family . . .

"The only rock I know that stays steady,

the only institution that works, is the family."

~ Lee Iacocca

Time to go back to work tomorrow . . .  after being off for a week.  

It was a good week, although I sprained my foot/ankle a few days before break and my plans to finish painting my living room were put on hold.  

So instead . . . I painted pictures and played board games with Charlotte, cooked Thanksgiving dinner with the help of Richard and Luke, binged on Netflix (Once Upon a Time . . . and Grace & Frankie), I read, stayed up too late, drank too much coffee and ate too much pie.  I drank wine, worked on a doll, put my feet up . . . a lot, kissed my granddaughter every chance I got . . . and enjoyed these amazing and unique people that are my family.

be thankful . . .

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving this week.  Although I seem to be hearing more about Christmas than Thanksgiving.  I am trying to ignore that and enjoy this last week before the real holiday craziness begins.  I thoroughly enjoy Thanksgiving . . . no huge build up, no shopping necessary (other than food), and I am surrounded by the people I love.  

I also get the whole week off from work!!!!

I am thankful for so many things.  I think we all need to remember what we are thankful for all of the time . . . not just when there is a holiday to remind us or when things are going good. 

The recent turmoil in our country has made me thankful for the way I was raised . . . I was raised to care and be compassionate - not to hate.  I was raised to be optimistic and look for the good in people and in situations.  I was raised to believe in a loving God and I have a deep faith that gets me through when things get difficult.  I was raised to be joyful . . . and no matter what life throws at me . . . 

I can always find my way back to that.  

I am thankful for the people in my life.  My family of course . . . near and far . . . still here and some gone . . . those related by blood as well as those that are family because they came into my life and belonged there.  I am reminded daily of the importance of family!  Family is obvious - right? . . . but what about the lady who smiled at me when I was walking into the grocery store (a complete stranger) - such a genuine smile - that it changed my day.  I work with a group of people that make going to work a pleasure . . . my friends (old and new) warm my heart with their thoughts and prayers and laughter and tears.

 I am more than thankful for my husband.  I look at him and know that he loves me and will always love me - not matter what happens between us -  he will always be there for me.  My children and their families are my biggest blessings!  I love when we are all together . . . and I love that when we are - the house is more full than it used to be and when they leave there is a happy mess made by children having fun.  I am thankful for children.  My grandchildren are amazing creatures that make me see the world . . . not necessarily in a new way, but in a way that adults tend to forget.  I am thankful for their magic . . . and that they share that magic with me.

I am thankful for this life . . . with all it's ups and downs and twists and turns.  It has taught me to be strong, and kind, and to choose happiness every day.  It has taught me who I want to be . . . and who I don't want to be.  It has taught me to never give up.  It has taught me the power of prayer and the importance of forgiveness.  Life has taught me to be thankful!

Painting Rainbows . . .

Thanksgiving is behind us and a week of vacation has come to an end.  Vacations always seem to go by so fast, but I tried to make the most of each day . . . and to not eat too much.  With the exception of enjoying pumpkin pie for breakfast one morning . . . I think I succeeded.  I stayed up late, slept in, wore silly slippers, read books, and drank champagne.  I didn't do everything else that I intended on doing.  I have a couple of projects started . . . but they are just sitting there.  That is mostly due to Charlotte wanting me to read with her or her wanting to paint rainbows.
Never pass up a chance to paint rainbows with a child . . . 

more fun today . . .

Thanksgiving Feast . . . with one special little Blue Jay!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving morning . . . is all about the Thanksgiving Day Parade to me.  I remember watching the parade as a child every Thanksgiving.  I remember my mom getting up early to bake and cook.  I am pretty sure we did not eat breakfast in front of the television . . . but once breakfast was finished there I sat in awe of the balloons, the crowd, and the city.  I grew up in a small town in Iowa - so this was a glimpse at a world very different than mine.   Years later, I had a friend who had grown up in New York City . . . she had memories of her father taking her to the parade each year.  I can imagine how  amazed I would have thought that was when I was a child.

I suppose that when I was very young - I watched the parade in black and white.  I can't really remember when we first had a colored tv . . . but I am sure I was in even more in awe of the parade the first time I saw it in color.

I can remember deciding each year which balloon I liked the best and looking forward to seeing Santa Claus at the end of the parade . . . knowing then that Christmas was not far off.  I remember enjoying Thanksgiving . . . for Thanksgiving.  We were not bombarded with Christmas for weeks before - stores were not open on holidays . . .(if you found that you forgot to buy something, you called a neighbor or family member - you did not run to the grocery store . . . it was closed.)   

I remember as the parade rolled on family started to arrive . . . aunts, uncle, and cousins.  What fun we had during those holidays.  It must have been hectic and noisy - even though our house had plenty of room for everyone.  My mom, grandma, and aunts were in the kitchen cooking and doing dishes.  I remember my dads and uncles sitting around the tv - and after we finished eating everyone played cards, ate some more, and visited.  I remember being so excited to have all my cousins around and I remember my uncle Bill always falling asleep on the sofa. : )

I am thankful for my childhood in that small town in Iowa.  It was a wonderful place and time to grow up.  I still enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade . . . I am up early like my mother used to be baking and cooking.  We have to move our meal up a few hours . . . one of my sons works in retail and he has to go to work this evening.  I sometime wish we could go back to that way of life when the stores were closed on holidays and the world was a little simpler.  But there are plenty of things to be thankful for still . . . the main ones being the people I will share this holiday with - family and friends.  Here's to a wonderful day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am Thankful for. . . My Faith (it truly gets me through this thing called life) - My family, friends, and friends that are truly family - Having the incredible experience of being a parent (through the good and the bad - My sons are amazing to me.) - My job (I can honestly say that I like my job) - My parents and the foundation they gave me - Living in a country that even with some incredible problems, still is a damn good place to live - Lily and all the joy she brings as a new baby to the people who love her - My Grandmother, my Mom, Aunt Sue, Aunt Hess, and my cousin Amy (these amazing women I am connected to) - My life experiences and all that they have taught me (I hope that after nearly 50 years of living that I have learned something.)

I tend to get very serious whenever I reflect on something like this. I can be so silly at times - but I am overall a very serious person. I probably think too much and too deep about things. I know I worry too much (I have really worked on that.) I know that life can change is an instant and that each day is a gift. I know how important it is to be compassionate - to laugh - to cry - to tell the people you love that you love them - to FORGIVE - to say you are sorry - to act silly sometimes - to take time for yourself - to pray - to be positive - to never give up hope - to be honest - to be the best "you" that you can be - and to trust in GOD. That is some of what gets me through.

Happy Thanksgiving!