to a special group of "monarchs"

this is a little love letter to my former 6th graders...who are now all in their 20's...

one of the best things about facebook is, (and i'm grateful to those of you who have 'friended' me) it gives me a chance to see who you have become, to be so proud of watching you all go into the world to use your talents, and reminds me of the incredible journey we took together.

there was something very special about being a class of 17 kids who stayed together all day, and even if at times, it felt too small, it gave us a chance to work things out, to communicate and to grow together. all life skills i see you guys using everyday.

i have to say that you each pushed me to be the best teacher i could be- i knew i owed it to you and you all expected my "a-game", because that is what you were bringing.

our philosophy at the time was "joy in learning" and i'm pretty sure we nailed it. i know i had achieved great joy in my teaching, which is not a small gift. one that sustains me and guides me today.

i just wanted to take a minute and tell you that i'm still rooting for you all, gratified to share in your lives, then and now, and so grateful to know that such fine people are in the world...

memories continued...

forgive the photo of a photo- i don't have a scanner at home...

unfortunately, the person i would most want to see at the reunion won't be there. the pic above is of myself and my other best friend chris hales. we are headed out for a spin in a 67 mustang and my husband says i look like i am drunk with joy over being with chris (they grew to be good friends early in our relationship and marriage). he won't be there because he passed away in 1997 and there is not a day (for real) that goes by that i don't think about him and miss him.

it is true that he's always with me because i carry him in my heart, but i would give anything to feel his arms hug me or to see his awesome smile or to hear him tell me a joke in person,not in my head.

i will tell you that i think he is my youngest son's guardian angel, as there have been several times that i have felt chris' protective presence at times when j.t was close to being injured. (jt was born days after chris passed away)

i have spent most of today looking at some old cards and letters from chris and they are a gift to me- reminding me how very proud he was of me and how much he cared about me.

the thing i admired most about chris, and you would have to have known him to know that this is the total, 100% truth, is his unfaltering kindness. you have never met anyone who acted so completely out of love and was so slow to anger. that is the part of him i try to instill in my children and the part of him i hold close to me.

i miss him terribly...

20 years and many memories

here we are on graduation day- the kids think we all looked alike because of the big bangs and permed hair... i am thrilled to be able to say that both women are still part of my life.

while nan(right) and i have not seen each other in a long time, i hear from her occasionally and i am happy that she has a great family.

kimberly, and for this i am more thankful than i can express, is part of my daily life and has been for over 25 years. i have blogged about her before, but it bears repeating that i think she is fantastic and the best friend a girl could ever have. i'm looking forward to spending the night of the reunion in her company, with her awesome husband.

it is hard for anyone from the outside to understand how many hours we spent together on a daily basis in junior high and high school. we saw the world together, saw the best in each other (and, ok, sometimes the worst- but we got past it!), and love each other deeply.

it is really gratifying to watch your best friend go out into the world, kick butt, have a happy life and raise a beautiful family of her own!
so, here's to you kimberly!

beautiful girl...

c. is two today! what a wonderful two years it has been. we have such fun over the past two days relieving going into labor and getting to the hospital- it was a whole family experience! everybody got up in the middle of the night, got to the car and made the 30 minute trip to the hospital. the kids hung out with me and the mr. while i labored, coaching and rubbing my legs and back. then out into the hall for the delivery (their choice!)...and as soon as she was here (five hours later) back in to meet their long awaited c.

since that early morning she has brought us all closer together. she makes us kinder and more fun. each of us enjoys looking at the world through her eyes. she is a blessing, indeed!

Then there were two...

k. will be 13 on tuesday and i'm just getting ready to make pancakes for the girls as the "slumber" party winds up. another teen in the house!?! how very exciting and rewarding for us, actually. you begin to see, more fully, the adults they are well on their way to becomming. this young lady is creative, smart, mature and wise. she is kind, funny and well liked. truly a blessing in our lives and the lives of others. we are incredibly lucky to have been blessed by her! happy day, coco!

bloggin' the mail, part 2

i am lucky to have married into two really wonderful cousins- both of whom i appreciate beyond measure. so when i won something from amy's blog- i was tickled pink! she has a wonderful eye for detail and color and a strong vision of how to pull items together in such a way that you say to yourself: i. want. that. amy creates wonderful paper items and art using vintage pieces like wallpaper. she is also really talented with fabric & jewlery- you name it. to see how talented she is, visit her shop, please! seriously, click away from here and go, now!

so here is what came in the mail...thanks, amy! xoxo- j.

seriously- the bird's nest?!? love it. and the way each note card is so strikingly different and wonderful?!? don't get me started on the gift tags made of vintage wall paper- i have to go buy a gift right now!

15

today my oldest is 15- obviously it has been on my mind as several blog entries have been about him of late.

when i came out to the living room this a.m. and saw five hulking boy-men sleeping, it made me smile. Joe has chosen his friends well, and isn't that a comment on the kind of man he is becoming? he and his friends amaze me with their talent and the potential they will soon be bringing forth to the larger world: musically gifted, downright funny, technologically savvy, relatively well mannered, kind, kind,kind...

so, joe, you are doing well and today your dad and i are going to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our efforts. you are well on your way to accomplishing any goal you set for yourself and we will be rooting for you the whole way there!

xoxo-mama

*sigh*

My Mom

Where does one begin??? I find it impossible not to get emotional when I think about my mom- her love for me and my family (one husband, six kids, 4in-laws, 14 grandkids) moves me profoundly.

What moves me the most about her is her faithfulness- to us, to God, to her friends. You just don't find anyone truer than her.

The thing I most appreciate about her looks is her beautiful smile. It is my first memory of her and will be the thing I remember forever.

What I love most about her personality is she says what she thinks.

As I have been enjoying having a baby in the house again after so many years, I find myself surrounded by memories of my mom and I- going to church, to Mrs. Lamb's restaurant, her fixing up my room at different points in my life, showing me how to bake, how to iron and how to clean- mostly i am left with the memory of just how much she enjoyed my presence in the world- enjoyed every moment. I am so thankful to have been so welcomed and loved!

So, now I return the favor- somewhat inadequately- on her birthday. I love you mom, I am lucky to spend time with you, you mean the world to me!

Happy Birthday! j.

cathleen- sweet sis in law

Cathleen is my sis-in-law and she is:
loving
creative
beautiful
fashionable
smart
savvy
lovely

happy birthday, cath!

Kimberly

here she is...my friend of 25+ years! I am very blessed to have someone (not related to me) stick around for so long.
intelligent...
attorney fighting for the good guys...
BEAUTIFUL...
mom to two adoreable kids...
funny...LOVELY

we met in 6th grade- I was excited because i could wear clear nail polish to school that day. we worked in the library together, then came musical productions, french classes, tall flag and banner

all the while, hours on the phone, countless notes passed, numerous sleepovers, each others maid of honor

later years took her to Japan and working for Disney, law school, marriage and family
i took a route to college and teaching, marriage and family, as well
and
all the while- friends we stayed and friends we remain! thank goodness!

Cara

let me tell you a bit about Cara McDowell:
-when I am with her, I am at my best!
-we've known each other since 1991 and hit it off immediately
-my husband once danced her into our kitchen and she still has the scar to prove it
-she taught me how to play Set
-some of our best days were spent in the Westchester house eating take out Mexican food and hanging out
-she is K's godmother
-she is the reason we call C., Cara
-she is the teacher I try to be
-I am so happy she has such a full and wonderful life in TX with her awesome husband and darling boys
-when we are together, it is as though not a moment has passed
-she is much,much older than me :)
-when we part company we say "see ya' next week", because otherwise I cry inconsolably at the thought of how long it will be until we are together again
-I miss her every day!

Ten Miler

managed to do 10 miles this week- all by my lonesome! It took me just under two hours, so I am hopeful that I'll be able to do the half in just under three, but we will see. the kids are amazed that I have run nealry 250 miles in order to be able to run 13.1 successfully on Sunday.

this is my early b-day present and it has been quite a journey. i started it because i wanted to prove to myself that i could finish something i started, and to lose weight. well- one goal down(i am finishing) and one to go(have not lost a single ounce). i find great humor in the fact that i qualify for the CLYDESDALE division! Just call me Bessie! I think the absolute best things that have come out of this 20 week journey are: the clothes (comfy and cute), getting to a place where I can actually run without thinking about it, becoming familiar with products like BODY GLIDE

...and most especially: getting to know my running buddy Kathleen on a whole new level. If you ever want to find out how great a person is, run long distances with them. you can't imagine how great it is to have someone who is not competing with you, but rather inspiring you, pushing you and rooting for you. besides, even when I'm slow, she sticks with me, what more can gal ask for??

God Bless America

An early wish that you will enjoy this very special day with friends and family. Be safe and take a moment to remember how very lucky we are to live in this incredible country.

My hope is that we will get back to John Adams' fervent prayer very soon. He had the following carved in the mantel of the White House: "May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." AMEN!

Sweet Sarah

You would have to meet Miss Sarah to believe that she is for real-
kind
beautiful
loving
smart
funny
fashionable
heart on her sleeve
goodness personified

Sarah you are loved more than you'll ever know!

OMG- I did it- but not without help!

I ran 5 miles today with the excellent coaching of Kath! You are a superstar Kath! As I gasped for breath and grabbed my side "chipper" Kath talked me through the whole thing. Isn't great to have friends who support your goals??

More running news: the IPOD is up and running again and it talks to my shoes. The lovely female voice tells me how I'm doing and keeps track of how far I go and my pace.

Later today we will be off to the dreaded mall to find some Joe clothes for the 8th grade dance. Then we will head to Ken and Cheri's 25th anniversary party for some dancing. Hopefully, I'll still be able to move!

Rosie

I have been a fan of Rosie O'Donnell's for a very long time because she is gutsy, honest and funny. She has been out front on the mess in Iraq for several years now and I admire that she has worked to make returning troops' lives better, as well as providing a safe place for preschoolers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She is a woman who walks the walk...the following is from her blog in 2005:

here is what I think

teachers need to be paid more
the war in iraq is wrong
george bush is a disaster - dangerous for the world
racism exisits and sucks
nurses rock and derserve more respect
too few people have too much of the money
and most of them don't want to share
shocking
to me

i believe in democracy
in freedom
in peace equality and art

choose the light
be claimed
declare yourself
with grace if possible

Louisa

Visit this story to find out just a portion of why Louisa C. is so wonderful!

Teacher extraordinaire
Mommy fabulous
Wife- Hot!
Friend amazing

love her deeply...

Karen

Stylish
Savvy
Sophisticated
SMART (understatement)
well-Spoken
Super-Seller
Stellar Mama,Teacher,Friend