wonderful Katrina!  Rachel's swim teacher Enrique.  The list goes on...  All amazing!   Each have inspired my children, helped them achieve, supported them, or helped them dream bigger.  I'm grateful I don't have to worry about Miley Cyrus when my kids are busy looking up to these guys!