Scenes from the Season

It took me a bit of time the last few days to remember where all my Christmas decorations went last year.  Finally, I gave us trying, but decided to take pictures this year, so that next year I could just decorate!

Above we need another garland!

My chandlier!!!  This is one of my favorite things to decorate!

Decorating the fireplace took the most time! 

Twinkling lights, this is what makes the season bright!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We spent Thanksgiving at my brother Matthew's home with their family and some of Suzanne's extended family.  We are so grateful to have you as our family and friends!!!!  Thanks for being YOU!!!!!!

Goals

 

I've been thinking a lot about goals lately. See, I have a brother and sister in law that have ran a lot of marathons. They both set goal to do this a long time ago, and so they ran. Not my favorite kind of goal, if you ask me. Anything that makes you sweaty is ridiculous and those running outfits just aren't pretty. No one, I repeat, no one looks good in spandex. Ever. Did you know you actually have to PAY to run in a marathon?  I definitely remember both of my brothers using the word 'death' to describe their marathon experience.....AND THEY PAID FOR IT!

I actually did a half marathon with my sister in law Suzanne.  Honestly, I just didn't get what the fuss was about.  Even now, their goal has got me thinking about my goals. A couple of years ago I set a goal to floss more than I had the year before--which wasn't going to be that hard. How could I do anything but improve? I flossed 52 times that year.  Lately I've had a goal to not use as much hairspray. If anyone knows me that well it's quite a stretch for me, but like I said....overachiever. I'm thinking about setting a goal of decreasing my sugar intake by a teaspoon or two. This one is a toughie, so I'll have to fast and pray about it before I commit.

The new year is just around the corner. I should set at least one goal for 2012. It definitely won't be a marathon--the only reason to run that far is to a shoe clearance at Nordstroms. But I do think I should reach beyond any of my previous goals. You know, really stretch myself. Maybe I'll try to floss 14 times. In a year. Always, always an overachiever.

Ties that bind

 

Several of my friends have had a parent die in the last few months. I know each of those days will be forever marked in their memory.  A day that will forever be full of weight and memories. I have had several of my friends on my mind as I can relate to what they might be feeling. A couple of them I know feel like they are drowning in their life from the inside out. They feel it is hard to find their footing. I love and understand what their thoughts might be.

What are the ties that bind us together? It may not always be a common bond of love or friendship. Maybe there is a stronger bond formed when we deeply understand another person's trial. Maybe we understand another's experience so well because we have been there ourselves. Traveling the same road, just at different times. This binds us together. We are united because we understand one another and uniquely resonate with each other's pain.

What about the person who feels inadequate or the mom who feels she is screwing it all up? We are tied. What about the mom who fights for the triumphs of a learning disabled child? I am bound to her. Or, what of all the women who struggle to find balance in all that they do? We are each connected.

Aren't we somehow all tethered together? Each fighting our own personal battles. Each trying in our own way to carry the weight of our struggles. But maybe the ties that bind us are also the ones that will carry us, and lift us....together. Never alone--always together.