Happy Easter from our peeps to yours.... xoxo
*On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer. - Douglas Horton*
Sunday, March 31, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 90 - From our peeps to yours....
Happy Easter from our peeps to yours.... xoxo
Saturday, March 30, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 89 - a great Saturday
A beach picnic and time to play with friends makes for a great Saturday. We are really enjoying our Easter weekend.
*At the beach time you enjoy wasting, is not time wasted. - Unknown*
Friday, March 29, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 88 - 93rd Street friends
After a very long fall and winter, finally a night to catch up with my 93rd Street friends.
*Friends are the sunshine of life. - John Hay*
Thursday, March 28, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 87 - Heaven in a pie crust
It's that time of year again - time for My Wonderful Husband and I to make the pizza gain! This always brings back wonderful memories of Easters through out my life. But today I think both my Wonderful Husband and I felt the presence of both of my parents in the kitchen with us as we worked together on our yearly joint project. My Wonderful Husband makes the dough, I take care of the filling, and together we wait as it cooks and fills the house with the most incredible smell on the planet. For those of you who are lucky enough to know what pizza gain is, I don't need to tell you that it is heaven in a pie crust. For those who have never had this delicious Italian Easter pie filled with meats, eggs, and cheeses....I am very sorry for your loss. ;-)
*No one who cooks, cooks alone....a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past.... - Laurie Colwin*
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 86 - Some days are just like that.
As I was getting ready to get dinner started, I was about to start chopping garlic when I realized that I was missing two major ingredients in the meal - basil and parsley. I thought I had some in the pantry but it turned out I did not. What is one to do when it is pushing up on dinner and you realize that you have a dinner fail on your hands and not much else in the house to make? Have My Wonderful Husband pick up pizza on the way home. Some days are just like that.
*The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow. - H.G. Wells*
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 85 - I stand firmly on the side of marriage equality.
Today was a big day for the Supreme Court. They were hearing arguments for and against Prop 8 to decide whether or not it is constitutional. Tomorrow they will argue the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. Basically they are hearing arguments in favor of and in opposition to marriage equality. I am not going to give you a lesson on the Supreme Court or how it all works (because even though I had My Wonderful Husband - who is a Political Science professor - explain it all to me, I am not an expert and if you want to know more about the details, you can look it up). I am just going to share my thoughts about this subject so my kids will know where I stand - as always this blog is for them. I stand firmly on the side of Marriage Equality. I believe that two people who love each other should have the same right to marry each other and benefit from the protections that the law provides any other two people who want to marry each other. I believe that a marriage is a partnership between any two people who love and respect one another and want to spend their life together as a couple or as a family with children. Those two people can be a man and woman but they can just as well be a woman and a woman or a man and man. Now here's the part that I want my children to understand. We live in a world where people can be incredibly intolerant, close minded, small, and hypocritical. Because of that not everyone will be accepting of the differences in people. They will try to tell people that they must be just like them. Maybe you have already experienced this in some capacity in your lives. Maybe you know someone that gets teased because of something that makes them different than someone else. I hope that when you have experienced this, you have felt in your heart that it was wrong. Trust your heart - it is wrong. People are all different and that is exactly what makes everyone special. What a boring world it would be if everyone was exactly the same. We need to not only be tolerant of those differences, we need to celebrate them. We need to see past them as well - to the heart of each person we meet. I hope that as the three of you make your way through this world, you open your minds and your hearts to the diversity around you, stay strong in the face of any intolerance that you might face, and stand up for what, in your heart, you know is right. I wish for the three of you a lifetime of love and happiness, a world where you are free to find the person you love and respect who loves and respects you in return, and the only thing that matters in a marriage is that it is a healthy, happy, loving partnership.
*When there is love in a marriage, there is harmony in the home; when there is harmony in the home, there is contentment in the community; when there is contentment in the community, there is prosperity in the nation; when there is prosperity in the nation, there is peace in the world. - Chinese Proverb*
Monday, March 25, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 84 - done
A snow day. In Spring. I just don't have much else to say about this mess. I am really done with winter and I am anxiously waiting for spring to actually arrive.
*March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. - English Proverb*
Sunday, March 24, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 83 - weekend
We have been promising the kids that we would get them a basketball net at the beach house for the past several years...but never got around to it. This weekend, we finally delivered on that promise and that net got quite a bit of use in its maiden weekend. The weather this weekend wasn't too bad on the island so the kids pretty much spent the whole weekend outside shooting hoops, skateboarding, playing hide and seek, and just hanging out with friends. They got to play with their two friends that live on the street and two of their other friends who were down for the weekend. It was quite a gang outside - they were already outside playing when my friend and I got back from yoga this morning. It was a nice weekend overall with time spent with friends and family and time to just relax and unwind. Unfortunately we did have to go back to PA tonight...and there is apparently snow on its way... but we will be back at the beach soon. I can't wait.
*Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream. - John Lennon*
Saturday, March 23, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 82 - baby shower
There are two new babies due on the scene in my family this spring. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to the last baby shower, but I was able to get up to North Jersey today for this shower. I was happy to be able to see both expectant mommies:-) and my cousins - the soon to be daddies. :-) I look forward to meeting these new little family members after they arrive! xoxo
*Babies are such a nice way to start people. - Don Herold*
P365 - 2013 - Day 81 - hiding
While we were packing the car to head to the beach for the weekend, The Pooch was suddenly MIA.... I eventually found him hiding in our bedroom. I kid you not. He was hiding behind the rocking chair. You can see his expression upon being found... he seemed to miss the fact that his whole back side was sticking out from behind the chair. "Come on." I said "we're leaving. You need to get in the car." No movement. Clearly if he made no movements, I was just going to leave him behind right? "Come onnnnn..... are you serious? We are going." I tried to reason with him. Still nothing. I went back downstairs and showed My Wonderful Husband the picture of The Pooch. But I had an idea... While The Pooch had destroyed all of his plastic squeaky toys and we didn't let him have those anymore for fear of him choking on the pieces of plastic, there was still one left that I hadn't thrown out. I squeaked it once and it barely even had any squeak left... and within seconds there was a furry face at the top of the stairs. Victory! I am smarter than a puppy.... "Oh hello! Did you decide to come out of hiding? Did you hear something? It's in the car." Ok, so I lied. But we needed to get on the road and once he was in the car he was just fine:-)
*Wag more. Bark less. - Unknown*
Thursday, March 21, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 80 - bracket
This morning before school, The Bear and his Daddy filled out their March Madness brackets. The Bear has become really interested in basketball this year - there are very few sports that don't interest this kid - and he was ready for this tournament to start. He came home from school ready to get all of the game updates and it looks like it's going to be all basketball TV for a while.... ;-)
*Don't give up. Don't ever give up. - Jimmy Valvano*
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 79 - bring it on
In October 2008 I ran the LBI 18 Mile Run. After The Boy was born in May 2005, I started running for the first time in my life. Before The Bear and The Princess, I was a diligent gym goer - step, kick boxing, weights, etc... then I had twins, moved twice, had another baby, and I was always. always. tired. And busy. so very busy. But after The Boy was born I decided that I was going to start running. It seemed like an efficient form of exercise, it gave me some quiet time on the treadmill and a way to watch shows other than Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer. I could also put the baby in a stroller and run since My Wonderful Husband and I were using a "zone defense" instead of the man to man defense that we had previously used before our third child arrived on the scene. But I digress... I started running for the first time ever and worked myself up from walking and running to running to running a lot. I needed a goal though because I am a crazy - I mean goal oriented person. So my goal became the LBI 18 Mile Run. I had no time limit on that goal - I just wanted to get there eventually. After more than three years, I finally ran the 18 miles in 2008 - I finished it and I wasn't last (which was my meager goal). Every year since I have wanted to do it again, but just never have. Last year my plan was to run a half marathon in the spring and then run the 18 miles in October. Unfortunately the best laid plans and all that... I got sick last spring and set my running schedule back. Fast forward to today. I have been increasing my runs over the past couple of months to get myself back on track and today I did my first 8 mile run in quite some time. So, to go along with my quest for balance and inner peace as well as the fact that this is the year that I turn..gulp..40... I made a decision. I am running the LBI 18 Mile Run this October. My Wonderful Husband has signed on to run along with me too. I am very excited. Come on 40 - bring it on. I got this.
*Ask nothing of your running and you'll get more than you ever imagined. - Christopher McDougall Born to Run*
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 78 - good enough
I have been reading Eat, Pray, Love for the second time. In this second time around I am finding even more things that resonate for me. I have mentioned my quest for Zen, right? It is extremely important to me these days - not just because of the events of the past year, but even in spite of them - that I find some balance, harmony, peace, tranquility... Now let me be clear that I do not believe that in order to achieve that Zen state I need to discard who I am at my core. And at my core, I am a person that questions things. I expect things to make sense.. I can not tolerate stupidity, intolerance, or burying your head in the sand. That is just who I am - take me or leave me. But I need to accept that there is stupidity, intolerance, and things that just don't make sense in this world and people who are willing to close their eyes to them. I am not one of them... but I need to learn to stay balanced nonetheless in spite of them. That is my quest..... So that brings me to today and tonight... I realize over and over that the answer to my quest always lies with my family. They are the ones that keep me balanced. They are my heart and everything that is important to me. So in my own version of Eat, Pray, Love today... EAT: We had a delicious dinner together. We have always felt it is important to have family dinners. Sit down, eat, talk. But it's also important that we eat good food. I was raised that way. My Wonderful Husband and I both appreciate good food. I am so happy that our three children can appreciate good food too - life is too short not to. Tonight we had london broil and it was delicious. PRAY: Because I think it is important to have a sense of humor I am including this picture of the kitchen faucet....the local water has been compromised the past two days and we have been under a boil order - we are praying that they get this taken care of quickly... because roughing it is just not for me. LOVE: What can I say that I haven't said before.. I love these three kids. I love their zest for life and learning. I love that they love to read and can appreciate a good book. These are enough answers for me today.
*Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it,
strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the
world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the
manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a
state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You
must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness
forever, to stay afloat on top of it. - Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love*
Monday, March 18, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 77 - Delicious
I make manicotti shells for Christmas day and usually make way more than we actually need as we are not feeding a small army..... So, I usually freeze the unused, unfilled shells for later use. More often than not, I forget that they are in the freezer and sadly never use them. But the other day, My Wonderful Husband reminded me the unused shells from this Christmas were still in there. So, on this unexpected (and annoyingly) snowy day - I started a gravy and made some delicious manicotti for dinner. Yum! Now, we have to wait until next Christmas for more...
* Life is a combination of magic and pasta. - Federico Fellini*
Sunday, March 17, 2013
P365 - 2013- Day 76 - Top of the day to you!
As a friend of mine says... Top of the day to you... and the rest of the day to me! We all enjoyed the day - the kids played some soccer with their Daddy and some friends while I got to go shopping - that's what I call lucky! :-) But it doesn't take a special day to remind me how very lucky we are every single day. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
*May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
-Irish Blessing*
Saturday, March 16, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 75 - goalie gloves
The Boy got a pair of goalie gloves today and was so excited about them that he wore them all.day. We had to tell him to take them off for bed. Goalie isn't really his position. He is more of a midfielder. But he has backyard goalie ambitions and every backyard goalie needs to be suited up too. :-)
*Life is like playing goalie. You blink and the most important thing can pass you. - Unknown*
Friday, March 15, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 74 - reminders
I am on a daily quest to "work out the kinks", "make a better tomorrow", and "see the stars". It's nice to get little reminders along with a yummy dinner.... :-)
*Good sayings are like pearls strung together. - Chinese Proverb*
Thursday, March 14, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 73 - Hello
So, I was sitting here tonight trying to pick a picture and write the blog for the day.... and I realized that I sort of failed to come up with anything today. My intentions were good, my execution stunk. So as I had just skyped with my Wonderful Husband, who had gone up to the beach to surf and clean out the shed today, I thought maybe I would just take a picture of me... It has been awhile since my mug made it in to P365....Hello. and goodnight.... :-)
*The world is like a mirror; frown at it and it frowns at you. Smile and it smiles too. - Herbert Samuels*
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 72 - Good job!
The librarian at the kids' school had the 4th graders participate in a "doodle for google" contest. They needed to draw a "new" Google logo that showed their best day ever. The Bear chose the day that he scored 6 goals in one soccer game and The Princess chose the day that we brought Jersey home. I think they both did a great job and we are very proud that both of their "doodles" were chosen to move on! Good job guys!
*Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson*
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 71 - Changes
There are changes coming down the pike. All good, I hope. Definitely needed, of that I am certain. For the past three years, I have run the athletic program at the kids' school. For the past four years, My Wonderful Husband has coached anywhere from one to three teams per season. I have sat through 9 sign up nights, written out countless rosters, made many phone calls pleading for coaches, have ordered shirts, awards, and basically coordinated my brains out. I am not going to lie, I enjoyed it - even when it drove me nuts... I like that kind of stuff, I love doing it for my kids, I love doing it for the other kids, and I like to see things run well. It can be a thankless job (except when you watch the kids play and realize how much fun they are having) but I did recently receive the sweetest thank you note from a parent who has coached for me and whose daughter has been on our team and that one note meant the world to me. But it is time to hand over the reigns. It is time to let someone else take over from here. Two lovely ladies have stepped up to take the job and I am honestly looking forward to passing the torch. There are changes coming down the pike... and this is my first step in that direction. See you on the flip side.
*Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. - William Jennings Bryan*
Monday, March 11, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 70 - a close second
Do you know what runs a close second to me having the flu while My Wonderful Husband was away? Both of us being sick with sinus infections at the same time. It was so bad that we both had to admit we needed to go to the doctor today (and that is quite a step for us both). So after a lovely "date" to the medi-express we got some medicine and both tried to rest and feel better tonight. (The Pooch was supervising - I think he may have thought he was in charge of the kids since both of the "big humans" were down for the count.) **In the event that the Universe is reading this blog - I am really done with these sinus infections and getting sick. In case you haven't heard, I am trying to find balance, inner peace, yada, yada yada..... and that is a little hard when I can not breathe through either nostril and my face is swollen to the point that I don't recognize myself. So, a little help would be fab - thanks:-)
*To keep the body in good health is a duty... other wise we will not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. - Buddha*
Sunday, March 10, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 69 - the moment
I saw this poster today and I thought that this was a better picture of the day than any that I took. Aside from the fact that my nose is stuffed up once again and I have come to accept the fact that I need to go back to the doctor tomorrow....I had a good day. I woke up early and went to another yoga class with my friend Genny. I fought my internal struggle with the fact that YOGA IS HARD and I am not that great at it. I fought all of my competitiveness and tried to focus on the bigger picture, the moment, my life, my health, my zen.... I can honestly say that it is a great way to start a day. The kids played outside with their friend and then My Wonderful Husband, the kids, and I went out for brunch at our favorite place. Before needing to get on the road to head back to PA, we went up to the beach to play.. we took The Pooch who got his fill of sand and water , we brought a soccer ball to kick around, the kids wrote their names on the sand and we just soaked it all in. Breathed in the salt air (as best I could..;-)) and enjoyed the moment.
*Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. - Buddha*
Saturday, March 9, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 68 - lazy Saturday morning
Before I set out this morning to do some packing at Poppy's house, this was the lazy Saturday morning scene. Let me just say, The Pooch is incredibly spoiled and he loves his "small humans" unconditionally. My Wonderful Husband, the kids, and The Pooch enjoyed the beautiful weather today and I got a good amount of packing done - a special thanks to my friend Stacey for the help and the company! It was a productive day and I think I have earned my jammies and my feet up.
*Each morning sees some task begun, each evening sees it close. Something attempted, something done, has earned a night's repose. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow*
P365 - 2013 - Day 67 - Another trip
After months of being PA bound for either weather or sports, we are making up for lost time with another trip to LBI this weekend. I have some packing to do at Poppy's house so we decided to all go together. These three are old hands at traveling... they even managed to share the air in the backseat with minimal arguing and The Pooch managed to make the ride without any intestinal upset as well...so it's shaping up to be a good weekend:-)
*on the road again... like a band of gypsies we go down the highway. - Willie Nelson*
Thursday, March 7, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 66 - Jelly Bean Taste Tests
Here's the thing...I have a jelly bean memory stored in my brain and taste buds. When I was growing up (now brace yourselves because I am about to sound as old as if I were talking about walking to school uphill...) we did not have the luxury of jelly beans at our our disposal....in my house the beans showed up on Easter morning after the Easter Bunny had been there. Period. End of discussion. More importantly, those beans of my youth and memory were the best tasting jelly beans on the planet. Were they so good because I had waited 365 days for them or were they actually good? Hard to tell. What I can tell you is that for years My Wonderful Husband and I have been conducting taste tests on the numerous jelly bean brands that are available and none of them measure up to the beans of my youth.... Today he came home from the store with a new contender and a favorite of his - neither of which I even like let alone think is close to the beans I seek. So, the taste tests will continue until I find them - suggestions are welcome. I don't want any "every flavor bean" type either - a jelly bean is NOT meant to taste like popcorn or coffee, or any other vomit inducing flavor that a certain brand fancies. I like my beans traditional but not those big fat ones...no black licorice flavor. It is entirely possible that my taste buds have just outgrown the taste of jelly beans (sigh...) but I have hope that my childhood jelly beans are out there somewhere.... :-)
*You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans. - Ronald Reagan*
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 65 - snow day/birthday
Today was My Wonderful Husband's birthday. Normally on Wednesdays he teaches all day and is gone from 8 am until about 10pm. But today, as a special birthday present, he got a snow day. I will put aside my complete disdain for snow since I am happy that he got to be home for his birthday. As per the birthday boy's request, I made Norwegian meatballs for dinner and chippy cake for dessert - two of his favorites. In this house, who ever has a birthday gets to pick dinner and dessert. He had a true snow day/birthday - time to play in (and shovel) the snow with the kids, sports on TV to his heart's content, a yummy dinner, video games with the kids after dinner, and 43 candles -plus one for good luck - on his cake to end the night. Make a wish! Happy Birthday - we love you!! xoxoxoxo
* May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live. - Irish Blessing*
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 64 - dishonest rodent
About a month ago, a certain famous ground hog popped out of his hole, did not see his shadow, and instantly got my hopes up. Spring was supposed to be on it's way. Fast forward to today and I feel duped. That dishonest rodent is on my list. I won't forget this Phil.....
* A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. - Carl Reiner*
Monday, March 4, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 63 - Like mother, Like daughter
Having a child is sometimes like having a mirror held up in front of your face. Sometimes that mirror reflects back all of your good qualities, sometimes you marvel at the resemblances... other times it reflects the parts of yourself you don't always want to take credit for - those qualities that you would like to blame on your spouse but know that you can't... sometimes that mirror shows you a vision of yourself that you had only dreamed about. I am the lucky mother of two sons and a daughter... and while I can certainly see myself in my boys as well, my daughter is truly the one that holds the mirror... There are the obvious similarities between us and she does look more and more like me as she gets older but the similarities go beyond our hair color and smile. She is strong willed - one might say stubborn. She has had a mind of her own since she was 18 months old. She is dramatic and passionate about things that are important to her. She can be shy but once she is comfortable - watch out! :-) She is caring and fiercely protective of anyone or anything that matters to her. She is sensitive, but do not mistake that for weakness - she is one tough cookie and has been since birth when she fought her way into this world 6 weeks early and only 4 lbs. But for as much as we are similar, she seems to have figured out some things that took me forever to figure out and some I am still working on. She is not afraid to speak up. She is confident and sure of herself. She and I may be similar but she is the 2.0 version and I can't wait to see what she becomes. xo
*When I look at my daughter, I see myself....only better. - Unknown*
Sunday, March 3, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 62 - March Flashback 2007
Everything about this picture makes me smile and sigh. In my life as a mom, I have spent countless hours in the kitchen getting snacks or meals. So it comes as no surprise to me when I look back at pictures that so many are in the kitchen. On this day, like many others, the kids were rockin' their jammies and robes and I am here to tell you that it was very likely NOT morning - these kids just liked jammies and robes. As a matter of fact, we affectionately referred to The Boy as "Hef" in this blue robe that he loved to wear. A lot. I'm sure that if you were able to see the tops of their hands, there would be "decorative band aides" on them. There was a stretch of time when the kids all liked to wear band aides as "jewelry". Darn those character band aides. Why we never bought stock in them is beyond me. Toys joined them at the table quite a bit - they were quite fond of "talking their people" and acting out any Disney movie or show that they had seen. Finally, as you can see, The Bear, The Princess, and The Boy have always had dramatic flare and they sure are all superheroes in my eyes and the memory of this moment truly makes me smile. It is hard to believe that this was 6 years ago - The Bear and The Princess had not even started school yet. They had just turned 4 not quite two months before this. The Boy was not even 2 yet ... They have grown so much since this moment and that makes me sigh... Slow down superheroes.
* I suppose it's like the ticking crocodile, isn't it? Time is chasing after all of us. - J. M.Barrie*
Saturday, March 2, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 61 - lucky
Today is not a day that I generally enjoy - while I think of my mother every single day, today is a day that I am reminded once again that she is not here. But I know that my mother would want me to be present in my here and now... so with my mother always in my heart and on my mind I started my day at a yoga class with a friend - I am making every effort to find inner peace and stay present..., then we spent some time with our friends Stacey and Dale who we always enjoy seeing, and finally My Wonderful Husband, the kids, The Pooch, and I took a walk up to the beach - which can always make me smile. It has been seven years and I will forever be sad that my mother is not here with us but I will also forever feel lucky for the time that we had with her.
*When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad...you should do what I do! Just tell yourself, Duckie, you're really quite lucky. - Dr Seuss*
Friday, March 1, 2013
P365 - 2013 - Day 60 - Dinner
Our neighbors came over for dinner tonight. I made my homemade chicken fingers and my very talented friend made the most delicious pumpkin ravioli. Add to that some good wine and a table set for 9 and you have the makings of a good night. It was really nice to get together after these many long months and we look forward to many more dinners together with our two families.
*The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it. - Ralph Waldo Emerson*
P365 - 2013 - Day 59 - Life can be...
This has been a strange 6 months - to say the very least. After Poppy passed away in August, we had to pack up and head back to PA to start the school year. Life marches on in that way..... We made a trip back to the beach house before the start of soccer season with all intentions of coming back either for a short trip during the season or certainly after the season ended. Life gets in the way in that way.... We missed having Poppy at the beach house waiting for us when we got there and it was an adjustment for sure. Life is unfair in that way..... We never made it here during the soccer season and when the last games rolled around there were reports of a storm coming up the coast. Instead of all of us going that weekend, My Wonderful Husband went to prepare the house as best he could and then we waited. The rest of that story is history and documented already in P365 (+1) 2012. We waited and we watched and we wondered and we cried. Life can be cruel in that way.... Our normal tradition of holidays at the beach house were disrupted in the very year that we were dealing with not having Poppy with us for the holidays. Life can throw you curve balls in that way.... But we were certainly one of the lucky ones - many homes were far worse than ours - but the island was rebuilding and we were cleaning along with many others. The holidays came and went in quiet family togetherness and once again we waited. We managed to get back for one day after Christmas - our first time back on the island as a family in almost four months. Even though it was only one day, it made us all happy to be back. We saw the improvements on the island - neighbors rebuilding - businesses struggling back to their feet. Life can give you hope in that way... Once again, there was a long stretch that we could not be here. The kids' schedules made it difficult, My Wonderful Husband had to do some traveling for work, and the weather didn't always cooperate. Add to that the realization once again that Poppy was not there waiting for us with the coffee on, the porch light lit and some yummy snack when we got in the house, and these last two months have been a challenge. Some difficult days have just passed and loom tomorrow - the 6 month anniversary of Poppy's passing on the 18th, his birthday on the 23rd, and tomorrow, the 7 year anniversary of GiGi's passing - I can only hope that they are celebrating together now instead of apart. Life can test you in that way.... With the end of the winter soccer season last week, we decided to take the kids out of school for a day and enjoy a long weekend back at the beach in the healing salt air. We got here late but the feeling when we cross the bridge on to the island is the same whether in the daylight or in the dark - ahhh, finally - home. Life can be good in that way.....
*In three words, I can sum up everything that I have learned about life: it goes on. - Robert Frost*
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