Post Christmas

Another wonderful Christmas is in the books. It was filled with too much food, too many presents, too much family and friends (just kidding!!)
My adult children spoil me way too much with their gifts. Maybe it is a little payback from all the years of spoiling them. Too many things to list, and, frankly, I can't stand the posts on Facebook where people are showing photos of all their gifts, especially the ones with designer labels! Come on, people, we get it! You have a perfect life, with a perfect family, with loads of money and no stress. Oh, wait. That is exactly nobody's life!!! I remind myself regularly not to compare the everyday, play-by-play of my life with someone else's highlight reel they are posting on Facebook.
Here is one thing I will boast about, however. My son and daughter-in-law to be gave me the cutest darn personalized pillow I have ever seen. They found a lady who takes photos you send her, along with information about each person's interests, and she creates a drawing of each person and then turns the panel into a pillow. The photo doesn't do it justice! It has all nine of us, plus three dogs!! I am depicted as a skinny runner! I love it!! It truly is a treasure and if anybody lays their darn head on it, they are in BIG trouble!!!

Happy Christmas

And here is the reason I want to live a long, healthy life. Being with these three, however loud, messy and busy they are, makes my life rich and full. I love them more than words can express. May they always know this.
Riley Kids, I love you to the moon and back!!

The "Do Over"

"Christmas is a necessity.  There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."  ~Eric Sevareid

So about now, Mary & Joseph are on their journey to Bethlehem and by tomorrow night, they will be settled in a stable so Mary can give birth to the baby Jesus.  What significance does this have for us today? I think the baby Jesus is our annual "do over". He comes, once again, and gives us a shot to be better people, be people of faith, be people of hope, be people of love. 

There are not many times in real life when we get a "do over", but this may surely be one of them. The baby Jesus, in all his innocence and magnificence, gives us a chance to stop and think and take action of some kind to be the person we truly want to be. 

Would you rather be right or happy?

Would you rather be alone or willing to compromise with those you love?

Would you rather be angry and righteous or calm and accepting?

In so many situations in life, you have to ask yourself the question, "Is this the hill I want to die on?"

Don't squander this year's "do over"!!

Happy Adoption Birthday

Two years ago today, we adopted Callie from a shelter in Irvine. I kept thinking about getting a dog. My husband said NO! My daughter started sending me photos of dogs in the shelter. No...no...no...YES!! OMG, she is so cute! I wonder if she is a sweet dog! Let's go and find out! It truly was the best Christmas present ever. Thanks, Amber, for giving me the push I needed.
She could have been trouble. She could have eaten my shoes. She could have not been potty trained. She could have been mean to the grandkids. Instead, she was (is) a really sweet dog that has enhanced my (our) life in more ways than I can count. I don't care if you call me "Crazy Dog Lady". I love her and she loves me. Sounds like a perfect relationship! Don't be jealous!
Happy Adoption Birthday, Callie Girl! We love you!

Pay It Forward

Christmas is four days away. Hopefully, your shopping, wrapping and baking are almost finished. Whether they are or not, I have a challenge for you. In the next four days, pay it forward for someone else. What does this mean? It means you do something good and nice for someone else, without any chance of them paying you back. The hope is that your kind act will spur them to do another kind act for someone else. Pay for the person's coffee in the drive thru line behind you. Leave a $20 bill at the fast food restaurant and tell the clerk to use it to pay for the next few people's meals until it runs out.Drop flowers at the rest home you pass every day on your way to work.
An unexpected act of kindness, however small, can be all the difference to a person that may be feeling overwhelmed, hopeless or sad at this time of year. Don't say you don't have the time or the money to make a difference. Do something small. Do something great. Just do something. The funny thing about paying it forward is that you do it selflessly to be kind to a stranger and you end up with a feeling of joy and a smile on your face.
Think of the possible ripple effect of your one kind act! Seek good and you will find it. Be kind and you will find kindness in your own life at every turn.

Our Card 2013

 Here's our Christmas card 2013 ~ front and inside. We planned this shot forever ago and the kids thought it was pretty cool. They are young enough to think Grammie and Pa are still cool! Their favorite thing is when we say, "OK, make a silly, funny, crazy pose now!" Hence the inside shots on the bottom. It was fun to add the photo from the original time we did the "Cool Yule" card. Where did 24 years go?!?!

I wonder how many people out of the 110 I sent even looked on the back?! It wouldn't be complete without our Callie Girl!

6 More Days

Saw this sign today and it made me pause and think a little. So many people I come in contact with lately are harried and rushed and stressed. Surely this is NOT what the season is supposed to be. Yes, most of us have a "to do" list as long as Santa's" nice list", but ask yourself this:
Is Christmas something you get through or enjoy getting to?
Is Christmas something you will be glad when it's over or something you relish and enjoy?
Is Christmas something that makes your heart pound from stress or from joy & happiness?
As a child, we felt Christmas Day would never come. As an adult, it comes at us like a high speed locomotive.
Just don't let it run you over!
Breathe!
Remember, there will NEVER be another Christmas 2013 again.
Make it a good one.

Crazy Dog Lady

It's two years this weekend that Callie girl came to live with us. I used an app to add Christmas decos to her photo. I made a dog print ornament. I am officially that "Crazy Dog Lady" you hear about all the time!!! But here's the thing ~ she greets me at the door with total excitement. She is ALWAYS happy to see me. She snuggles up and loves to hang with me whenever she can. As I write this blog, she is behind me sleeping on my office chair. She takes up more of the seat than my rear end does, but I am happy to share it with her.
“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” I AGREE!!
Biggsuzi

Santa 10K Run

It was much too early for the alarm on a cold December morning. The sun was trying to break through, but it was deceiving in its warmth. The wind began to blow. Santa Anas were on the way. Waiting is always the worst. Cold, nervous and people bumping into you without saying, "Excuse me!" Why would anyone sign up for this? Why did I sign up for this?
Then the starting gun blasts and I am off. Hillier than I thought and some of it on trails. I hate trail running. I am always worried I am going to fall on the uneven area. Dodging people who are out there just for fun and don't care a bit about running. Pacing myself next to a lady who looks about my age and is going strong. One, two, three, four, five miles ticked off on my watch. I only have one more to go and I think I am on a really good pace. I make the last turn and see the banner with the best word in the English language ~ FINISH!! There is a little gas left on the tank and I sprint to the end.
When I look down at my watch, I realize it is faster by over three minutes than any other 10K I have run and I have a new PR!! Suddenly, it all seems worth it. They place a cute Santa medal on me and I grab a water.
My thoughts turn to, "When's my next race?!" I really love this and I am a runner!!!
Biggsuzi

Only Four Gifts

I read a wonderful story a few weeks ago where the woman was lamenting the "more, more, more" "I want...I want...I want" side of Christmas. She came up with a solution for her family. She sat them all down and said everyone was getting exactly FOUR presents.
Something you want...
Something you need...
Shoething to wear...
Something to read...
Of course, the children protested and said it wasn't enough. Turns out it was enough and just what they needed to put the spirit of the season in perspective. They have been doing it this way for many years now.
I love the way she worded it, not just four presents, but four distinct things. It got me thinking. What would I pick for each category? Actually, these four categories pretty much sums up what any of us need/want.
I know there will be, once again, a mound of gifts under the tree this year. Paper will be strewn across the floor and it will be hard to remember who gave what. Hopefully, among the abundance there will be, something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.
Sometimes simple is better and simple actually becomes enough.

Ready to Mail

There are many of parts of Christmas that I love, but one of my favorite parts is always the cards. I have been making and creating silly photo cards long before they were popular. Back in the day, I had to actually print 100+ copies of a photo and make my own creations. Now, with the help of so many awesome websites and the internet, you can simply download your photo and have them do all the work.
Being a record keeper, I have years of information about how many cards we send and to whom and how many we receive. Usually, we send between 100 and 125, but each year we only get about 60 - 65. It always makes me wonder if I should whittle down the list and stop sending some people our card. Maybe they receive it and wonder, "Why is she still sending me a card?" I know some people never send cards to anyone, but when they see me, they always comment on how much they enjoy our card. Should they stay on the list? Life changes. People that were in your life regularly long ago, are now only a Facebook friend. Do they still want to be on the list? Should they be? I am not looking at this as a scorecard, just practical thinking.
For this year, they are ready to mail with only a few deletions and additions. So, if you get one and wonder why you did, just smile and be glad it's not another bill in your mailbox!

Eggnog

I honestly don't recall my family having many traditions or special moments during the holidays while growing up and that is probably the reason I strived so much as a parent to make special moments for my kids. Christmas pajamas, all the baking, especially wreath cookies, one present for each that the tag said "LAST", meaning it was the best gift, driving to see outdoor lights, the silly Christmas card photo, and on and on.
People are always writing about the stress of the holidays. Too much to do in too little time with budgets and nerves whittled down too far. The "happiness experts" always recommend doing less not more and deciding what really matters to you and letting go of the rest. We women all know that is easier said than done. Truth is, women are the ones that do Christmas. We are the shoppers, wrappers, bakers, drivers, and creators of most of it. Yes, it is exhausting. Yes, we want it to be perfect, all the while knowing, perfection is a lost cause. Satisfaction comes from "good enough" actually being good enough. Not all presents are hits.  Not all meals are made from scratch and three courses. Not all people are grateful and loving. And, you know what? It's okay. Coming from this woman, who's middle name has always been Perfection, this is a revelation! Oh, I'll still stress some over the holidays, but, hopefully, a little less than usual. And that's why, right now, I'm just gonna sit on the sofa and have some eggnog. Screw the calories!
 

Oh, Christmas Tree

 “The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!” -Charles N. Barnard

For some reason, I struggled to get up the energy to decorate the tree this year. The house is all finished, inside and out, but the tree stood empty, except for lights since Monday. Then....my little elf came over and said, "We need to decorate this tree, Grammie!"

And so we did!

Post Thanksgiving Thoughts

Food abounded everywhere....turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, green salad, corn, peas, rolls, butter, and on and on. What did this little one want?? Just a turkey leg and black olives!! This was only the first plate of olives she ate that day!!! There were several!
Look at the shear joy on her face. Happy with her choices and happy with the day.
Gotta love it!!