Returned...

 

Someone is back in town...

and I couldn't be happier.

Celebrated today with a little lunch downtown

and chatter to fill

Healing field

 Eleven years have gone so quickly.

I, just like you, remember well what I was doing when our world

changed forever on that Tuesday morning.

Just like every week day,

I was getting ready to go to work, in the middle of my routine.

I had returned to work just a few weeks before after taking

my maternity leave for my little guy.

I could hear from my bedroom the morning noises that made me smile.

Mia was signing her silly songs and Trey was giggling.

Both safe in the play room doing what they did so well-

having fun.

It was pure joy.

I was thinking of all that needed done, of course.

Dress the kiddos. Pack the diaper bag for day care.

Check fridge for dinner "stuff"

all while making myself somewhat presentable.

Then the phone rang.

I assumed it was Frankie, checking in.

Like he did every morning.

He started work early and would call to say good morning and

check in on the kiddies.

It wasn't Frankie.

My phone call came from a dear friend who calmly said,

"We're being attacked, turn on the news."

And then just like everyone else, I cried at the sights.

It would take hours, days, months and even years

to learn of the true consequences of the events of those days.

It would take the same amount of time to learn of the miracles,

the heroism and the heartbreaks.

 

I stopped on my way home today and took a stroll around a healing field.

It was beautiful

I wandered aimlessly, stopping along the way.

More than 3000 flags, each one with the story of a life ended too soon.

So many...

I left the field after reading of the young 27 year old professional who on that morning

left her two little ones in the care of another.

It was an ordinary day for her, too.

Likely she had diapered, fed and done the routine that had for her, become "normal"

I imagine in that tower before the horror, she was doing her job

with the thoughts of her young family always lingering...

We know what happened next.

After reading her story, I felt the need to rush home and hug

the once little people who were singing and  giggling that morning 11 years ago.

I hugged them a little tighter than normal when I came in the door.

I can't help but think that everything really does have a lesson attached to it.

Tonight I'm deeply praying for not just those people who went to heaven too soon

but for the ones that were waiting for them to come home that day 11 years ago. 



Monday Funday

Mia leaves the house every morning at 6:30 a.m.

She does it with a genuine smile...usually.

Mondays stink.

Stuck

Doesn't get any creepier than this!

Not my happiest Sunday, ever.

Nasty!

Beauty

I got to go on a date with my guy tonight.

My 11 year old guy.

We left Dad at home.

On the way to the movie - Odd Life of Timothy Green - we saw this

beautiful sky.

Sweet Trey said, "Who needs a movie with that sky?"

We looked at it for a few minutes and both agreed

the best art is God's.

We did end up at the movies.

Had a great time, too!

I think we both agreed that the movie was awesome

it didn't compare to that beautiful sky...

 

Stop with no go

September 6.

September 6.

I won't type it again.

I went to the craft store today to get some supplies to make

a little gift for a birthday (of a very cute 4 year old!)

I don't get out enough.

And now I know why.

I get irritated.

Very. Irritated.

Here's a list of some other cool holidays we should consider:

Patriot's Day

Columbus Day

Halloween (not a holiday, but still)

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving

Please dear retailers you make me get a tummy ache.

Stop the madness.

Stop.

The.

Madness.

Night with the real J-Wows!

I got to spend the evening with these girls.

Aren't I lucky.

Not only are they all gorgeous, they are also inspiring.

They have jobs, families, friends and tons of responsibilities.

They're planning weddings, getting their MBAs and

teaching preschoolers their colors.

I could go on and on and on

listing the things they do but what inspires me the most is their committment to serve.

They give their time and talents

with big beautiful smiles.

The Junior League is lucky to have them!

And so am I.

Wow.

A reminder

I needed this today!

With heartful intention, I'm going to try to live by it.

 

My lil Florence Nightingale

Let me be an "Honest Abe."

I don't do very well with sick people.

It's not that I'm not sympathetic.

I am. Really.

Okay, maybe not so much.

I come from the camp of "get up and get going."

A shower might help.

Take a walk.

Eat a little something.

Or...

For the love of Pete, get out of bed and make yourself feel better.

That does not sound sympathetic, does it?

I'm happy to report, my Mia didn't get my

"not very sympathetic, kinda a jerk when you're sick" genes.

The flu/cold bug hit our house last week and lingered through the weekend.

It had both Trey and I coughing and hacking

and then gave the Big Guy a case of Strep.

I was not happy.

Mortified.

A three day weekend ruined.

If you ask me, it's the worst kind of fate.

A weekend that can't be enjoyed.

Big Guy, aka Frankie, Dad, My Darling Hubs

was in bed for most of the weekend.

As I was doing the eighth load of laundry

a spritely Mia came downstairs,

grabbed a cold drink and said, "this is for Dad."

He has a fever."

She went up the stairs with a smile.

Soon after, I follwwed her ~

I had the lovely chore of putting away

yet another load of the fresh laundry.

There it was that I found our Florence Nightingale

hanging out with her sick daddy.

She brought in her own chair, a blankie and

patience enough to watch all of Daddy's fave movies.

Gotta love that sometimes genes really do skip a generation.

Update: Happy to report the big guy is productively at work today.

Although Trey and I are still hacking, we're feeling just fine.

And Mia, she's just fine with not having another patient to care for!!

Blank pages

 

I hope my smiling face makes it easier to accept my recent MIA status.

Missing in Action, that is.

The last 50 days or so have been nothing short of insane.

I suppose it's been the good type of insane.

The word crazy doesn't begin to describe our family's 

last couple of months.

I'm talking big life-changing stuff, ya know.

When I started our Year in Pictures blog, I did it with great intention.

I remember thinking it would so much fun.  

Its purpose was to chronicle our family's year.

Imagine the end product.

365 pictures telling the story of 2012.

And really, how hard would it be to take a simple shot each day,

write a cute caption and then publish?

I had no idea.... 

Between my family responsibities, my job and of course the other things life threw us,

it became a struggle to keep up.

A MAJOR STRUGGLE.

I thought about just deleting the blog but then realized that would be like

deleting our year.

And then I had a thought.

Perhaps the days skipped were chronicled

much more effectively than those with the pic and prose.

Those "skipped" days were full.

Full of busy

Full of crazy

Full of life

So, I'll start over.

 September is always a great month for

 fresh starts, do-overs, resets.

Wouldn't you agree?

Stay tuned friends.

I imagine the next several months will bring lots of awesome stuff.

I'll do my best to keep up.

I'll also try to remember that blank pages sometime define life

better than the ones that have the lines of words and pretty colored pictures.

Onward...