“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”--Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Today I am thankful for:

*The practice of taking gratitude inventory

*Embracing simple pleasures

*2011 wrapping up and the chance to usher in a new year.

Stay tuned to check out my next project in 2012!



      

Her 1st!

"I wouldn't say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it".--Michael Phelps

Today I am grateful for:

*Hannah's discipline, time and dedication, which resulted in her 1st Silver State time!

My Monkey...

"You are my sonshine." ~Author Unknown

Simply put, I am grateful for:

*My son, Hunter aka lil' man & monkey.

Double Digits!

On Turning Ten

The whole idea of it makes me feel
like I'm coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light--
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. I bleed.

By Billy Collins

Today I am grateful for:

*Hannah's 10th birthday!

Koufax...

"A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his."--John Grogan

Today I'm grateful for:

*Koufax's 12th birthday.

Happy birthday my loyal lug of love!

Firsts...

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end."--Seneca

Today I am grateful for:

*The bittersweet ending of summer and embarking on a new school year.

Purple Mountain's Majesty...

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!"--John Muir

Today I am grateful for:

*The restorative healing powers of mountains.