Bumming and reflecting..............

Today I took all of the ornaments off of my Christmas tree. Yes, I am aware of the date, but it is just a sad affair to dismantle a Christmas tree. The necessity of abolishing the tree to the garage each year is seen as sad and wasteful by the younger members of our family. With some haunted melancholy music, beautifully composed by Danny Elfman, playing in the background, I started upon my task. Our tree is packed full of ornaments, with the majority being homemade. I love the history and memories that the tree evokes each year as we joyfully hang ornaments, and note the growth that has taken place. Throughout the holiday season, new ornaments are added. Yet, packing them away is rather sad. Wrapping a popsicles sleigh with a second grader's picture on it, squeezes my heart. I know she will never be that age again. A name carefully written on a wooden angel with an unsteady hand is priceless to me. Ornaments from friends and loved ones are packed away and I wonder where these individuals will be a year from now. What will our world be like a year from now? I hope and pray that next year, as we pull the ornaments from the boxes, it will find us reaching new milestones, wiser from experiences, at peace with our decisions, and content with our lot in life.

Speaking with angels.........

I have been people watching lately, and I have discovered something astounding. The happy people, in particular the happy elderly people are individuals who are grateful. Life is a happy place for them to be, and they are just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this thing we call life. I know, it is a bit 'pollyanish', but these people seem to just glow and I for one want to bask in all of that goodness. I've watched as these individuals deal with adversity, or just plain mean people. I couldn't help but notice that the good was always looked for first. If they were dealing with someone ornery, it was just assumed that that grouchy person was doing their best, and didn't mean any harm. If trials came their way, they counted their blessings, and thanked God for what they did have and would humbly ask for help. I'm tying it up into a neat little package, and probably treating it a bit lightly, but really, when was the last time you gave a prayer, the entire prayer, over to gratitude. Really took the time to thank God for each and every blessing. I imagine it would be a very humbling and sweet time of reflection. I, for one, intend to try it for who doesn't want that peace and contentment?

Too much of a good thing.............

Today was another beautiful, sunny day in the Southwest, and I am sick to death of it! Honestly, this is January and I am just having a hard time adjusting to the spring like weather. Last count it has been five months without any decent precipitation. I have to confess that I have been watching the news around the country with envy. The alarmed broadcaster speaks every few days of another blizzard. Pictures of icy roads, snowed in cars and buildings do not bring the sympathy and concern that are warranted. Instead, my children and I are glued to the screen practically salivating at a foreign land of white powdery snow. We know nothing of the shoveling, bundling, skidding, freezing, or power outages. All we see is snow, wonderful snow! Our weatherman is treated with contempt and scorn when he happily announces that we are in for "another beautiful sunny day!" There follows witty banter about how lucky we are to live in a place with so much sun! Humph! I'm thinking I might gather the children round the fireplace tonight and perform a snow dance. Google probably has some great ideas!

Standing upon shoulders............

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to watch my daughter soar. She sang the National Anthem at a volleyball game. A few day prior, she had hopped into the car and informed me that she would be singing. I asked if she was ready to do something like that ( I honestly wasn't sure and I didn't want her to fail). Her confidence was unshakable. I couldn't have been more pleased. She sang for anyone and everyone in the family to prepare. The night arrived and I was nervous, as was she. There were words of encouragement and a prayer was spoken. I was in constant communication with my Father in Heaven. "Please let her remember the words," I pleaded over and over. I didn't want her to join the legions of botched memories on Youtube for her first time out. The time arrived, and she took the microphone. Staring hard at the flag, I held my breath.......... and it happened. She took flight and soared. I love those moments. Moments where an individual, standing upon the shoulders of those who have gone before, takes an enormous leap. Individuals such as mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends; people that have counselled, dried tears, listened, cried, worried, and cheered. During the singing, my mom watched me as I stood there and cried tears of relief, pride, and gratitude. It was a sweet moment. How many times have I stood upon her shoulders, preparing to take my own leap? It is humbling. When moments of greatness occur, I look around. Hidden among the crowd, off to the side, or even watching down from Heaven are individuals with tears streaming down their faces and footprints upon their shoulders.

Glories run wild..........

I admit, with enthusiasm, that I am not a neat orderly person. Never have been. I have tried, trust me on this. I have friends and family members (my dear Mother), who take great pleasure in organizing. They become giddy at the thought of tackling a wayward closet. Me? Well, I can honestly say that I just don't understand the entire thought process that goes into the organizing of one's closet or anything else for that matter. I tend to be a 'grouper.' I stack things, pile things, and then will continue to relocate them until they are out of sight. I might add that it does drive the neater people of my family a bit crazy. My garden is a perfect example of two ideas run amuk. Every year I plan out and plant in semi neat rows. My tomatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupes, squash, and flowers are all planted. One year I stepped way over my boundaries and created four areas instead of one big group. The husband was most impressed. Yet, every year the garden takes on a life of its own. I love it. I weed and harvest, but very soon, it takes on a wild quality that is just beautiful to behold. I believe that there are pumpkins everywhere, and brilliant blue morning glories are shrouding the dying sunflowers. Ruby red cherry tomatoes peek out begging to be picked. It is my own personal little world of chaotic beauty, and I am happy.

What's in a wink?

The 'boy' winked at my teenager this week. She has been floating ever since. Apparently this was no ordinary wink, nor was he trying to clear his eye of a stray eyelash. This particular wink was smooth, suave, exquisitely executed, and perfectly timed. I imagine her stomach still flips when she runs through it in her mind. How wonderful that things never change. Life moves pretty fast, and we seem to grow up so quickly these days. Yet, that flirtatious dance still exists. Ok, there are many people who light speed the process, but it is still there. I remember those moments, many more tender and intimate than physically touching someone. When was the last time I gazed into the eyes of my loved one? It's been awhile, quite awhile. I should try it, I wonder if his eyes are still blue.? Watching the teenager and the 'boy' has been fun for me. Right now they revel in stolen glances. A hug brings blushes. Creativity has been enhanced as they try to figure out where they can casually 'bump' into the other during the weekends. She has been very open with all of us, and her enthusiasm is catchy. Just the other day, I caught my boy practicing his 'wink' in front of the mirror. That's right ladies... watch out!

Ramblings concerning heat........... or rantings!

I will just say it...... I am 'done' with summer. Oh yes I am! I am tired of ninety plus degree weather and I am highly put out with Mother Nature. My summer clothes are worn out, the pool will not hold chlorine, the kids have to wear socks to school, and I spend entirely too much time in the car. A car, I might add, that takes eternities to cool down. So, as with every year, I have begun to research real estate in the mountains. And this year, I am serious. All dreams start somewhere and mine have always begun and ended in the mountains. It will be marvelous. My children will be happy, all the time. They will be so busy exploring that video games and cell phones will cease to be relevant. They will run around the small quaint town and get into adorable scrapes. I will always be around because my beautiful shop will be just around the corner. It will house rare antiques and beautiful aprons crafted by yours truly. I will wear long flowing skirts and in the winter will wear beautifully knitted sweaters with my adorable, yet functional boots. MMMMM. The husband will be doing something manly. Stoking a fire or clearing a patch of land for our humble two story cabin with huge windows to watch the morning sun rise slowly over the evergreen pines *Sigh* Okay, so I was going to go on and list a few negatives about the cool crisp air of the mountains. I don't believe I will today. It is just to hot, and honestly, I need every bit of imagination I have to survive the end of September in the desert. So this is where we part ways. I hope you are cool where you reside at this moment. I am. My son has just finished tying cans to a dog's tail and is chasing him around the mountainside. The little girls are chasing butterflies and making dandy lion chains in the meadow behind my store. I am inside with all of the windows and doors open, breathing in the sweet air of the clouds. Yes, I think I even smell rain. Yes, with my eyes closed, I am cool.