Kindness

"Kindness is the sunshine

in which virtue grows."

Robert Green Ingersoll

George and Carol built a house:



Well, technically they hired the construction company that I work for to build them a house.

Their beautiful, new home sits on the rocks at the end of a point in a beautiful New England town. The ocean is visible from every room! Truly takes your breath away.

Yesterday George and Carol threw a party ~ and they invited all the people who had labored to build them a home...from the owner of our company and the architect to the electricians, steel maker, cabinet maker....you name it...you dug a ditch, you were included!

One of they guys told George and Carol that in thirty years of construction work, they were the first to ever celebrate with a thank-you to all the workers.

Kindness. Wonderful, simple, basic, under-rated kindness. Kindness sheds light. It nurtures, encourages and stands out as essential when it affects your life. And kindness is deeply appreciated.

Thanks to George and Carol for a wonderful barbecue! For a sun drenched afternoon by the sea, with friends and coworkers. For kindness.

the sweet touch of hope

With the birth of each new

life, and the celebration of new

love, comes the sweet touch of

hope. Hope of renewal and refreshment.

Our hearts are stirred to dream,

and long without fear of loss

or failure. God grant me the

heart of faith that feels your

touch as every new day dawns.

An Early 'Aha-Moment'

Just the other day I was telling Melissa this story about herself. It's one I thought I had told her a million times ~ but to my surprise, she had never heard it!

When she was in elementary school, we lived in Paris, in an apartment on a big boulevard. We walked everywhere...to and from school, to the parks, to our local markets...and back and forth from all the kid's lessons and activities. I loved all this walking, because with so much walking came lots of talking! One afternoon we were 'speed walking' from Melissa's swim class, up the boulevard, to her dance class. When we were about half way there, my third grade daughter stopped me in my tracks. She looked  up at me and said, "Just so you know, I am not that kid. I am not the kid who can run from one activity to another and fill up a schedule and have no down time. I need down time. I don't like having activities back to back."

I remember exactly where we were standing. And that it was a cool, clear, sunny day. And I remember my surprise at her declaration. Surprise because she knew herself so well....and joy that she was able to express herself so well. Such a grown up realization from such a little girl!

We did make it to dance class that day.

Bon bon rehearsal was important, after all!

Crafts and Curls

Take some fabric, burlap, card stock and scissors...add some giggles and some bad television and what do you get?

Wedding Craft Night!

The first of many ~ we're gonna make some magic!

It's hard to believe that my sweet 'baby' is going to be a Mrs. in less than three months. We've got a lot to do, and we're going to have fun getting it all done! Every little piece and corner of this wedding is going to have Melissa's personal touch, and I can't wait to share her creativity and spirit with everyone who's coming!

In other news....my boring, straight, I've-been-wearing-it-like-this-for-years hair got a cut and perm last week. I'm still getting used to it ~ but the change felt really good!

Ball Park Magic

The world is full of magic things,
patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.

-- W.B. Yeats

Great night at the ball park!

There's no place like Fenway ~ so much history!

Last night we were high up in the stands, and the sunset was beautiful.

The night was hot; the pitching was hot.

We got to sing "Take me out to the Ball Game" and

"Sweet Caroline" and "Love that Dirty Water"

with a park full of sweaty, happy fans.

And we won!

It was a perfect summer night ~ my senses were sharply tuned into

everything around me...lots of magic to be found!

A Sister and Brother

No one ever had to ask
you to love each other. Ever.

Or show you how. When I
think about you two, the word
I come up with is destiny.

Your friendship was not born of
fine parenting. It was not taught.
It's what you two made it
as you played and giggled... as
you traveled, kept secrets and seasoned
your conversations with movie and TV
quotes. You shared your toys, and,
as you grew, you shared friends.

Us parents? We hope our kids
will do things without being asked.
Well, no parent's ever asked you
two to love each other. Ever!

Me, Barbra & Yellow Roses

When I was a child, my mom took me to see Funny Girl.

We dressed up, drove into the city, and went to a fancy theatre.

Even bought a program!

I spent years listening to Barbra Streisand sing ~
her songs orchestrated my childhood.

And

 I love yellow roses ~ they're my favorite flowers.

It wasn't until I was watching Funny Girl {nearly thirty years later}
with my daughter

that I realized where my love of yellow roses originated ~
in that movie...
on that train platform, as Barbra sang
"Don't Rain on My Parade"!

I also

Love sunflowers!

Near the top of my {not written anywhere} bucket list
is my hope to visit one of those huge
sunflower fields that stretch out for miles.
Until then, any pretty garden full of
yellow flowers brings a smile to my face.

Just One Wish

Only one thing to wish for this week.

My hard working husband is taking a big exam,
Friday and Saturday.
WHEN he passes, he'll have important letters after his name.

On his business card.

And we'll be very proud of him.

"Clear eyes. Full heart. Can't lose."

Two things happened at my house Friday night.

1. All four of us just happened to be home for dinner!
   {with no planning}
    Meat was grilled, drinks were mixed and we caught up.
    And laughed.
    It was good.

2. We watched the last episode of  "Friday Night Lights" {sigh}
    I love this show. I will miss this show.
    The show's about football and small towns.
    About marriage and family and friendship.
    And about mentors.

When my husband played football {in a small, Oregon town} he had a 'coach Taylor' ~ a man who saw his potential and encouraged him to think big. Bigger than state. It was this coach's idea that my husband apply to Harvard. Which he did. And I'm so glad he did because that's what brought my husband to Boston...and to me!

On the TV show, when coach Taylor looks at his guys before a game and says, "Clear eyes, full hearts," they answer back, "Can't lose!" And they're talking about much more than a game. They're talking about living a focused life with a clean conscience. A life full of family and friends and a passion for something you love. His teams won some state championships. And his young men went on to overcome adversity and live richer, more productive lives due to his influence.

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose. Sounds about right to me.

"Every man at some point in his life is going to lose a battle.

He is going to fight and he is going to lose.

But what makes him a man is that in the midst of battle
he does not lose himself."
(another Coach Taylor quote!)

T.G.I.F.

Emails. Faxes. Mail. Old and new.

Most in piles. {Some in files}

I stamp 'Faxed', 'Entered' or 'Paid'.

Keeping track, staying legal, chasing insurance.

It all seems so utterly meaningless.

I get down, and drown in

it sometimes. And have to look

beyond the tasks, phone, papers and

paycheck. Many buildings are being built.

I support a kind man who

runs a small business that feeds

fifteen families. One of them - mine.

A little gratitude. A little perspective.

My overly dramatic drowning becomes swimming.

A little writing. A quiet evening

relaxing with my family. Guess I'll

live to stamp 'Paid' another day.

What? No Key?!

We packed up the kids, hopped the TGV in Paris and headed for Geneva to visit my brother. "Uncle John" had rented a ski chalet for the season, and we were looking forward to a few days in the Alps. You know, the Swiss Alps! Needless to say, we were very excited! Once we connected with my brother in Geneva, we piled into his car, and headed for the hills. The chalet was perfect. Exactly what you'd imagine it to be.

I don't remember exactly when it dawned on my brother that he had left the key to the chalet back at his apartment in Geneva....but as we pulled up, got out and watched five year old Jeremy start playing in the snow, he quietly let us know that we were minus one house key. So, as the kids played, and I sent up a few little prayers, he climbed up to the chalet and started looking around. As luck would have it, a window had been left open a crack...so in through the window he went! Such a relief that our little vacation didn't get off to a frustrating start!

Day Dreaming

I want to be here:

Doing this:

And this:

And this:

With him:

Maybe we'll get a chance to sneak away in August!

Undiscoverd

To myself I am only a child playing on the beach,

while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.

- Isaac Newton



Someone I hadn't seen in quite a while (and who I hardly know) looked at me yesterday and said, "And your mom said you turned 50! Well, don't you know, it's all down hill now." Wink, wink.

Well, I refuse to head down whatever hill she's winking about! And not because I feel the need to rebel against the passing of time or botox away my little wrinkles...but because there is so much to learn and to discover! I'm still learning things about myself, for goodness sake! And after me, there's the whole rest of the world! So I'll choose to live each day I'm given as a new beginning and to keep pursuing truth and love and faith and the many vast, vast oceans that lie undiscovered before me.

Really, the nerve of some people.

A Little Scrapbooking Philosophy ~

Last summer Brian and I spent five days on Cape Cod. We sat around the campfire at night, and spent the days on the beach. The photos just took themselves! Such colors. The National Seashore is simply magnificent.

When I scrapbook, I work very hard to let the pictures tell the story. Now, I like pretty paper and stickers as much as any scrapper. Really, I do ~ you just have to visit my basement! When I started scrapbooking I used to love it when people "oohed" and "ahhed" over the way the page was decorated. Now I really just want them to see the story that the photos are telling. So when an embellishment can do just that ~ embellish, add to, highlight ~ I use it. Papers that bring out the colors in a photo. Or words that accentuate the point of a page or evoke emotion that takes me back to the event or place. Stickers, die cuts...a little accent here or there. Nothing to distract from or overwhelm the photos.

I love these pages ~ cause they bring me right back to that sandy shore! Beautiful, right?!

Toe the Line

Wore the right shoes and always
said please. Got the good grades,
sent thank you notes, and asked
permission. You might say that I've
actually {almost} always toed the line.

As much as I'd like to
think outside that box, go against
that flow and embrace spontaneity, that's
{sigh} just not who I am.
Just wishing won't make it so!

However, that line that I toe
is blurrier these days, less rigid.
It's more like a shore line ~
It's there, but changes with the
tides. I can live with that.

Someone's Turning 50!

I've known you for thirty of your fifty years. And I've loved you for most of that time. I've watched you hold on to the best that each piece of your life has offered you and calmly let go of the rest. From your family and your roots in Oregon, you were given confidence, loyalty and an ease of being that is so admirable. You've always loved the out doors and music and you know how to relax and have a good time! You work at whatever you're choosing to do with a determination, steadfastness and diligence that amazes me. As a husband you have shown yourself to be faithful and forgiving. Full of laughter and eager to love. As a dad, well, you've had so much fun! You are adored. And respected. You have been someone for the kids to laugh with and someone for them to turn to. You're our rock.

There's not gonna be a lot of fanfare today, or any big surprises. But, at home {taking the night off from studying} and celebrating with the three of us who love you so much, I hope you know how deeply you are loved.

Happy 50th!

Doubt's Twin

Doubt is a pain too lonely to know

that faith is his twin brother.

                                                                                                Khalil Gibran

I came across this quote several weeks ago ~ and the more I think about it, the more layers I seem to discover. Three of the thoughts I've had about it are:

ONE

Feel it or not, faith is so close...as close as a twin brother can be! When we're clouded by doubt, faith (or seeing the positive) can feel so far, so illusive. Perhaps it's right there for the taking.

TWO

Doubt isolates. Faith includes. How often do we sit alone with our doubts and fears. Thinking we're the only one. Don't we learn over and over that opening up brings reassurance. Brings understanding. And clarity.

THREE

I'm learning to embrace doubt. And there's something about the way this quote is worded that encourages me on this quest. Exploring our doubts. Asking questions. Accepting the uncertain. Perhaps doubt is there, not to wallow in, but to lead us to a stronger relationship with his twin...

FAITH

I Dare You!

To every tree that dared you

to climb, you said: "How High?"

The rocks and ropes dared you,

And to the top you went.

The trikes and bikes that dared

you to ride heard, "How Fast?"

Peddling harder and harder, always taking

the dare to pick up speed!

When furniture and stairs dared you

to jump, you asked, "How Far?"

With a care free spirit, you

meet life's challenges, search life's meaning

and push your limits. Keep climbing.

Ride on. Soar. I dare you!