Wednesday, January 13, 2010

New Years Resolutions

I love New Years. New Year's Eve passes quietly in our house. We usually go to dinner and a movie then come home to walk the dog at midnight.
But New Year's Day......getting out that brand new calender is fun for me.
Having a whole new blank 12 months is like a wonderful opportunity for a do over. It is the closest I can get to the great childhood memory of starting a new school year. New pens and pencils, new notebooks, a whole package of loose leaf paper just for me, new clothes, new shoes, a brand new beginning.
I love to fill in the birthdays and appointments, the workdays and paydays and especially the vacation days. Planning and anticipation are half the fun after all.
My mind ponders goals and dreams for the coming year.
That's where the trouble starts and where the good feeling starts to erode. My review of the past year examines what needs to be fixed and thus is negative. Never mind the goals achieved the relationships that flourished or the personal growth that occurred. It's all about the extra pounds, the lack of exercise, the bad habits...... and fairly soon the bright and shiny feelings are disappearing like morning fog.
This year I have only one resolution. I will be kind to myself and others one day at a time. I have found a Reiki truth that I was first introduced to about 5 years ago. I have placed it on my desk and in my workplace so that I see it several times a day.

Just for today
I will not anger.
Just for today
I will not worry.
Just for today
I will be grateful.
Just for today
I will work hard.
Just for today
I will be kind to others.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Best Christmas Present....Ever!




I received the greatest Christmas gift from my sister this year. We draw names for gifting in our family and was lucky that Donna pulled mine.

I was handed a large box wrapped in bright red paper with a lovely lime green ribbon. It had a note on top that said, keep level and open slowly. I opened the lid to find a box stuffed with goodies and a sign that said "Bonnie's Guiltless Indulgences as justified by her well intentioned sister."



The box was full of all kinds of wonderful little gifts and each gift had a note tied to it that explained why I would like it. There were fuzzy sock slippers, candles(Because...this scent is serenity in a flame), snacks, soap(Because...Nothing makes you want to not get out of the shower more than this soap), beverages, books(Because...sharpening your brain power leads to many new ideas), lotion(Because...the battle against dry skin gets tougher every year. It is our duty to combat it in the pursuit of soft skin), dog and cat treats(Because...happy and well fed pets curl up on your feet to take a nap when you really just want to read a good book) and my favorite a CD that she burned with a collection of musical favorites from when we were growing up.

This gift was a treasure box to look through. Each new item was a delight made even more so when I saw her "justification".

Donna made me feel wonderful.

She made me feel appreciated.

She made me feel special.

She made me feel loved.

And that is the best Christmas present of all.








A FamiLee Christmas







It's been quite some time since we have had small children around at Christmas time. I had forgotten how much fun it is to see the magic and excitement reflected through them. We had the joy this year of sharing some of our Holidays with Nephew Paul's 3 little girls and our grandsons Freddy, Liam and RJ.

Paul and Stacy with Mikayla, Madison and Mya and Becky and Dennis with our 3 little boys came for breakfast the Saturday before Christmas when traditionally the local fire company drives through every residential street in town with Santa Claus on a firetruck. Melissa and Becky always loved this tradition as they were growing up and it has become more special for us in the last 2 years since Fred has been promoted to Santa Claus.

The table was full of high chairs and booster seats as we ate breakfast. Our little dog Rascal had a wonderful time waiting under the table for inevitable droppings.

We went outside to play in the snow after breakfast, snow tubing down the front yard while waiting for Santa.

The Fire sirens signaled the arrival of Santa and Fred's jolly voice was loved by all, especially Mikayla who proclaimed him a very good Ho-Ho-Hoer!