James 1:19
Constantly working on this one. I rise in the early quiet morning with this intention and by later afternoon it can be quickly forgotten.
Today’s Reminder
Today’s Reminder
Do It Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
by Mother Teresa
Chicken soup with rice
One of my favorite books as a young child was a book titled Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak. My kindergarten or 1st grade teacher would read it to us and I absolutely loved it. There was a poem for each of the month. And whether it was January, February, June or July, every month was perfect for Chicken Soup with Rice! My favorite as a child was probably the months of June or July because that meant summer time and no school. But now that I’m older, I always enjoy it when I get to read the months of January and February. These months are after the holiday hussle and bustle and they are quieter and less rushed. The days are short and the nights are long. Funny how things change.
Words from the wise
Liam had just gotten over having a fever. He had asked me if he could play fight with dad again and I said ” you’re going to have to take it easy” and he responded ” but mom, taking it easy is sometimes hard, dad’s going to beat me”. Meaning if he takes it easy, his dad’s going to win. Lots of truth to that, it is sometimes difficult to take things easy, to be patient enough to wait until you’re fully better, fully healed. Being told to take it easy is such a hard thing to be told to do. So wise of him to understand that at such a young age.
Winter
I love winter! I love the month of January. It’s a newfound love, maybe the past several years as I’ve learned to understand what winter really means. I’m beyond hoping the days will pass so that the Spring or summer would arrive. I’m past trying to fill and plan the days so that they are full and time passes. Now I want to be inside of winter, just like a child. To fully be present and appreciate all that winter brings.
Artist: Lia Weiss
I found these beautiful pieces of artwork in an old sketch book that Lia had a couple of years ago. Maybe she was around 8 or 9 years old. Kids have such an imagination. So raw and natural. No limits. I miss that.
The art of staying as still as a cactus
Time for rest and renewal just like a cactus in winter time. They stop growing and they get to rest over the winter to prepare for blooms in the Spring and Summer. No anxiety here, they welcome rest knowing that there will be plenty of blooming come spring time.
Another day in January
Best of 2024
Nonna turned 80! We saw a solar eclipse. Lia started homeschooling. Isabel and Andrew were crowned king and Queen. We lost sweet little whiskey. We hatched our own chicken eggs. Isabel entered her senior year of high school. Lia got a bat mitzvah. Melina turned 15! And entered 10 grade. Dad started surfcasting, and Liam started kindergarten.
Oh, and I forgot my little free library we put up in the neighborhood!
January
