Rolling a Rock Up a Mountain

I am a pretty optimistic person. I always try to look on the bright side and be happy. At the same time, I am an anxious person and that gets in the way. I am forever reading inspirational books and looking at my thinking and and my feelings and trying to get better at dealing with stress. This winter has been filled with transitions for everyone in my family, both immediate and extended. I won't go into detail, because it is all pretty private, but adjustments to school, learning, life stages, medical issues, personal issues, relationships, work, etc, etc. have all impacted our daily functioning and balance. I am in the center of it all, trying to roll the rock up the mountain. Sometimes, it slips out of my grasp, only to roll down to the bottom again, but I stubbornly pick it up and start rolling. My husband helps me often, but he has to come and go, due to his own rock that he rolls at work. So I have lots of time with my rock. I notice my rock as it rolls up the mountain. It is gathering bits along the way. Some smaller rocks, some plants, an animal or two (or three or more), some really shiny gems that are awesome and beautiful. My rock is constantly growing and changing. Once in a while, the mountain evens out and the rolling is smooth and easy. Sometimes I even feel I am running to catch up with my rock when it rolls ahead of me. And sometimes, like I said, it slips backward. But always we catch it and start again with the right attitude; the faith that while we may never actually reach the top, our rock is our rock, and our mountain is our mountain and we are strong enough to keep rolling.

My Black and White Team and Constant Companions

Going to the Nutcracker Ballet

Mary Alice made the cats and dog each holiday bowties

Megan volunteering at soccer with her friend.

Visting the Butterfly Garden

Christmas morning

Always room for a new doll. Why doesn't their hair stay that way??!

My boy turned 19!! How did that happen??!

Celebrating the January Birthdays

The never ending homework. They are such hard workers.

Another of Megan's funny notes.... only if I buy them bunk beds tomorrow..... written on her Kindle drawing app.

Our new gerbils, who were adorable and snuggly together for many weeks, then right after this was taken one decided to attack the other and now they have separate cages!

Re-organizing the family room into a learning center, to support the high distractibility of me and the girls.

The core of the family. Celebrating Eric's birthday. Love you so much, honey!!

Fall Update

Two years ago the world lost a great soul. My brother, Marty, died unexpectedly and suddenly, leaving an enormous hole in the fabric of our family. Although painful and difficult, we have gone through much healing and have a patch that has strengthened us at the seams. Much of it is due to the weaving together of the threads that were left, by his wife, Cindy~ an amazing person in her own right. We are all well and creating joyful memories that Marty would be proud of. He is not forgotten.

August 2010

 

And life goes on in its cycle. 

In the fall we dropped Matthew off at college.

Within an hour after we left him, he met a wonderful young woman, Sydney, at a freshman orientation mixer. Previously acquainted from the college Facebook Group, they hit it off right away and have been constant companions ever since. Sydney is a welcome addition to our family circle and surprisingly, I see much of myself reflected in her personality.

 

While walking around campus, M & S found this cute little hole in the sidewalk.

So, in the next few days, we were walking around the block and found THIS cute little hole in the sidewalk.

We went to visit Matthew to see him play in a concert on campus~ thus the tux...

We celebrated Iris' birthday with a surprise visit from her son and granddaughter!

This cutie got lots of love!!

On a Chilly September Morning we went canoeing with our church friends.

Eric & I are trying to get out for some much needed Date Nights.

Here is my Dad, single handedly re-doing the kitchen floor in his house!

And Whisper, with her ever watchful eye on me. Every room I go in, she follows.

The Stage Crew

Proud Daddy.

Shanna sporting her new braces!

A late fall vegetable garden harvest. Yes, that is a very tiny butternut!

Mary Alice's Birthday

Celebrating at AppleBees. Just the girls, as Daddy was out of town, Matthew at college.

Shanna & Megan enjoyed a trip to the Firefighter's Open House.

Our annual Pumpkin Carving Party at Church. Matthew was home for the weekend!

Snuggle time with Daddy.

This Cutie is my great nephew, Arden, in his Halloween Costume!

And this Cutie is Whisper! =) Sorry, no pictures of the girls this year... Just didn't happen. Don't know why.

And more Stage Crew. A big part of Mary Alice's life.

And the cake she made for the friend above, for her birthday. Frosting is homemade fondant. All. On. Her. Own!

Here is the doorway that Eric created for me between our front hall and family room. I. LOVE. IT! It still needs some finish work and I will post someday when finished.

These giggle girls never stop smiling and hugging. Like puppies.

Once again we travelled to my brother and sister-in-law's home, where we were welcomed and pampered for a wonderful visit. We missed Marty, but the house was filled with the spirit of family. It was a special joy this year to have my mother, father, Iris and Arden join us!

Cindy gave us commemorative Menurkeys and we all brought our menorahs to light.

I enjoyed my time with Matthew. I miss him so much when he is away but I am Oh So Proud of his successful transition to college and independence.

I cannot get enough of this sweet face. He is simply dreamy.

Shanna, too. =)

Dawn & Mary Alice, too. =)

Matthew, too. =)

And Aunt Sue

And Grandpa Jerry.

Even Biddie is smitten. Arden was so generous with his smiles and attention.

Homeade hot cocoa with whipped cream in the morning is one of the things Megan remembers most fondly about Marty and Thanksgiving.

This is the beautiful Birthday Cake Mary Alice made me.

I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday with my whole family.

And I share my special day with Shanna, who celebrated her 3rd anniversary of being adopted on my birthday!

These are rocks that we all painted over Thanksgiving weekend. Each represents a memory of Marty. Thanks to Sue for having such a great idea and bringing the needed supplies.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!