Showing posts with label Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living. Show all posts

Philadelphia Love

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If you even knew?!

How many pictures I have to share of all my new adventures!

You'd freak out.

FREAK OUT!

BUT.

I can't up load them to my new work mac (which I'm working on right now).

But as soon as I sit down to my own computer, which seems like forever from now, right?

I'll load those bad boys, they include new Moroccan bedding, exposed brick walls, homemade magnetic head boards and lots of other excitement!

Most important.

~Miss the Bertrams like Whoa!
~Falling in love with the City and falling in love!
~BEST STAFF EVER.
~Majorino and Shore are my new favs.
~BEST RESIDENTS EVER. (okay, well, arguable summer '09 was the best residents ever...but you know what I mean.)
~Miss my family like WHOA!
~LOVED getting to see NINA ninners.
~Le Target Boutique and I are in a LOVE AFFIAR.
LOVE.  AFFAIR.

And finally, my "sister" who has, at times, been referred to as annoying on the blog, will temporarily relieve herself of that status by bringing me the rest of my life from Massachusetts.

Hooray.

I KNOW Santa!

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So, MONDAY the ENTIRE BERTRAM CLAN was home again, together, including their new GORGEOUS toddler, Emerson Jayne.

J'Adore.

New family holiday photos were taken.
Lots of hugs.
LOTS and LOTS.
LMG and I even got to go out and do some SUPER SECRET shopping for his family.
Which they loved.

While we were out I was telling Little Man George that we should stop and see Santa.
Of course, he was a little thrilled.

Freak OUT!

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Real lifers know.
I know you know.
My personality can, in two words, be described as, a lot.
I'm on - a lot.
I'm happy - a lot.
I'm loving - a lot.

If you're not a fan of a lot, like a lot of people, it's TOO MUCH.
But.
That's alright.
I adjust.
I can tone it down.

Whoa!

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Hey, Negative Nancy Pants:

Pull up your britches.
Smile.
Breathe.
It's going to get better.
Promise.

Love, Rena
P.S. Stop writing Posts late at night.  Apparently you wear whiney pajama pants.

Biggest Fear

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Want to know an adopted child's biggest FEAR?
Disappointment.
That we disappoint our biological family or our adoptive one.

Fear of failure.

I can remember a time growing up when a B+ on a spelling test sent me into a tail spin. {'member 4th grade, sobbing in the girls bathroom, only to be rescued by my surrogate Dad, Mr M. and cajoled into coming back to class}
My lack of friends in HS was oppressive failure.
I had to look right, test well, achieve high.
Be everything my biological family gave me up to be and everything my adoptive hope to adopt.

Failure sits in my chest as big a mountain.
On the one hand, my biological mother finding me on Facebook, a continent away, has been the biggest miracle of my life.

On the other, it has stirred up an intense desire to do well by her.
To make her INCREDIBLE sacrifice worth it.
The years of depression she suffered after giving my sister and I up worth something.

My adoptive family and their closeted neurotic tendencies have also added in that intense desire to do well.  They didn't and don't have a lot either, and I was to be the one to do more.

And for a while I was, right?
Full Scholarship to UMASS.
Great grades.
Deans lists.
9 month M.Ed.
Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude.
Teaching.
College Admissions.
Dating.
Engaged.
Traveling.
Making money.

And then.
In two years,
I lost it all.

It started with the ending of my 12 year relationship with the Accountant.
He was cheating OR I had allowed myself to be cheated on.
Let go the dream.

Then, I had this desire to return to the classroom.
Like, somehow, I was really meant to teach.
Truth be told.
I wasn't.
I was bullied by my principal.
So I left.
I was neglected by my next principal.
So I left.

I went back to the ballet.
And that saved my emotional life.

My financial life.
That's another story.
While I was busy working hard to achieve, I stopped caring about money and pieces of paper a long time ago.
My desire was to give back with everything I had to offer.
Til I had nothing left.
Only.
I gave back more than I had.
Then the creditors started to call.
A lot.
And send me lots of mail.
Until.
Today.
When I melted down.
And do I mean…MELTED down.

I now owe $18,000 IMMEDIATELY to my graduate school loan.
Bahahaha.
That's funny.
Since.
I also owe my bank some money.
And then that's it.

I didn't apply for unemployment because it felt like admitting I'm a failure.
My head was SPINNING.
I took a shower this afternoon to wash away some of the tears while LBD napped.
And I wept.
Wept like I got paid $30 an hour to do it.

And.
Because of the Father, I know it will get better.
I believe his plan often includes derailment to better see your purpose.
There are times that the task or road ahead feel insurmountable.
I know, nothing is insurmountable.
There is no mountain we can not climb.
No river we can not cross.
No debt we can not repay with Him on our side.
And He heals my heart every day. 
Those seeds of failure.
And disappoint that have planted themselves inside me.
He's weeding those as we speak.
Because we can, because He did.

Adopted child's biggest fear?
Failure.

Quick Makeover and Pitfalls

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I started this morning by stepping on this gem.  
Serves me right for sleeping on the Bertram's couch to watch TV at night.
Fail.

But even a little holier, LBF and I got our craft on, turning this:
weekly calendar I made with fabric and a $10 frame, into something more seasonally appropriate with $1.99 wrapping paper from TJ Maxx.
{In transition}

{Finished Project}

Hooray!

LBF and I are off to the bank {since there is no money in my account, I thought I'd go have a chat with them about current circumstances}
and then the…ehem…
Unemployment office.

For 5 months, I've known the right job was right around the corner.
For 5 months, I've not wanted to try and collect because, there are people that REALLY needed it.
For 5 months, I could get by.
For 5 months, I was in denial about how bad it was.

Then the bank called and said my money was gone, bills needed to get paid and reality smacked in the face.

That $4 from November, that was a luxury I can not afford.

BUT.
I'll be okay, you'll be okay, he, she, we, will be okay.
Because, I refuse to think otherwise.

Grace.

Almost Lost It All

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Tried to upload new template.
Almost.
Lost.
Everything.

Lesson learned, be happy with what you got.
And.
I am.
:)

Tomorrow I'll reveal what happened to those christmas balls.
You're going to L.O.V.E it.

:) x 6 = Bertram Big Family News.
I DIED.

Jayne, I died.
I think I sat dumbfounded at the NE airport for like, ever.
I'm a deep faith kinda gal.
I believe that even as everything feels like it's unraveling, someone has it all together, a plan.

That being said.
Toddler Emerson will be welcomed with a kind of love she's only imagined.
Emerson Jayne, it's like she's been a part of your beautiful family since day #1.
And, I can assure you that, as an adoptee @ age 2…she'll know you as mom and Mr. Bertram as Dad.

Legitimately, I can't talk about it without either crying or screaming with excitement.

I think the only person who is possibly more excited than us, is LMG.
Who questioned me today like it was going out of style.
Favorite questions?:
"Do you remember when you were a baby?" 
Me: Nope
"Do you remember when you were 2?"
Me: Not really.
"Do you remember when you were a tween?"
Me: Hysterical Laughter.

"Do you think Emerson will know I'm her brother?"
Me: Absolutely.
"How?"
Me: Um….she'll just know.
"If you don't know, just say that, that you don't know."
Me: Okay.
"Okay."

"Do you think Emerson likes corn?"
Me: Probably?  Do you like corn?
"Um, on the grill, only."
Me:  That's probably how she'll like it too.
"She can't touch the grill, she's too little, though."
Me: Got it.

Nebraska Weddings and Clickable Question

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My DEAR, DEAR, DARLING, friend Mal is getting married.
In Nebraska.
Where she is from.
Mr B. and I are headed to Omaha.
From Massachusetts.
Where we are from.

Did I mention Mal is a Dear friend?
We're Boston Ballet Pals.
I believe we met 4 years ago.  5?

The friends I make at the Ballet every summer are INCREDIBLE.
Some I see once a year when they fly up from Texas {Medical School} to have dinner with me {and their other MA friends}.
Some I talk to EVERY day about their lives in Illinois {Chicago}.
Some I talk to EVERY month about their lives in Ohio {Graduate School}.
Some I email daily to hear all about Boston.
Some call me and SAVE my life every time they do.
They're built in cheerleaders and best friends.
Sure, we were co-workers first, but now, now we're best friends.

While I was patiently waiting for Mr. B to finish packing his "carry on" with my pre washed and pre sealed outfits, he commented on my odd MacBooking way I'd trained my fingers to work.

Ignore the chipping polish, I packed my matching outfit color for tomorrow. :)
I didn't really notice I was using the pad that way.
Weird, huh?

See you in Omaha.

Pinterest Challenge #12 - Ruffled Tree Skirt

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Did you guess what yesterday's sneak peek was?
A NO Sew Tree Skirt!  
They're ALL OVER pinterest and GORGEOUS.
Mine took three hours to make.
60 mini sticks of hot glue.
4 yards of fabric of choice.
Dollar Tree Dollar tree skirt as base.

I cut my strip two inches thick as the tutorials recommend.  
Then started gluing on the ruffle.
Here we are on our way
{When I ran out of fabric} :)
My fabric was a linen-y type gray and white stripe. 
$1.50 a YARD from Le Wal Mart!
That's right for 6 bucks for THIS!

When I got to the top, or the end, I was not so happy with the finished result, so I came up with something to finish the ends.
Taking a 2 inch strip of fabric, I sprayed on glue, and folded the edges over.
I then just whipped stitched it on at the top for a more finished look.  SEW SIMPLE.
Since the dollar tree skirt has velcro already, I just made some fabric flowers with my leftover fabric and put those over the velro spot.
This very afternoon LMG and I went to town at my Mom's House.
 J'Adore.

 I love LOVE LOVE!
Happy Holidays!

Inspired, want to make one....Mustard Seed Interior TUTORIAL!
 

Permission to Move On

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I'm going to move forward.
The whole HS Reunion thing was so, SO....Saturday night.
I appreciate the Bertram's take that I didn't miss much.
And I was reading over Iyanla's words...
"I give you permission to stop wishing the past could be any different."
Moving forward can be hard because we long to make different choices "then".

I'm not a mother, or a wife, YET, but I think about the children in my life, Mr. B, my AMAZEballs friends, and nutty family and but for the grace of God, I have all of them, BECAUSE of the past.
It's why I LOVE working for the Ballet and 14 and 15 year old who are so introverted in their small world.
I love to SEE them, really see them.
Hug them goodnight, tell them I love them, and that I SEE THEM.
Because no friend of mine in HS ever did.
How in class of 346 I felt so alone is beyond me.
But, I think about that sadness and how it brought me to the Accountant, who changed my WHOLE LIFE.  Literally, my WHOLE Life.  Who, in spite of not being husband material, SAW ME.
I think about Anaise, a small, gregarious 4 year old, who in my senior year, in our HS preschool, SAW ME.
And the truth of the matter is, while I didn't  have friends in my hs class, He was leading me to BETTER, stronger, more faithful friends, all the while tending to our relationship, growing it, fostering it.
Sorry blog land friends, I really did start to write a post about my pinterest pins...but this was sitting there needing to be written.
So, I give YOU permission to stop wishing the past could be any different.  
What will that allow you to move into?  
That sentiment feels a lot like grace.

ALSO:

Ehem, on a totally and terrifically random aside, Mr. B and I have heard MOOING, distressed mooing outside our house all afternoon and into the evening.
Mr. B doesn't think they exist, just wait until mating season, Mr. B.  Just WAIT.

Protected wetlands aside, we have bears, fisher cats, polliwogs, skunks, and squirrels...but to the best of my knowledge there isn't any cows...at what point to we call the...the...um...a farmer?

Thanksgiving in NYC

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Mr. B and I had a very busy Thursday.
We traveled to NYC the night before and stayed with my friends.
I've been visiting them on Thanksgiving since the Accountant and I were dating.
NYC around the holidays is MAGICAL.

When we first started visiting, our friends rented a 1 bedroom loft on the upper east side.
SMALL, but so homey.
All 12 of us would squeeze into the living/dining area and eat a catered Thanksgiving.
Now, TWO children later, they live in a 2 bedroom loft on the upper west side.

Cici is 6...can you believe that?
Fiona is 2.

Energy level for both? A bajillion.
We are all in our late twenties, early thirties...and we jam in there like it's an elementary school sleep over.
Later tonight (Thursday) Mr. B and I will cozy up on a double air mattress and laugh the night away with beautiful friends.

The parade this morning was beautiful.
Pictures forthcoming.
It's something like the 9th year for me.
Absolutely not a {seen it once}, type of deal.

I'm a bit of an OCD packer since we had the {bed bugs} after our hotel stay in NJ.
So.
I planned and photographed our three outfits, washed and heat dried the clothing AND duffle bag on high heat and put each days outfit in a zip lock bag.

I know, I have a problem.
But, getting outfits ready ahead of time helps us ENJOY the days rather than thinking about what would go with and what we should wear when...etc.


Day One....Parade Day
Jean Jacket: Torrid
White Shirt: Wal Mart
Skirt: Old Navy
Leggings and Boots: Le Target Boutique
{I also rocked my gold and white ruffled scarf from The Pleated Poppy}
It was CHILLY today.

Day One....Thanksgiving Dinner and Later Desserts @ Serendipity
Switched the Jacket for the Purple Target Sweater...had a magical time so far.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares of GOODNESS!

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Having the holidays catered is a luxury I am VERY aware not every family receives.
We don't however, get the sweets catered.
Each of us is in charge of bringing something sweet and delicious.

This year, Mr. B and I whipped up some Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares of goodness!
YUMMO!

We used this recipe from Rachael Ray's Site: Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 package pound cake mix (16 ounces)
  • 3 eggs, divided
  • 2 tablespoons margarine or butter (melted)
  • 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided
  • 1 package cream cheese (8 ounces), softened
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
  • 2 cups pumpkin (16 ounces)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped nuts, pecans preferred
Serves 48 bars!

PREPARATION

Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
In large mixer bowl, on low speed, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, margarine/butter and 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, until crumbly.
Press the mixture onto the bottom of a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan or a Rachael Ray Bubble and Brown Baker.
In large mixer bowl, beat the cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk; then the remaining 2 eggs, the pumpkin and the remaining 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice and salt; mix well.
Pour over the crust and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until set.
Cool. Chill, then into bars. Store in the refrigerator.
I also added some frosting:
1 and 1/4 cups of Sour Cream
1/4 granulated sugar
1 cup Cool Whip


































Amazeballs!

Holiday Wreath Made by a Teenager :)

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I've been pinteresting the holidays since last holiday. :)
I've tried to break it down by month, and tried....key being TRIED...to stay a month ahead of the actual holiday.

October and November's wreath was the Thumb tack wreath...so that was done late in October, early for November.

I'm getting started on Holiday stuff, as cheaply and as early as I can.

This being a no sob story place, needless to say, I've got about $10.00 set aside for the ENTIRE holiday season. 
And no, I didn't mean $100.

The majority of that goes to getting myself to NYC for Thanksgiving and New Year's with friends.  Shout out Rina and Kavel <---- See you, your munchable munchkins, and your masterfeast dinner theater in just a couple of days!

Back on track here and without further ado...the wreath.

Pinterest has a BAJILLION and 37 wreath ideas and honestly, if I had a bajillion and 37 rooms, I'd make them all and live in a house of wreaths.  

Sadly, I have about 10 rooms that could use a wreath total, and about 2 that actually have them hanging.

What excited me about this project is that NOTHING is glued on. 
NOTHING.  
You'll use hot glue, but not TO the wreath.

So I have a new plan.
It makes me giddy.

In January, after the holiday, I'll take a big zip lock bag, dismantle all the December Pieces into the bag, and create a January wreath using the white yarn wreath I already have.  At the end of the January, I'll bag those pieces up and use the white yarn wreath to make a Valentine's Heart Wreath for February....and so on.

Someone, somewhere, already thought up that idea and I'm totally grateful for it.  
I think In January we'll try doing that argyle pattern in blues, whites, and silvers?
 Here's what you'll need.

1. Straw Wreath $2.99 @ Joanne's
2. A skein of whatever color yarn you'd like, I chose white and it was $2.49 @ Joanne's
3. 4 sheets of felt, 4/$1 @ Joanne's (I got 2 red, 1 brown, and one green - The red and brown were embossed and beautiful.)
4. Pins of a different assortment, I used what I had which included gold thumbtacks from October and pearl corsage pins from other yarn wreaths.
5. Hot glue gun or glue.
6. Berries from Joanne's...currently 50% off!  JOY.  I got those bad boys for .49 cents!

Make the yarn wreath by wrapping the white yarn tightly around the straw wreath, this should be tight, but not too tight.
DON'T try to multitask this part.
I was watching Once Upon A Time on my laptop, playing with Little Buddy Frank and Wrapping.
At one point, I wrapped it too tight and there is a skinny part of the wreath.
{Thankfully, I covered that with felt flowers.}

Using strips of felt cut form the red, embossed sheet about 1/2 thick, I started wrapping the candy cane stripe around.

I used a thumbtack to hold it in place while I made sure the placement looked good.

One they were wrapped, about 6 strips for mine, I hot glued the ends together so that it became one lone piece of felt. {helpful for next year mostly}

I covered the connectors with a row of gold thumbtacks.
I had left overs, you could also spray those the same color as your felt.

For my flowers - I started working from here:
Mrs. Priss' Tut - SO SIMPLE.

Somewhere out in blog world someone has a tut about cutting on the diagonal instead of straight - it gives it a real petal effect and I did that on three of the flowers.
I made three brown {1 big 2 small}, and two red {small}

Using the long pearl tipped corsage pins, I pinned the the flowers to that small spot.

I folded green circle felt into leaves and stuck those in around the flowers - no glue, no pins, just stuck 'em in.

Added the red berries, just stick 'em in again and wallah - finished!

On that note....another LMG story

I went to get LMG in this outfit today.
His comments about the way I dress are free comedy.
Today, he started with the comment on the picture.
My response was, "Who told you to say that?"
"Nobody.  But you do.  You look like a teenager."

My response was...."Pay you a quarter to say that EVERY time you see me."
"Okay," a beat, "Hey, Rena,  you look like a teenager."

We laughed for a long time.

Mr. Belding Outdoes Himself

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Mr. Belding and I officially celebrated our 6 month anniversary {corny?} this weekend.

And what a weekend it was.

Here it is:
Friday Night
Hartford for dancing, drinks, and good times with great friends.

Saturday Night
UMASS Amherst for a 40 minute late Russell Brand who made me pee my pants.

Sunday Afternoon
SUNY Purchase, NY to see Audra McDonald.  Amazeballs.
What?

Whose weekend looks like that?

Friday night was SUPPOSED to be craft night with my little sister.
She bailed.
Anyone surprised?
Didn't think so.

Off we set for CT and my favorite dance floors.
Mr. Belding is NOT a big dance fan, however, he's also no wall flower. :)
We made a good pair.

Our couple friends are in their family building stage of life so going out dancing is a luxury that was not lost on any of us.  Greatly appreciated.  Also, I move like Jagger, just in case you were wondering.

On Saturday I crafted...can not WAIT to show you my wreath.
I also worked on Nana's book.
Then Mr. B and I headed to Amherst for a nice supper and to see Russell do his thang.
He's crude.
Yells.
And I LOVED him.

"I've done my research on this school, Bill Cosby and Hockey Fights."
Perfect.

I got the SURPRISE of my life when Mr. B said he had planned to take me to the 3 o'clock show in NY to see Audra.

I'm a super fan.

"Wheels of a dram?"

Anyone?

LUUUUURVE.

So, we ventured out early, had lunch in Manhattan and then headed back up to the Purchase Theater.
Shut up.

She was Amazeballs.

AMAZE balls.

Today LMG and I are doing homework, crafting, and laughing.

Interviews and Nana's

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I had an interview at my Alma Mater today.

I'd like to thank Mr. B and Jen for sitting through several runs of my presentation.

And Mr. Northeastern for checking out the powerpoint and making sure it was legit :).

I loved university.

LOVED.
IT.

I was so comfortable.
So in my own skin.
I was so free.
I was so loved.
If I could have gone forever, I would.
I managed to graduate in four years while failing to declare a major until my senior year.

I still get the same feeling EVERY time I drive up.
1400 acres of home.

 28 Stories of goodness.
2.5 million bound volumes of love.

 The oldest living Japanese Elm Tree of hope in the US.
Oh hi to our sister school in Hokkaido, Japan.

Old chapel full of faith.
UMASS Amherst.
You fill me up buttercup.

The interview went well.
We'll see if they offer a second round next week.

I'm still waiting to hear back form North Carolina.
So.
We'll see.
:)

My Nana is still recovering from her fall and seems so depressed lately.
Tomorrow I'm going to start something exciting with her for Christmas gifts for all the cousins.  She has so many stories that all need to be written down.

the HAPPY DAY project day #1

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Today's project - saved a very bad, no good, terrible, horrible, very bad day and made it WONDERFUL!

I had planned to make some cake balls for our neighbors.

I also had to pick up LMG and take him shopping with me after school.

Love that child.

LUURRRRVE.  Him.

I picked him up, and immediately got honked at and then given the finger off this little suburban side street.  It made me feel sad.

"Someone should tell her, " LMG said, "That there are babies without food."  

He melts my heart.  Kids hear EVERYTHING.

Then, while we were shopping in WalMart, there was some really angry people waiting with us at returns.  LMG even held my hand, that's how rude they were.

So far - it was not a very happy day - then...it happened.

LMG and I were making our way into the store from Customer Service and I saw an elderly lady being told her card was declined.

She didn't know how that could have happened and she needed the food.

IF you read this blog you know I'm unemployed, in debt, and have about $200 to pay bills and live off, while debt collectors hunt me down.

But I had $38.00 from that return.  I only needed about 5 of that to make cake balls so I hustled LMG and I over to the lady, presented my debit card and asked if I could pay.

She started to cry and the only thing I could think to do was hug her.

I whispered to pass it on and hustled into the store.

Doing good can be overwhelming.

We got our goods and headed to the checkout.  The lady behind me had 1 jar of pickles and batteries.
"Let me add hers too."  The woman stared at me.  

Have a good day.  LMG and I left feeling better about the day.

We were headed home on the Mass Pike and passed our now new friend, Kristy with a flat tire.
I can change those and am pretty good.
Like under 20 minutes good.

We'd had such a rough start to the day - I slowed, pulled over and got LMG out of the car.  We walked down to Kristy, asked if we could help and commenced tire changing.  LMG was out of his mind excited.  I on the other hand was scared beep less, as he stood FAR from the side of the road and watched from the grass.

I'd like to say I was fast, but I had trouble with the jack and ONE tire bolt...still 30 minutes later, Kristy was good to go.

She wanted my name and address.  

I wanted her to have a happy day. :)

LMG and I got home and commenced cake ball making.
I may or may not have forgotten that they moved Halloween to tonight because of the power outage - oops.
That's okay.

We had candy.
We had cake balls.
We had the adorable printable from the HAPPY DAY project.
We were good.

My 89-year old Nana lives next door so we made Chocolate Cake balls because those are her favorites.
When I asked her if they came out alright - she replied - "I love 'em, better than cake."  'Nuff said.

We also made some for Bill and Doreen who live next to my Nana and love her just as much as us.  They cook for her and deliver baked goodness ALL the time.  Doreen and Bill are the once in a lifetime neighbors.  You know the kind - who come over when your mother has knee surgery and cut up Nana's pills and take care of the yard and trim the trees - just because they're neighbors.  During the power outage they brought Nana breakfast EVERY DAY with warm food and hot coffee.  Seroiusly?!  I live in THAT neighborhood.  I enjoyed sharing with them.

And we also made some for our neighbors, Chris and Lauren.  They are a 20-something Jehovahs Witness couple who moved to MA from NJ.  I know Jehovah's don't celebrate anything except wedding anniversaries and they had their light off tonight for Halloween, but I happened to catch them right as they were eating supper, in the dark.  I knocked and they looked at me like - um- we don't have candy and why are you trick or treating.  I got away with leaving my goodness by telling them they  were receiving a random act of kindness.  They walked their dog, Oscar, over later tonight to tell me thank you.

No ya'll, thank you.  You let us pile up massive amounts of brush on your lawn after the snow storm.  You let my mother read your paper when ours isn't delivered.  You rock.
CAN NOT wait for Day #2 :).

Happy DAY,  INDEEED!

Oprah's Lifeclass #20 - Joy Rising (SURPRISE!)

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This is for you: 
Joy

Get your touchy to class.
Tonight.
EVERYONE needs joy.
Especially after our week.
Or your week.
Or their week.
Get a little.

I felt my joy rising each minute of this week, even though it was tough.
I made the posters above for the families of Mr. B's school who helped us all week and really helped us keep the joy rising.

I was really emotional tonight and will catch up on the lessons from Tuesday and Wednesday that I missed while the power was out.

Oprah's 20th Lifeclass - ONE MORE WEEK LEFT!  AH!  But...there will be a second semester! :)
Let's let that be #1:
  1. Oprah's Lifeclass Semester #2
  2. Oprah's Lifeclass Semester #1
  3. LMG
  4. LBF and 4 year olds
  5. Snow in October
  6. Baking
  7. Candles
  8. Power
  9. Hot water
  10. Running Water
  11. Grocery shopping with someone else's list
  12. Cooking
  13. Interviews
  14. Friends in CA and OH and MA and IL and everywhere else.
  15. Biological sisters with warm houses and warm showers
  16. Good story telling grandmothers
  17. Cousins who call
  18. Bon Fires
  19. Mr. B
  20. Stories written by children who give me hope that a future filled with wisdom is around the corner.
Go TO CLASS!  I'll have a video tomorrow.