New Year's Resolutions...

It's that time of year again...Time to wind down and think about the year that has passed in the blink of an eye once again and how we will remember it. I have spent some time these past couple of days thinking about what we were doing at this time last year. We were preparing to head up to New York City to fulfill a lifelong dream of watching that crystal ball drop.We went with our buddies, Roy and Debbie, and we had a fabulous time. Knowing we had prepared ourselves for constant big city motion, endless noise of celebration, and crowds of people at all hours of the day and night, I wouldn't have expected to use the word "peaceful" to describe our experience there, but that was exactly what it was. Countless people were out in the city at all hours for those few days. But when midnight arrived on December 31st we found ourselves on the roof of our hotel way above it all. Let me tell you...this is the way to do it and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Standing on that roof in between the buildings surrounding our hotel with a birdseye view of people below us and the confetti falling above us was amazing and I will never forget it. My unexpected surprise was how quiet it became in the midst of all that excitement and I will never forget those first few minutes of 2011...I spent it being quiet in the middle of one the biggest parties in the world. Fast forward to last week where I found myself sitting with my friend Katy in her fabulous kitchen having tea, her fudge :-), and just having a good chat when she reminded me of a sermon she heard one Sunday morning during a Christmas season several years ago when our kids were little. The point of it was that we seem to be so consumed with all that we do during our Christmas season each year, that at this time of year we should sometimes remember to just "be still". Those two words and that message has stayed with her all these years and that day last week I heard them too. Just be still...what a concept! Experience the quiet in your life...I wonder if that's possible? I like the idea of beginning and ending another year being still. Our lives are so busy on so many levels and I think sometimes that we forget that being still for a moment just might put things back where they belong. I know what that means for me and I'm betting you have your own definition of "where things belong" too. I like the idea of experiencing more quiet in my life...it certainly doesn't mean not participating in life...just putting some of that "quiet time" at the top of my priority list. I have thought about a few things I'd like to concentrate on in the new year...things like reading more books written by authors that are not so well known, writing more, doing better at keeping in touch with my friends, staying out of my boys lives...wait...scratch that last one...I don't think that's possible and could possibly be a future blog :-)! I want to set reasonable goals and reach them...not just think about reaching them. But most importantly, I will challenge myself to find the quiet in each day and the chance to be still. That will be my most important goal and I like the way that sounds. Happy New Year everyone!

Happy Birthday Timmy!

Tomorrow we celebrate another birthday in our house...he'll be 29 years young. I say young because the word "old" does not and will never apply to this middle child of ours. To say we are proud of him is an understatement of huge proportions. It's easy to say that about all three of our sons. I'd like to think that I can remember every minute from the time they were born to right now ( well, most of it :)..and they have no idea how just their very existence defines time for their dad and me. I don't think any of us can realize the swift passage of time until we experience children...the birthdays, the holidays, the ages in which they experience their highs and their lows. The loss of teeth, the first day of school, the first recital...all time defining. I remember the first time I related an event to either before the birth of one of the boys or afterwards...with each child a new chapter is written in this endless book of the joys of family. Boy, that's rather profound, isnt' it??? What's really profound in my mind is this young man who was seven just yesterday is living his adult life now as only he can...a life in music with his fiancee, Caitlin. It's obvious that everyday is an adventure for him and them and it is a privilege to be on the outside watching them grow into what their world is going to be. I talked to Caitlin the other day and she told me about her schedule this week and after I heard it all I just wanted to go to bed! How do they do it...a question we all have asked ourselves through time. Of course, there are times when I see a mom in the mall with three kids and think the same thing and then I remember...

We have referred to this day as "Timmy's Eve" for many years...don't know how that started...it's just one of those things. Yes, I have done my share of reflecting today in anticipation of tomorrow...again for the 29th time...as I do every September 4th and October 24th as well. December 9th was a great day to celebrate 29 years ago and will always be...Happy Birthday, Timmy! Thank you for being all that you are, for giving us reasons to be happy, and for teaching us how to love all over again.