Flaming June's Love

11:08pm January 31, 2012. Almost 2013. It has been a good year.  I'm ok with it.  I'm feeling pretty satisfied with myself and our lives right now. My daughters are good.  My son is growing stronger and smarter everyday. Andy and I have had a few of our hardest days this year, but also some of our best days this year.  His surgery was tough, my catheterization, a test... that we both passed physically and emotionally. Allie graduating, passing her boards, working her big girl job. Missi turning 21, gon got school, working her job as a good checker girl. Jack sticking with it hard work in first grade.  Leaps and bounds. Me... starting  a new job, and loving it.  Letting go of some old friends that disappointed me.  Then reaching out a bit further to embrace new friends.  I am sad for the times I didn't move, speak, smile, chat, give more, encourage more, open up. I am grateful for the times I believed, forgave, hugged too long, kiss...

 Our Beautiful tree right after Santa arrived.  I sat in my rocking chair, and as I do every year, cried a few tears.  Gratitude, sadness, relief, anticipation.  it was a great tree this year, not a single problem.  She didnt fall down once, which NEVER HAPPENS.  Allie lives with her boyfriend Ryan.  I have to adjust to that idea.  So being thats the case I had to adjust to her NOT being here Christmas morning.  A very very difficult pill to swallow.  But I did it.  I imagined this day, and I did alright.  I imagine having a fever, helped me cope since I was slightly disoriented... but we had a sweet Missi, Jack, Andy, Mommy Christmas morning.  Here is the boy wonder so HAPPY to get his new Nabi.  A tablet made for kids loaded with games and learning and books.  He was psyched, as you can see.  Missi a kind and genrous sister playing the surprised onlooker when she was the one that helped Santa download...

Psalm 34:18   The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. The unspeakable happened last Friday in a small town in Connecticut.  Looking at twenty children through a guns site is.... too much.  Everyone has their own thoughts and visions of what may have happened that day in those classrooms, I wont even write them down.  I scare myself. I make myself cry, weep really. Jack's unsinkable belief that everyone is good, his willingness to help people, his unability to retreat. A gunman in his classroom.  Taking aim at he and his classmates? Someone elses beautiful child, irreplaceable gift is gone. I went to Joann's graduation on Sunday.  Her loss and grief after losing her beloved Bob, moved her somewhere else, beyond what she thought she could do.  Broken and "too old" she walked across the stage to receive her Masters Degree.  I sniled at her from  75 yards away, she saw me, we waved, I blew...

I was walking through Boscovs and saw the most beautiful Christmas tree.  It was all purply blue greenish.  Lights were blue, and covered in feathers almost like a peacock, green and just beautiful colors. Then I got closer and it was covered in Peacock feathers. A few sparkly blue and green balls and fluffy things. But not a single Christmas thing.  No Santa anything, nothing Jesus like, not one homemade looking thing on it.  So what makes your Christmas tree the most beautiful tree in town? My tree is truly beautiful.  It is covered in babies first, second, third, fourth fifth Christmas ornaments.  For THREE CHILDREN. Ornaments my Mom and Dad gave us for many years, signed by them(my mom..) like the one above from 2004. Many ornaments from Betty, Tims Mom, who took care of me every year with the sweetest little things. Boy do I miss her. Ornaments from MaryEllen.  Some from old students, patients, our first home, A US Marine, A few from my...

Callanish Stones UK The Callanish stones on the Isle of Lewis date from roughly 2900-2600BC, around the same time stones were being brought to Stonehenge. Legend says that the pale stones are the remains of the Giants who refused to convert to Christianity, Saint Kieran turning them to stone in punishment. I include the Callanish stones rather than the more famous Stonehenge for several reasons. Stonehenge is easier to visit but gives a far less satisfying experience. You can walk amongst the Callanish stones, touch them, and feel much like the original worshipers would have. At Stonehenge you are bombarded by the noise of two major roads. While on the Isle of Lewis you can see the hundreds of other standing stones which litter the fields and hillsides, so it’s well worth a visit. Editors Note: As a child in the seventies in England, Stonehenge was a fascinating place. With far fewer cars than today, and the ability to still walk among the stones themselves, it was a place of ...

A few weeks ago I wrote about my fascination with Little House on the Prairie.  I narrowed down my love for the show to a few key points. a. a comittment between ma and Pa that could withstand, everything.  b. An honest look at not having everything, but feeling as if you had it all. c. Family that never gave up on each other, through the hardest times they knew, without eachother they would fail. d. Laughter and a keen sense of humor, mixed with fair share of heartache makes for interesting company. e. Gratitude is never achieved by having it all. These two very handsome people are my grandparents.  My Mothers parents.  Alice-and Joe. This was, by my brothers account somewhere in the late 40's. My Nana was one of four sisters that were all beautiful.  Not just a bunch of pretty girls, but the Beautiful Burke sisters. A blonde, brunette, redhead, and one with dark near black hair.  look at her dress, her hair, her smile.  What a pair. He ...

Today was Jacks Christmas show at school.  As I asked him during the week what songs they would sing, he would reply Its a surprise!. I was deciding what he should wear.  Went to the boys shop and there it was.  A perfect size seven suit with shirt and tie. Screaming to me to buy.  I brought it home and it was as if it were mad for him.  He put on the tie without any complaints.  I took his picture while he was waiting to go.  Watching his cartoons and looking angelic. To some going to a Christmas show is cool, great but in our house... monumental. He stood on the stage singing the correct words to the songs, standing still, smiling and behaving. He was so "average" it brought tears to my eyes. He was "just one of the kids in first grade." How many Moms pray for average? My prayer was answered.  He was certainly far from average.  He was the most handsome young man there in my eyes.  Smiling eyes, shining eyes, waving to us f...