From Chaos Comes Happiness

I've finally come up with My Word for 2010. It's taken me a little while to decide on it. My initial thought was to choose the word patience , because I feel that is a trait I need to work on. However, I finally decided that there is another word out there that really speaks to me right now. One that moves me. One that I need right now. And while patience is something that I want to strive for, I think there is something more inside of me right now that needs urging. So, in the New Year, I will am going to spend my time focusing on the word . . . create cre-ate 1: to bring into existence 2 a: to invest with a new form, office or rank > b: to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior 3: cause, occasion 4 a: to produce through imaginative skill > b: design What a word! I have this feeling inside that I am going to try and unleash in 2010. I have these dreams and ideas that I want to grow. I want to create art. I want to create stories. I want to create phot...

I am getting old. Older. By the minute. Older than I've ever been. A few years ago I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and bought one of those magnifying make-up mirrors with the additional light feature, so that I could SEE very clearly what I was doing when putting my make-up on. This past weekend, I wished that I didn't have the large magnifying mirror. I'm kind of wishing that I put my make-up on by way of candle light and small compact mirror. Even smaller than compact mirror. More like those little tubes of lipstick that have a small rectangular mirror on them. Yes, that is the mirror I wish I used to put my make-up on. Because, my dear friends, I am getting older. Ok, so I can hear you saying, "No, your not!" and "You look fine!" and all those wonderful things that good friends say to each other to cheer themselves up. But the truth . . . and the mirror . . . do not lie . . . I am getting older. I have wrinkles in places that I never had before, and...

The weather in Chicago last week included some pretty awful rain-turned to ice storms. While the roads were a bit treacherous and driving was not fun, it did produce some absolutely stunning photo opportunities. Here are some truly beautiful shots that PG took on Christmas Eve. I LOVE that his eye for truly magnificent pictures took him outside to snap these. They are stunning. I absolutely love how PG captured this photo (above) of the Christmas lights on the tree outside - how the ice has forced these two to become one - how your eye follows the line of the tree branch and the light cord - the movement in the photo - pure harmony - An incredible photo, to me. I am not the photographer in our house. My husband, Phil, is. He has had an amazing eye with the camera long before I met him, and most of the photos you see on this blog are taken by him. My husband could have probably had 10 or 20 really successful professions in his lifetime, and I am absolutely certain that "photogra...

Is it wrong that I secretly wish Ella's gift from Santa was all my own? Is it wrong that I am secretly jealous that she received such an awesome present? Hmmmm. . . .you decide. This is the present that I covet . . . It's not just the Art Desk. It's all of the supplies that Santa brought to go with it. . . It's the brand new Crayola Pip-Squeaks Markers Tower that hold 50 bright color markers! It's the 2 boxes of Crayola crayons that hold a total of 192 beautiful and never before used crayola crayons in awesome colors like Prussian Blue and Mountain Meadow . Brand New. Maybe it is the two brand new drawing pads of paper that Santa brought, clean . . . without finger prints or smudges - all ready for her to create. (sigh) Or perhaps it is just simply the fact that she has a dedicated space where she can create, dream and . . . simply BE. It's amazes me that I can own a home, yet I have failed to set up a little corner or desk area (or even a 2 x 2 foot space) of...

After the presents were opened, the food was served, the dishes were washed, the guests were gone, the garbage was taken out, the carpets were vacuumed, the toys put away, and the children were sleeping . . . I had a brief moment on the couch in complete silence. I looked up and saw Our Nativity, and I was reminded what it was all about. What a lovely way to end the day. My wish for you is continued Peace and Love this Holiday Weekend. : )

There comes a time when a girl has just gotta sit back, take some deep breaths, and go with the flow. Let it be (as the great Beatles would say). And just . . . . live. With all of your help, I am doing just that. And you know what . . . I feel really good tonight. After a night of UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP (it's amazing how much better I feel when I have sleep), I woke up a little clearer and feeling like I can tackle pretty much anything. I guess writing last night helped me put everything into perspective. So, tonight, I feel good. So, time to send a little LOVE out to all of you - my dear Blog friends. You have picked me up when I was down, laughed with me, cried with me, and just meant more to me this year than you will ever realize. I might not take the time to write anymore this week (as you know from last night . . . there is lots to do! For YOU, too, I'm sure!) So, I wish you all the VERY BEST CHRISTMAS with your family and loved ones. I wish you moments of pure love and joy...

Before I start with the blahblahblah, I want to thank each and everyone of you for the thoughts and the kind words written about the Saturday post on My Dad. You have no idea how much your outpouring of LOVE filled my heart and how much easier the day was because of each of YOU! My Father really was just a wonderful, great, funny, stubborn, loyal, loving Man. And being able to share him with all of you was just so special to me. So, I thank you - sincerely. Now . . . . I have got to tell you . . . . here I am, once again, searching for the strength that I have come accustomed to each of your providing. . . because . . . AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I have completely and totally lost the Spirit (you know . . . the Big C Spirit . . . yes, CHRISTMAS) within the past week. I am exhausted. I am drained. I wish I could lay down and find that I've slept my way to 2010 . . . because 2009 has been poopy (that's my very official and technical term for the year, if you must know.) But I know, I...