Thanksgiving

Again, Thanksgiving has rolled around. Up early to make the gravy since we cooked the turkey last night, Dawn and I. And I thought about how I do not want to even do anything for the day and how tired I am and was last night, especially when the cinnamon went all over the stove floor yesterday afternoon and I had to hobble to every window and open them up. Then the foil on the turkey sprang a leak and we had a mini-version of the afternoon. How tired my mom must have been all those years, before she got sick. She'd stand on her feet for days getting ready. And who knew? I just thought she loved doing it, wanted to do it. Probably she did, but now I wonder.

Maybe it's just not having my 5 kids as kids anymore. Each are doing their own thing but Dawn and family have come down and are a big help.

Jocelyn and Family came down last Friday. J and Steve cleaned out my basement for me, which had become the dumping ground for everything the past 3.5 months. It is heavenly to know that the basement is clean. Hooray.

Marissa and Hank arrived the day J and S left. They took me shopping and helped me rearrange some furniture. But their stay was too short...but they came and played and talked.

Dawn and family arrived the same day M and H left. She's my mom..she's the whirlwind. And her kids are so willing to help. We finished the pies, and the turkey and the dressing, and Ken's salad. I went to bed and Dawn finished up/cleaned up.

Friday we head to Jordan and Hillary's and hopefully will also get to see Cara and her family who MIGHT be joining us for Miss Lily's big day.

So I am thankful for things...little and big things. I'm just tired, bone weary tired, and that is so not like me. My godmother tells me it's how things will be from now on for me. . .to get used to it. We are old, she tells me. So she's probably right...but I'm glad they are coming here today, too. I have an idea that my godfather might not be around a lot longer. Just hope he can get into the house today. But I know that feeling as well.

But also so thankful for Robert...so very thankful. He's been my arms and legs and head...for whatever I have needed. He's truly amazing. Just now he made sure I made it downstairs with him (who was going down himself for other things) and hauled up all the stuff I needed to complete the small meal we will be having. Plus he's been the chief cook and bottle washer! And such a blessing.

And then there are the friends...the one who for weeks made sure I was tucked into the bed, and locked into the house while Robert worked afternoons. And another who came up to allow Niko exercise, and a piano student mom who ran and did all stuff for me. And the former piano student mom who would bring home my books from the library. And so many who brought dinners or treats.

Say! I have a lot of things to be thankful for....maybe I oughta have Thanksgiving.

Love to all....enjoy the good things in your lives as well as the bad. We taste bitter to know sweet.

I miss my mom!

REAL novelists

Last week the library called to announce that 2 of my books were waiting for me. I always request books that I want thru the ClevNet library system. They get delivered to my local library and I get a canned phone message to come pick them up.

I sent Robert who was going out anyway. And he comes home with 2 of the thickest books I have ever seen. And I get what? 3 weeks to read these 2 huge tomes?

The one is Stephen King's newest offering (so glad he's off his meds and is writing again...maybe now I can actually read one without quitting and get to the end, assuming there IS an end in this one, and enjoy his story-telling). This book has 1074 pages.

The other one is Gerald N. Lunn's offering about that stupid mountain that I fell up and down and finally off of. It has 802 pages. Not much difference altho in content it's gonna be totally clean of language and valor.

King's will also have valor, same valor because in the end, isn't valor is valor? Just the surroundings will be different.

So while I do my laundry I picked up King's first. Hefting it is quite the challenge. It's not gonna be the book I take anywhere. It'll just be the book I sit with on my lap, being grateful that I got my new lenses and can actually see the letters now.

Then I thought of my 'novel'. All 11,400 words. Wow...I don't think that's even enough to be considered a novella. Oh well.....

Just wanted to comment....back to King and the bubble!

NaNoWriMo complete

You can now view the 'novel' I wrote for National Novel Writing Month. It includes most of my best favorite recipes....and how and why they became such.

this morning

This morning, folding clothes and making lists (lots of things to do, buy, prepare for since it is Thanksgiving coming up), I took a break to add my RS release to the back cover of my journal....where all my releases and callings are listed. And I found this quote from A. Lynn Scoresby, date 1999, on the adjacent page.

Prepare More than Punish
Communicate more than Control
Encourage more than Criticize
Involve all and Individualize
Love more than Isolate
Set and maintain limits.

It was in my own handwriting so I must have heard it and was impressed enough to record it. Today may be the perfect time for it to have come to my memory.

Probably this has most to do with child rearing (and here I have to put in my standard anti-plug against time out chairs...see Love more than Isolate) but it also has to do with how we deal with people in general, doesn't it.?

Yesterday after taking one more whiny voiced call from someone obvious wanting to be taken care of, I continued cooking dinner and fussing in my head. And then BAM (or as bonpapa would always say, WHAM-O)! I was struck with the reminder that I need, have to have, require, the atonement in order to be taken care of. It wasn't something I could for myself. So I was rebuked by my head, told to lighten up...and then this morning I find this in my journal. Must be a sign to me.

But I have been thinking a lot this morning since finding the quote. My grandkids who are attending school and are being taught The Test. Strict adherence to things that are not important, all in order to pass The Test. Qualify the school for good ratings. My grands are young. They are in elementary schools, except for 1 who is in Middle School. I told one daughter that these are the preparatory years. The years the kids get used to what will be required of them when they hit High School and those grades are the ones that colleges will see. These are to get them to that point, and are important but maybe not as critical. Not the grades always...but most definitely learning to follow the instructions, follow the teachers tho they may not like the teachers.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands...too much thinking being done. I don't know. Without my usual calling, days are a bit different. And that's OK. Letting go is all a part of this existence. I have had to let go of doing everything for 3.5 months. It should have taught me to sit back now and just let things flow. Not my nature! But I will try.

I will try to prepare, communicate, encourage, involve, and love...all the while revamping limits. Letting go of what's not important. Making sure the people I do deal with in passing or in earnest, will know how I feel in gentle ways. So one last time:

Prepare More than Punish
Communicate more than Control
Encourage more than Criticize
Involve all and Individualize
Love more than Isolate
Set and maintain limits.

Lily Mae Hatch on Nov 14

We were able to finally get to meet Lily mae...Lily Girl, Lily Bug, Lily Pad, Hi Lily Hi Lily, Ho Lo...whatever her nicknames which we heard all....she's a doll baby and we were so happy to meet her. To get our hands on her.

The Newest (yawning) Hatch with the New Hatch Batch

Lily Pad gets a kiss from her dad!

Can you read the onesie? Just Hatched....given to me by Heather Cosby years ago...for the next Hatch hatched.

Happy Papa

Papa and Granny enjoying their first glimpse.

here's 2 blogs to view

Jocelyn' s blogspot is a good place to go for a listing of christmas stories she and Steve will be sharing with their kids this year. Along with the readings, they'll be making ornaments to accompany the stories. This should be a regular entry on her blog and she'd love some c0mpany and input. Check in with her often.

Dawn's blogspot is another place to head for card ideas and just to hear what she has to say about anything. She writes like me...her views. And if you don't like it, you don't have to agree nor leave a comment.

Blogs...they are the best place to blow off steam in my book...as well as to leave interesting views on things. Some of my friends aren't blogging as much as they used to, me included. That's sad. I need a dose of other views daily. Gets me through each day.

Thank you, Veterans!

Today is Veteran's Day. Yesterday I watched the memorial service for the men and women killed in that attack at Camp Hood. It was moving and so sad. But I seemed to wander my gaze over the thousands of soldiers who sat in chairs for the service and wondered how many of them would not return home.

I am grateful for the men and woman from my family who served in the military, during wartime and peace time. I know that this war will not be fought only on foreign soil any more. That excuse for being in this war no longer holds. For me, it never did. It was the lamest of excuses for continuing this war.

But there's war that we must face everyday. With seen and unseen enemies. There's the enemies to truth...the people who insist that telling lies, believing them, is great entertainment. There's the enemies to virtue...the people who have none, who work to ensnare others. There's the enemies on so many fronts that it would be impossible to list them. But you know who they are, where they are sometimes. And it becomes necessary to be ever vigilent against them. To stand firm and speak strongly, publicly, against them.

But today, as in all days, I honor those who will volunteer to fight for the freedoms I enjoy.

on a lighter note

Happy 40th anniversary

Thursday, 11/12, think Marie

My friend's mom has alzheimers and on Thursday will be making the transition to St Mary of the Woods. I honestly don't know who I am sadder for.

I think it has to be Marie's family who still remember her when. And will always retain those memories...good as well as not so good. I haven't had to go through this experience but I know we worried about having to with Roger. I try to imagine not having the proper, real memories. when I forget something my friend assures me that that is an OK thing to forget. That it is a normal forgetting and assures me not worry that I'm heading down that other path. Even in her sorrow, she reaches out to comfort.

So now I ask all of you, my faithful readers, to put Thursday into your meditation/prayer schedule. All day. Whether you meditate or fast or pray....remember Marie first because she will fear the change of surroundings at first. Then remember Marie's family...because they will fear the unknown future and the present that has to be dealt with. Ask for strength and peace for them all...in whatever way you deal with such things in your own life.

Marie...dear Marie!