A Letter from Flat Stanley

Hello, Zachary! your friend Flat Stanley asked me to type this for him:



YO, Zachary! Flat Stanley here! I've been in Oregon the last week, visiting with Sandy Richards. She is a friend of your Aunt Barb and Uncle Chuck's. She met them a couple years ago when they were on a photo trip to the Galapagos Islands. They have huge turtles there, and funny birds and odd reptiles. They even saw penguins, even though it was 80 degrees ! Can you find the Galapagos Islands on your globe?
Hint: look west of Ecuador, in south america.


I like Oregon, but it's awfully wet here. It has rained almost every day. Here is a picture of me and Sandy on her deck overlooking her river. Sandy caught s little salmon yesterday, and we ate him for dinner. Salmon is delicious! But i think i like hamburgers and ice cream better.

We drove up to the top of Mt. Hood a few days ago. We wanted to take a picture there, too, but it was snowing so hard we couldn't see a thing! We read about Mt. Hood - it is part of the Cascade mountain range, and more Han 11,200 feet high.
Sandy was born in Toledo, not very far from you, and she visits her relatives there every year. She loves Lake Erie, but there are no mountains there.

Spring has almost come to Oregon! daffodils and crocuses are up, and the magnolias and rhododendrons are blooming. Finally, winter is over. By the time I get home to you, the flowers will be up there too.

Now I'm off for an other adventure!!! Sandy knows I have been to many countries with your Aunt Barb, and thought it would be fun for me to see ANOTHER country.
Can you guess where I'm going next? Here are some clues:

It is a VERY VERY big country. the west coast touches the pacific ocean, and the east coast touches the Atlantic ocean! The US has a president, but this country has a QUEEN ! The people love ice hockey much more than football. the symbol of the US is a Bald Eagle, but the symbol for this country is the Maple leaf.

I'll be visiting with Sandy's friend Geri there, and Geri will tell you more about her country when we write to you from there.

I miss you, Zachary, and I'll be home soon.

Love,

Flat Stanley
(typed by your friend, Sandy Richards)

Flat Stanley Is in Oregon

Flat Stanley is visiting with Sandy Richards in Sandy, Oregon. It is a little town east of Portland. He was sent there by our Aunt Barb and Uncle Chuck.

While Flat Stanley has been enjoying his travels he says that it is "too COLD and too RAINY" in Oregon in the Winter. He likes snow better and is looking forward to returning to Ohio this Spring. He can hardly wait to share all of his stories with Zach. In the meantime, he is going to be taking some pictures in Oregon soon and then off on another exciting adventure.

So Much Snow!

As many already know this was the weekend when the snow really hit Ohio (as well as many other places). We were scheduled to drive down to Cincinnati on Friday for a weekend with my sister and her family. It is so hard to find time to get together, and part of our reason for going was she had purchased a ticket for Katie to go see High School the Musical on stage, so we really didn't want to miss it.

We started out at 4 pm on Friday and the roads were basically fine. They were plowed for the most part, or at least had tracks in the lanes that you could stay in. That is until we were 20 miles south of Columbus. Then suddenly as if we were transported to another place the roads were barely touched. Now I realize that all of Ohio does not get as much snow as we up here in the Cleveland area are used to getting. Still, last time I checked Ohio was a Northern State, and it would stand to reason that in the North during the winter you will see snow. Apparently, that is not the reasoning in Southern Ohio as the roads were barely plowed and you couldn't have seen a lane if you wanted too.

While driving across 275 towards 74 in Cincy I finally said "this is the choose your own lane version of driving" Now I know there are more hills in the Cincy area then in Cleveland, I get that. I just think that if you go over a street enough you will get it basically down to the pavement, and much easier to drive on. Just a thought from watching it down in the North!

Anyway, we managed to make it to Cincy in 6 1/2 hours, and then on Sunday home in 4 1/2. I guess truly that isn't bad. We were safe and Katie loved seeing High School the Musical. So in the end the weekend was well worth it. Not sure I'd drive back down that way when there is a major snow storm hitting, but...

So now we're home. The driveway is plowed out, the roads are clear. Already made it to the gym and grocery store and the kids are off to school. The only bad thing about all the snow for us now is the poor dog is having a terrible time getting out into the yard. We shovelled her a little path, but she is 11 years old and thinks she needs to be out in the yard where she would normally go. Consequently, she is trudging her way through the snow, almost getting stuck to go out there. She's a 95 lb black lab, I hate to think what it must be like for anyone with a tiny dog!

Happy snow from the Cleveland Area. Hopefully, this is it for the winter, but around here you never quite know.

Spring Framing Promotion

I can't believe it is back! Creative Memories is launching a framing promotion like the one they offered in December. It is incredible. I'm so excited about it I can hardly stand it. For only $67 plus $10 s/h you can have a beautifully framed masterpiece for Mother's or Father's Day or Graduation! Really like your teacher...why not make one for them as well!

All you do is pick 1 4x6 photo, 1 of the framing choices and 1 of the sayings:

The Biggest Adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams
Be Strong Be Forever who You Are
Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.
The measure of a man is in the lives he's touched
A Mother is someone who can take the place of everyone else, but no one in the world can take her place
Nothing can dim the Light that shines within
All our Dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them
Live isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments!

It's just too cool! The only problem really is deciding who NOT to buy one for, because everyone will love this gift. Guess Mother's Day, and Father's Day shopping is done!

As always to find out more check out www.mycmsite.com/kropwithkathy or email me at kropwithkathy@yahoo.com

Blank Space

Funny how something as simple as blank space on a calendar can really improve so many things. I'm looking at my calendar now, and while there are many things written on it, there are even more things Not written on it. For once in a long time there is space.

The real question is how to keep that space there. It's a matter of choices and we all make so many of them and get pulled in so many directions. As one thing ends we quickly pick up the next thing. And while many of them are good things, there are simply to many of them.

God wants to give us life to the full. Not necessarily a over full life. We, in general, are over tired, over committed, over busy people. I read the kids the Berenstain Bears Too Much Pressure book the other night, and chuckled to myself about having time to just sit around and do nothing. What a concept!

Spring is almost here (I can dream at least) so it's time for a new look at things. This year, I want to have time to sit around with my family and choose to do nothing. Time to say "yes" when the kids ask to play a game or watch tv. Time to say "yes" to just being together without it being a planned trip somewhere.

It sure makes the whole day look brighter when you can see space at the end of the day to relax.

True Champions

True Champions come in every shape and size. They are the ones that fight through a situation and walk out better for what they went through. They don't always win, they aren't always happy with the results. Sometimes they questions what went wrong, and always they look for how they could have done better.

I can think of 14 true champions that stepped off the ice yesterday morning. Their eyes were wet, disappointed by the results of a game that didn't go the way they had dreamed of or hoped for. Some felt bad that they had tears in their eyes and were promptly reminded that it's ok to be sad about not achieving what you wanted to achieve. All of them were surrounded by parents who love them and were proud of what they had accomplished. It's not everyday that 14 kids who basically don't know each other, have different skills and different experience on and off the ice come together and form a team. They spend time with 3 Coaches willing to sacrifice their time to teach a game that they love, willing to guide and direct these 14 kids to something that is incredible.

Preseason was filled with losses and changes, then tournaments entered the picture and this group of kids became a team. They attended 3 tournaments placing 2nd, 1st and 3rd. They went on to win 11 regular season games and skated into the playoffs in 2nd place. In the end they skated off the ice still in 2nd. Disappointed, yes. But changed by what they went through definitely.

I don't know what all the families talked about yesterday. I can tell you that at our house we asked our son about whether or not he had fun. Did he remember enjoying the opportunity, standing on the ice for the National Anthem, and getting directions from his coaches. Did he remember the plays that worked, and fighting for the puck to keep the team in the game. Did he remember hearing the parents cheer for the team, and did he watch us rise to our feet to cheer them even after the overtime loss. With tears still fresh in his eyes he said that he did have fun, and that he did remember the other things as well.

Congratulations North Olmsted Mite A3 team. You did a great job and should be proud of your accomplishments!

And congratulations to our Strongsville Mustang Mite A3 team. You showed us time and time again that hard work and determination will take you far, that playing as a team can and should be fun, and that at the end of the day there is always another sheet of ice out there waiting to be played on.