Seeing the future

So many times I pause and ponder the future.

Tonight,

as I looked at the new beds of perennials I have created,

I was blessed.

Being a gardener for a while now,

I am privileged to have experienced the absolute

beauty of a garden at it's height of loveliness.

As I stood looking at the beds that now contain all my beloved flowers,

I could see the future.

In my mind,

the yellows, reds and purples are ablaze.

The butterflies are floating on the breeze

and I am smiling,

covered in dirt.

I dug the roots deep enough,

that at this time of year,

there should be little transplant shock.

I'll baby them if need be for a week or two.

Then,

I'll watch as they begin to awaken,

spread together,

and form

a carpet

of color.

I am so grateful for the flowers,

for this day,

for my children.

...my job, my friends, my family.

It is hard to let go of the past.

There is a sense of emptiness...

a little melancholy.

Sometimes my faith falters.

I quiver a little and hesitate as I step forward.

Then,

I am blessed with simple things like...

worms,

blackberry bushes,

and dirt that won't come out from under my nails....

I have to smile.

Despite my small whimper...

I know,

I don't have to form a

"Cry Baby Club".

The world will be o.k.

I pray that when your emotions overshadow your good sense,

that you will be given what you need to keep walking.

I hope you know,

that if you sometimes feel the need,

to form your own local chapter of the,

"Cry Baby Club",

you are in good company!

I hope you find peace and happiness on your journey...

and maybe,

a worm or two!

May you be blessed!

Sneaky

Out on the playground this morning,

the sun shone brightly on my energetic charges.

As my students began to play,

I noticed,

spread across the lawn,

teeny tiny chalk nubs,

left over,

from another happy day.

Giving into my impulse,

I bent over and gathered up a few hunks.

Knowing I was being watched,
I started to write on the sidewalk that circles our play structure.

A sly grin stole across my face as my audience grew.

Children began to read over my shoulder as I crouched writing a sentence.

The moment my kiddos finished reading what I had written,

I squealed and ran.

Thus,
a game was born.

For about fifteen minutes ,

a merry game of chase ensued,

while my kids and I "played" together.

I chuckled silently to myself as my students drifted in and out of the action.

I made a mental note to remember this activity

for another day's "free choice" fun.

When it was all over,
Everyone was content.
And (shhhh!) we'd all practiced our reading and running skills!

May your afternoon and evening be full of fun!

If you happen to learn something lovely along the way, consider it an added bonus!

Happy thoughts to you and yours

and may you be blessed,

Today,

Tomorrow,

Always.

Beauty all around us...

Tonight
I planted more flowers.
I had a couple cookies made by my oldest kiddo.
Talked for an hour to friends.
Helped my youngest daughter with her homework.
Laughed
Sighed
Contemplated life


I didn't
...do a bit of work except for household chores
I didn't touch the school books...

You see,
it's Spring Break week for me!

So,
though,
It's off to school I go,
this week is purely for "fun".

Field trips
Pearler beads
lots of play time...

Sigh
I am tired.
All the happiness is wearing me out.

I suppose I must go to bed.

I feel like a little child...
that something nice will happen when I close my eyes...
I might "miss" something.

How silly.

I pray that you are more sensible.

That sleep comes easily tonight and you wake tomorrow rested.

God Bless!

Summer Daydreams...

I am smiling as I happily listen to my itunes.

I find that the rhythm of my typing,

is seeming to fall in line with the beat of my music.

This weekend has been wonderful.

I have had so many adventures...

so many blessings...

so much happiness...

That I will be hard pressed to fall asleep tonight.

My mind is whirling.

...with happy thoughts...

possibilities

joyous musings...

...lovely discoveries

perfect moments...

I find myself daydreaming...

looking at my pictures...

smiling at my past adventures

with my children

chuckling at the new ones

that are just around the corner...

for my kiddos

and those just for me!

All on my own.

I know I'm gushing....

(looking slightly sheepish in Ohio)

I just want to share the fun with all of you!

The ability to change your mind

Darkness is falling here in Ohio...

It's been a little chilly today...
a tad rainy at times...
and,
for the past few hours,
the world has been a bit misty...

Anyone who has been outdoors today,

probably wishes for a warm cup of coffee

and some slippers.

Their fingers are probably taking a little while to thaw out...

However,

if they've been doing what I've been doing...

They are very likely extremely happy.

This afternoon,

I changed my mind.

I looked at my lovely station wagon and headed to my basement.

Got a shovel.

Had my little boy put his shoes and jacket on...

and headed back over to my old garden.

Flowers left behind...

were about to be reclaimed.

Black eyed Susan's,

Daisies,

Bee Balm,

Lavender,

Pampas Grass,

Parsley for my butterflies,

Coneflowers of all varieties...

Even snapdragons

and Hollyhock!

I spent the afternoon making trips...

digging...

planting...

smiling...

dreaming...

thankful...

Reclaiming

Changing my mind

Finding a solution

a way to save

beautiful things

my things

If you were here,

I'd make cookies,

I'd share some coffee.

Since you are not,

Please know that you are a blessing to those who know you.

I pray that you will always be shown a way

to keep what is precious to you.

May you be blessed.

Today,

Tomorrow,

Always!

Moments frozen in time

Standing there...

I see them...

and yet...

My heart remembers

tiny hands...

happy squeals

as they "flew" a hamster with a paper super hero cape...

as they dressed in furry animal costumes...

and played for hours..

I see the hedgehog birthday surprise cake...

I remember the trip we all took to Mammoth cave...

In my heart I feel years of

peaceful...

simple...

blessings...

Today, as they stood before me...

I sighed...

and thanked God.

For the gift of friendship

that has been given to these two young women

who I will always love.

I pray that they,

like you and I,

will find their futures to be full of possibilities and blessings.

I pray that we will all follow our hearts,

use our gifts..

Be who we are meant to become...

Life is an adventure,

a blessing.

May yours be beautiful,

happy,

peaceful!

Can't stop smiling!

In my driveway,

there is a car.

It's mine.

It is beautiful.

I squealed when I was handed the title.

I think I did a happy dance.

I may not stop smiling for quite a while.

The car...

the reason I am bouncing and silly...

would not be sitting there...
without the help of a friend.

Words will never be able to express my gratitude.

My kiddos and I can go to our favorite Metro Parks again.
I can go to work without waking up my dear father.
I can run to the store without actually "running"!

I am giddy.

I actually kissed the car.

...not fibbing!...

I am so....

happy...

grateful...

blessed.

May the prayers on your heart...
may your needs...
even the unspoken ones...
that seem too big...
that seem too impossible...
I pray that they will be met.

Rejoice with me today!

Sometimes a blessing is so wonderful,

you must shout it from the proverbial mountaintop!

Blessings

I'm counting my blessings today.

This photo is of my little son.

He's almost eleven.

He is mostly nonverbal....

notice I didn't say silent.

(I'm smiling as I type this.)

He has been known to flood bathrooms,

break things

and do embarrassing things in public.

Today, as he sat on my floor and I played my itunes for him...

I was struck by how very much I love him.

He is high maintenance.

Sometimes his hijinks's have me wondering what I should do.

And yet...

his smile...

melts my heart.

...he loves sidewalk chalk...

cookies...

silly songs...

pizza...

walking at the parks...

He is a blessing.

...not a liability...

I am glad he's mine.

It is easy to look and see the problems.

Sometimes, when I am discouraged,

I have felt unequal to the effort it takes.

My little guy is my biggest challenge.

and...

quite likely my biggest blessing.

Today, I as I sit here,

I am saying a prayer.

One of thanks.

For the woman I have become,

because of my son.

I pray that I will be given the strength

to continue to be the mother he deserves,

the one he needs.

I hope for you,

that when you have challenges,

you will be blessed,

as you find a way to do what you need to do.

Rain

Someone, somewhere heard my musings this morning and chuckled.

As my eldest daughter and I happily chatted and packed lunches this morning, we heard my youngest kiddo awaken.

I decided to let him wake up on his own and come on down as I had already checked on him earlier and left his door ajar.

Everything seemed fine until a few minutes later when we heard an odd sound of water running and suddenly water was "RAINING" on our heads!

This was not fresh water.

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

As we screamed bloody murder, I ran for the stairs to see what had happened.

(Sadly, I was correct in my assumption.)

My youngest had plugged the toilet and then continued to flush.



yuck.....ooooooooh.......icky......


New Clothes... Another shower for me.... a bath for him..... two loads of towels and all the pans my daughter used to try and catch the drips.


... I guess that's what happens if you are too philosophical in the morning.


I must confess I was not quite so positive while it was happening.

I assure you I said a few words that aren't "Kindergarten safe" as my eldest says.


.... But, when it was all over....
I still made it to work on time.
Everyone had breakfast.
Everyone was clean.
Everything was alright.

So, in the whole scheme of things...

no harm no foul...

Though it may be a while before I blog about rain again...

Have a wonderful afternoon.

I hope it is uneventful.

If it rains on you, I hope it "rains" only rain.

God Bless!

Before the sun comes up

Before the sun comes up, in the quiet of the morning, I rarely know the weather.

Many times I step out and and am surprised by rain, falling snow or swirling wind.

How like life this experience is....

Sometimes, we can see good things coming or trouble brewing.

Many times though, what happens takes us unaware.

I pray that whatever comes your way today will not be too much for you.

That, good or bad, today's events will not cause you to stumble.

I wish for you a beautiful day.

...if you find rain instead...

may you have an umbrella!

Visiting the Moon

Yay for my best co-worker and I!

We had so much fun tonight.

Tonight was our school's Science Fair Open House.

Together with the Preschool and Pre-K teachers at our daycare, we put on four rooms of experiments and general happy silliness.

Our theme was outer space.

My friend Laura and I chose the gym as our "classroom" and carried in tables.

We had an experiment with balloons (rockets),

coloring sheets of outer space,,

"moon" play dough (Can you say "moon critters"?)

a "moon" photo op created by the Kindergarten students

and

even six kinds of cheese to taste. (Did you know the moon isn't really made of cheese? shocking!)

Not only a chance to learn,

tonight was also a chance for prospective students to get a look and my friend and I.

Sigh....

It was a lot of work.

I am tired.

But,

it was completely worth it.

There is nothing quite like the joy of little ones playing with simple things.

Like crayons...

play dough...

balloons.

I pray that you may be as fortunate as my friend and I...

...That you may experience the joy of a job well done.

I hope you rest easy tonight and awake tomorrow ready for the adventures before you.

May you be blessed.

Today,

Tomorrow,

Always.

Daydreaming of napping

Sleep tight,

Don't let the bed bugs bite.

If they do,

take your shoe and

squish 'em 'til they're black and blue.

A dear friend taught me the rhyme,

which is a tad different than how I learned it as a child.

Tonight I must confess that I'm not feeling a bit chatty.

I am going to set my cell alarm,

take a blanket

and

go "watch"

a bit of Twilight with my eldest daughter who wants my company.

Because she loves me,

she'll forgive me if I doze off.

I pray that as day turns to night,

you will find rest for your head,

your heart,

your soul.

May you be blessed.

Tonight,

Tomorrow,

Always.

(May you escape those wicked "bugs" as well!)

Small changes

I need a new bottle of wite out.

Somehow the little spongy thing has fallen off and it seems a little gummy.

I find myself doing unusual shaking things with the bottle and dabbing at my paperwork with the stick that is still attached to the lid.

I know I tend to be a tad philosophical ...

I promise,

I really have a point.

While fussing with the wite out, I considered the fact that the crazy bottle has been driving me nuts for months and yet I still haven't replaced it.

It is not expensive, nor hard to find.

So why don't I fix the problem?

Perhaps in the whole scheme of things,

I'm just not inconvenienced enough to take action.

A bottle of wite out is,

after all,

just a bottle of wite out.

This evening though,

as I was once again pondering life's path,

I was thinking about the kind of woman I want to be,

who I am

and who I have been.

What is it that I need to do,

to be who I am meant to be?

What habits should I cultivate,

which should I prune?

What actions should I take that will bring true lasting happiness?

I hear the conversations of my youth playing in my ears,

the words of my parents imparting advice on faith and life.

Sometimes it is hard to make the little changes we need.

Choices in what we read,

what we watch

and even who we spend our time with,

really matter.

I pray that you,

that I,

will seek the path that will lead to real lasting joy.

That we will find a way to submit to the truth when we hear it.

To throw the lousy out and replace the broken.

With something beautiful...

or at least not gummy!

May you be blessed.

This night, tomorrow and always.

Pigs

From childhood tales of friendship and loyalty,

to modern day fairy tales like Babe,

there is something about pigs that captures the imagination.

A dear student of mine has requested to learn about these fascinating creatures.

So, learn we shall!

From why they like mud,

to what they like to eat.

We'll work hard to find out all we can discover together.

I smile when I think of the dot to dots, the "pig" sight word games and even a "pig" art project that will take place.

We will meet our standards and fulfill a wish at the same time.

The thought of the week makes my heart sigh.

Innocent curiosity and pleasure.

Mud and slop...

Smelly and dirty

or washed in buttermilk waiting for the fair judges...

The little one who requested knowledge of pigs will be so happy.

His classmates will enjoy the fun as well.

I am so sincerely blessed to be a teacher.

May the week before you,

the events yet to unfold,

be moments that touch your heart.

I pray that whatever you face,

that there will be some innocent pleasure

to bring you peace.

May you be blessed.

New Beginnings

Today I filled my front flower bed.

It needs a few more bags of dirt.
I'm going to let it settle and then add in a little more.

To make sure my garden is all my own,

I laid down landscape fabric before I started.

My dreams may not be the same as anyone who came before me.

I want my my garden to be my own.

It took a little extra time to move the stones and lay the barrier down.

In the long run though,

I know I will be grateful.

Starting over in life is not so easy.

My garden makes me excited.

The fresh start is a challenge.

I must confess though,

the new opportunities in my personal life

often inspire nerves

that I haven't felt since my teenage years.

I chuckle at my own uncertainty some days.

I pray that as we walk the road of life,

we do not unnecessarily fear the adventures we face.

I fervently hope that we take the lessons of our past,

wrap ourselves in the "fabric" of our faith

(hopefully it will keep out weeds!)

and

step out into the sunshine.

Life is meant to be lived.

May the garden of your life be beautiful and full of good growth!

We had so much fun!

Last week, in their homework folders, my students were asked what it was they'd like to study before the end of the year.

Today, in response to one young man's suggestion,

we learned about worms!

We read a book about worms.

Visited an amazing interactive website

all about the squirmy critters!

Watched a Max and Ruby cartoon entitled, "Worm Cake".

Made our own construction paper "friend".

and....

drum roll please!

We worked in pairs,

with metal spoons,

to dig for worms!

We found worms enough for everyone and brought them inside to examine them at length. We even put wet paper towels in the bottom of our collection container so they wouldn't dry out.

I'm not fibbing...

I had students' begging to take their worm home.

I told them I could make no promises about that.

That...gasp!... not everyone loved worms.

I reminded them about how I felt about wolf spiders.

(I hope only a few parents want to skin me alive for the new "pet".)

Days like today make me so glad to be a Kindergarten teacher.

Where else could I play in the dirt and be paid?

I hope that your evening,

your weekend,

is just as blessed as my day has been!

Enjoy the simple pleasures all around you!

Nickel Nonsense

Tomorrow is the end of the Third Quarter at school. This past week has been a calm time with review and assessments.

We've gone on sight word "hunts", used shaving cream to practice word families and popped popcorn to assist with addition.

Today we played another game of, "You can keep it!" This game is my attempt at motivating my students struggling with coin identification. In most families, children simply do not see coins being used on a daily basis. The piggy bank with begged change is no longer a bedroom standard. My intelligent children do not have the life experience to intuitively know which coin is which.

My response?
Literally a group discussion.
An examination of a coin.
A comparison to the other coins.

We name it.
We talk about the possible pictures that could be on it.
(The new coins, which thrill collectors, terrorize my students.)

Then... if they can name it... and tell me its value, it is THEIRS!

...(insert chuckle here)...

Nickels, pennies and dimes still make an impression in 2009.

Please don't clue them into their actual relative value!

After our lesson, every kid could tell me what I'd given them;
they could show me where the nickel said, "Five Cents".
For the rest of our day together,
every time I saw a coin in the hands of a student,

I asked what it was and how much it was worth.

Every time, they knew!

Review time is so satisfying because the progress my students have made makes me so happy.

Kindergarten children learn so much; they are a privilege to help educate.

I hope for you this evening,
the simple pleasure my students had today
as they nibbled ten pieces of popcorn,
measured snakes out of play dough
and
collected their very own nickel!

Good night and God bless!

Finding a tune for our hearts

My eldest daughter received an ipod for Christmas. She loaded it with her favorite songs picked out of our combined Itunes playlists.

Because she is a good kid,

she doesn't even fuss when I borrow it to walk the stairs some nights.

I love the peppy music and it makes the half an hour go faster.

What a blessing music can be.

There seems to be a song to fit every mood,

every occasion.

Though I wouldn't advise sappy love songs when your boohooing over a broken heart or Children's music at five o'clock in the morning to wake up with; I can honestly say that I believe musicians have given our world so very much.

Music can lift our spirits,

challenge us to grow stronger

or even just supply us with a good beat to exercise to.

Tonight, I will again borrow the ipod to walk the stairs.

As I walk, I'll clear my mind and just listen.

I'll dance and sing as I hop up and down the stairs.

I am grateful no one can see me.

I pray that your evening is beautiful,

that whatever your day has brought your way...

that you can find a way to unwind.

Find a favorite song,

listen and enjoy.

May you be blessed with the melody as it speaks to your soul.

May you be refreshed and nourished.

Ping Pong Balls... plastic beads... green Peeps!

Today, a very dear parent made our day perfect.

Quiet and unassuming, she came this morning with her little son dressed in a happy leprechaun hat.

She came bearing a smile and a bag of loot to share.

All day, I reached into the bag and pulled out treasures.

First it was the green beads that made us all festive.

Later it was shamrocks and stickers to make necklaces.

Later still,

as we sat in the movie room,

out of the bag came green marshmallow bunnies and Peeps!

Delighted and gracious, the woman's small son passed out the goodies to his equally ecstatic classmates. One of my students had never had the sugar encrusted confections and could hardly believe her good fortune.

The final treat, involved a simple game that involved throwing ping pong balls into small baking dishes filled with small clear plastic cups. The children were allowed to play as long as they wanted to and were awarded a Saint Patrick's Day pencil when they "won".

Add in a lovely party with green juice, green plates, green napkins, green fruit, green veggies, green jello and even green marshmallow fluff and you can imagine the day we had.

With a spring video, a sunny romp on our playground and happy smiles all around, it is impossible for me to say how the day could have been better.

I feel so blessed to teach in a school with such supportive parents and staff. From the delicious food prepared by our caring parents to the treats by the Saint Patrick's day loving mom; the day was a success because of their help!

May you find those around you equally as nice.

I pray your own day is sunny and that you may find a happy smile playing about your lips.

May you be blessed my friends on this lovely and blessed day!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

A not so secret love affair!

Now that I have your attention...

...you might guess that I love Target!

For those of you who do not share my affection, my outburst may seem a little over the top.

Therefore, I'm going to share the top three reasons why going to Target is so much fun. There are many many more.... but I know you're busy!

• The CLOTHES!... have you seen them? Some of them are a bit silly in their trendiness... but many... many are heavenly and really not too expensive. Every once in a while it is o.k. to give into the temptation and come home with something lovely!

• The endless erasers and gel pens in the OneSpot! Now, I usually refrain from buying junk from China... but what's a Kindergarten teacher to do? I've got to have "treats" for my kiddos!

• The popcorn! It's buttery...need I say more? Grab a bag on the way out of the store and pop in a movie when you make it home. You'll almost think you are at the theater.

I solemnly promise...
Target doesn't sponsor my blog...

It's just that my children and I had a fun time looking for t-shirts and yummies tonight and we had to share the joy with you!

May your nights...

your days...

be filled with beautiful things.

The love of our families...

cookies
and

four dollar green t-shirts!

May you be blessed.

Today... Tomorrow...Always

Lucky Day!

Tomorrow should be a good day.

We will be using a map left by our leprechaun friend.

I've heard a rumor that Lucky is going to hide a "Max and Ruby Springtime" video for them to find.

Later we are going to find sight word cards and trade them in for Irish coins.

We're going to play Irish freeze tag, drink green juice and maybe even practice an Irish jig!

Perhaps we will find "clues" to prove Lucky has been around....
....hmmm....
tiny green footprints?

My friend Laura, who teaches the half day kiddos, is bringing "magic" pudding. Some people have called it pistachio... but we know better. It has the neat property of not being green until you add the milk! We are sure the Kids will be impressed.

Even my girls at home and I have gotten into the spirit of the day! We all have matching green t-shirts to wear tomorrow.

I hope your Saint Patrick's Day is a happy day.

May your day be filled with the kind of joy that doesn't require luck!

And,

if you meet a day that is cool and drippy...

consider yourself kissed with the mists of Ireland...

and look out for magic!

Beautiful

So many years ago my eldest daughter stood before me,

so lovely that she took my breath away.

In her babyhood...

In her innocence...

She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.

Tonight, as she stood before me in her Confirmation dress...

I felt the tears well up in my eyes...

I was overwhelmed by her beauty...

By her innocence...

I was awed by her graceful twirl..

I smiled at her wide eyed desire for acceptance and approval.

I am so glad she is mine.

I pray that we all may find such beauty and innocence in our lives.

Looking through the eyes of our loved ones,

let us see the world,

share the awe...

celebrate!

May we be blessed!

An oasis of pure pleasure

After visiting my mother today,

my father and I headed back to the car.

Along the way to the parking garage,

we passed through a corridor that contained shops on either side of the walkway.

Talking and walking,

happy because my mother is getting better,

I took little notice of my surroundings.

Or at least I didn't until my senses registered pure delight.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

For you see,

on my left was a Cheryl & Company cookie store

and

on my right was a coffee stand.

Selling only the very best gourmet cookies,

Cheryl's is an indulgence of the highest variety.

Combine the pure bliss of confections fit for heaven's angels with the rich aroma of brewing nectar and the world may not be ready for such an experience.

Sigh...

There are not enough aerobics instructors in the world to fix what would happen if I were left alone with endless resources in that store.

I wish for you,

I wish for me....

Cookies!

May we be blessed!

A gift from a friend!

In a lovely Ontario town,

surrounded by people who love her,

is a wonderful woman named Doreen.

She makes miniatures that are guaranteed to make you smile and she has two delightful blogs where she shares not only her wonderful hobby, but also her positive outlook on life. Please check Doreen's wonderful talent out at http://doreensprojects.blogspot.com/

Through an odd twist of fate, we stumbled upon each other's blogs and have found much enjoyment in the happy ramblings we both share with the world.

With a kind heart and a sense of fun, Doreen gave me a blog "award". I had to confess to her that I didn't understand how to collect it or how to share it.

The concept is that the award is meant to be passed on to others who have blogs that bring me joy.

As my foray into the world of blogs is somewhat limited,

I am passing this award on to all of you.

No matter what my day has brought my way,

my blog has become a way for me to think things over.

Because you are "listening", I find myself trying to find the good in all situations.

To figure out a way to make sense of life even when it is hard, as well as to celebrate the everyday happiness that I encounter.

I find that knowing I have an audience makes me try to rise to the highest ideals I believe in.

To find a way to keep hope alive for us all.

I thank you this day for the blessing of your presence.

For allowing me this forum...

to share...

to think...

and ultimately

to hold fast to my faith and my hope in tomorrow!

We found it!

Under a bush,

sitting on top of the pine needles and other leaf litter....

not under a piece of slate as it was suggested,

My dear friend and I found our first letter box!

Only one car slowed in the parking lot when I initially sat down to stick my hand under a bush.

Thankfully my buddy and I look harmless and though the woman in the car looked a little puzzled, she kept going and our quest was safe!

I ended up half way under the bushes before I found the box.

With a hushed cry of triumph and a giggle at how silly I must have looked, my friend and I quickly headed a distance away to open our treasure and discover its secrets.

Inside the box was an amazing hand created stamp featuring an amazing likeness of the famous Seurat painting the park's bushes bear resemblance to.

The logbook was a lovely discovery as well. The happy stamps from other adventurers made me smile and at the same time wish I could meet the interesting people who were there before me!

Most of the stamps were from people around Ohio and some dated back several years!

How fun to become part of such an interesting pastime.

My dear friend and I are already planning our next adventurous hunt.

She's heard of a set of seven boxes that we just must find!

Can you hear my happy sigh and feel my smile?

The wonderful break from the real world was so welcome that I seem to be unable to find words to convey the sheer joy of it all adequately.

I hope for you today,

that you are able to find a break when you need one.

I pray your days are filled with the adventures you need

and the peace we all crave.

May you be blessed!

Spring is coming!

Less than a week away...
...I saw signs today
The winter is nearly over...

Hunting near bushes!

I am sitting here softly laughing to myself.

I can't believe my friend and I are headed out bright and early to go letter boxing!

Our first adventure is rather uncomplicated but, as it is in a very popular location, it should be very entertaining attempting not to get "caught" retrieving the hidden box.

My trail name is, "Kindergarten girl" and my stamp is a graded paper with the words "neat work" emblazoned across it. I can not wait to find the box and stamp the hidden logbook!

New adventures are always exciting and my grin is spread across my face in anticipation of tomorrow.

May tomorrow bring you happiness...
even if you'd rather not crawl around near bushes...
praying to avoid poison ivy!

May you be blessed with joy in your heart and whatever good things will make your day complete!
Until tomorrow...
Good night!

Happy places...

Sometimes daydreams are useful....

Tonight,

dream with me...

of some place lovely,

quiet and beautiful...

May your tomorrow be peaceful and blessed.

Oh my gosh! Letter boxing?

In my quest for new adventures, I remembered something I stumbled across last fall...

Letter boxing!

Letter boxing is like a treasure hunt and a hike all rolled into one happy experience!

With a logbook, a clue and a rubber stamp I'll be headed out.

What will I be looking for?

Funnily enough...

I'm going to be looking for a well hidden plastic box!

Inside I'll find a logbook to add my personal stamp and trail name to and for just a moment, I'll borrow the stamp inside to mark my own log book to prove I've found my quest.

I can't tell you how excited I am!

I've already printed out the instructions for a clue in my own city!

If the weather is favorable, I'm headed out this weekend for a few hours of whimsy!

If you want to know more about this somewhat zany and free pastime, checkout http://www.lbna.net/GettingStarted/ !

See you on the trail...

hunting...

Tupperware!

:-)

Never give up!

My son is ten and a half years old.

He has autism and does not speak.

He has been in school since he was two years old.
Every year his teachers dutifully have tried to show him the alphabet and how to write his name.

This past week,

in the frost on a window pane...

My son wrote the letter "A"!

Now it seems that sidewalk chalk has a whole new appeal. Letters are catching his curiosity. Who is to say if he will write more or what made him start this new fascinating activity...

But,

Tonight he can write an "A"...

Something I honestly had given up hope of ever happening.

I am surprised, delighted and a little ashamed to have lost faith in his progress. Mostly though, I am just so proud of him.

I hope for you tonight, that there is something unexpected and wonderful waiting to surprise you!

May the days that follow bring you

unexpected delights...

blessings...

and

happiness!

Mom is doing well!

Thank you for all your prayers! My mom made it through and is resting comfortably. It looks as if she will be o.k. Recovery will take some time but, I think she'll be alright!

Dear ones

The dear ones who lead us...

Who touch our lives...

grow older...

The invincible

need care...

This morning,

I ask you to say a prayer.

My mother,

the one who first showed me the sunshine in life,

is headed to the hospital for surgery.

She is steadfast and calm...

I smile...

but I worry.

For you see,

I know you'll understand.

I love her.

So today,

my wishes...

my hopes...

my prayers are with you...

But, first,

they are with her.

May today bring blessings and healing to everyone who is hurting.

May we all be blessed.

Glitter and rocks!

Rocks... and Leprechauns...

Glitter and glue...

Clues on a map...

As I sit here musing out loud, I know what my eldest daughter will be doing with me tonight.

It is Ireland week in my class and we are learning about all things Irish! Which of course in Kindergarten includes a larger than average dose of crazy Leprechaun adventures.....

Today our leprechaun left us a new tape for our listening center with a teeny tiny note on it that seemed to say his name was Lucky. We also found a pack of Irish Teddy Bear stickers that no one said their mother sent. Hmmmm... I guess it had to be the Leprechaun, how else would they have arrived?

Tomorrow we are going to use our map skills to follow clues to treasure and use rulers and scales to measure and weigh our glittering rocks!

In a class of eighteen, I'd have expected a skeptic or two, but I have not a one!

Hook line and sinker my kiddos have excitedly bought into the fun.

Looking for clues and eagerly attempting to involve the rest of the staff in the craziness. They are convinced that our dear young half day teacher may just kiss that critter if she finds him! I had to chuckle over this and tell her.

We are writing, reading and breathing silliness. We are also learning about the real Ireland. About its beauty and rich traditions. The real Ireland is just as wonderful as all the pretend fun.

The prep for this week is extensive, but the memories that are being created, I think are worth the effort.

I will never know... but I really hope that someday another generation will be told silly stories inspired by the happy nonsense I am sharing with my dear little charges.

I hope for you this evening, a little dash of fun. May just a bit of mischief find its way into your daily life. The silly happy joke you forward... the pretend bug you put where a sibling will find it when they visit you... the itty bitty naughty prank you pull on a buddy who will never suspect you! But beware... don't dish out anything you don't want returned.

Just like my class leprechaun, friends tend to pull tricks when they know you'll enjoy them.

May your days and nights be filled with happy laughter...

Go and find a little trouble! A little mischief is a good thing!

May you be blessed with all the best of life...

Now, Always and Forever!

Home again

Hello again!

I have rejoined the modern era!

With cable, phone and most importantly,

Internet

up and running again,

I can let out a contented sigh.

I am happy to report that my family and I made it to our new home and most of our boxes have been unpacked. Only a few things were broken and everyone is settling in nicely.

I look around at this place that is now my home and I smile.

With my children's art work hung, my teacher's licence above my desk and Mary smiling benevolently from peaceful domestic scenes, I feel at home and comfortable.

Fuzzy blankets and candles... bookshelves full of stories...closets full of clothes...

It is strange how our "objects" help us feel secure.

As a creature of habit, I crave familiarity.

Because this is true,

I am surprised that being somewhere new actually makes me feel calm and hopeful.

Looking at the brightly painted walls...

...my gardens anticipating spring...

...rooms waiting for family memories,

I feel like the "do over" I've been given is a positive thing.

I can honestly believe that the adventure in store for me has an excellent chance of being delightful!

Tonight, I wish for you the hopefulness that I feel.

I pray that we will all find a level path as we walk the road before us...

That when we face bumps along the way,

we will always find a loving hand to hold.

May your life be blessed,

Now, Always and Forever!

Tomorrow is moving day!

Tomorrow is the big day.

I'm sitting here for a moment or two pausing and trying remain calm. I have so much to do that I'm a little stressed... All right, a lot stressed but let's not tell anyone... it can be our little secret!

My favorite packing tools at the moment are white garbage bags. There is nothing like the last "rush" to make you rethink what you really want to keep.

Do I really need those old candy molds? What about that cute dust catcher that sits on the top of the t.v.? Nah... At almost nine at night I'm becoming almost Spartan in my outlook. It's a good thing all the important stuff is already packed because I just might rethink it as well.

I am so grateful for all my family and friends who are coming to help me tomorrow.

Good, loving people who have so many other things they could be doing with their weekend.

They are generous and kind; I am overwhelmed by their friendship. I pray that I will be the friend they need as well.

I hope for you tonight, that you are blessed with loving friends who reach out and help you even when it is not convenient, even when the task at hand is not easy.

I pray that your life may become a beautiful adventure.
That you are never without a map to guide you.
That you always have company for the road.

May you be blessed,
Today...
Tomorrow...
Forever...

Waxing Poetic

Oh little bag of yummy peas...

so green and full of taste....

I'll heat you in a Ziploc bag...

So I can clean with haste...

I am so very very tired but,

I promise I haven't lost my mind.

Instead, I am a feeling a little slap happy.

Do you ever feel this way?

I find that sometimes when I am operating on my reserves,

everything invokes a more intense emotional response.

After transferring food from the refrigerator at the old house to the one at our new home, I came back to the old house to make dinner.

It was then, in the midst of preparations, that I realized I had taken all the frozen veggies to our new home. I was not happy about this.

However, thankfully, I had everything I needed to make a truly excellent spinach salad.

It is always really nice when disappointments are mitigated by little blessings. On days when I am tired and stressed, I try to look for the silver lining in things.

I am not daft. I do see problems. I snap just like anyone else. There are times when I lose my patience and I am unkind. I try though to keep on the right path. It really doesn't help in most situations if I lose my temper.

I hope for you tonight...

frozen peas!

O.k. maybe not...

What I actually wish is that when you are weary,

when life is wearing you down...

I pray that you will be able to see the itty bitty happy things that make it possible to keep walking on your path. That you will have what you need to keep a small smile on your face and hope in your heart.

May you be blessed.

The gardens are moved...

Sixty pavers made their way into two cars aided by three adults and one dear daughter.

Now they are nestled around the front and side of my new home and stand ready to be filled with dirt.

Hanging baskets...

little rabbits...

porch boxes...

even my fire pit...

all made the transition.

Now, back at the old house I sit,

still and quiet.

typing...

thinking...

Taking only the two smaller gardens means that I've decided that only my grandmother's black-eyed Susan's are coming with me.

All the rest can stay.

As one of my friends suggested, my gardens are fresh canvases.

What an apt way of describing the opportunity before me.

I hope that when you are given a chance for a new start,

whether it is a new job, a new hobby or a new friendship,

that you will find the strength to embrace the possibilities that are before you.

I have always liked the idea that when a door closes that somewhere one opens.

I think the sentiment holds truth.

Tonight, may you find peace.

The future is uncertain for us all.

Yet, we are promised we are not alone.

Embrace this truth.

Walk on with confidence.

We are blessed!

A New Home

This evening I signed my lease and got my keys.

Before I left my house to go in to finish up the paperwork, I loaded three things into the car. I took a Bible, my grandmother's ceramic garden toad and my statue of Mary.

After I had access to my new abode, my parents, my eldest daughter and I drove to the house.

I got out of the car and placed Mary in the center of where my front garden will be.

I placed the dear sweet toad that has been a part of happy gardens longer than I have been alive, on the side of the house near the downspout.

I motioned for the rest of my dear ones to come and handed the Bible to my dad.

I know my eldest thought I'd gone a little kooky, but it just seemed right to me.

I asked my dad to read from the book of Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 to 33.

I would have to say that these are the verses that have sustained me in my darkest hours.

They speak of trust and love; the assurance of an unending and unshakable, loving God.

Life holds no guarantees.

Sometimes sad things happen.

I really believe...

I honestly do...

That there is someone who made us...

Who loves us...

Who hears us when we cry...

I am on a path that I would never have guessed would have been mine to tread. I am sometimes scared. Sometimes I worry about the "what if's" in life.

Then...

I see a tiny toad...

Get an email from a dear friend...

Find a wonderful deal on tiny tomatoes...

Receive a hug from my children and a enthusiastic tail wag from my dog.

It is then...

that I stop...

that I realize...

How blessed I am.

That regardless of my future.

I will walk on!

That I still have a lifetime of adventure!

Tonight, I wish for you...

Peace and assurance,

joy and adventure!

May you be blessed.

Play-Doh Snakes and Teddy Math

This afternoon as we headed into our lesson time, I had a smile on my face and absolute confidence in my heart.

Why did I feel so sure that my dear charges were going to have a lovely time?


My buoyant feeling was entirely due to eight cans and three boxes full of guaranteed Kindergarten joy.

For you see, our Math lesson on using our ruler was to be conducted entirely with play dough and our addition and subtraction work was to be added by Teddy Grahams counters.

We practiced measuring by making snakes and other animals of specified lengths. Every "correct" answer received a sticker about the size of a pencil eraser! (Trust me... everyone was on target after we "talked"!) After I assessed each child's work, I instructed them to play while I checked their classmates' efforts.

The whole system worked well and by the end of the session, rulers were being used properly and my kiddos were covered in stickers.

When my groups switched and we cycled into the second lesson, the boxes of Teddy Grahams came out.

Every child received a math paper, a pencil and two teddies to eat! While they munched their little bitty yummies, I explained that I'd give them all ten more to use as we did the math together and that when we were done and their math was checked, they would be allowed to eat them!

Happy noises and cooperation ensued. We did addition together and then subtraction. My students are amazing at addition and quickly came up with the answers for the first problems. The real challenge began when the sign changed to subtraction and my kiddos tried to blithely continue adding the numbers.

I must confess it is a little funny when students sneak ahead and add numbers that were meant to be subtracted. The resulting problems are harder than anything I would expect them to attempt on their own and their outrage over being told they need to erase the work and stay with the group is probably more amusing to me than it should be.

I love to observe my students when they are deep in thought and watch them figure out things for themselves.

I believe that no matter what struggles we may have to overcome, we all are good at something.

I have always found this to be true.

What a blessing that in this world some people actually understand directionality and spacial reasoning! That there are people out there who can competently set a bone or cook a four star dinner!

We all need each other.

I make excellent cookies.

I can teach your little one to read.

I can even help tend your garden!

But whoa be tide to you if you ask me for directions or demand a gourmet dinner.

I am a map quest and comfort food girl.

Tonight I wish for you the absolute assurance of your place in the world.

There is at least one reason you are here...

one gift you are meant to share...

May your life be filled with the happiness that comes from doing something you were meant to do. May you ask for help in areas you are weak and allow others the chance to share their talents as well.

May you be blessed.

Laughing softly in Ohio

While shopping this weekend, I happened upon the garden displays in several stores.

Each time, I paused and let my eyes pass over the display.

I probably had a grin on my face...

I know I felt like I was in heaven.

Like the proverbial kid in the candy store, I started picking out what I wanted. In my mind I could see my new gardens... growing and lovely.

This year, I am once again going for the "Zillions of Sunflowers" look which is my favorite.

People literally have stopped their cars to stare at the gardens I've grown in the past.

There is something about sunflowers that causes most people to smile and shake their heads in wonder.

One year, about half way through the summer, two neighbor boys actually came over to ask me how to grow them. I was so sad to tell them that they'd have to wait until the following spring.

As a grownup, spring seems far away some days.

To a child, the wait is an eternity.

Today, with no one to ask permission, I indulged myself and came home with a stack of seed packets.

From some "Fuzzy Face" cuties to lemon yellow "Moon Walkers" that will blow in the breeze above my head, my selection is impressive.

I'd like to pretend that my craving is cured... but, I do try to be truthful. I know that every trip to the store will result in another seed packet.

It's a good thing I have some dear friends who garden too! Every year when I split the packets open, I feel ever so less guilty when I share the bounty.

It's not completely selfish to have fifteen types of sunflowers... if you share the seeds... right?

Tonight, as I dream of summer... of the spectacle that will come from daydreams and hard work, I am listening to my itunes and smiling.

With my tummy warm from a cup of coffee and myself wrapped in my robe, I find the world to be a lovely place.

I know that it's cold outside.

That the world is not perfect.

But, tonight... tonight I'm not thinking about those things.

May your heart be filled with happiness this evening.

May you find that your happiest daydreams are enough to carry you through the winter.

May you be blessed.