2012 Blessings

This past year has come and gone in the blink of an eye.   There are so many amazing days that filled our lives and am grateful beyond words for good health, love and joy that has been sprinkled into each day of this year we will call 2012.   I took about 4094 pictures of every event it seems and will cherish them all.  I've been browsing through them and thought I'd share a few, but as I began adding them to the folder on my desktop, the file got bigger and bigger.  So, I leave you with five simple photos of the spirit that is inside me and hope that your 2012 will be cherished and remembered fondly as I will remember my year.

May the coming year fill you to the brim with beauty, joy and love and may all you do be done with loving intentions and gratitude for all that is.

Blessings to each of you. 

Holiday

the stockings

the food

the laughter

the snow

the lights

the candles 

the love

the smiles

the surprises

the family

Hoping you had a wonderful holiday.

Right Now

right now the holiday spirit is beginning to show itself

right now the air is filled with cinnamon and cloves

right now my heart is at peace

right now the glow of a candle is making shadows on the wall

right now the sun is thinking of sleep

right now the cats are napping

right now the schedule is feeling lighter

right now love is sent to all my loved ones near and far

right now i just am and all is calm

A Little Wind Anyone?

If you know me, you know that I despise the wind.  I cannot stand to be out in it (and not just because my hair whips into my lip gloss) and will do everything possible to shield myself from it.  It raises my blood pressure and makes me feel as if I must run a marathon in a few minutes.  It makes me cold to the bone and I don't like to be cold almost as much as I don't care for the wind. 

Today is a snow day.  The schools are closed, not for the snow, because there is only a dusting, but for the wind and the windchill it is generating.  It was a wonderful surprise to wake up to. I really didn't think they'd close the schools, because for us, it was the last day of finals at the high schools.  But, they did. 

Our oldest now has three weeks to study for his math final. Lucky him!

As the wind howls outside our home today I am going to slowly but surely get a few things done around the house today (note I said "few"), put on some music in the house, cater to my two boys, keep calling my husband to make sure he's safe on the road, make some lunch (which may be a frozen pizza), match the socks in the mismatch basket, and enjoy the fireplace and the cats resting at my feet.

I hope you will enjoy your time today and find a few minutes to do something you love.  I plan on staying out of the wind as one of those things!

Thinking Aloud on a Thursday

It’s the 13th and I haven’t addressed any holiday cards yet.  Usually do this over Thanksgiving break.   It’s ok though.   Just going with the flow.

I colored my hair a few weeks ago and am not sold on it yet.  I thought I’d warm up to it, but no such luck. It’s a bit bold for me and makes me feel a little sketchy.  May need some reversing done and opt for a little more sunshine.   Feeling a little goth!

Our youngest son has an obsession with gadgets. He’s taken apart hard drives, usb drives, and continues to ask,  “Hey, mom?  Do we have any steel wool?   Or what about some wire and a few Christmas light bulbs?”   Every time he asks for something, I get a little nervous and always have to confirm that matches are not involved.  He reassures me that he’d never do that, so we continue to encourage the baking soda and vinegar concoctions. 

Yesterday my husband received some good news at work.  So proud of him!

I am a member of Barnes and Noble’s book rewards program so get inundated with coupons and lists of books to read and buy and the ever wonderful coupon now and again.  Just received a 30% off coupon (plus my membership 25% off) in my inbox this morning, so may just have to make a second trip to the book store today.  Santa will understand I’m sure.   (I have connections.) 

Right now I’m reading several books.  

            Night by Elie Wiesel -- Holocaust survivor story and Nobel Peace Prize winner. It’s a very fast read and is an account of his survival through this time.  So moving and think it should be read at least once by every high school student.

          The Power of Flow by Charlene Belitz & Meg Lundstrom -- Practical ways to transform your life   with meaningful coincidence.  It’s filled with great lessons on opening our eyes to the ever present world around us and finding meaning in it for ourselves.  (I like to call them God Winks.)

Tomorrow is Friday!   Just thought you might need a reminder.  I’m so looking forward to the weekend and some time to enjoy the cooler air and the fireplace warming the house.  Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by my little corner of the internet.

Open the Love-Window

This time of year can be quite romantic with all the lights, candles, music and snowfalls throughout the month, but if we keep our love-windows closed and the blinds pulled, we are unable to receive the magic that is.  We must be open to hear the sounds and the touch of softness that wanders in during this time of year.  My grandma always kept the kitchen window cracked open during the winter, regardless of the temperature. Last week, the house was so hot, yet it was only 44 degrees outside and I found myself walking through the house opening every window and set of blinds and within minutes, I felt a wash of calm over my entire being.  Was grandma on to something she never told us?  Was she letting in the love?  Was she simply opening her love-window to receive the  magic of this season?   Perhaps she was.  In my morning reading, I cam across one of Rumi's poems that spoke to me.   It's so simple, yet so romantic and wonderful.   I share it with you today and hope that you will open your love-window and let in the love that is yours for the taking.

Some Kiss We Want

by Rumi

There is some kiss we want with

our whole lives, the touch of

spirit on the body. Seawater

begs the pearl to break its shell.

And the lily, how passionately

it needs some wild darling! At

night, I open the window and ask

the moon to come and press its

face against mine.  Breathe into

me. Close the language-door and

open the love-window.  The moon

won’t use the door, only the window.

There Is Always Time

Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la…la….

  

This is a busy week as finals get closer for our oldest son and scouts and band concerts for our youngest son and deadlines approach for my husband and the holiday “to do” list marches on for me.  The crunch is being felt.  The heat is on.  The calendar is filled to the m.a.x.  OMG.  I might need to sit down.  It is busy to say the least.

But.

There is still time to make cookies and wrap gifts and have coffee with friends and take a hot bath and read a good book and fold the never ending laundry (I mention laundry a lot I’ve noticed) and listen to the radio and hang more twinkle lights (you can never have enough) and chat on the phone with family and address holiday cards with hot tea and watch your favorite movie and simmer cider on the stove and hug your children and attend soccer games and sleep in late and shovel the neighbor’s sidewalk and take a nap, and…..

There is always time.

It’s a choice however how we use the hours in our day.

Some prefer to stay in the majority of the time and enjoy the fireplace and movies.  Others love to be out in the hustle and bustle of the holiday with parties and shopping.

I enjoy both and feel that if you want to do it, you will find a way to do it.  You will make time to do what fills your heart. 

There is always time.

It’s how we choose to use the time that matters.

I hope you will find a few minutes today to do something that fills you up with joy and sweet happiness. There is always time, so choose to use some of the minutes in your day to enjoy the gift that they are. 

Fa, la, la, la, la…

there is always time...

Sprinkles of Laughter and a Dash of Snow

The last two days have been lovely.  Just lovely.   The boys each had friends over so the house was filled with nine young men for the better part of the weekend and 4AM sprinkles of laughter, popcorn on the floor and Doritos crumbs spread about, but fun was had by all.  We woke up on Sunday morning to a dash of snow and cold temperatures, but with the electric blankets dialed up to their highest setting, everyone was cozy and warm.  

The laundry is waiting ever so patiently, as I’ve decided that wearing your socks twice in a row is now the new “in” fashion statement (no, not really, but it’s an idea isn’t it?).  Dishes are piled up while the dishwasher finishes its 2nd run for the morning, yes, I know it’s a lot of dishes, but sometimes it just happens that way.   The beds are still unmade and as I type this, two of our three cats are nestled at my feet purring furiously in hopes of me staying put.   I’m easing into this Monday morning and while I have to teach 5th grade for a few hours this afternoon, I’m not in a rush.  I’m enjoying my cup of chai tea and catching up on a little reading to start my morning off right.  Deep breath in, deep breath out.  

The chores are always there. Always. 

Sometimes, you have to take the minutes when they come and enjoy them.  Gazing out the window or reading a chapter in your book or opening all the blinds in the house to let the sunshine fall across the floor.  It’s in these moments that I find a sense of calm and can direct my compass in the right direction.

I hope today you will allow yourself to enjoy the sprinkles of laughter as they come into your day and I am more than happy to share our dash of snow with you as well.

Take notice of the little things that come about in your day today…

            the birds sitting on the light post while you’re at the stoplight

            the crunch of snow under your feet as you walk into the house

            the smell of cinnamon that wafts from the candle glowing brightly

            the sound the sheets make when you “whip” them onto the bed

            the feel of the scarf you select to wrap yourself in to keep you warm

All these things together add up to the big picture of life, so don’t miss out on their importance in your day and the little sprinkle of laughter they might offer.

            

A Weekend Reminder

Friday has come quickly this week for some reason.  I know the time passes the same each day, but wasn’t it just Monday?  I know it was.  December is a busy month, as I’m sure it is for everyone.  Birthdays, shopping, holiday baking, get-togethers, finals, and so many other things are vying for space on the calendar and it can become overwhelming at times.  I know.  I feel it every now and again just like you do.

With the weekend trying to sneak into the early hours of Friday, I hope you will take a few minutes to slow down and take a few deep breaths (even if it’s while you’re standing in line to buy toothpaste). 

There are many expectations and obligations that come during this month and they can grab hold of our patience, our kind words, and our overall attitude and squeeze the very life out of us.  It requires effort to stay centered and focus on the positive.  Real effort some days. 

So, for those moments when you feel like the wind has been knocked out of you or the kids are too loud, or the mail is piling up and you want to crawl back in bed; here are a few suggestions to breathe deeply….

….take a walk around the block

five minutes and fresh air can do wonders

….light a few candles (even if they are your emergency “the power is out” ones)

            having soft lighting in the room will ease your mind

….turn the radio on your favorite station and crank it up

            singing aloud for a few minutes and tapping your toes will lift your spirits

….sit down and eat a nice lunch

            eating on the go or while multi-tasking robs yourself of a few minutes to slow down

Here’s to a wonderful weekend of deep breathing and taking each moment of this month as it comes without worry or stress.

Twelve

They say the older you get the faster time flies.   I know this to be true.  Twelve years ago, I don’t know how it’s even possible, but it is, our little guy came into this world and made our family of three a family of four (my favorite number).  It was a sunshine filled Wednesday morning and we drove to the hospital for our scheduled c-section (he was a stubborn little breech boy and wasn’t going to move - we tried).  

Everything went smoothly and a few hours later, he was here and tiny and cute as ever. From that day forward, he has filled our hearts with pride, joy and much laughter, yes lots of laughter.  He has a sense of humor with a side of sarcasm and is an amazing student with an eye for science and math.  He’s working on earning his eagle scout badge and hasn’t let up on it and wants to earn it in the next two years.   He has determination and never gives up, even if the frustration sets in, he keeps on going.  We’re so proud of the young man he’s becoming and can’t wait to see where he’ll go. 

Happy Birthday my little guy.  Love you to pieces.

 

Twelve Years Old Today

A Peek Into Saturday

 A peek into my corner of the world today….

no alarm clock (a treat for all of us)

breakfast in bed

boys and their friends laughing in the family room

a late lunch together

shopping for a few birthday gifts

a cat nap with the music on (with three cats beside me)

a diet coke and a bowl of popcorn

pinning on pinterest for a bit

reading for inspiration

candles flickering beside me