An Almost New Year

The next generation.  From Left:  Oren, Celia, (Corey and Sara's kids), Audrey, Penelope, and Violet

The gifts are unwrapped, and piles of paper and ribbon abound.  The girls are giggling at their virtual piles of treasure and toys.  The next few days will be spent exploring and playing with everything in sight, laughing, and possibly some snowy-day movies!

It is overwhelming every year, the generosity of our family and friends.  I am always overtaken by a sense of gratitude for all of the kindness and love given to our family.  These feelings last throughout the year, as December is never the only month where gifts and support are given to us.

As 2013 approaches, I look back on 2012.  I search for meaning and look for inspiration and motivation to succeed in the future.  While the idea of a new year is fresh and allows for an image of a clean slate or a new, blank page, it would be impossible to move forward without looking back to avoid repeating mistakes and to further drive our successes.  I don't believe in making resolutions for the next year, because it makes much more sense to simply start being a better person or adapt more positive habits immediately rather than wait for the turning of the calendar.

Audrey and her little ponies.

'Twas the night before Christmas...

Christmas morning.

From Lest:  Violet, Audrey, and Penelope (Mark and Beth's daughter)

Audrey and Penelope

Audrey, Penelope, and Violet

Violet

Holiday smiles

Violet and Daddy

I look forward to helping my daughters grow and learn and explore this world around them. I am excited to continue running and making myself a healthier person.  I want to travel back to Alaska this year, as well as Arizona to visit family and friends.  I hope to at least explore possible job opportunities as a school administrator, and definitely learn more to become a better classroom teacher.  Reading more books and listening to new music is high on my list, as well as volunteering some time to my community of those in need.  So as the old year blends into the new one, don't forget to look back and take with you those reminders and experiences that will best serve you moving forward.

Going Grey

Yes, I am getting more and more grey hairs. I am also getting some wrinkles around my eyes. No, I will not be purchasing any dye or face cream in the foreseeable future.

This is because I am proud to make it to a point in my life where these signs of longevity actually occur. Many do not get to live long enough to sport my sore right knee or hardened marathon feet. No, these crows feet will keep dancing around my eyes without fear of being blemished by blemish cream.

I plan on living long enough where my daughters look at a picture of me taken today and can't believe how young I looked! These signs of physical wear are also indicators of life lived.

So let those grey hairs come! Let the wrinkles go. Focus on living life and making each day beautiful, rather worrying about a temporary reflection in the mirror and trying to look like a magazine advertisement.

A Time for Quiet

The Hanukkah candles burn-down on this final, eighth night.  The warm glow helps to create a feeling of safety and love.  With the darkness all around, our small family gather near and we hold each other, content to just be and exist in these moments together.

The past two days have been terrible.  While the attacks of September 11th are forever burned into our minds, the shootings in Connecticut seem to strike deeper because the lives of children were taken in the most violent of ways, in a place that has always been associated with safety.

Tonight I play with my daughters, appreciating even more the simple joys of their innocence and happiness and laughter.  The candles are nearly burned out.  The lingering few flames stand strong against the darkness.  An essay states, "Although the eighth night is the exuberant end of this holiday, it also hints at the limitless holiness of every day. Yes, there were eight nights of miraculous oil, but beyond that—every day holds its own miracles."

Mr. Rodgers once told viewers that his mother said to always look for the helpers in times of darkness.  While we can't seem to look away from terrible events, we must also be able to see the people all around who are helping.  The people who are helping to clean-up, helping to bring supplies, helping to comfort, helping to make things safe again.

So the night surrounds us and we cuddle together as the final flickers of flame die out.  I am comforted by the laughter of my daughters and the warmth of their hugs.  Their light now becomes my only concern in this world, for there is no amount of money or oil, or possessions that could ever replace them.

A Light in the Dark

I believe that there is an inherent good in almost all people.  For that same level of good, there is also a level of darkness that humans are capable of.  It is the responsibility of parents and adults to foster the light within each child in order to battle the darkness.  I see the news on television and the internet about human darkness and the terrible things we are capable of doing to each other and the Earth.  I know that many parents want to make their environment safer and "better" for their children, but it is a true challenge to change the social awareness and mentality of people.  To be the change that truly evolves human consciousness is what we must attempt as a whole in order to reach such a goal.

There is a level of basic responsibility that I witness every day that many people are not accepting.  Simple acts such as holding doors for others, saying "thank you" and making eye contact with other human beings are not being fulfilled.  I am sickened by the disgusting number of children I see with a portable screen of some kind in their face as the real world passes by them all around.  A social network becomes a social disability before too long, and children are lacking the ability to interact with other children after too much electronic exposure.

While I am guilty of allowing some cartoons and kids programs to invade my house for continuous play on weekends, I also monitor the shows and discuss them with my daughter.  When she asks a question about something she sees, I answer her honestly and without filter.  I do not hide truths about humans or what people are doing if she asks about them.  To deny a child the truth at an early age is to dilute their foundation of social understanding upon which they are attempting to build their moral compasses.

There is no real end to this thought, only an end to this blog.  There are parts of childhood and interacting with young people that are truly special and amazing and fun.  There are also parts of these exchanges that must be direct and honest, no matter what the situation.  Everyone must work to fuel the lights of truth and honesty and humanity within the youth, otherwise their flames will falter and we will be left in the dark, forced to fumble forward with open, searching hands.

December Begins

It is 57 degrees as I enter this newest post.  There is something about sun and rain in December that makes this place seem almost tropical.  It was even more surreal yesterday when Audrey and her class performed as part of the holiday program at a local middle school.  This was one of those parenting moments where you realize that the roller coaster that is raising children has only just begun.  Watching my oldest daughter trot out with a group of tiny people and perform holiday songs was truly a moving experience.  Realizing that this was the first of many is a joy, and seeing her complete a task that she has been practicing for for weeks was special.  While I wish there was at least one Hanukkah song in there, it was a treat to see the holiday season begin with my daughter, and I could not have been more proud.

Violet at Holiday Program

Audrey bringing in the Holiday Season

Violet decorating the tree.

Audrey decorating the tree.