12/27/2005 - HAPPY HAPPY...

Well, another year about to come to a close. Christmas is now behind us and the new year just days away. So many thoughts and feelings have been going through my mind lately. The Christmas season was great, and it was so fun to celebrate with my wife and kids AND my boyfriend all together under one roof. We also had some friends over so it was a full house!

I was able to send out cards to many long-standing friends, and send email messages and phone text greetings to some other for whom I don't have a mailing address. I'm sure there are still others whom I missed, and to them I say "Happy, Happy Ho Ho!!!" I hope that everyone's Christmas was blessed and that the coming year is filled with opportunities to do more of what we want to do with our lives!

We've had our share of health issues with my daughter dealing with Crohn's disease that doesn't seem to want to rest. The rest of use battling IBS or migraines along with other minor maladies that just make living and working that much more of a challenge. All in all our health has been good - and I pause to think of friends who have HIV, AIDS, Cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. I pray a special prayer for them. It is a prayer of peace, of healing and of love. I've often said to family and friends that I am a great nurse but a terrible patient. If I'm caring for someone who is ill - I will do pretty much whatever I can to make them comfortable and to make sure their needs are met even before they voice them. But, when I'm I'll - a lot of the time I just want to be left alone. I'm trying to be less like that - and more open to allowing others to provide comfort to me. It is just not how I was raised and is so foreign to me that it feels wrong. I say this because I know other people who are ill, who have a hard time facing others or allowing themselves to "need" others in their illness. I'm trying to be more understanding of that and find creative ways to be compassionate and available to them.

For those of us who have been experiencing good health - may it continue into and through the new year!

There is a lot on which I can reflect from 2005, and I probably will in an upcoming blog. In the meantime I just want to send out warm wishes of love and peace to all who read this. May you have peace in your lives, in your heart and in your world.

With all my love and hope for the coming year!

WOOF ya later!
- bbw

12/05/2005 - ON THE RUN...

No, I'm not trying to hide from the holiday crowds and the crazy mall traffic - although I will avoid them as much as I can... but I am moving forward in life at a rather quick clip! This past week and weekend were full of activities and it doesn't look like things will slow down for some time.

My bf and I participated in an art auction this past weekend, both contributing an original piece for sale. All time, supplies and artwork were donated by about 100 local artists, including five really good bands who supplied live music for the auction audience. There were also countless volunteers to help get the venue ready by cleaning, setting up tables, serving drinks - you name it! The event was a total success with amazing attendance and it raised over $11,000 for the Children's Health Fund. My wife, kids and other friends were in attendance and really enjoyed viewing the art and taking in the experience!

We also did our family Christmas cards in our typical family tradition. To make it more of a fun thing - we always go to a local restaurant early on a Saturday morning and order food to eat while we all write out cards, share stories and just basically have a fun time. We also include friends who want to participate and this year my bf came with us.

After doing our cards, we attended the Turtle Creek Chorale holiday concert. This was a first for my children and they really enjoyed the show!

As we get closer and closer to Christmas and New Years, our schedules get tighter and tighter. There are several evenings where I am double-booked and still trying to figure out how to be in two places at one time! No matter! I'm not going to stress out about it and will only do as much as I can. :)

This year the holidays will be somewhat different than in the past few years. Since our last church disbanded and since I'm no longer attending the new church - many of those old friends are no longer in touch with me or with my family. We are still sending them Christmas cards - but I will miss seeing their faces and sitting down to pot-lucks with them. I wish them all the best for their holidays and the coming year. Saying goodbye to the old usually means that we are also saying hello to something new. This year, my bf will participate in our family traditions, feasts and celebrations. I'm not sure how comfortable or awkward any of that will be, but if Thanksgiving is any indication - we are all going to have a wonderful, comfortable, very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

I'm more excited about the holidays this year than I have been in about 4 years... I hope you are excited too!

WOOF ya later!
- bbw