Sunday, January 17, 2010

Catchin' Up!

I know it's been way too long since I've posted.  As my good friend and fellow blogger mentioned in this post, I too am multi-creatively challenged.  When one aspect of my creativity is in full force, the others seem to take a back seat. 
So let me catch you up on some of the items for posts that I started but never finished. 
  • Recently, we received news that an incredibly passionate former high school English teacher had passed away after a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer.  When I heard of his passing, I reflected on my interactions with him since both my kids had him for English, plus he was the girls' gymnastics coach for a couple of the years that my daughter was on the team.  And I realize he was a good man, who would do the right thing and wanted nothing more than for his students to learn the wonderful world of literature and writing.  He truly was an inspiration to the students and teachers of East Leyden and will be missed.
  • On the way to my -- wait for it -- Ahhhhhhh! Scrap Day at the Cellar, I was behind a vehicle with a tire attached to the back door.  I was so inspired, I had to take a picture of it.  Yes, I did what you are probably thinking...I propped the camera on my dash and as I drove, I snapped pics.  But honestly, look at this picture...doesn't it look like a happy face (see the eyes, nose and smile) with arms and legs, even two ears???  Okay, call me crazy.  But it put me in a jolly mood for my ride to New Lenox. 
  • Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day.  I've always been fascinated by the man.  There was a time when I thought that he was only speaking to "his people".  Then I took the time to look at his "I have a dream" speech.  (To be honest, as I type this I am emotional).  This was an incredibly amazing man.  One line in his speech that doesn't get as much play time is "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  Think about that.  Content of Character.  Isn't that what good parenting is all about??  Making sure we raise our kids with integrity, compassion, sensibility.  Content of character. I think if today's politicians spent more time working on their own content of character, our nation would be in better shape.  MLK photo courtesy of eis.rbbcsc.k12.in.us
  • On Tuesday, the love of my life if going in for rotator cuff surgery.  He's my rock; always by my side through the many surgeries I've gone through since I've known him.  He's such a healthy guy that this is a new experience for us.  Please keep him and his speedy recovery in your prayers.
  • Some food for thought - The reason that some of your thoughts haven't yet become things is because other thoughts of yours have. 
  • Haven't done a whole lot with searching for serenity this week.  But I do have this constant reminder sitting on a bookshelf looking right at me!!  Picked it up on a side trip we took when we went to Branson, MO in 2003.  I just love it!



It's going to be important this week, for me to look for the serenity in my life.  Sometimes it's in simple words.  The word RAINBOW offers that.  Same with ANGEL,  So what words instill serenity in YOUR life?

Monday, January 4, 2010

A Decade in Review

I was chatting with my girlfriend on Sunday, talking about the crazy medical issues that have hit our families in the last two weeks.  We both mentioned that, due to the rocky start, we either want 2010 to be over or maybe just start February now...fresh start. 

It made me think about all the things that have happened in my life during the "aughts".  To wrap it up in a neat little package, let's just say that I come out of this decade with bones repaired, bones removed,
a bachelor's degree


a couple new family members
(my son-in-law


and my #2 grandson),


the opportunity to call myself a two-time cancer survivor,



additional nieces and nephews by way of marriage,
   

 a job lost,



a job gained,


weight lost, weight gained, much more serenity than I had going into the decade and gratitude for each and every day of my life.  All in all, a good decade.  Of course, I choose to focus on the positive.  Focusing on the negative only accentuates the negative.  To what end, I ask??  I'm 10 years older than I was at the beginning of that decade.  That's 10 years more of experience and wisdom.  I'll take it!!!
I really do have a good life.  Looking forward to seeing how good it gets in February!!