New Year, Old Reflections -- 2017

My favorite thing to buy at the beginning of each year was the Life magazine "Year in Pictures." My parents had a few from over the years, and I loved looking through them at the moments in time that were captured through the photojournalist's lens.

Here's to looking back at 2017 through our pictures. So many photos (whittled down from 1,000s to a mere 400 or so)...and so many smiles -- many, many more than the last few years.

God is good to us! He has carried us through quite a lot in the past few years, especially. And being able to recap the year through photos is always a joy. Seeing memories forgotten already...truly priceless.

In an age of constantly changing technology, what are your favorite ways to keep memories alive year to year?

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Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you'll buy your pint cup!

and surely I'll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine;

But we've wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine^†;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there's a hand my trusty friend!

And give me a hand o' thine!

And we'll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

2015!

A very HAPPY new year to you!

Wow! I cannot believe that this year has arrived. 2015!! I remember thinking about it back in the 1990s and feeling like it was still eons away. (I guess I've traveled through eons?)

We're halfway through the teens...literally with our kids and the years.

How. Did. That. Happen.

?!?!?!

Emily hits quite a few milestones this year: high school graduation, university, a first job, and maybe her driver's license...and turning 18.

All, In. One. Year.

Mind-blown.

Edward and Ethan will carry on as usual. They'll be my rocks this year. Hopefully, the normalcy of their lives will help keep me sane?

I'm putting together my annual recap blog post. I haven't done it in awhile, but I hope to post it in the next few days. It gives me a chance to reflect on all of God's goodness to us in the past year. In good and bad times, He is always with us!

In the meantime, enjoy the fresh start of a the new year. What are your resolutions? I resolve to be a better blogger this year...and try to stay sane. *wink-grin*

Oh, and...

Peace

Sweet baby feet

There's a song that plays at the end of Ethan's instrumental bedtime lullaby CD that is so peaceful and sweet that I find myself nearly crying each time I hear it play over the monitor. It conjures up so many memories of when all three of my children were much smaller, and life seemed simpler.

I know. I know. Those of you with smaller children do not think that life feels simpler.

But maybe it's because I feel like I've crossed the Rubicon with my older two munchkins, and life has become decidedly more "hands-off" in some ways. Somehow that happens when they reach "double digits."

Not that they don't still enjoy a cuddle or two...or three. But they're definitely their own people, marching ever closer to college and work...and independence.... And with that comes planning and worrying and learning...and dealing with new emotions...and...and...

When they were small, life's routine had a cadence of sorts. The beat of the day moved with feeding times and diaper changes. There were storytimes and naptimes and cuddletimes and outside playtimes. To some it might have seemed mundane, but there was a peace in it -- a sense of wellness that came in knowing that everything was under control.

Now, there is just running here and there from school to activity to chores to bed. No more quiet reading times. Very few walks to the library or park. Everything must be very deliberate, planned or else missed.

Sigh.

And yet, for the moment, I will listen...and remember...the peace.

Wordless Wednesday

A "Little" Lapse...and a Recap

So I lapsed again...a little. *wink-grin*

Since I can't go back and recapture 2011 through 300+ posts, I'll do a photo summary of the year.

January:

We headed to the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg with the kids -- a first for Stuart and the boys. Emily and I went there a LONG time ago. It was such a treat...and a definite "walk" down Memory Lane.

February:

A very sweet Valentine's Day as Edward turned 10...double digits! And Emily and I hosted a Mother-Daughter Valentine's Tea.

March:

The month of Spring and fresh beginnings. We enjoyed St. Patty's Day...and a fun "half-birthday" for Ethan...and first birthday for the piggies.

April:

We celebrated another half-b'day for Emily, soccer, and Easter -- and my very first trip alone (as a mom) to New York City!

May:

We celebrated my parents' 50th anniversary with them (a month early); we said goodbye to my grandmother, my last living grandparent; we celebrated Mother's Day and our 15th anniversary with a trip into West Reading, complete with a postcard to the kids.

June:

School ended -- Emily and Edward move on to 9th grade and 5th grade, respectively. The kids hosted an Alex's Lemondade Stand. Emily danced in her final recital. My parents had their actual 50th anniversary. We celebrated Father's Day and my grandmother's life in a Memorial Service at her home. Summer started.

July:

Independence Day and summer. A slower time of life.

August:

Camp Woohoohaha! was a blast! We enjoyed the final weeks of summer before Emily started HIGH SCHOOL! Our school books arrived, and we finished the library summer reading program.

September:

School started. Stuart celebrated turning "40-something" (41), and Ethan had his 3rd birthday with his very own birthday adventure to Crayola. It was the 10th anniversary of 9-11. Autumn arrived with all its glorious colors and smells. Soccer officially began for the season.

October:

Emily and I celebrated our birthday by turning reciprocals of each other: 14 and 41. We had hoped to go to NYC but decided against it because of weather and the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. We enjoyed Ballocity instead. Stuart was away, so we had a "staying-in" Halloween after it snowed 9 inches and turned icy. Some people lost power for over a week.

November:

A British feast was enjoyed with Sandy and Tim for Guy Fawkes' Night. We had a bonfire and lots of goodies. My mom celebrated her 70th birthday. Thanksgiving ended the month with another yummy feast at my aunt's house.

December:

The last month of 2011. Emily and I travelled back again to New York City to see the NYC Ballet do the "Nutcracker." We enjoyed some shopping and just hanging together. I had my annual shopping trip (#17) to Schuylkill Mall with my friend and former co-worker from Highlights. Christmas Eve's Eve included a "picnic in the park" in our living room. Christmas Eve was special. Christmas Day spent in bed. Boxing Day enjoyable with another feast. And Pagoda Day we moved the photo to the morning so that we would avoid the rain. New Year's Eve we spent as a family, enjoying some snacks and playing some games. We watched the ball drop together and reflected on the beginning of another new year.

*  *  *

There are so many other things that happened over the year...but these are just a few of the highlights. We try to always remember how blessed we are...and celebrate God and each other.

Happy 2012, everyone!

Saying Goodbye...

My hubby wrote this on his blog, in remembrance of Chaucer.

I think he said it so poignantly...

***************

Today has been a sad day. I just finished burying Chaucer, our beloved cat. He died Wednesday night after a really quick illness. We're still not really sure what happened.


Chaucer was a fantastic cat, really one of a kind. He came into our lives when my wife and kids adopted him from a shelter. I wasn't around at the time, and was pretty annoyed when I found out. After all, we had enough pets!

After that, Chaucer worked his way into all of our hearts. He seemed to know that he had to work hardest on me, and would sit on my lap any chance he got, letting out the loudest purrs imaginable. No matter how many times I turned him away, he always persisted until he got his way.

I was concerned that he would be a problem. After all, he had not been de-clawed, so five out of his six ends were pointy! I didn't have to worry; he never hurt anyone, no matter how much our children annoyed him.

We laid him to rest under a tree in our back yard. It's a sunny spot, surrounded by flowers in the summer. As I piled dirt back on the old Amazon box we put him in, I noticed the slogan on the side. It read: "Small package - big smiles!"

Small package - big smiles. Nothing could have summed up Chaucer more perfectly.

Goodbye, Chaucer. We'll miss you.

Reflections at Yet Another Year's End

Happy New Year's Eve!

I stand poised between 2008 and 2009...and it's always a time of reflection for me.

I was just reviewing last year's post and was amazed at how much I forgot the events of last year. What's even more amazing is how much happened in that year. We are so blessed and chronicling a year through the photos we took reminds us of this fact.

We've done lots of changing and growing this year -- both personally and as a family. It's been fun and exciting to see how God is working in our lives.

January:

We found out that we were expecting another family member -- much to our surprise -- after 5 years of hoping and praying...and finally deciding to enjoy our family of 4... Emily started her third year of 4-H, and our beloved show 24 was cancelled due to the writer's strike.

February:

Edward turned 7, and we headed to New York City for his birthday adventure, stopping at Build-a-Bear and FAO Schwarz. It was a fun and tiring day! Our homeschool learning group started up for the second semester. Earl Grey (and his brother Clementine) celebrated his 2nd birthday party-style.

March:

We celebrated Easter and ate green eggs and ham on St. Patrick's Day. Edward got glasses, and Emily had her PSSA exams.

April:

Edward started his first Spring soccer season. Emily celebrated being "10-and-a-1/2" on the 15th.

May:

Mother's Day was especially poignant with lots of fun trips afterwards to Motherhood Maternity for some more up-to-date maternity clothing. Emily finished 5th grade, and Edward finished 1st grade. Edward, formerly our "shy guy," volunteered to introduce a Woody Guthrie song at the end-of-year program of our homeschool learning group. Stuart and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. We had a second ultrasound and hoped to find out what gender the baby was...but God kept it a secret from us.

June:

Emily had a wonderful recital with a beautiful costume. We headed to Rehoboth Beach for a day trip with my sister. We had a fun Father's Day and gave Stuart a charcoal grill which brought out his "inner chef." Emily started "en pointe" with a week-long clinic.

July:

Finally facing the inevitable -- that our little 11-year-old station wagon wouldn't fit three kids -- we bought a used minivan and used it to travel to Long Island to see our friend, Sue, marry her wonderful hubby, Sonny. We stayed for the weekend at a huge house along the shore and had a mini vacation. Stuart and I spent a day in New York City to visit with another dear friend, and we enjoyed a very soggy 4th of July. We also headed to Hershey Park for Stuart's company picnic. I had fun watching since most of the rides said no "preggos." *wink*

August:

Since we couldn't vacation in Nags Head, N.C., because of the impending birth, we celebrated the end of summer by hosting "Camp Woohoohaha" -- our madeup family "day camp." We had a blast and even rounded out the day by making s'mores and singing "camp" songs. "My dad is a lav'tory cleaner..." We started school a week early to be sure we'd have things going well before the baby's arrival. Emily started 6th grade, and Edward began 2nd grade.

September:

Ethan Samuel Foote arrived on the 14th, three days after his father's birthday....all 9 lbs. 7 oz., 22 inches of him. He came after dance class, homeschool learning group, and soccer started...so perfect timing, really. *grin* Edward's second season playing soccer was on a team with orange shirts called the "Orange Crush."

October:

Emily turned 11, and we did our birthday adventure to the Philadelphia Zoo and a Build-a-Bear store in King of Prussia Mall. We also went to Philly for cheesesteaks. Practices started for the Nutcracker. Emily got a part as a cannon guard/soldier. The kids trick-or-treated as Star Wars characters again, and Ethan spent his first Halloween as a pumpkin.

November:

Ethan enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. Edward wrapped up his soccer season. Emily continued to practice as a soldier. My sisters and I took my mom out for her birthday to a chocolate cafe. Mmmm!

December:

We wrapped up the year with Sinterklaas Day, a 4-H Christmas party, Breakfast with Santa, the Nutcracker, a cookie bake-off, Christmas dinner at my parents', Boxing Day dinner at our house -- including Sue and Sonny staying overnight as our first-ever houseguests -- Pagoda Day in the fog, New Year's Eve playing games, and New Year's Day eating pork and sauerkraut.

A busy but blessed year that ended with a new 3-month-old family member...something we would never have imagined this time last year.

God's blessings to you for a joyous 2009!

Reflections...

After hearing a wonderfully encouraging message from our pastor this morning, I realized once again that the pain of death is diminished by knowing that loved ones and friends who know Christ personally are in the presence of God. The evil in this world has absolutely no power over them...and they are in perfect peace, taken by God, their Father and Creator.

Wow!

What an awesome God!

Psalm 90 (New Living Translation)

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

1 Lord, through all the generations

you have been our home!

2 Before the mountains were born,

before you gave birth to the earth and the world,

from beginning to end, you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust, saying,

“Return to dust, you mortals!”

4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,

as brief as a few night hours.

5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.

They are like grass that springs up in the morning.

6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes,

but by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We wither beneath your anger;

we are overwhelmed by your fury.

8 You spread out our sins before you—

our secret sins—and you see them all.

9 We live our lives beneath your wrath,

ending our years with a groan.
10 Seventy years are given to us!

Some even live to eighty.

But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;

soon they disappear, and we fly away.

11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger?

Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.

12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life,

so that we may grow in wisdom.
13 O Lord, come back to us!

How long will you delay?

Take pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,

so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!

Replace the evil years with good.

16 Let us, your servants, see you work again;

let our children see your glory.

17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval

and make our efforts successful.

Yes, make our efforts successful!

Refreshing Reflection

Thanks to BennyBlog for the Mirrors photo

It's no secret that I'm a huge Kiefer Sutherland fan. I've enjoyed following his career in recent years, after rediscovering my former interest in him.

So it's been interesting to watch the "finale" of his DUI/jailtime unfold and hear his reflection on it all.

A little background for those who don't know/follow Kiefer: Last September, the 24 star was arrested for DUI, following being stopped for an illegal U-turn. He was subsequently sentenced to 48 days in jail which had to be completed by March 2008 -- with no chance of early release. He chose to serve his time in December and January -- presumably during the show's Christmas break -- so as not to disturb production on the show. Before that could happen though, the Hollywood writers' strike began and the importance of that was voided. Still, to jail he went in early December, serving his time during his birthday, Christmas, and New Year's. He left the prison, which was a 24/7 indoor county facility, a thinner, paler version of himself. It was actually sad to watch.

But he did it...as he should have.

Unlike many of his Hollywood contemporaries/cohorts, though, he didn't complain or blame society for what happened. He didn't negotiate for less time or use his status as a top-grossing movie star to get special treatment. He said from the start that he made bad choices and had to pay the consequences.

It was an interesting time in our household since it provided us as parents with (sadly) a good example of what happens when we make bad choices. My kids know how much I admire this actor so their eyes and ears were wide open to see how he chose to handle it.

So getting back to the story.

Kiefer seemed to stay out of the limelight for the last 7 months, opting to keep away from the talkshows and interviewers. We still got photos of him and little snippets of news stating what he was doing career-wise...but nothing really more personal than that.

But he is human after all. He needed time to heal and reflect, I'm sure.

Fast forward to now. With the upcoming opening of his newest movie Mirrors (which isn't being shown locally to me!!!! Grrrrr!! UPDATE: Yes, it is!! Whoo-Hoo!!), he finally made some appearances, chatting quite openly and frankly about his time in jail with David Letterman and admitting to several of the others that he made some bad choices and had to deal with that. He reflected on the fact that if you don't learn and grow from bad experiences/choices then you have a serious problem and the experience was for nothing.

I find it all very interesting.

While he's not perfect and still lives with the morals of the world, he provides a different reflection to the Hollywood image. Despite being in a constant limelight, he still shows us his human side and his respect for his fan base in general. He's humble enough to admit when he's done something very wrong and even humbler to accept without reservation the consequences that follow.

And that's a definitely refreshing change.

How many of us would do that in our little sphere of the world?

No Doubt

I'm stuck in the past at the moment...feeling kind of odd, for some reason. Hormones? Mid-life crisis? Full moon? Who knows.

And then I had these thoughts come to mind...

* * *

A few weeks before I was due with Emily, I had an appointment with our midwife. I'd been blessed with a problem-free textbook pregnancy. She took my blood pressure and looked at my chart and told me I was finished working.

Stunned, I laughed and asked why. Her answer was firm. My blood pressure -- which had been normal for nearly 9 months -- had suddenly skyrocketed, a prelude to pre-eclampsia or any number of other bad conditions.

Hmmmm....I hadn't prepared for this.

I was going to work until my due date, or at least until I went into labor. I was in the middle of working on an assignment, having just done an interview with Bills Khakis. What had happened?

We had changed bosses and had a very stressful work night the evening before my appointment. Our story sizes kept changing on our pages which meant we had to redo headlines and edit stories to fit the new spaces. On top of it, our new boss kept rewriting/re-editting what we'd already done.

I guess all that added up to higher blood pressure.

When I walked out very subdued after my final shift, it marked the end of my full-time journalism career. I did some freelancing for several years afterwards, but that, too, ended. In essence, when I finished at the newspaper, I'd finished writing.

I turned all my attention to raising Emily and then further spread that attention to include Edward after he arrived into our lives. I didn't give my writing another thought. I was MOM.

But I'd been writing since I was 8 years old. It was such a huge part of who I was and an absorbing passion. I went through a time in my teens when I didn't go anywhere without my notebook. I spent hours and hours writing stories. It became my trademark.

My husband and family tried encouraging me, seeking to re-ignite my passion. But I wasn't motivated. I didn't have anything left in me to concentrate on my writing. I tried, but I was too dry.

Another problem developed. While I was away from writing, I began to lose confidence in my abilities.

I've always been filled with a huge amount of self-doubt. I've often thought: If I'm really any good, there's always going to be someone even better out there. That's the person who will be recognized. That's the person who will be picked. (Maybe that stems from all the times I was "picked last" in gym class or on the playground...)

I was never confident enough to be competitive...in fact, I've come to hate competition in that context.

Unfortunately, in the world of writing, you have to compete. You have to shine through -- set yourself apart somehow -- sell yourself. (I remember that well from my time as an editorial assistant at Highlights for Children where a big part of my job was screening manuscripts that had been sent in for consideration at Boyd's Mills Press, the book side of the company.)

I like writing too much to do that.

I don't see it as a craft from which to make money, and maybe that's my problem.

I see it as an art.

And artists are always filled with a certain amount of doubt.

Hold onto your soul...keep it safe. Or hold out your soul for all to see, and it's likely to feel some pain.

Still, if you never hold it out, no one will ever share the beauties it holds...

It's just takes one step, one story, one stamped envelope...and no doubt.