Through the eyes of a child...

...the world is simply an amazing place. We often take for granted the everyday things that we encounter. We, as adults, worry about mortgages and car payments; is our SUV the latest and greatest of anyone’s on the block? Perhaps, if your world is going in this insane circle, you should sit back and view it through a child's eyes. They see things like their friends, their family and that is what makes their world complete...they do not view every person of different belief as a potential enemy, and they share with anyone who needs it (as well as some that do not.) They smile with all they have, and they love unconditionally. They welcome new experiences and will try to do something until they succeed. The word fail does not exist in their vocabulary, until someone teaches it to them. They do not hate, do not fear and know no boundaries on their hearts. If all their clothes are hand me downs, or don't match just right...if their hair is a mess and if they do not have the best stroller on the block, it simply is none of their concern. We need to take a lesson from our children, a page from their coloring book, and spend the day not worrying about if our clothes are the latest fashion, or if the girl in the next cubicle is going to get the promotion over me since she is skinnier. Take your kids out, before the weather turns completely freezing, and play with them. Walk barefoot in the grass, on the beach, in the sand. Watch as they laugh over nothing, and then in perfect contentment, take your hand. Let them lead you for a day and see what a vast difference you view point becomes, because they are the leaders of tomorrow...this is their future you are creating...you are the link to their being able to create a world of potential and hope, instead of one that is all fear and sadness. Pay attention to them, listen to them and love them...for that is truly what life is all about. Until next time...

Happy Birthday to one that has gone.

Tomorrow is going to be one of those days. The kind where you are happy in your life and yet, there is that small feeling of loss for what may have been. This rings true in a few ways in our lives over the past, and the hope for the future. Anniversaries, no matter what the purpose, are never all tea cakes and roses, but are necessary just the same. The birth of one, the death of another...no matter if it is person, friend, or family...never easy but often easier as the time passes. The future is ours, and this year we celebrated the 5th year anniversary of your death, the 37th anniversary of your birth. I, for on, am taking a new approach though. Celebrating this day with memories that make me smile, cupcakes that were your favorite, for all to partake! You would have liked that. Within the next year however, I am certain, we will celebrate many things and this alone is what makes these long days seem a bit shorter. Life is often complicated, and almost always difficult, but the small moments that we get to share with each other are what dealing with the rest is all about. Here is to a year of new love, new life and new dreams coming true. The past can stay where it belongs...in the past, in our memories, in our hearts, and the future is simply all ours. Happy Birthday Tina, my darling sister...31 when you left us, and 37 tomorrow in our hearts. You are still well loved and greatly missed. Until next time...

A new focus on "education"

More than once, in the past 4 years, I have been asked what I have done about E's autism.  That question always puzzles me, as I am never certain how to answer it.  I was not aware that there was anything to be "done;" but then it hits me...they are asking what diet, therapy, school I have added or changed to make him better, to fix him.  I will be honest, we do not see E as sick or broken, therefore we have nothing to do.

Simple pleasures...

...are often overlooked. I have spent a lot of time lately looking at the "big picture" of life, and find myself having over looked the little things that really matter, like sleeping children and working dryers. Let me explain...we have the new beach house, which is awesome, and we are finally able to find most things that we packed. Alright, I will admit to still not being able to find some clothes and the cereal bowls. But it has taken 4 weeks and 2 trips to Lowe's to get our dryer working...and almost as long to settle the kids into a routine. Then school started and we began again, although we had an easier time after the trial run. Still, most days you hear "Have you seen my ____________?" (feel free to fill in the blank) Kids...sigh. I did not realize how much I missed bedtime, and a schedule. Or doing wash and not having the house looking like a Chinese laundry. New houses are nice, but I have to admit, moving is not. Here is to a fall filled with a normal life, clean clothes and happy kids. Oh, and hopefully amazing news...you never know. Until next time...

Lazy or uninspired?

Did you ever notice in this world of electronic gadgets, email and cell phones, there is still an inborn need for children to play in the dirt? I often hear people say that kids these days just have no imagination. I for one would have to disagree. I got the opportunity to watch 3 boys at the park today, ages 4,7 and 10, play together. They were strangers, never meeting before now, but within minutes they had taken up the age old pasttime of digging in the dirt. A short conversation later, and information of parents, siblings and club names (yes, in those few minutes they had formed a club) their world became a need to dig, even upending an anthill, complete with ants and gathering nuts long since discarded from the trees by the local squirrel population. I listened intently, and never once did I hear talk of Yu-Gi-Oh, cartoons, toys or other "imagination less" topics. I was blessed with cries of joy over uncovered pieces of wood and the phrase "look what I found" came to my ears more then once. Perhaps our perception of "kids these days" is altered by our lack of giving them opportunities to be, well, kids. Take them to the park, and then stand back and watch them play. Let them get dirty and make new friends that they may never see again, but will talk about for ever. Don't damn them to being your vision of what you think, just let them change what you see when you look. You might be surprised! Until next time...

Failure...

At the end of the day, I will no longer be a college student.  Because of numerous reasons, many of which were simply my fault, I was booted from financial aid eligibility.  I realize that this is not the end of the world, and that technically I still am "in college" until my FDC class ends (thank you UConn) but, sigh, not in the real sense any more.  The great braggart I was, going to graduate in the spring...that was a Yoda moment...I will go back, and I will graduate.  Perhaps it is for a good reason, and perhaps I will find that reason as the semester progresses.  Either way, it will certainly be a good lesson in finance.

Lousy...

As the babies get better, and Paul too (I think) I am feeling worse...managed to get the house kind of picked up, and a shower before exhaustion kicked in and it is back to the sofa.  Did get a chance to watch the entire movie Tangled with Bria, but dang...all I want to do is sleep.  Perhaps there will be time for a nap, in a bit...if I can distract E and McGee long enough.  I know that it is not the best parenting choice, but wow...I guess we are all entitled to days.
Until next time...