home

“HOME is not a place. It’s a feeling”

Over three years. That is how long we have been searching for a house. A house that my parents, and youngest brother Michael, can call home. I’m not going to say “the perfect house”, for I do not believe in the concept of “perfection”. What I will say, however, is that it feels right. And good. And happy.

From St. Louis to Kansas City. My parents and brother will be moving 252 miles across the state of Missouri – leaving behind a house that has been “home” to my parents for more than 40 years. It is where they raised seven kids; five in ten years, with a ten year break, and then two more; followed by more than a dozen grandchildren. Is this going to be easy; for anyone…? Nope. Change is NEVER easy. But it’s time.

My brother, Michael, just turned 30 this summer. Michael has Down Syndrome. He and I are the “bookends” of the family, and Michael will eventually be my permanent buddy…xoxo Moving to KC now means new roots, new friends and new surroundings while everyone is still young and healthy and happy. My dad will celebrate his 80th birthday later this year in his new house. We are so blessed….

“Home”

Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave (wave) is stringing us along

Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home

(lyrics/music by Phillip Phillips – click below)

saying goodbye to 2014…

12 / 31 / 14

Saying goodbye to 2014 is bittersweet. It has certainly been a year of change, to say the least.

Both of our kids graduated college and entered the (gulp!) “real world”; acquiring great jobs right out of school. I must tell you that we sincerely appreciate what an incredible blessing this is…!! In the fall, our son moved 500 miles away to Dallas, and that has been a real adjustment for our family. We miss him terribly; but he is happy and settled and doing well. Truthfully, at the end of the day, that is all that really matters. And, after much searching, our daughter has finally found a place to live (here in KC, thank goodness!!) and is moving out with friends in the next couple of weeks. She is SO excited!! Well… it certainly looks like the hubbie and I are gonna be empty nesters here in 2015!! Our plans to move my mom, dad and youngest brother to Kansas City escalated in 2014. Their home, where I grew up, is in Florissant, Missouri… just north of Ferguson, Missouri. Unfortunately, now everyone knows exactly where that is on a map. I have 21 family members living in the area. Two are police officers. Needless to say, it has been a very tense and emotional experience for our entire family. We hope to have my parents and brother moved to Kansas City very soon.

In the meantime, please join me in praying for peace. Everywhere…

We have a family prayer book that I started back in January 2002. Inside that book – snipits, clippings, pictures… memories of those people that we have lost over the past 13 years; or those people that have simply been in need of our prayers.

“A picture is worth a thousand words, but the memories are priceless”.

For the many we said goodbye to in 2014… We light a single candle. There are no words. xo

the gift of laundry

11 / 19 / 14

Sometimes we make the simple act of gratitude way too complicated.

Case in point; laundry.

So raise your hand if you enjoy doing laundry. Anyone…? Ya. Thought so. And who among you gets “slightly irritated” when someone says they “did” the laundry when, in fact, all they did was put the laundry into the washing machine?? OR… (and this is worse!) merely transferred it from the washing machine to the dryer?? Ya. Exactly. You know where I’m going with this, don’t you. It’s about FOLDING that doggone pile of laundry when it comes out of the dryer. Am I right?? Often times I find myself questioning how many times you can actually “re-fluff” before everything in the dryer becomes American Girl doll worthy…

But today was different. Kinda. Ya; I still refluffed a couple times, but once I finally dumped that (first, of many) load on the couch and started folding – I did so with a fresh new attitude. An attitude of gratitude. I decided to find five reasons to be thankful for the privilege of folding laundry. And, surprisingly; it wasn’t even hard to do.

I was cold and the clothes were toasty warm. I wrapped up in an oversize sweatshirt and fresh socks. Instant warmth xo
We are so fortunate to even HAVE these crazy inventions called washers & dryers! Can’t even IMAGINE washing all of this by hand! Our poor great grandparents!
I am so very, very, VERY blessed to have a wonderful hubbie; someone that generates all of these dirty socks and underwear that I have the privilege of folding. xoxo
We are over the top materialistically blessed. We have a home to do our laundry in, and a closet full of clothes to wear. Some have nothing.
Down time. In the midst of a busy day, folding laundry gives me a little time to quiet my thoughts, slow down and reflect on my day. And all of the many things I have to be grateful for…

Today I am thankful for the gift of laundry.

live happy…

hello, again

11 / 1 / 14

hello. again….

I’ve been gone awhile. Six months, to be exact. But I’m back. In my usual, haphazard sort of way. You know; a post every day for 2 weeks. Then nothing for the next three weeks.

Or six months.

I needed a little social media hiatus, I guess. A time to chill. Regroup. Collect my thoughts. Ponder life…

Bold statement: “I’m going to attempt to be a bit more consistent in my blogging” (don’t think that I don’t hear the muffled giggles amongst you…)

Followed by the “however…” statement: “In order to do so, however, I must learn to be a bit more, well.. brief?” (OK – the muffled giggles just turned to outright laughter…!)

OK, Yes. I said brief. I know. It sounds ridiculous coming from me, doesn’t it!? I agree. But I’m sure gonna try. Truth is, I think that I really need this place, this little space, to share what’s in my head and my heart. I’ve said it a million times before, but blogging – for me – is an online journal. My diary. My therapy. I’m sharing my thoughts, feelings, experiences with you, in hopes that something that I say may touch your life in some small way. Perhaps we will connect on some level. Start a conversation. Or not. It may simply be something you just needed to hear or see at that very moment. Something in your heart; not to be shared with anyone. That works for me too…

So it’s November. A beautiful month to honor the spirit of gratitude. Every day this month I am going to post a picture on Instagram; something that I am grateful for. I am going to jump back on Facebook, as well. Although not as often as I used to. And, of course, stay tuned – right here – for future “brief, yet meaningful” blog posts from yours truly! (teehee!!)

yes. it’s hello. again…

thanks giving ~ giving thanks

11 / 22 / 12

Sharing with you a beautiful Thanksgiving paper chain that I am going to be doing today with my entire family. Print it off now, and celebrate the gift of gratitude. For one another as well as all that you have been blessed with. We are all guilty of taking people, situations, life… for granted. Today is a day to pause, reflect and cherish all that is a part of you in this world. We are blessed.

thanks giving ~ giving thanks.

oh; to define thanksgiving

11 / 20 / 12

November is one of my very favorite months of the entire year. Halloween, with all of the adorable little ghosts and goblins, is behind us. The craziness of the December holiday rush looms ahead. But November wraps us up in a warm, cozy blanket of giving thanks… of remembering what is important to us in our lives. A time to reflect and count our many, many blessings. I know that being in the retail world forces me to “jump the gun” on the Christmas season… and there is not much I can do about that. I do, however, have control over the way that I look at, and approach, the ENTIRE holiday season. You see, I have a little different perspective on everything. I actually see Thanksgiving and Christmas as being two parts of one beautiful season.

For me, the entire season is about family, friends, peace, love and gratitude. I know that a lot of people like to get a jump start on their Christmas decorations in November – but I still love to “decorate” my home for Thanksgiving – even though we don’t actually celebrate Thanksgiving Day here. Again – it’s not a “day” in November and then another “day” in December… it’s an entire beautiful season. There has been so very much going on lately – globally, and in my very own little world. Sometimes it reminds us to stop dead in our tracks and reflect on life… and what REALLY matters. I pray for “peace on earth” as we begin this most blessed “holiday season”…

(the above is an excerpt from my November newsletter… )

A couple of fun links for you to check out, as well as a few pics from “home”…

Tracy Porter napkin ring ideas

Thanksgiving tabletop ideas and inspiration

blessed with babies

8 / 14 / 12

How can you not smile when you look at this sweet little face…

Goodness gracious; I have had babies on my mind lately. Between our two families, we have three little ones turning one within a month and a half of each other. And, on top of that, we just welcomed another precious little one into the family this month! Fourteen nieces and nephews. We are so blessed.

Distance; and time… they are the enemies. On my side of the family, every single one of my nieces and nephews is far away. That is just so very hard for me. There are so many milestones, moments and memories that pass… without me. Sometimes I just have an “Aunt Cathy hug” deep inside that makes me feel like I am going to explode if I can’t deliver it!! Ya – I know. I’m their aunt… not their mom. But for me it goes really, really deep. I would do anything for any of them, as if they were my very own. Because they are. They are family… and there is nothing more precious in all the world.

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

gratitude

8 / 13 / 12

Some days are just so easy to be grateful for.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing their happiest little song and you have leftovers in the refrigerator for dinner. Life is good.

Today was simply not one of those days.

It is so hard to see those that we love struggle. We feel their pain; we cry their tears. We want to “fix” things… but we can’t. So tonight I go to bed with a heavy heart. And yet, even so, I realize something very important – I have so much to be thankful for. So I will quiet my mind in the silence and be thankful for my many, many blessings. My prayer is for everyone that needs a hug tonight. I will pray for your blessings tomorrow.

In gratitude… live happy

one of those days

7 / 18 / 12

Ever had one of those days when something stops you dead in your tracks… Maybe you were kinda, sorta expecting it; often times it comes out of nowhere and pulls the rug out from under you. These are the times that we are called to pause and quiet ourselves in a way that allows us to absorb the world around us. Sometimes we need these moments of reflection to remind us of where we are, who we are and where we are going. Did we stop this morning to count our many blessings? Did we love the ones that we love? Did we make someone laugh or smile; show kindness to a stranger or put someone else’s needs before our own…?

I am incredibly blessed in my life, and I will go to bed tonight with a feeling of deep gratitude for all that I love… live happy