Day 17: Happiest Year in Elementary School

Today's post for Blogember - the commitment to blog each day during the month of November is about choosing my happiest year in Elementary school and why.

Elementary school is much of a blur of school and teachers that largely run together, with the exception of a few moments that stand out with ringing clarity.

The year I was in second grade was marked with another change to Division Street School and blessed with Mrs. Barbara Chubb as my teacher. I'm not sure I'd call it idyllic, yet by all other signs it appeared to be a quite normal school year. Until my father 'got sick' in February and died in early June before the end of that school year.

And then the world changed. Immediately.

I recall an instant change in responsibility and how life as I knew it would never, ever be the same.

I would not call that my happiest year. I would call that my most life-changing. Would first grade be my happiest because it was the last school year I had my father as a part of my life? At the time I didn't know that … who would think THIS could be the last time? The last report card, school project, Christmas concert he'd ever see from me?

I'm not sure I had a happiest year in Elementary School. But I don't look back with dread. What I do is ensure that my second grader is having an awesome year and I am loving every project, concert, book report and teacher conference that is part of the school year!

So my happiest year in Elementary school is my daughter's - this year! I don't compare myself to her, as so many things are different - and she's very much enjoying this time in her life. I love her fully and completely - for everything she is - and all that she hopes to be one day! Those are my happiest days!

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Month of Miracles

photo credit: http://marcestes.com/2011/02/11/miracles-the-need-for-the-hour/ In the tradition of continuing the commitment to writing each day, I am beginning the month of December as I have for many years…. with a passage from Simple Abundance about December. "December's gifts - custom, ceremony, celebration, consecration - come to us wrapped up, not in tissue and ribbons, but in cherished memories. This is the month of miracles. The oil that burns for eight days, the royal son born in a stable, the inexplicable return of Light on the longest, darkest night of the year. Where there is Love, there are always miracles. And where there are miracles, there is great joy. Gratefully, we weave the golden thread of .. joy in our tapestry of contentment. At last we embrace the miracle of authenticity, changing forever how we view ourselves. Our daily round. Our dreams. Our destinies. Days we once called common, we now call hol...

Day 5: Share your favorite recipe

Today's blog for the Blogember challenge is a favorite recipe. This one we saw on the Food Network being made by Giada DeLaurentis. It's absolutely delicious. And for me the very best part is this is one of 3 dishes that my husband considers 'his' and will make it on a weekend for us to enjoy! I just love that! Linguine with Shrimp and Lemon Oil Ingredients For the lemon oil: 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 lemon, zested For the pasta: 1 pound linguine pasta 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 shallots, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 16 ounces frozen shrimp 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons) 1 lemon, zested 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 ounces arugula (about 3 packed cups) 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Directions For the lemon oil: Combine the olive oil and the lemon zest in a small bowl and reserve. For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm...

Day 18: Happiest Moment of my Life

For Day 18 of the Blogember challenge to blog each day during the month of November, today's topic is the Happiest Moment of my Life. Hmmm. … this could get interesting! I believe that life is an array of moments strung together creating who we are and what we stand for. And during those moments we encounter joy, pain, disappointment, sorrow, glee and a miriad of emotions and experiences along the way. Certainly the ones that stand out for me are the moment my daughter was born. She was truly a gift from God - a miracle - a blessing - and long-awaited at that! She's the life that my husband and I created from the love that we share. And along that same vane, when I married my husband was an incredibly happy moment as well. We didn't marry until age 35, each bringing our histories and patterns into the life we chose to share together. It was a long road up until then, and now it's a shared one! Other happiest moments: * Climbing...

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