happy fourth…

7 / 4 / 15

Happy Birthday, America – 239 years old today! The Fourth of July. A celebration of our red, white and blue. Flags flying high and proud. Displays of patriotism around every corner. Amidst the BBQ and fireworks, the tri-color jello molds and the stars and stripes fingernail art – I think we sometimes get too busy, so wrapped up in all of the preparation and planning (myself included) that we forget. We forget to stop… and say “thank you”.

As they say, “there is no land of the free, without home of the brave“. To our men and women , past and present, who have served this great country of ours… we are forever in your debt. Thank you, thank you; a million times… thank you.

That being said, I also 100% LOVE all of the wonderful family and friends traditions that we celebrate this glorious day. So many memories, going all the way back to my grandparents’ boathouse on the river when I was a little girl. Spending the day on the little “beach” with a picnic lunch, catching tadpoles and shooting the rapids. Returning, exhausted, to our tiny little river house to enjoy smokebombs, “snakes” and sparklers, before we crashed, 2-3 people per bed, underneath a bizillion stars, in the middle of nowhere – the chirping of the crickets almost deafening… Flash forward – Another vivid Fourth of July memory – exactly 25 years ago today. Pregnant with twins and confined to bedrest, I was feeling ~~overwhelmingly~~ a little “stir crazy” and decided to “sneak out” and watch the fireworks that night. Ha!! Let me tell you, there is absolutely NO WAY to “sneak” ANYWHERE when you are 36 weeks pregnant with twins. Never-the-less; we did it anyway. I went into labor exactly 10 days later…

I woke up this morning remembering the past 25 years with our kids… like a filmstrip of memories all jumbled up into a big ball of happy. Parades and popsicles, family and friends, petting zoos and jump houses, tattoos and water balloons, pony rides and decorating the bikes, neighborhood pool parties and family BBQ’s… I’m not gonna lie; I have felt a bit melancholy all day. Sigh…

fourth of july kyle

So I chose this beautiful pic and quote (at top) this morning as my inspiration for this year – July 4, 2015. Not a focus on our “rights”, as such… but, rather, our privileges. As Americans, we are so mightily blessed. As a nation we must reject prejudice and embrace honesty. We are called to do the right thing. Just because. As (a very wise woman) Ellen says everyday at the end of her show… “Be kind to one another”.

OK. I’m done. Tri-color jello, anyone…? Happy Fourth, friends xo

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

gratitude 101

11 / 22 / 14

Today is a lesson (or two) (or three) in Gratitude 101.

When “the girls” (dogs) came in from morning potty today, they brought with them a single perfect little leaf. Not “perfect” in the sense of “PERFECTLY PERFECT”. Just perfect. As is. Lesson #1.

Picking up that little leaf created a pause within me. A moment to reflect on this fleeting moment that we call “Fall”. Never EVER long enough. One moment we are ablaze with glorious color, the next we are bare naked. “Mable”, the Maple tree in the backyard, is my fav. She waits until all of the others have succumbed to the early winds of winter. Like the end of an amazing concert, Mable waits until the stage has gone dark… and then she performs her breathtaking encore. Mable never disappoints. Patience. Lesson #2.

In glancing out the back window, it is plain to see that Mable is thinning with each day. Her leaves, once a brilliant red-orange, have faded. I feel sad. It’s a weirdly warm, foggy morning – so I decide to wander out onto the deck and whisper a little “thank you” to Mable for yet another stellar performance. Hopefully the neighbors won’t see me talking to my tree with the fog.

Our small deck is littered with a multitude of leaves, and I begin, almost subconsciously, to pick them up one by one. Where did they all come from? Where ARE all these different trees? Have these leaves been here all along? I thought that, aside from sweet Mable, the fall foliage was long gone. And here it was all along; right under my feet. I just had to open my eyes and take notice. Lesson #3.

Gratitude 101.

live happy

one week and counting…

11 / 20 / 14

My baby boy moved to Dallas in September. I miss him.

A lot.

How old? Twenty four. So what…!? You don’t just NOT miss your kid cause they are 24 with a real job… in their own apartment… in a fun area… surrounded by people their own age… in a big city… with a lot of golf and restaurants and nightlife… ??

Yep. I’m pretty much screwed.

So I simply hang on to whatever lands in my lap. A phone call, a ~~letter in the mailbox~~ funny text, an Instagram pic, a Snapchat video… Anything that brings him just a bit closer to home. But I miss still miss him.

A lot.

If you follow me on Instagram (creationsbycathy) you know that I have been posting every day during the month of November about things that I am grateful for. Spoiler alert… Exactly one week from today is Thanksgiving. A day for giving thanks for all of our many, many blessings. That being said, I can already tell you what I will be posting that day. “Someone” is flying in to spend Thanksgiving with his family… and mama bear, papa bear and sister are so, so, SO excited!! Three and a half glorious days!! The hugs. The kisses. Sitting next to him on the couch. Waking up in the morning with BOTH of my kids here… It’s almost too much! Yes, the countdown has begun…

tick, tock, tick, tock….

live happy

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…

do dogs really smile…?

9 / 15 / 13

Do you think that dogs actually smile? I’m not saying “are they happy?” – I mean, do they really s m i l e…? I say Yes. Definitely. We have 2 dogs. The white dog is Tobie and the black dog is Ellie. Together, they are just referred to as “the girls“. Ya, I know. Tobie is a boy name. She is a tomboy at heart. Lifts her leg to go potty, burps after she eats… So what would you have suggested; “Princess”? Two more opposite dogs you will never meet. Their nicknames are as follows (Ellie/Tobie) Needy & Greedy; Crazy & Lazy. Ellie never stops. Wants to play fetch 24/7. This is NOT an exaggeration. Ask anyone. She never, ever, ever gets tired. Ellie is best known for body slamming into walls, often head first, kamikaze style while playing fetch. Perhaps one too many times… This has also earned her the additional nickname of “Google eyes”. Let’s just say that sometimes Ellie appears to be looking in several different directions at once. (Think “Ed”, the hyena from Lion King..) Yep – Having someone throw the ball is Ellie’s nirvana. It is DEFINITELY what makes her smile. Tobie; well…. not so much. An all day nap really suits Tobie just fine. Preferably in the warm sunshine. Unless there is food. ANY food. And by “food”, I mean anything that is on the floor… Paper clips, buttons, paper towels, screws… So what makes Tobie smile? Besides a sample of pork tenderloin (blame the hubbie; I give her apples and kale!), it would have to be her kids. Tobie LOVES having her kids home. Hands down, NOTHING makes her happier. Yep. They are definitely Tobie’s reason to smile!

As opposite as they are, they really are “best buds”. There is one common denominator that makes them BOTH grin ear to ear, equally, and that is going for a walk!! Just say the words, and they begin “the happy dance“… big grins as they hop like little bunnies and run in circles. And this happy state continues throughout the entire walk. Today was no exception. It was a beautiful, peaceful Sunday morning, and I felt quite reflective as we strolled the neighborhood… Watching their complete delight in the smallest of things… sniffing the trees (EVERY tree, in fact!), chasing a butterfly, checking out an abandoned toy in someone’s front yard, investigating what might be under a fluffy bush… It made me stop and think. I was taken back to my reflection four days ago on 9/11; my blog post “a life to live over” (Erma Bombeck). Conclusion? Wouldn’t we all be a little better off if we approached life a little more like a dog? Hmmm…. Think about that. There are literally hundreds of little things in a day that can make you smile – IF you take the time to pause and enjoy them. But do you? I think we all try; but life, and deadlines, and “to do” lists, and complications… they all get in our way, don’t they. So I guess we just need to try a little harder. Yep. Perhaps we just need to think, and smile, more like a dog…

live happy

the ten dollar smile

9 / 3 / 13

What can you really get for $10 these days..? A fancy coffee drink and (maybe) a muffin? A couple gallons of gas? Unfortunately, we live in a world where things of value, things that matter, are gonna set you back a bit. It’s just the way things are these days, and we have to accept that. Or do we…?

Met some friends, two other couples, the other morning for breakfast at a little local area called “Park Place”, here in Kansas City. Following an early morning thunderstorm, the sun had returned and the skies were a glorious blue, so we all sat outside and chatted over coffee for a couple of hours. Afterwards, the hubbie and I decided that we needed to stretch our legs after sitting for so long, so we strolled the outdoor shops, hitting a couple of “end of season sidewalk sales”. By the time we hit late afternoon, we both admitted that our stomachs were grumbling a bit, and all of the little sidewalk cafes had started “Happy Hour”. Perfect timing for a glass of wine, some olives and a little hummus. So you might be thinking that this is the end of the story, but it’s not. You see, I haven’t told you everything...

What I didn’t mention yet, was the time between strolling the shops and Happy Hour… As it was, we popped out of one of the stores, and were immediately greeted with the sounds of a sidewalk musician – a lone guitarist with a voice a lot like “The Fray”. So we did what we knew we had to do. We pulled up a spot near the music and the fountains and settled into one of the brightly painted adirondack chairs for a little R&R in the glorious Sunday sunshine. As we all know, shopping can be absolutely EXHAUSTING for men!! (If you squint real hard on the pic above, you will see the guitarist on the far right of the pic, through the water droplets; and the hubbie is sitting next to my green chair, in a blue shirt, shades on, eyes closed…) The guy played his heart out, while folks strolled by and smiled, children ran in and out of the fountains, oblivious to anything but their own innocent joy, nearby sidewalk diners clapped politely…

Now I don’t know this young man’s story. At all. Was he paid by the merchants? Does he do this on the side, or is music his sole source of income; his passion? Did he know that we enjoyed the fact that he was there… that day… playing those songs… making our day a little brighter…? As I was up snapping this pic, he announced that it was his last song, and he thanked everyone who was there and wished them happiness for the rest of their day. My hubbie smiled at me and stood up, walking over to the young man. He had no “tip bucket” of any kind, so the hubbie merely thanked him for the gift of his music, and handed him a small token of gratitude. His eyes lit up with a sincere appreciation was so genuine it made my heart ache. A smile that was so worth every last penny… Be the reason.

live happy, cathy

remembering memorial day

5 / 26 / 13

“No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Memorial Day is about remembering those brave and selfless men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their life. For us.

So this weekend, we bow our heads, say a prayer and whisper towards heaven… Thank you. Thank you.

In honor of – I strongly encourage you to check out both of these videos. They bring me to tears each time that I watch them…

“thank you” and “Proud to be An American”. Enough said.

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.