The Love of a Parent

I often think about how my parents shaped my life.  I am most often proud of the wonderful job they did.  I am sometimes worried that I have let them down.  When I do well, I thank them.  When I stumble, I blame me, for not listening to their lessons.  Lessons that they have likely stated over and over again!!  Some lessons have sunk in ("With homework, as in life, there is always more to work on.").  Others I am still working on ("Let it go.").

I am Grateful today, and lots of other days, for the unconditional love of my parents.  Whatever I have done in the past, I feel loved.  For where I am now, I feel loved.  Wherever my life choices will take me, I am sure to feel loved.

Beach Day

When we moved here almost four years ago, it was a difficult time.  I was leaving a close circle of friends, including my Bestie.  We left a cozy community and some very special people in order for my husband to find a job.  I was depressed and lonely for some time.  The move did serve to bring my family closer together, however, and force me into self-reflection.  As time has passed we have realized that we are in a wonderful neighborhood with lots of caring and friendly folks and we have acclimated to our new home.  I often wish I could share all the things that I enjoy here with my friends from away.  One of which is being so close to the ocean.  This may be my favorite part of being here.  Within 10 minutes I can be exploring a sandy beach with the kids, watching my son jump the waves.  My daughter likes to people watch and dig in the sand.  I like to take pictures of them and watch the water carry the boats to and fro.

Today will be our first beach day this summer, heading to Pine Point.  I am packing up a lunch, towels, suits, and sunscreen.  The kids are excited and we will be meeting some friends there.  My plan is to be at the beach as much as possible this summer...to take advantage of my new home and all it's beauty and charm!  Today's Gratitude:  A new beginning brought about growth and ocean adventures!

Music

In the fourth grade at the Eastland Elementary School, I began playing the clarinet in Beginning Band.  My director Mr. Clifford will never be forgotten (I have even seen him in recent years relaxing at Peaks-Kenny State Park).  What a saint!!  All those little munchkins squeaking or blatting or desperately snare-drumming a "tune" like "Hot Cross Buns" or "When the Saints Go Marching In"...and my poor parents:  four long years of each child playing that same tune "hot cross bunsss....hot cross bunsss...one-a-penny two-a-penny hot cross bunssss" argh!  How do you ever get that our of your head??!!??!!  My involvement in music continued up through high school including various bands and choruses.  I am so proud of the many groups I was in and the awards it all brought.  Plus it was great fun and I learned so much...so much more than just about music...teamwork, responsibility, confidence, multi-tasking, just to name a few.  (And just to note my teachers/directors:  Mrs. Helen Morin for many years of clarinet and piano lessons.  Mr. Lancaster started up a chorus program in Corinna Jr High.  Mr. Clifford was at the head of the Nokomis Music Program!  Stellar job by both!)

Life has taken me in other directions and other than in college - where I took a one credit voice class and a semester in the Orono public choir - I have focused on other things.  One of them being children's music.  Through my jobs with children and having my own, my radio has taken quite a break on my adult stations.  Over the last few years I have been making a point to get back to my music.  I enjoy many different kinds:  adult alternative, classical, dance, some country, celtic, and truly kids music can make my heart smile.  I wonder if some day I will get back to an instrument, maybe piano, my clarinet, or voice.  Time will tell.  For now, today Gratitude is that I have time to play some yahoo radio, sing along while I organize my house.  I may even stop to dance a bit!  :)  Music is Life.  Life is Music.  

Time to think

Thinking time is regrouping time.  I need to have better intentions tomorrow...or just more patience.  The children seem to be wired for trouble.  Lots of discord and squabbling. Mostly of it is saved just for our time at home.  They have behaved for a birthday party and out to dinner with extended family but are falling apart for mom and dad.  It is trying.  It is draining.  It wears a mommy down.

When sitting here thinking about what to be grateful for today my mind wanders to the approach I will take to any undesirable behaviors tomorrow.  I am grateful for this time to take a breath, regroup, and make a plan.  Make my intention clear about the kind of day I want to have tomorrow and how to get that.  We shall see what the day has in store.  My mind will be set on the Peace of a Sunday off with my family.  

Reflections of a Friendship

"A Friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same."  *Elbert Hubbard

"A single rose can be my garden...a single friend, my world."  *Leo Buscaglia

"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely."  *Pam Brown

Today's Gratitude:  My friends!

My friends are those who are thoughtful, accepting, supporting, and forgiving.  They are those who call, always just at the right time, and know me enough to show me perfectly in their thoughtfulness.  I am blessed by them and my life is enriched by their being.  I thank you, my dearest friends, for being just as you are - perfect for me!

Braveheart

So grateful for today's courageous moments! 

Grace:  Super brave at the dentist!  Also, strong and confident all the way across the monkey bars - unassisted! So proud of herself too!

David:  Taking eye drops for conjunctivitis!  It clearly freaks him out but we have to do it four blessed times a day!  hang in there buddy!

Me:  Planning a playground tour (it's like a pub crawl, teehee) which involved stepping out of the box and trying a new approach to lazy sunny summer day!

out of pocket

Last year we paid $1500 out of pocket for some dental work for David.  It was a quite a wallop on our already thin wallet!  It got paid but not easily.  We didn't have dental insurance then but the tooth repair was imperative.  This year [here's the bad news] he needed three more fillings.  (They lessened my guilt of being a mother with a multiple-cavity child with an explanation of the deep pits in his teeth - an issue of genetics...mmmmkay.)  But this year, [the good news - and my daily Gratitude] we have insurance!!!  It makes for a completely different experience!  Less money goes out...Less stress comes in.  I have my husbands new job again to thank for this.  Grace goes for her cleaning and x-rays tomorrow...we'll see how grateful she is to be there!

Up at Dawn

Seriously?!?!  I ask myself this at 5:15 this morning.  My eyes are open and I feel rested but it is much too early to be awake - on a vacation day - for no reason.  For nearly 35 minutes, I wish myself back into slumber...it's not going to happen.  So I decide to get up.  The children are seemingly still deep in dreamland.  My husband...always deep in dreamland until much later into the morning!  

And what's to follow is today Gratitude:  I tiptoe into the kitchen with my current read under my arm.  I brew a cup of tea and spread a few graham crackers with peanut butter and find my husbands slippers.  With my arms full of a few of my favorite things, I set up in the backyard with the early birds and the morning sun. Great way to start the day!  and a it's a Monday! 

Off to a Great-ful Start

My first post.  It's Fathers Day.  I am alone at home with a sunny backyard and a book awaiting me.  My husband is on the road with our two children to his parent's camp in Litchfield.  How this ended up happening is a miracle that I will gladly accept.  

My daily gratitude is this:  Today I am working my last shift at my weekend job and will have much more time to focus on my family.  I am also thankful for my husbands new job that he loves and that gave him enough of a raise to allow me to quit my job.