Reading Goal

I realized today that there was a goal buried deep in my heart - I really thought I could easily read 100 books in the year 2010. Well, unless I spend the next week and a half reading, I'm not going to make it.

So for the coming year it's official: I WILL read at least 100 books. I will save myself from countless hours of watching mindless tv. I will read at night to relax, maybe freeing me from the need to plug into my Ipod to get to sleep. And I will make some headway on the ever-growing list of books I want to read.

Anyone want to join me in the challenge?

I Do Like Rainy Days

I do like rainy days. I do like rainy days.

Except when it's the weekend and the kids are not in school. If we'd been smart, we would have let the go outside in rainboots and get wet. That's why we have rainboots, right? Instead we're stuck with two wiggle worms who can't possibly go to sleep because they've been inside all day. You'd think I'd know, huh.

Oh, well. Back to the Y and daycare tomorrow.

So This Is Christmas

After three bouts with the flu, it has been feeling like Christmas just wasn't going to get done this year. So many things to finish. The house to clean. Packages to mail. Decorating that we always do still sitting in boxes.

But then I noticed a few little things. Mackenzie singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" the minute she gets out of bed. Christian counting the days. Children staring out the front window at the neighbors' Christmas lights. Christian singing along to Christmas music on the Ipod when he's going to sleep.

Christmas is here. If we don't do another thing, we're all set. What I have to do is to let go of what "perfect" Christmases were in the past and appreciate the one we have right now.

Giving Thanks

Yesterday was one of the most restful Thanksgivings I can remember. The last couple of holiday seasons have been difficult. Holidays have always meant family time together, wild and noisy, and our little Southern California sector of the family just seemed to get smaller and smaller. On more than one occasion, I've found myself thinking, "This isn't what I thought it would be." The picture in my head and heart has always been of children and grandchildren gathering together, and in today's world, that just isn't possible very often.

But a new holiday feeling is emerging. Our family circle has expanded to include my stepsister and her husband, who have not often been there to celebrate with us. What started out uncomfortable is now becoming pleasant. It's like new life has been injected into our family group. We all had such a good time this Thanksgiving. (Mom maybe less so, as she washed all the pans.) This was the first year in a long time that we all sat down at the Thanksgiving table together, not spread across two rooms. The grandchildren were respectful of the holiday feeling, pretty good manners at the table, eager to have their part in the holiday. The food was really good, and I think everyone felt appreciated.

A real Thanksgiving memory was established. Thanks, Mom, for having all of us. It will be wonderful when some of the rest of you can join us. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

I can't wait for Christmas!

I Don't Have All of the Answers

I really love my kids and I've worked hard to be there for them, whatever the need. But, you know what? I don't have all the answers. And if I spend all of my time trying to figure out how to solve their problems, when will they either learn to find their own solutions or decide to live with the consequences of their choices. So from this moment on, I will strive to be the cheerleader. I might look a little silly out there jumping up and down, but I'll bet my heart will be lighter if I trust them to take that next step themselves.

We've Got Weather

I'm not sure we haven't been transported to another state! Lightning and thunder crashed through the night and left us briefly with no power this morning. The poor dog had to be tricked into going outside, and when the cats insisted they had to go out, they dashed right back in. It's fun, it's wonderful, and hopefully it won't last so long we get tired of it.

Rain in October in California! Thanks!

Song for Ireland

For some reason I've taken a lot of trips down memory lane in the past couple of weeks. The very first evening we ever spent in Ireland was with Janet and Tom. At the end of the evening we ended up at The Plough, a pub located kitty-corner from the Abbey Theater. It was our first Irish pub. It was crowded and we felt lucky to snag the only table in a little tiny balcony that overlooked the rest of the pub. We were downing our first pints, listening to the musicians playing to the noisy crowd below. As they started playing "Song for Ireland," it seemed like everyone else in the pub began to sing along. I hope I can insert this link properly; this song still makes my heart soar