Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. ~ Janice Maeditere
I love Christmas. Like little-kid love. Like oh my gawd Santa is coming. Santa! Like Elf-level of love. I love the planning. Paying attention all year and trying to find the perfect ornament for each kid. I have to report that once again, I hit it out of the park (I'm nothing if not humble). A replica Orange Line train for Emma to commemorate her new adventure living and going to school in Boston. For Dylan, a custom made ornament showcasing one of his photographs. Photography is a new passion and he has a real talent for it. Both were surprised and happy with their ornaments this year. It's not just gifts that make me love this time of year although they are awesome. I love the entirety of the festive feel to the month of December. …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. ~ John F. Kennedy
Like most reasonable people, I’m disgusted with what happened in Newtown Connecticut last Friday. Sadness and disbelief cast a pall over much of the office that afternoon. On Facebook and other social media, I started to see prayer chains, calls for peace and understanding. Nothing bad or offensive, but then I noticed a few outlandish items slowly start to creep in that bothered me. But for clarity and space, I’m only going to focus on one for this week’s column. “If the staff had been armed this could have been prevented.” Let that sink in for a minute. Arming teachers. In elementary school. Am I the only person who hears this and thinks, “That person must have been dropped on their head as a small child?” If you think that arming …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Because of their size, parents may be difficult to discipline properly. ~ P.J. O'Rourke
I was talking to a friend earlier today and she was telling me a story that did not paint her in the greatest parental light, but since I have been in her shoes I did not judge; I offered only empathy at her moment of weakness. She was explaining what happened when she, her dear hubby, and their three lovely children started to decorate their Christmas tree this year. Everything was ready. The tree was in the stand and the lights strung. They were getting ready to put the ornaments on when it started. At first it was small, barely noticeable but it grew. Boy did it ever. “Stop it.” Said one. “I’m not doing anything.” Said another. “DAD!” Said the first. “Knock it off!” Said Dad. From there it escalated. Two little kids screaming and …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
'Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,' ZuZu Bailey.
This is one of the family’s favorite Christmas traditions. After we decorate the tree we all snuggle in with fancy hot chocolate and, if they’ve been exceptionally well-behaved that year, they’ll get homemade snickerdoodles. They didn’t get the snickerdoodles last year. Fingers-crossed that this year when I tally it all up, the good will outweigh the not-so-good. I missed the snickerdoodles last year. This is one of our “newer” traditions. We’ve only been watching for the last three or four years. Dylan started it and he really loves the movie. Honestly, I don’t really remember seeing it in its entirety before I started watching it with Pat and the kids. I’m more of a Grinch girl. Oh, and Frosty. I do have to admit that “It’s a Wonderful …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~ Cicero
It's that time of year again. Turkey and football; pumpkin pie and family gatherings. This year will be a low-key Thanksgiving. The North-South game in the morning and one of the sister's for dinner later in the day. It will be small this year just my family and hers. Sometimes we stay home and enjoy the peace of a holiday together and sometimes we go full on super-size and see everybody. Maybe we'll do that next year. The Thanksgiving's of my youth are legendary. Family showed up early and stayed late - sometimes for days. There always seemed to be plenty for everyone and no one complained that they hadn't had enough to eat. As we got older, boyfriends were added and meal times gave way to the realities of blending even more families into…
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
“There, but for the grace of God, go I." ~ John Bradford
I’m really now just starting to understand the meaning of John Bradford’s quote. For a long time I dismissed it as not relevant to my life since I had no real religious beliefs and I got hung up on the God part until I realized that the phrase could just as well read: There, but for circumstances, go I. Then it all kind of clicked. The meaning, to me, is a call to expanded empathy; an understanding of life and its vagaries. A prayer, offered quickly, to the gods of circumstance and uncertainty to pass you by. A gentle reminder to me that kindness and compassion are actions, not words. That there are so many that are less fortunate and in more desperate straits than me. A hope that should I ever need to depend on the safety net that I won’t…
Barbara Mulvey-Welsh
8:58 pm on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
The perfect day. more ›