Things I Learned in 2009

These are some of the things I learned in 2009:

1. I am not perfect. I know! I was surprised too.
2. I can lose weight when I exercise and quit eating, like, 4,000 calories a day.
3. I like to exercise!
4. Too much sun really is bad for my skin.
5. I absolutely love my chosen careers. Writing and homemaking suit me well.
6. I love to cook.
7. I love to knit.
8. I love to kickbox. I know! I was surprised too.
9. My kids are growing up fast.
10. I fell in love with my husband all over again. 20 years look good on us.

These are a few of my favorite things...

I have so much to be grateful for, and I try to acknowledge it daily to my Maker. However, there are small pleasures in life that round it all out and make it rich. These are some of my favorite little things.



I do love independent bookstores, but I have to admit, I LOVE THIS ONE, TOO!




Office supplies. I am such a nerd.




Next to the scriptures, this is the most helpful, mood-lifting book I've ever read.


Making tortillas. Mine aren't perfectly round, but I'm still working on it.



Love to knit. Love it, love it.



I was a happy girl when this magazine came back out of retirement.



These are the very devil. 400 calories for two, and of course I can't eat just one.

The worth of a soul...

Last night I had the privilege of attending a fundraiser at my husband's school. He's a counselor for the Youth in Custody program, and the school decided to hold a fundraiser to raise money for a family in need this Christmas.

The students have been doing research for projects, writing papers on those projects and putting together slide shows that displayed images of their research with original text, all set to music.

There was a group of four brave students who sang, "Angels Among Us." They were wonderful, and I say "brave," because there were eight more who were supposed to sing with them. These four were awesome!

The students also made five quilts that were auctioned off. They were beautiful, and each one was purchased.

I was so touched at the work the kids put into their projects and the quilts. These children have experienced a slice of life I can only gape at, and I'm amazed at their resilience. They are working hard to succeed in a world that hasn't given then a very nice beginning. My hat is off to them--I am in awe of them and humbled by them.

My kudos also to the staff, who are talented, dedicated, and who must have loads of patience and use it often. Teaching is not an easy profession; I speak from experience.

I suppose I just want to say to this group of people, staff and children, and to teachers and students everywhere--nicely done. This life is not an easy one, and I do believe that as long as we help each other, we'll all get through it intact.

Happy Holidays to Project Surpass, and truly, God bless us, everyone!

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

--Langston Hughes

You have a solemn obligation
to take care of yourself
because you never know
when the world will need you.

~ Rabbi Hillel

So inspiring

So you probably saw Nienie on Oprah a couple of days ago. I loved it, loved hearing her talk, seeing her successes right there on the screen. She was poised, classy, as was her husband, Christian. What a sweet thing that this couple has let us into their lives, and that when I read her blog I am inspired to be/do better. I felt that before the accident when Amy told me about the blog, and then even more so since.

I think the thing I've taken most from watching this woman live her life is to slow down and enjoy the mundane, which really is a gift. I have a daughter on the cusp of graduating from high school and has dreams of moving on. I wish I had been more patient and aware of the moment when she and Anna were younger. I was just stressed all the time. I'm grateful to have had another chance with my son, to enjoy the moment and find beauty in the little things.

There are some tender mercies, despite a few regrets, however. I'm finding that Nina and Anna still need me. And that I still have chances to redeem myself- that the patience is just as hard to come by now as it was back then, and overcoming the urge to snap and be stressed is an accomplishment worthy of pride. Or at least chocolate or something.

Oprah touched on the sacredness of nurturing and doing the small things, like fixing meals, and truly, whether a mom is a stay-at-home or working, there is something so sacred about caring for those in her realm. It is an honor, though at times it doesn't always feel that way.

So my official thanks to Nienie and her family for allowing me to learn from them and to cherish the blessings in my life.

How can it be?

It's amazing to me that this place:



Is also this:


a half a year later.

I love seasonal change!