By The Chimney with Care...

What does company visiting at Thanksgiving mean in my world? Someone to get the Christmas decorations out of my garage, of course! :) Since I don't have a honey of my own, when my dad comes to town he gets the list of honey-dos that accumulate in his absence. This visit: retrieve decorations.

This lovely little tree is one that I got a few years ago as a throw-away from mom's interior design store. The base of the vase was broken, and dad (being the honey-doer that he is) super glued it together for me to use in my home. He also super glued his fingers together and I learned some new swear words from him when it happened, so it was an educational experience for all of us. :)

My friend Nicole sends me a new ornament for the tree every year and it has really filled out quite nicely. The cute little plates are from Nicole's mom, Clarita, and they make a nice little addition to the festive display. Clarita's full name is Clarita Culpepper, which really adds nothing to this story other than the fact that I think it's fun to say her name out loud. (It takes very little to entertain me.)

This little tree is my easiest decoration every year because rather than taking everything off and redecorating it, I just put a garbage bag over it and put it on a shelf in the garage. Remove the bag and, Voila! Instant Christmas!

This year, though, I get TWO trees! :) This one is sitting on top of Riley's kennel in my red room (where I spend most of my time). This was my Thanksgiving surprise when mom and dad came to visit and I'm loving it. I'm starting to wonder why the soft glow of a Christmas tree isn't encouraged year-round, but I've decided I may start a tradition and declare this a red-room tree and never put it away. I don't think Riley will care one way or the other and all of my friends pretty much know I'm nutty already, so I shouldn't get too many complaints.

These are my snow babies... I'm not really the "collector" type, but when my friend's daughter Alex was little (she's the one who wanted to be sick like me when she grew up) I would give her a snow baby every year for Christmas and they started returning the gesture in kind. Before I knew it I had a little wonderland. I couldn't fit any more on my piano if I tried, but it's one of my favorite little decorative additions over the holidays. And for the record, I don't make Dawn dust the top of the piano this time of year... no one deserves that kind of knick knack torture.

And this display is my actual all-time favorite decoration. I love the Willow Tree figurines and three of my friends (Susie, Meg and Jenny) got this for me one time as a surprise when I came home from a long hospital stay (I've told you I have the nicest friends ever). I love it because it's from them, and because the nativity scene was always my favorite thing when I was a little girl. That little baby Jesus was taken out of his manger and re-swaddled more than any real live baby would ever need in a lifetime. We eventually got a new one when Joseph lost a nose and the donkey was missing half of its body... but I kind of wish we still had that Jesus in the manger. Just sentimental, I guess.

And this is the one stocking, hung by the chimney with care.

The stocking reads, "The Boss." I don't think any further explanation is really necessary.

Savor Your Moments

I got this lovely message a week ago Friday from my nephew/godson, Cooper: "Hey, Aunt Sara. Umm, I was just thinking maybe we'd pop over tomorrow... you know stop by, chat, play, whatever. Let me know what you think. Love you. Bye."

After I stopped chuckling at the fact that he was trying to be all funny and nonchalant with his attempt at sounding all grown up and sly, I called him back to see how exactly he planned on managing this visit when he lives five hours away.

Turns out, he wasn't pulling my leg. Just teasing me with information he knew and I didn't. :)

My brother Hoody (Steve) had decided to make a quick trip home to my parents over the weekend with Cooper and Avery... which is lovely for my parents but even better for me because they pass right by my house on the way.

In they came bearing McDonald's french fries, accompanied with plenty of hugs and smiles and stories to tell. They absolutely steal my heart every time I lay eyes on them. They were here for about 2 hours, and I honestly was so focused on catching every word they said and looking at those faces that change before my eyes that (if you know me you know how insane what I'm about to say is):

I forgot to get out my camera.

I'm not kidding. They left and I about kicked myself. But then I figured if I had remembered and taken the time to mess with the camera, I probably would have missed a joke or smart-aleck comment ... and I decided to be thankful for forgotten photos and savored moments.

The day after they visited (Sunday) all the craziness with my pain and my non-working arms started in. Then on Wednesday night my parents came to see me before they hit my brother Jerry's house for the holiday. We had supper and watched a movie and generally lounged around lazily. And on Friday my sister Laura snuck away from the festivities for a few hours and drove over to spend the afternoon with her little sister. I couldn't have asked for a more fitting Thanksgiving surprise if I tried.

I unexpectedly got to see more family in the last week and a half than I could have hoped to see at both Thanksgiving and Christmas combined. It couldn't have worked out better if we had planned it all... and I loved each moment.

As I sat talking with Laura about her amazing kids, I realized how incredibly grateful I am that I savored my moments when I had them. Back when I was able-bodied I was the youngest, the single one, the one with no attachments... it was easy for me travel around and keep in touch with everyone. If one of my siblings went home for the weekend with their kids, I went home too so I could see them. I traveled around to see a piano recital or a soccer game or simply hang out. I couldn't get enough of the little people who had come into our family.

Practicing our smiles before family photos were being taken (2001). 

Getting all the sillies out of us before we went in front of the camera. 

I had no idea that someday all of that wouldn't be possible anymore. I think my not traveling is probably easier for me to accept than it is for others because I live every day with how I feel... and I know that nothing could keep me away from all of those moments except the inevitable. And the inevitable is here.

I didn't know I was doing something smart back then. I wasn't living my life thinking "what if." I was just doing what I couldn't help but do: love the people in my family. Ironically, the holidays aren't really that hard for me to miss out on. It's just a holiday. What I hate missing are the sports/games, the first communions, the graduations, the recitals. I miss the lazy weekends with nothing on the schedule so we can play a game of marbles or make up stories before bed or watch Harry Potter movies back-to-back while eating all the ice cream in the house after the grown ups have gone to sleep.

I don't like missing those things now, but people... I am SO grateful I didn't miss them back then. Because I have savored moments that are irreplaceable to me. I've messed up things in my life, but this is one area for which I am thankful to have understood it's importance.

I know life is busy. I know the holidays overwhelm us ... there are presents to buy and parties to go to and school plays to attend. There's rushing around and busyness and stress. But there are also movies to be watched and hot chocolate to be drank. There are games to be played and stories to be read and time to play in the snow. Don't worry too much about it all being perfect -- don't worry about capturing the perfect moments. Just remember to savor them.

Savor your moments.

Thanks and Giving

It's crazy what a difference a week can make. Tonight as I unloaded the dishwasher and lifted a plate into the cupboard I realized that last week at this time I couldn't even push the button on my remote control. I like this week better. :)

Sorry I skipped out on you for a bit... while I'm tougher than I look I'm afraid there are going to be moments now and then when that won't  cut it no matter how determined I am. Last Sunday happened to start one of those extremely unpleasant times... I'm quite the organized person but I can also be quite the procrastinator, which means I didn't have any spare blog posts written for a day when I wasn't all that functional. I debated about whether you'd worry more that someone else was posting or if you'd assume worse things if nothing was posted at all... so it was good old Susie to the rescue!

[Now that I've written "good old Susie" I have a feeling she would want me to tell you that she's a whopping two days younger than me, so old isn't an adjective that really fits her.]  :)

Susie asked me what she should write and I was in too much pain to chat at that moment so I said, "Just say whatever. It will be fine." I wasn't in so much pain that I had completely lost my mind, however, because I quickly retracted that and said to just tell you all I'm fine, not to worry and I'd be back before you missed me. Susie has known me far too well for far too many years to give her carte blanche... especially when I have written posts about her bad influence on me. Luckily, she took pity on me and kept it to the basics. :) I may just ask her to guest post on the blog for fun someday... as long as I get to approve the content.

This is a photo of Susie and Meg... two of my friends who ride to my rescue more often than they should have to. Cute, aren't they?

I think for future reference (this is the organized part of me) I'm going to have some sort of generic post/photo that I'll put up if it's physically not possible for me to write that day (this is also the part of me that knows I'll still be a procrastinator and not have extra posts on hand). I promise I won't do it if I'm just having a dry spell thinking up topics... it will be for actual sick days only! But when/if that happens, seriously don't worry. I'll be back to the blog before you have a chance to miss me too much.

So, before the detour, my original idea for last week was to do a post each day about ways I've been given things to be thankful for. While the sentiment is a week late, I think the good things are still obvious...

Like the fact that I can lift my arms to the keyboard and type now.

And the fact that my energy is getting better each day.

And the fact that I have my killer bathtub for long, therapeutic soaks.

And the fact that I have friends like Susie who I can call and ask to do a blog post for me.

And the fact that my dog was remarkably calm and careful with me when I wasn't at my best.

Mostly, I'm thankful for all of you who were so very kind in the comment section. You all make it fun for me to get up in the morning and see you here... and you just can't know how much I appreciated your kindness this past week. Thanks for giving all you do to me. :)

Flashback Friday, Writing Genes

It's Flashback Friday again, peeps! :)

For this installment I'm actually going to flashback to my Great Grandma, Marie Frankl. Marie was my Grandpa Gerald's mother, and I've discovered that part of my love of writing may have come from her. My Aunt Janella sent me a few articles that Marie had written for the church bulletin, and others that she wrote for the newsletters that were published at her nursing home as well.

 
Urban Bernard & Mary "Marie" Mulligan Frankl
(I may have also inherited her hair, but that's another post...)

The nursing home is where I have my memories of my great-grandma. Mom and I would go visit her when I was little and my older siblings were in school... I can remember sitting in bed with her and she would always have some sort of fruit in the room, like oranges, that she would sit and share with me. And as soon as Mom and Marie would start talking I would wander the halls and pop into people's rooms... asking if they would like to talk to me about anything.

I was a hit in the nursing home.

Eventually I'll share some of her articles with you, but the first piece of writing I'm going to publish is a letter she wrote to my dad when he graduated from high school. My dad is the second oldest of nine children (7 boys and 2 girls), and the boys spent quite a bit of time working cattle with my grandpa. You'll notice in her letter how proud she was of their farm life and the man my dad had become. This letter was written on May 27, 1962:

My dear Mike,

Congratulations on your graduation. I know it means a great deal to you, the accomplishment of something you have worked hard to attain. Now comes the time to think seriously of your life's work -- pray that you may be wisely guided in finding your vocation -- only in serving the Master to the best of one's ability is there lasting happiness.

I know, Mike, that with your kindly ways, your pleasing smile, and those honest blue eyes, you are one that will go out of your way to be gracious and helpful to others. This sort of treasure hunt for happiness seems to be universal to the world over -- may you find contentment and happiness in your daily living.

You boys from the farm, on graduation, take with you a special kind of heritage -- your farm background. Your experiences, as a farm youth, will be an advantage in later life, no matter where you find yourself. You have, in your manner, your habits, an integrity that is always recognized by your superiors. You have learned that value received is in proportion to value given. You have compassion and warmth to give the world, which it sorely needs. You farm boys are richly blessed because you have lived close to the earth -- you have planted seeds and watched them grow day by day, and then helped with the harvest. You have learned respect and awe for nature and what she can do to and for you and your efforts.

Life will not be free from hurts and disappointments. These come to all of us -- the dark threads in the tapestry of living. But you have a head start on the solution of many of life's problems -- a sort of insulation against them and a remarkable amount of good sense in dealing with them. Liking people is one of the important ingredients for getting the most out of life -- if you like people, you have an enthusiasm for working and living. You give of yourself to others, and, in return, you find yourself getting a great deal from them. It pays dividends not only in your work, but in the enjoyment of living.

Each of you boys has a special role to play -- what it will be, no one knows yet. But I'm sure you will assume your responsibilities a little bit better because you came from an Iowa farm.

In closing, dear, I trust you may know peace and find inner contentment, and may you and all your dear ones be blessed with peace of soul. May God bless you always, is the prayer of your loving grandma, Marie Frankl.

I read through this and realized that she knew my dad so very well then, and also had the foresight to see the man he would become. And she would be so very proud of him now. As he and my mom get ready to move on from farm life, they can look back proudly on the family they raised in the same vein Marie spoke of in her loving letter to her grandson.

She gave a lot of lessons to dad in this letter, and he obviously took them to heart. And I'm grateful he and mom took the time to pass those lessons on to us as well. I wouldn't have traded growing up on the farm for anything... it served all of us well and I pray my parents will be fulfilled in whatever life brings to them next.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day, people!

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. 
                                                           ~ William Arthur Ward

Just wanted to tell you, from the bottom of my heart, how thankful I am for each and every one of you... and I'm praying all of you are surrounded by loved ones and showered with blessings today.

I had written an extra Flashback Friday last week, so there will be one posted for you tomorrow. Eat lots of turkey, take a good nap, watch some football and I'll see you next week...

And since it's been a whole week without a Riley post, I'll leave you with this image to show you what we'll be doing this weekend:

:)

What's Thanksgiving?

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?
                                                             ~ Erma Bombeck

Since Susie told me they are going to be bringing me a plate on Thanksgiving, that no-diet applies to me, too. It's such a bonus having nice friends who are good cooks.  :)

[ Big improvement in arm motion today... I even typed this with two hands. Woo Hoo!!! Hopefully progress continues... ]

:)

Thanks

Hey, blog peeps... just a short note so you don't worry. :) Typing one handed is a challenge, but I figure a short note is better than no note!

This hasn't been fun, but today is a little better and it will keep improving... it's just taking a bit more patience on my part at the moment. You all are SO kind and thoughtful... just know I appreciate you and am so thankful to have found you all.

DON'T WORRY! :) I'll hopefully be doing better in a few days and will be back bugging you on a daily basis. I was just afraid if nothing was posted this morning your imaginations might run wild... but at least now Susie can say she's a blogger... and she's pretty sure all the comments were because of her mad writing skills. :)

Thanks for everything, friends... truly. You can't know how much it means to me.