November 17, 2010 – Illustrated Points

"Dwell not on the past. Use it to illustrate a point, then leave it behind. Nothing really matters except what you do now in this instant of time. From this moment onwards you can be an entirely different person, filled with love and understanding, ready with an outstretched hand, uplifted and positive in every thought and deed.

"Eile...en Caddy
1917-2006, Spiritual Teacher and Author

Someone I know posted the above quote on facebook.   The interesting thing is that this person, specifically, who is using this quote to guide her life today has been recently permanently disabled in an completely random and unexpected accident which left her permanently and suddenly blind.  She has a four year old daughter whom she can no longer see.

With this in mind, I focus on this quote today not only because of it’s ability to uplift and to be positive, which it certainly does, but rather, to focus on perspective… we’re all dealt hands we didn’t expect.  The perspective we take , this goes to show, is what moves us forward or keeps us stagnant.  

Thoughts for today.

~K

November 16, 2010 – Why Not Now?

An interesting thought.   Driving today, my daughter, who is six, expressed interest in the art museum.  We agreed from the front seat that this was a great idea and was something we should experience ‘one of these days’.

“You guys say that always, ‘one of these days’.  But why  not today?  Today is a day and we have time now…why  not now?”

Well, there were a few reasons why, which were legitimate and we also try not to have our children determine our days or schedules completely, so don’t misunderstand.  Her point, however, was interesting to me.   How many things do we say we’ll do ‘one of these days’?   Every now and then maybe we should consider today and now, to be the absolute perfect time.

~K

November 15, 2010 – Soaking up the Sun

Today was gorgeous.  I could not soak enough of it up.   We stayed outside forever.  Picnics.  Bike rides.  Walks along rivers. 

I was intent on fully soaking up the beautiful smells the warm fall day, the fresh air blowing through the pines and filtering into the open windows of my home.  I spent the day determined to fully absorb the remaining wonderful hours of a weekend that was passing way too fast.

~K

November 14, 2010 – Saturday in the Fall

Fantastic. Football.  Friends.  Firewood.  Food.  Fall.  Fun.

~K 

November 12, 2010 – BBQ Breakdancing

I forgot my camera.   Words will have to do.

We took what we thought was a weird chance tonight with the kids and some good friends.

We took a bizarre chance and drove into the country and went to a little backwoods bbq of sorts.   We were certainly hesitant.  There was minimal advertisement.  Go out of town, look close for a field on the left.  You’ll know you’re there when you see the handwritten cardboard sign indicating the impending festivities.  It may take a few times going back and forth.   It’s a small piece of cardboard.

We weren’t sure and certainly had a “Plan B”… dinner at our favorite Asian restaurant.   Candlelit tables and yummy fresh veggies sautéed just right.   Sushi rolls and curry pot stickers waiting for us on the other side of town.

I started to wonder as we drove into the cold night searching for our cardboard sign, tired and weary kids in the back, what we were thinking and then my mind wandered to if the wait at our restaurant would be long by the time we turned around and made it back downtown.

And then we got there.   And it wasn’t too cold after all.  We ate- there were 8 of us and our total was $20.00!  Delicious, homemade, country food, different choices at each spot in the lot.  We sampled food in the grass while the kids ran around laughing.   There was a band playing country music and classic rock under a tent.  Our kids took up the entire dance floor, which was grass of course… and the band took notice and switched it up to The Monkees, “I’m a Believer”… not because of the Monkees but because of our kids dancing in the grass in front.   “I’m a Believer” is also the Shrek theme song and the kids went wild!  Song after song, they’d hand us their bbq and then they breakdanced their little baby booties off under the moonlight while we smiled and watched and sometimes joined in.

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I forgot my camera.  I wasn’t anticipating such fun.  I was probably too busy thinking about my pot stickers and Plan B.
But while I was thinking and prepping so much for plan B, Plan A turned out to be the best weird chance we’d taken in a while.

I am so grateful for our friends, who love to take these odd chances with us and for family who is willing to just check things out and make fun in bizarre moments.   Who’d have thought breakdancing in the moonlight at a bbq festival would have been such fun on a Friday n ight?   We all left with full tummies, happy hearts and beautiful memories.

~K 

November 11, 2010 – Thank you to My Veterans

I waited on today’s post, trying to figure out the right words to say.   I thought and thought, went back and forth and at the end of the day am going to suffice with a very simple and heartfelt appreciation for all veterans, but with special love to my two grandfathers who are my two special veterans.

Thank you for your commitment, your sacrifice, your bravery and your love.  I so very much appreciate you.

~K

November 10, 2010 – Positively Positive

I saw this the other day and laughed out loud.  I knew it had a spot here.  She should be writing this blog!   Enjoy “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation.”   If it doesn’t become one of the high points of your day I’d be surprised.

~K