Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas. It has been the most wonderful holiday. Family makes it the best . We played silly games (the most politically-incorrect ever!) with Sam and Steph, laughed really hard, ate too much with everyone, caught up on the all the family "doings", missed the ones who were not with us and just spread the love. It has gone by too fast and now airport departures are looming:(  Wishing everyone the best holiday and a Happy New Year. Make it the best!

after heartbreak...

I have had no words to make sense of the tragedy that happened at Sandy Hook school. The deaths of these children and teachers has diminished us all. Innocence destroyed is the face of evil. How could this have happened? We look outward for answers and we look at each other and wondered how could we have prevented this? It begins a outrage about guns and gun control and will more vigilance toward "the loner type" warn us earlier.  I don't know. What I do know is that we are responsible. We must reach out to the lonely, the fearful, the angry and by sharing our humanity we may stop one senseless act that a fearful, angry, hopeless person may do. One kind smile, one kind word ripples outward and expands in the whole world. It is more powerful than evil and we are more powerful than the wrong doer. We can take such senseless tragedy and each of us remember to take a little more time to listen to someone who may need a kindness at that moment.

the 2013 calendar is done and here!

Using Sharon's wonderful pictures we pulled together the best ones and made a 2013 calendar for the Hunt Club. I will have it with me at hunt meets or Sharon will - so let us know. Today is the first of four hunting days in a row basically- can't wait. I can get my fill of "me and horse" time in before Christmas , then I can just enjoy the kids visit which I am so excited about. Short but sweet! Trying to work out details for a hunting trip to Georgia in Jan. Hunting coyote with Belle Meade which should be  awesome. They have four fields, two first flight - one called "coyote", the other "fox".  As you can imagine the former just goes like a bat out of hell, in a straight line, usually until you lose the coyote! The latter goes like a bat out of hell in a circle!  Sounds like an extreme sport and I can't wait!

Christmas Day minus 18

Only 18 days 'til Christmas. The house used to be full of children's excitement, which would have  started building exponentially by this date in years past. Now, I am the only one, so far, opening the Advent calendar's little date boxes, and pulling out the miniature Xmas ornaments.  This calendar is older than the kids and has been used every year, lovingly opened and replaced every time. So many memories, it brings a big smile to my face every time I go by it hanging in the kitchen. We decorated the tree right after Thanksgiving when Will and Annie were here to help and now I am waiting to share all my building excitement with Sarah and Kevin, who arrive on the 21st, as well as Will.  Have to squeeze all the Christmas joy into fewer days, as they all leave again Dec 26th! Just makes it all the sweeter. So funny that I am the one "waiting at the top of the stairs", so to speak, for the "kids" to get here and get up, so we can begin Christmas!!

Happy Birthday to Sam

Today is my son's Birthday. I wished him a wonderful day and reflected for a moment on that day 27 years ago. He is the first of the three best things that ever happened to me- my kids. The love affair with your children is so awesome. It gets you through all the rough times and it shines the brightest light on everything else. My kids make my day. I am so proud of them and inspired by all their achievements. Being their mother is the best gift I was ever given and it continues to give me the biggest smile every day. Happy Birthday Sam. Thanks for picking me to be your Mom. I love you.