Dolls and Peonies.

Stella recently turned one. No longer a baby; now a toddler. She received a beautiful doll from a dear friend. I love how the picture turned out with the fresh pink peonies in the background.

Today I'm grateful for my toddler, dolls, birthdays, spring and pink peonies cut from my yard.

Daughters

by Mark Jarmen

May they never be lonely at parties
Or wait for mail from people they haven't written
Or still in middle age ask God for favors
Or forbid their children things they were never forbidden.

May hatred be like a habit they never developed
And can't see the point of, like gambling or heavy drinking.
If they forget themselves, may it be in music
Or the kind of prayer that makes a garden of thinking.

May they enter the coming century
Like swans under a bridge into enchantment
And take with them enough of this century
To assure their grandchildren it really happened.

May they find a place to love, without nostalgia
For some place else that they can never go back to.
And may they find themselves, as we have found them,
Complete at each stage of their lives, each part they add to.

May they be themselves, long after we've stopped watching.
May they return from every kind of suffering
(Except the last, which doesn't bear repeating)
And be themselves again, both blessed and blessing.

Jack Kerouac

"But then they danced down the street like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!" - Jack Kerouac

Today, I'm thankful for brilliant minds and amazing quotes.

Daffodils.

Chase picked these for me. The first ones to come up in our front yard. The only unfortunate part is that he let himself out the front door to pick them. Yes, alone, in the front yard. But he came right back and exclaimed, holding the flowers behind his back, "Mommmmieeeeeee, I have a surprise for you!"

Today, I'm grateful for the first daffodils of the year and that Chase picked them. Just for me.

Balloons.

Balloons used to make me cringe. It seemed as if they were everywhere. At the park. The grocery store. Outside stores. In restaurants. And these seemingly innocent helium ovals resulted in Lucas throwing a magnificent tantrum.

He still has quite the affinity for balloons but they don't make him go to the floor, screaming as though his hand had been cut off.

Today, I'm thankful balloons don't rule my life.

Once Broken.

I purchased this ballerina statue at a ridiculously low price ($10 - 20?) because one of her hands was broken off. I molded a hand out of baking clay and super glued it on. It's not as good as new but I still love it. I love vintage, love giving new life to old things, love putting things where they don't belong.

Today, I'm grateful for creativity in making what's broken better, for thinking outside the decorating box, for the joy I find in it all.

My Voice: Published

Editorial to be published in the Tennessean (http://www.tennessean.com) next week:

I stand strongly against the rezoning of Franklin Special School District. Our son, Lucas Breeding, age 5, has a diagnosis of Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, autism spectrum disorder and apraxia of speech.

He attends the Communication and Social Instruction (CSI) class at Poplar Grove Elementary. The community needs to be aware of this program that exists in our area. For some reason, it seems to be a secret to many. This is something we should celebrate as a part of our community.

The communication and social instruction classroom, offered from pre-k until the 8th grade, has dramatically and positively changed Lucas's and our family's life. One of the many benefits to this program is that Poplar Grove elementary offers a balanced calendar. Children with intellectual disabilities can experience severe regression during long breaks which is what the traditional calendar offers. It can take months to recoup the skills lost during a traditional summer break.

If this rezoning is about social agenda, I have one I'd like to share with you. Part of my personal story is about social justice for those with disabilities. The unfortunate thing is these are members of our community who often aren’t able to advocate for themselves, in fact, some cannot communicate at all.

When Lucas started the Poplar Grove CSI class, he was three years old. He could not walk, talk, feed himself, play appropriately, or make eye contact. He tantrumed and would not follow directions. It was debilitating to us as a family.

Today, Lucas is doing many of these things. This progress has been amazing to watch. We are a part of a study at the University of Louisville for children with Williams syndrome. Each year Lucas has two days of intensive testing followed by a meeting with Dr. Carolyn Mervis, cognitive expert in Williams syndrome and director of the study. When she met Lucas, age of two, she considered him to be on the severe end of Williams syndrome. Devastating to hear. A month ago, when we went for testing, Dr. Mervis emphatically stated that he was no longer in the severe range and has progressed to mild.

We believe much of this progress is because of his team at the Poplar Grove CSI preschool class, a balanced calendar and the commitment from the teachers, therapists and administration. A move from “severe” to “mild” is tremendous.

Poplar Grove has spent 11 years working on their program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as other disabilities. ASD is very specific disorder, hindering communication and social interaction and is growing at an alarming rate. It calls for the specialized instruction and the balanced calendar that PGS provides.

What is the plan for the children that don't have a voice? Are we going to trade one minority for the other in the name of equality?

Nekkid Ice Cream.

Full of excitement to finish his ice cream after bath, Chase couldn't bother with clothes. Something to admire and try to reflect in our own lives.

Today I'm thankful for the happiness small things can bring to small humans. And eating ice cream with no clothes. Not that I've ever tried it.

Goodbye, my friend.

We said goodbye to our 17 year old Border Collie yesterday.  It was much more difficult than I had anticipated.  What a faithful friend she has been to us.  


Today, I am immensely thankful for the 17 years with had with her.  


"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

Sleep.

Today I'm grateful for beautiful, sweet, sleeping children. 

The Place To Be Right Now.

February.  17 degrees.  Sitting right by a roaring fire. 

Today, I'm thankful for a fire in the fireplace.  

Emily.

I'll be the first to tell you that as a mom of three, I can't do it all.  Oh, how I know those moms that can exist and I envy them.  You hear you have to have a village to raise a child.  Part of my village includes our part-time nanny/babysitter, Emily.  She is amazing with our children and has tons of experience.  We've known her for years.  I jump up and down with sheer joy on the days she comes. 

Today, I'm grateful for Emily.

Train Tracks.

As much as I curse these trains and tracks when I trip over them, as I did today, I realize I should be grateful because they most certainly will not always be there. 

Today, I'm grateful for the train tracks constantly underfoot. 

The Crib Crew.

Today, I'm simply thankful for my children.  

Fun Jewelry.

I love this somewhat kitschy yet completely stylish yet totally unaffordable bracelet.  I have no idea why I can't get the photo to sit straight. 


Today, I'm thankful for creative jewelry and the artists who create it.  Even if I can't afford it!

This Land is Your Land, This Land is my Land.

Busy day. 

In our United States, we are allowed freedom of speech, the right to worship at our own descretion, the priveledge of having a government one can complain about and praise according to their beliefs.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills.
Today, I am thankful for my country.

Tubtime.

Just pure and simple clean, fresh, wet-haired baby.

Today, I'm grateful for how completely wonderful a freshly bathed baby is. 

Girlfriends.

What would I do without my girls?  Girlfriends laugh, cry, complain, rejoice and provide much needed support and therapy to one another.  Most of mine are with children as well so conversations are not fluid and easy.  I've noticed there is lots of spelling of words these days (to protect innocent ears).  But somehow, between the "you need to share" and "stop the whining", there is still room for much needed socializing with the amazing and beautiful women in my life.  I cherish these friendships. Each and every one.  Here's to you, all my strong, talented and delightful girlfriends. 

Today, I am immensely grateful for my dear girlfriends.  I simply don't know what I would do without them. 

40 Minutes.

It rarely happens. 40 minutes to myself.  Nowhere to go, no one to drop off or pick up.  Just me.  And I chose to use that time to get a pedicure.
Today I'm thankful for the small yet precious time to myself.  And pretty toes to boot.  Well, maybe not pretty since the polish is black.  More rock and roll!

Pink Clouds.

Me:  Chase, come eat your dinner, I tell him for the third time.
Chase:  But Mommy, come look at these pink clouds!  Pink is my favorite color! 

Sometimes, in my frustration that my kids won't do what I tell them to do, I forget that they may be actually doing something much more important, like admiring the January sunset, clouds glowing and lighting up the world with a hazy pink color. 

Today, I am thankful that I have someone to make me stop and notice lovely pink clouds.  And that pink is Chase's favorite color. 

Vintage Theater Seats.

I just bought this row of vintage theater seats off Craigslist.  They're perfect for the kids to sit in and watch TV in our kitchen.  They love them, I love them!  
I've only purchased a handful of things from Craigslist but every time I've met the most interesting people and come away with a perfect household item.  Yay for Craigslist and yay for vintage anything!  
Today, I'm grateful for my new theater seats and Craigslist.  

Words.

Lucas is counting now and loves numbers.  His articulation is poor but still, you can understand he's counting to 10!  
Today, I am grateful for Lucas's growing vocabulary and verbal expression.

Snow Day.

We haven't had a full week of school since mid-December.  Jeez, I don't know if we've had more than five days of school total, between holidays and snow and sick days.  And today, yet another snow day.  Our family does better when we're in a routine and everyone goes about their business.  Being stuck in the house is usually not how we thrive.

This morning Chase greeted me wearing his hat, coat and boots but no underwear or pants, "I'm ready to go play in the snow now."  It reminded me that although the snow disrupts our schedule, maybe that's okay.  Snow is magical to children.  

Today, I'm thankful for the excitement snow brings to children.  And that ours is melting quickly.  

8:00 p.m. Knitting.

I'm making a bath mat.  Kind of boring, I know.  But to sit in this chair and do something rhythmic and monotonous, the kids in bed, is something I look forward to daily.


It would probably be a lot easier to write a blog about the daily struggles and complaints.  The reason I'm writing this is to try to remove myself from those easy thoughts and challenge myself to live a life of gratitude.  I don't come by gratitude naturally. 


Everyone who said three children would be a lot was right.  Three kids under the age of five.  One with special needs, one with an extremely strong-will and an infant.  I'm not the crafty mom.  I'm not the mom who bakes or makes chicken pot pies or who keeps up with the laundry.  I'm definitely not the mom that's going to make you wonder "how does she do all that?".  I'm just the mom who is doing the best I can.  I'm not going to tell you I love my job.  I love my kids.  But my job is the most difficult thing I've ever done.


So, here's to knitting a bath mat when the house is quiet and my feet are propped.  Today, I'm thankful for knitting.

Meal Swap.

Each week, two friends and I make enough food for all three families and then exchange.  I make a large amount of whatever I'm making and get two meals my friends have made.  That means there are two fewer meals I have to think about and prepare.  It makes the week easier. It makes life easier.  


Today, I'm grateful for meal swap.  


Recipe:
Chipotle Sloppy Jens


Ingredients
Cooking spray

• 2 1/2  cups  presliced Vidalia or other sweet onion
• 1  (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• 1  pound  ground sirloin
• 1/2  cup  prechopped green bell pepper
• 2  tablespoons  tomato paste
• 1  teaspoon  kosher salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1  (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 5  (1 1/2-ounce) hamburger buns, toasted

Preparation

1. Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; cover and cook 8 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; set aside.

2. Remove 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from can; set aside. Remove 1 chipotle chile from can; chop and set aside. Reserve remaining chiles and adobo sauce for another use.

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add beef to pan; cook 4 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add bell pepper to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in chopped chipotle chile, adobo sauce, tomato paste, and next 3 ingredients (through tomato sauce); cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon 1/2 cup beef mixture over bottom half of each bun, and top evenly with onions and top half of bun.

Plate with pickle chips and a simple slaw.

Little Girl in a Pink Tutu.

I was apprehensive about having a girl.  Having already had two boys, I felt that was my duty in life...to raise boys.  I was afraid of raging mother/teenage-daughter fights and issues that seem so beyond me now.  This little girl has blessed me immensely and shown me a different kind of love, one I have never felt.  A love that glows and grows and amazes me in every way.

We played dress-up for the first time today and she wore a pink tutu.  Today I am grateful for my little girl in the pink tutu.

Scarlet.

Today I am grateful for our almost 17 year old border collie, Scarlet.  Her health problems are mounting and we feel the end is near.  What a faithful friend she's been.  Through college, many moves and through the birth of our three children, Scarlet has been here for us in this crazy journey of life.  

Today I am grateful for Scarlet.