Richness

"The richness of life lies in the memories we have forgotten." - Cesare Pavese

When I was your age and older I loved baking in my mother's kitchen. When I opened the cupboards there was always an abundance of dishes, spices, utensils and much more. I could choose just about anything I wanted to bake (cookies were almost always my choice), and I never had to worry my mother didn't have the ingredients I needed on hand.

This morning grandma Jeanne wanted to make banana bread. When I opened up the cupboards I had everything I needed to make banana bread, with choices of whether I wanted to add blue berries, cranberries, or nuts, use whole wheat flour, rye, pastry, or unbleached.

I made banana bread with cranberries and remembered my mother, who made my life rich in so many ways.

I Hope you Dance...

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance

Be of good cheer....(Homer)

Grandma Jeanne works two jobs, so when I come home late at night, I am tired. Sometimes I am very tired. Sometimes when I come home to a sink full of dirty dishes I start to become "grumpy". Being grumpy has "no" rewards. Grandpa Willard and Uncle Tyler also work long days and when I remember all they have done in working together I am very thankful.

Alexandra Stoddard wrote in her book, Grace Notes:
A cheerful disposition is luminous. It illuminates everyone and everything. Being cheerful is an attitude.

Striving to be cheerful is a win win situation. CHEERS!!!

Cold & Snow

Today it is cold, VERY cold. The kind of cold you step outside and the liquid in your nose freezes. The kind of cold that make your fingers numb. So this morning when I went to walk Marley, I put my wool socks over my other socks, I put snow pants over my other pants, and I put my coat with a hood over my sweat shirt with a hood, and yes gloves.

To Marley, it didn't matter how cold it was, it didn't matter that the snow came up to his belly, and up to my knees. He leaped through the snow, he ate the snow, he ran around the barn as I tumbled behind and waited for me to go around again...he was happy, he was satisfied and for
the moment I was happy and satisfied with the cold, the snow and for my walk with Marley.

Routine

Every morning I read from my Bible (I've had since I was in high school).

Every morning I make myself a cup of coffee.

& every morning I have a bowl of oatmeal with dates or cranberries.


To grandma Jeanne my morning routine gives me a sense of comfort and normality before I leave home into the work force of unpredictable events. I wish you comfort and a sense of normality in your life time. I wish that before you begin your days, you will wrap yourself with something that brings you peace and strength and yes...routine.

When you turned 7 (11-27-10)

When I was your age

When I was your age, whenever I saw a "big" tractor, I wished I could ride in one to see what it looked like from up there. Today grandpa Willard & I got behind this one and I still wished I could ride one.