I last posted January 8, 2013. Almost a year. Yup, I think I blew the chances for the perseverance, continuity and dedication awards. Wait a minute. The blog got set on the back burner, but what did I do instead? Well, let's see.....I made some great new friends, enriched existing friendships, taught my kids how to bet on horses at Pimlico, got a Star boat, sailed it a few times, realized I had no clue what I was doing but had a blast anyway, learned to crochet, Griffin learned to kayak, Sarah became a fearless turtle catcher, I read some amazing books, learned to hula hoop, started jogging again, learned a lot about myself and in general, lived my life.
Without sounding all melodramatic or like a recycled holiday letter you get from your mother's college roommate's daughter each year (thankfully she includes multiple photographs, you THINK you know which one she is) I am recapping 2013. Yes, parts of it quite frankly sucked, but so what? Much of it was wonderful. Did I accomplish all I had hoped? Of course not. but I did do things I had no idea I wanted to do. Did I grow as a person? Sure did. Am I a better person than I was 365 days ago? I like to think so, but you be the judge.
Unlike many people, I don't make New Year's Resolutions nor do I give something up for Lent. For me, tell me I can't do something and I will do it anyway, probably with more intensity than planned. That's just failure waiting to happen...and trust me, the wait isn't that long. (see, I know that about myself and I'm okay with it) This year, I'm going to write in my blog at least once a week. I'm also going to post positive comments on five different Facebook posts. Is that going to make me a better person? Probably not, but it just might make someone else smile for the first time that day and THAT, my friends, is what really matters.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Friend in Need.....
Today I went to a funeral. I had met the deceased person exactly twice in my life and we maybe exchanged a grand total of 10 words. However, his wife has become a very dear family friend, my children call her their spare grandmother.
I had lots of things I could have done today, things that I would have liked to have crossed off of my to do list, but I went to the funeral of my friend's husband. I wanted to support her in any way that I could. I arrived at the funeral home and saw an acquaintance, someone from church who is a widow of just over a year. I said hi to her and she started to tear up. She grabbed my hand and said, I am so glad to see you, I need a friend right now. I held her hand throughout the service, just sitting quietly, being her friend, and letting her be mine. Afterwards, when it was time to go to the cemetery I asked if she was going, she was rather emotional and said, I shouldn't be driving in my state. I said, okay, I'll drive. She was a little taken aback. Really, she said, do you have time? I have to pick up my kids from school later, I said, but until then, I will do anything you need me to do.
We went to the cemetery and then to the reception, where we sat together. We chatted the entire time, sharing stories of our lives, our children, our faith, life in general. She kept thanking me for being there for her. I told her no, thank you for being there. I had had a rocky start to 2013, nothing major but rough, nonetheless. When she saw me and said, oh, I am so glad to see you, I need a friend, well, I needed one at that moment, too.
God has amazing ways in which he works. What started as a very sad day turned into something so uplifting, I can't really explain it properly. By helping someone else, by having that other person let me help her, I got such peace and fulfillment. Perhaps it's true, the newly deceased is an angel in heaven and is up there looking down on us, giving us who we need, when we need them.
I left my house this morning with no expectations. I was going to support a friend. Not only did I support one friend, but I turned an acquaintance into a friend today. I am the lucky one, I really received so much today, all because I made the effort to do something nice for someone else.
I had lots of things I could have done today, things that I would have liked to have crossed off of my to do list, but I went to the funeral of my friend's husband. I wanted to support her in any way that I could. I arrived at the funeral home and saw an acquaintance, someone from church who is a widow of just over a year. I said hi to her and she started to tear up. She grabbed my hand and said, I am so glad to see you, I need a friend right now. I held her hand throughout the service, just sitting quietly, being her friend, and letting her be mine. Afterwards, when it was time to go to the cemetery I asked if she was going, she was rather emotional and said, I shouldn't be driving in my state. I said, okay, I'll drive. She was a little taken aback. Really, she said, do you have time? I have to pick up my kids from school later, I said, but until then, I will do anything you need me to do.
We went to the cemetery and then to the reception, where we sat together. We chatted the entire time, sharing stories of our lives, our children, our faith, life in general. She kept thanking me for being there for her. I told her no, thank you for being there. I had had a rocky start to 2013, nothing major but rough, nonetheless. When she saw me and said, oh, I am so glad to see you, I need a friend, well, I needed one at that moment, too.
God has amazing ways in which he works. What started as a very sad day turned into something so uplifting, I can't really explain it properly. By helping someone else, by having that other person let me help her, I got such peace and fulfillment. Perhaps it's true, the newly deceased is an angel in heaven and is up there looking down on us, giving us who we need, when we need them.
I left my house this morning with no expectations. I was going to support a friend. Not only did I support one friend, but I turned an acquaintance into a friend today. I am the lucky one, I really received so much today, all because I made the effort to do something nice for someone else.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Trust....
Some of you may know my son has a seizure disorder and had brain surgery in August, some of you may not (well, until now). He does not really have any use of his right arm, his previously dominant side. He is learning to write with his left and do lots of things one handed.
Tonight in Cub Scouts, they earned their whittling chip. Since Griffin's right arm isn't functional, guess who stepped in? Yup. It's true. There is pretty much NOTHING a mother won't do for her child. We practiced safely opening and closing the knife. Griffin used his left hand, I was his right hand. Not too bad, as long as I kept my fingers on the handle of the knife and he remembered to use his palm and NOT wrap his fingers around the blade.
Each boy was handed a bar of soap and a bear outline was drawn on it. (They are Bear Scouts) As the boys started to whittle, some broke their soap from trying to carve too much soap off at once. Griffin did not have that problem. As I was holding the bar of soap he was carving, I was VERY attentive to the angle of the knife, how much he was trying to carve off at once and how close he was coming to the outline of the bear.
He very worried about cutting me and was very hesitant and deliberate with every pass of the knife. Apparently, I had some pretty funny facial expressions, as the other boys and parents were chuckling. None offered to take my place, however. I did inhale deeply every time he put the knife to the soap, but I did my best to not flinch or anything. I didn't want to make him any more nervous, nor did I want to mess up his carving.
At the end of the meeting, Griffin had about 3/4 of his bear carved out of the soap. There was blood drawn, but by another mother who was helping her son wipe the soap off of his knife. Yes, you heard that right, IT WAS NOT ME.
Tonight in Cub Scouts, they earned their whittling chip. Since Griffin's right arm isn't functional, guess who stepped in? Yup. It's true. There is pretty much NOTHING a mother won't do for her child. We practiced safely opening and closing the knife. Griffin used his left hand, I was his right hand. Not too bad, as long as I kept my fingers on the handle of the knife and he remembered to use his palm and NOT wrap his fingers around the blade.
Each boy was handed a bar of soap and a bear outline was drawn on it. (They are Bear Scouts) As the boys started to whittle, some broke their soap from trying to carve too much soap off at once. Griffin did not have that problem. As I was holding the bar of soap he was carving, I was VERY attentive to the angle of the knife, how much he was trying to carve off at once and how close he was coming to the outline of the bear.
He very worried about cutting me and was very hesitant and deliberate with every pass of the knife. Apparently, I had some pretty funny facial expressions, as the other boys and parents were chuckling. None offered to take my place, however. I did inhale deeply every time he put the knife to the soap, but I did my best to not flinch or anything. I didn't want to make him any more nervous, nor did I want to mess up his carving.
At the end of the meeting, Griffin had about 3/4 of his bear carved out of the soap. There was blood drawn, but by another mother who was helping her son wipe the soap off of his knife. Yes, you heard that right, IT WAS NOT ME.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Hello? Anybody Home?
CREEEEEKKKKKKKK
cough, cough, cough. ah, ah, ah-CHOOOOOOO. Wow, it's been over a year and this place is falling apart! The door squeaks, there is so much dust in here I can't even breathe. click, click. Great. Must have forgotten to pay the electric bill...lights don't work. Either that, or the mice chewed the wires.
2012 is gone. It was quite the year. It had ups, downs, curves, reversals, loop-de-loops and full twisting double somersaults in the pike position. More on that later.
My friend Caitlin started her blog today so I thought I needed to dig this one out and dust it off. I have been doing my usual end of year purging yesterday and today, so it seemed appropriate.
I have lots of random ideas and thoughts. If I can remember how to do this, I'll be updating on a regular basis, so stay tuned!
cough, cough, cough. ah, ah, ah-CHOOOOOOO. Wow, it's been over a year and this place is falling apart! The door squeaks, there is so much dust in here I can't even breathe. click, click. Great. Must have forgotten to pay the electric bill...lights don't work. Either that, or the mice chewed the wires.
2012 is gone. It was quite the year. It had ups, downs, curves, reversals, loop-de-loops and full twisting double somersaults in the pike position. More on that later.
My friend Caitlin started her blog today so I thought I needed to dig this one out and dust it off. I have been doing my usual end of year purging yesterday and today, so it seemed appropriate.
I have lots of random ideas and thoughts. If I can remember how to do this, I'll be updating on a regular basis, so stay tuned!
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