Before I tear off the rear-view mirror and cruise happily into 2018, let me linger just a moment…
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Peace
Have a Safe New Year’s Eve!
Dear God,
In this sacred season,
May Your Spirit move through me
And shine upon the world.
May Your Love be expressed
With every thought I think
And every action that I take.
May Christ be born anew
in me.
We give to you this passing year,
And pray for blessing upon the year ahead.
Heal us of our wounds, dear God,
And forgive us our mistakes.
May mercy and compassion
Light up the sky
And heal our broken world.
Amen
(2017 Holiday and End of Year Prayer from Marianne Williamson)
Peace
My Pain Rant continues, though it’s gone from 100 to about 15 in the last 10 days. I’m babying it along and have a follow-up with the doctor on Monday.
In the meantime, I’m working on not getting in a hurry… At Christmastime, when there are so many demands, it’s a real work of Zen. Be Here Now. Everything will be done on time. It makes me realize that all that hurrying isn’t necessary. I’ve been crippled up for a couple of weeks now, and yet it’s all done or getting done with plenty of time to spare. The NYC gifts are being delivered daily. The cards have been mailed, the cookies are baked. The Eville presents are wrapped and ready for delivery…
I’m coming to grips with the undeniable fact that I have some control issues (shh…don’t tell the kids I admitted it). It came to the forefront as I was letting Casey “help” me with baking, you know, just putting the cookie dough on the baking sheets and into the oven, then taking them out and cooling them…it turned out more like “not like that” “don’t put that there” “only let them sit one minute” …. suddenly, I walked smack into my kitchen island, banging my sore hip on the (thankfully rounded) corner. I limped on back to my comfortable chair and Let It Go. It all turned out fine, as you probably could guess.
By the way, I made a new recipe for oatmeal cookies this year. I added banana, cutting back 1/4 cup of butter on the Quaker’s Best Oatmeal Cookies. It is delicious.
Tonight we’re going to Olivia’s Winter Christmas Concert, where she will perform with the 4th and 5th grade choir. I think I’ll have to stand, but that will be fine!
Yesterday morning we had Breakfast with Santa at Gattitown with The Jrs. Samantha, or as she calls herself, “Amanty”, was much friendlier to Santa this year. We ate some decent food, played unlimited games, gave our lists to Santa and listened to him read a story.
Later that afternoon, Olivia and her little sister came over and decorated the tree…
Let the festivities begin!!
We’re outside today with no jacket, pretending like this is going to last… One more day, anyway… Snow predicted for the end of the week! That will match our Christmas mood better, though..!
Peace
It’s Husband’s birthday today–63 years old. I have done so much gushing about him on this blog that you already know that I am rather fond of him.
Happy Birthday, Michael Ray Casey! And Many More!
To my Dear and Loving Husband
A Poem by Anne Bradstreet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Peace
(I am on my way to the chiropractor…is it my back or my hip? We will soon know. Way to celebrate, huh?)
“I am grateful for what I am and have…my thanksgiving is perpetual.” … Henry David Thoreau
Me, too…
Peace
I’ve been enjoying this down-time before the holidaze, just piddling around the house, cooking up some soups and casseroles.
I’m reading “Norse Mythology” by Neil Gaiman. I love it! I’ve been reading several chapters a night, like bedtime stories, and Love Odin, Thor, and especially Loki. Though they are Not lovable, really. Great Stories!
I’m listening to 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde a live album by folk, country, and old-time music band, Old Crow Medicine Show. The album is a track-for-track tribute to Bob Dylan’s landmark 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde. Old Crow re-imagined the arrangements of the individual tracks with manic fiddles and banjos, and it’s all good.
I’m practicing on the piano “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Seems like everybody in high school who could play piano could play this one, but I just found the music in a used book from a rummage sale. It’s more difficult than I thought it would be, so I am challenged…practicing a lot…
My piano sounds better than that…
One more week until Thanksgiving, so I’d better pick up the pace and get ready for
Turkey and Tradition, the Opening Race of the Holiday Triple Crown.
I am so thankful for thankfulness, it just makes me feel so grateful for gratitude… I’m bound to win…
Peace
