For whom does the blog roll?

A friend said the other day, "You've been blogging forever. Why?"

Good question. It started off as a place to flesh out writing ideas. Now it's more like a pensive. Do I have the correct word? I talking about the bowl that Dumbledore uses to collect memories? Mine, this blog is a collection of thoughts.

The other day I was reading about the sugaring season and more in 2008. That was a great year.

Spent some time revisiting the Washington DC posts from last summer.

Today I reread about parent - child communication in the post: The Emperor Has No Clothes. It still happens that way, but mom (me) has a full keyboard now. Texting is key. The phone call is for emphasis. My oldest called me today. When she calls, it's very important. And it was. Thank God for cell phones.

For whom does this blog roll? Obviously it rolls for me, but your welcome to tag a long.

Note: In actual fact I've only been blogging for 7.5 years.

Do You Ever Get Cold Feet?

My arctic toes are a constant here, in the winter, despite the wool socks. Reading, or plain relaxing, in the evenings requires serious blanket cover or the cold spreads to the rest of the body. A simple fix, a blanket, to keep on the winter evening schedule.

But what do we do for cold feet when the ambient temperatures are warmer and the windows are wide open? Warming those digits into motivation can seem as daunting as moving a mountain.

My mantra: One shovel full at a time. Slow and steady and the impossible will be possible.

Want to read something funny?

Read tonight's forecast... Smile

What do you see?

Saw this image on Facebook. First heard the quote during the intro to the movie There Be Dragons. Great, though violent at times, movie. Excellent thought provoking quote.

What do I see? I see hope.

Can you give without receiving?

Not at the farm. And especially not with my clients.  What about at home?

The Excavation

We try to instill independence in our children. Make them responsible for their school work, cleaning their room, managing certain aspects of their schedule. Still a parent's hand comes in handy. And may even be required at certain times.

Yesterday, while my middle tornado was at Art of Living, I picked up her room. Disposing of a fairly full black trash bag of trash. No details necessary; especially if you have teens of your own.

And when I informed her of my foray into her space she asked, "Did you go in my closet?" Yes, I had. To which she exclaimed, "Great, it had gotten out of control and I didn't know what to do."

Lesson learned Mom. Even though they are just about grown, they still need input. Sometimes advice. Most times a ride, or the car keys. And occasionally to clean out their closet.

My Gals

Two hours of wonder, inoculating calves. Crazy fun corning them in the pasture then holding them still for their shots.

Sleeplessness

This has been a sleepless week. Too many tasks. Still before each deliverable I remind myself to be present to the moment. Don't rush ahead and miss out on the here and now. Embrace the blessings. Pet the calves. Love my clients. Kiss my girls.

Work is stress filled. Many many questions. Or better stated the same question repeated repeatedly. Each answer commences with a smile. Each answer ends with reassurance. All is good. We are good.

To The Point

Be Needy - Need Jesus
Risk It - God made you, you. Be you with all your messiness.
In Christ - Christ is in you. Live in Him.

The perfect talk for Confirmation candidates questioning their place in their faith. Perfect talk for all.

Take Advantage

Life's many opportunities. Went to LIFT last night. Laughed until I thought I was on my last breath, thanks to Chris Padgett. Listened, hanging on to every word, both sung and spoken. Prayed, so thankful for this opportunity.

Be needy. Risk it. In Christ.
We are called to be saints right where we live.

Small Kindnesses with a Great Love

The focus of Confirmation I is not to know about Jesus, but to know Jesus. For how can the youth make the decision to be a follower of, a faith, a God, of any belief system, without actually knowing who/what they are signing up for. Mother Theresa told us to "recognize Jesus in the disguise and distress of the poor." She also said, "If you can't do great things (in this world) then do small things with a great love."

As a class we are taking baby steps. We are doing small things with a great love, in hopes of catching a real glimpse of the Risen Lord.

Martin Luther King Day - Remember Always

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

There is No try. Only Do.

"There is no try. Only Do," Can you guess the movie? Remember who said it?
What about this line, "It is time."  Do you recognize the references?

Both are first and foremost in mind as the kick off for the Boston Brain Tumor Ride was this past week. Still too cold, for me, to be outside riding. I've been working on strengthening my knee by pedaling inside.

"Go the distance?" Want to join me?
For we all know: What You Do Matters.

Enjoy your day!

Did you get out today?

Walked in the woods for just about an hour and a half. Nothing fast. On trails well traveled. With friends long acquainted.

"Go the distance."

Bad Day?

I had a bad day. But really in retrospect it was a stressful half hour that had me pining for better times.

Afterwards I realize that those 30 minutes were a real opportunity for love. A chance to sit and recognize Jesus in the distress and disguise of the poor. Not my words, but those of Mother Theresa. A gift. Thank you.

But this all begs the question: Who are the poor? Are they the elderly, the homeless, the recognized rich, or the fighting far from home soldier? What about the mother, the student, the hurting or injured?

We Have Girl Scout Cookies!

Four dollars a box and we ship!
Leave a comment to place an order.

Thank you.

Best Friends

Put a smile on your face.

Today is Tight

Today, from waking to bed, is a make a list so you don't forget scheduled tight day. The list making is a product of a scientific training. Where results, observations and radioisotopes were tracked and accounted for.

Now special emphasis is on breathing and not forgetting to enjoy each moment.

It's Erie

Saw my dream car, a shiny fire engine red 2 door Mini Cooper with a black rag top. And as I was thinking boy is that owner lucky, the driver's side door opened. Out hobbled a woman, my age. A grimace deeply creasing her face with every pain filled step she took.

Lucky? Bet she would drive a 13 year old Suburban with 193K miles if it meant her life was pain free.

What's Your Word?

Quick, do this test.
Clear your mind.
Now think of the one word that best describes you for you.

Is that the same word family, friends, coworkers would come up with?

Bankrupt!

Had a great time yesterday, going bankrupt! On our own we split our time three ways: Play, Work, and Girl Scouts (more play).

The key was she owned all the ships. In consecutive times around the board I was sent to jail (do not collect $200) and I had to pay her double rent on the ships ($400). Mortgaged to the hilt I wasn't collecting rent. No income stream... It was a slippery slope,

Bankrupt on the board, but rich in so many other ways.
Thank God.

And Five...

What's love got to do with it? Everything. Look at Patty's face. Just weeks old, she knows what feels good. The gentle touch of kind hands right between the eyes.
For a calf that's a hard to reach spot.

One And Two And Three And Four

There is a rhythm to life. It's best to find it. Before it's too late.

Number Three

Have patience. All good things come.

(I'm learning how to knit double sided.)

And now number two!

Number One... Then Number Two... Get It?

Number Two is have a sense of humor.
Tell me you didn't chuckle at this image from hoosiergardener.com.

Went to the farm today. First time this year. It was a blessing to finally have the time to shovel some of my favorite number two. And to visit the lovely ladies.

Number One

The image says it all.

Figured out how to get to my images stored in photostream.

It's satisfying when life hands you a puzzle to solve.

Maria ran on the treadmill yesterday. Her breathing is returning to normal. Thank God.

Look Ma! No photos!

Last Thursday my computer blue screened. Off to be repaired, no biggie, except I lost access to 10 years of digital  images and email address lists. Still I had my phone. I could manage.  Until yesterday when my phone lost its identity and displayed its burning desire to reconnect with iTunes. The iTunes application which runs on my computer, which is currently in the shop.

My phone which I use to communicate with my daughters when we out and away from home. The same phone which houses my captured collection of images from Facebook that I was to share as examples of  inspirational posters to my Confirmation I students last night.

The next few days will be interesting as both phone and I await the return of the repaired computer.  Life will have its ah ha moments as it stumbles along without cell phone connectivity. 

Which should be interesting.

Running saved her life

Asthma is very serious business. And for my oldest sneaky as well. And if it were not for her running this latest attack, the first in 15 years, (hence the sneaky), as her doctor stated,"She would have been in grave danger." I sincerely believe she would have died.

Thankfully her robust lung, and I mean lung, capacity from years of running, she was able to weather the storm of breathlessness until getting to a clinic several hours later.

She is past the apparent danger zone.
We have identified the trigger.
We pray she is never tested this away again.

We should all have some exercise in our lives.
For some, like my daughter, it could save their lives.

Run baby girl, run forever.

Then There Are These

Still looking for community service at home? How about doing your chores without being reminded?

Not even once. That would be nice.

Even the small can cast a big shadow

Can someone be too small to offer a helping hand?

Ten years ago my lovely and loving then two year old helped her Memere take a drink of water from her sippy bottle. Memere, battling brain cancer, couldn't really speak, and needed help with daily living tasks. She looked at the little one and weakly pointed to her bottle. In a shot, faster than any adult in the room, she was up and helping.

My daughter doesn't remember helping her Memere, but every other person in that room will never forget it.

Are you ever too old to help?

My clients are husband and wife, 97 and 92. Caught this humbling act of kindness the other day.

(He is helping his bride of 71 years put on her shoes.)

Compassion begins at home

When talking with my students about the different arenas of community service, global, local, parish and home, they have a difficult time grasping what they could do at home.

One suggestion: Don't leave the next person stranded. It only takes a moment to refill the holder.

"Do small things with great love."
Mother Theresa

I know this is true in theory

But...

Today students return to school in Newtown, CT and bliss is/was surely taxed and tested in that community and around the world.

Love this picture!

Having a cell phone with a camera means I take even more pictures than ever. Is that even possible?

This image is from Christ The King parish in Rutland, VT. Taken Dec. 31st after Mass.

A great part about traveling is knowing there is an awesome parish in the locale.

What was your greatest gift today?

Mine was going to work. A tried and true blue gift to have the opportunity to spend time with my clients.

What did we do? Well, we cooked, cleaned out the refrigerator, did laundry, washed the dishes, made the bed, cleaned the bathroom and washed the kitchen floor. Oh and yes we sang, danced about to Dean Martin singing Italian love songs and laughed.

What's with all the nativity pictures? Glad you asked. The Christ child is the greatest gift of all.

Tired of pushing!

If you are part of a good old boy network, count me out.

If your organization, your focus, your clientele, your beliefs, your whatever, attempts to placate women in general, me specifically, with a smile, takes what you can get, but then closes a door, forget it.

I'm done with being tolerated. Done with being allowed to sit with the big boys, but not truly accepted. Done with doing the work, to get a pat on the back of the hand. There, there.

For New Years, my resolution is my resolve. Go ahead, play by your rules; I'm not playing your games anymore.

No worries. I'm good.

Happy New Year