Winter Bonding

It was a precious gift spending so much time

Together time, down time, stress time, happy time. 

And it was a good start to what I intend to create

in the new "happiness year" 

thank you, Mom. 

Roots

Thank goodness for deep roots.
Across countries and oceans,
miles and years, friends and their friends.
I am so supported, and my drive and desire
is to support others as soon as I am able.
One leaf and branch and planter at a time.

Break Time is Almost Over

break time is almost over.
see you later sea, sun and sand.
just enough time left for a lovely family meal
and a dip in the hot tub.
then back at it.
It was a good wedding-related visit and our
congrats to the happy couple.
family time is a wonderful wonderful thing.

I Get By with a Little Help From My Friends

Appreciate What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)- #reverb10

I have much to be grateful for in 2010 though it was a year of real struggle and continues to be harder than I ever imagined. But the one thing I have come to appreciate most is the support of my husband and friends. I have had to reach out for help many many times over the last year and people have unfailingly been there to help. They have been kind, understanding and unwavering. My husband especially.

It has never been easy for me to accept that I cannot do everything perfectly, that I need help. But this year has been a huge learning curve on that front as on so many others. It was scary to ask for support especially so frequently- but there have been people there along the way who just loved, helped, and surprised me with their warmth and lack of judgement. My hope in 2011 is to not let them down and to repay them for their faith even when I did not always make the right decsions and did not always understand what I was getting into.

I try to express gratitude for all of their help by helping others whenever I can AND by promising and working myself to support and repay each and everyone of them.