Living and Loving

Friday January 6, 2012


Winter is upon us here in Florida (brrr), even though most of you are wore flip flops for a day or two this week. Even though I had to relinquish free time and return to the job, I still have some favorites to write about.

How about you? Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Click on over to get the details and join us. It's a great way to get this new year going.

Here’s my list of favorites from this week:

1. Macaroni angels. This is the week I say goodbye to my Christmas tree. I do hate taking the tree down. But I love the reminiscing I do both as I put it up and take it down—looking at ornaments made years ago by sweet little hands. I wrote about that (and about our loss of power and water on Christmas Eve) here. I’m guessing some of you have macaroni angels, too…!

2. Lunchtime with friends. I hate saying hello to early mornings, but it is good to be back with my lunch bunch again. We talk, we laugh, we tell stories…I love eating lunch at school with my teacher buddies.

3. Having a college boy home. Again, the worst part is letting him go back! But it’s been great to have our youngest at the dinner table.

4. The second half of the year. I know, it’s the beginning of the calendar year, but as a teacher and student I’ve been conditioned for so long to think of the year differently! When I get a little weary in front of the classroom now, I can tell myself we’re halfway done—on the downhill side.

5. This quote:

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year. (Edgar Guest)

I’m still feeling the newness of this year, savoring the freshness and promise of things to come. And when I read the last three lines of this little verse, I thought of my blog friends…and I wanted to share it with you.

Enjoy a week of living and loving!

Blessings and Beginnings

December 30, 2011 Listing five wonderful things about the past week will only scratch the surface. It’s been a lovely week full of time, celebration, and family.

Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Click on over to get the details and join us. It's a great way to start the new year.

Here's my list of favorites for the past week: (I'll be writing about more of this week's favorites next week!)

1. Having two of our four boys home. We missed the rest of the family, but it was great to have our two youngest home. (Christmas Eve was quite the adventure, complete with no power in half the house and no water. Tune in next week for the story! We still had a great time.)

2. Knowing our other two boys were celebrating, too. Our oldest enjoyed Christmas at home with his little family in Kentucky and then took off for his wife’s parents’ home. Our California boy spent several days with his cousin and family a couple of hours away, complete with kids and Santa. Sounded like a great time.

3. Built-in help. I have a project underway, and my husband and youngest son provided expert help tonight. I’m so thankful for their expertise and their willingness to make it happen!

4. New dishes! It’s been quite a while since I got new dishes, and there was a new set for me under the tree this year. I’m so excited! I just love them.
5. A New Year quote:

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.” (T.S. Eliot)

I love this forward-looking quote. “To make an end is to make a beginning” – I love that. So, here’s to beginnings!

Have a great week of beginnings and blessings.

Tired of the Same Old, Same Old?

Thursday January 20, 2010

They say it’s a new year.

I put up a new calendar, but when I look outside it looks like it did yesterday. When I look in the family room, it pretty much looks like it did two weeks ago. Still crazy, still cluttered with trucks and blocks.

And this time of year, it’s pretty easy to grow weary… and not feel so new.

So, how do I start fresh?

To find out, click on over to the Mother of Boys Society. I'm writing there today.

There's a Word on the Tip of My Tongue

Monday January 10, 2011

There’s a word on the tip of my tongue.

It’s been rolling around in my heart and mind for awhile now, and I can’t seem to shake it.

When things are crazy-busy and I’m at the end of my rope, I think of it.
When all is quiet and I’m relishing the hush, it comes to mind.

Most of the time, I long for it.

Balance.

I wrote about it a couple of months ago, and I’ve been craving it lately. I’d imagine most of us have, with the hustle bustle of the holidays.

I hesitate to call it my “word of the year,” but the word balance is going to get a lot of attention from me as I start this new year.

So what about you?

Is there a word on the tip of your tongue? Something you’re thinking about, hoping for, pondering?