Kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful...

A friend posted this on Facebook and I LOVE it!

"May your coming year be

filled with magic and

dreams and good

madness. I hope you read

some fine books and kiss

someone who thinks

you're wonderful, and

don't forget to make some

art - write or draw or build

or sing or live as only you

can. And I hope,

somewhere in the next

year, you surprise

yourself."

Past week

In the past week I've spent time with family in Kitty Hawk, NC on the Outer Banks. Better known to us as simply... the beach.

 

  

 This is the first beach Christmas for my little clan. We joined my sister's family and my parents. The following are (in random order) my week in pictures.

 Up close and personal at the ray tank at the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo, NC.

 

 

We visited the aquarium on Christmas Eve day. We saw only a handful of other families there. We've never had the shark tank to ourselves before.

Santa found us away from home. 

 

Grandma made pajamas for the little cousins and their dolls/stuffed animals.

 Hubby and I were alone on the beach at sunset on Christmas day.

 

 

750 piece puzzle.

The first day of winter was our warm day to play on the beach.

 

 

Hubby and I took a cold walk to the beach with a stop on the way for breakfast one morning.  

 

Many people ask how my niece who is the inspiration for this blog is doing. She is a senior in high school. She's involved with the basketball team an has a part time job. She's applying to colleges. Typical 17 year old stuff. Only she has to worry about getting sick. She has to fit in lots of rest and naps. She is living with lupus. She also makes me laugh. I love her so much that I'd finish a marathon for her... wait, did that!

 

This next week I'll be making plans for the spring and summer. Deciding what is in store for me next!



Love Wins

“Love wins, love always wins.”
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie

 

 

Grandma Minitta

1927-2013

 

My sister in-law described Minitta on Facebook as "my grandmother by choice if not by blood." Minitta and my husband's grandfather had a long relationship of friendship and companionship for over 20 years. While they never married, they were companions for as long has my husband remembers until Grandpap's death in 2003. All of us who knew them called her a saint for standing by the often stubborn and cantankerous Grandpap. 

 

I knew of Minitta before I met my husband. While I worked as a hospice social worker more than one of my patients had a friend from church who would drive them to doctor appointments. They described her as dependable and kind.

Her Obituary in the newspaper described her:
Minitta was known for being a very caring, loving and gracious lady, always giving to others without asking for anything in return. Many lives were touched by her care taking way. Always a kind word she spoke and a radiant smile to those who crossed her path. She had a very strong Catholic faith.

I learned from Grandma Minitta that lots of little acts of kindness matter. They matter a lot. She remembered my children's birthdays every year. She remembered Grandpap's ex-daughter in-law's sister's grandson's birthday. She understood that in the middle of complex family dynamics there are real people. She showed that friendships shouldn't be dictated by marriage, divorce, blood, age or gender. People and kindness are what matters and then love wins.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

10 Quick Thanksgiving Questions

To do: Cut and paste below into comments and add your answers. Feel free to cut/paste onto your blog for fun. Which I totally did. This is copied from the blog Shut Up and Run. 

1. How old do you have to be to move up from the kids’ table? 
Teen, except for Uncle Ryan. He should remain at the kids' table forever.

2. Stuff the turkey or cook stuffing separately? (aka salmonella or not?)
It's yummier stuffed, but this year is was separate. bummer.

3. Who sits at the head of the table?
No one. Our table is round.

4. Pumpkin, pecan, apple pie?
Pumpkin for Thanksgiving with a side of apple pie, please.

5. What the hell is mince meat?
Not sure. I don't think it's meat at all.

6. Is it okay to play Christmas music on Thanksgiving?
Yes. But we watched a Christmas movie instead.

7. In five words or less, worst Thanksgiving memory?
Young niece spread horrific intestinal germs. (ok, that is 6 words.)

8. Speaking of leftovers. Who gets dibs on them? 
Whoever cooks them. Although my daughter thinks the mashed potatoes should belong to her.

9. Worst Thanksgiving food?
My Nanny (grandma) served sauerkraut on Thanksgiving.

10. Best Thanksgiving quick joke?
Q: Why wasn't the turkey hungry?
A: He was stuffed!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am most thankful for.... everything! My whole life is pretty freaking easy and I've thought of a million things to be thankful for today! Peace!
 

I'm back......

I've been MIA. Except it's been low of the "action" part of the MIA. Well, action by me. The people around me have had a lot of action... my job is to drive them to it. Also, I've been holding down a job to pay for it. That is OK. It's the mom job part of my life. I had decided that last (school) year was "my" year with a lot of energy and time put on my marathon training. This year would be more for the kids. However, I think I need a bit of balance in the plan. I need activity to be healthy. And I'm not right now.

(My brother in-law, Kevin, running the Shamrock 8k last March.)

A bunch of friends ran the Richmond Marathon yesterday. Today my brother in-law signed up for the Shamrock 8k race. Hubby is signed up for a 5k in December. I think it's time for me to get back into the game.

This chick is so inspiring to me. She is finishing her first season on swim team. Six months ago she couldn't swim across the pool. I most admire her focus on improving her own swimming skill and times. She is swimming her own race and works on self improvement. Such maturity in my little 10 year old!

I'm still not 100% comfortable with the punching, kicking, and fighting aspect of the martial arts. But when the instructor talks of self discipline, respecting yourself and others, doing your best, making mistakes means you are trying... I tear up. Yes, I'm a goof like that.  

So everyone around me is busy and active.

I'm ready to join back in the game. 

Marvelous Milestones

My friend Susan posted on my facebook wall this morning that she saw my Marvelous Milestones on Channel 12 news.

 

I thought she'd been hacked.

 

Turns out my friend, Jill, submitted the marathon accomplishment to the news.

 

Marvelous Milestones

 

Thanks, Jill. I'm sorry I slept through it! 

Today is World Lupus Day

 

 

http://www.worldlupusday.org/