Habits or lack thereof....

Creating new habits is tough.  What do they say, that you have to do something over twenty times before it's called a habit. I'm not good at breaking old habits let alone creating new ones. I try to not bite my fingernails, yet do when I'm tired or stressed. I watch too much television and drink too much on occasion. But, seeing that it's a new year I'll try and commit to a few new ones.

-continue on my journey of patience.

-read more

-continue to knit

-keep my desk organized

-excercise on a regular basis

-drink more water

That should do it for now. We'll see how it goes.

...time

It's 3am and the sound of the baby monitor is piercing my sleep. Soft cries are waking me as I slowly open my eyes. I pull my head up and place my feet to the floor. Quietly, I walk to his room where he is waiting for me. I lift him and we make our way down to the kitchen. He and I pace the floor as we wait for his formula to warm. Finally, we sit and he snuggles in as he slurps his midnight snack. I smell his sweet breath and feel his smooth skin. He speaks in gurgles and grunts as he happily drinks. I switch on the television (something the books tell me not to do) and watch a silly show on Food Network. As he finishes, he smiles at me and gently reaches out and grabs hold of my finger and falls asleep. I want time to stand still.

Writing along with the January prompts.

...something new

I made bread today. That, in itself is not new. I've been making my own bread for years.So I decided to find a new recipe. 

 Today was extra wintery and it just called for bread. I needed to smell it baking in our home. 

Today it was just needed.  To comfort me.

To welcome the month of January.

To warm the house.

It did what it was intended to do.

and I will be baking it again.

Cinnamon bread.

January 1

Happy New Year!

Well I certainly failed at posting each day in the month of December! What was I thinking anyway? I can't seem to post twice a week anymore let alone everyday!  Well the intention was there, so that's something, I guess.

Here's wishing you a wonderful 2014. I hope it's filled with fantastic journeys, happiness and just plain fun.

Ryan was asking me today why New Year's Day is such a celebration.  I explained that people use this date to start fresh and create new possibilities.  He thought a minute and then said, " Mom, everyday should be used to create a new possibility. It's just up to the person to decide."

A wise soul at age fourteen.

december 10

Illuminate

Last night was a first for us.  Finally, both boys had their concerts on the same night and I must say what a joy it was to attend.

Matt plays viola and Ryan plays trumpet.

I am amazed at what their teachers can accomplish in such a short time.  The band was loud, energetic and mood lifting!

The orchestra, having many fewer students played a piece that lasted twelve minutes! It was amazing!

The concert helped me settle my stresses a bit and certainly lifted my mood into a Christmas one!

So proud of both of the boys and the entire music program at our school!

december 8

Apothecary

It's Sunday night. By this time in the weekend I am done. Done shuttling boys around town. Done cleaning the house. Done helping my husband with chores that require the two of us. Done feeding everyone. Done making sure everyone gets along. Done dealing with moody teens. Done. Done. Done.

My book and glass of wine are waiting. 

Writing along with Write Alm this month.

december 7

Bauble

as from Merriam-Webster Dictionary

bau-ble  noun

:an inexpensive piece of jewelry

: a shiny ball that is hung on a Christmas tree for decoration

'tis the season!

-writing along with write alm this month

december 6

Wish Upon a Star

I first remember the stars having an impact on me when I was about ten years old. I was at summer Girl Scout camp and we were on an epic overnight bike trip. In actuality we probably just biked a few miles down the road and set up camp on the other side of  the  property. But to me, it felt like freedom. We took only our sleeping bags and food and drink for the night. After eating our dinner out of foil packets (anyone who has ever been a Scout knows the dinner) and then having melted chocolate and bananas in yet another foil packet, it was time for bed.

We rolled our sleeping bags out onto dewy grass and crawled in. It was at that point as I gazed upward that I was struck with the smallness that was me. For there above, was the Milky Way in all its glory, sparkling and begging me to tell it my wishes.

I have always lived where I can see the stars. In rural suburbia, the stars show as the sun sets over the horizon. It's commonplace and we take it for granted. 

When Matt was about three we woke him in the middle of the night to watch an historical meteor shower. We bundled him up and carried him to our backyard and just sat and watched. The "shooting stars" came fast and furious and created quite the show in the sky. To this day, I have never seen anything quite like it. Matt remembers it too, which I am glad.

Where we live the stars often keep us company as we do out daily nighttime activities: take the garbage to the road, walk the dog and guide us home after sports practice.

At the end of the summer we travel to the mountains for our annual end of summer trip. The stars have been witness to all of our secrets. They have watched over my husband and I as we introduced the boys to the mountain evenings, laying on the dock in our own sleeping bags watching the Milky Way hurl itself across the sky and to now, as they become their own selves and  sit around the campfire with summer friends creating new relationships.

Like generations before me, the stars have helped guide me. I reach to them to remind me of my smallness and to help with my burdens in life. And to this day, when I see that first twinkle in the sky, I am reminded of my ten year old self, laying under that open sky, telling the stars all my wishes.

Writing along with Write Alm this month

december 5

What Haunts Me

I should have studied

or read those ten chapters, probably should have stayed in

there's always another party.

Luke and Laura's wedding was beautiful

but it was replayed

and my stats class wasn't.

It was thirty years ago

and time moves on.

But that dream

that visits 

when I'm tired

or stressed, telling me that I missed the test

or better yet failed

keeps coming.

Please go away.

I have kids of my own. I get it 

and regret it.

But, man did I have fun.

Writing with write alm this month

december 4

Morning Ritual

5:15 am - alarm goes off, hit snooze.

5:24 am - alarm goes off again and think about pulling my butt out of bed.

5:30 - put my feet to the floor and step on either the cat or the dog, whomever claimed the dog bed...because God forbid they sleep downstairs.

5:30-5:40 - feed the dog and two cats and wait patiently for the coffee to finish.

5:40 -6:00 - Check all the important things on the iPad: email, Twitter, FB, Instagram, Pinterest.

6:05 - Start the process of waking up the 16 year old...it takes a whole hour for this one to get going.

6:15 Back into the 16 year old's room.

6:20 - He finally rolls out of bed.

6:20 - 6:45 - Yelling at said 16 year old every five minutes to either get in the shower, finish in the shower or get out of the bathroom! (I don't even want to know what he's doing in there for that long!)

6:45 - the 14 year old is still sleeping because this kid can mobilize within ten minutes.

6:50 -I'm making lunches and swearing by now because 16 year old isn't downstairs yet and he needs to leave by 7:10 to get to school early for math review (or substitute any other subject.)

6:55 -16 year old saunters downstairs and proceeds to pet the animals (really?!), like he has all the time in the world.

7:00 - 14 year old gets up and hits the shower. 16 year old begins to eat.
7:05 - 14 year old is out of the shower. 16 year old is still eating.
7:10 - 14 year old is downstairs and ready to go with breakfast in hand. 16 year old is upstairs brushing teeth and God knows what else.
7:11 -The 14 year old starts the car and scrapes the snow off.
7:15 - The 16 year old finally is in the car and they drive off...late again.
7:16 - I sit and drink my coffee and think only four more years of this.
and smile.

Writing along with other at writealm. this month.

december 3

mirror mirror

I wasn't sure if I wanted to be reflective about my age with this topic and then I saw this picture and realized that's exactly what I needed to write about.

My chin can't possibly look that old and wrinkly can it?

I'm not sure, but some days I do feel the wrinkly, old, hormonal woman.

I feel as if this huge surprise is sneaking up on me fast...faster than I want it to.

Yeah, I know everyone says that 50 is the new 30...but man, some days I do feel 50 plus.

So I get up each day, look in the mirror, show thanks that I'm not too sore from the previous day's workout and think if 50 is the new 30 than I'll take it, 'cause it ain't that bad.

December prompts over at writealm