You Matter. They Matter. We Matter.

This has been an extraordinary year, a year of extremes, of tests of endurance and mettle. Politics seem to be consuming us; glued to the news we have held our breath wondering what was going to hit us, and through it all, I believe we’ve forgotten to remember all the good we have in our lives.  That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. There will always be challenges but when we live from fear the rest seems to fade away and pale in comparison. For us, life seemed to fly by in its usual hectic pace until the last day of summer. Fall came in with a vengeance. One moment I was setting up my paints on the kitchen table getting ready for the weekend and the next, I was running for my life into the basement as a tornado hit us head on. The last 3 months of the year have gone by in a blur — pure strength of will getting me through a lot of it. My husband, our kids and friends got me through the rest. People I hadn’t seen since car pool days were walking to our home offering us a ...

New Year's Day. Everything was so still. Usually there are workmen inside and out repairing, plastering, painting, demolishing — whatever has to get done and can be done right now. We went to the house to take pictures now that it's still, to reflect on all that's been done and, well, just to visit. I am so used to be there multiple times a day that not going is almost painful. The silence is deafening especially as all I want is for the work to be done. I know. Patience. I tell myself that every day. The workmen have gone above and beyond with how hard they've been working in horrible weather conditions too. The lull gave us a chance to go through the rooms and take it all in without getting in the way. We discovered yet another damaged window and left a note with arrows showing where. Possibly another delay for other things to get done while we wait for windows. I'll know tomorrow when I speak with the builder. I am glad the workmen took the time between...