Introducing Robin Shaman

Ha ha! I get to rhyme Robin's name, too! This is a really good one, considering I started with Robin Bobbin.

Robin, Robin, Robin. I just love Robin. Let me just tell you how great she is.

First of all, she kind of is a shaman. The people in her life periodically give her great amounts of grief, but after the initial slam, she steps back and analyzes each situation and why the person acts that way and what could be done to help the person or the situation heal. If she doesn't know, she researches and consults with experts. Robin is a Jedi-level researcher. As a result, she knows a whole lot about everything, but most compassionately, about people and what they need.

Robin's clan

She is shaman to five terrific kids. Her youngest falls in age right between my 2nd and 3rd, so she has always been my go-to for raising-kids advice. Some of my favorites include:
   * The best way to clean the house is to have your husband take all the kids somewhere ELSE.
   * Church and Scouting programs are good for your kids. Help them get them done.
   * The more activities your kids are involved in, the less energy they have to tease each other.
   * Be open about emotional problems and your kids will feel comfortable coming to you.
   * You really can do it yourself: use a chainsaw, move a swing set, tile the entire basement of your rental.

Robin taught her daughter to lay tile.  Isn't that what all mothers teach their daughters?

See? You wish you could go on long walks with Robin and pick her brain, too!

Robin is also the master of challenges. She gives herself something to work on at the beginning of every year, whether that is kindness or Netflix viewing habits. One of the greatest things about these challenges is that she always shares her challenges with others. She is a master of using social media for good! Countless people have been inspired by her example.

Polar plunge in the lake after running a 5k in deep snow in January.

Which brings us to hiking. Why hiking? Why now? Robin decided to take charge of her health (an unruly beast) a few years ago. She wanted to be able to challenge her body and have it respond like it did when she was in shape. Hopefully, she will share more of that journey with you. Gratefully, hiking has been part of her exercise plan and she invited ME to come with her.

Her fitness motto is #becauseican.  Because not long ago she couldn't.

It's so much fun.

Just like everything with Robin! She loves game nights and is always on the hunt for great new board games. She is also the fearless leader of our bookclub. She is a pro at organizing all the crazy schedules and different book preferences. She has good taste in books, too, except for one--which, just don't get us started, okay?

And sports. Her kids all did sports and she went to all their games and is pretty pro at softball herself. Although her shoulder has been bothering her lately. Boo.

At our 4th of July family softball game.

Oh, and did I mention she's lived in this little town of ours her whole life? She's related to a quarter of the people and knows all the rest. If you don't know her, yet, she'll say hi to you soon. Maybe on the trails . . .