Everything comes in 3s.

You can't see the rainbow if you have your back to the sun. 

I read this quote somewhere, and I agree. If you see gloom, you expect doom.

I am not waxing philosophical, I am merely thinking of some advice to pass on to my adult grandchildren, three of whom are turning 23 this year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUSTIN!

Yes, we had three expectant daughters at the same time! In fact two had the same due date.

Adding to the hormonal roller coaster was the fact that my first grandson was born six weeks early, due to doctor error. The OB misdiagnosed my daughter with appendicitis and nicked her uterus while operating, sending her into unstoppable labor for three days.

A nightmare for certain. The reputable attorney suggested any settlement would merely cover his services, and unless there was a fatality, it would be difficult to win the case against her. She retired from her practice and went sailing around the world, we heard this from those in the know.

So, we have experienced many ups and downs in life. And I know for a fact forgiveness leads to happiness. I want the children to know that.

Two of the three grands are engaged, and a third grandchild will be soon.

I want our sweethearts to realize every cloud has a purpose. Every rainbow provides a glimpse into happier days. And you have to accentuate the positive, in life and each other.

I think I am going to start collecting inspirational quotes and printing them on hearts...love notes for our loves.

Any advice you would like to dispense?

When is the last time you leaped in?

What is your first reaction when you view this photo?

 I haven't seen my five-year-old great-grandson, Liam, in a while. He had a day off school on Friday.

His brothers had already had the opportunity to jump into their "pillow pool," as two-year-old Alex  has named it. Liam was ecstatic to try. He launched himself off the sofa... and kerplunked. 

Even though it was fun, I think it was a bit of a disappointment. He jumped repeatedly. He splatted, and laughed, and laughed. He made the most of the situation.
Have you ever been disappointed by a rejection letter, or missing a writing deadline? Do you make the best of  a situation and roll with it?

 Alex, an old pro at jumping in, had to show his big brother how he did it.
Do you share with those coming up in the writing field? Offer a word of encouragement or share a possible publication call out? Your writing experiences can benefit others. 

Do you ever think out of the box? Try a different writing genre? Stretch your writing muscles? It might be more fun than you expect.

          I gave the boys a bag of tissue paper squares and told them to toss them up to separate them.

 

They had so much fun bouncing, jumping, running, and throwing in the basement family room.

After the active play, we settled down and scrunched up the tissue paper, and glued the pieces onto heart shapes to make their mommy's valentines.

Be sure to take a break from sitting too long, get up, get moving, and then settle down and get back to business. 

Charlie found a pillow with a picture of his big brother Liam (when he was a baby) on it, and loved it. He squealed, "Dada!"

Liam does look like their dad, but then Charlie realized, it was his brother. He kept pointing and saying, "Bubba."Then he'd hug it.

Do you find joy in discovery? You might be surprised what you discover when you step out of your comfort zone.

As an early childhood teacher, I know little children NEED to move. I encouraged active learning in school. I certainly do with my great-grandsons! Young children learn by doing. They need to hop, skip, and jump through early childhood.

Before they went home, I saw Liam washing and drying his hands, and looking at himself in the full length bathroom mirror. I heard him say softly to himself, "I love it here."


So tell me, what was YOUR first reaction upon viewing the picture of Liam taking a leap of faith?

What do you say?

It has been ten days since I last posted. Sounds like a confession.

Nothing major in my life, but a whole lot of little things: hubby battling bronchitis, little kids battling each other, big kids battling the daily grind, grands battling what they perceive as major life issues. Dear friends battling personal issues. One of my former students, now grown passed away. Life has been a tad difficult. I usually get right over the humps. I do not make mountains out of mole hills, but this has been a difficult few days.

I've been listening to my inner voice, and it isn't nice! I preach kindness, but don't always practice what I preach. I snap. I make comments better left unsaid. AND I do not always speak kindly to myself.

I preach faith... without faith what is there? Doubt! Worry! Angst! But my faith sometimes falters.

I preach positive thinking, but some situations appear to be so negative I can't see a way out.

Negative thoughts lead to anxiety, depression, a forlorn feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop...impending doom. Shallow breathing, sighing, wondering, escape napping, and nibbling on cookies of all kinds.

I have received an assignment which requires heavy computer work. I can write, I can speak, I can joke, I can make things, I can assist others, but I am overwhelmed thinking I can't do the computer work because I am technically challenged.

I felt the same way when I was asked to be acquisition editor for a book I developed for a publisher a few years ago.

Now comes the pep talk. I did it before, and I can do it again. My husband, a computer whiz, is feeling better and he's at my beck and call if Hewy (my old Hewlett Packard computer) and I can't work it out.

My kids, grands, and greats will all survive their own issues.

My doctor will be happy if I get back into my healthy eating routine... so I can survive.

I CAN DO whatever it is. I have a choice every day, every moment...and I am choosing  to do what needs to be done.

Usually a swift kick in the pants is all I need, so if you see me around town with my foot against my rear, just know I'm making some adjustments in my life.

Cheryl can relate, can you?

http://sasee.com/2020/02/01/my-great-escape/

Would you be so kind as to click on the above link and read my story at Sasee magazine. Please leave a comment at the end, on their site, if possible. This is a wonderful women's publication with great stories and information. 

My story is about wanting a place of my own when I was young. 

Now that I am old, there are days I NEED a place to call my own... where conversation doesn't occur the moment I open my book, and cease when I close it. Where the phone doesn't trill with people telling me I am about to be arrested for illegal use of my social security card, or my back brace is available for free. Where the doorbell doesn't ding-dong-ding the moment I recline with my book. 

If you can relate to this post, you will certainly relate to Cheryl's issues, and MINE.

Any recommendations on a book I should read?

And the beat does go on!

My dad was a great fabricator. No, he was not a machinist. He was a story teller. He told
spellbinding tales and swore they were true. People of all ages were engrossed, because he could embellish details so well, and he made dynamic sound effects.

Recently I watched  Ken Burns' documentary on the early country music stars. My dad used to play guitar and sing every Hank Williams song you can imagine. He had the same lanky build as Hank, and sounded just like him! Hank drank. My dad didn't.

Dad could "yodel like a hoot owl and sing like a whippoorwill"... those were lyrics of a song he sang to me when I was young. "I'll sing you a song about my little girl who lives down in the hills. She yodels like a hoot owl and sings like a whippoorwill. She's the one I'm thinking of; the one I'm crazy about. I'm going down into those hills and bring my baby out." Then he'd throw his head back and "yodel-little lady whoooo."

I thought he made that song up about ME. I tried and tried to yodel, but never could.

I spoke with my brother, who lived with Dad and took care of him until he passed away. My brother said Dad always swore he played music with Hank Williams in Chicago, while our mom sat and talked to Hank's wife, Audrey. If that is true, Hank Jr. and I were in the same honky-tonk bar, at the same time, even though we were in utero. He was born two weeks before me.

My parents did live in Chicago for less than a year. They both worked at a diner, and it is very possible that Hank and Audrey were patrons. Or, Dad who loved to strum, may have gone to one of the places Hank played, and maybe he sat in on a song. No way to know for certain, but it is something fun for me to ponder.

I know for a fact when my dad lived in Reno, he played backup with Rose Maddox, an early female country star.

Dad loved to pick any guitar, but his favorite instrument to play was the steel guitar. I can still hear that twang.

NO REALLY! I can, because my grandson Nicholas now has my dad's small, steel guitar and has taken an interest in playing it. The beat goes on!