Friday, December 31, 2010

Thoughts for the 2011

New Year's Eve took on a totally new meaning for me 24 years ago with the birth of my baby boy Justin. Rob and I started centering our day around Justin and his birthday instead of the usual celebration or party. This evening I think what should I focus on in the year to come? Many of us each year start the new year with resolutions that generally focus on us. Quit smoking, loose weight, exercise more. Not that those are not noble undertakings and a couple of those I need to put on my list again this year. I just feel I need to do more this year. I want to expand those resolutions to reach out and help others. It seems that at the beginning of each new year we become very self absorbed on our own goals and resolutions, which is OK if we don't forget the rest of the world. Every year I make a resolution to loose weight and get in shape. It works for awhile. This year I'm going to make some of the same resolutions but not only for myself but for others too. Justin wants his mother around for a few more years and has demanded I get in better shape. Maybe we need to think of others this year when making that list of things to do in the new year. Is the extra food, lack of exercise, alcohol, cigarettes, complaining, making excuses, and other bad habits more important than the people in your life that love you? I also want to spend more time helping others to improve their lives. Could this be the year that we all pay it forward, that we do the right thing, that we focus on those we need us the most, that we do the right things for the right reasons, and start a ripple of waves for goodness. May your New Year's Eve be enjoyable, safe, and reflective. Happy Birthday Justin. I love you. Be safe.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Wish I would have learned this earlier in life.

Bad things happen to everyone. I still question why certain things happen but I have come to accept that bad things happen to everyone. There is no vaccine or insurance plan you can buy to keep things from happening. I know many of us look at other people and think "Wow", they have it made. Believe me, no one has it made. You can't work hard enough or long enough or make enough money to keep bad things from happening. I think at times we lead such superficial lives that we at times really have no idea what other people are going through. I was chatting with a face book and actual friend the other day about the way some people tend to color their lives on face book. I tend to be the opposite, yet still guarded as to what I say. So I think some people, especially the younger ones, tend to think that everyone has it "made", but them. No one has it made. Money can not insulate anyone from tragedy or sadness. So is there an upside to all of this? Yes, I believe that trying times, obstacles put in our path, struggles with health, finances, or family make us stronger, build character and allow us to genuinely enjoy the good times. My grandmother use to say that "everyone has their cross to bear".  The older I become the more I realize the truth in that statement. None of us have a perfect life. A wise man once said to me, "Debra, if a group of people walked in this room and everyone threw their problems and burdens in a pile in the center of the room, do you really think you would choose someone elses problems? I walked out of that room only to walk by an older gentleman with no arm.  I know many people at this time carrying great burdens. I can only hope others will reach out to them and help them accept, live through, and grow through their trying times.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Mountaineer Football

If the Mountaineers lose, Rob can't sleep, Justin is in a bad mood, and everyone has an opinion for days. I'm different because I enjoy the entire experience, whether we win or lose. I really like winning, don't get me wrong. I love beating Pitt with a passion. I just don't lose sleep over the game. Rob and I met at WVU so there will always be that link to our school. I love dressing up in Mountaineer attire. The game becomes a social experience for me. I love walking around tailgating with Rob seeing old friends, family, and making new friends. I love the festivie atmosphere the entire stadium takes on. I LOVE THE BAND! I like pregame, halftime and getting to know everyone sitting around us in the stands. OK, we lost the bowl game but we met some new people, we hung out in Orlando for awhile, the band was good, had a good hotdog, and the sky was blue and gold.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Pathetic

OK, so Rob and Justin say at times that I am pathetic. I do admit at times I can be challenged and challenging. The first area would be technology. I admit I have problems but when Justin was spending hours a day learning technology, I was cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning his room and working full time as a teacher.  My 4th graders taught me to text. My nieces helped me learn face book. I still have an antiqued cell phone, no IPOD. I like to hold real books in my hands so I still have no Kindle. I had to call Justin and Cassie to post tonight because I forgot my password. Ian and Justin moan when I tell them that I e-mail them on face book, but I try. Can they not give someone, who grew up with a black and white TV, credit for trying? I use e-mail, face book, have a blog, use a whiteboard at school, computers, a palm pilot and will soon get a new phone. Second reason they think I am pathetic is because I don't listen or pay attention to what they say. I don't think that is a problem at all so I'm not commenting any further. The third challenging area seems to be my love of candy. It isn't like I have a standing order at a candy wholesaler and I only see my shrink a few times a year for my M&M addiction. They seem to think that my fourth challenging area seems to be my need to be waited on endlessly. I blame this on the Felton males who I watched, as a young girl, being waited on endlessly by the females.  I didn't realize this was not suppose to apply to me and it seems to work so what is the big deal?  There is my obsession with flip flops, candles, jewelry, lotions, chocolate, the color pink, flamingos, shopping, diet cherry Pepsi, the beach, Lady Gaga, seasonal decorations, my hair colors .......  I'm sorry I just don't get what the problem is ............

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Snow on palm trees

My first time to see snow on palm trees. Snow as far south as Columbia, SC is unusual. Also, finally saw some blue sky and the sun today for the first time in a month. Rob and I had quiet time in the car together for hours. Well, I was in the car and Lady Gaga was playing part of the time so it wasn't perfectly quiet. Snow covered roads and snowing from Rowlesburg through North Carolina. Less snow in South Carolina. We are headed towards sunny and high 50's tomorrow so that means flip flops for me. It really is the sun I miss. Justin and Cassie are taking care of Mom and Dad, our house and Midnight, so a big thank you to them for giving Rob and me a chance to get away. The sun gives life and so do lots of people in our lives. Everyday someone brings sun into my life, a family member, a student, a parent, a friend. Think for a moment, who brings sun into your life? Who nourishes your soul? I have had lots of "people sun" in my life that help make the dark days of winter better for me. My husband, my son, my family, and friends. I hope that I also bring sun into others lives, especially on their dark winter days.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

My First Blog Post

Christmas is about family to me. The older I get the more it is about giving and the less it is about receiving. It is about the quiet at the end of the day. Then there are the memories of childhood Christmas days at my grandparents with my cousins, brothers, aunts, uncles and parents. My grandmother's fudge and cookies. The laughter of children, the chatter of adults, the aroma of foods, the warmth of the house. Christmas programs at church. School parties. Caroling with the youth choir or 4-H through out our small town. So this year I am not rushing the season or the feeling. Yes, we will leave for our beach house tomorrow but this house will stay Christmas. I want to return to Christmas. I want to be able to come home to my tree, decorations, and the warmth of my fire and Christmas candles. I don't like to rush anymore. It seems to me that we rush through this season, that now starts soon after Halloween, with the sense of getting it over with. I, at times, refer to it as the season that feels like a part time job. Something was different this year. My son has a new girl friend, so everything felt new again, kind of like when there is a new baby in the family and it is their first Christmas. We had a new person to share our traditions with, our home, our tree, our decorations, which brings me back to my first statement.  Christmas is about family. It's very beginnings centered around the start of a new family, a man and a woman welcoming their child into the world. It was about a baby, about hope, about birth and a new beginning. So this year and in the year to come I hope to slow down and enjoy quiet at the end of the day, to welcome chances for new beginnings, to remember to walk out on my back porch and look up at the sky, listen to the river, take a deep breathe, and remember family is what is really important.