Daffodils and Pot Holes

"When it's springtime in Alaska, it's forty-below." That's not quite how it is here. March is the odd month running warm and cold. We have icy mornings and melting afternoons. The days are getting longer than the nights and Easter is closer this year than ever! I guess we really can't call March springtime, but I do think spring quite a lot these days, and there are signs appearing.

For those of us who can't wait for the crocus, and tulips to emerge from the snow, we buy daffodils at the local grocery store. The idea is to buy them tightly closed with their "brown paper wrappers" still intact. It takes them about a day to come into full bloom and then you have the sunshine yellow and smell of spring right at your desk for several days! O joy! This makes me love those little trumpeters of spring....my favorite flower of March!

Pot holes are also a sure sign of spring. The thawing and freezing reeks havoc with our streets! The road to where my children attend school crumbled this month. Yes, crumbled would be the correct term. Small breaks in the pavement soon joined with other breaks and quickly became "Pot Hole Heaven", a name so dubbed by the morning radio DJs. It's been rumored that some of these pot holes have no bottoms...and neither do the cars who have dared not slow down for them!

My son TJ recently uttered these words of wisdom to his impatient mother who accused him of wasting her time: "Time is only a measurement for growth or decay, nothing more." I have to admit, it made me think. It seems the changing of seasons makes this even more real. Not only the seasons made evident by the tilt of the earth to the sun, the dirtiness of my car or even the grass beginning to show, brown as it is, along side the roads, but in the people I know as well. Just this week I have had sad news of three, no, four people I know or are acquainted with who have passed away. One elderly gentleman was the Rev. Harold Kennedy, who was for many years my pastor. He watched me grow up on church pews, heard me plunk away at hymns and learn to play choruses by ear, he performed my wedding and dedicated my babies. Another link to my childhood laid to rest. Decay. A measurement of time. Also this month we had news a new baby girl, born to my daughter's friend. A new little bundle of spring (I voted for the name Daffodil, it was vetoed). My little grandson, Julian, has new teeth and is beginning to reach for teethers, blankies and hair! Sure signs of life continuing as it should. Growth. A measurement of time.

In my endeavor to stay as "young" as possible heath wise, I try to keep a positive and "young" outlook on life. As time inevitably passes, I try to avoid the pot holes and smell the daffodils, and yet I realize both are a part of that growth and decay that marks the passing of time. The Apostle Paul makes the comment "...We never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day." With the passing of time, my daffodils will surrender to decay, as did the road, and try as I may, my body is slowing losing the battle (Ouch! My ankle hurts), but my spirit can experience everlasting spring when I "fix my gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:16, 18 NLT

Me & The Queen

Oh, Royal Joy! My youngest daughter was voted Homecoming Queen of her highschool! What a shock for this mom who didn't even dream of attending the Homecoming let alone being queen. Rosie was voted in on the basis of grades, Christian Character and of course popularity. She is also on the Varsity Basketball team which adds to her visibility. She is a well rounded (character wise) young lady and her dad and I are so proud of her. Congrats to you Queenie! Love from who else? The Queen Mother! XXOO

SADD? Not Me!

The days are getting longer here in the far northern regions. Not terribly noticeable by the human eye at this point, but any extra rays is a good thing. By the end of February we will be having 4:00 shadows at 2:00 instead of noon. March will bring a little warmth with that sunshine, but we'll still have single digit temps in the morning. April, ahhhh April! That is what we all live for...slush and gray everything, but it is spring!

During this time of year, many of us suffer from SADD, otherwise known as Seasonal something or other (I can never remember), one of the symptoms is loss of memory (joke), and depression. It seems we require a certain amount of sunshine to keep our serotonin levels up and of course that vitamin D thing is a necessity. However, quite often we Alaskans leave for work, school etc. while it is still dark and return home in the dark. We become sunshine deficient! We get lazy, grumpy, jumpy, hungry, and we have dreams of Hawaii, Mexico and Cruises. Ultra violet SADD lights are a source of help and they can be purchased at any department store and Costco carries them at times.

My husband thinks I have this disorder. Of course I assured him rather loudly that I am NOT SAAD and please leave me alone with my pillow, chips and electric blanket! Okay, I'm not that bad. I probably could even pass a SAAD test (is there such a thing?). Nevertheless, I am glad the days are longer and the sunshine is out today! Think spring, flowers and little baby ducks, spring is just around the next 8 to 10 corners.

How Many Books Can YOU Read In a Year?

A few years ago I started logging the books have read. I write them in a pretty journal given to me by my youngest son. I have been averaging about 40 books a year not counting the Bible. I have read health books, romance novels, poetry (good and bad), self help books and many genres to numerous to mention. I am becoming well rounded in my reading which is a comfort since I tend to be "well rounded" in other areas as well, thus my lifetime membership at the local weight loss club. However, my stacks of unread books continues to grow. Library sales, gifts, downloaded coupons that are to good to pass up, all contribute to my bookish addiction! My New Years Resolution will be to read all my new books before buying new...I'll never make it!

If you will notice, I have added a new page element to my blog (that was an accomplishment for me). I will be posting the books I am currently reading. I would love to know YOUR favorites and what you are reading also. It is a treat to find new authors, explore new genres and share favorites.

Hope your New Year brings you many happy hours of reading!

Merry Christmas

Today is Christmas Eve. I like Christmas Eve even better than Christmas Day. The expectation is still in the air, the spirit of giving is abundant, and I still get to look forward to all that wonderful food. Christmas Evening I will be picking up wrapping paper, making appointments to take kids for gift exchanging at the various stores, and feeling guilty and bloated after eating "the whole thing!" Yes, Christmas Eve is the best!

This Christmas is extra special since we have a new grand baby to spoil. He has the biggest and most gifts under the tree. No one begrudges him this special treat as we were all at one time the "youngest" and got the lion's share of the gifts. He also makes us remember how amazing it is that a little boy was born in a stable and laid in a manger. We do our best to make everything clean, warm and soft for Julian, but Jesus had meager comforts as a baby. Yet he had angels singing, shepherds shouting and wisemen kneeling. Amazing!

I hope your Christmas Eve evening is everything you hope for, your Christmas Day is a shining success and your New Year the best ever.

Pictures of the Little Prince

Here is little Prince Julian. He's already changed so much. He is bigger, rounder and sweeter than ever. Jordan and Jonae are so patient and good with him.

GRANDma

Oh, joy in the extreme! I am now a grandma! Who knew that I would find it so exciting? Probably all you other grandmas who have pictures in your purses and Christmas shopping lists that reach to the floor. I guess I heard that it would be bliss, but never really believed it until now.

My son Jordan and his lovely wife Jonae have a new baby boy, born the day before Thanksgiving. So appropriate since we are so thankful for him. His name is Julian and weighed in at 6 lbs, 7 oz. I wish I had a picture of him with me but alas I'm not where one is available. If I could just download an image from my heart you would know how perfect he is.

Thank you, Jordan and Jonae, for such a lovely gift. Thank you for being near enough for me to plan moments to be with the three of you during the years to come. It doesn't make me feel old, it makes me feel GRAND!