mrkisby – The Great Kaysby

Can You Really Have Just One?

Daily writing prompt

What’s your all-time favorite album?

I applaud all of the responses I have read where people can pick one favorite album of all time! My immediate thought with this question was, “I can’t pick just one!” There are so many albums that have been influential at different times in my life, and I still listen to the majority of them when the mood strikes. Of course that is the thing that I love the most about music: how it impacts us differently at various points in life and always seems to come into our lives when we need it the most. So instead of choosing one album, I’m opting to reflect on a few that have been an intregal part of my life.

Millennium – Backstreet Boys – 1999 – I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to this album in the last 26 years. To say that I was (am) a BSB fan would be an understatement. There was something about this album in particular that was magical. “The Perfect Fan” was the sweetest homage to moms, and I loved that my mom got to hear it in person at their concert that year right around her birthday. “Spanish Eyes” was beautiful, but it became more important when my future husband was singing it in my car one day. Yes, I was VERY impressed by Mr. Kisby’s ability to sing unreleased BSB songs!!! “Don’t Want You Back” was the anthem for so many relationships over the years, and “Larger Than Life” made us all think we had a chance at “making it” with a member of the band. HA HA Most of us were wrong! Sadly, I did not shell out the $1,000+ it would have cost to see them at The Sphere. Feeding the family comes before flying to Vegas! I’m sure that would have been an incredible experience! If only one of them wanted to give me tickets and backstage passess…I could totally become an official BSB blogger! HINT HINT
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack – 1996 – When I say I have seen this movie at least 16 times, I am not at all exagerating. It was a brilliant retelling of the story in a modern setting with a soundtrack that exemplified what mid-90s music was all about! There were alt rock numbers, adult contemporary numbers, a Prince song in a gospel style, and of course Des’ree’s OUTSTANDING “Kissing You”! I listened to that CD until it was scratched beyond being able to play everything. I could tell you exactly where songs were used in the movie, and when I listened to it, I felt the passion and emotions portrayed by the characters. How tear jerking was that ending? Baz Luhrmann is such a genius at making you think characters have hope before yanking it all out from under you!
Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf – 1977 – I was not born when this album was released, but in my teenage years this album became synonymous with family roadtrips. The lyrics were beatiful and the music was banging! As I grew up, the songs became more and more relatable. Like, how hauntingly accurate is “Two Out of Three Aint’ Bad” with “I want you, I need you, but there ain’t no way I’m every going to love you”? Also, “Paradise By the Dashboard” lights was iconic! Nothing left to the imagination there as they went for the line drive up the middle! The titular song was also amazing! Those riffs!
Reputation – Taylor Swift – 2017 – I loved how this album transistioned Taylor from young adult country/pop to relatable themes that so many of us experience as adults. I for one love the lyric “the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now because she’s dead.” I feel like a lot of people were shocked by this lyrical choice, but I think it is a highly accurate portrayal of growing older. Frankly, I am very glad to not be the me that I was when I was 18 or in my early 20s. Personal growth like that mentioned in the song is how I’ve become the person I love today! This was also the first Taylor Swift album that I could listen to on repeat, and it was the last concert we saw before finding out that LilKsby was going to be joining our family!
The Greatest Hits Volume 1: 20 Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys – 1995 – I have also listened to this album over and over again! My love of the Beach Boys began when I was about five, and I would listen to my dad’s cassettes. I knew the lyrics to songs like Surfin’ USA before I could read! By the time I was a teenager, I loved this album even more because of the poinancy of many of the lyrics as well as the unmatchable musical genius of Brian Wilson (may he RIP). Brian could bring things to life musically that most of us could never dream of creating! That album introduced me to “Sloop John B” and “God Only Knows” both of which have become two of my favorite Beach Boys songs. Plus, “Kokomo” featuring John Stamos and that video with the pink tank top. Drummers who can sing are hot, mmmkay? I really wish I could have seen Dennis Wilson perform while he was alive. Added bonus, the songs from this album are also what got LilKsby hooked on the Beach Boys too! Timeless!
Honorable Mentions – these are albums that I may not listen to as much, but they have definitely had a lasting impact on my life either because of the moving scores or life event significance: Beetlejuice Soundtrack, Titanic Soundtrack, Clueless Soundtrack, Hamilton Soundtrack (seriously, right after you’ve had a child, “Dear Theodosia” will make you cry your eyes out), Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack, Josie and the Pussycats Soundtrack, American Wedding Soundtrack, Backstreet Boys’ DNA, Rent Soundtrack, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Musical Soundtrack. I could talk about each of these, but this blog is already too long!

Can you pick just one favorite album?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Words of Wisdom From a “Cool Aunt”

At this point in my life, I have had nearly twenty years of experience as an aunt either from being a chosen aunt to my friend’s kids or to those I am actually related because of Mr. Kisby. I’ve always fancied myself a “Cool Aunt” with my fake nose ring (one day it will be real), tendency to draw on myself, hobbies that many consider to be “teenage things,” love of a variety of music from multiple decades including today, and willingness to take the kids to do cool stuff. As someone who had a “Cool Aunt,” I always wanted to be one, so I’ve tried to do my best! However, now that some of my nieces and nephews are becoming young adults, I also want to be the aunt that shares some life advice that isn’t typically learned as part of a diploma pathway in high school or as part of a degree program in college. So here goes…

It is okay to not know what you want to do at 18, 21, 29, 39, or older. Yes, there are some people who know what they want to do from the time they are small, and their dream never changes. However, some of us are still learning even in are 40s. At one time, I wanted to be an actress. I even spent two years of college pursuing that dream before realizing that starving artist really doesn’t sound like a fun career choice to me. Then I wanted to be a business something that required not one but two business degrees. Then I ended up getting a Masters in Teaching. A long the way I also thought it would be cool to be a bar tender, writer, yoga instructor, barista, blogger, and life coach. Of those I only ever pursued writing and blogging, but sometimes I think others would be cool. I kind of just want to have a bar tending licence much like I’ve always wanted a motorcycle license even though I don’t actually want to drive a motorcycle. Guess what I currently do that I never would have dreamed about it my teens or 20s? I want to – and thank the good Lord I get to – be a homeschooling mama who works a few flexible contractor jobs for a little extra moo-lah. The point? It’s 100% okay if what your dream is changes!

There is never a perfect time for anything. If you spend your life waiting for the time to be right, then you are going to either (a) miss out on a lot of cool things while you’re waiting for perfection or (b) never do what you wanted to do. I first heard this lesson from a former co-worker who said “If you wait for the perfect time to have kids, then you’ll never have kids.” I think this sentiment is applicable to a lot of things, and I loved it because we spend so much time hearing “wait for the right time” or “it’s not the right time.” In practice this means try not to say things like “I’ll do X, Y, Z when I finish school” or “I’ll do X, Y, Z when I have a house.” Instead consider if you really want to do the thing in question, or if you know you want the thing, start planning how you can make it happen. Obviously, there are some things that have to wait for some timing. For example, “When I have been at a job for one year and saved money, I will buy a car” and “When I have $5,000, I will be able to rent an apartment, turn on utilities, and buy the basic necessities for a first apartment.” These are logical because one helps get the other. Just keep in mind there is a difference in things taking time and planning and waiting for the perfect moment.

It’s okay if your first big love isn’t your forever romance, and it’s okay if your first big love is your forever romance. Some people are lucky enough to meet the one they are meant to be with at a young age and have it all work out. Some of us don’t meet and date the one we are meant to be with until the second, third, or more relationship. It is okay to be one of these people too. The important part is finding a partner who you have common interests with that you will love just as much in your 70s as you did in your 20s or 30s. I’ve now loved Mr Kisby through three different age decades, and I can tell you with him I hit the jackpot! It took a broken road to get there, but as Rascal Flatts once said, “God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you.” Along with common interests, it helps abundantly to find someone with similar religious/spiritual beliefs, a similar moral compass, and life goals. It also helps if your partner is someone you like along with loving them. Also, if your grandma doesn’t like your partner, take it has a hint and dump them. Grandmas are smart.

Have fun in life! Yes, being an “adult” is stressful, hard work, and involves a lot of boring things like paying bills, cleaning house, and having to make smart decisions liking eating at home versus going to fast food every night (which could lead to stomach issues so make sure your “adult” job as health insurance). However, you still have to find time to play. If you quit doing things that you find fun, then you’re missing out on a lot of good times. I’m an “adult” with several years of experience, but I still play video games, do stuff outside, chase my kid around, read books, color, paint, go on dates with my hubby, watch TV, sew, and hangout with friends occassionally. Doing those fun things are what keep you sane. Some of my best advice is to do one fun thing a day even if it’s just for five minutes. If you’ve got a lot of shit going on, set a timer on your phone for five minutes and until it goes off do something just for fun even if it’s just jamming out at max volume. Your mental and emotional health will thank you for having fun!

Last but not least, who you are as a person is 100% unique to you. As a kid you are often told what is right and wrong, what you should believe, etc. I can tell you from experience that it is okay if those things change for you as you grow. There are things that I thought were black and white issues. Now I can tell you that a lot of times there are gray areas, but that is because I have made a point of educating myself or have personally experienced the gray areas. You should do the same. Likewise, it is okay to recognize that something that was once commonplace is now offensive and to opt to change your perspective. I can also tell you for me personally, my faith in the Holy Trinity is a lot stronger now because of an almost decade long span where I didn’t attend church, pray, or really think about Jesus. But in the end, I found my way back, and having all those life experiences has made my faith stronger. It’s okay if the same has to happen with you. Likewise, it is okay to have been brought up with no spiritual/religious background and want to learn more about your options. It’s also okay to be steadfast in what you believe and never stray. No matter your story, you will end up where you’re supposed to be as long as you keep moving forward.

I could keep going, but man that’s a lot! And I know from experience that too much advice just goes in one ear and out the year because most of us don’t believe things until we experience them. Plus, a lot of us have the attention span of a goldfish, so some people may not have even read this far. This is a long post for me! Take it or leave it, those are all my words of wisdom as a “cool aunt.”

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

I Love to Travel, But…

As you may recall this blog started as being focused on travel and food. Though I’ve gotten away from that in recent years, today I’m returning to my roots albeit with a different spin. Upon returning from a recent trip, I found myself thinking “I love to travel, but…” with a list of a few of things after the but. The thought was finished with some of these:

…but I miss Mr Kisby and LilKsby when they are not with me.
…but I miss my pets.
…but I miss MY bed. It seriously does not matter how comfy a hotel bed is, it is not the same as your bed.
…but I miss MY shower. There is nothing like coming home to my shower with my usual water temp and spray settings! Plus, hotel water tends to wreak havoc with my skin.
…but I miss MY comfy chair. My six year old recliner covered in a fuzzy blanket is my most relaxing place to sit. I’m in it now! LilKsby and one of the pets are sharing it with me!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who can relate to the “I love to travel, but…” sentiment. What are the things that would follow your “but…”?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Daily Prompt – February 21

What is your favorite drink?

For YEARS Diet Coke was my favorite drink. I was 100% addicted to them, and I couldn’t have just one. Diet Mt Dew was a close second. Then, I started learning just how bad diet soft drinks are for you. Like, does anyone really know what half of those ingredients are? On January 29, 2022, I had my last soda. It was Mr Kisby’s virtual college graduation, and I had a 44 ounce Diet Coke that left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable. After that I said to myself, no more and quit cold turkey. My gut health thanks me immensely!

So what is my favorite drink now? I drink A LOT of water. It’s become the typical daily drink. I also enjoy coffee and hot tea most days. Coffee is usually after breakfast, and hot tea is typically in the evening. For an indulgent treat I will allow myself unsweet tea (my fav treat drink), lemonade, and juice on a a rare occasion. My favorite juice is the cranberry that the Drury Inn & Suites serves at breakfast!

What is your favorite drink?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

What Do You Do?

Whenever I am at a networking event, the question that is always asked is simple: “What do you do?” My first thought when I hear the question is usually some lyrics from the 2001 song by City High called “What Would You Do?” If you grew up in the 90s/00s you know the lyrics – “Boys and girls, wanna hear a true story? Saturday night was at this real wild party” – and iconic voice of Ryan Toby! After that quick thought, I usually give my quick answer, but then as my day continues, I tend to get really contemplative about the question: “What do you do?”

Sometimes I giggle and think the answer to “What do you do?” is clean a lot of poop and vomit. This answer is not glamourous and is not at all reflective of my entire day, but it’s what I tend to think after cleaning up after the Princess Cat with IBS and the Goofy Cat that gets way too many hairballs for being a short hair. Once I even laughed while doing this because I got to witness an ant literally eat shit and die. The reality is that cleaning up after animals is a very small portion of the day, but it does provide the grossest response and most comical considering there was a caricature made of me as a teenager scooping the litter box.

So what do I really do?

I suppose the best answer is a little bit of everything through a variety of channels!

Be the Queen of Our Castle – includes homeschooling, household activities, travel planning, and more! See my previous post: https://thegreatkaysby.com/2024/05/30/help-wanted-stay-at-home-parent/
Bring people joy and hope by offering skincare and glamour consultations and instruction (joy) and fundraising for community events (hope) through my MK business.
Publish! Being a published writer was one of my DREAMS for as long as I can remember. I started writing short stories in elementary school, and it has always been a sometime hobby of mine. Never in a million years would I have believed that the dream of seeing my work in print could become a reality. Then along came a super supportive husband – Mr Kisby – and the self publishing tool called Amazon KDP. Since August 2023, we’ve published 42 titles (some are lined notebooks). Even if we never make a dime, the creative process has been super fun and rewarding!!! thegreatkaysby.com/letters-lore
Teach/tutor others! Just because I left teaching doesn’t mean the desire to teach left me. I use my love of teaching to first and foremost homeschool LilKsby, but I also use it to tutor others online. I absolutely love helping people prep for the ACT, become better writers, and assist with College Application Essays! To me teaching skin care and glamour is even a form of using my joy of teaching. I will always find fulfillment in teaching others!
Volunteer and help those who need a voice to have one! I used to do this a lot more, but I realized that my over extending myself to help others was taking a toll on my home life. It can be very easy to neglect those you love – including yourself – when you put all of your energy into helping others. However, I have found that what you fill your cup first, you can give a lot more! You might even find creative ways to do so! One of my favorite organizations? Camp TESSA!
Listen to music from the 90s and 00s! There is no mood lifter for me greater than jamming out to boy bands and bubble gum pop. Currently listening to BSB and *NSYNC on loop! There is also something about listening to music live that is good for the soul. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is, but when you can feel the rhythm coursing through your veins, it is life changing!
Re-watch shows/movies I’ve seen a million times! This one is because it is a comfort. Hearing familiar jokes, crying familiar tears over endings even when you know they’re coming, seeing your favorite faces who feel like your friends is comforting. Obviously, I know that Niles Crane isn’t real, but there’s something about the comedic portrayal by David Hyde Pierce that always makes me think that I know this guy, and I’m laughing with him and not at him!
Read! I believe that being an avid reader is a gift. Reading books opens up the doors to so many great things! You can immerse yourself in fantasy worlds, experience emotions that you never would have encountered, learn new skills, and make travel plans all from reading books. Libraries are one of the greatest assets that we have in the world!
Artsy Stuff! Typically I hate to use the word stuff; however, I don’t really know a better word to sum up all of the artsy things that I do. Sew? Check. Scrapbook? Check. Paint? Check. Draw/doodle? Check. Find creative ways to repurpose things? Check. I like to think of myself as Glue Gun Guru!
Be outside! Now, I don’t do this one as much as I should because I sweat and am chunky. However, there is something invigorating about hiking, gardening, kayaking, swimming, etc. It gets me in a great mental space! Even just walking outside for a few minutes at night to look at the starts is game changing.
Planning! I love to plan things! This is why at different times in my life I’ve thought that it would be cool to be an Event Planner or Travel Agent. (Especially this one if it means discounted travel. Remember this started as a food and travel blog!)

The reality is that I do a lot of different things even though sometimes I’m sure it appears that I just post on social media all day (usually it’s a clue that someone is sick, I’m on a long car ride and not driving, or doing an idle activity like watching TV because try as I might, I cannot only do one thing at a time typically).

I want to know, what do you do?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Help Wanted: Stay At Home Parent

Remember the days of classified ads in the newspaper? They would have “Help Wanted” in giant lettering followed by a quick job description. The descriptions were usually vague, but they gave enough info to tell you whether or not you should submit a resume or make a call. As time evolved and more jobs went to being listed online, the descriptions became more detailed. My favorite part was always “additional duties as needed” because that usually meant something you would never willingly want to do. However, those job descriptions at least gave people a detailed idea of what to except. Plus, anyone can lookup an online job description and have a general idea of what a person in a specific job does. Lately, I’ve been thinking about my job of Stay At Home Parent, and I’ve realized that many people have no idea just what all a stay at home parent does.

To the outside world, sometimes I believe people think that my life as a stay at home parent predominantly involves going fun places, posting a lot on social media, and playing all day. While we do go a lot of places, I can assure you that if I’m posting an abundant amount it means someone is sick, and I’m sitting and snuggling them all day. Also, while we play a lot, there is a lot of butting heads too especially since LilKsby seems to have both of mine and Mr Kisby’s stubbornness and sass. Thus, for the outside world, here’s a little “job description” of my life as a stay at home parent (note that each stay at home parents job will vary).

Skill Requirements – flexibility, patience, kindness, loving heart, ability to say I’m sorry, ability to forgive, playfulness, planner of trips/activities, and more!
Appointment Maker – includes but is not limited to scheduling doctors appointments, dental checkups, eye exams, playdates, home maintenance/repairs, car maintenance/repairs, special events, and services such as large item trash pickup. This duty requires some organizational skills and a good planner/calendar.
Household Tasks – includes but is not limited to vacuuming, sweeping, dishes, some laundry, some cooking, scooping poop (we have cats…no people are pooping on the floor), straightening rooms, cleaning out expired items, packing up items for donation/yard sale, ordering groceries, and preparing for vacations. This duty can be gross and requires much patience if you don’t like cleaning.
Chauffeur/Runner – includes but is not limited to driving people, pets, or vehicles to appointments, running errands, driving to Parent & Kid Groups, and driving to various activities. Having a good concept of where things are located with and without GPS is a necessity for this duty!
Caretaker – includes but is not limited to giving snuggles and hugs for boo boos, special care when a household member is sick, making sure wellness needs are met for people and pets, and ensuring people feel loved and appreciated. Knowing your family’s love languages helps.
Homeschool Teacher (this one may not be for everyone, but it is for us) – includes but is not limited to curriculum planning, implementing instructional time, researching best practices and methodologies, attending homeschool functions, assessing progress, and attending conventions to further your own abilities

In addition to the basic duties, I’ve also added to my stay at home parent plate by working independent contractor jobs from home. If you’re wondering how do I balance it all, here is the answer: I don’t. Some months I hardly touch the work from home part which can leave me scrambling near the end of month or coming up shorter than desired. However, when striving to live faith, family, career (which is 100% a constant work in progress because it can be HARD to put faith and family before personal career goals after spending 21 years in the workplace). Also, I’ve added the duty of gardener because I feel it is important for LilKsby to know how to grow his own vegetables (the flowers are because they are pretty). The biggest duty and one of the most difficult is finding just five minutes a day to do something for yourself. Like any other job, being a stay at home parent requires sacrifice. Many times you sacrifice the things you want to do for the benefit of others. However, it is important to never lose sight of doing things you enjoy. So take a few minutes to play that video game, read a book, watch TV, put together your adult Legos, write, pursue an artistic endeavor…do something that makes you who you were created to be!!!

So there you have it: a Stay at Home Parent Job description. Is it complete? Nope. Something will always get added. However, it does provide a glimpse of what all the job entails. To all the stay at home parents, you’re doing a great job!!!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Another Trip Around the Sun

Photo by Sebastian Arie Voortman on Pexels.com

Tonight concludes another trip around the sun! Usually I blog on my birthday about all the great things that have happened in the last year, but this year I’m feeling a little differently – more introspective – about my birthday. Per usual I did have a list of things that I wanted to accomplish in the year, and as per usual as circumstances changed, the list changed. In the end I accomplished 24 of the 40 on the list, and I had a lot of fun throughout the year. However, more important than the fun was the personal growth that I felt came with 40, so I want to share some of my personal growth tips from the last year.

Learn to set boundaries. If you don’t learn to establish boundaries, people will walk all over you. Also, while learning to set boundaries, understand that it is a process not instantaneous.
Learn to do one thing at a time. As much as we all like to multi-task, we can only be fully present with one thing at a time.
Learn to not let the comments people make bother you to the point that you can’t focus. This is hard, but it is important to learn to do in order to avoid driving yourself crazy.
Try something new or something you haven’t done in a long time. There’s a rush that goes with learning or re-trying a skill!
Put down the phone. Boy this is a hard one that I’m trying to improve upon so that my child doesn’t believe it’s necessary to have a phone in front of your nose. When you put down the phone, you will realize how much stress being on it can cause you.
Schedules are not a bad thing. This is a struggle for me because I like to think I’m fun and do things on the fly, but the truth is that I achieve more and get more joy (because of not rushing) when things are scheduled. Plus, I love having things on the calendar to look forward to doing!
Dance like no one is watching! It’s fun!
Sing your heart out! It’s okay if you’re still belting out all of your favorite 90’s and 00’s songs!
Take one on one time with people. It allows you to connect with them on a deeper level and strengthens relationships.
Coffee, tea, and water are the best drinks on the planet! Water might be the most important, but the other two are right up there!
If you want to see change in the world, start by making a small change yourself. It’s really easy to complain about how hateful everyone in the world is, but by modeling kindness to others, you can be part of the solution.
Read a book or listen to an audiobook! There is power in the written word!
Find faith in something. For me it is God; for you it could be a blueberry muffin. I’m not going to judge what you put your faith into, but I can assure you that it is better to have faith in something than not at all.
Get outside! There is healing in nature!
Plan a trip! Then go on that trip. The world is big, and you deserve to see more than the little slice where you reside.
Purging material items that you don’t need is cathartic especially if you find a way to donate or reuse it instead of filling a landfill.
It’s okay to not believe the same things as previous generations. You’re a different person; therefore, it is okay for your viewpoints to be different.
If you influence children, teach them to actually learn things for themselves instead of believing everything they are told.
Stop believing that everything on the Internet or Social Media is true! If you see something that you’re unsure about its validity, do some research before you repost it.
Be proud of the things you have accomplished! They make you special and wonderful! Having a hard time with this? Take 10 minutes and list some of your greatest accomplishments.
Play with Legos. In fact, if you’re an adult, just find ways to play. Having fun will make your life better!
You’re never too old to look the way you want. Have blue hair! Get a nose ring! Do your thing!!!
Follow your dreams! I had always dreamed of writing and publishing, and now Mr Kisby and I have a little thing called Letters & Lore! It’s connected to this page!
Send handwritten notes to people. It takes more effort than a text or FB post, and it shows that you care.
Learn to stop comparing yourself to others. This is super hard and a work in progress, but I can assure you that if you accept who you are, you can achieve greatness!
Eat Zaxby’s. You can thank me later.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. Change might be scary, but it can also be amazing!
Do something you’ve been afraid to try. For me it was getting back on an airplane, but I had the best time last July, and I feel like I became a better person for it. Plus, it helps teach LilKsby to not be afraid.
Walk, run, jog, whatever…just get moving.
Life is short. Eat cake. Then go back to number 29.
It’s okay to stop doing things you no longer enjoy. Set it aside, and you may find that you like it if you try it again down the road.
Tell people your dreams.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help shows strength not weakness.
Relax during the holidays. Don’t get stressed out by trying to make them perfect. Enjoy them.
Unless you have a legit good reason, don’t say “no” to social invitations.
Make sure your cup is full so that you can pour into others.
Get a massage. It’s okay if you start laughing because you’re ticklish.
Always re-evaluate your goals in life. You’ll get further by allowing yourself to change.
Watch a favorite show again especially if you need a laugh!
Don’t wish time away. You can’t get it back.

That’s a lot of tips! I’ve learned a lot at 40, and I am 100% that 41 is going to be even more exciting and freeing! Much love my friends!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Can’t Repeat the Past, But…

F Scott Fitzgerald famously had his character Jay Gatsby say, “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can. Of course you can!” As anyone who has read The Great Gatsby knows, you can’t repeat the past, and if you live permanently trying to recreate the past, then it is never going to work out as planned. That said, you can’t repeat the past, but you can revisit things you used to enjoy immensely!

Many moons ago, I was involved in a little game called Amtgard. The easiest way to describe it to those not involved is Medieval Reenactment. I met my husband and a lot of my adulthood friends through this game (though some of us were teenagers when we met), and though I still chat with some of the friends, I don’t see them every week like I once did. There was a point in our lives when we were involved with this game multiple times a week, then it dwindled down to a handful of times a year, and eventually we stopped participating approximately seven years ago.

Enter this weekend.

A couple of our friends – one of the most wonderful couples you will ever encounter – were getting knighted which is the pinnacle of achievement in the game of Amtgard. These are friends that we have kept in contact with over the years and occasionally see, so when they told us they were going to be getting knighted, we wanted to be there for it. Leading up to the weekend, we were excited, but we had no idea what to expect. We had no idea if we would see people we know, if we would feel out of place, or if the game would be so different that we wouldn’t recognize because as we know, “You can’t repeat the past.”

Turns out you can’t repeat the past, but you can still revisit the things you have to do and discover that it is an enjoyable experience! Much to our surprise, as soon as we walked over to the event area, we saw people that we knew from seven plus years ago, and we were welcomed with hugs and “How are you? It’s been too long!” It felt heartwarming to be made to feel wanted and missed. As we caught up with friends, walked around the site, and chowed down on some delicious food truck selections, we fit right in with everything else happening. Imagine being just another piece of a puzzle that clicks right in with the whole and adds to the picture. It felt familiar, relaxing, and most importantly fun! Side note, I think a lot of adults need to remember how to have fun!!!

So was the game different? Yes, it was. However, from what we observed in our short time there, it seemed as though the changes were for the good. Like why was I never given a Reeve Stick when I was Reeving all the time? The answer is probably because I would have smacked someone with it if they got too close to me! Also, I remember we used to always not enjoy Court, but this time it was so much fun and so much thought went into the creation of the awards. Seeing the progress was great!

That said, I want to write all this down because I think it is important for me to remember this feeling. While you can’t repeat the past, you can still find joy in the things your previously loved, and you can consider doing them more frequently than every seven years!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

10 Things I Love About Me

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 8 – List 10 things you love about yourself.

I love this prompt! Not because I love to talk about myself although sometimes I do it a little too much, but because I think listing things you love about yourself is a great mental health exercise. Over the years I’ve used a similar exercise to this prompt for therapeutic reasons, and I highly recommend everyone do it! Here goes my list!

1. I love my creativity and expressing it through painting, sewing, scrapbooking, coloring, and writing.

2. I love my ability to get lost in a book. Books can take you to another world, inform you, and inspire you!

3. I love my head – like all of it. My hair has always made me happy as have my eyes and smile.

4. I love my ability to burst out into song at random moments whether it is with a made up song or one I half know the lyrics to.

5. I love my tendency to be easily excited and enthusiastic about the littlest things!

6. I love my caring spirit and how much taking care of others feeds my soul. It’s important to be a servant leader.

7. I love my ability to teach people a variety of skills in a variety of areas.

8. I love my ability to work hard and get things done when I put my mind to accomplishing something.

9. I love my love of water. I feel most at peace when water is involved be it a shower, pool, rain, lake, etc.

10. Most of all I love being able to live by my priorities: faith, family/friends, living by the Golden Rule, and then career. The two greatest roles in my life are wife and mother, and I do my best to up hold that calling.

I challenge everyone to make their own 10 list!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Happiest Memories

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 7 – Write about one of your happiest memories.

There are so many happy memories in my life that it is impossible to choose just one! I could talk about birthdays, our engagement day or wedding day, trips, hanging with friends, or LilKsby coming along! This time I want to go with a moment that fits one of my love languages: recognition and words of praise.

In 2007, I attended my first MK Seminar in Dallas, TX. At that event, I got to see people being recognized for their achievements on the big Seminar stage. It was like a Miss America pageant where everyone had the potential to be winner based on their achievements. I knew then that I wanted to walk across that big stage waving to the crowd like royalty!

Fast forward to 2010 when Mr Kisby attended the event with me for the first time. He got to walk the stage with all the other SOs. I was one of the crowd he waved towards. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being in the crowd and cheering for him. I get just as excited about celebrating other people I love as I do about being celebrated myself! However, I also like pretend score boards. I’m competitive like that! Big Stage Score Mr Kisby 1 and me 0. My business continued to grow and in 2014 and 2015, he went with me again and walked the stage. Mr Kisby 3 and me 0.

Enter 2016! At one of our smaller MK events with 5,000 people instead of 20,000, I earned my first stage walk! I was so excited! I still remember smiling and cheesing it up with the women around me! Our enthusiasm was contagious!!! I loved the thrill of earning the recognition spot and being celebrated!!!!

Summer of 2016, Mr Kisby went with me to Seminar again. Once again another SO stage call. That made his score 4 and mine 1. In 2017, I once again crossed the smaller event stage for leadership achievements. 4-2

Fast forward to 2018! That April it was announced that for the first time ever Princess Court achievers would get to cross the BIG stage during the BIG awards night in Dallas! This announcement got me working in high gear. I had been dreaming of this since 2007, and after eleven years, the dream was within my grasp. With a lot of hard work and determination, I made my goal! I treated myself to an amazing gown, and I felt like I was Miss America when they put that sash on me! I remember being in line to go back stage and being giddy with excitement. I took in every moment as we got back there, and I can still picture all of the backstage setup for the higher level awards being given. The thrill as we shuffled a long back stage was intoxicating, and by the time I stepped foot on stage, I was grinning from ear to ear. The whole moment may have lasted five minutes, but it was five limited that I had dreamed of for eleven years! Talk about a rush!!!

At that point Mr Kisby may have led the scoreboard at 4-3, but I felt like the biggest winner of all time! In 2019, I walked the stage twice more at one of our smaller events. This time LilKsby was in my belly, and I remember being so excited that I could share a world where dreams do come true with a little bit of grit with my baby! I guess that makes our score 4-5-2 technically!

Now it’s been over 4 years since those happiest moments, and I will soon be attending a MK event again. I won’t be walking the stage myself (there is always 2024), but I’m elated to cheer on all of my friends for their achievements!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Happiest Memories

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 7 – Write about one of your happiest memories.

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Loud and Proud

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 6 – What are you most proud of?

This is a tricky prompt. It’s kind of like when people ask the question, “What is your favorite movie?” Such a broad question kind of gets a blank stare. However, if it is a more specific question such as “What is your favorite sports movie?” I can quickly say A League of Their Own. For me, asking what are you most proud of gets the same blank stare until looking at it for different areas. Thus, in true to me form, I present a “Top List”!

Top 3 Things I’m Proud of in July 2023

3. Trying new things even if they are a little scary! I don’t want to go into details, but I want to do things that I find scary to help show my Sweet Boy how to have courage!

2. My MK Life – I love being able to work around my priorities with people I choose to be around. I have been abundantly blessed by my clients and team!

1. Mr Kisby and LilKsby! They are both doing amazing things and accomplishing great achievements! I love just sitting back and watching them be successful!

I think what you’re most proud of changes based on your season of life. There were periods when I would have listed all my personal accolades as what I was most proud of achieving. These days I’m often most proud of things that are about others more than me. Don’t get me wrong, I still think I’m awesome. The difference is realizing how much more awesome our lives can be when we prioritize the needs of others. In this season of life, nothing will make more proud than watching my loves!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

The Best Day

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 4 – Write about the best day you’ve had recently.

The best day I’ve had recently is happening right now! I woke up with the sun shining, beautiful nature out the window, and I’m snuggling MrKisby while LilKsby plays. We’ve got a fun day with wonderful friends planned, and my heart is still full from all of the family time that we had over the 4th of July. So I’m declaring that today is thus far the best!

The main reason I’m making this declaration is because it is really hard for me to pick a best day. There are so many days that are great for different reasons be it the people they are spent with or the activities that are completed. I feel like to pick one best day would be hurtful to the other best days!

What is your best day?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Grateful

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 3 – What are you most grateful for in your life?

If you’re going for a joking answer, my response to this prompt would be that I am grateful for a prompt that has reminded me of how to spell grateful. I love to write, but I frequently second guess myself when it comes to spelling certain words. If you’re going for a rote response, I would say I’m grateful for my family, friends, and health. A true thoughtful response? That answer would be opportunity.

I am abundantly blessed and so grateful for the many opportunities that I have had throughout my life. There have been so many things that I have had the chance to do in my life, and I am abundantly thankful for these opportunities. Here’s a list of some of the top that come to mind…

1. Being able to make the transition to work from home/homeschool mom. This has been nothing short of magical! I’ve gotten to take trips with family and hear fascinating stories about their pasts that I never knew! I’ve gotten to start LilKsby’s education. I’ve been able to participate in groups and met so many new, wonderful people!

2. Having the opportunity to experience life with Mr Kisby has been amazing! His love and support are the entire reason #1 has been able to happen. Beyond that, I’m thankful for all the opportunities we have had to travel together, have fun together, and grow together as people.

3. The opportunity to be a mom. I never knew how much I would love being a mom! For most of my life it wasn’t a thing on my radar. Now I can’t imagine life any other way!

4. The opportunity my DS business has given me. From the friends to the travel to personal growth, I am a better person because of that positive influence.

5. The opportunities to serve others and bless their lives are super important to me. I love helping others. It really fills my cup when I am able to help improve lives!

What are you grateful for?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Happiest

As part of a leadership class I am taking, I’m starting a 30 day challenge of Daily Journal Prompts. This is outside of my usual realm, but I’m excited for the challenge!

Prompt 2 – Who makes you feel happiest in life and why?

To say that one person in my life makes me feel happiest is impossible for me to do. There are so many people in my life that bring me different kinds of happiness, and I value all of them and how they helped me find happiness in different seasons of life. For as long as I can remember – and I have memories since the time I was two – family has made me happy. As I got older, friends have also brought me great happiness. I’ve been very blessed to have many friends who are more like family. I’m thankful for them especially those who have seen me through happiness and tears. For the past 14 years Mr Kisby has brought me happiness that I never dreamed I would have, and of course since before he was born LilKsby has been bringing me happiness. There is so much happiness in my life because of all the people in it! To pick one would truly be a disservice to all of them!

I hope that everyone is able to find happiness with the people in their lives!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby