Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 30th- A few of my favorite things...
~Moonlight shadows on the fresh snow
~Seeing the stars twinkling in the cold crisp air
~Finishing by watching clouds race by a haloed moon...winter beauty
Dec 29th- A few of my favorite things...
~The sun setting a little further north on the western horizon each night
~Christmas tree lights reflecting on the wood floor
~Stepping outside to find a dusting of snow has coated everything, returning the night to a more wintry landscape

Monday, December 29, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things



Dec 28th- A few of my favorite things...
~Making and trying new foods: Kumquat-Orange Marmalade (Paddington Approved)
~Watching the girlies having fun throwing stones into rushing waters of Nine Mile Creek in Marcellus
~Thea looking at the rocks at her feet by the creek and excitedly exclaiming "Fossil!!!" and she did find a fossil rock 

Saturday, December 27, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 27th- A few of my favorite things...
~Meeting up with friends at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse-such a lovely day!
~Listening to Thea talk about each animal and try her hand at animal sounds she knows to "talk" to them
~Watching the sunlight make ripply waves of light as it bounces off the water surface at the penguin exhibit

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 26th- A few of my favorite things...
~Enjoying the sunshine, shadows and warmth for the day after Christmas
~Girlies getting to use their bubbles they got as gifts (and not freeze)
~Watching skateboarders take advantage of the snowlessness to try out their new Christmas boards under the light of the parking lot tonight.

Friday, December 26, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things...




Dec 25th- A few of my favorite things...
~Christmas Breakfast before presents, a relaxed start to the day
~Playing with the girlies with their gifts
~Listening to Lissie "read" Alice in Wonderland to Sully our cat, that story always did sound a bit strange, but her version was quite interesting...especially the part where Alice got in her car and went with her cat places... 

Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Habit of a Merry Christmas


The key to always having Merry Christmas 
is
 to realize this holiday 
was never about 
you,
...your gifts,
...your tree,
...your family.
It's about Jesus...
....and that He came,
bringing light to a world 
in darkness!
He is the gift
that came to 
to die on a tree 
made into a cross
to make 
you part of His family.
Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 23rd- A few of my favorite things...
~My mom is home from the hospital
~Wrapping presents, thinking about each recipient
~Listening to the girls excitement over the presents they picked put for each other, barely being able to hold the Christmastide secrets 

Monday, December 22, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 22nd- A few of my favorite things...
~Windswept snow swirls on the ice-covered ponds next to Onondaga Lake
~Bright blue skies after over a week of clouds
~Friends who are there when life gets crazy

Sunday, December 21, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 21st- A few of my favorite things...
~More daylight after today now that the light pendulum has swung the other way
~Watching my girls ring handbells at church today 
~The girls excitement at lighting 4 candles at dinner tonight 

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 20th- A few of my favorite things...
~Finding Spanish clementines are back at Wegmans!
~The scent of Spanish clementine peels...the scent of Christmas to me!
~Tasting the distinct taste of Spanish clementines...bringing back the memories of Christmases past 

Friday, December 19, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 19th- A few of my favorite things...
~Watching a hawk soar to his perch
~Watching the cloud of starlings burst forth from the field in time with the Christmas music
~Watch dozens of gulls circling the river looking for a meal in the high waters

Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 18th- A few of my favorite things...
~Stepping out of physical therapy to hear "We Three Kings",
~"Good Kind Wenceslas" and
~"I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" playing from the church bells in Baldwinsville as the snow swirls around....sometimes you just have to stop and a enjoy the moment 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 17th- A few of my favorite things...
~Making Christmas cookies with my girlies
~Watching their reactions to different kinds of Christmas cookies...some like 'em, some sort of like 'em and then there is Liss who will let others have hers (not a cookie girl)...
~Practicing the handbells for Sunday and Christmas Eve service...I love music and Christmas is a time to bask in it 

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 16th- A few of my favorite things...
~Christmas shopping with Moriah
~Finding just the right gifts 
~Watching the girlies find a spot in the living room just to sit and watch the tree 

Monday, December 15, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things



Dec 15th- A few of my favorite things...
~Thea amusing the residents of the nursing home today by taking a fancy to one of the therapy baby dolls...she really loved that doll and was sad to part ways with it
~Lissie's LOVE of writing and spelling words...she took a pencil and paper to bed with her tonight...budding writer perhaps?
~Thea's stocking to compliment the rest of our stockings . Thank you Aunt Nancy!








Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 14th- A few of my favorite things...
~Sparrows hopping through the yew bush looking for a dry place to rest
~Turkeys congregating at the edge of the snow covered field
~Crows going about their daily business seemingly oblivious to the drizzle

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things...

Dec 13th- A few of my favorite things...
~Listening to the girlies tell me of their adventures from their morning sledding
~Homemade chili to warm up with
~Chris running the "It's a Wonderful Run" today in Seneca Falls! So proud of you! 

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 12th- A few of my favorite things...
~Red staghorn sumac laced with snow like upside-down ice cream comes
~Giant white pines ladened with snow
~First of the snowmobile tracks lining the trail for the season...signs of happy snowmolibers!

Friday, December 12, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 11th- A few of my favorite things...
~Fielding questions from the residents about my lovely corps de ballet..."Yes, all 5 are my daughters "
~Really good snow tires to navigate side-streets today...thanks Chris!
~Meeting the wonderful caretakers (Nurses, aides, social workers, etc) at each facility...you do such a great job day-to-day...it shows! 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 10th- A few of my favorite things...
~Celebrating the 4th anniversary of Adoption Day with my own sparkly sea star, Shaniah. God has blessed us with you! Your loving spirit blesses so many!
~Sharing my favorite version of A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott with my girlies tonight
~Fixing up costumes (that have been well danced in) for 2 shows for tomorrow

The Legend of the Starfish
A vacationing businessman was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy.
Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned.
The boy walked slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean.
The businessman, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, "I have been watching what you are doing, son.
You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Surely such an industrious and kind-hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time.
Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?"
The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one”.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 10

Winslow loves how even a small string of lights...


 ...can transform a humble dwelling into a beautiful place.

Come to think of it...
...when He came, 


...Jesus did that, too!



The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 9th- A few of my favorite things...
~Getting Christmas cards in the mail
~Seeing cars decorated for Christmas
~Taking different routes coming and going to see different Christmas lights 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 9


Winslow loves to bake cookies at Christmastime  
(well anytime actually).
But the cookies at Christmas 
are extra special.
They are handmade with
love,
sprinkled with colors 
as 
festive at the light on the tree...


A time where families can remember
how great it feels to do things together...
....like baking...
....and eating!
Take time today to do something as a family...
and make new Christmas memories!


Winslow thinks this is the perfect place to be...
He will guard the cookies....

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 8th- A few of my favorite things...
~Seeing new trees planted throughout Syracuse parks
~Trying to explain why people are buried at a park (Rose Hill Cemetery)
~Remembering my fascination with the old tombstones throughout the upper park when I first "discovered" this park as a kid with my mom 

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 7th- A few of my favorite things...
~Getting ingredients for cookie baking, round one!
~Sunlight streaming through the windows onto Lissie's hair
~The excitement over the moon, as little girlies clamor to the widow to watch it rise

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 8

While Winslow does not usually occupy the tree for Advent,
Winslow loves looking at the tree ornaments, reminders of Christmas past. The bell ornaments were made by Chris' Great-Grandma Borst and by his mother Nancy Peters. The icicle ornaments were made by Moriah when she was little. Winslow thinks they are smile-reminders on ornament hooks! 


The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 6th- A few of my favorite things...
~The spirit of generosity and joy at a baby shower. I had a great time celebrating little Jacob and his mommy Andrea!
~Winning a Dunkin' Donuts gift card 
~Spending the day with my biggest, always amazed at her big heart! 

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 7


Winslow thinks that Charles Schulz 
got it right nearly
50 years ago 
when he wrote
A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Schultz thought that true meaning of Christmas 
was getting lost in the 
busyness ....
and business
of Christmas.
He used Linus to set the record straight....

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone, who knows what Christmas is all about?!

Linus: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please?

And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

#occupyadvent

Friday, December 5, 2014

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 6

Winslow loves looking at candles in windows.
They remind him 
to get ready for His coming,
 the Light of the world, 
Jesus!

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 5

Winslow likes wreaths hung on doors.
The special touches each owner gives to them
is like a little glimpse of who lives behind the door.
Take time to get to know 
your neighbors this Advent season!

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 4

Winslow thinks the colorful lights
Add a special sparkle
to any Christmas tree!

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 5th- A few of my favorite things...
~Hugs and High Fives from little kids...and Gwynnie who does her own greeting of "Piggy Tail"
~Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Sauce on pork steaks...mmmm....
~Lissie's excitement over putting on homemade ornaments on the tree

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 4th- A few of my favorite things...
~Unexpected help that came and helped me get things ready for Friday. Thanks John 
~Seeing the moonlight glisten on the frost covered grass
~Excited girlies who realized they can see their breath in the night air

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things




Dec 3rd- A few of my favorite...
~Moriah's "groupie" following at St Camillus...one lady knows all the girls by name 
~Felicity's excitement at seeing and greeting the therapy dog today at St Camillus...so thankful her fears are waning
~Coming in the room to find that Thea is sweetly rocking baby Jesus 


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 2nd- A few of my favorite things...
~Watching a deer dash into our neighbor's yard (appropriate for today's village tree lighting)
~New snow tires that make all the difference in icy, slushy driving
~Being struck by the thought: Our village Christmas tree is lit up by the Veterans' Memorial in town-- a reminder that some never made it home for Christmas...thanks again Veterans and their families for your sacrifice

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 3


Winslow loves the countdown 
to Christmas because
the best gift
is at the
end: 


Jesus! 

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 2

Winslow thinks 
that a 
stocking with your 
own initial on it
is a tangible reminder
that God of the universe
knows your name 
and has a gift 
just for you....
....his Son!

Winslow's Advent Musings: Occupy Advent- Day 1

Winslow thinks 
it is good to 
take time 
to be more mindful 
of the season...
...Jesus...

don't rush and miss the wonder!

#occupyadvent

Monday, December 1, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 1st- A few of my favorite things...
~Watching the residents light up to the sounds of Christmas music...and sing along! Great show today girls!
~Deciding how to arrange the Christmas decorations each year
~Watching my neighbors make their houses and trees sparkly each year

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Nov 30th- A few of my favorite things...
~Celebrating the first Sunday of Advent with my family
~Chris Peters getting my artificial fireplace working...it looks so pretty!
~Getting things ready for the Christmas shows...Let the Season Begin! 


The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Nov 29th- A few of my favorite things...
~Homemade turkey noodle soup
~Gwynnie teaching Thea the sounds of the animals around the manger scene
~Seeing which traditions and decorations the girlies remember from year to year 

Saturday, November 29, 2014

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Nov 28th- A few of my favorite things...
~Tree hunting with the girlies (and Winslow too)
~Watching Thea get a ride on the tree tarp (too hard to walk in the snow)
~Decorating the tree with the biggest to the littlest...each just as excited