Saturday

I love waking up when I wake up. I would be a better worker if that could happen during the week. I have NEVER liked getting up when someone/something tells me to get up, the exception being my sons when they were wee little babes.

I have some new projects I'm planning. I love putting patterns with the right yarn for the right person. It excites me to watch something new come to life.

I am in a good place right now. I am aware of how blessed I am. I have come far and the trip at times has been rough and rocky, very rough, but the place I'm in right now was worth the trip.

1. blue skies
2. saturday mornings
3. new haircuts
4. driving a stick shift
5. temps above 50!

Day 5 Grace

1. edamame

2. diet coke from McDonald's

3. indigo girls

4. my coffee pot

5. friday afternoons

Grace Day 4

1. my favorite coffee mug - Several years ago, I was in a Starbucks and saw a stainless steel coffee mug. I must have held it and looked at it for a bit before I put it back on the shelf. It was more than I wanted to spend but I did comment on how much I liked that mug. Six months later, I opened a Christmas present from my mom and that mug was inside.

2. knitting - i cannot begin to tell you the grace i get from knitting. i love making things with my hands. i love making things for other people with my hands.

3. singing- i have deadwood practice tonight. the feeling i get when we play is indescribable. it washes over my whole body and warms me from inside. the music is not just in my ears but in my body.

4. my car - i have had a recurring dream since i was in my early 20's. this dream started when i was single and didn't want to have any children or get married. i was having lots of fun dating and traveling and moving to different cities. or so i thought. in my dream, i was cooking and doing laundry, living with/raising several boys and i drove a suburban. when i had the chance to buy my suburban, it felt like my dream was coming all the way true.

5. hot showers - hot shower on a cold morning. ahhhh.

Grace day 3

winter - yes winter. a time when things stop growing and take a breath. a time for snuggling and sitting by a warm fire.

tea - a newly discovered thing for me.

warm socks - ahhh

a good dog - my dog follows me throughout the house. wherever i am, he needs to be too. i love my dog.

health - taken for granted until you don't have it.

Grace

1. nyquil

2. flannel pajamas

3. flannel sheets

4. sick days

5. my red down-filled comforter

Grace in Small Things

1. fresh coffee with half & half

2. puppies

3. a new book

4. sunshine

5. warm towels

I love having a clean house, it's the getting it clean part that kills me.

My Love Again

I posted this 2 years ago. I've spent today crying watching the inauguration, crying about my dog and quite honestly, I'm too tired to come up with something new. So, here is My Love 2 years later.

One more thing.... YES WE DID! I am SO proud to be an American!

Growing up, I was sure I was going to be famous. I envisioned myself either a star of the stage or the music scene. I worked toward my goals taking dance lessons, acting lessons, voice and piano lessons. I auditioned for numerous plays(and got a lot of parts), played in different bands and worked hard on perfecting my "craft". When I met my husband, my biological clock started ticking so loudly, it totally derailed my vision of my future. I abandoned my dreams of superstardom and set my sights on having a family with this man. I really didn't have any idea how to make a family or a marriage work. My own parents were divorced and while they were married, they were very unhappy. My grandparents had had a happy marriage but having viewed this relationship as a child, I wasn't sure that I hadn't made things look better than they really were. Seventeen years later, this man and I are still married. My marriage has lasted longer than my parents marriage. By one year. We have 3 wonderful sons that were very much wished and hoped and prayed for. Our marriage has gone through some very difficult times ~ try raising 3 sons while your husband works and puts himself through college and then you work full time and get a masters degree. But mostly, our marriage has had wonderful times. Tonight, when I sat down to write this post about my upcoming anniversary, I realized that I am famous. I might not be a famous actress or rock star, but I am famous. I am loved and adored and appreciated by my husband and by my three sons. And that, is better than any fame I ever imagined for myself as a young girl.

Responsibility

When you decide to take the plunge, it is always tinged with some reservations. But before you know it, you are head over heels in love.

Then comes the day when a decision needs to be made. And if you've got children (I have three) then you must explain your decision. Several times. And wonder if this is something your children will ever forgive you for.

Penny was a member of our family for 13 years. She was older than our youngest son. Our middle son was just 6 months old when she became a part of our family. My oldest son is devastated and my middle son, let's just say this is very difficult for him. He can't ever remember her not being in his life. My youngest son is not quite sure what to think.

Penny was the runt of her litter and almost didn't make it. Her tail was too long because the man we got her from felt terrible clipping it and didn't quite get it short enough. Penny was a great dog. She loved us fiercely and would bark and growl at everyone new to our door. You were a foe until Penny had decided you were ok. Penny had some puppies and I only know of one still living. My children learned about the miracle of life from her and loved helping her care for her pups. She was a wonderful mother and took great care of her litters.

Making this decision was so hard. My husband & I both knew it was time. But having to tell your children, never ever easy.

I already miss her.

Hometown Pride

Go Arizona Cardinals!

They've had a very long dry spell... maybe this year will be the Cubs year too!?!?!?

My Aunt Sue

was a grand lady. I will never meet a bigger Dallas Cowboys fan. Never. She was so proud of being from Texas and loved everything about it. Her daughter Cara was the pride and joy of her life. Cara could do no wrong and was often held up as the ideal standard for what a daughter should be.

Aunt Sue was a lifeguard in high school and taught me(forced me really) to dive off a diving board. I was terrified but did it to make her feel proud of me. And I'm telling you, I don't think there's anyone else in the world I would have done that for.



My Aunt Sue did not have an easy life. And honestly, it was her own doing. She was stubborn and opinionated to a fault. She wanted to do things her way and once she made a decision, she saw it through to the end, no matter the cost.



My Aunt Sue took care of her husband when most other people would have put him in a nursing home. He required around the clock care and she did this for years until his death.

I loved my Aunt Sue. She was not an easy person to love, but love her I did.

Remember...

laugh more, worry less.

Just got home from a church board meeting. I actually had to "make" myself go. I should have listened to myself and stayed home.

TGIF

that is all.

I'm Trying

so hard to keep my resolutions. So. hard. On days like today, when everything seems to spin out of control, it's hard to laugh. But, I did laugh(several times) and really, I was so busy, I didn't have any time to worry.

I

agree with Missy. Yes it is, I can feel it too!

Sometimes

people give you warnings and laughable moments if you are open to them.

And So It Begins

Today I am going to be very busy. Then tomorrow, back to school.

I had a really nice break. Some major upsetting things happened but I am dealing with them and taking things as they come.

This semester is going to be crazy busy with some awesome opportunities. I need to remember to enjoy myself. Remember to take care of myself and be in the moment.

If I had a new years resolution, it would be to laugh more and worry less.

Ugh.

Not how I wanted the year to start.

Just ugh.