Handbook for Living 2010

I know, I know... I have been very lazy about posting. But between preparing for the holidays and dealing with a tiny little blizzard, I think I have earned the right to be lazy!

I received this in my email today, and I think it's worth sharing. I am wishing all of my friends and family a wonderful New Year!!!



HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile..

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
34. GOD helps everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner Most is always happy. So, be happy.
40. Send this to everybody you care about... I just did! :-)

A video only a mother could love...!

Many years ago, when Shelby was in preschool, her teachers decided to have the children put on a Nativity play. The play was held at a church nearby due to space problems, but we were still very crowded. You may be able to tell that from the poor quality of the video clip... I was crammed into a back corner and was jostled throughout the filming. Still, as any good stage mother will tell you, a mom simply MUST get a film of her child's acting debut!



I was very proud of my little girl's performance of Mary. I still am not really sure of the message, though: What does it mean when Mary puts her Baby down to clap for Santa Claus? I didn't have anything to do with the script writing, so I'm still wondering...! :-)

Well, anyway, If you choose to watch this video you have been warned about the quality!

Welcome home, Son.

This is our 8th Christmas since Andy died. Yesterday, for the very first time since, I saw real, honest-to-goodness joy about the upcoming holiday from my son John. (He's 15 now, by the way...!)

As a matter of fact, out of all of us John has had the hardest time finding his footing in this dreadful storm. He rarely has exhibited enthusiasm about much of anything, it's more like he has been going through the motions of being a kid for the past 8 years. He never totally crashed and burned, but always verged somewhere between melancholy and sullen. Over the years I tried, Shelby tried, then later Arthur tried to help him, but to no avail. Last night, though, something woke up in him. It was like somebody had lit a fire under him!

It started when we were going through some old ornaments that had been misplaced. Some of them were old family decorations, and his spirit was noticably brighter with each one we took out.

"I remember when Daddy used to always play with these trains. And, wow, Mom! I haven't seen this in years! It was always my favorite. And this one always reminded me of magic... and here is that old styrafoam thing that I always loved..."

Hopefully, this change in John will be a lasting one. I was astonished that he actually started singing a Christmas song as he hung ornaments! Our house has not been decked out so much in years.

Some of the ornaments had belonged to Arthur and his late wife Sue, and John asked questions about them as he hung them up. Arthur is not much for decorating, and had been watching TV in the bedroom oblivious to all the activity in the living room. But when he finally came out to investigate, John did something on his own that brought tears to my eyes.

He said, "Hey Arthur! I saved a couple of Sue's ornaments for you to hang and a spot to hang them."

Yes, we are honestly now a family. A blended family, but real none-the-less.

Peace and blessings to all.

A quick little memory

During the past few weeks we have been totally tied up with school and family obligations. It is ironic how these types of activities awaken wisps of ideas for new posts at the same time I am too busy to sit down and write them out.

However, a memory crossed my mind today that allows me to cheat a little bit. It's the memory of my very favorite Christmas commercial.

This spot ran for several years, and it brought misty eyed tears to me the first couple years that Jimmy had gone away to national guard training and college. Jimmy and Shelby were, at the time, about the same ages as the young people in the commercial.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4kNl7cQdcU

Jimmy did surprise us a couple of times coming home when we were not expecting him, but I don't remember him ever waking us up by making coffee! But still, this little ad is a great reminder of the importance of family.

Shelby is now the child in college, and we look forward to her arrival home in a couple of days. Hey Shelby... make us some coffee when you get here, ok? :-)