From Chaos Comes Happiness

Today we are deep in the Halloween festivities as we prepare for 14 family members to gather and have some fun. I've been really surprised this year by the people who have become so anti-Halloween, but it's alright - I truly support whatever you choose to do, or not do, in your home. In our home, Halloween is NOT a day to celebrate death or evil things, it is NOT a day to beg for anything from anyone, it is NOT a day to judge anyone. It is a day for our family to have some silly fun. . . To dress up as whatever we want. . . And a day for me to wear my ridiculous headband while making silly cakes, ghost cookies, witches brew punch, hot dog "bug" bites, pin the nose on the pumpkin games, Halloween charades games, and a super big pot of chili for all to enjoy. (Sorry about the photo without the make-up. Katie wanted to take my picture. While I do have my headband on, I'm not completely ready for our guests. You get the idea, though. I LOVE this headband. How can I...

I don't care what you say about them . . . scary movies are NO FUN for me. I just came to this realization a couple years ago - right about the time I was sitting in our local movie theater with some dear neighbors and friends, watching that Rob Zombie's Halloween Movie. It was 2007, and I remember the moment like it was yesterday. . . . it was about 30 minutes into the movie, and I couldn't see anything. Why? you ask? Because I had tucked the greasy buttered popcorn napkin over my glasses (I was desperate) in an attempt to block out having to look at the horrific scenes being played on the screen before me. Then I decided to block out the sound of the movie as well, as I stuck my buttered popcorn hands over my ears, and started rocking back and forth in my seat. Yes, I was that terrified (and I was quite a scene to those around me, I am sure.) That movie was so gross and scary and horrific to me. I could not watch it, or hear it, at all. So there I was sitting in the ...

Did I ever tell you that my Dad was a Butcher? I thought of him yesterday as I stopped at a local meat store. CP Meat Market is a great little shop in our town and I just love going into that store - because when I am there, I always feel closer to my Dad. My Dad worked for a meat packing company in the city - around 39th & Morgan, actually. I don't know much about the company that he worked for, because Dad didn't talk about his work much. He was a hard working man, Dad was, and he left his work AT work. When he was home - he was Dad. Doing Dad things. So, I don't know much about the company he worked for or what the building looked like or even what types of meat he cut at work. He took care of all of that. And I was just . . . his kid. I remember shortly after Dad had passed away I wanted to make a beef stew. Now, I have to start off by telling you that I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about meat. Never did, and probably never will. I never had to, as Dad took care of tha...

What better way to spend a day than . . . playing in the leaves Collecting leaves (and the kids) in garbage cans . . . Cleaning out our pumpkins . . . Carving the pumpkins . . . Lighting them . . . and getting all ready for Halloween? To me, there was no better way to spend today. (Well, maybe a nap would have made it a little itsy bitsy bit better. But that's ok. We'll catch up with that later!)

Shhhhhh . . . . I've got a secret . . . I have a little place I like to go . . . when I need to get away from it all . . . it's a tiny space . . . not far from loved ones . . . where I can hide away from all of the chaos . . . there are no windows . . . no telephone lines . . . only gentle reminders of a good way to live . . . a positive way of thinking . . . with hopes and dreams . . . like this one . . . and this one . . . it's my quiet time space . . . my place to rest and reflect . . . with only one "seat" and a small "desktop". . . it is a tiny tiny place . . . but it's my sanctuary . . . . Where is this place, you ask? Yes, it's true. My bathroom. And I find that I often visit this space to just get away from screaming children, loud televisions, phones ringing, and blackberries going off. It's my place where I can wash my face, paint my toes, play sudoku, read a book, meditate, pray, all in a quiet (and mostly uninterrupted) space. I...

It's Friday. We made it through another week ( Thankful ). And while I'm feeling a tad bit drained in the brain, (and am spending this wonderful day off getting caught up on laundry laundry laundry) I seem to be having a big ol'Love Fest in my heart today that I just had to write about. You see, I feel like I'm in a good place right now (YEA!!!) Those of you who have been reading along in my blog have witnessed some "not so good" emotions the past couple months. But lately . . . Clarity. Peacefulness. Balance. Thankfulness. Gratefulness. Ah. That feels good. The thing is. . . . I am blessed, and I know it. I've written before about my ARMY . . . and today I feel I have to write about some more blessings. You see, I am surrounded by amazing people. People who I know, and people who I don't know. People who I speak with daily, and people who I've never spoken with at all. People who, by their words and actions, have managed to fill my heart with joy...

That's it . . . I've got it. This time, it's gonna work. Definitely. I've got a plan. An idea. Something that I want to do - that is going to really make my dreams come true . Something that is going to help me become SOMEONE . Something that is calling me . Something that I believe in. Yes, I've had these plans before. My sister reminded me of them this morning, as I spoke with her on my way into the city. We were talking about life/work/money and I said something like, "Whatever is meant to be . . . will be. I'm not worried. I'm on a new mission. I have a new quest that I am going to embark on." "You are?" she said. "What is your new quest?" "I'm going to write a book . I'm going to be an author . That is what I am going to do." "Oh," she said, "You are, huh? Like your Witches ??" OUCH!! There she goes, again. Bringing up the Witches . You see, the Witches were a "Million Dollar...