Good Things

Last week I put together a care package for a friend's husband who is deployed in Afganistan. She sent an email to a bunch of friends and family asking that we send him anything, even a card, let him know we're thinking of him during the holidays and beyond. Despite everything else we had going on last week, I made it a priority to put together a package of toiletries, snacks, and movies. It was really surprising to me how excited I was about sending that package off. It reminded me that doing good things for others often results in good feelings for the giver as well. I got an email from her last night saying he'd received it and telling us how much it meant. Apparently some of his family hasn't even had time to send cards and they were touched that we remembered. I am so glad I stopped long enough to do this, I have so much appreciation for the military and their families and I finally put those thoughts and words into action. It's important that we remember our troops throughout the year, not just on Veteren's Day. We might not hear as much on the news but they are still there and significant sacrifices are made daily by both the soldiers and their loved ones. I think I'm going to send another package in the next few weeks, it's encouragement for him and it really makes me feel good too!

Family Photographer

I was all set to tell you about the family photo shoots I have been doing for the past two days, one of my immediate family - 7 adults and 3 dogs (had to set the tripod and run), and then of my brother & his wife + dog (with reindeer ears!). Then I realized that if I blog with their pictures, I'd be sharing the photo that they'll be using on their Christmas cards and spoiling the surprise for some who read this blog. Not that it really matters but I wouldn't want them to do it to me. So, you'll just have to take my word for it - they are really cute!

The Cutest Girl I know

Just a photo for today ...

The Day is Done

My great-grandmother LouLou went to heaven tonight at the age of 103. We are rejoicing in the knowledge that she is dancing with the angels but my heart is still sad to have lost such a treasure here on earth. She has always been a lover or poetry and until just a few weeks ago she could quote many, many poems by heart. This poem is absolutely beautiful. I don't usually re-post songs or poems, but this was one of her favorites and the last two verses describe tonight perfectly.

If you want to read another beautiful post, my cousin wrote this beautiful account of LouLou's heavenly ascent. I am so thankful for my faith, and my Lord & Saviour tonight and every night ...

The Day is Done
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807–1882

THE DAY is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight.

I see the lights of the village
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me
That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain.

Come, read to me some poem,
Some simple and heartfelt lay,
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of day.

Not from the grand old masters,
Not from the bards sublime,
Whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors of Time.

For, like strains of martial music,
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Life's endless toil and endeavor;
And to-night I long for rest.

Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor,
And nights devoid of ease,
Still heard in his soul the music
Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care,
And come like the benediction
That follows after prayer.

Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice,
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.

Posting to tell you why I'm not posting

Well, I was all set to give up on NaBloPoMo today. I got up at 4:00 today and it has been nonstop ever since. Then I was thinking "I'll just post to say I'm going out of town and packing up everything we've ever owned in case the baby needs it - who has time to blog with that going on?" But then I realized if I posted that, I would technically be posting today and therefore not failing in my quest to blog daily. So there it is ... a boring update to tell you why I'm not more interesting today. Does any of this even manke sense? I need sleep ...

Tomorrow I'll be with family, resting & relaxing!

World's Cutest Alarm Clock

I have the world's cutest alarm clock. And for the past two days, she's been set for 4:30 am. (We bought a onesie that says that and I had no idea it would actually be this true! it doesn't say the 4:30 part, lol) I wouldn't trade it for the world but tonight my energy is gone and I've literally got nothing creative to say. Working, laundry, packing for tomorrow's trip, and playing with the alarm clock have taken everything I've got today. Let's pray tomorrow morning we get a later wake up call!

Manifesto

I saw this on another blog and I loved it! This is the Manifesto from Jonathan Adler, it has more to it on the original one but I have just included the ones I like below. I think I'll write my own manifesto next week (on a day when I did not get up at 4:30 am - tired doesn't even begin to cover it)

We believe that your home should make you happy.
We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. Unless the husband is gay.
We believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences.
We believe minimalism is a bummer.
We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.
We believe tassels are the earrings of the home.
We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always.
We believe celebrities should pay full price.
We believe in Palm Beach style: Louis chairs, chinoiserie, Lilly Pulitzer, The Breakers circa '72.
We believe you should throw out your Blackberry and go pick some actual blackberries.
We believe in irreverent luxury.

Tuesday Quick Take

It's Tuesday and my week is going by in warp speed. On one hand it's great because we are that much closer to Friday when we leave for our Thanksgiving trip to see family! One the other hand, it's completely stressing me out because there is just not enough time to get everything I need to get done, done. I have two photo shoots to edit, a million tasks at work, laundry, a ridiculous number of baby things to pack and thank you notes to write. Despite all of that, I'm committed to NaBloPoMo and I'm still posting every day! Today is a quick one though, I'm sleepy!

The Language of Love

My great-grandmother, LouLou is on the threshold of heaven at 103 years old. She has seen more in her life than I can even imagine. I feel very blessed to not only have known my great-grandmother, but to have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with her. She stayed down here with my grandmother on several occasions for 3 months at a time, we even had her and Betty at our house when Hurricane Charley almost hit here (boy was that an interesting weekend in my house). She is a true southern lady and her accent is reminiscent of Gone With The Wind. I am told that in the past few weeks she has drifted farther from here and closer to heaven. My mother said that this past weekend she did not respond to much of anything and when she did it was not understandable, with two exceptions - she remembered the words to the hymns my mother sang, and when someone told her they loved her she responded with "I love you too." It's nice to know that the language of love stays with us until the very end.

Christmas 2007 with LouLou