Brussel Sprouts?

I often say life is an adventure.

What is it that I mean?

Like you many of you,
I go to work each day.
I do chores in my home.
I pay bills.

So, where then is the adventure?

I make mac and cheese,
try to convince my own children to do their homework
and like almost everyone,
have odd piles of papers I don't think will ever go away.

Despite this,

or perhaps because of this,

I look for the quiet joys in life.

Someday I will see the Grand Canyon.

Now I will hike the best trails this part of the country has to offer.

Over a course of a lifetime,

I hope to perfect and discover

wonderful new cookie recipes to share at the holidays.

I am content to add one or two every year. Finding and collecting the treasures and savouring their delights.

Some days, I am tired and I am frustrated. Sometimes the thoughts in my head are neither nice nor especially kind.

There are times when the mundane is at risk of overshadowing the happy things.

Then I am blessed with things like Brussel Sprouts.

Yeah...

I did say brussel sprouts.

Using a recipe given to me by the very interesting man I am seeing, I shared a very nice time with my students today.

Sharing...

I think that is the key to adventure.

...the reason we all seem to seek companionship...

Whether it is delighting in "baby cabbages" that, "smell like peas" or having someone to hike up a hill with, life is better when we share it.

I am thankful for my children,

for my students,

for my dear ones...

My life is an adventure because of them.

moments of beauty

Tonight,

with a graduation,

important meetings

and all sorts of life events

on my heart and mind...

I took a walk,

found some coffee,

and talked to my family.

As I gather my kiddos into their evening baths,

pondering tomorrow...

considering life...

I must confess that I yearn

for the solitude of a quiet forest,

the dark of a star lit meadow,

the quiet hush as the sun sets over water.

Instead,

like all of you,

I am at my computer.

And yet,

I give thanks,

God is good.

Today,

Tomorrow

Always.

He has never left me.

Though the path is bumpy

and I'm feeling the rocks...

I know...

yes,

I know!

You and I are loved.

We are not alone.

No matter what is going on in our lives,

there is someone who cares for us.

Who loves us.

Not only is this true,

but my friends,

my family,

my dear ones...

They are with me.

... sharing my path...

May you and I keep walking.

Find the happiness around us...

Keep smiling.

May we be blessed.

My Son

My boy.

My little one.

Tonight my stomach hurts.

I've been talking over options with my ex.

Trying to decide what to do with our dear son.

Who we both love.

Who is sometimes very violent.

Who is loving and unaware of the implications of his behavior.

Who is ours.

Life is hard.

My heart is heavy.

May the One who made us all

guide us,

protect us,

comfort us,

keep us strong.

May your day,

my day,

our forevers,

be filled with the beauty

of His creation.

May the hard things in life,

the sad things...

May they pass...

Through the dark valleys,

may we find light.

God Bless you all,

Tonight,

Tomorrow,

Always.