A {Pretty Happy Funny Real} Round-Up
This is so totally a personal bias, but I find little girls in uniforms to be very pretty.
The above picture was taken before the American Heritage Girls Spring Court of Awards ceremony, which was held last Monday evening. It is not to be confused with this photo, which was taken after the Joining Ceremony held last fall:
Clearly my eye for composition hasn’t changed a bit.
Enough said?
This week’s “Funny” comes at my expense, as in, I embarrassed the heck out of myself. Ha ha! Isn’t that funny?
We leaders were asked to introduce ourselves—on stage, of course, in front of everyone. Most people said their name and the level that they led—i.e. “My name is Mary Smith and I am an Explorer leader.” Thinking I wanted to make a little ol’ bit of an impression, (first mistake), I said, “My name is Margaret Berns and I am a leader of the super-cute, super-sweet Tenderhearts!”
At least, that’s what I meant to say.
The actual introduction went like this: “I’m Margaret Berns, super-cute and super-sweet Tenderhearts leader!” There was a startled pause…then people laughed….and I realized, horrified, what I had said.
“Well, you certainly made an impression,” my husband remarked.
“Real” is the pride that I felt in presenting the Roman Catholic religious medal award to my two Tenderhearts.
“Real” is also seeing these photos later and not feeling “super-cute” at all.
“Real” is thinking, “Oh my goodness, I’ve gained weight.”
It’s knowing that it’s not being pregnant that makes me look like this—it’s overeating. It’s wondering why all the weight’s going to my stomach—is it a thyroid deficiency? A gluten intolerance? Too much butter? Too many Cheez-Its?
It’s not knowing if I even am still pregnant, because I don’t see my doctor until the 12-week mark. It’s worrying…and eating…and worrying…and…
It’s watching my girls grow up and hoping that I’m doing right by them, despite some of my more glaring weaknesses.
It’s thanking God regardless for the gift of this new day, and for having salad for lunch, not Cheez-Its.
How cute are the girls in the uniforms? Um, VERY cute. Love the photos Margaret! And love your sweet honesty and humility. I did have to chuckle at {funny}.
You know what my first thought was though on {real}? 'That Margaret, look how cute she is. Pregnant and all and not even showing. My, I love those pants.' I'm serious. So, I didn't notice a thing besides Cute Margaret.
BTW, how are things in the pregnancy dept.? I'm keeping you in my prayers and think of you daily.
Relax, Margaret. It's totally the camera angle.
No, bearing, it is not.
You see your flaws (or at least the things you don't like), and we see just super-cute Margaret!
We have our Court of Honor next week; I can't wait—especially since someone else is organizing it this year!
super-sweet and super cute pics and stories. i have very similar struggles to yours in the weight, pregnancy, and stress departments — it's not easy but we're right were e wants us to be…little. may you be given the grace to rest it all at His feet.
Pax Christi, lena
Hi – my girls are also in a Catholic AHG troop. Can you tell me more about the Catholic patch? Mine are earning the Love God patches, I am not sure if that is the same thing. Thanks
Love your funny! Just the bit of humor (at your expense, sorry about that) I needed this afternoon.
PS – Have I mentioned how excited for you I am?
What catholic award did they get?
Dearest Margaret? Compared to the large tan barge next to you (that would be me) you look miniscule. 😛 Really! And, I didn't hope you didn't mind me picking on you. I love you, truly, and no those pants (nor any pants) make you look fat. My beloved two year old told me today that I have "thunder thighs…" Ah, don't you love their honesty?
What a difference in perspective! *I* think you look small & pretty & feminine.
And I LOVED that you teased me, dear friend–it was the perfect follow-up.
Do you not see why I love you so????
Clearly, Cathie's method of teasing is more lovable than mine. Although I stand by my camera angle theory. If *BOTH* of you think you look like barges in the same photograph, I say I have two data points. Because I know what you both look like in real life.
Oh, I think you are beautiful! And your girls are adorable as well. The great part about your similar composition is that you can tell how the girls have grown between the two!
Where did you get the ribbon awards we have put AHG ceremony soon and what a great way to display the girls badges
I agree with Carol! We're doing our ceremony soon and would love to display the badges that way! Please tell us!
They are pretty, aren't they? We ordered them from RibbensGalore.com. (the 3-streamer rosette design)
http://www.ribbonsgalore.com works, but the above link doesn't. Is this the site you meant?
Yes! Don't know what happened with the link but that's correct.
Look at those badges!! Way to go AHG girls, well done!!!!!! Um, Margaret…you were there for yer girls..
Hi, we live at the Grand Canyon and will be starting AHG this year (Still a work in progress) – If anyone has any advice, please let me know. And BTW – you don't look fat. Just keep eating healthy for the Baby 🙂
Super-cute and super-sweet is all I see. And, I would have totally said something like that, only I would have continued on trying to explain what I meant and make it worse.
Very sweet! Don't feel bad–at our ceremony I told the Pathfinder parents to take off their daughters' shirts so they Tenderhearts could put on their vests! WHOOPS! That is NOT what I meant to say!
What Catholic Awards did your troop or girls achieve.
Thanks for sharing!
Margaret, and all other Catholic AHG moms on here, if you're on Facebook, please go to the American Heritage Girls Facebook page and 'Like' it. https://www.facebook.com/AHGNCC Share the wonderful things your girls/Troops are doing 🙂
Trying to get a good support network for Catholic Troops around the country that are starting, and y'all are on the ball!! (I have assimilated. Sort of. I now say "y'all" and "you bet" – sometimes even in the same sentence…. You should see the looks 🙂 )
You can also go to ahgonline.org/catholiccommittee. There is a link there about the Catholic religious recognitions!