It is nice to be needed.

Clay is sick. He has missed two days of school and has been lying around and coughing his little head off. Other than Sunday, I have been at work. I make sure to set his medicine out before I leave and to place sticky notes telling him what times he can have a dose. I call and text throughout the day to check in. I leave lunch options out on the counter. (I should mention Todd is working from home and is in the basement) Before bed, I make sure that his vaporizer is all set, he has tissues and water. Clay loves the attention. And as soon as I am home, he is ready to ask for jello, grits, sprite or whatever else I can bring to him. Of course, I love it. I remember teasing my Mother as she broke up the Frosted Wheat for my brother into the cereal bowl when he was home from college! My brother was not protesting.

We all need a little attention and nursing from time to time. We all need to be the caregiver. We all need to let someone care for us too. And we should be grateful for the people we get to care for and who fuss over us. I am not sure what would be worse. To have no one to care for me when I was down....or to have no one to care for.

So use this cold and flu season to spread a little love and collect some too.

Another New Year flying by.

I haven't even had time to make New Year's resolutions. How is it January 19th? My calendar is getting so full. It will be spring break before we know. I have a new lens for the camera, my account set up on Flickr, my blog of course, plus a new autobiography by Mark Twain. Of course, I do need to finish putting up the Christmas boxes, clear the garage storage room, clean my closet, go back to eating healthy and exercising, get dentist appointments, ect ect.

But I still want to fill my weeks with a little creative fun that is unrelated to my work and separate from all of my family fun. My Dad keeps telling me Frank Lloyd Wright did his most famous buildings very late in life. Matisse felt he was just starting to understand how to paint near his death. That may be true, but they were both painting and designing long before. So he actually just makes me feel more behind. Stephanie keeps telling me I dont "need" to do anything. (Maybe I should act like a teen some days)

In 2010, I got in many more concerts and shows than years before. this year, I just need to watch a little less and create a little more. You guys just remind me before I volunteer for something else.

Holiday Meals With Family

The gift of time;

Enjoying the labors of great cooks;

The special effort of the table setting;

The children in "nice"clothes;

Beautifully decorated homes;

Laughter;

Pictures;

Memories

Celebrations of Faith and Family

This is always the beginning of the end. The year is coming to a close and before it does, we gather together and celebrate. We celebrate our thanks and our faith and all that makes faith come alive in us. In my family, we also celebrate birthdays. This month my mother, my sister in law, several cousins and their progeny. Next month is mine. So we spend a great deal of time coordinating and planning... Not to mention eating. The hardest part is keeping the details in check and taking time to savor the people. So breathe deeply. Take in the sights, sounds and smells. See if you can will the season to move more slowly. Because next up is the New Year and, for me, three more birthdays in January. Including that baby of mine who turns 16.

Familiar sights, sounds and smells of November.

It is here. One of my favorite months of the year. November. Colors scream outside every window. I need my blanket on the bed. The coffee tastes better. I smell wood burning fireplaces at night when I go outside. Cinnamon, gingerbread, pumpkin spice and cloves are everywhere. Starbucks has my holiday drink favorites. I can find turkey and cranberry sauce all month. Egg nog is on the shelf. It is dark before dinner. My mail box is full of glossy magazines and letters seeking contributions for charities. I have restocked on the hot chocolate and marshmallows. I can bring our my George Winston "Thanksgiving' album. My family starts talking about family meals and visits. And everyone is inside more.... closer together. It is time to breath in and be aware. So if you catch me and I am not smiling. Please remind me. I love what this month brings. Let me be the first to wish you Happy Thanksgiving.

Prayer. From a song

Father give me the strength to be everything I am called to be ,
Father show me the way ,
To Lead them, won't you lead me , to lead them with strong hands, to stand up when they can't,
So I will never leave them hungry for love, chasing things that I could give up,
Show them I am willing to fight,and give them
The best of my life, so we can call this a home,
So lead me, because I can't do this alone.

10 Things I know about my Daughter even when I am mad. (And she forgets)

1. She is incredibly intuitive and bright.
2. She is full of compassion and empathy.
3. She is beautiful without trying.
4. She will not always give you another chance, but she is loyal to her friends.
5. She is full of dreams and will make them come true.
6. She can talk a fish into flying.
7. She can make art out of silly string while sleeping if she wants to.
8. She is musical in everything she does and says.
9. She was born with a gift for words and speech.
10. I will always love her, no matter what.