Virginia Whitaker
February 27, 1924 - December 25, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
December...Part 2
My December...
So many joys, celebrations, events. But painful losses and hurt, too. I know we are shaped, defined even, by our struggles. Through them we can truly appreciate our countless blessings.
December 2 - Beth R's birthday. Beth was my best friend growing up; primarily during my elementary school years. I'd love to reconnect with her. It's been years!
December 3 - My husband's brother Roger and his wife Vivienne's 26th Wedding Anniversary. Happy Anniversary!
December 6 - My precious niece was born on this day in 1973. One of the happiest days of my (then) young life! Happy Birthday, Tamara!
December 6 - The day my father-in-law passed away, 8-years ago. He's still dearly missed.
December 10 - My wedding anniversary! Definitely one of my most favorite days of the year!
December 10 - Alan W's birthday. A wonderful, dear man I'm blessed to have as a family member.
December 15 - My youngest nephew was born on this date in 1997. My youngest son arrived 3 months later and the two are great friends in addition to being cousins. Happy Birthday, Andrew!
December 19 - My husband, Kenneth's, birthday. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! I Love You!
December 20 - Another niece, Michelle W., was born on this day 26 years ago. Happy Birthday, Michelle! I'd love to have one of your special hugs - it's been much too long.
December 24 - The eve we celebrate Christmas with extended family. Always a wonderful time with those we love.
December 25 - Christmas Day. A time of joy and reflection on the birth of our savior, Jesus. Also a warm and wonderful time with immediate family in the morning and throughout the day.
December 25, 2009 - My father's wife, Virginia Whitaker, passed away this evening after a brief illness diagnosed in November. I'm so sorry for the loss and pain my father is going through at this time.
December 28 - My dear friend, Dawn F's birthday. We met as teens and aside from the physical distance between us the ties remain strong. Sure wish we could celebrate this day together over lunch and catch-up time! Miss you, Dawn!
December 28 - Happy? Anniversary, Jeff. We certainly made some memories. Hope you kept the happier ones like I have.
December 31 - New Year's Eve - A time to usher out the old and ring in the new. The way I like to celebrate this has changed over the years but the promise of a 'new beginning' retains an irresistable sparkle...
Happy New Year...
So many joys, celebrations, events. But painful losses and hurt, too. I know we are shaped, defined even, by our struggles. Through them we can truly appreciate our countless blessings.
December 2 - Beth R's birthday. Beth was my best friend growing up; primarily during my elementary school years. I'd love to reconnect with her. It's been years!
December 3 - My husband's brother Roger and his wife Vivienne's 26th Wedding Anniversary. Happy Anniversary!
December 6 - My precious niece was born on this day in 1973. One of the happiest days of my (then) young life! Happy Birthday, Tamara!
December 6 - The day my father-in-law passed away, 8-years ago. He's still dearly missed.
December 10 - My wedding anniversary! Definitely one of my most favorite days of the year!
December 10 - Alan W's birthday. A wonderful, dear man I'm blessed to have as a family member.
December 15 - My youngest nephew was born on this date in 1997. My youngest son arrived 3 months later and the two are great friends in addition to being cousins. Happy Birthday, Andrew!
December 19 - My husband, Kenneth's, birthday. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! I Love You!
December 20 - Another niece, Michelle W., was born on this day 26 years ago. Happy Birthday, Michelle! I'd love to have one of your special hugs - it's been much too long.
December 24 - The eve we celebrate Christmas with extended family. Always a wonderful time with those we love.
December 25 - Christmas Day. A time of joy and reflection on the birth of our savior, Jesus. Also a warm and wonderful time with immediate family in the morning and throughout the day.
December 25, 2009 - My father's wife, Virginia Whitaker, passed away this evening after a brief illness diagnosed in November. I'm so sorry for the loss and pain my father is going through at this time.
December 28 - My dear friend, Dawn F's birthday. We met as teens and aside from the physical distance between us the ties remain strong. Sure wish we could celebrate this day together over lunch and catch-up time! Miss you, Dawn!
December 28 - Happy? Anniversary, Jeff. We certainly made some memories. Hope you kept the happier ones like I have.
December 31 - New Year's Eve - A time to usher out the old and ring in the new. The way I like to celebrate this has changed over the years but the promise of a 'new beginning' retains an irresistable sparkle...
Happy New Year...
December...Part 1
In my experience December is certainly the most dramatic month of the year. The weight of expectation hangs on it like a heavy snow on eaves and rooftops.
It is, after all, Christmas! Highs, lows, hot and cold. Stark contrasts from the 1st to the31st. We may spend months preparing for it...and months recovering from it. An emotional see-saw even to those even-keeled folks, the sans-drama-ites; mania disrupting the calm.
I was dreading this holiday season. Just wanted it to be over. My husband could have joined me in my pity-party but he refused. We had a beautiful Christmas. He made sure of it. Through it all he kept a thankful, upbeat, joy-of-the-season attitude. I took the easy way out - it's easy to feel defeated and overwhelmed. Easy to go with the sadness. He was the 'rock.' He took the cliche' lemons and made wonderful lemonade. In retrospect I wish I had done the same for him. Been his rock. But I wasn't.
But...
Alas, just ahead is the 'New Year!' I can start again. Refocus. Get back on track. Face, and hopefully accept the challenges along the way.
Life, and more importanly, God, offers us many chances to get back on track. Even make complete u-turns if necessary. We may fail today but that doesn't doom us to failure in the days to come. Failure, like attitude, is often something we choose. We have little input in what we're given. We do, however, determine what we make of it.
December...
It is, after all, Christmas! Highs, lows, hot and cold. Stark contrasts from the 1st to the31st. We may spend months preparing for it...and months recovering from it. An emotional see-saw even to those even-keeled folks, the sans-drama-ites; mania disrupting the calm.
I was dreading this holiday season. Just wanted it to be over. My husband could have joined me in my pity-party but he refused. We had a beautiful Christmas. He made sure of it. Through it all he kept a thankful, upbeat, joy-of-the-season attitude. I took the easy way out - it's easy to feel defeated and overwhelmed. Easy to go with the sadness. He was the 'rock.' He took the cliche' lemons and made wonderful lemonade. In retrospect I wish I had done the same for him. Been his rock. But I wasn't.
But...
Alas, just ahead is the 'New Year!' I can start again. Refocus. Get back on track. Face, and hopefully accept the challenges along the way.
Life, and more importanly, God, offers us many chances to get back on track. Even make complete u-turns if necessary. We may fail today but that doesn't doom us to failure in the days to come. Failure, like attitude, is often something we choose. We have little input in what we're given. We do, however, determine what we make of it.
December...
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Challenge
There is within each of us a dream, an idea, a cause; a certain 'something' that we can be or are passionate about.
Have you found yours?
Apathy and mediocrity are passion killers.
Explore, ignite, and pursue that which brings out the passion in you.
Merry Christmas...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Pretty Cool Science Lesson
The following video was sent to me awhile back from a dear friend. I got chills from this and wanted to share it here. Sit back, relax, and be amazed...
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Love/Hate Relationship
This time of year brings the following emotionally-charged words...
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- family
- New Year
I think it's safe to say that many folks have a sincere love/hate relationship with the entire holiday season.
If you are fortunate you absolutely love the holidays and all they entail. You're joyful and relatively stress-free.
Some folks just hate this time of year. They find no joy in the season and experience greater levels of stress and/or depression.
Then, I think there's 'the rest of us.' Those I mentioned above who see-saw between the two, or simply maintain balance somewhere in the middle.
- Realizing and acknowledging how very much we have to be thankful for
- Having difficulty feeling thankful during very difficult times and circumstances
- There's a strong focus on good food during the holidays - Yum!
- Difficult time of year for weight and health management
- Entertaining, decorating, traveling, shopping
- Entertaining, decorating, traveling, shopping
- Gift-Giving
- Finding money in the budget for gift-giving
- Exciting, stepped-up schedules
- Even less time to get everything done
- Time with friends and loved-ones
- Difficult or uncomfortable relationships for some; others are alone and lonely
- Wanting the perfect gifts for everyone
- Wanting our kids to appreciate the true meaning of the holidays
- New Year! New Beginning! New Resolutions!
- New Year, nothing changes, resolutions broken or not even attempted
The holidays can be a wonderful, magical time. They can also be pain-filled and depressing. I pray you make the most of the season and can be joyful. I pray, too, that you are sensitive to those around who may be struggling. Let your heart, not our commercialized society, dictate how you spend the holidays. Don't hesitate to show your love and always be open to receiving love from others.
May Holiday Blessings be Yours...
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