Hair Things

Guess how many hair do-dads May (my 8 year old) put in my hair last night as I read to the girls before bed. Go ahead -- take a guess.

Give up?

65! SIXTY-FIVE!

When I was finished reading, I sat on the couch and took them out.

It took a while.

-Holly

Before I go on ...

Before I go on, I just have to say how much I enjoy the comments you guys leave on this blog! With your words and reactions, you constantly lift me up in laughter and in love.

Thank you.

-Holly

People Helping People

I recently made a list of Goals/Intentions with my dear friends Megan and Lori. One of my major goals is to be present and aware in today, rather than wasting time in the past ("times were so much better back when ..." or "I shoulda woulda coulda ...") or worrying about the future ("what if ...??!!" 0r "this horrible thing may happen ..."). By being in the past or future, I am throwing away today. I don't want to do that.

But, this is a HARD goal/intention for me. So much of this behavior feeds Depression. And, we all know how MUCH Depression likes to FEED FEED FEED upon me!!!!!!!!!! Insatiable. Sigh.

So. Today I found myself having a particularly hard time keeping my "Be Present in Today" goal/intention. I made a CHOICE to use a tool that I know works:

GET OUT OF MY SELF.

When I take the mirror down from SELF and start looking outward, it is a sure cure for Depression, living in past/future, worrying about things that I cannot NOW change or act upon.

About that very moment (I kid you not) I got an email from my close and personal friend, Michelle Obama (OK, we don't really know one another, but whoever put together their email contact system really knows how to make it seem as if we are friends). My friend Michelle Obama told me about this site:

http://www.usaservice.org/page/content/eventsearch

I went there and found a way to GET OUT OF MYSELF any time I want to, or have time to! And, you can, too. You can search by date or area to find ways to be of service during the upcoming MLK Day weekend.

If you are looking for some service or volunteer opportunities. please go take a look. It is not for Dems or Repubs ... it is for caring people. And, I know for sure that is YOU. Go see.

There are on-line events, group events, events that serve YOU as an individual (looking for employment? Go see! There are some job fairs listed.), on-going efforts, EVERY manner of service and volunteer effort you could imagine! Wow. Just wow.

If you find something great, and I know you IRL (in real life) please do take a moment to email me and let me know what hit you, and how you will serve and be served this Martin Luther King Day (or during that weekend).

-Holly

Christmas Dinner and Birthday Celebrations

So. If you are looking for my Petition to God (thank you) go back two posts older (January 2).

We went to the home of my oldest sister and her husband (Ricki and Jerry) for Christmas dinner, and the birthday celebrations for me (50), my nephew (OK, great-nephew) Kedus (4) and my middle daughter Irene (6). It is GREAT to have kids to celebrate birthdays with me! When we put the candles on the cake, it looked like we were turning 6504! LOL! Love it.

Our family made the cake as our contribution to the family dinner. Ricki and Jerry worked SO HARD to make this a lovely day and yummy dinner -- and it was!

Ricki and Jerry's son (my nephew) and his wonderful family (wife and 6 year old son) were there from North Carolina. We had not seen them since my Daddy died in early 2006, so it was GREAT to have them for Christmas!!

Here are LOTS of photos from the day. I will load them in small size and you may click on any that you want a larger view of.